THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Br Sylvius.)

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. Sir John Madden on Shakespeare, Miss Lily Brayton is stated to bo as beautiful as sho is gifted, and one of (ho most photographed actresses of tho day.. Among tho numerous welcomes tendered her and Oscar Aseho in .Melbourne, especially notable was their reception by tho University of' Melbourne. Chancellor Sir John Madden, in an eloquent address, referred to tho educational value of their work in the presentation of Shakespeare. "Toni Foolery do Profundis" is not without its charm and its advantages, yet it seems a deplorable thing that people who possess a language magnificent for all the purposes of language should not seek to make'tlio most, of it, should not earnestly wish to bo stirred by the patriotism, the.philosophy, tho morality,.the vrit and humour which the greatest dramatic works of that language so nobly exhibit. Mr. Oscar Asche and Miss Lily Brayton are doing noble work in making popular Shakespearean plays, and havo so" far not. only commanded but deserved the success they havo achieved,

Miss Ethel Irving. This amusing paragraph appeared in the London "Era" on June 22:—"We are to enjoy the comedy of Ethel Irving at tho Hippodromo in July, when she will probably bo seen in a condensed version of Henry Arthur Jones's 'Dolly Reforming Herself,' one of her successes during her rece.it tour in Australia." Tho brilliant English actress did not appear in "Dolly Reforniintf Herself" 'while'slie was in Australia. Mr. Stephen Ewart, who was the leading man during the Australian'tour, will appear with Miss Irving at the Hippodrome. One of the London papers has this chronicle:—"Last Sunday night, at the Troeadero Restaurant, a'few of the more intimate friends of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Porteous—the lady is; of course, belter known as Miss Ethel Irving—gave them a welcome home dinner after their recent exceedingly successful tour' in Australia and Now Zealand. Among those present \vcre: Mrs. Irving, Mr. Stephen Ewart, Mr. and Mrs; Gwcnn, and Mr. Robert Cunningham, tho Australian tenor. Tho occasion was a ver cheery one, and those present only voiced the opinions of many thousands of playgoers who are genuinely glad that Australia thought so well of the best, most interesting, and by far the most versatile of our English actresses."

"Dressy" Plays. A strong feature in connection with the coming New Zealand tour of the PliinmerDenniston Company will be the elaborate dressing aiid mounting of the various plays, "Nobody's Daughter," "A Woman of No Importance," and "Inconstant George." The whole of the costumes worn by the ladies were specially made for each production by. Messrs. David Jones and Co., Ltd., Sydney, and are the very last word in the milliner's art. The stage furnishings were specially prepared by Messrs. Beard, Watson and Co., of Sydney, and Messrs. W. H. Rocko and Co., Melbourne, while the. whole of the scenery is fresh from the scenic studio of the well-known artist, Mr. Harry Whaite, Sydney. Each play will bo presented in exactly tho same complete manner, with attention to the most minute detail, .as in Sydney and Meltbourne. This company's" season in Wellington commences on September 23.

Left; Out,;. Although one hundred and fifty music-' hall artists were invited to assist at tho "Royal command" when his Majesty tho King Visited tho Palace Theatre, London, on July 1, the names of Marie Lloyd and Albert Chevalier were not on the list. Australia was represented by Horrie Forde and James and Elsie Finney, Among "the friends we know" wero Peggy Pryde, Little Tich, Faul Cinquevalli, G. H. Chirgwin, Vosco "tho Mad Musician," Athas and Lizzie Collins, Barclay Gammon, and Tom Woottwell; Mr. Chevalier made the following statement to the "Daily Graphic" :—"Tho whole arrangement ;as it stands is really extraordinary.. Take the' ct.se. of Miss Marie Lloyd. Who is there more repi'c- ; sentative of the variety profession ? Miss Lloyd is a great genius. She is an artist from tho crown of her head to tho solo of her foot. You know the range of my theatrical experience, the actors wilh whom I have been associated, and tho parts I have played. Well, I say deliberately that no woman nlivo can 'rend' a song liko Marie Lloyd—can get so' much out of the linos. It is an education to hear her. As for myself, I should indeed be ungrateful if I did not feel keenly tho extraordinary unanimity of the press and .the public in their resentment at tho omission of my name. I am so overflowing with gratitude for all the.kind things ■which, have-been nnd are being said and 'written about me and my work that I almost want to write and thank tho Selection Committee, whose incomprehensible action has called forth so much enthusiastic sympathy on my behalf. I daresay Miss Lloyd feels tho same. As I have said, I am convinced that my name was never submitted to tho King. Why not? I have already appeared by Royal command at Sandringham. But when I ask the committee for explanations, I am declined information. I 6hould like to say, in. conclusion, that I think I may claim without egotism that my work has helped to purify the music-halls and has assisted to produce a condition of things which has made the 'command' performance possible." Tiny Town. "It is really the little things that count," remarked Mr. Beaumont Smith, the managing director of Tiny Town,, in a recent interview. "Or," ho continued, "it was tho littlo things that counted most with me when I was chasing through Europe after a number of diminutive individuals to people, my miniature village. "To find these mites of humanity I travelled in all over 10,000 miles on sea and'land,'and will o' tho wisps wero nothing to them. It was a case of hide-and-seek—and the seeking was one of the hardest jobs I ever undertook in my life." Tiny Town commences its Now Zealand tour inlnvefcargill on Monday evening.

American as She is Spoke. A man in tho Sydney "Sun" office,.who had read "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" with, spluttering delight, suddenly found himself in need of a glossary. He went to Mr. Fred. Niblo, praying for assistance. "Look here," he said to Mr. Niblo, "maybe you can help me out on your vernacular. This alang of yours is new on our public. Please explain." "Right you arc," 6aid the comedian. "Well, to start—what's tho meaning of a boob?" "A boob la a mutt." "I see. And what do yon want to convey by calling a man a big stiff?" "That he's a four-flusher." "Yes. It says in the play that 'Blackie' Daw's stuck on a girl. Interpret!" • "It's that he fell for her string—gono bughouse," translated Mr. Niblo. ''There's an expression, 'Have you got mo?'" "That is,-are you hep? Or, are you wise to it?" "And when yon call a. girl a pippin," asked the interviewer, "what is one to •gather?" "It means she's some gal." "Good. And when a man with money won't loosen up?" . "Guess he won't cough." "What is kale?" "Kale, my boy, is what we're all after —dough, long-green, a piece of change, heavy, a biuich of coin." "Soft money—what variety of kale is that?" "Easy cash," said Mr. Niblo. "What's a gaspard?" "A tight wad—a man who won't loosen up." "Ah! And what is 'stringing a guy? "That's kidding." "Hut what's a guy?" "Oil, a gink." "Wallingford says he's going to twentythree himself?" "Twenty-throe means skidoo." ■"Whafs meant by a limn doing big stunts with money?" "Show.-) he's put something over." "And that mother will be pi-eased to pieces?" "That she'll be tickled in death." "Wallingford soys lie's been going a few " . < "Means he';, been hilling things vp." "Then ho myj he's going to blow with tho bank loUji*

"That's so. He's going to skidoo with the long (fi-oon." "Again, ho says he wishes ho wero an on-the-levol g-uy ';" ho "was in right." And what docs 'Blackiu' Daw mean bv saying that tho town let hira come in oil rubbers?" "Oh, that is, ho didn't get a Roosevelt reception." "What's meant by tho big noise of the present day?" "The suro-firo stunt." "1; see. And 'Did yon stall?'" (/ Stall means side-step." "Oh, you said lieforc, blow means skidoo. That s so, isn't it?" "Yep. To blow is to make your getaway SUTO. "Here's an expression, 'Suffering mackcrf,i; sl 'OS got us tabbed.' Explain?" That is, she's got our number." Dempsey asks when music is 'heard • L*,?r?, lllat; hammering the iustrumJs, ■' " lmt llws '1° wa »t to know?" Guess it's who's tickling the ivorioswho s beating tho baby grand." , What do you inea'n by saving a man is a live wire?" ."w! lnt i' les ' ne S°<xls «n<l can deliver." J hanks, Mr. Niblo, for clearing these ■little matters up." "Not at all," deprecated the comedian, "not at all."

Notes, Mr. Walter White, the tenor who went to London a year ago, is back again in Sydney. Mr. Harry Diver, the ex-Wellington actor, is broken down in health in Sydney and is beii) K K i v< , u ;l benefit 1., v "|,j s professional brethren. Mr. Diver is (lie son of the late Dr. Diver, of this cilv, who tor many years lived opposite the lheatre Royal in Johnston Street, on ihe site now occupied bv ICirkcaldio and Stains s warehouse. He became the victim of environment-Hie Theatre Roval was just over tho way—and for his temerity in going on the stage was cut off with a shilling. "Get Rich' Quick Wallingford" lias made good in Sydney. The American force-comedy, which deals with, the wiles and schemes of the company 'promoter, came as a decided novelty. Its atmosphere is new to Australians, and it is characterised by brecziness, rush, and the continuity of interest. The author of the farce-comedy lias hit oil' the methods of the company promoter in a manner that is calculated to make everyone who is not in wild-cat enterprises (except on tho promoting end) laugh their heads off. As for those who have exchanged good nioney for doubtful serin, tliev will weep at the play. John Rockefeller, Pierpont Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie all enjoyed the piece in New York. History does not relate, however, whether they went, and unloaded their shares afterwards. ''A Message from Mars" has been revived once more in Melbourne, this time by the Pliinmer-Denniston Company, with what is close up to being an all-star oaste. Mr. Georgo H. Titheradge is the tramp, Mr. H. Plimmer, Horace Tarkcr; Mr. A. E.. Grecuaway, the Messenger; Mrs. Robert Brough, Aunt Martha; Miss Beatrice Day, Mrs. Clarice; and Miss Lizctto Parkcs, Minnie Templar.