THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

4 (Br Stlyius.) The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Hey wood. "The Merry Wives of Windsor." ... An event of no small importance in tho theatrical world was tho production in Sydney Just Saturday week of Shakespeare's comedy "The .Merry Wives of Windsor," which had not been played there sinco William and Gorge llignold were associated in management over twenty years ago or more. It is n comedy of ''types/' and they are not always available. When they are, the inevitable question must ever present itself—"Does Shakespeare pay?" Yliat m itself frightens many n manager iroin thinking of Shakespeare at all. 111". Uscar .Aschc, however, has proved that tho Bard is quite a good investment, and has followed up "The Taming of tho Shrew," "Othello/' "The Mercnant of Venice," and "As You Like It," with "Tho Merry Wives of Windsor," with apparent success. Of his individual performance tho Sydney "Sun" says:— ".Mr. Ascho himself sent one away with a feeling thnt Falsiall' had been left unrealised. The huge, gross knight, witn his knavery, his vanity, his coarse appetites, and his Hie of dishonesty, is nevertheless so human and good : natured a rogue that the world feels for him as much affection as his creator evidently did. Mr. Ascho conveyed sufficient im-pression-of the greedy, sensual side of l'ulstaf'fs character, and all his fat wrath and senile choler were well shown. But the I old knight's unctuousness, his unabashed impudence, and irrepressible recoveries in the midst of ridiculo and indignity, were not there. One could not warm to hini from tho start as the most lovable,- in-, domitablo old roguo in literature. I'ttlstaff is ail eternal typo; but Mr. Aschc, in spite of that generous full-bloodedness, which is part of his equipment, failed to catch his humour thoroughly. One device which Mr. Ascho adopted, that of sinking his voico iiilQ_ an extreme of gruffness, was not successful. It roughened the smooth oiliness of the old sinner. In. that sc.eno .where Falntaff relates to Ford his misadventures in tho buckbasket, the anger at the grotesque illhandling was finely displayed, in a splendid piece of delivery; but even there, the outraged amazement of tho bald-headed Don .(uan was not given all tho rich flavour of simplicity that the Falstaffian temperament contains." Unqualified praise is given to Miss Lily Brayton as Mistress l'ord, and Miss Bessio Major (Mrs. Robt. Brough's sister) as Mistress Quickly. A Coincidence. The news that the Plimmcr-Denniston Company (which. is to arrive at the Bluff from Melbourne on Monday) is to open tho new theatre at Tiraaru is coincidental with the fact that Mr. Harry I'limmer is largely responsible for the movement which has supplied Timaru with an adequate playliousc. Nearly two years ago the company played a night or two iu the town. In tho course of an interview with a 'pressman, Mr. Plimmei" expressed surprise that so prosperous a town as Timaru ' should have so poor a theatre, and he took the liberty, ol' instancing what liivcrcargill, i'almerston North, \\ angauui, and Uisborne had done. The press—in particular the "limaru Herald"—took .the .matter up suggesting that, the municipality might, bestir itself in tlio matter. This'had the effect ot .stirring Sir. "William Ciunii (owncu of the existing theatre) into action, ■ At first ho decided to alter the theatre as it stood, but later caino to tlie conclusion that there was nothing for but a. lieu theatre, which has been built by day labour from the plans of Mr. Ileni'y li. White, of "Wellington. Now, strango as it may seem, the new theatre will just be ready in time to catch the Plimmer-Deiiniston Company on its way from Dunedin to . Chrislcnurch.. Witli ii company containing such names as- Mr. Geo. S. Titheradgc, Mrs. Robert Brough, Miss Beatrice Day, Miss LizMto Parkes, Mi'. Hnrrv Sweeney, ■ Mr, A. EGreenaway, and Mr. Pliiumcr, -Timaru is fortunate. 1 i Oscar Asche on the Drama. . Speaking with regard to the decline of enthusiasm for the dramk oil the pari. of. playgoers in London, Mr. Oscar Ascho has expressed the opinion that it is large extent to the pernicious 'dmd-head _ system—the indiscriminate distribution ot free admission —as the result of which all those who participate in it do not feel inclined any further to pay; and tlio fact that manager* (through'the news papers and other channels) have dispelled a good deal of the illusion regarding tho stago production of plays. "The publiu are told how things are done," says Mr. Asche, "and are practically shown the wholo tiling stripped of its mystery and illusion. There is llo'. longer any charm about it. The' public have seen tho skeleton. and know what its, covering is made of." Mr. Ascho mentioned an instance in which, a man received a ticket to wit- ; ness the performance of "Macbeth/ . in which he appeared. Before the performance came on, however, the theatre was burnt down, and tho manager received a letter in which,the writer expressed the desire that as the performance had not taken place, tlio management would forward him tho faco value of the ticket. "I think," commented Mr. Asche. "that this is abo\it tho limit in ehcek. Ihe Asche-Braytmi Company is to commence a tour of New Zealand at Auckland on. September 16 in "Kismet." Gladys Unger. , In Australia the name of Gladys Unger is associated with "Nobody's Daughter. "Inconstant George" (both to played in Wellington this month by the PlimmcrDenniston Company), and the English version of the comic opera, "Nightbirds. In a recent interview, the authoress said; "Ten years ago Sir Arthur Pinero gave me as a rule for successful playwriting that I should never writs about anything that I did not. actually know. It has taken mo ten vcars fully to assimilate that advice.' Jlfss linger began playwriting at tho advanced age of eleven, writing a most elaborate pantomime, which was never produced.'" Their Seymour Hicks produced her* one-act play called "Edmund Ken it.' The year after .Miss .Unger's first full, play, "Mr. Sheridan," was put on at the Gairick Theatre, -London. After (hat, working every morning, writing out' everything in longhand, until there accumulated a vast monument of unpublished manuscripts, the young woman, realising that' there was no rayal road to success in playwriting. forced herself upon the attention of Charles Frohnian, for whom she subsequently adapted "Love' Watches," "Inconstant George," "Decorating Clementine," nnd "The Marionette-*." That done, }'iiss T'nger was in a position to turn to original work. Notes. Chung Ling Soo, who is now providing ono of tho principal features at the London Hippodrome, was the' host at nil unusual feast which took place at the Cathay Restaurant, Deninan Street, London, oil July 15. The meal was Chin?sa in character, but tlio company were British. The charm of Loo Tig Cheng Cha (unfired green tea) paved the way for some weird and wonderful dishes with equally curious names—Tin Wall Tong, Leung Yce, Chow Mein, nnd Chop Suey, for instance—and dessert consisted of Chow Chow, Lycho Nuts, and Cheng Moi. Guests with the requisite amount of pluck assisted the digestion of the meal with a drop of Wai Shatig Chow, a Chinese red wine. The conjurer is talking about another visit to Australia. Miss Marion Hood, who visited Australia with tlio Leslie-Fnrren Gaiety Company. and subsequently with the company of which she and the late Mr. E. Lonnen we.ro principals, died iu England on bundav, We are informed by cable message. I'lie Oscar Aschc visit to New Zealand has (says the "Australasian") more significence "than usual. Should the tour prove successful, J. C. Williamson, Ltd.,- may in futuro send all tlieir big attractions tlicre. Mr. Julius Knight has "mado good" on his return to London. Arthur Bourehier left the cast-of "Find the Woman" (which was played in Australia not very long ago as "The Third Degree"), and Mr. Knight has been given tho part, which lie played in Australia. It is said Ihat befovo long he Will return to Australia in new roles. Ixist week at Melbourne sow a powerful association of nrtisls in Pinero s masterpiece, "The Second Mrs. Tanquerav.

Mrs. Koliert Brough was once more Paula of tlio distorted mind and bitter tongue, Mr. Cleo. ]l. Tithoradfjo resumed (lie role of Aubrey Tnwiueray, Miss Beatrice Day was Mrs, Cortclyon, Miss Lizetto Parlies figured ns the demure Klbean, and Mr. Jlnrry l'limmer as Captain Ardale. 'I herc was an enormous house, and tlio _ performniico was received villi enthusiastic applause. Writing from the Playgoers' Club, London, Mr. Townscnd Whitling, who was stage manager for Miss Kthet Irving in Australia and New- Zealand, says that ho was laid aside for seven weeks on his return to London with an attack of pleurisy, lie is stago-nii|iiaging for Miss Irving at tlio Hippodrome at date of writing (July 15). Mr. Tmvnsend .states (hat in the autumn Miss Irving will bo associated with Air. George Alexander in a new play, and by Christmas the clover actress expects lo have a theatro of her own. Ihe weather was very hot and bad ior the theatres. Tlio biggest successes in town were "Milestones"' and "When 13unty Pulls tlio Strings." Mr. Hoy Kedgravo, having for the time stepped over from melodrama to variety ;ntertainment, is, in association with Miss Mab I'atil, doing a clever dramatic, sketch, [•ailed the "Hat in the Corner," at Hit: National Amphitheatre, Melbourne. V A Paris Apache, out 011 a night prowl, has stabbed a man and hurried home. He lolls his wife what ho lias done, is convinof'd that the police cannot track liiui. She points to the snowfall, in which his tracks are cleat', and he is instantly overwrought. with fear. Comes a knock upon tho'door, and, gripping his revolver, the desperate man prepares for a light, but it is only tlio man who has brought back his lost 'dog.