THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1557, 28 September 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Br Sylvius.) Tho World's a theatre; tho Earth a stage.—Hoywood. A Good Record, On September 10 the Plimmer-Donniston Company completed the second year of its existence. During that time the company has mado two complete tours of Australia and New Zealand! including two long seasons in Melbourne, and three in Sydney, where tho organisation is extremely popular. During its brief but successful life, tho company has produced the following play*s :—"Lovors' Lane," "Tho Passing of tho Third Floor Back," "A Message from Alars," "Tho Second Mrs. Tanquerav," "Tho Profligate," "A Village Priest," "Nobjdy's Daughter," "Inconstant George,"' and "A Woman of No Importance." Of thoso plays "Nobody's Daughter," "A Woman of No Importance," and "A Mcssago from Mars" havo been tho most successful from a .box-office point of view. Another success was tho Prench comedy "Inconstant Gcorgo," which is being held in reservo as far as New Zealand is concerned. Famous Characterisation. On Monday evening next the PlimmorDenniston Company will appear' for tho last timo in Oscar Wildo's scintillating comedy "A Woman of No Importance." On Tuesday evening will bo revived that almost perfect play by Sydney Grundy, "A Villago Priest," with Mr. G. S. Titheradgo as the Abbo Dubois, perhaps tho finest characterisation over given on tho Australasian stago. Many good actors have visited New Zealand during the past quarter of a century —fino in individual performances and admirably equipped technically—but, if a plebiscite could bo taken among matured play-goers as to who, in their opinion, is tho finest all-round actor who has held on high tho torch of Thalia in these parts, there would bo a shade of odds on George S,- Titheradge, whoso many impeccablo performances throughout the famous Brough-Boucicault timo must live, in tho memory of thoso who tako their play-going seriously. And of thoso performances we aro privileged to SO3 two within the week—Lord Illingworth, tho blaso, cynical, brilliant man, to whom sin is an antidote -for a world, of cant, in "A Woman of No Importance," and tho pentlo and benign Abbo Dubois in "A Village Priest."

Wo havo already, seen Mr. Titheradge in the Wildo play, and havo witnessed tho polished skill which ho exercises ill thrusting with tho- ranier of that brilliant writer's lines. Now we aro to seo tho actor in a charactor exactly tho reverse—ono that, has become mellow and refined with tho years until it. is now almost ethereal in the beauty of its gentleness and rare nobility.

Mr. Oscar Ascho and Miss Lily Brayton, together with their London company will arrive in AYellington 011 Sunday, October 0, per special train from Auckland. Tho wholo of the scenery for "Kismet" lias already reached Wellington, and tho mechanical and electrical .staffs, the stage, manager, the musical director, tho donkeys, tho snake, tho pigeons, and other effects conccrned in the Oriental play, will leave Auckland to-morrow (Sunday). During tho coining season, which is limited to eighteen nights, tho followW Shakespearean plays will bo staged, '■Tho Taming of tho Shrew," "Othello," '"['ho Merry Wives of Windsor," and Iho Merchant of Venice." The J. C. uiliiainson management have decided not to raisa tho booking charges, so that - seats may bo booked in tho dress cirelc and stalls at Gs.

The eminent actor, as tlio Abbo Dubois iu "A Village Priest," to be presented by the Plimmer-Denndston Company at tho Opera House on Tuesday and Wednesday next.

Presto—Pass! Cliristchurch has peculiar ideas on many things, including quack Messiahs, railway 'management, and members of Parliament—kinks, if you will, that are usually attributed to tho flatness of the country having deprived both eye and mind of a perspective. Thfe latest.fad. (in tho "Press") is to raise a protest against players taking a "call" after tho i'all of tho curtain. It refers to tho practice as an "outrage" which is often committed with .tlio maximum of offence to art. Instances given are 'Rudolf's reappearance after throwing himself on Mimi's dead body at tho conclusion' of tho last act of "La Bolieme," and another situation (described ludicrously as an anti-climax) in "A Woman of No Importance." Initially the "Press" says that, "for years "critics have been protesting against the practice." This is merely an assertion. With a fair knowledge of what the critics (save those in Christchurch) are doing, I liavo no knowledge of tho protests mentioned.

As a matter of fact, in New York, London, and on tho Continent, the calls are taken just as they are here, by recovering from the situation whilst the curtain is down, and bowing acknowledgment to whatever applause there may bo when it rises. .

I grant that Hie practice may disillusionise the unfledged, unsophisticated playgoer, but with thdse who tako their playgoing seriously, the mere acknowledgment of appreciation will never detract from, the merit of a • performance, or the effect of a 1 situation. The author' writes at the conclusion of tho act—''curtain." The curtain descends and the play (or a section of it) is finished. They 'arc not the characters who. bow—they aro the players concerned. The "Press" would have us all as little children—to believe that Mimi had. really died, that Ophelia did really drown herself, and that Sidney Carton really suffered. bisection on tho guillotine—even as they eat their chocolates and jujubes. Tho actor's "call" is like the singer's encore, and who would deprive a vocalist of the privilego of singing a gay ballad after a tragic Italian aria? Scenery of "Kismet." '"Those who have seen the Asclie-Bray-ton productions have marvelled at the beautiful lighting effects and other details of tho wonderful exercise of stagecraft (says a Melbourne paper). Night scenes are real night; whilst daylight is bright and sunny, and truo to nature. As ono of the critics said, when referring to this phaso of tho productions: "Thcro is not a shadow wrong." As a matter of fact, Oscar Ascho is acknowledged as a master of stagecraft, and shares with Sir Herbert Tree (ho reputation of tho greatest producer on the English stage. His knowlcdgo of technique is remarkable, and lighting is ono of his strongest features in all the productions staged by him. Tho system of lighting used by Oscar Asche is said to be entirely new to Australia, and under this, every shadow falls in tile proper place, and is architecturally corrcct. In the first act of "Tho Taming of the Shrew," for instance, there is the most vivid sunlight it is possible to reproduce on tho stage. Bright, glowing, and warm, it: is—the sunshine of Itniv. And above is the azuro blue of a, clear Italian sky. It. is .ns if Oscar Ascho had torn a' page from Nature's picture-book. "Kismet" is due' at tho Opera Homo on .Oitobet h