THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Br Sylvius.) The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood.. The Asche-Brayton Season. A striking scene in the induction _of tho Asche-Brayton production of "The Taming of the Shrew" is the awakening of Christopher Sly after he has neon put to bed in a drunken sleep by the roysleriug lord nnd his companions. Tho process of awakening is carried .ut by .Mr. Asche in such gradual stages and yet with such consummate art, that tho aud::nce hardly notices the length of imo tnat elapses from the opening of (lift scouo u> the moment when. Sly is fully awake. One night the stage manager in Uμ prompt corner and timed this "awakening." It was found to tako no ii-ivei than eight minutes To the Hudienc! it seems liko that number of seconds—a fact which speaks volumes for the cleverness of Mr. Asche displayed in this scene, which comprises one of the funniest and most striking features of an notable production.

A closo acquaintance with the mfm bors of the Asche-Brayton company Kiv<" ono a particularly illuminating idea of tho intellectual and artistic status of thnsi. who comprise it. They are all Shako sperian enthusiasts, and keen students, and the great success they have adujvej individually as well as collectively ; s due to the fact that they hare noarb all graduated, as Mr. Asche and Miss B:"ayton have done, from F. R. Benson's u>.npany, which has been called ''the nursery of Shakespearean actors." Mr. Asche gathered around, him the best of those who won fame and honour under Mr. Benson, and tho majority of them have been .tssociated with him ever since.

Miss Lily Brayton is probably the most beautiful "leading lady" seen in New Zealand for ages. Her youthful charm, her brilliant eyes, smooth, glossy hair, and pale, clear skin single lier out as ono especially endowed by nature. She has a splendid voice, but is rather inclined tu whine in certain parts of "Kismet." Her part is a pretty one, but makes no demand on her histrionic reserve, which will be called for on Monday, when she is due to flare and ramp as the fiery Kathcrino in "The Taming of the Shrew." "Milestones" and "Bella Donna." The two biggest dramatic successes in London during tho present year are—it is generally conceded—"Milestones,' , the delightful representative of three generations each with its own fancies ..nd foibles, and "Bella Donna," J. B. Fagin's dramatisation of Hichen's novel of the 6ame name. Both' these plays have, of course, been secured by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and their production in Australia will bo heightened by the fact, lliat Mr. Julius Knight has been secured for the leading part in each. Present arrangements indicate that Christmas time in Sydney will be the starting date of tho new organisation which will include several of the. best-known Australian actors and actresses. A Comedian's Apostrophe. Thus W. S. Percy in the Sydney "Theatre" :— "It can never bo that a part of so many 'sides' is worth so much. What ono can bring to the part will always govern the salary. Otherwise what use would ambition be? The theatre without the incentive to rise, beyond dead-level inediocriy is not pleasant to contemplate. One might as well argue that painters be uniformly paid so much a square inch for their canvasses. When they are journeymen—engaged in painting nouses, fences, motorcars, or tho likfr;-they are. Here you havetho everlasting difference between the artist and the artisan. Whenever I think of my own hard times I am glad that.never once did they embitter me. I knew they were part and parcel of theatrical life. They were the prico I was prepared to pay. Edther have they sweetened what little success I have won. Somehow I would sooner come through it that way. 1 know, that actors far greater than ever I could hope to be endured a worse "fightthat the way is easy to-<lay compared to what those who elevated the theatre to its present position had to tread. Anyone who wants inspiration can find it in tho written lives of names that illumine the history of the stage. Always they fought for. the dignity of their'profession, and won it from vagabondage to a tomb for its illustrious dead in Westminster Abbey. To those whom we owe so' much is it due to resist any influence that threatens tlie place of the theatre among the arts. We also owe this much to our pride in our profession." Angels and ministers of grace defend us! But Willie Porcy was always an admirable joker, even when persuading himself that ho is serious. "Nobody's Daughter" Attacked-Mr. Harry Plimmer's Reply. At tho Napier Cathedral on Sunday evening last, Canon Mayne,' preaching from "Unto the pure all things are pure," spoke very strongly on what he termed the low moral tone of at least one of the productions placed on the stage of the Theatre Koyal recently, "Nobody's Daughter." 'He said—"Now tako my text —this as a kindred one 'the widows' mite' is often on the lips of those- who would excuse and justify their unchristian conduct. Does this mean that persons and things impure in themselves become pure to the pure? No. It means this, if people claim to bo pure and love those persons and do those things which are intrinsically impure, it is proof that they themselves are impure. Now, what about this play, 'Nobndy's Daughter'? Did that beeomo pure to those present? I am not attacking any individual. I know not who woro there and I do not want to know. I am attacking the morale of the play. Tho papers say of it, 'The situations are delightfully true to life.' What lifo? Christian lifo? God forbid. What if you men and women here to-night were ever to experience such ■ a dreadful thing as a husband discovering the wife unfaithful, or tho wife the husband, either before or during marriage? Would it be delightfully true to life? No, it would bo hopeless- disgrace, sorrow, and broken hearts.! The production of such plays is a disgrace to any Christian community. If members of tho church were truo to Christ and His law of purity such things could never happen."

The Reply, Sir,— Ho Canon Mayne's remarks about our production of "Nobody's Daughter" at tho Thetitro ljoynl. 1 am fully awaro that tho more dignilied course to pursue would bo lo treat such narrow-minded utterances with contemptuous silence. However, Hiy object in writing this letter, is to express Iho view that surely the rev. Konllomnii has been niisinfornied. Surely, lin cull mivi'i" hnvo oven seen the play, and liiih Knllinrcil his ideas from mere, lunrsiiy, or I'n'ini snino carelessly-written. , plol, in a newspaper. Jt is beyond comprolinii/tiiin tlml; any healthily-iniiuled person inn linil grounds for disapproval in Uiu utory of "Nobody's J)nughter." It is at eli'ii.'i us ii whisllo. The sin occurred twenty ymiCK before. Iho play opens. Sinco then I hit (iciiplo concerned have led exemplary hvtt. The moral is an excellent, olio nml illiiiilrates in a vivid manner Iliii trill Ii 01 . Hie old saying, "To err is Iliiiiinii, lo forgive divine." \o less an niitliiirlly Iliiiii the. "London Times" hailed "N»r,(i.ly's.Daughter" as. ".the best Kniflinli piny of tho year," and the play hurt li-'imi it triiimpliniit success throughout I hit wlioln of Hit! civilised Knglish-speak-lll|{ world, m that it will take more than Ibn lin.ity nml intemperate genernlisal.ions til' ii iiiiri'ow mind lo unset its reputation. -.1 mil, eti. , ., HARRY PUJIMER. Now York's Dramatic Harvest. The, dramatic season which began in New York last month promises to he a most interesting .one. Sheaves of new plays aro to he presented, most of tho modern American,- English, nnd Frencli writers being represented. John Drew and Mary Bolaml aro to slar in a new Sutro play entitled "Tho Perplexed band." Mine. Nazimova will iipnuiir in Hichen's play "Bella Uonna," and Maude Adams, after mi exlonsivo tour as Peter Pan, is to appear in a now llarrio play entitled "Tho Legion of Leonora," and later in a nl'ty-minulo play by tho Kimo author, entitled "Rosalind mid tho Lady Shakespeare." Mr. John Mason's med'ium will ho "Tho Alfnclc" Uleriisloin), and Miss Dillio Hurko will frivol in Pinoro's "The itind-tlio-I'aint Clirl." Olis I Skinner will get into tho rags of Uajj in

"Kismet" ouce more; Cliarlos Frohmann will produce "Tho Primrose," by Caillanet and de Flers (who wrote "Inconstant George"), "The Spy," and "The Honour of Japan," both from Paris. Marie Doro will tako up Pinero and Shaw, Charles Cherry will figure in "PassersBy," and Mrs. I'isko will have a new play by Sheldon. Other plays lo be produced are "Fanny's First i'lay" (Shaw), "Waste," "Prunella," and "hi a Dutch Garden" (by Granvillo Barker and Company), "Anatol," "Juno Madness," "The Cinch," "Birthright," "The Girl and (he Miner," " 'Op 0' My Thumb," "The Whip," "lolnnthe," "Smnimin," "Uunty Pulls the Strings," and Lewis Waller is to appear in a new play by Edward Knoblauch, entitled "Discovering America." "Milestones," by Knoblauch and Arnold Bennett, also figures in tho long list. Notes. Whilst in Wellington tho Oscar Ascho Company is busy rehearsing "Antony and Cleopatra" every morning. The play is to be produced in Sydney during the coming return seapon.

Mr. Caleb Porter, who plays tho Sheikh Jawnn so effectively in "Kisiuot," was the original Nero in "The Sign of the Cross" in .Wellington. Mr. Julius Knight mid Miss Ada Ferrar were tho Marcus and Mcrcia respectively. Mr. Knight has been engaged to return to Australia under the J. U. \V. banner, to play in Edward Knoblauch's play "Milestones," and J. B. Fagin's dramatisation of Ilichen's novel "Bella Donna." Miss Ferrar is now playing the lead in a provincial tour of "Thu Bear-leaders" at Home.

The snakes used by tho charmer, in "Kismet" aro Queensland carpet snakes. Though they attain a great size, they aro iion-venemous, and qmto tractable. During the day they are kept in boxes .heated by an electric radiator. The «old of New Zealand is fatal to snakes, as was proved in the case of "Tho Speckled Band, which lost all its snakes in this country, and had to resort to dummies.

Mr. Harker, who plays the sauntering Chinaman, in "Kismet," is the H)n of Mr. Jofeph Harker, whosa beautiful scenery is such a. feature in "Kismet."

It is said that the reason why "Kismet" is only played for fix out of un eighteen nights' season is that thoro is a heavy royalty on. Mr. Knoblauch's play. There is none- on Shakespeare!

- Mr. Ernest Bush, soil of Mr. Thomas Bush, managing director t of the Union Clothing Company, is making rapid progress on the stage. It is less than two years since young Mr. Bush abandoned the study of the pestle and mortar to go on the boards, i'or six months ho roughed it in Australia's back country with a touring company, then by a lucky chanco bocame a member of the H. B. Irving Company, with which he played small parts. 0. , : liis return to Australia n few months ago ho was engaged to play in "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingi'ord," in which successful comedy ho sustains an important part, that of Eddie Lamb, in which he has been very favourably noticed. "Get-Rich-QuicK Wallingford" will in all probability fill tho Christmas dates at tho Opera House.

Here is the cast of "Florodova," to 1)0 staged at Melbourne to-night:—Leslie Holland as Cyrus Gilfaiu, Frank Green as Frank Abercoed, Andrew Higgiusju as Captain Arthur Donegal, Arthur K-niter as Leandro, Bertie Wright as Anthony Tweedlepunch; Graco Palotta as Lady Holyrood, Jessie Lonnen as Angela Oilfain, Ivy Bickford as Claire Vitzcbireuco, C. H. Bantock at Max Apt'elbaum, Bl.r.iche Browno as Dolores. Tho dances have been arranged by Nellie Leslie, an/1 the play, will be produced under the supervision, of Wybert Stamford. Incidenl.il to act 2 will be. introduced a special dunciug number by Fred Leslie and Ivy Schilling.