THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 20

THE THEATRE.

(Br Sylvius.)

Ths World's a theatrej tho Earth a fltogo.—Heywood. "Get-Rich-Quick Wallinflford." ■Tho' thirteen weeks' season enjoyed_by "Get-Hich-Quick Wallingford" at tho Criterion Theatre, Sydney, entitles it to rank with the most successful productions ever 'staged *by tho tl. ■ C. • "Williamson, Ltd., management. Tho story of the new comedy hinges on tho audacity of two unscrupulous young spielers, Walhnjford and his chum "Blackie" Daw, who set themselves to make mmiey as swindlers. Champagne and cocktails are used freely in tho process of "fleecing." The ' vo . beconio millionaires and marry. Then Tom Donohuo, a detectivo who has been on the-trail of'■Wallingford and his accomplice, is engaged to keep tho pair respectable and out of tho way of temptatlTlio cast of "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford"''includes Messrs. Fred Niblo, Harry Corson Clarko, .Tames H. Manning, Ji. I'erio Bush, Cyril French, Edwin Lester, Lowden Adama, Fred. Cambourne, Arthur Glynn, Matsumoto (tho Japanese valet), 6corgo Whitehead, H. H. lace, Sydney Smith, .Tolin do. .L.acey, Robert Greig, also tho Misses. Margaret DaleOwen, Beatrice Holloway, Marian Dunn, Maud Wingfield, Rosalind Smeaton, and Enid Bennett. i

"Sweet Nell" In Pictures. "Sweet Nell of Old Drurj'," as acted m Sydney by Miss Nellie Stewart and company, under the direction of Mr. Geo. Musgrove, has .been played before tho kinematograph camera with coinpleto success, and the solo right"; of the result have boen secured for New Zealand by Messrs. John Fuller and Son. .. , . These enterprising managers have, witli fi.no managerial reserved the exhibition of the popular play-picture for Boxing Night, when it will be the star pioturo in a fine programme to-lie screened in connection with the opening of the now His Majesty's Theatre in Courtenay Place. ' - "Sweet Nell" is, as most, people know, the little orange girl of the Drury Lane Theatre, who becomes the favourite 01 King Charles 11. It is in helping tho ward of Lord Jeffreys-Liuly Olivia Vernon—and her lover, Roger Fairfax, that Nell Gwynn falls~foul of the grim Judge, who fancying that he has, trapped tho prescribed Fairfax, 'enters' _ Noll's apartments, supported by soldiery, but when ordering the . men in hiding to step out, the Judge is deeply chagrined to find that it is His Majesty. And His Majesty severely rebukes the Judge. In tho next act Nell again befools the Judge, and unites the lovers, to the joy of everyone. Miss Stewart is inimitable in the title role, and is supported by a capable cast. Theatre-building Craze. Both Mr. Bert Bailey and Mr. Edmnnd Duggan, tho proprietors (with Mr. Jules Grant), of the "On Our Selection" Company, state emphatically that the new municipal theatre at Napier is the best theatre in Australasia. They say that they would "give their eyes" to have such a house in Sydney, where, they add, there is no theatre.to compare with it.'' ' While they are sincere in their opinion, they believe that it is fifty years ahoad of Napier,'and must prove, a'white elephant as a commercial speculation. Mr. Duggan states that the first night's rent is .£lß—a. figure that will largely, preclude second .and third-rate companies touching Najiier, and as . the first-class companies who'can spare the time.'to visit Napier are fow aiid far . between, there cannot bo::suflicibnt .bookings to: pay the interest on the expended oil.tho theatre (approximately .£10,000), and the price of the land. Mr. Duggan adds that as far as theatres are concerned ..he believes that' New Zealand heads the world.', '.'Nearly every 'small town visited has a new theatre," said Mr. Dnggan, "many of which would be considered fine in Melbourne and Sydney. Wo have nothing at all like it in' the small towns in Australia, where the littlo old-fashioned halls 20 and 80 years old, still have to , suffice both' actor and public." '

"The Smart Set." Under vfirj' favourablo auspices "Tho Smart Set," a bright capable company of' entertainers, beean their season at the follies Open-air Theatre, St. Kilda, Mellxiunie, on November 31. Seven members compriso "The Smart Set,", who arrived by., the s.s. Marathon a few days ago under arrangement with Messrs. J. and N. Tait, and it is said that , their performance was of' .the best yet given at St. Kilda. Besides providing good comedy, all the performers possess good voices. The stago manager is Sir. Walter George, who possesses a pleasing tenor voice, and shows remarkable' vitality as a comedian. . . Tho "Smart Set" Company- is to visit New Zealand next year. Censored,

The eagerly expected production by Professor Max Eeinhardt of tho wordless play, "The Venetian Night," which was to have taken place at the I'alnoo Theatre of Varieties, London, was stopped at the eleventh hour by order of the lord Chamberlain (Lord Sandhurst), who, on receiving a report on the dreas rehearsal, found himself unable to license the performance. The action of' this spectacular wordless play, in thirteen episodes is supposed, like the "Miracle," to "represent reality at the opening, and at the end, whilo the eight episodes in the centre are supposed to take place in a dream. The scene is laid within and near a Venetian hotel; about the year 1860, the incidents being 1 connected with a wedding and the real or dream adventures of the bride and her lovers.

Since the performance did not take place it is impossible to arrive at any conclusion as to the justice of the Lord Chamberlain's decision; ,but a perusal of the synopsis and the impression created by the aress rehearsal upon some of those who were privileged to be present lead to .the conclusion that the prohibition was based on reasonable grounds. , Professor, Max Bernhardt expressed the opinion that Herr Carl Vollmoeller, the author, might be induced to make such changes" and deletions: in this, wordless play as would remove tho Lord Chamberlain's objections. "The author, you will understand," said Professor Bernhardt, "asks the publio to regard the episodes only as the everyday events of life as seen by a yomig German artist visiting Venice for the first time, and convinced that in a city of which he has heard so much beforehand everything must naturally be fantastic. Then, too, most of theso episodes are but the mere incidents of the artist's dream. Some of . them are. beautifully acted. To get good acting I have given small scenes whero it can be closely watched, and they alternate with larger scenes, where we try to get the atmosphere of Venice. Mme. Maria Carmi, who played the Madonna here in 'Tlw Miracle/ plays the leading role in this,, and I should be disappointed if London did not seo her." . Harry Lauder-In Comedy. - On. Tuesday, October 29, at tho Comedy Theatre, -London,'a matineo of "A ; Scrape of the Pen," in. aid of tho Santa Claus. I?und, was made additionally interesting by the appeaianw of Mr. Harry, Lauder in'the part of Ge'ordie Pow. "The Stage" ■says:— It was-a.-Lauder afternoon, .as, after the second act, he appeared before' the curtain to say a few words, whon-. he sang a verse of "Kocked in the Cradle of tho Deep.' He explained that tho matinoe had realised J!228.\ He wanted to bring it up to .£250. Ho would givo -^1-towards that object, and hoped that the plates which awaitod the audience at - the doors' when they departed would do the Test.". One of tho London critics penned this appreciation:—"lf ever Harry. Lauder tires of the music-halls—ono can hardly conceive tho muslc : halls tiring of\ hini— he may rely on finding a ready opening for his talents on the legitimato stage.So muoh was proved by his appearance at yoaterday'a matinee in 'A, Scrape o' the Pen.' It was particularly' noticeable that Mr. Lauder at no timo attempted to, give the character a prominence in excess of its merits. He was always 'in |'the picture, always prepared, when the exigencies of the piece required, to subordinate his efforts to these of his companions. But his pawky humour, his neat sense of characterisation, his,feeling for,what is : artistically effective, shone out'steadily ■and clearly throughout.the afternoon."

costumes, M. Piorro Loti's play, 'Tho Daughter of Heaven," produced recently at tho Century Thealro, New York, proved disappointing. Acojvdiug to tho "Now York Times," tho play is rich in spectacle, but is dramatically deficient, and "thero is an overplus of niechunical jioiso called music." Tho "New York World" is equally sovero. This newspapor pays 11 tribute to tho t untold wealth spent by Liebler and Co. in staging tho play, and to Woblor's special embassies to China which gathered "atmosphere" for tho production, but declares unhesitatingly that tho new Chincso drama was not a success. Ono critic declared that Georgo Egerlun's "laboured and unpootic adaptation of loti's story" was tho play's chief handicap, and all seem dismally agreed that tho drnicntic interest of tho production is sluggish' and tho acts very long drawn-out. ."Uninspired conversation in a w rid full of unusual beauty" is tho cnuiment of tho "Now York Sim." Tho nudienco applauded M. Loti at tho closo of tho ploy, and ho rose in his box to I>iw. Notes, Mr, Fred. Niblo, of "Get Rich Quick Wallingford" fame, appeared in a now rolo at tho recent Actors' Association in Sydney—that of a raonologuo entertainer. For nearly half an hour ho kept tho h'ouso in'fits of laughter iwith his humorous stories, and altogether was tho success of tho afternoon. People wore surprised at the ability displayed by tho comedian in this typo of entertainment, but, as a matter of fact, Mr. Niblo is by no means new at tho game. For somo years ho wns connected with vaudeville as a. monologist, and indeed was tho first of his countrymen to introduce tho art in London, at tho Palace. As a matter of fact, 110 is under contract to apnear at tho Palace for six weeks each year, though this particular engagement is suspended during his present tour undor tho J, C. "Williamson, Lt(l- management. Mr. Clifford O'Keofe, tho Christchurcli basso, now on tour with tile Carrie Moore Company, was a member of the original "Madanio Butterfly" Opera Company in Australia aud New Zealand. He Ims a fine ringing light bass voice, with plenty of power and a deal of artistic restraint. It is his intention to try his fortune in England somo timo next year.