THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

[Bt Sylvius.]

The World's a theatre; th« Earth a stage,—Heywood. The Allen Doone Season. The American-Irish singing comedian Mr. Allen Doone, who visited Wellington last year under the Marlow engagement, is duo to commence a season at tho Opera House on Saturday, March 22, on this occasion under his own management. The season will commence with tho com-edy-drama, "The Wearin' o' the Green," which has proved a good draw in Australia, and will bo followed by "Sweet County Kerry," "Romance in Ireland," "Molly Bawn," and "The Parish Priest." In the latter play, produced during his recent season, Mr. Doone will be seen in a serious role, which demands strong dramatic acting. His performance was most favourably noticed by tho Sydney critics, who expressed surprise at tho versatility of the young actor. Mr. Doone will be supported by Miss Edna lveeley and a capable company. Coming Atractions, The following is the itinerary (as'far as tho four centres are concerned) of the attractions which are being sent co New Zealand by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., this year "The Blue Bird"—Auckland, March 22 to April 1; Wellington, April 19 to May 1; Christchurcli, May 3 to May 13; Dunedin, May 1C to May 22.. "l'uss-in-Boots" Pantomime—Wellington, June i to June l-l; Auckland, June 26 to July 5; Christchurch, July 16 to July 26; Dunedin, July 29. to August 7. "Milestones" and "Bella Donna" (Julius Knight Co.)— Wellington, August 27 to September 9; Christchurch, September 11 to September 23; Dunedin,-September 26 to October 2; Auckland, October 22 to November 1 or 8. Royal Comic Opera Co.—Auckland, September 8 to September 29; Wellington, October 16 to November 1; Christchurch, November 3 to November 15; Dunedin, November 19 to November 27, . Walter Bentley Redivivus. Mr. Walter Bentley, who ha? been a teacher of stago deportment and. elocution in Sydney for some years, reappeared in that city as "Hamlet" on Saturday week last. Says the."Sunday Times":— "Little more than a year ago Mr. H. B. Irving gave us what may bo described as a young and aesthetic Hamlet at Her Majesty's Theatre. Yet without tho; advantage of youth Mr.' Bentley in his ' matured and measured' reading of the part does not suffer by. comparison,' on the test points of fine acting,- with Sir Henry Irving's.son. In the.-delivery , of the famous 'speeches' • Mr. , Bentley . is much better than Mr. Irving. Clinging to the traditions of the old English school of stage elocution, Mr. Bentley has the art of sending every word clean over the : footlights to the audience, and the text ! never becomes clouded by slovenliness of speech." Hero and there the. veteran Hamlet gave too much weight and emphasis to lines that might have been tossed off lightly. Still one prefers dignity of style and sustained earnestness of manner in "Hamlet" to the free and easy methods of the so-called modern school of 'natural acting.'" The Drama in London, In London, tho, chiof theatrical event of the third week in January was tlio production t at the St. James's Theatre of "Turandot, Princess of China," taken from a German play, based upon the "Re Turandote," which was one of the delights of Italian playgoers in the 18th century. This "Chinoiserie;" as it is called, is a spectacular piece of a Weirdly splendid, fantastically gorgeous, cliarac ter. The press critics express every \possiblo opinion about it. It is bright, it is, dull; Sir George Alexander has nevtr done anything better; and "Why did Sir George Alexander stage this rubbish"? may be quoted at hazard. Turandot is a girl of overpowering beauty, who hates men, and when princes from all over the World sue for her hand in marriage, she asks theiri three riddles./If they fail to answer them, they die;, -and the play opens with the decapitation'of the last of these victims! Then comes 'Prince Calaf, who succeeds, and fortunately.sho falls in love iritli '-him. There is an element of humour in-the piece, a great deal of charming: music by Busoni, and constant changes of scone. §orae writers praise- it as an enjoyable extravaganza, and others sum it up as a. dull,pantomime. Mr.. Godfrey Searle and Miss Evelyn- d'Alroy played the leading parts. At the Prince of Wales's Theatre, "Esther Gastways," a new play on American social, life, by Jerome K.' Jerome (known here by "Tho Passing of tho Third Floor Back"), proved "pretentious, wholly artificial, and prolix." Miss Mario Tempest appeared in the name-part'as the wife of a politician fighting to free America from tho horrors of child-labour-in factories, during which righteous struggle he 'falls in love with' another woman. Mrs. Castways offers to ■ resign her 'husband to her rival for tho sako of his cause, which would be ruined by a scandal; but somehow the story failed to interest the audience continuously, though there was a hearty call for tho author. On January 22 the Play'houso reopened with "The Headmaster," a comedy of school life, by AV. T. Coleby, and E. Knoblauch. It is a gentlo but amusing story of Dr. Sanctuary and his boys; of his daughters and their love affairs with an assistant master and a prefect; of a very Anthony-Trollopian sister of a Dean,; who marks the headmaster for her own, and very nearly succeeds in marrying him; and of the worthy doctor's . ambitions for a bishopric. Mr. Cyril Maudo proved the life 1 and soul of thought that the piece, will "catch on." A Notable Speech. The following is the specch which Mr. G. S. Titheradge, the actor, appended to the reading o£ Captain Scott's last letter at the recent matinee in aid of the Antarctic disaster fund at Sydnoy:— "These are tho last words of one' who, evon on the threshold of death, thought only of others; and I doubt not his appeal will be answered nobly by tho people of that race and nation' whose scientific knowledge he was seeking to advance, and' in pursuit of which he and his brave' companions gave their lives. Our hearts go out' in sympathy with tho stricken mothers and wives and children, and es-, pecially to the poor lady on her way, as she imagined, a few days ago, to join her gallant husband. Captain Scott could not havo chosen a worthier mate. Sho is east in the same heroic mould. I havo tho privilege of knowing Mrs. Scott, and I remember, when little more than a girl, sho journeyed to flio near East. Some trouble had risen in tho Balkans—and, alone, and almost unassisted, she organised quite successfully .a'. systemof hospital < relief for tho wounded. ; Now,.poor lady; she is herself wounded," but I venture'to: hope liot mortally.' I.havo a feelings that sho andthe mother , of that other, liero,' Captain Oakes, 1 the man who disappeared into the unknown, to give his friends" a fighting chalice—what.a sublime' act it was! ■ Isny I cannot help feeling that, after ,the first sharp grief is past, they .will, find, their greatest solace in remembering how gloriously their loved ones gave their, lives for. their country. And while tho nation can produce men of .this, type,' while Devonshire is still able to breed ' sailors worthy to stand '■ besido Drake' and Frobislier and Raleigh, who shall dare say that Britain is degenerating? Let us thank God for the men whoso memory wo are hero to honour. Let" us'thank God there are still men in the world, no matter of what nationality, who can show us how to die nobly, patiently;-without a-murmur, simply, doing their duty.", . . Dion Boucicault and Disraeli. Writing of. the late ..Dion -Boucicault "Jimmy Glover, of:Drury Lane, writes in his book.of interesting reminiscences: "His Shaughraun" was. packing Drui'y Lane, cjul he appealed to Mr. Disraeli to liberate the Irish political prisoners as a concession.to.tho great sympathy"shown to the Drury Lane play. At this tinio there were many Irish "treason" prisoners in Australian gaols, and Boucicault wanted to credit tlie Dntry Lane cheers to the public demand for an amnesty, but Disraeli accused him of "playing to the gallery to advertise his forthcoming tour." anil refused—when questioned in the ilouso of Commons to interfere. This the dramatist scornfully repudiated, and to prove his sincerity threw up his personal interest—a matter of hundreds of thousands of pounds—and allowed tho part of Con in tho "Shaughraun" to be played by anyone. One of the originals was an actor named Hubert O'Grady, to whom Boucicault on the first night of the production at the Gaiety. Dublin, j'wired" from America: 'Tor heaven's sake cut down the wake scene or all's

Notes. Tho "Gctvßich-Quick Wallingford'? Comedy' Company is to appear in Sydney at Easter in "Tho Fortune-Hunter" with Mr. Fred. Niblo in tho leading role. Mr. H. Corson Clarke, who played Blackio Daw in tho quick-money comedy, will appear in vaudeville at tho Tivoli next month. During tho wock I received word from Mr. Hugh Ward that "The Sunshino Girl," produced a month ago in; Sydney by tho Royal Comic Opera Company, is a big success, and looks as if it were in for a long_ run. Tho Royal Comics are duo in Wellington in October next. Miss Ireno Dillon, at tho Princo of Wales's, Birmingham, is described as having won all hearts with her delightful singing and dancing. This is Miss Dillon's first pantomime engagement iii England, though sho has had good parts in Australia and America. Ono of her earliest parts was that of tho black slave-boy in "The Rose of Persia," with Carrio Moore, Charles Kenningham, and Ada Winston Weir. Allan Hamilton and Harry Plimmer, who havo reorganised their company, will revive "Dr. Wake's Patient" with an excellent cast, when the company begins operations in Sydney this evening. While Miss Beatrice Day will again appear as Lady Gerania, and Mrs. Brough in her original role of tho Countess, there will bo a new Dr. Wake—H. R. Roberts; while Arthur Styan will appear as Arthur Wake, G. S. Titheradge as the Earl of St. Olbyn, Sidney Stirling as Duff Wintcrdom, Harry Plimmer, as tho Bishop of Selby, Lizetto Parkes as Harriet Bronson, Muriel. Dale as Mrs. Murdoch, and Katie Towers as Mrs. Wake. . .It is rather a.coincidence in connection with tho appearance on the stage of Mr. Jas. C. Williamson in Sydney at the Scott Fund matinee that tho same ■piece should have been : selected for performance as that in which the veteran actor-manager appeared in last on the occasion of tho reopening of His Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, after, the fire ten years ago. - This was the Irish playlet "Kerry." Furthermore, it is noted by tho Sydney press that his chief support should have been the same on both occasions, viz., Mrs. Kelly and Mr. Harry Plimmer.; Mrs./Ivelly, now one of Sydney's leaders' of society, was ten years ago the beautiful aotress, Miss Ethel Mollison (who never visited New Zealand). She was also tho only "Madame Butter, fly" Australia has seen in Belasoo's drama (on which Puccini founded his charming opera), in which, by the way, Mr. Plimmer was the original Lieut. Pinkerton. ' " \