THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1716, 5 April 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[By Sylvius.] The World's a t;heatre; the Earth a stage.— Heywood. "The Parish Priest." Next week Mr. Allen Doone is to introduce to playgoers a new Irish play, entitled "The Parish Priest." On the authority of Mr. Doono himself, I liavo it' that the play is a good one, and in stylo right away, i'rom the bright littlo comedies which the American-Irish actor has made so popular. There are sober, serious touches both in writing and situation, and altogether it is a play which is said to make a bigger appeal than can be said of some of the other pieces. Mr. Doono wili himself appear as the aged ln'icst of tho parish. Who is Smith? > When Mr. Workman (who later created the role of Bumerli in "The Chocolate Soldier" in London) staged "Two Merry Monarchs" at the Savoy,' London was placarded with announcements regarding the appearance of a new comedian who was to capture audiences. All London was wondering who the comedian was, when the first announcements were followed by the. intimation that "Smith is coming." "Who.is Smith"? everybody asked. And the wonderment increased. At last ,tho immense amount of curiosity was allayed by the announcement that Phil Smith would make jiis- '-first appearance., . The novel means of advertising caused a regular.boom; to set in,' and playgoers rushed the Savoy to, see Smith. Tho comedian, however, achieved a genuine success. Tho "Daily Chronicle," for example, said of .him: "Smith, the quaint little comedian, mado his West End debut before a delighted audience. His face is a marvel of whimsicality, and he has a pair of the most mirth-provoking legs that ever a funny man was blessed with. Smith is a real find." Smith will make his first appearance in Australia as Brissard in "The Count of Luxembourg" at Melbourne Her Majesty's this eveniDg. "The Fortune Hunter." . Winchell' Smith's American comedy 'T.'ho Fortune Hunter" was produced in Sydney on March 22 by the company which recently played, "Get-Rich-Quick-Wallingford" in Wellington. The premiere was an entire success, and there is no reason to believe' but that tho new play will run' well. Describing tho play, .the Sydney "Sunday Times" says:— "The story of this good, clean comedy is tho story of Nathaniel - Duncan, a young American with -a college education, who has gone through his money, and who cannot make a living honestly or dishonestly. A wealthy frjerid, Harry Kellogg, suggests that matrimony is the best game for a man in bad circumstances to play. Kellogg says that anj'city man who dresses well, and, giving up smoking, swearing, and drinking, attends church regularly, can go to a country town and within a year have his pick of the eligible' heiresses. Supplied by Kellogg with funds as a fortune-hunter, and following the rules which have been laid for him, Nathaniel departs from New York to try his luck in Kadville. Mtire by accident than design, he gees' into partnership with Samuel Graham, an old druggist and inventor, who is on tho, verge of. bankruptcy. While making a success of the business, the fortune-hunter becomes interested in the druggist's badlydressed and neglected daughter, Betty, a bright girl,- who has had little or no education. Betty is sent.to a.'boardingschool by Nathaniel; who improves tho shining hour by. becoming engaged to Josephine Loclcwood, the daughter of the richest man in town. With the return of Betty,-who has gone through a Cinder- ; clla-like transformation, tho fortunehunter whistles tho advico/of tho c'om-mercial-minded Kellogg down the. wind. Turning froiri the heiress and declaring his love for the'old druggist's daughter, lie asks Betty, to bo.'his wife. While, exchanging their vows of love and loyalty, in , the last' scene, Nathaniel and Betty, aro caught ill a heavy, shower of rain.. There the happy, lovers stand in the semi-' darkness, oft.thfi.'.thuriderstorin—the world forgetting,., by. the world forgot. A more - amusing yo.t appealing .ending to a play we have never had on the stage in Sydney. Magnetic, persuasive, and always pleasing, Mr, Fred Niblo seeriied to bo living the; part of Nathaniel Duncan— not acting' iti Retaining the easy grace and freedom of manner which helped to mlike him so great a favourite as - Wallingford, Mr. Niblo responded, apparently without; effort, to tho increased demands'lipon his art as an actor.. Miss' Josephine- Cohen, Miss Beatrice .Holloway, Mr. Robert Greig, and Mr. E. Perio Bush-aro praised for their -A'ork. A Lauder Story. 1 ' .Tho Scottish- practice of Bible-reading was the subject of a story which Harry Lauder, tho fa'mous comedian, recently related to a party of friends. "It was a tine September night," said Lauder, "and, as tho harvest was nearly in, the guid farmer decided to finish operations after the usual weo bit of supper and BibleVeadi'ng. As' it 'hrjppeiwd, tho lesson for tho day was inconveniently long. In fact, it was ono of thoso guid old, testament chapters telling how one begat anither, and anither begat anither, in about eighty or ninety verses. The farmer paused at. such a task when tho harvest was waiting. Then, deciding that business was before pleasure, ho announced solemnly to the assembled company : 'Men, I have here a chapter of eighty-one verses telling how ono begat anither, and, as the harvest is waiting, I'll just read tho first, verse and leavo them Ato their . begatting wliilo we get in tho harvest!" ■ Professional Etiquette. Harry Lauder, who has been booked for an Australian tour next year, was lately talking. of professional etiquette, and mentioned the. case of a singer who refused to appear, with him on one occasion-. At the time, some years ago.-Hari'y-and the vocalist wero members of a small company engaged to give a concert at a '•Scottish village. The singer, a basso, however, declined to be heard on the samo bill with what A ho described as "a vulgar comic singer." Furthermore, ho broadly hinted that Lauder should retiro from the programme to save all further unpleasantness. Lauder refused, with the result that the basso grabbed his music and coat, and left the building. ■ The concert was a huge success and Lauder received no fewer than six encores. "That'man," observed Harry, commenting on tho affair, "afterwards became a chorister in a third-rato opera company, and' only a week or two ago lie touched me for two shillings in a London side-street." Note. It is not irnprobable that the successful farcical comedy . "Baby Mine" will bo played in Australasia under tho management of Mr: Allen Dcone, who is at pre- 1 sent negotiating-to purchase the colonial rights outright. Mr. Doono would not appear in tlie comedy, as ho would still keep his Irish comedies going, but considers that Miss Edna Keeley would lie ideally suited in the leading role—a bright, winsome American girl of a butterfly disposition. The new Opera House, in Manners Street, is rapidly taking shape, and if I am not very much mistaken, Sanders Bros, will be.through with their contract a good deal prior to the stated time—December next. I should say that, barring any unforeseen delays, the new theatre should be ready for occupation about the end of October. J. C. Williamson, Ltd.'s, lease of the present Opera House does not lapse until tho end of 101f, and the new house is to be leased to "the Firm" immediately on its completion. It is also understood that Williamson, Ltd., have an option to renew the lease of tho old theatre as well as an arrangement to take up a long lease of the new. Tlie Oscar A.sche-Lily Bra.vton final season in Sydney will commence at tho Theatre Royal oil April 1!). The opening play will Ije "Antony and Cleopatra," to lie produced for the first time there. "As You I,ike It," in a new setting, will probably follow. Tho central idea of tho plot of "The Count of Luxembourg," to bo staged in Melbourne shortly by (lie J. C.' Williamson New Comic Opera Company, is that the Grand Duko cannot marry Angela— with whom he is infatuated—unless sho bears a title, lie therefore induces tho spendthrift', Count Rene, to marry « lady ■who?? faco ho i.s not to-sec, and to agree to a divorce in three months. For this tho Count receives a sum of .E2O,AMf. Laler on the young maple meet, and I lie Grand Duke' is lioist with his own petard-