THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[Br Sylvius.] The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage,—Hey wood. J. C. Williamson's Attractions, .Jho J. C. Williamson programme of attractions to bo stayed in Melbourne (Hiring tho next few weeks is characterised by both novelty and variety. At Her Majesty's, "Tho Sunshine Giri" will succeed "Tho Count of Luxembourg" on Saturday, May 17. On May 3 "Milestones" pt "io Theatre Royal will give way to 'Mail and Superman," the brilliant comedy by Bernard Shaw, in which Julius Knight will appear as John Tanlie}', and Irene Browne as Ann Whitefield. This will be staged for the last last twelve nights of tho season. A most important attraction will follow Shaw's I'lay, when a specially organised company, including some notablo American artists, will present tho great American dramatic success "Within tho Law," recently secured by Mr. Williamson when in New York, (ienee, tho world's greatest dancer, and the Imperial Russian Ballet, will open at Her Majesty's in June after "The Sunshine Girl" has finished its run, and another interesting attraction at the Theatre Royal will be the production of "Tho Fortune Hunter," with Fred Niblo and Josephine Cohan in the principal roles. Live San Francisco, When we pause sometimes to think how far we are as playgoers from the big artistic centres of tiio world, where people aro not altogether dependent on melodrama and picture shows for entertainment, we arc apt to forget that within three weeks ef Wellington is San Francisco, where things do really happen. I was forcibly reminded of this during tho week by noticing the number of star shows in and about San Francisco. Sarah Bernhardt had just finished a season in vaudeville; Genee, and tho Russian dancers who aro to acompany her to Australia shortly, were just moving out; and the Chicago Grand N Opera Company (with Tettrazzini, Mary Garden, Dufranne, Eleanora di Cisneros) were in the middle of a season of opera, in which "Herodias." "The Jewels of the Madonna," "Thais," "Rigoletto," "Lucia di Lammermoor," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Salome" were played. Clara Butt and Kennerley Rumford were announced to appear at the Cort Theatre; Josef Lhe-' vinne, tho famous Russian pinnist, was appearing in concert, and Ysaye, one of the world's greatest violinists, was announced to appear; and Captain Rnold Amundsen was to lecture on the discovery of the South Pole. In addition to these attractions, Charles Waldron was appearing at the Alcazar in "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," "The Prince of Pilsen" was being played'by a full musical comedy company, and Chauncey Olcott was starring in "Tho Isle of Dreams." These were in addition to numerous vaudeville and picture shows. All of which shows that Sail Francisco is a very live place as far as the stage is concerned. Miss Sara Allgood. Of Miss Sara Allgood the 1 leading actress, of the Irish Players, now visiting America for the second time, an American writer says: "There will be a time when America will have no greater actress." Her history, in brief, is summed up as follows:—"When she was fourteen her father died. There were four girls and four boys in the family of eight. "Sallie" Allgood was the second in the octette, and it hehoved her to toil for the family. She toiled with.a fresh, sweet-toned contralto, singing at county fairs and festivals airs from popular operas. One of these was The Amorous Goldfish' from 'The Geisha,' and her encore number was always the same 'Kathleen Mavourneen.' In a fcis (Irish for turnvercin, or singing festival) she won fourth place among forty-eight singers, for the freshness and b?auty of her voice and for her execution. "There broke out a fad for learning Irish and the large-eyed young singer fell into the enthusiasm. She recited in Irish and heard of tho Fay Brothers who were giving plays in Irish. She wanted to join their organisation, the Irish National Theatre Society, • but sorrowfully gave up lhe plan when she found it involved paying a guinea a year for membership. Frank Fay, who had heard her recite, waived the prohibitive guinea. "Thus she became one of the Irish Players. Thus she turned tho luck of the struggling Abbey Theatre. TJiusshe has shone with starlike brilliancy on tho two visits of the Hibernian Players to America. We would welcome lier, as a permanency. But Ireland, having less than u hundred players, would sorely miss Sallio Allgood, who is . at least twenty-five." London Fare. An unusual number of new pieces have during the first quarter of thp year in London, and this fact probably accounts for the revival of several successful plays of 'n past generation. One of these is Pinero's early effort, "The Schoolmistress," with Winifred Emery in the female-part, a character which has been played here both by Mnggio Moore and Mrs. Brough. Tho London cast brought forward Dion G. Boucicault ag Vcrcker, the impecunious, supper-giving little, husband ot the schoolmistress, and) it is interesting to note that the actor played the same part in Australia nearly 20 years ago. On March 2G "Diplomacy" was revfVed at Wyndham's Theatre. 'The Bancrofts originally produced Sardou's comedydrama in 187S, with Mrs. Kendal as Dora. The play has now been superficially modernised, with references to taxi-cabs and telephones, and the abolition of soliloquies. But in effect it remains the same "well-made play of Sardou." and the up-to-date critics, whilst apologising for it on that account, havo been forced to record an astonishing success with tho audience. Miss Gladys Conner as Dora, Mr. On en Nares as tho husband (Julian), Mr. Gerald du Maurier as Henry Beauclere. Mr. Norman Forbes as Saron Stein, Miss Ellis Jeffreys as Countess Zieka, and Mr. Arthur 'Wontner as Orloff, are described as canying all before them. Sir Herbert Tree has produced "The Happy Island" at Her Majesty'?, a noor kind of piece adapted from "the Hungarian. "Vigorous colouring, variegated lights, dancing natives, and a ■ general air of pantomime represented the South Sea Island, where fortunes wero made in radium." The "Westminster Gazette." sums up the whole thing as "rubbish"; other papers let it down very gently indeed, or praise it altogether. "The American Maid."

Anything to which John Philip Sousa puts his name is likely to be interesting (says the New York "Theatre"). In liis_ latest camic opera, "The American Maid," he has written some tuneful and charming music, and the Ixiok and lyrics provided by Lcunard Licbling leave little to be desired. The piece is superior to the average Broadway musical comedy inasmuch as it contains a real plot, A feature of the performance is a tight between Spaniards, graphically shown by means of kinemafograph picture*, wipeii Sousa aptly illustrates with one of his famous marches. _ Louiso Gunning made a charming heroine and sang well, and John Park was well liked in the leading role. Wln>n John Philip was in Wellington in 1911 ho admitted to l>oing "guilty" of another comic opera, which he hoped to (stage sooner or later after his return to tho States. It is strange that nono of Sousa's works (other than his marches) have be-on produced in Australasia. 'His light opera. "El Capitaine," was quite a success both in America and England. "The American Maid" includes o ringing march, which is likely to be as worldfamous as "The Stars and Stripes," and a dozen other martial strains which set the blood swirling. Miss Ethel Irving. Having gone into management, Miss Ethel Irving commenced her first season at the Globe Thealtre, London, on April 1, with Ernest Denny's three-act comedy, "Vanity." _ The cast included Miss Mabel Trevor, Miss Caroline Bayley, Mr. .Tames Lindsay, and Mr. Townsenil Whitling, who are well-known to Sydney playgoers. Hiss Trevor had her sucress there with Mr. Hugh Buckler in "The Woman in The Case," and "A Fool There Was," shortly before Miss Irving came to Australia. "The Place," Manli W, had 'these tcjujarks:—"iliss Ethel Irviiur is net uiak-j

ing tho mistake of putting all her eggs into one basket. Tho intention is 'that her management shall lie a permanent theatrical institution, and she has already made. her plans well ahead. After "Vanity/' Miss Irving will revive Somerset Maugham's "Lady Frederick," in which she mado one of her greatest successes. Then, turning from comedy to drama, she will essay a tragic rolo associated with tho i'amo of Sarah Bernhardt, and in 'the autumn, in conjunction with Mr. Charles Frohman, she will produce an Americau play, which has achieved i'amo in tho United States. Notes. The following is tho cast of tho Julius Knight production, of "II an and Supermail" at'the Theatre Royal, Melbourne:— Julius Knight as John Tanner, Robert Wliito. jun., as Roebuck Hnmsden, Martin Lewis as Oclavius Robinson, Ijeslie Victor as Henry Strakcr, Herbert Ford as Hector Malone, Arthur Greenaway as Air. Malone, Fen., J. Plumpton Wilson as Meiidoza, Maggie Knight as Mrs. Whitciield, Mary Goulden as Violet Robinson, Emma 'l'emplo as Susan Ramsden, Dorothy Cummings a parlourmaid, and Irene Browne as Ann Whiteficld. Tho play will be produced by Julius Knight, unci will bring tho season to a close. Allan Dale, tho famous New York critic, recently wrote a long eulogy of Mile. Clence, tho world's greatest dancer, after seeing her performance at the Metropolitan, New York, and described her personality as most remarkablo. "To see tier," ho wrote, "is to realise the true meaning of the term, 'tho poetry of motion.' But not only is it that her marvellous dancing cnchaints one, but the magnetic l'orco of her personality indelibly impressed upon the audience. She makes one feel that tliero is a 'true inward meaning in all that sho does, and her wondrous art ot expressing it is as graphic by moans of her dancing as. any actrcss could depict by words or actions. Genee is incomparable! Tho English Pierrots closed 'their beach season at St. Kilda, Melbourne, oa April 21, and wound up as usual with a big show in the Prahan Town Hall on April 23. They will bo over this way again at, tho end of tho month.