THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1770, 7 June 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tho World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. Monoy-Making Actors, .Although tho lato W. S. Pcnley was sam to mivo made .£200,000 out ot "Tho i rivntfl hueretary" and "Charley's Aunt," !'k nm nil'' )10 ' ; pilu ou ' luoro t ' uin i. i 10 X"JP"Jar London comedian inust navo lost heavily'in unwiso specuV 10113 .nitor his retirement l'rom tiio stage. John 1,. Toole, who visited Australia more than 20 yours ago, left j;7!),9Si. . Kicntly Mr. Toole was as much, a finan- ?! cr wus a comedian. ]''red Leslie, tho brilliant chief comedian of tho first London Gaiety Company to tour AusjJ". , was worth -tlG.lia when ho died, i roderick Ilobson was his real name. iMii'n 10 W cor ß° Wilde Galvin) saved ,110,991 out of his earnings. The estate or another comedian, Horbort Edward btorey (Herbert Campbell) left ,£1177. Among the actors who "died rich" wero: hilward O'Connor Terry, ,£<l4,oiiC; David Belaseo (David James), Xtl,. r /.U; Wilson Barrett, *80,862; Edwin Booth. Sir Honry Irving, Richard Corney Ciram, XIB,'JSO; William James Lcwin (William Terriss), .£18,257; William Rogers (Arthur Stirling), .£15,227. Mr. Forbes Robertson, who is now making his farewell appearance, is credited with being the richest actor in England.

Quintan's Lyric Tenor, Opera-goers in Australia will soon hear a lyric tenor who has won his laurels in Mr. Maurice D'Oisly, of the Quinlan Company, is not a Frenchman. Ho is "British born/' and proud of it. Mr. D'Oisly studied the piano in Franco under Maurice Noel, and later at the -Royal Academy of Music, London, under Tobias Matthay. Ho won tho Potter "exhibition" for pianoforte-playing, and (hen studied pinging under Frederick King at tho Academy'. Later he gained the Westmoreland Scholarship for singing. Ho studied for the stage -under Miss Rosina Filippi and .Mr. Norman Forbes Robcrtson. On leaving the lioval.Academy, the young singer went on the stage, appearing in various parts, including Charles Surface in "The Sshool for Scandal." His next move was to appear in comic opera on the Continent, appearing in "La Fille de Madame Angot." Mr. D'Oisly made his grand opera debut at Covent Garden in January, 1909, as David in "Die Meistersinger," under Hans Eichter. He sang there four seasons, and also under Thomas Beecham's management, appearing in some thirty operas. Joining Mr. Quinlan in October, 1912, ho created tho rolo of Julien in Charpentier's "Louise." The lyric tenor is said to be a fine equestrian. He is also fond of swimming, and he has won several prizes in swimming contests. "Damaged Goods " "Damaged Goods," the much-discussed play by Eugeno Brioux, which purports to nave a plea for the correction of a social evil, has just been given its first public performances at tho Fulton Theatre, New York (says tho "livening Journal" of April 15).

An audience of serious-minded persons filled the theatre, men being apparently in the great majority. In the form of sociological tracts, the theme of tho play has long been promulgated in a general way. One of the points of tic? production is tho insistence of the playwright on the lesson to bo conveyed and on tho necessity of more medical legislation. The audience was not admitted. by tho customary box office methods. Instead, a placard posted in tho lobby announced that active membership in the Sociological Fund, Medical Review of Reviews, entitling hearers to a scat could bs obtained by the payment of two dollars at the box office. Associate membership was 0110 dollar. Those desiring to witness the play were given cards certifying that thsy were members, after they had paid the necessary sum. The committeo under whose auspicrs tho play is being given mado indignant denial to-ilay that it was not suited to public performances, and pointed out that the Kev. John llayncs IfolmHS, of the.Unitarian Church of the Messiah, is credited with having stated: "I should like 'Damaged Goods' have a long run at 0110 of the theatres under the management of the type of Belasco or Frohman. No good reason could bs advanced'why it should not be given as a commercial enterprise., "These advertised performances ar? not wholly commercial in their final analysis. When all tho players have been paid and the other expenses covered, the remaining profits aro to go to the committee of the Aledical Review of Reviews, which proposed a campaign of education on this subject. For instance, it will father a Bill to bo presented at Albany requiring every candidate for marriage to present—well, a clean bill of health.' "A Woman of Impulso." "A Woman of Impulse," a ne\v London success, will be the main drawing card through New Zealand of the HamiltonPlinimer Dramatic Company's tour. This play has scored in Sydney and Melbourne, and this demonstrates that it is adapted for Australasian audiences as ' well as the London theatre-going public—not always tho case. Tho Melbourne "Ago" of May 5 said in tho oourso of a very flat- | teriug criticism: "There is much to be said for tho drama of Mr. Victor Widnell. It is crowded with incident, and affords 6cope for tho. display of every kind of Amotion from grave to gay and from lively to eincere. If it did nothing else it would be worth seeing for the opportunity it affords to almost every one of tho members of the present company." The Russian Dancers.

Members of the Imperial Russian Bal. let now in Melbourne m preparation for the Geneo season opening on .1 lino 21 lead a strenuous life, but there is the compensation of a safe and secure future. 'They commence their training as children, and for the rest of their career they are dancing. Practice forms portion of tlieir daily routine just as sleeping or eating. After twenty years' service they are retired, and are paid their full salary for the remainder of their lives, but they must never dance again, and they are- still under the direct control of the Imperial authorities of whom the Tsar i s the head. M. Yolir.in is proud of the fact-that he recently danced before King George at Windsor Castle. "His Majesty was most gracious to me," said M. Voiinin, "and asked me many questions as to the training of tlio Imperial Russian Ballet. Before I left lie gave nio this (exhibiting a gold medallion set with diamonds). His Majesty was so cordial that I made bold to toll "him how greatly he resembled in appearance our own Tsar, and ho seemed amused. But the likeness is great. I think I shall like dancing in Australia. At present the cliniato suits me very much."

"On the way out from England," says Violet Loraine, the principal boy in "Puss in Boots," "1 went ashoro at Port Said, and along with tho oilier passengers was surrounded by a crowd of frowsy vendors of all kinds of wares, from postcards to fruit and silk. One of them was more persistent than the others, and I was amazed when he said: 'You buy, Violet Loraine.' It seemed that he must have recognised me, and I did not know whether to feel flattered or not. My doubts wero set at rest, however, when another Arab approached, and addressed me as Marie Studholmo. It appeared that these street sellers get hold of the'names of English actresses, and address passengers by tho names in tlio hope of flattering them by compliment implied, and then doing business with them." Tho other night, Messrs. Hart and Whitnnire. who are nightly creating much amusement by their antics as a horse, were wanted for their I urn. The call boy camo along, and inquired: "Where's the horse, please?" "In the next room, playing cards with the eat," said one of the "strong men," who was endeavouring to push a big basket of wardrobe 01111 npparatus into his dressing room. "Here," lie called to his "strong man" partner, "Give 111 c a hand with this. It's too heavy." Those who have seen tho feats tho pair perform in "Puss in Boots" will apprcciate the joke.