THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 33

THE THEATRE.

[BY SYiTiua.] The World's a theatre; the Earth a . stage.—Heywood. Allen Doone Again. Within a few days Wellington is to have another visit from Allen Doone, tho Irish-American singing comedian. He ■lias made a most successful tour of the Dominion, and is returning to Wellington to appear for a week in his now play, "In Old Donegal," which so far has not been seen in Sew Zealand. It is not, perhaps, gonerajly known why Mr. Doone carries with him a bigpowered racing car. Tho fact is that ho is a "speedist," and still has tho spirit which carried him to the winning post so often when ho was a crack cyclist in America some twelve or thirteen years ago.

The Picturo Business in U.S.A. Tho "movies" are still booming in America, the growth of their popularity during the last three years having l>eeu wonderful. Tho Chicago correspondent of tho "New York Times," who was recently supplied with some figures by Alvin B. Giles, treasurer of tho Western Picture Company, wrote:— "At tho present timo tho American pc-oplo aro spending 500,000 dollars daily on motion picture shows. Every day in tho United States moro than 5,000,000 persons go to see moving picture shows, and on an average each person usually stays an hour. There are at least 20,000 of these moving picture-show houses in tho United States, and the number increases at the rate of thirty to seventy a week. There are in the United States 500,000 persons engaged directly or indirectly in tho moving picture business, which represents an investment of 200,000,000 dollars."

• A big move' forward has been made through some of tho leading American theatrical managers having taken up the business. These include Mare Klaw (of Klaw and Erlanger) and Daniel Frohman, who is now chief director of the famous Players' Film Company. All the successes of the Klaw and Erlanger and Schubert circuits (two. of the largest dramatic circuits in U.S.A.) will be made available for picture purposes. It is also intended by this management to release two plays a month, beginning in September next. As for the Famous Players' Company, it has already taken Sarah Bernhardt in a production of "Queen Elizabeth," James O'Xoill in "Jlonto Christo," and James E; Hacket in "Tho Prisoner of Zenda." . The new movejnent is not one that will make a very convincing appeal to genuine lovers of the drama. Indeod, tho prospect of seeing a "dumb" representation of a play, even if it is performed by first-class actors, before . one has a chance of seeing the play itself, has its dangers for theatrical managers in this part of tho world. In America one assumes that the picture of' a successful play would not be released until it had toured the country, but ihat protection would hardly be possible in more remote parts of the world. With all the successes being made available for film purpose*. it is conceivable that we nmv 'see at tho end of the year a picture of the newest comedy, "What Happened to Mnrv," but we may not see the comedy itself for a couple of years, if at all. On the oilier hand, we have been debarred from witnessing several verv successful plays, which have been played now for two or three years, such as "Bnnty Pulls the Strings." "His House in tOi-der," "Ilimander AV a,lt > and a host of good dramas, which we would prefer to see in picture form than not at all.

Old Enough. Mr. E. W. Morrison, the producer of "Within the Law" at the Melbourne Theatre. Royal, has a fund of reminiscence regarding -his experiences on tour in the United States. The laws vary in different States, particularly in regard to the .regulations pertaining to tho theatres, and at one town at which Mr. Morrison was to produce a play called "The Cat and the Chenib," it was found that there was a law against children under 16 years of age appearing on the stage. "Now, the central character in the play was a little child," said Mr. Morrison, "and tho position threatened to become very awkward for tho production. However, I managed to get hold of a dwarf for tho.part, and ho shaped very well at rehearsals"One morning the superintendent of police put in an appearance, having been 'put on to' us by the manager of the opposition show, who thought that he was going to see our downfall. Eight in the middle of the rehearsal the officer walked up to the stage, and addressed the 'cherub.' 'Now, then, my boy, how old ara you?'' 'Thirty-three,' shouted the 'boy, in a voice so strong and manly that the police officer retired precipitately."

George Marlow, Ltd., Affairs. , The internal management of the George Marlow, Ltd., Theatrical Company was recently ventilated in Sydney before Justice Harvey, the plaintiffs being Messrs. Gcorgo Willoughby Don-so (commonly known as George Willoughby), managing director, Geo. T. Eaton and A. B. Davies, directors, and the defendant, Joseph Marks (commonly known as Georgo Marlow). Tho action was one to determine and define tho. powers of veto vested in Georgo Marlow as governing director, which plaintiffs maintained only referred to matters of policy, but which Mr. Marlow had interpreted to give him the absolute right of veto with regard to any action on tho part of the managing director (Mr. Willoughby). In the statement of claim it was set out that the capital of the company was .£50,000—.£45,000 credited as paid up. : These shares were held as follow:—Joseph! Marks, 28,000; A. B. Davies, 6000; T. Easton, 6000; G. W. Dowse, 4000; Frederick Marks, 100; Ethel Marks (Mrs. Marlow), 100; C. Simonsens, 100; W. J. E. Davies, 100; and S. Rosenthal, 600. It transpired that there had been many differences of opinion between Messrs. Marlow and Willoughby respecting the purchase of a play on a royalty basis irom Wilton Welch, the castings of plays, the employment of artists, and the "featuring" of players in tho bills and newspapors. Another matter was a difference over tho engagement as business manager for the New Zealand tour of Mr. Stanley Grant, who had refused tho engagement at £8 a week, and had been given .£lO by Mr. Willoughby. The engagement had been cancelled by Mr. Marlow. The defence was that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to apply for any such definition as that sot forth in the statement of claim. The case was only part heard when the mail left.

A Popular Organisation. Tho popular Hamilton-P/inimer Dramatic Company, which has just concluded an entirely successful season in Melbourne, is due to commence a tour of New Zealand on Monday next, when they will appear in Invercargill, in the fascinating drama "A Woman of Impulse." In this play very fine acting opportunities occur, ■which the talented members of the company have not been slow to.avail themselves of. Notably good performances aro credited to Miss Beatrice Day, Mrs. Brough, Mr. Harry Roberts, and Mr, Arthus Styan. Tho company will also revivo that charming comedy "Dr. Wake's Patient" during ttie pending tour. The Wellington dates are from July 3 to 12. The Russian Dancers. It was most interesting trying to interview Mdllo Helena Schniolz, tho premier feinalo dancer of the Imperial Russian ballet, and M. Alexander Volinin, tho premier danseur classiquo, from the Imperial Opera House, Moscow, but it was highly unsatisfactory. M. Volinin's vocabulary of English is, to say tho least, small, and that of Mdlle. Schniolz but very little more extensive. Could M. Volinin have danced what he wished to say—or even what tho interviewer would have had him say—it might have been possible to reproduce some of his thoughts on his art. As it was, however, the struggle with language became more and more desperate every minuteon both sides. Tho question, lame, and haltingly put, called forth almost as many different expressions upon tho faco of tho danseur as thero were words in the interrogation—a momentary flash of comprehension, then a puzzled frown, and finally blank despair. "Like story," he said. "Not liko waltz. All kinds dance make story." . It was not very explicit, perhaps, as far as tho languago wont; but ho added, "This, thie, this, and this make story",' tod with each s'thja'i he touched hia

hanila, Ilia face, his tody, lis arms, and legs.

Volinin speaks a universal language when he dances. "1 dance," ho said, "everybody know." And ho went on to explain that the people of Brussels understood him equally well with thoso of New York. When Volinin was appearing in London he was drilling a ballet one day. It was impossible to hold ordinary converse with tho members of tho ballet, for they did not understand Jtussian, and lie could not speak sufficient English. Volinin therefore danced his instructions, and the ballet was perfect. And it was much in that fashion that Volinin told what there was to lie said for himself and Mdllo Schinolz. Volinin himself was destined by his parents to follow the profession which his father had adopted, that of an engineer, lint one day Volinin's father took him to sea the opera in Moscow. The result was an immediate desire on the part of tho boy to become a dancer. The lather's answer to the eager request was that young Volinin might in timo make a good engineer, but ho doubted very much whether he woujd ever make a dancer. However, the boy gained his way, and after a rigorous inspection by four or live doctors he was permitted to commence the course of study which resulted in his being to-day proclaimed one of the best malo dancers of the world—Melbourne "Argus." Notes, Beaumont Smith, who brought "Tiny Town," is, according to tho last mail from Europe, csfablishcd in his London, ofiics, where lie is arranging his attractions for this year, 1914, and 1915, for Australasia, Canada, and South Africa. Beaumont Smith had just arrived after six months in Africa, where "Tiny Town" has even surpassed its Australian boom. Its tour finishes there during the next few days, and tho company proceeds to America, where it will tour for twelve months at least. Beaumont Smith's future operations will extend right through Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada. Ho lias left Maurice Ralph, a most capable Australian, in charge of his African interests, and E, B. Young, a New Zealaniler, who recently conducted tho tours of Ada Crosslev, Nicola, and others through Africa, has left, for Montreal (Canada), to open a branch office there, and to arrango the American tour of "Tiny Town. Tho nature of Mr. Smith s coming attractions is not announced. However, he says the first will arrive in October or November, and will be under his own personal control.

"The Devil's Disciple," by Geo. Bernard Shaw, lias been staged by tho Adelaide Literary Society. This is the first representation of this ultra-sordid play.

Lancelot Booth an old actor and journalist, died in Sydney a few days ago, aged 07 years. He had not appeared on tho boards for some years.

"Fanny's First Play" is still running at the Little Theatre in Sydney. Mr. Hugh Buckler scorns to have made a success of his plucky venture.