THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[Br Sylvius.]

The World's a theatre; the Earth a Btage.—Heywood. Genuine Dramatic Attraction, After a considerable interval, Wellington is to bo afforded the opportunity of enjoying- tlio work of a really capable company, Tho reference is to tlio Hamilton-l'limmcr Company, which is to coromcnco a season at Hie Opera Ifoiiso on Thursday evening next in Widnell's recent London success, "A Woman of Impulse," a play which has been received elsewhere with enthusiasm, and which can hardly fail to give pleasure to thnso who love an intensely exciting story with plenty of human touches to knit the dramatic interest together. The play 13 not always wholly the thing, though it certainly counts big with the public. In the new Hamilton-I'limnier Companj wo have the strongest dramatic organise' tion that has visited New Zealand for a considerable tune. All tlio leading men have at ono time or other beeji at tlio head of this or that company. Mr. Arthur Styan was for years the leading "heavy" with Jtr. Bland Holt, and many will remember his compelling performances in such plays_ as "The Groat Millionaire," "The Prodigal Soli," and "Women ami Wine." Mr. Harry Koberts has headed several companies through New Zealand, and is known as a brilliant and niost versatile player. Mr. Sidney Sterling and Mr. Winter Hall are actors who have for years held responsible portions with Williamson Companies, and Mr-. Harrv Plimmer has "led" his own 'company now for the past three years. The company is equally strong in. lady playera. Miss Beatrice Day returns once more to exhibit her finished art, and Mrs. Robert, Brough's name is too well known to need any elaboration. The company, also in Miss Ena Collins a young and attractivo ingenue actress of promisi-, "Dr. Wake's Patient"—prettiest of comedy dramas—will also be played by the company. Fuller-Brennan Stars. Prank 1 J. • Sidney and Co., featuring high and long jumping, interspersed with comedy, are now touring tho BrennanFuller theatres in tho. Dominion, and will shortly appear here. Sydney hails from the Continent, and his act has "drawn" in Australia. . Schepp's Novelty Circus, now at Biisbane, will come to tho Brennan-Fuller theatres in New Zealand during tho next few weeks. No American importation of Tecent years has drawn such big attendances to the Australian vaudeville theatre as has this act. "Ben." Fuller has extended tho Bren-nan-Fuller Circuit to Broken Hill and Port Pirie. Also, a long lease has been taken of the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, tho. first attraction probably being the Carrie. Moore Musical Comedy Company. Oscar Asche's Arrangements. "As far as I can see," said Mr. Oscar Asche, in Sydney last week, "there is no prospect of my returning to Australia; so that tho few nights we have left in Sydney constitute our farewell. When we have visited Adelaide and Perth we will have completed an Australasian tour of sixty weeks. During this time wo will have submitted to Australian audiences the following plays: 'Kismet,' 'Othello,' 'The Merry' Wyes of AA T indsor,' 'Antony and Cleopatra, 'Taming of the Shrew,'

and 'A Midsummer Night's J)rcam.' Our previous Australasian tour was fifty weeks, when we offered in addition 'Count' Hannibal,' 'As You Like It,* 'Tho Merchant of Venice,' besides recitals of 'Julius Caesar.' The present tour has, in the matter of business—that is, • receipts—far exceeded the success of tho first visit. On tho other hand, this company is far more expensive. At tho same time I am more than satisfied with the Tesults from tho box office end, while the renewal of association with Australian audiences has also been very pleasant." Looking into the future, the star stated that ho had several offers to visit America, and it was likely that ho would go thero before very long. He had once visited New York, as Maldanado in Pinero's play "Iris." • Canada was also opening up as a field for theatrical enterprise. Forbes-Robertson had dono well there, and so also had Willard. Mr. Asche has so far not been to Africa, and thero was scope for a good tour there. On his return to London he intended. to revive "Kismet," and this ho would follow at Christmas with his dramatisation of Rider, Haggard's novel "A Child of Storm." ' "My work has been completed upon this," Mr. Asche said. "Rider Haggard is now putting the. finishing touches to it," The Good Luck Kick. Any stranger behind the scenes at Melbourne Her Majesty's Theatre on the opening night of Adeline Genee and the Imperial Russian Ballet would have been amazed at a little incident that was enacted just before Mile. Genee made her entrance from the wings. Mr. Hugh Ward approached tho great dancer, and raising his foot, kicked her on tho leg. And the astonishment would have increased on it being noticed that Mile. Genee, far from being incensed at this apparent liberty, was greatly pleased at it, and rippled with laughter. Mile. Genee explained the incident in this way. "You see," she suid, "while I am not exactly over-superstitious, thero aro still some little things I pay regard to. and ono of them is that before I make my first appearance anywhere I must bo given a 'good-luck kick' prior to making my entrance. I mentioned this, laughingly, to Mr. Ward when I arrived in Sydney, and he said it would giro-him the greatest pleasure to present me with the lucky kick on the opening night of the season. So he has come all tho way from Sydney to do so." Notes. Mr. Lewis Waller will open at the Theatre Royal on July 12 in "King Henry V." The distinguished actor is bringing a company of twenty from London. Mr. Waller and his company reached Colombo on Juno 14. The Williamson management will put on a new musical comedy, "Autumn Manoeuvres," in Sydney beforo tho end of June. Mr. Thomas Quinlan is bringing- an opera company of 173 persons to Australia. There are 52 picked instrumentalists.