THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 11

THE THEATRE.

[By Sy&vius.] The World's a theatre; the Earth a. stage.—Hey wood. "Quo Vadis?" ■ . . "Quo V.adis?" the profoundly impressive spectacular picture now being shown at His Majesty's Theatre, Courtenay Place, is an eye-opener as to -what developments the picture business is capable of compassing. Here in this ono. picture, the "Cincs" Company have assembled at least 500 people—soo actors—and all act in the scenes nativo to the story with, a fidelity that is remarkable. To have such a series of scenes—scenes which take in the riotous debauch in Caesar Is'cro's banqueting hall, the gravo meeting uf the Christians listening to the words of St. Peter the Apostle, the burning of Koine, and tho butchery of the Christians in the gladiatorial arena, demands a master producer's hand. Dramatically, I do not think the picture nearly so interesting or well acted as "Les Miserables," but for spectacular display, and great ensemble grouping and action, "Quo Vadis?" is wonderfully effective.

Genee's Shoes. There was an expression of incredulity on tho faces of tho transport staff at Melbourne Her Majesty's when a large case arrived from England, for stencilled on it wero the words, "Genee—Ballet Shoes." "It must be a mistake," said one. "How could Genee get through a big case of shoes like this P" Thero was no mistake, however. Tho grent dancer uses a pair of ballet sho?s every night— sometimes two pairs during a single performance^—and though the case contained 120 pairs of ballot shoes, Mdlle. Genee is not quite suij? if this supply will be sufficient. Miss Felice Lyne's Parts, Interviewed recently regarding her approaching visit to Australia with tho iiinlan Opisra Company, Felice Lync, the remarkable young prinia donna, said "I shall make my first appearance in Melbourne as Gilda in 'Eigoletto,' and following this, my roles will bo Marguerite in Fiuist,' Mimi in 'La Boheme/ Rosina in 'Barber of Seville,' thra heroines in 'Manon,' 'Madame Butterfly/ Suzanne in The Marriage of Figaro/ and Nedda in' Pagliacei/ I am looking forward to my first visit to Australia, and most of my timo on shipboard will be devoted to learning my parts .in English, for I have not previously sung them in that langlMfl-,."

"Autumn Manoeuvres." "Autumn Manoeuvres," the latest musical comedy, to be prcdiiced under the far-fluttering Williamson banner, has been written down as a success, or perhaps ono should say written up as "one success." Tho difference is immaterial, for one never happens to notice-any of tho Loii-don-mado musical comedies written down in Australia. They aro simply accepted as successes and written about accordingly. Some of the latest, ones produced, viz., "Tho ' Sunshine Girl," and '/The Count of Luxembourg," cannot be said to havo been roaring successes, but that is not the fault of J.. C. Williamson, or his companies. It is ineroly an indication that tho anaemia wlikli Jias attacked tho drama has spread to musical comedy. The shadow of plot may be briefly described:— A beautiful girl is the new owner of one of the "stately homes of England." She is in lovu with the previous heir, who hates her as a supplanter, even though lie loves her as-a woman.. His regiment— tho Hussars—conies into tho neighbourhood of Anibermere for tho manoeuvres. He has sworn never to cross her threshold. But she tricks him into doing so, and holds him a prisoner until the final curtain descends on them happy. In that brief story is material for brilliant ballroom scenes, for wonderful dresses, for bright uniforms, tender ditttes, comic interludes, and rousing military choruses. SuccfssEs were accredited to Miss Florrio Young, Miss Dorothy Brunton, Miss Talleur Andrews (who has produced a very beautiful "Romany Ballet," and a young unknown who figures on the* programme as Juliu.s Rosuius, and makes a hit in a eong entitled "A Regular Army Man." .

"Ivanhoe" Dramatised. The writer of "A Woman's Letter from London" in a Sydney paper visited the Lyceum Theatre on May 22 for the production of "Ivanhoe" under the Melville Brothers' direction, and writes of it:— "Melodrama is a misused word; it'does' not always bear the construction placed upon it. Sir Henry Irving.at the same playhouse produced in his artistic way the big thing. Melodrama, of course, There are many of them written by Shakespeare himself. It is in the playing and language that the difference lies. 'Ivanhoo' is a challenge to a manager. It call 6up ow cherished dreams of Sir Walter Scott, who perhaps less than any author had tho stage in his mind, and yet it may be that from the mine of wealth that lies in the Wavorley novels we may yet resuscitate historical drama. 'Ivanhoe' was as magnificently put upon the stage last night, as smoothly produced, with as big effects as if it had been done by the presiding genius of the old Lyceum. "The case was a fine one. Miss Tittell Bruno reaped whirlwinds of applause as in tk? role of Rebecca, the much wronged Jewess, she played her scenes with aii Isaac of York, rendered with immense cleverness and tasfc> by Mr. Hubert Cartei,. These two artists suit each other wonderfully well. Both are powerful without any straining of effect. "Tho play is, of course, right in the heart of romantic drama, and, with the magnificent dresses and accoutrements or the Knights-Templars well played by the young actors, amongst them Mr. Lauderdale Maitland as Ivanhoe, the correct interiors and magnitcont glades of- forest scenes, knights in armour, tourneys, and Robin Hood and his men in Lincoln Green, it is a magnificent production, and the papers to-day praise it with the headline of 'A Triumph.' The thing is.awake, and manly, and one only hopes in these days of dull drab 'slices of suburban life,' n-c may yet see something of the more pichwesquo pictures of the past, the spacious days in which our country was more correctly described as 'Merry England' tl\an it is to-day." Notes The ballet of "Tho Arabian Nights," which is to be added to the programme of Genee and the Imperial Russian Ballet at Melbourne Her Majesty's Theatre, is one of the most successful and picturesque of the series of dance-dramas. It is a glorious mass of colour, and is prolific in action and.incident, whilst the Oriental atmosphere is iviiriniscent of the great production of "Kismet," staged by Mr. Asche. Another attractive addition to the programme is "An Australian Soldier's Dance," performed by Mile. Vlasta Novotna, and Mile. Maria Zalewska, wlfch music by Schu.bert.