THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1824, 9 August 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[By Syi/vius.] Tho World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Hey wood. A Notable Half-Year. From present indications tho ensuing six months premise to ho a notablu period for theatrical and musical attractions in New Zealand—one, indeed, which marks a considerable advance in tho average quality of such offerings, and lifts the Dominion into a slightly higher plane as a country "worth while" exploiting by higher.-class attractions. In the field of theatrical enterprise we are to have Mr. Julius Knight again in that very charming play, "Milestones," a dramatisation of Hichcns's novel "Bella Donna," and possibly "Man and Superman" (G. B. Shaw). Mr. Fred Niblo and company are soon to Ixi with us again with the "Fortune Hunter" and tho railway farce, "Excuse Me." These aro both American "tonics for tho debilitated"— one-dose cures. Another American novelty will bo tho character drama, "Within the Law," a hefty play of tho "Third Degree" type, only moro so. Lowis Waller, the distinguished Englis-h romantic actor, is due in New Zealand towards tho end of tlie year. Wo liopo to sea him in "Henry V," and Miss Madge Titheradge in "Tho Butterfly oil tlie Wheel." Then wo aro sure of a visit from Adeline Gcneo and the Russian Ballet at'the end of next month, and the now Comic Opera Company in October. In Iho domain of music wo aro to bo still moro fortunate. Madame Mary Conly promises to come back to sing ballads. From what we havo already heard of this artist in oratorio, her appearance 011 the ballad concert platform should be a rich treat. .Madame Oiara Butt and Mr. Kennerlev Humford revisit New Zealand in .November, and Jlr. Jolm M'Cormack, tho Irish-American tenor, will como later. In the meantime wo will hear Mr. David Bispham, the famous American operatic baritone and entertainer, Madame Lillian Nordica, one of tho finest dramatic sopranos the world has known, and Mr. Peter Dawson, whom gramaphono owners will welcome. Then, at the end of the year, comes cue yiiiiilan Grand Opera Co., to present grand opera, ancient and modern, oiv_ a scale which wo liave never seen in New Zealand. Truly, the next few months should keep tho theatre-goer "going;" "Tho Geisha." If one may estimate' the demand for amateur opera by the eagerness and enthusiasm of tlioso wishing to perform therein, tlie newly-formed Wellington iVmatour Operatic bociety is fortunate. So far two rehearsals of "The Geisha" havo been held, and on each occasion thero have been over a hundred ladies and gentlsmen present. Of course that number is rather too many to handle in amateur opera, and will havo to bo reduced by at least thirty, before tho chorus becomes amenablo to the reason, of stage management. It :is, however, encouraging to the society to see how keen vho young people are to participate in tho performance. They havo been fortiluate in securing a fine lot of fresh voices, which should make tho chorus work a speciality. Under Mr. D. A. Kenny they aro rapidly becoming'familiar with tho melodious choruses,- and by tho time Mr. Tom Pollard arrives will'have tho music "well-down." "Tho Geishai" on which there appears to bo quite a run, will bo played at tho Opera House from Novemuor 22 to 20.

"The Grept Adventure." With tho production of. Arnold Bennett's play, "The Great Adventure," tlw management of tho Littlo Theatre, Sydney, Have added another scarlet entry to tho school of Australian theatrical history. The new offering is a brilliant psychological review, faultlessly dressed in dramaturic form, -whilo-at tho same timo carrying in its composition a clearcut story of unusual mould, built 011 plans of the most skilful craftsmanship, tho whole being naturally and easily portrayed,'. producing an effect similiu' to tho rapid gliding of a silver-scale;! fish seen far down: in the clear depths of soma placid lake, holding the" eye for a moment •with'"its;.lrerfcct,'symmetry..of form, and raising a; thrill of expectation in :tho breast that lades'' away before tho steady interest that its rapid dartings , hither and thither through' the magnifying water creates in its place. In other words, it is a delicate, subtle creation; a faultless picture drawn by its author's clever,'pin into a story of absorbing interest, touched with rare humour, and converted by his kesn analytical brain into «. psychological study of superlative merit. . This is stuff to swear by; this is tho dramatist's art in its highest stages, and in undertaking to present "Tho Great Adventure" in this country the management of the Littlo Theatre liavo dono a praiseworthy action. . It would seem that tho artistic tone of the play had communicated itself, to the actors and actresses engaged, so carefully and studiously aro tho lilies read, so natural is the presentation made to appear. One great point of merit that this critic would like to noto en passant is that the players who were accorded receptions when U123- made their entries last Monday night took absolutely no notice of it, but remained in the picture, holding the characters they portrayed intact until after the fall of the final curtain. It was a welcome sight to see this very proper attitude taken; anything else would have been'most inartistic, and would h,ave decidedly blemished the porfectness of the performance.—"Sunday Times."

Elbert Hubbard on Harry Lauder. Harry Lauder, the famous Scotch comediau, who will be'singing .in Australia in 1914, has had tlie pleasure of encountering Elbert llubbanl, the philosopher and writer and editor ot "The Era" and "The Philistine." Mr. nubbard admires Lauder, and said so in an article, some extracts wherefrom are really worth ([noting. Regarding the Scotchman's alleged canniness, t'he American avers: "All that talk about his- penury is persiflage and purview piffle. While not exactly wasteful, he is generous to tha people that work for him, and any ono who renders him a sorvico nets well paid. Ho eats sparingly, uses no spirituous liquors, indulges in no. swear words, prizes truth, hates a triller, has all the Scottish virtues, knows how to keep his health, and is master of himself every moment." As to Lauder's art, Hubbard says; "You seo that his fun is born of sensitiveness. Ho has an exquisito sense of valne. Timo and tempo are his. He waits for that psychological instant and then puts it over. This is genius."

"Milestones." An unusually attractive dramatic treat is promised in tho approaching visit cf the AVilliamson Dramatic Company, headed by Mr. Julius Knight, which is to commence a season at tho Opera House on August 21 in "Milestones," one ol' tli-s most artistic dramas of recent timesquaint in idea, human in character, and most tellingly written and ingeniously constructed. The company has been playing this and other plays for tho past four months in Australia, tho other plays being "Bella Donna" (a dramatisation of Robert Hichens's novel), and "Man and Superman" 'by that irrepressible genius, Geo. Bernard Shaw). Mr. Knight is credited with a very fine performance as the ironmaster in "Milestones"—tho ironmaster as a hot-blooded youth, as a prosperous and dictatorial middle-aged man (on whom time has left marks), and finally as an old man. He is supported as 'leading lady by Miss Irene Brown, who was hero wi'lh Mr. 11. B. Irving. Indeed many were ot tho opinion thai Mis* Biown should have played the leads witlr Irving. It would certainly have toned up some of the performances which suffered by an obvious weakness where Miss Brown would have been a strength. Mr. Harry Musgrove is at present making arrangements for the season.

Notes. For some time the J. C. Williamson management has felt the need of a theatre in Melbourne suitable for the :production of comedy, tho theatres at present held by the firm being too large for the purpose. It has thereforo been decided to build such a theatre on a sito opposite Her Majesty's, and the work cf erection will commence almost immediately. The new theatre will be dedicatpd to the lute J. C. Williamson, and in bis memory will bo called the William-son Theatre. It is planned on a most luxurious scale, with every modern facility for comfort and convenience, and will cost JM5.000.

Mr. Julius Knight expresses the opinion that, Inforo long, .Miss Ircno Browno will be a certain winner of stir rank, and that !ior rapid progress is practically unique «n tho" English stage, ller performance of I'lie title role in "Delia Donna," to bo played at Iter Majesty's, Melbourne, last Saturday, he concilia's a terrific piece of acting. "I don't ltnow of anyone on tha English st'igo to-day who could give a performance of so amazing a quality— and it is that when you bear ill mind her youth—as hers," says Mr. Knight. Fred Niblo savs that before ho went to Xew Zealand with "Get-Rich-Quiek Wallingford" ho was almost frightened to death at what peoplo told him would happen to him in jjunedin. That town, he says, gave him a great surprise. Tho enthusiasm was just as pronounced thcro as anywhere throughout tho tour. "I)unedin will bo losing its reputation," said Mr. Niblo. Geneo and tho Russian Ballet commenced a brief season at Adelaide on Saturday evening last. Sydney follows, and then Xew Zealand. The American Comedy Company, headed by Mr. Fred Niblo will commence a tcason in Melbourne on Saturday next in "'i'ho Fortune Hunter."