THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1848, 6 September 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[Br SYLVIUS.] The World's a theatre; the Earth a 6tage.—lleywood. The Fascination of Shaw. However Geo. Bernard Shaw's plays may bo received by an audience —and tho receptions that havo been accorded them aro many and various—there is not tho slightest doubt about tho fascination Which they havo I'm tho actor. One convincing test of this „is to ask any actor of experience what parts ho has played and to namo his favourites. If he has ever played in a Shaw play ho will (after enumerating his Shakespearean efforts) invariably mention his Shaw parts, and lie loves to. talk of them before all othors. Tho reason for this is not difficult to arrivo at. Shaw is so vitally, unusual in his metiiods, and each line, no matter by what character spoken, is mus-cular-with meaning, subtle or superficial. That is where ho grips tho actor. Every line lias a meaning of its own. There is never anything humdrum or any thought scraggy fwith ago. His humour may bo cruel or just malicious, but thoro is no questioning its strength as humour. •Mr. , Julius Knight, among the many actons I havo met, candidly admits that ho loves every line of "Man and Superman," and, from his personal point of view, it is by far the most interesting play of tho repertoire. He would not combat its grip with the charm of "Milestones," because both are excellent plays, and it becomes a matter of personal tasto when one is associated with such good material, hut lie states that ho nover tires of "Man and Superman"—it is mental refreshment to - him at every performance, and its humour, never palls. ; In England Mr. Knight played in "Captain Brassbound's Conversion," which is really an. admirable play—difficult to cast, as aro all Shaw's plays, but a play with a wonderful clutch and •a fascinating gallery of characters. It is to bo hoped that "Man and Superman" will be the forerunner of other Shaw plays that will bo seen in New Zealand. Vaudeville at His. Majesty's. Vaudeville at His 1 Majesty's Theat'ro should bo vaudeville do luxe. It will be as far as the comfort and convenience of guests aro concerned, for there aro possibly few; filler theatres in tho world devoted to that class of entertainment than, tho big-iiiiie-uionths' old I theatre in Courtenay Place. After tho dinginessand mustiness of tho old 1 Theatre Royal, the new homo of per--1 nianent vaudeville is positively luxurious, and a large section of tho public i who havo been deterred from patronising vauelovdle in Wellington l'or cer--1 tain reasons will bs afforded an oppor- ' tunity of renewing their acquaintance | with that form of entertainment. It only remains for tho Brennan-Fuller management to ondeavour to raise tho average standard quality of tho artists .whom they engage. A good bill is promised for the opening of vaudeville in His Majesty's Theatre on Monday' week. The attraction extraordinary will be the Banzais, a . wonderfully clover troupo of Japanese icquilibrists and jugglers, who present . an act gorgeously dressed and mounted, , and dazzling with original acts. They J havo not so far failed to pack every > theatre in which they havo'appeared in I Australasia. Other artists will bo : Madge Beresford, "principal boy" comedienne ; tho Romas, lady and gent-lev [ mail physical culturists; Klino and Clifton, eccentric gymnasts; St. Georgo and t Dayne, musical' comedy artists; Neil Cant, Scotch oomedian; Ernest Pitcher, tho "big mug" ; Olga'Pemtington, serio ; - and t'lio Lyric Four. . "The Privato Secretary." •Tho Wellington Amateur Dramatic • S'ocioty .aro shortly to stage tho farcical comedy "The Pri- ; vat'o Secretary." The piece is of course firmly- associated with the name of Mr. , Frank Thornton, of whom wo ha\ r 9 not heard for some years. The cast will bo as follows Douglas Cattermole, Mr. Bentley Russell; Harry Marsland, Mr. Ernest F.. Luk-s; Mr. , Cattermole, Dr. Norman Hales; \ Mr. Marsland, Mr. Phipps Willi liams; Rev. Robert Spalding, Air. ftory mail Aitken; Mr. Gibson, Mr. P. Dev1. creux; John, Mr. Pallin; Bailoft, Air. Grout; Mrs. Stead, Miss Ethel Lissack; ;. Miss Asliford, Miss Iris Lennox; Eva Lester,. Miss Mario Fix; Edith Mars- , land, Miss Ruby Scott. Temperament and Dancing. y "What is tho most important thing in dancing?" asked an interviewer of „ Genee in Sydney. " . . ~ - J Goneo smiled that tantalising smile of hers, that set tho shadows of mischief dancing in her eyes. "They aro all important," she replied evasively. But I did not intend to be beaten, so easily. "Of course they are," I assented, "but w'hat aro they?" "Well, to begin with, temperament is absolutely essential before a dancer can become a groat artist." "Exactly!" I exclaimed', triumphanta ly. " 'To begin with temperament'— j than, of course, temperament is the ,f most important." d "I didn't say so!" assorted Geneo, it promptly. "Temperament is absolutely g essential, but so is. knowledge of technique. The only difference between tliem lies in the fact that technique can be acquired, wliilo temperament cannot. 5, Temperament is the finishing touch, sc ' to speak—Nature's contribution to the work of man. But I don't want you tc l- think that I am detracting in any way •y from f.lio value of technique; it is more d than a mere mechanical knowledge of s certain number of steps, it is the abso--13 lute groundwork of the dancer's art. If wouldn't make any difference how much temperament a woman had if she didu f know liow to give it expression properly. Dancing is a great art, demanding maiij attributes, and a loyal and devoted service ! from those who wish to succeed ill , 3 it. For instance, one must havo a good oar for music, and, what is more, a Toady appreciation of its meaning. "Do you play any instrument? 1 •y "Well, 'I can strum a little on the piano, hut I am not a great musioian, I can do a little better than that, howe' ever," she returned with a laugh. lh< "that" referred to was an amatcurisl n- attempt at "Tho Blue Bella of Scot' ' land," played by some one in anothei room. . "I suppose you find dancing prcttj hard work?" I suggested, "Yes," she replied, "I suppose it is hard, but I don't notice it much. iov t. see, I lovo it so much that iit become! a pleasure to mo, I always practise every elay, unless I have a matinee. ~ have beon dancing now for a good iuan\ J ' years, and yet I am still learning, have to bo very careful, though, not t< overdo it. - Just recently, in Melbourne, I had the misfortune, to get muscle bound, and I suffered a lot of pam before it wore off. Do you know, I oftei think that a dancer is just like a racehorse ; our bodies are so highly trainee: that they aro just as susceptible fa strain or climatic conditions, and J know, for my own part, tliafc I an 3 ' nerved up all day waiting for the gate to riso, as it wore, anel allow me to start 3- on my performance," t Notes. t ?. Once more tho dates of Mdllo. Ado line Geneo's tour through the Dominioi s. havo been altered. Mr. B. lloylo stato: that tho tour now stands in his book! J- at present as follows: —Auckland, ■ Oc tober 13 to 23; Wellington, October h to November 1; Christchurch, November 3 to 8; Dunedin, Novombor 10 te 14 ; lnvercargill, "November 15. Mr. 11. Corson .Clarke", tho clevei comedian who played Blackie Daw n: "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford," has oreanised a comedy company of his owi

to plav "What Happened to Jones," tho farco that ho starred in for years in America. Tho tour commences at tho Majestic Theatre, Melbourno, on September 13. Tho new theatre at Wanganui is to be opened on November 17 by tilio Hainil-ton-Plinnner Comedy Company. The Royal CoiniO Opera Company (not tho New Comics as has been announced) commences a tour of tho Dominion at Auckland on Monday, when "Tho Quaker Girl" will bo produced for tho first time in Now Zealand. The 1 company includes Misses Graco I'alotta, ■ Blanc'ho Browne, Olive Godwin, Connie Millie, Vera Pearco, also Messrs. Leslie Holland, Frank Greene, Jack Cannot, C. It. Bantoek, Arthur Lissant, and ' Mrs. Georgo Lauri. _ Tho new arrivals will include Miss Jessio Loiinen, from the Gaiety Theatre, London, and Miss Billio Barlow, ono of London's most popular artists. , , Tho Now Zenland tour of tho Royal Comic Opera Company will bo as follows :—Auckland, September 8 to 27; AVellington, September 29 to October 11; Mast-erton, October 13; Napier, October 14 to 16; Palmerston North, October 17 ojid 18; Hawora, October 20; Eltham, October 21; New Plymouth, October 22; Wanganui, October 23 and 24; Timaru, October 27 and 28; Oamaru, October 29 ; lnvercargill, October 31 and November 1; Dunedin, November 3 to 8; Ohristchurch, November 10 to 22. j