THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

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Til ft World's a theatre; tho Earth a stage.—Haywood. Beams from "Tha Sunshino Girl." The chorus work in "The Sunshino Girl," to be produced by tho Royal Comic Opera Company on Monday evening, keeps that section of the Royal Comic Opera forces busy. There is a succession of big numbers with chorus backings. In arranging tho movements of these, Miss Minnie Hooper, the ballet mistress, has 00-operated with Mr. Wybert Stamford, with bright and animated results. There are more swinging choruses in this musical comedy than in any other that has come out of tho gaiety. The ballet skirts used in "Tho Sunshine Girl" by Messrs. Bantcock, Holland, Noble, and Cannot, m tho dance at the end of the political sketch, "Who's tho Boss of the Show," recalls Sir Henry Irving's objection to Fred. Leslie, the famous Gaiety comedian, in tho burlesque of him as Mephisfcopheles. Irving complained to George Edwardes, and Fred Leslie stopped making up as the famous tragedian. Ho, however, retained his mannerisms and voice, and in that way got there just the same.. In "The Sunshino Girl" Mr. Jack Cannot, as Floot, arrives at tho big soap works while walking for a prize from Land's End to John-o'-Groats. Recently, Mr. Cannot did tho pedestrian act in earnest.' Ho was on the Coogee tram when a block in the traffic occurred in Oxford Street. Tho comedian was duo at "The Sunshine Girl." Ho looked about for _ a cab, but, none being in sight, decided to make a dash against time through Hyde Park. Ho got to Her Majesty's in a state of breathlossness, and, to quote his own words, "I was so hot, I couldn't get my make-up to' stick on." On Thursday and Friday that picturesque comic opera "Miss Hook of Holland" will be presented, and on Saturday and Monday next wo aro to have the genuine melodies of "Tho Belle of New York" once more, besidewhich the musio of many modern musical comedies is as tho empty janglo of a falling can.

Pantomlmo Next. Pantomimes can always bo relied upon to show something out of the ordinary in tho matter of scenery, and reports have it that M'Kay's Royal Pantomime Company, which _ Messrs. George Stephenson and Alf. Linley will present to local theatregoers on October 16 will be no exception to the rule. The scenery is all from the brush of Mr. Harry Thwaite, and ho has excelled himself in his productions, for "Little 80-Peep," "Mother Hubbard," and "Hey, Diddle Diddle" (or the "Man in the Moon"). The tableaux include "80-Poop in the Forest," "Tho Witches Haunts," "The Palaco of tho Shah," and there are also wonderful transformation scones: "Under the Waves" and "Autumn, Summer, Spring and Winter." The first transformation is said to bo a triumph for tho scenic artist, and stago mechanist, whilst the four seasons has given Mr. Whaite a wealth of material on which to exercise his artistry.

A Disappointment. It appears as though playgoers, and particularly lovers of grand opora, aro to sustain a scvero disappointment in the matter of tlio Quinlan Opera Company. By those who- peruse this column regularly it may bo remefnbered- that from the outset serious doubt was expressed as to whether this very costly attraction would vonturo this far. This doubt was engendered by the commercial consideration upon which all theatrical enterprise is basod. Up till tho present tho grand opera .companies which have visited -New /Zealand have not been 'imported in their entirety from tlio Old Country. Tliey have been built up. on the basis of a dozen imported singers and instrumentalists, with the wliolo of tho. chorus and tho majority of t'ho orchestra recruited in Australia. This was so in the caso of tho Bel Sorel-Aniy Castles combination, and, moro recently, the Mclba Company. The Quinlan Company, with its complete orchestra, chorus, and principals, is rather a different proposition. It requires uniformly big receipts to meet tho expanses, aaid granted that tho business is unusually good, there is very little margin of profit in the big Australian centres. And even such profit could scarcely bo realised in tho necessarily short seasons that would be played in the four centres of New Zealand, owing to the heavy travelling expenses in faros and freight. The position at present is that arrangements may bo made for the Quinlan Company to play a short season in Auckland on its way through to Canada, but Wellington's chances of seeing the company havo almost dwindled to tho vanishing point.

Local Kelp In Crand Opera. After tho foregoing had been written' endorsement of the contention that a local chorus and orchestra does not make for tho best results has been discovered in a letter published in a Melbourne paper from tuo pen of Mr. Thomas Qumlau himself. " Performances on tho scale as presented at present," wroto Mr. Quinlan, " would be absolutely impossible in this country from a commercial standpoint were it not that I am able to distribute my expenses over several continents. My point will bo seen when • I mention that from a provincial tour in England we went to South Africa, caiho on to Australia, and next proceed to Canada for tho commencement of an American' tour. 'Therefore, on these grounds alone it is necessary to bring everybody from Europe—from the baggage master to tlio general manager. Again, if a capablo local orchestra and chorus were available, how aro you going to get t'ho conductor's interpretation without again rehearsing his reading of the scoro ? This won id necessitate sending out a conductor a considerable time ahead of the company, and even then the object would not bo attained without the prcsenco of tho principals." In conclusion, 31r. Quinlan clinched his points by adding l : —" 1 haye tried to make it clear that whilst charity begins at homo, when applied to the production of opera under local conditions tho public, who pay, would havo tho last word to say on the matter, as it affects tho valuo they rcI ceivo."

Charles McMahon's Enterprises. Mr. Cha/les MacMahon, of MacMahon Brothers, theatrical entrepreneurs, has just returned to Sydney from an eight months' tour of the world, most of that period having been spent in London.

He has brougljt back with him (says tho "Evening News") some striking dramas and picture plays, which Sydney theatre goers may havo an opportunity of seeing, though there is at present some uncertainty as to whether lie will show them hero or take them straight to New Zealand.

" Ivo got them in my bag,", said Mr. MacMahon, " but I liavo not decided yet what I shall do with regard to staging and showing them. But I've bought outright four dramas, not picture dramas. Two of them, ' Lady Godiva,' and ' Tho Rich and Poor of London,' aro by Frost-on; another 'From Mill Girl to Millionairess,' is by Morton Powell; tho other is 'Tho Barrier' —all very powerful plays. "Tho review, consisting of musical comedy with burlesque, is all tho rage in London just now," Mr. MacMahon continued. " Wonderful specialities aro introduced, and really excellent shows aro tho result. " Como over Here," and " Hello, Ragtime!" are tho nomes of two of

tlio most successful reviews which Sir. MacSlalion saw iu London. It has been stated that J. 0. Williamson, Limited, intoud to produce " Como Over Here in Sydney. Mr. MaoMahon Bays that if they do so, he predicts that it will be n 'Jiuge success. Among the picture films Mr. MacMahon has secured aro " Sister Beatrice," known as "The Miracle Photoplay," and " London Day and Night.' 1 Tho last-named was taken by Mr. MacMahon personally, assisted by three : operators, and ton weeks was spsnt in I gotting pictures of eviery (feature of London fife, from Windsor Castlo to Petticoat Lane.

" Australia is right up-to-date in tho matter of moving pictures," said Mr. MacJiuhon. " A film which I saw in London I had previously seen in Australia 18 months before. I saw very little there that was not being shown in Australia at the same time. '• < Shot on the Stags. While playing in n treasure hunt scene in the melodrama " The Woman Conquers," at tho Elephant and Oastle Theatre, London, Mr. Herbert Bonhote Wilson was accidentally shot, and from the effects died a few days later. Mr. Wilson, was tho hero of tho drama. One of the most thrilling soencs iB tho. hunt for treasure on an island, in which tho villian apparently successfully tries to kill his rival in love. The gun-shot wound, however, is not fatal, and tho hero recovers. Mr. Daro Lewin Mannering, play- ! ing the part of the A'illian, rushed on to tho stage as usual and pointed a gun at Mr. Wilson. After the shot Mr. Wilson fell with a groan to tho floor and crawled along tho stago to the wings amid tho applause of tho audience.

When in the wings he called for help, and was found to be bleeding profusely from a wound in tho Bhoulder, in which was embedded a wad about the size of a shilling and half an inch thick. After being medically attended ho refused to leave the stage, and he finished the play.