THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1948, 3 January 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

i? V';.\Sv£vi ! ; S " il' 1 '. W "lid's a hr.i'ri:; .Mie ; : .l^ii'Ui'."','i Now Comis CKora Co. • .'J he New .('oinii-.-.Op-.M-;!: (.'n.-, 'row jiliivL' ll^iV.^*:*\ U( '' i ln n d.:illt:lU(ll'sKl l](V.;'i'u]l()V,'.i|w artists I > -ssos > r l'.'iv.i'L'll«b 11 iiy; Dorothy lirnnliJii, ' Cciia'- (ihiioni,''.-. Hlam be Browne," \ -the < ene C nip 1 m Mlll Benmtto Qn"ti e Pui Con 11 lf\ Mario..HouinJii'ii 13ic-: Gok!Al i 11.5 Caiiiiichael/ Pop'' Gladvs Moncrieff, Eiieoii,SlieeHe,'' ; Blanche May,. also . Messrs. .-.Pliil^Sinith'■(hiss.first appearance here);-' (last here with. the.. "Upt-Uicli-yuu-U; .lord: , -.--,Co.),>Boginak!'...lioberts,-;VEi-uest-' Lashbrooko, : -Vietor : 'Priiieo,'' Charles Albert, ■ Edward r-Wymio, .X Dick- Shortlaiui, Harry Bnrrcil, ; Otto. C'u:-hing, James O'Toole, -Leslie Barclay, Cecil ? Outtrii'nj r Julius Hoscius, ■ Harry., Katc!ii!'e,. : Charles Mettam. , .A large ; orch'estr'a' and chorus is under Utie bntim'of-; llerr Gustavo Slaiwffski; : stage manager.-'.'-v' ■ Tho following : is.--' tho correct- tour of' the company :-VAuek!and," : December 26 to January 10j'-Now'Plymouth,'January" 12; Waugamii; January 13 and 1-1; Pafmerston North, 1 January! lo and 16; Napier, January 17 aiid .19 ; '' Mastertoii, January -20 . January 21 to February : ;7 ;.-..Christclnirch;''February .-9 to. 21.Timani;-'"February -23 ■■ and'.-. 24 Dunediii, .Feoruary.:;'Joi.to March 0 ; ; IhvercaEgill,;.Marclir6fand •7£ :> The com-' pany's repertoiro-'-'includes:i'-'The Count, of Lll xembour<.'," ; "Autumn-,- Manoeuvres,"/- "The Balkan-; Princess," "Tho Arcadians," and "The. Chocolate Soldier." '• '•

5 "Tho Land of Nod.'" J:.' f ,-Thq ; King's. V Theatre, Melbourne; <\\'m"." Anderson's) was tho- Aittcfican^«^raVagana»«"'T!ie Laud of Nod,'!..;; 'pf'-.whicluUie -."Argus" says:*.;»■/■' ■ "Neither;'a but with hereditary, leanings to both in its dramatic physique, !.."The' LiiinJ of Nod,' staged- by- Mr. William; Anderson at tlio King's' ' Tlicatre oil .Saturday night," is.'iiot;'easy;tp. classify/,-.-..T0 begin with,',we, assure Tour, readers ,that it lias nothing "to do with the i'reo list.' If anything; ; it.' isj-'.;a pantomime—a child's -dream! with all the, crazy incongruities,;;all -the■absurd inconsequences of a. dream.-.- The.-.production is good, though 1 it might bp.improved.a'littlo in the way. of more • scenic-,, sets" (for modern pantomime ■ requires constant scene changes).'. The people,.-, most of whom have been brought out ■from America, are good; and the ballets are good. The dialogue is as good as ono is accustomed to from the authors of Christmas, production,. and tho music is certainly as good—in-places considerably better. There is genuine farcb.iu the piece, notably' tlio absurd dance in tho. second act, perpetrated by the Man in tho Moon and his partner. .Unfortunately. 0110 of tho leading comedians, Mr. Arthur Don; lias not# yet quite recovered iron! sii illness, and though lie appear-, od, his; part .'was considerably cut. Two of. tho ballets stand out, the "Missis-, ■sippi" and tho "Normandy"—the , lirs.fc dressed 111 mauve and white, the second in black and white, -. "The comedy—or farco section, of the entertainment—was 111 the capable hands of Messrs. Arthur Don (tho April Fool), - Edward Bathnall ■ (The Welsh Rabbit), Tom Cailnam (Sandman), l'riscilla Verno (Glioma Girl),, and Maudio Chotwynd (Rory Borv .Alice).' They made absolutely the most of it. ..A little brighter, dialogue and newer jokes are required hero. But-.perhaps thq;old , jokes, being better known ancl respect-" _ ed, are. more popular. At ail .events, noiip' of -them missed on Saturday night.. Mr» -Tom Ariastrpng, as .the Man.in the Moon; produced a-number, of jokes; ancient; and mock-to, and sang ..its a; low, '.husky (but not'.nuplcasing) voice,- a •number of very good pantomime songs. Miss Ruby Tointon danced very skilfully upon lief toes; and Mr.'.Harold Reeves made a dignified and portentous Weather,-Mail. ■ The ■ orchestra, .largely augmented for .the occasion, was conducted by Mr.. Don.Matthews; tlio dressing was excellent-.'■ and in good taste ; there were several■interpolated turns,, tho best'of which was that of tho American Dancers', and if- at times ■'the habit of the performers of wandering out amongst- tho mtdionco was a little confusing, tlio whole play went with a swing which augurs well for its success,".... ■ ' ,- "Forty Thiovcj.", Writing of this '-year's * pantomime "The Forty Thieves," produced in Melbourne 011 December 20, tho "Argus" says: "This year's pantomime is. par excellence: a beautiful one to the eye. There -is infinitely tnoro delicacy.'in tlio pageants and tableu'x,. more fancy .in ! iho superb costumes and greater rich- ; ness in tho lnise-on-seeno.. The old and 'well-worn 'word 'gorgeous' is not ap- i plicablc. ' You .are not dazzled, but ' charmed aiid interested by the constant 1 succession of beauties that reveal them-- 1 selves in an-endless-chain. ; . .One .of 1 course remembers tho splendour of the i past, but the .good taste in .the present j piece' aids Ji- in.'..-cclipsing.."all .former 1 glories. "And of the many innovations < none was' more"'appreciated than tlio 1 lovely musical ; - 'accompaniment- tlmfc j chimed peals from all portions (if tho 1 theatre —keeping time, with the last song by- Miss Marie Eaton, "I'd 'Love -to Live in ■ Loyeland,"-....which j : Fcemcd so thoroughly to -ring "out tho .message' ofpeace arid . goodwill and. do homage' to tho spirit'.of Christmas.' ■'. • -. "As the .curtain " rises.Santa -Chins is seon-.-alightihg oil the roof of. a.children's dormitory, "of; .course,.' by■ .means of the up-to-date airship.; : Amongst'da:* gifts'is a piettife-hook,' and the-young-sters select'."The Forty Thieves"'-'as.the. likeliest- people to "provide a-good-timo at Christinas. Our.old friend."the Gen 1. of the ring:, promises all sorts'-..0f won--ders'and"'surprises,' and.off; wo"go to'tha. 'bazaar at'-'Shakra. a .striking -picture' bj. Mr. Coleman, rich,in .its; nobly-propor-' ti-oned eastern .architecture and wealth of colour. '■ Hero'wo have; our first., meeting with Ali Gaba. Mr. Marry Lupino —ivho proves himself,later.such a clever humorist' and expert ■ fdnncei' —Miss Jessie Lonnen (Ali Baba's'-son. ('iancui'), Miss Dolly Harmer: (maid; to Morgiana in tho most up-to-datcjoxtinguisher costume, probably 'by Bukst,- tho ■ ■ greatRussian dress designer).- and Cogi Baba. Mr. Edwin-Brett',- the.-Dame, who also touches:.the' 1 very highest .frcak.-note -in his threatening . harems-trousers. ■■ .Tho. last to ■ arrive us -Morgiana, ■ a dainty little figure-in. -.ho-'person of Miss Maude Terry. A" monkey,.-.-.ballet-; danced by inveniles,- and a uluot'"by Rc-gaii - and Ryan (lieutenants' of tho Forty). .'.'Ragtime ■ Millionaires,'-! • commences the comic business; -which, is continued in Ali Baba's . furniture -warehouse,.; that seems to ;havo" : mctiaMirst-class .;eai-th-qunko recently,'", and . needs ;,y papering which is ■ attempted -to'--quaint -.subdued; singing that pleases;,the house greatly."Tti the sccoiid iictpthe first . thing of', note is Miss Katon.'s spirited song, "ThcNavy," with'cadets and. tiny (l:\g-wag-gers .as chorus,. the background being filled in with a painting,;of- IJ.M.A.S. Australia;-?. An.'admirable .- arrangement of-black and-white is introduced, into tlm walls of the 'club sce'no.-u Hern .. the Tango is danced by--black, aiidiwhiteclad figures'- so '.effectively „that it' had insistent vencor^^hov.intcrioci-'of; the, cave is responsibley.fof''.another, series' of ballets, the. members dressed in eyceedingly' shades' in the. wattle, and ilin-vii:.;-.- Tki- i:, A ve-y f-ie-•rantiy. [iauccd; ; \ ietor u-'v. on . ?>ln=.--li "n n c 1 ;y I icUoii apii'^.

■ siii>i lariy .costumed, Their poses aro ndminililo and powerfully effective. Mr. ■ l.nnino's .Inoinit: ditty,: .."Chrysrintiie,niums," is the humorous feature of the : set,-, mid his .solo dance; and .afterwards -\vith'..Miss Gi-riio L-itchl'ord (one more sinking and.pretty figure in black, with Ifi,Mediaeval headdress), wns ! most en-. jt!itisiastipa!ly.;'ii ml .-deservedly honoured.' :;.V!astar turn that will be as popular as' any 111.. ;be pantomime is supplied...by the "Three- linlies," . who, although, lij.'ff!.--*.; tip * iis."aneient..i 'Hayseeds,'aro really; skilled acrobats and silent* Im- : ninnrisis of a higli order, vdmse eoniklit ire r-re:f!ly <0111 i, and their final disappearance no less so.'"";' . .. "Undo Tow's Cabin" Revived. ; . ■ On Dceemher 20 "Uncle. Tain's Cabin!' wa-j revived by tho Wilimighhv Company at the Prince;* .'J.'neatrc, Melbourne. Tlic ''Argus 1 ' suit that .Mr. Cyril Maeka.y gave, a, very clover portrayal ot' the part of. Cieorgc Harris, tho educated slave, and as Undo Tom Mr. Herbert Leigh afforded a good study of an old negro. Miv'.Vivian Edwards .took tho part.' of thex'hief villain, .Simon Legroe, and was thoroughly^detested by thu gallery. Ho caused a sigh-of relief when he eventually foil over the rock, : and sought slaves ito'longer. The fortunes of. Eliza ..were followed with considerable interest! Miss Ehvyn Harvey in tho part looked attractive, and acted as a heroine should. Littio Vera Hnggott .dearly .spoke, the lines allotted to Eva,-ar.<l .Miss Muriel Dale supplied ill the tears accessary .lor the part of Eva's .mother. Miss Pearl Smith was Itosa, and as Topsy Miss Nell Holroyd provided seme breezy humour, and' hooped about tho stage in a maimer that delighted the audience. The cast of "Undo -Tom's Cabin" was .well sustained throughout-, and' good .scenery, and mounting'assisted materially in giving realistic effect to iniprcbablo situations. Notes. . Quite a feature of the production of "The Count of Luxembourg" is * tho dancing .-of ■ Charlie Albert and Vlasta Novotna, -the.charming yotmg Russian dancer, who was re-engaged by tho J. C. Williamson management at the termination of the tour, of tho Genee Comparniy of which sho was 0110 of the principal members. Two of tho dances in which they take part, "Tile Yankee Tangle," and "Danse Porapenette" created a. furore in Sydney and Melbourne. -. Miss Carrie 'Mooro is the "Aladdin" of the Willoughby pantomime tion, Which commcnced operations at 1 the Adelphi 'Theatre, Sydney, dn Boxing Night.. Miss Grace Palotta is also I in tho cast. j

The new Williamson, Gilbert ami Sullivan Opera Company commenced a his tour, that' wil l extend over tho .greater half <;f the. Southern Hemisphere, at 'Johannesburg on Boxing Night in "The Mikado." Tho cast includes Miss Ethel Morrison (nee Miss ICttio Maginnity, formerly of Wellington) and Miss Ruth Lincoln, and Mr. Kavanagh, who were both in Now Zealand with "The Chocolate Soldier."