THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1966, 24 January 1914, Page 14

THE THEATRE.

[Bt SvLvtrs.l

The World's a theatre; tho Ear-tb a stage.—llejwood.

Tho Sedufitlve "Touch of Evil." In a recent- interview in London, Ethel Warwick, the beautiful actress who is coming to Australia to play Potiplnir's wife in "Joseph and Hi's Brethren" for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., confessed that there was a good deal more of artistic satisfaction in appearing iii a rolo with a touch of "evil" about it than in the moro conventional typo of part. "After a loug course of acting in vrlifch'the conventional Side of life is depleted to .% more or less extent," explained Miss Warwick, "it eomcs as a relief—to me, at any rai« j — to handle a rolo with what might bo described as a 'touch of the panther' about it. Tho smooth-flowing action of a 'good' character is not conducive t.» bringing out all the power and dramatic intensity in an actress, and linnst conless that I like a role that rouges me, stirs tho emotion, and, perhaps, brings j to tho surface a little of tho savage thatis dormant in us all. Potipliars wife is a character I have longed to enact since '.Joseph and His Brethren' was j read over to mo by Louis N. Parker before it wis produced. It has grip in it, and the fascination that any part has for an actress who realises that- it draws tho audience as well as making a demand on her own dramatic strength." Germans on 0. B. Shaw. No no of the London critics, surely, havo ever exhibited such severity towards any of Mr. Shaw's plays as their Berlin confreres havo just employed in writing their notices of "Androeles and the Lion," In these notices the expression "pot-houee tovufollery"—<-an expression calculated to make the distinguished dramatist get up and break things— 1 ! is the one which recurs most frequently, Ono critic declares that though "An- ■ droclcs" is one of Sir. Shaw's- - shortest comedies, it is. too long by half. Another accuses hira of introducing "crass banalities" into his dialogue, and Wounding with his "trivial views" all those "who possess the smallest trace of ctjiical tact. A third says that "this time tho ridiculous figure is Shaw himself, who witti all his foiiilleton wit, stands before tho problem of this supernatural idea like a- daiidy in dress clothes in front' of Mont Blanc." The ivdi-kiAown critic, Max Osborno, writes:—"lt is lemonade With only a small quantum of true humour and a painfully distilled essence of forced must-be-f\imimess.' ! Again, wo read that "tho almost clownish jocularity of his roguish remarks is entirely devoid of a deeper idea," and that "tho brilliant intellectual wit of the earlier art of Slmw is here* completely lacking." A typical complaint is that "as n just punishment for the association of jest and sacred earnestness, the contending elements litt beside owe another in so unblended a stated that irritation and disgust repel merriment." Olio paper records that "an otherwise so patient" habitno of tho Kamnvorspiel Theatre as Prince August Wilhelm left the Iwuso at- thfj close of the second act. "Into the Dark." The Auckland "Observer is responsible for tho fact as well as tho sentiment of the following Sad reading that Cuyler Hastings, the actor, "went out into tlii} dark" by Tus own Band. Hastings impressed New /.calenders as few other actors have dohe, Ono remember's best of all his . playing in the Sherlock Holmes opisocls. his exceedingly fine wark iii Barries "AdmiraWa Crichlon;"' in which lie played tfc butler, and tho amazing poorness of his romantic..work'.-.irt "1f.,,1 wero King." lie was ono of those actor ami who irresistibly attract tlte how-worshipping "girl." When ho was iii Auckland girls worried him much with their literary effusions—and ha didii't care. A bevy of girls one day determined to make tlii) cold man take notice of theni, and for this purpose lined up on both sides of the- theatre, arcade, hoping to get at least 0110 glanco.' A commercial traveller who knew the girls, wagered each a new pair of gloves that 'Hastings, wouldn't even se-o them. They get their gloves. That Naughty Farco. ''Who's the Lady?" the farce-comedy which Beaumont Smith and, Louis Meyer will present in Asstralia, in Juno next, has cre-ated a sensation 'in America under tho title of "Madam President." As in tlra case of Mr. Meyer's London production it aroused the critics to a, pitch of oxcitenmnt, and there was much difference of opinion'as to whether tho censor had or had not been too lenient. That "Who's tli® LoSy?" jor "Madam President" was a genuine laughing success, however, there was none to gainsay, tho New York "American" remarking: "The Sphinx would crack a smile at,' Madam President.' " Natss, George Willouglibv, Ltd., within tho next few weeks will have two companies in New Zealand—the Aladdin" pantomime with the complete Sydney com-. panv, and a melodrama company. The latter will stage a drama adapted from. Guida's novel ''Under Two Flags," while tho repertoire will also include: ,( Tlio Beggar Girl's Wedding," and "No; Mother to Guide Her." The dramatic company will Vb headed by Mr. George Cross, probably tho most, popular dr.v .matio artist iii Australasia, and Miss Vera Remco, the French"Australian artist, whose work has secured the endorsement. of the Sydney and Melbourne ; critics, In "Under Two Flags" Mr. Cross will play the dual character of tho dashing young Life Guardsman, and . when ho has made his escape to Algeria, as tho common soldier. Miss Romoe will interpret the fascinating part of "Ciearettp" the Vivandiere. With 'his abilities as a comedian, Barry Luniuo, who is starring in tho J. C. Williamson pantomime. "The Forty Thieves," at Melbourne Her Majesty's, combines a. gift for sketching and drawing t-6 an unusual extent. As a matter of fact, Mr. Lupino has made a nanio for himself in this direction, and somo of his work lias appeared in many of tlto illustrated paper 6 in London. Two years ago Mr. Lupiivo had tho -distinction of having somo of his sketches of the illustrated papers in London. "Punch," These included caricatures of theatrical celebrities, amor;crst which were msmorous representations of George Graves and Will. Evans. In view of tho eras*; for tlio Tango, whicli is represented in the Mack and white scene iu "Tho Forty Thieves," at Melbourne Her Majesty's, it is an interesting fact that tlip first two English artists to ncrform this nmch-discUßsed dance on the Tsondon stage were Gertie Lat.chford and Goorsro Grossmitli. Miss Latch-ford is a striking figure in "The Fortv Thieves" at Melbourne Her Majestv's, iii which she appears as the R-oso of Persia in the first iurt, subsequently disclosing herself in tlin voTy latest Parish fashion, including tho famous head-dri'ss of jmvelled lace, enveloping the head and fiiee, which she introduced for the. first tiwe on tho London stage. "Hie best of the three speotacular plays during the nroßOnt season" is how "Josenh and His Brethren" was described by a leading New York critic. .Mr. Parker has arranged the. Biblical story in twelve scones, the interest of the narrative is maintained all through, whilst the intrigue of Potiphar's wife is developed to a genuine intensity of drama. The scenic investiture o'f the play, which will be staged for the first time in Australia at Melbourne TliMt.ro Royal on February 14 by J. C. Williamson. Ltd., is unusually beautiful. Especially memorable is the third scene of the fourth act, which discloses the pyramids of Egypt beneath the mystic rising of . .the moon.