THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[Br Stlyigs,]

Ibe World's iv theatre; tho Eartb a, etagc—lieywood. Next Week's Revivals. Tho new comic opera company which has already given us, two ltcw pieces is to (ail off the local season with a couple of interesting revivals. 'J'ii-cso will bo "The Arcadians," to bo produced for threes nights commencing on Monday, and "Tho Chocolate Soldier," which will also bo performed three timoa. Both of these pieces como within tho scope of comie opera, and rank as two of the. most universally popular musical plays that have been, presented within tlio last live years.

Touring tJio "swails" of the North Island at present is Mr. David O'Connor's "Merry Widow" Opera, Company, a email but compact littlo organisation, which gives exceedingly creditablo performances of tho operas and musical, comedies generally associated with tiie name of J. C. Williamson; Ltd. These aro presented by arrangement with that firm in towns outside tho State centres. I recently saw Sir. O'Connor's company play "Tho Arcadians" in Wauganui, and was pleased with the very creditable performance given Mr. O'Connor was really admirable as tlie 'melancholy jockey, Poody, and Miss Lcggatt was charming in tho leading role. To tliofio who are deprived of tho pleasure of witnessing such performances by the more complete companies, the appearance of th© "Merry Widow" Company should bo very welcome.

Robert Whyte, jon., who plays Peter Doody in tho revival of "Tho Aradiaiis," has scored, so an Australian paper states, ono of the successes ever achieved by a comedian in the- Commonwealth. Voter Doody is a melancholy individual, who spends, his tinw wasting.in order to keep bis weiglit down. Ho is a ga-unt and gloomy person, his thin legs being twisted as if they )ia<l been shrunk. His motto is "Merry and bright," though he does not always give wfty to it His song, "I've Got a Mot'ter," is ono of the hits of the piece. Coming after Tom Walls, as he docs, Mr. Whyte's success is all the greater, As Simplicity in "The Arcadians," Mr. Phii Smith, who has scored so lieavily as a laughter-maker in "Autumn Manoeuvres" and "Tho Count of Luxembourg," is said to bo in his element. It is stated by those- who saw tho original London, and Australian .productions of "The Afcadians" , ' that Mr. Smith's performance is far away better than his predecessors who essayed the sa-mo role.

Playgoers will bo delighted to renew acquaintance with the nuiski of "The Chocolate Soldier," and from a, singing standpoint the coining revival should bo a rare treat, as tho test number in the oisera, "My Hero," should present Florence Young's voice at its very tost. It is said that the popular soprano created a furoro in-the role of Nadina in Svdnsy, and her rendering of "My Hero" had to bo repeated again, and again. . ■ .

The Mowing is the cast for "The Chocolate Soldier." which is to be sta-gird hwo shortly by J. 0. Williamson's New (Vvn.; o Orn»ra Company:—Casimif Popoff (Phil Smith), Alexins Spiridoff ffidw*wd Wynne), Bnnierli (Rocinalrl Roberts), Mnssakroff (Victor Prince), Stephan ('Charles Mettam), Mnseha (Dorothy ISruntoh), A.iirc3ia (Celiii Ghiloni), Laska (Vlasta Nofotna), Katinka (Mice Benaetto), and Kadina (Florence Young). .<

"Alaadifl." Tho Geo. Willoughby Pantomime Company, whieli is at present apj>«aring in "Aladdin" in Sydney, is to inaugurate) a tour of Ntiff Zealand, eonuneiicing iu Wellington oft February 20. Tho company includes Miss Grace Palotta, Miss Carrie Moore, Miss Mabel Batehdof, four imported English and American speciality ttirns, ponies and liorses. Over 160 p«oplo will travel yritli tho company from Australia; in addition a large immLor of people will he engaged in Now Zealand. Tho Now Zealand t-our will bo as follows:—Wellington, February 26 to March 7; Masterton, March 9; Danncy virkej March 10; Waipawa, Marcli 11; Hastings, Marcli 12; Nrjpier, Marcli 13 and 14; Palmcrston North, March 30 and 17; Wangnimi, March 18 and 19 j Auckland, March 31 to April i ; Ckristclntrch, April 11 to April 18; Timara, April 20 and 21;. Oaniaru, April. S3; Dn'uedin, April 23 to April '£>; lnvorcargill, April 30 and May 1.

Forbes-Robertson Retires. All thoso who follow tho history of tho stage, and that of its uncrowned kings will bo interested .in'the cabled hows of Sir Johnston Forbes-Robert-son's retirement from the. boards, which took pldeo at New York during the week. His career of thirty-nine years as an actor (say. , ) the "Theatre") and nctojmanager niiVlit seem phenomenal did \v<i not rotiMMiibor the tenacity of tho Scotch blood that Hows in his veins. Never at any time of robust physique, always giving forth his host, over working towards the highest ends,, yet ho lias kept stf-adily on with uplciKlid poiso and a'dignity that has never failed him,'

"Sir Johnston, as miirjit Ijc expected, is of penile biriii.- His father —who vent from Alwrdoeii to London, more than half a century ago— bee.wno a very celebrated art critic and historian. lIIs uiothor, though living tlio sheltered lite nf a gentlewoman of those days, had a cnltivnteil mind, strong character, and many graces. He himself decided to lipcomo an artist, and studied at tho Academy with that end in view. Strange to say, however, another man's failure changed the course of his life and pavod the way to tho success that now is historic. It happened thus: Tim play 'Mario Stuart,' had been runiittifr at the Princess's Theatre, anO the author, when complaining to the older Fortas-Rnbprt-Bon of his dissatisfaction with ono of tlio characters, mot with this rojoiudev: "Yea. onr Johnston could do libUw." Ho was tlwn tffeiity-ono ye.vs of ago, and experienced only in private theatricals nevertheless he was given tiki part at a stipend of four pounds ft Tfeolt, Red liwl Vocn oa iho stao «fte»3«, Net, sitcg*!*©?

his cnrcer ho has designed and sketched the costumes and scenes for his own productions, and also taken timo for the portraiture of ninny eminent people, including tho great statesman, William Lu-art Gladstone, Ellen Terry, Mod] 'ska, Mary Anderson, jSlrs. Patrick Campbell, and his mm wife and sister-in-law, Gertrude and Masino Elliott.

"Of surpassing interest is the way in which he came to play his greatest rolo, that of Hamlet. . Wo prefer to givo it ia his own meworablo' words, as 'they •so graphically portray his innate modosty, and throw, liaht as woU upon two charmiug friendships: '_" 'Every actor-matt who has fancied himself has always played Hamlet all over the shop. A groat many people— my friends, of course—had urged mo to try, but it always seemed to mo an impertinence to make a great play tho means or such persona! advertsonteut. But when Mr. Irving also advised too to try Hamlet I began to think oi the project more seriously. Miss Terry often spoke ol it, and it was her generous belief in tho idea that persuaded mo. Sheargued that.a pianist never hesitated to play a Beethoven sonata; that it was considered a pious, ,not an arrogant ambition. Putting ft. similar saso in another art gnvt 1 me ft now view of tho matter, Escept for Miss Terry's kindness and persistence, I don't suppose I should have ventured.

"And so, when Sir Henry Irving went on tour, Foruos-Robertson took over theLyceum Theatre, and brought out his own wonderful version, and was promptly accepted as the greatest Hamlet of modern times—seme even chiming him to be tho greatest the world haa ever soen. It ran a Imndred nights in London, and then was presented abroad. Later, ho repeated his triumphs in America,, even in Philadelphia, ' where Shakespeare 'is enshrined in tho hearts of the people*

"Second only to Hanilot is his delineation of Shyloc'li, which character he kvests with an imperious dignity, in striking contradistinction to tho cringing, servilo figure of other presentations. All who saw him in that exquisite play, 'The Passing of the Third Floor Back, , which ran continuously for tlireo years, and was lauded ly all classes of people, the clergy ?s well as the laity, will remember the largo per» centago of Jews present a-t every performance. It was accounted for by tho weaving in of a spendid tribute _t<> the Jewish race; which, declaimed in the wonderful voice of Forbes-Robertson,, .thrilled one libo a message from abave. Tlio glory, the majesty of an ancient people stood forth; the sordid/ the unlovely— wrought by ages of contumely, , and oppression—seemed to fall away, and hard, worldly faces took oh straiigftly sweet and purified ■expressions. So in "The Merchant of Venice, , it is tlio Gcntilo who stands before the Judgment bar, and Shylock is proven more sinned against than sinning."