THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

• — —--»■ ■■ ■ ■ [Br SrLviug,] The World's a theatre; the Eartb a stace.—Hej-wood. A Dawning Star. ; There can bo no manner of 4oul.it that dainty Dorothy Brunton, of the New Comic Opera Company, is to bo'a star in the firmament or' light opera and musical comedy. Her work daring the season that closes to-night has beon uniformly brilliant, and audiences have not been slow to respond to the. ehanntog appeal which sjjo makes. Whether her role bo grave'or gay, sho has-tho ability and quick intelligence- that ensures that no point is overlooked. "With her unquestionable personal charm is associated a lively gift of comedy, a pretty, well-trained voice, and tho knack of always being in the pie* turo. . Miss Bnmtoii has not yet been threeyears on the stage, yet, she is now figuring in leading roles with the greatest success. She may bo said 'to have own "discovered" by Mrs. Hugh Ward ; (wife of the well-known director of J. j C, Williamson, Ltd.). That- lady saw talent in tho girl, and, being an experienced singer and teacher of singing, fancied that she could make something of her. Under tuition her voiceimproved wonderfully, arid she learned the delicate art of interpretation so rarely possessed'by the -average musical comedy artist. . Her first appearance was in a minor role in "The Balkan Princess," in Sydney, when it was found that she possessed a charm that : reached well across' the footlights. From that oat- her. future was assured, ' and good parts have fallen to her quite [ naturally. Among thsso the first, and perhaps lier best,, was the- role, of Fifi in "The Belie- of New York," in which Miss Brunton, is said to havo struck a deeper note than any of her numerous predecessors. Her interpretation' of the- French girl was entirely, original, ■•• Instead of .making her a bit of gidcly Parisian fluff — butterfly—she conceived Fifi to be quite human, and her .love for I Harry Branson' very real, Though acted With all the. volatile irresponsibilriv of the- mpst -flippant of' Fills, the "gifted : little actress, with clover, .touches, disclosed glimpses of a heart ttat yearned only for young Brpnson. . Wellington playgoers, would liko to seo Miss Brunton in this role, as it probably* gave her more opportunity to qisplay heir purely' histrionic skill than any that sho has been cast for to dote. Other charming performances. were her Phyllis in "Dorothy," Sonibra in "The Arcadians,'* Stephanus in "Tho Sign of' Tho Cross," . June , in '.'Autumn Manoeuvres," and." Juliette in "The Count of Luxembourg," each and all admirably dainty alid appealing performances: Miss Brunton is bountifully dowered-with what. Mr. J. M.- Barrio, in "What M'very Woman Knows" .could only terra' "Charm"—that indefinable magnetic 'eurr-ent which makes circuit with -every mind iii the- audience- as soon as she leaves tho> shelter of tho wings. : Women-liko her, girls .gush over he-r, men love her —though she -seems to bo .sublimely, innocent of tho fact. These are' virtues which aro going, to make Miss Brunton a star in America Host year. ' • Miss- Brunton states that sho loreshor profession, and has the ambition to achieve tliOi highest position available i to an esponiiont of light opera roles. To ft at cml she (in company with hermother) will in all probability lea-vo' for ■ America (the Mecca of all'capable artists)-, and afterwards there is England, and a nice long holiday on tho Carrtmont. Marriage—not a thought of it I "I want to climb over so high in my business;"' ,si(id. i .Mi,ss .JBtUn.td.ii-, "and -'tTia'ttoccvi>«es'*vy s timo?p'frtty well. It will be ».' long time before. I. settle down, I think." ■...:*.: >;■■■•-. - .'/Joseph anu'Hi.s~.Brethrert." '■ By tho O'tway'last week ; e.amo to Australia..the ':ncvv'. dramatic- company organised in. London for tho J. 0. Williamson direction, with' a view to tho performance hero of tho successful plays, "Joseph and His Brethren"' and . VSealed .Orders." The names includethose of Miss Ethel Miss Dorothy Whitaker, Miss Eva Moss. Miss Nancy Girling, Mr.-'* Edward 'O'Neill, Mr. Malcolm Searle, Mr. Hodgson Taylor, aitd Mr. Frank Harvey. Mr. Cecil King, producer, who has been : at His Majesty's, was aceordod a fine "Send-off" reception-on the stage- of that famous -theatre prior to his depar- : inre from London. ' Incidentally, Sir Herbert. Tree presented Mr. King with a scroll inscribed by some-' two hundred of his well-wishers, a choquofor £200, a hartdsomo troxeUing-ca&S, and, from himself, a gold cigarette case. "Joseph and His Brethren" was, at latest ad-; vises; still funning strongly at His Ma-; jesty's, with children's matinces_ announced to commence oh New Year's '. Day. '"Scaled Orders" was a.trium- ■ fihont success at Drury Lane, and is not there now only because Basing Day and pantomime had to be served. ' London Shows. With tho iatest Loudon files, closing on Boxing Day, news is to hand of tho holiday attractions promised to Christ- : mas playgoers, The children appear to !ho particularly well catered for this i year. Drnry Lane, which, of course-, j has great Christmas traditions to live up to, had in view a pantomime co-m- ---\ biiied of modern splendours, and, for a change, tho ancient harlequinade. "Sleeping Beauty. Reawakened" is its stylo and..title, and Mr. Georgo Graves and Miss Florence. Smithson head' tho cast of actors, which cast, hy the way, is said to contain 300 performers. Drury Lane- does its Christmas pantouiinio in a big way, evidently as to I which it is to be regretfully noticed that this production is described in the adi vertjscments as not a pantomime at all. but a. musical play. At the Duke 'of York's Theatre, "Quality Street" re,l'naiiis isi the evening bill, but "Peter Pan," still refusing to grow up, makes 'his tenth, annual appearance at daily matinee with dainty Miss Paulino Chase onto more the bright particular star of tho' piece. At the I Globe Theatre, afternoon performances of a.'new children's, play, "Tho Shepherdess Without a Hoari," had already begun, the first niplit criticisms hialiug it sis a x delightful surprise. At the. Gafrick. "Where the Rainbow Ends," which has charmed tho children twice before, is again revived by Mr. Charles At tho Lyceum, the pantomime is ' Beauty and the Beast," while tho Comedy Theatre is providing matinees of "Alico iii Wonderland." The Court has a children's theatre of an assorted kind, while the Coronet, the Brixton, the Britannia, HoKton, and the Borough, Stratford, aro but a few of tho suburban London theatres announcing pantomimes. Otherwise, tin? 'instantaneous success of a new revue, "Hullo Tango," at tho Hippodrome, and tho Savoy season of 'Mr.. Granville Barker are the outstanding events of recent weeks in London. It'was at tho .Hippodrome- that tho best of London r'.'vues, "Hullo llagtiaic,". was produced, and tlio new piece has tho advantage of a fast which, includes 'Miss ICthtd -Levey, a wonderfully versatile artist, who made tho success of tho ragtime rwiSj and many oche? of its farouutes, besides Mr. H-nrry Tate, oS motoring ftune. Mr. Granville Barker, to whom H. B. Irving, closjiiig down on "A Grand Seigneur," has sublet tho Savoy, will orothine there the-splendid'repertory program mo which he has been slviiig- at tho St. _ James's, but will jm.'&n)tly change it for a. great production of "Midsummer Xigh't's Dream " (Music will be found on pago 12.)