A MAN OF IDEAS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2387, 17 February 1915, Page 7

A MAN OF IDEAS

JIB. BEAUMONT SMITH AND THE STAGE STOCK COMPANY FOR N.Z. ~ Sir. Beaumont Smitli, the newesti'Sustralian theatrical manager, gives every evidence of being a live wire in. matters appertaining to the stage in Australia. Only a year ago he returned from London with an agreement to play the' Louis Meyer productions in this part of the world, and commenced his career in Sydney with "Mr. Wu," a phenomenally successful Anglo-Cnineso drama, which caught both London and New York and is still Being played with (success in those countries.' This was followod by a dramatisation of "The Harrier." Then ..amo "The Gl.,i Eye," a merry French farcical comedy which set everyone giggling wherever it was played, and for which production Miss ISthel Dane, the London, creator of tho role of Kiki was brought "out. This play, said Mr. Smith, in the course of an interview last evening, ran fifteen months in London originally, and has since been revived with the same gf . success in the metropolis. Mr. Smith states that his partnership with Mr. Louis Meyer was dissolved on November 30 last, and only last week cabled news of his death from heart trouble was received. Mr. Meyer made his first success with "The Woman in tho Case," and followed it up with ."'lhp Glad Eye," "Who's the Lady?" and "The Chaperon," which latter comedy will be played during the Wellington 6eason. At Christmas timo Mr. Smith presented his own adaptation of Ethel Turner's "Seven Little. Australians," which' rail for seven weeks at the Palace Theatre in Sydney, and would nave been good for weeks longer had not Mr. Smith's lease of the theatre run out.Now he has arranged for the "Seven Little Australians" Company to leave Sydney on Friday next for Wellington, and it will follow "The Glad Eye" Company at • the Grand Opera House on February 27. Among the members of this company is little Cecil Haines, the gifted 'Wellington, child, who achieved a big success on her first professional appearance in the part of Suds. Miss Vera Spaull is also a very clever child actress,' who will be remembered here in connection with "The Blue Bird." Another distinguished member of tho "Seven Little Australians" Company will bo Mr. Harrington Reynolds, who was here a few months ago with _ "The Rosary." It is Mr. Smith's intention as far as possible to tour the two companies.in succession to one another. Later, on Mr. Smith has the intention of providing New Zealand with a good stock company, which will tour New Zealand continually with different plays, alternating' .the better class drama with bright, clever comedy, and in that connection New Zealand will be afforded' tho opportunity of witnessing "Mr. Wu" and "The farrier." He has also purchased a delightful children's play from the pen of Mr. Arthur Aaams, editor of "The Lone Hand," which Mr. Smith describes as a very beautiful play embodying the sweetest and purest sentiment. ■ Consequent upon the uncommon, success of the "Seven Little Australians," Mr. Smith has conceived the idea of establishing in Sydney a children's theatre, to bo opened only during. the Christmas, Easter, and mid-winter holidays, when good play 6 dealing with the various phases of child life will be presented by a competent company. Plays in which children are concerned have invariably proved successful, and the visitor believes that the child mind can be entertained, trained, and broadened in cities 'through he medium of appropriate plays produced durine tho afternoon, rather than filling them up with the idea; that the merry nonsense of the pantomime is all that the theatre is intended to convey'. The heat wave in Sydney and Melbourne has had a very sorious effect on the theatres, and there were very few theatres doing well. Not only had the phenomenal temperatures had a deadly effect, but the public were feeling the effect of the drought, and more remotely the war. After Wellington the "Glad Eye Company is to visit Masterton, Pahia-. tua., Dannevirke, Hastings, Napier, Gisborne, and Auckland. It will then work down the West Coast, playing at New Plymouth, Hawera, Wanganui, and Palmerston North, and playing the •Easter dates at-Christehnrch.