THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2404, 9 March 1915, Page 3

THE THEATRE.

Hie World's a theatre; the Esjtb a stage.—Heywood. A Theatrloal southern Cross. Saturday evening, February 13, was quite a gala night for the Australianborn actress ill Sydney. It saw the. success in leading roles of four Australians whose merit has long been recognised by the astute, but who have not been thrust forward whilst there were 'importations" to play the more important roles. On the evening in question, Miss Dorothy Brunton scored tiigh honours in "High Jinks." a new musical comedy ; Miss Marie Eaton (for years associated with the annual pantomime) made another success in the same play; clever Miss Lizette Parkes wandered _ in white as the gentle "Meria" in "The Sign of the Cross," and Miss Enid Bennett took the lead in Fred. Niblo's latest successful comedy "The Travelling Salesman." Of the various performers .the "Sunday fimes" says:— "High Jinks." At Her Majesty's, Miss Dorothy Brunton appears as Sylvia Dale, the sympathetic role of "High Jinks" _on the feminine side. Miss Brunton gives a performance worthy of any Tight musical offering of any theatre in the world. She has in addition to many small graces that go to make up charm, admirable acting assets. Her technique is certain, and reflects the mind of a thorough, student of dramatic art. Although a mere girl, she brings to her performance _ the wide experience of a carefully-trained yocality and actress. It is a sheer delight to watch her in the various numbers of the score that are alloted to her. One of these in particular, "Not Now, But .Later," represents the. perfection of stage effect. Not only is sho skilful in her singing of this, but the dance she shares with Mr. Paul Plunket, is neat and cleverly rhthmical to a degree seldom witnessed on the lyric stage. There is little doubt that if Missj Brunton had come to us from abroad she would be recognised as the most successful engagement of years.

"In the same theatre, there is an artist of exceptional merit in Miss Marie Eaton. Miss Eaton is another Australian who shows a true sense of the theatre. All her work is ablyconsidered. and her effects wonderfully sure. She has also singing abilities awav ahead of what might be expected in the class of attraction in which she figures. Her vocalism. is brilliant and' theatrically effective. In : the Faust trio she displays a gift of syncopation that is extraordinary outride the native American. Contrasted with this, is her spirited, rendering of ' "When Sammy Sang the Marseillaise," a number, that would be a hit in pantomime or burlesque anywhere." . "Sign of the Cross." Touching on, the dramatic side of the Williamson' forces, the company at the Theatre Royal exhibits several Australians of: conspicuous merit. Outstanding among these is Miss Lizette Parkes, who plays Mercia to the Marcus Superbus of Mr. Julius Knight. Miss Parkes got something out of this character last night that is new to Australian playgoers. -Sho interpreted Wilson Barrett's heroine on lines of originality that 'show her to be no mere copyist or slavish follower of tradition. - Miss Parkes made Mercia spiritual, and 1 brought. to the role a simple dignity that exercised a powerful emotional appeal. Heretofore wo have seen statuesque and sometimes cold impersonators of the Christian,girl whose faith is equal to the test of martyrdom. For the first time one raised the true inwardness of the oharacter, and it remained for an Australian to bring it home to, us in its full force. - "Traveling Salesman." The great- experiment in "The Travelling Salesman," however, was in allotting part of the heroine to Miss Enid Bennett. This was aa much at the instigation of Miss Josephine Cohan as anyone. Mi3s-Bennett hasifor the past three years been Miss Cohan's, understudy. The visiting comedienne has devoted much of her time to advancing the Australian girl. Her impress is shown in Miss Bennett's work, and it is to be doubted if a better model for comedy acting could be found. Last night Miss Bennett was given an opportunity to show what sho could do with a part upon which much' of the success of the play hinges. She was assigned the sympathetic lead, playing opposite Mr. Fred Niblo., The first net calls for naivete and winsomeness. She has to carry the commercial traveller off his feet. She says later on in the evening that the drummer had achieved this with her, _ but it seems one of those cases of six of one and half a dozen'of the other. There can be no doubt that Miss Bennett carried out the dramatist's intent to the fullest degree in the railway station scene. Later on in the performance, she had to exhibit some deeper feeling where, under the belief that _she_ had been made the catspaw of a swindling scheme, she expresses her humiliation in a fine acting opportunity. Miss Bennett proved quite equal to the occasion, and m the reconciliation that brings the play to a close she also show.ed her versatility in a scene .of sweet\surrender. Ups and Downs, "Your life is one of ups and downs," remarked a jocular member of- the "Cinderella" Company at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, to Barry Lupinoi when he came off after shooting up on a trap. "Well," replied the comedian, "I don't mind admitting that in my time I have had many ups and downs— and worse ones than dropping into the basement or taking a trap. I remember I was once starring—l mean starving—in a piece in which I thought mine was the principal part. I couldn't get a train back from Epsom—it was Derby day—and did not reach London until the piece was over. The next day I went t-6 the manager, explained the circumstances, apologised, and hoped that I had not caused any trouble in the piece, and that nothing had happened. 'Oh, that's all Tight, 1 the manager assured me, 'nothing happened. Your part has nothing to do with the plot, so we cut it out. Yoj've finished.' And that meant," said Mr. Lupino, _ "that for the next three 'weeks,' the time it took me to get another job, I lived on about half a meal a day." The Irrepressible Bernhardt. _ Last week I wrote a few appropriate lines bidding Madame Sara Bernhardt a regretful farewell to the stage to which she has been as a silver lamp on a distant shrine, thinking that' the loss of a leg at 70 would mean the end of her footlight career. This week the cablegrams announced that the actress' was making a splendid recovery, and hoped very shortly to return to the stage. Such fortitude must bo accounted marvellous, but at the same time one might bo forgiven for imagining that the dire hurt she has sustained would have tamed the fire of her histrionic soul. Not sol Sara is apparently to riso superior to such a trifle as a cork leg, and the world may yet see a famous Camille with o stiff pedal action on an enthralling La Tosca with a creak. There may even yet be written for the actress special roles to suit her disability. An unconquerable soul is here! The Pllmmer-Halj Tour. Tho news that "The Mummy and the Hummingbird" will probably be included in the repertoire, of the Plim-mer-Hnll Patriotic Comedy Company will be welcomed ,by all lovers of good , plays.'- This play was produced here <jomo yws ago by tho lata . ■Mr.' Herbert ' Fleming, ' - andi

made a deep impression. It is a strong meaty play, well written, and admirably constructed, and in it Miss Beatrice Day helped to establish, the fine reputation she has as an emotional actress. •, By the way, it is not kuown that Miss Day (they call her "Der Tag" in Melbourne) was the original Mrs. Erlyn in "Lady Windermere'6 Fan" in South Africa, where she waß playing when the war broke out. She at once placed her services at the disposal of the authorities, and did such §ood work that she now wears the outh African Medal, which was awarded to her for the work she did so well. On one occasion she was concerned in a production of "Lady Windermere's Fan," in which the male parts were assumed by prominent officers. The part of Lord Darlington, for example, was played on that occasion by Genera) Baden-Powell, the hero of Mafeking. Miss Day was one of the helpers in last Monday's campaign for funds in aid of the Belgian women, and is always ready to do her share whenever there is a cause that needs She believes that the idea of this patriotic tour was a great one. "No matter what the oiroumstanceß may be," says Miss Day, "the public do want some relaxation, something to take their minds away from the worries of business and the horrors of the war cables, and why should not that relaxation be the theatre and good plays. You see —you kill two birds with one stone—give the public intellectual recreation and help these poor Belgians at the same time. Ido hope the people of New Zealand will see it in that light, and help us to be helpful." Notes. A company of Wellington's professional amateurs are touring the South Island with "Charley's Aunt".and "The Private Secretary." Messrs. Norman Aitken, Bentley, Russell and Dennis i Kelly are interested in thd venture.

That peculiar "something" we call personality, that counts for so much in the success of an actor, is possessed by Fred Niblo to a remarkable degree. He makes it felt amongst, the audience even more in "Seven Keys to Baldpate," with its many dramatio moments, than in ."Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford" or "The Fortune Hunter." An American newspaper writer once said of, Fred Niblo: "If he just came on. to bring a telegram on a salver, without opening his mouth, the audience would say, 'Gee! Who's that?'".

Mr. Frank Musgrove, who has not been in New Zealand for many years, is the business manager of the Nellie Stewart Company, now in Auckland. He is a brother of Messrs. Geo. and Harry Musgrove, both well known in these parts. "Seven Little Australians" is not a great play, but it has a healthy , heartinterest which captures the children -and their mothers. The Wellington season was a highly successful one, and there is little doubt that Beaumont Smith's happy notion will prove a money-spinner.

Now things theatrical have slumped rather badly in Australia owing to the war, the drought, and'furnace-like temperatures, the' bookings of New Zealand theatres are getting brisk. There are pretty continuous bookings here for months ahead, and managers are finding it a little difficult to arrange sweet-run-ning tours. There are more companies touring the 'Dominion at present than has been the case for a couple of years past. Mr. Beaumont Smith threatens.; to call Mr. Arthur Adams's new children's' play "Snookey-Ookums." What Arthur will say has yet to be recorded. Miss -Nellie Stewart, who farewelled with much agitation some-three years ago, is in New Zealand once more, wooing the favour of audiences. She is now appearing in Auckland, and -is due in Wellington at Easter. She- "will be seen here in "Du Barry/'. "Dorothy of the Hall," and the evergreen "Sweet Nell of Old Drury."