THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2452, 4 May 1915, Page 10

THE THEATRE.

1 [Br Sylvius.]

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stago.—Hey wood. Actor and Man. "There is one thing that strikes me particularly," remarked Fred Niblo, who is fareivelling in Melbourne, "and that is the attention the public devote to tlio personal side of the stage and its artists in Australia. 2*Jofc even ill Now York, where the personal element is very strong, is it so pronounced as in Australia. The public take a real interest ill the private life of the artiste, and devote a great deal of their time to reading about them, meeting them, and entertaining them. I must admit that this appeals strongly to mo. 1 like the personal as well as the professional element to count. I don't mean from the purely business point of view. .But I like to feel that it is not merely the actor that the public is interested in, but the man also. The division beween the stage and the public is narrower in. Australia than in any other country I have ever been. Why, a first night and a last performance are like a convivial party, so intimate is the tone between tho people on the stag© and in the audience; and this feeling is noticeable, to some extent at any performance where the artists are of interest to many of thee people in l'ront."

"The Marriage Market." For musical comedy there is an unusual atmosphere in "The Marriage Market," which is to be staged by the J. C. Williamson-Royal-Comic Opera Company at Melbourne Her Majesty's shortly. The action takes place in California. The first act has for its sotting a ranch, and the Btage is filled with cowboys. The second shows the deck of a sumptuous yacht, anchored in the Bay of San Francisco. The third act takes place in a millionaire's place in SaJi Francisco. Throughout the play there is the breezy unconventionaj atmosphere of tho West, with its picturesque trappings and brisk action, whilst through all is a delightful love story of the' rich man's daughter who married a. cowboy. "Tho Marriage Market" will be produced by Charles A. Weuman.

Joseph Blascheck. Madame Melba telephoned to Mr. Joseph Blascheck the other afternoon, and told him that she had promised to sell,two Belgian flags at a patriotic concert in Melbourne that evening. She added that she wanted those present to be put iu a proper mood before sho started the auction, so would Mr, Biascheck coine down and recite "The Bay," which poem she thought could not fail to rouse the sympathy and enthusiasm of. the audience. He gladly acceded to Madame Mclba's request. He committed it to memory in a couple of hours, and that evening delivered tlus powerful poem .with electrical effect. A remarkable demonstration followed, and when the prima donna stopped on the platform and added her own stirring appeal, the bidding was brisk and lively. The sum of £120 was realised for the flags.. Sir. Blascheck will' recite "The Day" during his season in Wellington.

News from Johannesburg. Writing from Johannesburg, Mr. Robert Ureig, that good fat comedian who was so valuable to Mr. Fred. Niblo (aud who worked so hard for the first, theatrical street collection and matinee given iu aid of tho Patriotic Fund in Wellington in August last), says that tho J.b.W. Company he is now with is playing all the comedies familiarised in Australia by Mr. Niblo, in Africa. J°bn Webster as lead and Miss Beatrice Holloway as lady protagonist. The cheerful Bob writes that "Beatrice has made a big hit here, and has bccome 'very popular. We are now at Bloemfontein (March 19); Maritzburg next, then Durban. lam looking forward to Durban, as I have a. brother there. You will remember bis wife Florence Perry, who was brought out to play the lead in 'The Geisha.'i'rom there we go on to Cape Town. I have met many Australians and New Zealanders in this country, and all seem to have good positions. Funny thing, the manager of every theatre in Johannesberg is either an Australian or New /ealander. I don't care a bit. but it is remarkable I"

Why? Tho, tour of tl j e i>ii mmor . Ha ji p atri _ otic Comody Company across country rrom A en' Plymouth has been very successful. rho favourite play on tour strange to relate, has not been the brilliant "Lady Windermere's Fan," but Isaac Henderson's clever play, "The Mummy and the Hummingoird." The vogue for moving pictures and brisk American comedy has created in the public mind an appetito for actionbrisk action—perpetuum momentum I tms Oscar Wildo does not supply. He relies solely on brilliant dialogue, edged with a fine neurotic cynicism, the culture of a small set of West Endere. one would for a. moment .sug'v that Henderson's play is such good work as Wilde's, but it has the "ood red corpuscles of vital humanity rushing through every scene, and it£ outreach 13 broader and more human. That is why "The Mummy" is now the opening bill everywhere with the Plimmer-Hall Company.

The company is to appear in Hastings on May 3, in- Masterton on May 4 and o, and Greytown on May 6. On Mav 7 the company will pass through Wellington to the south.

Notes. Tbe war play, "The Man Who Stayed at. Home," which .is running to ©normous business in London and is shortly to be staged in Sydney and Melbourne by J. C. Williamson. Ltd., has been Produced in New York, under the title of "The White Feather." The American correspondent of the London 'Staße" says that "it is a genuine success, and 1 have not seen a single deprecatory notice in any paper, and that means a great deal in New York where the German population is enormous, and bears considerable influenco "c'mi'i/ ?,V, n ? ber of P a P ers - It looks as if lhe White Feather' will run tho rest of tho season and a bit over." Tho Welliii2ton professional amateurs, who have been touring Now Zealand with "Charley's Aunt" and "The Private Secretary" for the past two months, are said to have been most successful, and will return home again shortly bulging with foreign capital. Tins exploit is unique. Never before has a reputedly amateur company attempted to tour the whole of the Dominion. Tho success they have unquestionably been from a box oflice standpoint will be another bogy to tho profession.