THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 2456, 8 May 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRE

[BT SVLVIUS.I rita World's ft theatre; tlio Ea-rtl) a stago.—lloywood. "Jimmy" MacMalton. Poor littlo "Jimmy" MauMalion has gone the way of all flesh. It is a Eolior truth that ho did not boast much llesli, but a quarter of a cenLury ago (•hero was not a liver wire in the theatrical prolession in Australasia than the same "Jimmy" MacMalion. Ho was then a keen ajert, wiry little man, with a linn, thin-lipped mouth, and 1 an almost nosthotical expression, which had something in it of a coldly quizzical character. This, however, would all disappear as soon as he found a good listener, for ''Jimmy" was always a good and interesting talker, well read, fairly well versed in tho classics, and more than a superficial knowledge of the poots. "Jimmy" was an artistio son), though he did not show it during the latter years in his connection with tho legitimate stage. Ho learned the bitter truth that there was just as often as not as much money in a cheap j tawdry melodrama, packed with blatant heroics of the most, conventional order than there was in refined comedy or good drama, which was much more expensive to do owing to tho salary list. Good stuff wants good players, poor stuff can fudge along witn indifferent actors. 'Tis sad, hut true! "Jimmy" loved to yarn of the days that were and never will bo more, lie was always very proud over tho fact that lie brought Dion Boucieault to New Zealand, and many a- good story ho i sed to tell of the great actor-playwright.. 110 used to tell one of Boucieault that illustrated the wit of tlio gifted Irishman. This ono happened in Wellington —in the old Occidental Hotel to he specific: "Dou you know, James," said Boucieault to "Jimmy" ono night after the show, 'this is a great litt l *) town to got drunk in." "How is that?" asked 1 "Jimmy." "Well," replied the actor, "this is the only place I know where y' can fall off the Quay and not got wot." The reference, of course, was to Lambton Quay, which was the wator front at one timo, like other quays, but which, robbed of , its waterside identity by tho reclamation works for which Wellington, in the outer world, is rather noted for. The deceased manager was under , a mask of austerity a Bohemian soul; indeed, in later years he became rather garrulous, which, after ah, is a common failing with men of advanced years, and I would not liko to guess "Jimmy's" age. He was old enough, I think, to havo been the father of his brothers, Joo and Charlie, both of whom have a host of friends and well-wishers iu this country. "The Man Who Stayed at Home." "The Man Who Stayed at Homo" is the title of the English "spy" play which the firm produced in Melbourne last week. The play deals with the troubles of a handsome young Englishman, who, because ho "stays at home" whilst his friends and comrades are facing the enemy on the Continent, is made the object of contumely and insult, whereas the work he is doing is fraught with the greatest importance

belief in the principle that the rent should be adjusted according to the prices of admission, though why that should be w> is past all comprehension. It means in brief that the better the show the more they should be mulcted in rent, which is surely an egregious blunder, as it must have an effect on the arrangement of tours that will be to the detriment of Wanganui playgcers. For a company charging 4s. and under the rent is to be £7 per night; 6s. and under, £8; over 65., £9 (inclusive of light and cleaning charges). What on earth does it oonce-n the council if the show is "Punch and Judy" or "Samson and Delilah," so long as a certain fair rent is charged; and why should a picture show be able to rent' the theatre for £6 a night, whilst a good comedy, employing a lot of capable artists, has to pay £8 for precisely the same privileges? The system is a pernicious one, in that it penalises the high-class companies which have to charge the higher prices to make ends meet. The argument would bo just as reasonable if a company charging the higher prices wore asked to pay higher steamer or train fares, and more for their printing than the low-priced shows. A flat charge would be much more equitable than a varying scale, hi the case of professional companies, and the council might well reconsider its decision. "Marle-Odilo." Mr. ICnoblanch, with the assistance of Mr. David Bclasco, appears to have produced a wonderful topical play in "Marie-Odile." Though the play is set during the Franco-Prussian war it is not difficult to see that recent happenings have been the inspiration of the play. "Marie-Odile" was a foundling, and having been discovered on the steps of an Alsatian convent, is brought up | to acknowledge the church as her mother and destiny, and when the play opens is undergoing her novitiate i« the convent. _ When tho war breaks out Alsace is invaded, and on the approach of the Uhlans all flee from tho convent save Marie. She, poor child, !uis known no men, and when the first Uhlan, Corporal Phillip Meissner, breaks into the convent, and comes face to the Empire—tho hunting-down of a gang of German spies. A new company has been assembled for tho production. Tho cast is as follows; —Christopher Brent, Sir. Frank liarvey; Carl Sanderson, Air. Cyril MacUayJohn Preston, Mr. Arthur Cornell; Pcrcival Beiuii"iiirk, Mr. Martin Lewis; Fritz, Mr. Leslie Victor; Mr?. Sanderson, Miss Emma Ten,pie; Miriam Leo, Miss Violet Paget; Molly Preston, Miss Lizetto J?aikey ill's. Myrtle,,. Mrs. Xoggo

Pigott; Fraulein Scliroeder, Miss Wily Malyon; Daphne Kidlington,' Miss Dorothy Cumming. A minor role of Corporal Atkins lias been assigned to Sir. Charles Morse. A Gifted Mimic. In addition to liis other girts, Sydney James, the leader of the Itoyal Strollers (shortly to visit Wellington), lias a line taste for mimicry, which lie occasionally exercises in privates for the benefit of bis friends. As a youth, ho found an engaging pastime for many a leisure hour in imitating the live stock about hi.i home, and, wllh hard practice, developed tho trick often to the complete deception of tho beasts themselves. Later on in life bo look to ventriloquism, a. practice for which his long work as a mimic bad fitted him. When bo was ready to appear in public as a ventriloquist, he created "Billy," tho present divorting figure through which he presents his. laughable comments on human conduct. Sydney James tells an amusing story of "Billy's" debut at a London "at homo," dining which the artist and his "partner" had been engaged to amuse tho company. Among the assemblage was an old dowager, who | was the most seriously attracted by "Billy's" drolleries. She gazed at him long and reflectively through a lorgnotto, and then evidently convinced that lio was real flesh and blood, said to Mr. James, "What an extraordinary child! Do you think he would like a piceo of cake?" Theatre Bents. The Opera House Committee of the Wimganui Borough Council has just submitted a revised list of charges for tho municipal theatre there, which has been adopted by tho council. The comniili.oo evidently started in with a sound to faco with its only occupant. Marie identifies him with "St. Michael 1" and hows low before him. The second act sees tho Uhlans roystering in tho refectory. with Mario at the head of the table. She insists on them raying grace, and finally, when the men call on her for a speech, the novice says: "May tho dear Lord bless and protect you ull, and send you back soon to your mothers I" That simple prayer is followed by a long silence—vital thought fills the air, perfumed with incense of home and mother-love. In the third act a child i 6 born to Marie, who cannot understand why the Mother Superior sends her forth "lest we all be fouled and corrupted." Mr. Knoblauch dees not bring the man back, finding his end to the story in the faith of tho liUlo mother that is truly "in the hands of God." and "that He will not forsake mel" Miss Frances Starr has made a hit as Marie, and Jerome Patrick, the Australian actor, who married Miss Meynell (daughter of Clyde Meynell), is Corporal Meissner, which indicates that he is somewhere near tho top of his business. / "Sign of the Cross" In Pictures, For some years past J. C. Williamson, Ltd., as holders of the rights of the dramt "The Sign of the Cross" has placed an embargo on its'exhibition in picture form in' Australasia. This embargo has now been lifted, and a very fine American production of Wilson Barrett's play will shortly be shown in Wellington, with the American star actor William Farnum as Marcus Sunerbus. A Play In Nlnoteen Acts. Mr. Thomas Hardy, the gifted poet and novelist, author of "Tess of the D'TJrbervilles," etc., some years ago wrote a play in nineteen acts, part of which was produced in London by Granville Barker a few months ago, whero it created considerable interest. Mr. Hardy's idea in writing "Tho Dynasts" appears to bo an attempt to synchronise tho stirring events which made history u hundred years ago, just as some playwright of tho future will no doubt attempt to dramatise the present international upheaval. The period embraced in the play is that coverod by the Napoleonic wars, between 180n to the battle of Waterloo, and the characters included in the cast are George 111, Pitt, Fox, Sheridan, Nelson, Napoleon, Ney, liurat, Soult. Wellington, the Empress Josephine, Talleyrand, Davout, and Mane Louise. Part lof this wonderful invention contains six acta, and has a prologuo entitled "Tho Overworld," in which such characters as tho Spirit of tho Years, the Chorus of Pities, the Spirit Sinister, and Chorus of Rumours figure. To show what diversity the play iiolds, we give tho location of the scencs in the first act (and there are nineteen of theml -.—Scene I—A ridge in Wcssex. Scene II —Paris; office of the Minister of Marine. Scene III—London; the old House of Commons. Sceno IV—The harbour of Boulogne. Scene V —London; tho houso of a lady of quality. Scene Vl—Milan; the great Cathedral. One can grasp from the scene plot the vast outlook, tho broad horizon, of Mr. Hardy's perspective. Thero is a spectacle representing tho battle of Trafalgar, and another scene depicts the Duchess of Richmond's historic ball at Brussels, the night before Waterloo. In this scene Picton is heard to say to another general, when Napoloon's advance is reported in the ballroom :— "I am damn glad we are to be off. Pottering about here, pinned to a patti-coat-tails. It does no good, but blasted harm." , . , , And the Duke himself indulges in no fceioics: — _ .1 "Napoleon has befooled me. By God, ho has—gained four and twenty hours' good ma-reh upon mel" This reallv sounds like the hook-nosed Duke, for (lid he not say to an interviewer after the battle: —"It was a danmod near-run business for us, I tell you" ? . Napoleon appears in a wood, scene, when, having lost the day, he tries to get shot, and soliloquises: —

"Yes, a good death to have died on yonder field, But never a ball came passing down my way; So as it is, a miss-mark they will dub mo; And yet I found tho crown of France in the mire, And with tho point of my prevailing sword I picked it upl But for all this and this I shall be nothing. To shoulder Christ from out the topmost nicho In human fame, as oiico I fondly felt, Was not for me., I came too late in timo To assume tho prophet or demigod, A part past playing now."

The only hope of tho world ever seeing "The Dynasts" will probably be in moving picture form, as it would tako ail night and the nest day to stage it adequately from end to ond. It slioiild be worth while as a literary effort. Notes. The Violet Paget Company has revived "The Man on the Box 1 ' at the Little Theatre, Sydney. The members of the Nellie Stewart Company have been advised that the company will disband at the termination of the New Zealand tour. "Jim" Corbett (now appearing at the Sydney Tivoli) is not _as new to the stage as many pooplo in Australia are apt to think/ Long before ho took up boxing as a profession, lie was a member of a theatrical company in Sail Francisco, and he has man.v played .star parts in tho "Unite States since his career as a champion boxer. In addition, lie was the principal figure in a moving picture, "Jim Burglar aud the Lady," which will possibly bo produced in Australia sliort'.v. "Gentleman' Jim" has also been at the head of an American vaudeville combination, tho