THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2474, 29 May 1915, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

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fie World's a tfieatra; tta Birth i stage.—Hejrwood. A Recruiting Play. t h as written to th J- 0. Williamson management in ilal bourne suggesting tho practical use trf which the spy drama, "The Man Win treated at Home," might be put for re eruiting purposes. 'U have an idei t.iat a. tig recruiting bcorn might b< worked up through this play," ho wrote and I for one would be prepared t< do my share to help. lam prepared, i ono hundred other citizens co-operati in a like manner, to purchase five hun dred tickets for the gallery and dia tribute them amongst young men win ougiit t« awakan to their duty and re sponsibilities and go to the front. The' merely want to bo awakened, and ' feel sure, having seen the play in Syd tioy, 'The Man Who Stayed at Home, will have this effect. Will ninety-aim other citizens respond l ?" "CindoreSla" on V/erinssday Week. Departing from their usual custom os opening the pantomime tour of Nen Zealand at Auckland, this year's offer ing, "Cinderella," which has been run ning in Melbourne and Sydney sinci last Christmas, is to open in New Zea land at the Grand Opera House 01 Wednesday weeik, Juuo 9. There hav< been beautiful pantomimes, funny pantomimes, pantomimes well calculated t< bring the blush to the cheek of modesty ragtime pantomimes, and mere variety shows masquerading as pantomimes but we have tho assuraneo or the firm 1 * trusty emissaries, that there has nevei been a more beautiful pantomime pre seated in New Zealand than "Cinderella." It has beeu mounted regardlesi of expense, and one glittering scent follows the other in bewildering succession, dazzling the eye and alluring the senses with the scenes of theatric splendour. Then the firm are giving us a good cast. Tn to Barry Lupmo, the very best pantomime comediar we know of, tliero are a new group ol artists from England and America t<i vitalise the sweot old fairy talo. Among these arc, Miss Dolly Castles (sister oi Amy of that ilk), Miss Minnie Lov« (who looks it), Mr. Jack M'Ardle (a peppery comedian), Mr. Arthur Stigant (a dear old dame with a twisted sense of humour), and Mr. Leslie Gaze, who was the first "Chocolate Soldior" in theso parts. Tbese people would surely entertain delightfully, to say nothing of the specialities and the ballet. Wednesday, Juno 9, has been fixed as the definite opening date. Mr. John Farrell will arrive from Perth, via Sydney, on Tuesday next to make the city gay with the woes of "Cinderella." "The Ladlos' Shakespeare." Sir James M. Barrie, creator of tho Immortal "Pe'.er Pan," has written a light and airy fantasy entitled "Tho Ladies' Shakespeare," which has beon played in Amar'ca by Maude Adams under tho Frohman management. The playlet is described on tile programme as "being ono woman's reading of a uotorious work called 'The Taming of the Shrew,' edited by J. M- Bnrrie." The author las taken a ne\j view of the old play, no less than the turning of the tables, making Petrucbio, not Katherine, the tamed oro. "It is a curious bit of satiro of no great vnluo from a dramatic standpoint,'' says tho Boston "Post," "but affording Miss Adams an opportunity of displaying hor individuality. According to Sir James's i idea, Katherine sized up Petruchio in what is known in street parlance as a bluff. Accordingly she 'called' him, ana whenever she really wished anything erte. | opposed it. and in that manner accomplished her desires. The food he oouglit she appeared to bo eager for, when in _ reality she had a store of hotter provisions for hor own use. It waß the sanio with caps and gowns and other things, which she did not care for. In tho end she showed how aha had won her way in everything, and Pet. had been her willing skvo. The humour of the play is said to, be whoilv delightful. Another War Play. Another stirring wiit plav has been produced m New York with marked success. Its title is "Inside the Lines," and is a drama in three acts by Earl Detr Biggers, whoever he may be. The (iist scene is Gibraltar at the opening of hostilities. Wo see the lobby of a hotel, in which marooned tourists bewail their inability to get back to Amcrica. Tho manager of the hotel , Gornl!111 in the pav of the vvilhelmstrasse. Word is brought to him that another German agent is on his way to Gibraltar disguised as a British officer named Woodhouse. Tlio object of the Germans is to gain access to the 6ecret chamber in tho rock connecting with the mines in the straits. By the touching of the key they can blow up the British Fleet. Captain Woodhouse is welcomed by the unsuspeotmg General in command. He also chances to meet a young American girl, Jane Gerson, to whom he has already paid attention to in Berlin. She does not understand what be is doing in a British fortress, but asks no questions. The General is warned by an English ne'er-do-well that the supposed Woodhouse is a German spy. The General ceruses to believe it, but his suspicions are _ aroused, and he orders his own Indian servant to search the newcomer's rooms. The Indian, really a native prince, nursing a grievanoe against the British, discloses himself to Woodhouse. He knows the combination of the 6afe where is kept the plan giving the exact location of the secret mine. The British Fleet now lying outside can be destroyed at sunrise. Woodhouse enters readily into those plans. Night comes, the General is asleep. Jane comes -out of her bedroom to enjoy the moonlight playing on the ocean. Returning into the room, she finds the Indian at work on the safe. She gives the alarm, and the General rushes in. The Indian covers him with a revolver. Suddenly there are two knocks at the door. .It is the signal to Woodhouse from his fellow spy. The Indian opens the door, and the next instant is himself a prisoner on the floor. Woodhouse is not a German spy after all, but an English Secret Service officer, sent to the Rock to trap the snips known to bo already there. That Jane weds tho resourceful Englishman goes without saying. A Fad of Fashion. It has almost become a fad among the society people of the big American oities to lend their magnificent homes and grounds to the picture-making companies, and recent American papers show illustrations of pictures with scenes located in the grounds of the Carnegie mansion on Fifth Avenue, Mrs. Spencer Trask's tropical gardens at Saratoga, the Morris mansion at Newport, and Mrs. Vanderbilt's splendid grounds at the same fashionable seaside resort. If is said that no payment is made for such concessions, but as the wealthy all have their own picture machine, and sometimes their own private theatre?, a copy of lliy film is sent along as a gift from {'.rat-eTul managements. This will ill a large measure explain how it is that the plays we see every week arc usually graced with superb scenery, particularly when garden and exterior mansion sroupfj nro rnwrnrrl.