THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2498, 26 June 1915, Page 8

THE THEATRE.

| [Bi fie World's a tneatro; the Earth 0 stage.—Heyn'ood. Beauty v. Talent. "Good-lookers" are ivliat are wanted on tho musical comedy stage in America. If the said "good-lookers" can sing or dance a .bit so nwc'h the hotter, but the chorus lady in lighter opera, musical comedy, revues, and tollies must come up to the required standard as regards a good appearance, as asluto managers have found out that audiences love to gaze on a bunch of pretty, girls rather more than they want to near a chor.is well sung. * This, of course, does not meet the view of every--9110, but the ones who put stage beauty in figure and face before other considerations are in an easy majority in America. And "good-lookers" prepared to stand round in the chorus are not so numerous, so rhe price has been going up and up in New York, until "walking ladies" now command as much as 30, 40, and even 50 dollars per week —from £6 to £10 in our money. Recently, relates a writer 011 tho subject, a New York manager could not make out how it was that a rival show was drawing the business whilst his, with a better cast and chorus, was not. Ho commanded his confidential assistant to find out why it was so. "But how?" hopelessly inquired the young man. "If people didn't know me so well I'd do it myself and slio-v you. The only way to "find out is to talk with the people. Go over therj and listen to them between the acts. Co into the cafes and listen to them. Get into conversation with them, especially with the middle-aged, solid men, the men who can and do afford theatre tickets every other night or so. Then come back here and do the same with our patrons. There's some reason; we've got the best singers and the best dancers, we've got more comedy and 'go' and more plot." When tho young man made liis report he did so in a few words "They've got a bunch of queens over there, while we've got a hunch of frights," he said. "But our show is better " _ "All they ta'k about oyer there is the good-lookers. All they do Lere is to knock the chorus " "But it is real music; everyone has a good voice " , "Aw, they don't even mention the singing; they knock the_ chorus because it's a bunch of frights.",

Barry Lupino's Age. "How old are you, Mr. Lupino?" asked an impertinent pressman in Wellington of "Billy" in "Cinderella. "I really don't know. I mean to say I can toll you how many years I have lived, hut as to my exact age I am not so suro; guess P" "Not more than twenty-six, ventured tho reporter, gazing on Mr. Lupino's youthful face. "AVish you were right. I was thirty years old either on December 31 or January 1 last, I am not sure which, as I was told that I was born as the year 1884 was tolled out by the Bow Bells of London, and for the life of me I could never tell whether it was instantly before or after the stroke of midnight. Bather annoying, isn't it?" "And how long havo you been on the "Twenty-eight years! What ho, that's me!" With that ho dashed through a trap-door in the scene, and was convulsing the audience with his quips the next moment.

"The Man Who Stayod at Homo." It has been definitely arranged that tlio New Zealand tour of "The Man Who Stayed at Homo" (the German spy play which has achieved success wherever plaved) will commence at ..the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on August 12. The season will be for seven nights,* concluding on August 20. The North Island tour will be as follows :—Piilmerston North, August 21; Fcilding, August 23; Wanganui, August 2-1 and 25; Eltham, August 26; Hawera, August 27; Stratford, August 28; New Plymouth, August 30; Auckland, September 1 to 10; Gisborno, September 13 and 14; Napier, September 16 and 17; Hastings, September 18; Dannevirke, September 20; Masterton, September 21. The Christchurch season will be from September 23 to October 2, and ithat 'in Duuedin from Ociobe* 6 to. 11, . Messrs. J. C "Williamson; Ltd., have leased the Grand Opera House from the Opera House Company for another twelve months. "Who's the Ladv?" the Frenchiest of French comedies that wo have seen in this country, has not been a "boom" here, though cnacten by one of the smartest all-rouncf casts we have seen in comedy for many years. Tho times are out of joint for French comedies that lop over tho border-lino of decency.