THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

IBr Sylvius.] The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Hey wood. The Red Dandies. Tho success of the 1 Scarlet Troubadours somo years ago clearly demonstrated to Mr. Edward Branscombo that thero was a splendid opening for attractions conducted on similar lines, and which would appeal to a discriminating public that appreciates an entertainment clean, wholesome, and devoid of tho slightest suggestion of vulgarity. - The lied Dandies, who commence their season at the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday, August" 7, was Mr. Branscombe's first venture of this nature, and it met with so much success that other companies were formed, till to-day no fewer than six Dandies companies are touring Australia. Having such a largo number of artists at command, Mr. Branscombo is in a position to present to his public companies evenly balanced aud with that cohesion ,which is so essential in the performances presented by costume comedy companies. The Red Dandies, who visit us, have just completed a most successful season in. Auckland of seven I weeks, and prior to that they played for eight months in Brisbane, where they presented over 700 separate items, and thus it will bo seen that their repertoire is enormous. ' The • Branscombe firm's agents in London send out the rory. latest songs, sketches, etc., suitable for tho companies, alia after they have been reviewed by Mr. Branscombo I they are passed on to the producer of the various companies who in caso of the Red Dandies is Mr. Claude Dampier whose stage business and groupings are cleverly worked out, aad his stage settings and costuming' are a feature of the productions.

The French Army in Kinemacoiour. The French section of tlio great kin®macolours war picture, "Witt the Fighting- Forces of Europe," has particular interest for Australians, inasmuch as it contains views of the valiant troops whom the great General Foch employed to smash the German centre at the beginning of the war. Most Australians know very little of these operations, for they have been long obscured in the plouds of war, but from facts revealed recently it is shown how bravely tho French, and particularly Foch's soldiers, fought to save Paris from being invested. Before the outbreak of hostilities, Foch and his great chief, Joifre, were practically unknown outside of Franca, 'but since the war . they ha-ve deservedly become national heroes: Foch was behind tho Marne when the huge Gorman centre, commanded .by von Bulow and von Hansen, seemed to threaten annihilation. But by brilliant strategy Foch's army, reinforced by another corps, demolished tho German centre, and threw it back, and drove it across the Marne. Tho redclaw soldiers, marching across the screen in the Kinemacolour picture, possess a rare interest through those, achievements.

New tivoli Stars. . The Monkey Music Halls at the Melbourne is (says tho "Australasian") a turn which delights audiences, tho little roannikius are so funny in all their ways, and.their training perfect, but. tho star of the company is undoubtedly, tho conductor, who puts tho rest of the troupe quite in the shade. .Few artists moving on tho Tivoli circuit within, the last year have established a stage favour so sound. as that won ■by Miss Ida Barr. Another lady who made lior first appearanco on Saturday was Miss Marie Terry, who is likely to be almost equally popular. She comcs from London via South Africa, and won instant success with her song, "Tho Revue; Girl." Clcmons and Dean, two very clevcr entertainers, have also an assured favour, one of tho best items in their turn being an inebriate's dance by Mr. demons. Another artist who enjoyed a very cordial reception was Mr. Johnny Fields. "With Mr. M'lntosh's promises still ringing pleasantly in our eare, we may expect to see some of these clevcr performers in tho months to come.

"Potash and Pcrlmutter." Writing of "Potash and Perlmutter," tlvs "Australasian" said: —"It is an assemblage of moving pictures on middleclass Jewish life and ways, without the absurd.travesty that has so often disfigured such, a theme.. It introduces also some of' the patter' in which American vaudoville artists specialise. • This is notably ihe caso In tho earlier phases of the play, when there appears to be some, risk that 'back chat? and laughter may be overdone, but tho emotions balance nicely with the more human elements of the later scones. Those two business-men, Potash and Perlmutter, who constantly quarrelwitlreach other, and in their bickerings provido continuous laughter that never once springs from tho extravagance.of burlesque, are, indeed, rather poor business-men, because they are often imposed upon, frequently confounded, and for wholly sentimental reasons place themselves in a position where ruin stares them in the face. Their keenness and their kindness aro in curious contrast, and furnish elements not unworthy of a much greater play, In excerpts from the text one might, iii tho manner of one of Lucas's anthologies, compose 'a booklet that in satire, hurapur, and tho everyday philosophy of life, would •be very widely road. Indeed, tho story, like so many American plays, appeared first in book form, so that many of the . best points aro familiar. Yet it is one of tho few instances in which one can say that the whole subject makes a far better play than a story—scene and action supplying so.much that become uninteresting detail in a book, unless the author has the rare gift of creating for his readers tho mind picture that lies before his own eyes. The. success of the play is wholly in its dialogue, its quaint unconventional characters, and the. story is really of little consequence. To apply the sometimes ponderous 'canons of dramatic law' would be mistaken criticism. _ One needs to take tho play as it is without compari-1 son, and with the minimum of reflection."-

"Tom Thumb" in Court. "Tom Thumb," whose real name is Hayati Hassid, told 150 people who had come to seo a performance of tho "Tom Thumb" Company, at Ballarat, that his manager, Frederick H. Jones, did not give hiin enough to eat, and the little man had other grievances, too. "He pays me no salary;" said "Tom Thumb," "and ho has choked mo twico." Jones sued Hassid for slander, and claimed £49 damages. When, the caso was hoard ho told the Bench that he did not report to the military authorities that Hassid was a Turk; but that 110 had been asked by them to see that Hassid reported himself. ■ When Hassid entered the witness-box lie informed the' Bench that so far from being a Turk ho was a Jew. Ho admitted that under his contract- ho had to pay for his own food. Judge Winneko said that,; while he felt a certain amount of pity for the "poor little chap," these small specimens of humanity wero capable of doing harm with their tongues. A verdict for £1, with costs, would be given for plaintiff.