THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2564, 11 September 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[Bi Sylyius.l The "World's a theatre; the Earth' a stage.—Heywood. Censorship of Films. Tho Catholic Federation, in asking for a censorship of films, is creating a problem in circumspection that is not easily solved. Tho censorship of films for picture shows is done automatically in Loudon, and anything too outrageous is ordered to bo cut out, or, if too bad altogether, the picture is condemned. After this test tho pictures are sold to managers and syndicates in all parts of the world, and they in turn know that t'heir clients exercise their own censorship. It not infrequently happens in Wellington that a "broad" situation •is toned down by the did of the scissors. Then tho picture is presented, and pleases or otherwise, but if there is anything really objectionablo in a picture there are always hundreds of people—self-ap-pointed censors—who point out its, defects, and should a management persist in showing objectionable pictures his own repute would suffer as would in time his box-office receipts. The law of censorship has 110 defined rules. The opera "Samson and Delilah" was banned for years by the oensor; now it is played almost every season at Covent Garden. The book "Throe Weeks" was censored for a while; now it cau bo bought in any book shop. Indeedj to censor a book appears to .be the most effective way to- advertise it, as sooner or later it is released. The books of Zola, the "Decamerons" of Bcccaccio were once considered to be highly improper, now they can be purchased in several bindings at any respectable book-shop. There are pictures that embody love scenes in'which the sensual rather than the sentimental is over-emphasised, and one has to confess that such pictures' must be unhealthy for young men and girls in the adolescent stage. That as . far as I can judge is the principal objectionablo feature to be combated, but how can it be combated? One would not like to take one's daughter or a younger sister to see some of the plajs _ of Pinero, Wilde, or the more realistic ones of Brieux and Eugene Walter, whilst the adult mind welcomes them, but should the knowledge of the world which such plays reflect bo- altogether hidden from those approaching maturity? It is a moot points-one that is very beau-tifully'-referred to in "The Second Mrs. -Tanqueray," wheu Taiiqueray is afraid that .Ellean's innocence might become tarnished by contact with his dubious wife. It is Cayley Drummle who sounds tho healthy note when he says:— "My dear. Aubrey, aren't you - making a mistake ••. . not in regarding your Ellean as an angel, but in helievr ing that under any circumstances it would be possible for her to go through life without getting her white robe— shall wo say, a little dusty at the hem? Don't take me for a cynic. lam sure there are mauy women upon earth .who are almost divinely innocent, but being on the earth, they must send their robes to the laundry occasionally. Ah, and it's right that they should have to do so, for what can. they learn from, the checking of their little washing bills but lessons of charity. . . Take my advice, let her walk and talk and' suffer, and be healed with the. great crowd!" I do not believe'this to be the head, middle, and hind of the .subject of censorship, but it is one angle from which it can be viewed—one that has its advantages, too, .where paronts are shy in speaking of things, that their children 6hould know. Ignorance sometimes passes for innocence, and ignorance' is error's ally. ' . ■ , '

"High Jinks" Coming. . "High Jinks" has proved .to ha the most' successful comedy that Williamsoil, Ltd;, has produced- for several years—the. most successful, since .the halcyon "days of "Our Miss Gibbs." _ It is weil packed with catchy melodies,, and gives scope for good character acting. It will be now news to playgoers to learn' that the Williamson Musical Comedy Company playing "High Jinks," "The Girl in the Film, . aud "The Girl-in the Taxi," will com-, mence a tour of Now Zealand at Auckland oil Monday, September 27. 'l'lio other North Island dates aro. as follows:—New Plymouth, October 11; Wanganui, October 12;' Palmorston North, October 13; Napier, October-14 and 15;. Wellington, October 18 to 30;. Christ-, church, November 1 to 12.. .

Drama In Vaudeville. Cyril Mackay, Olive Wilton, .Arthur Styan, and. several , other woll-known players opened at. tho' Tivoli. Theatre, Sydney, on Wednesday week in a dra-. matic sketch, called "After the Play." Obviously adapted from a French effort of the Scribe school, tho playlet introduces the usual husband, wife, and lover. They are seen after supper at tho homo of the Dovas couple (Mr. Styan and Miss Wilton). Tho.husband, a "coal baron," is jealous -and suspicious, but not sufficiently so to prevent him taking a journey in the"effort to settle a strike of his employees. After he goes the lover (Mr. Cyril Mackay) and tho wife aro alarmed by what they take to be the sound of his return. The lover escapes over the balcony, only to fall into tho arms of two policemen. While ho is answering their questions the husband returns, having missed his train, and ; the lover, .'.. in agony, breaks in with . the . others to find that tho wife has been strangled. After an interchance of emotion' aiid passion between the and: the husband, it is found that the- lady has been strangled by a burglar for the sake of her jewels. • : A good rendering of the playlet-was given (says the "Sunday Times"). Mr. Mackay was forceful or emotional as tho occasions arose. ' Miss Wilton showed that she was capable of - playing much better roles than.those in which slio has latterly been seen. . ; Mr. Styan did good work as tho husband, and Messrs. Reginald Kenneth, Harry Halley, W. B. Go'odall, and J. Allen were satisfactory in tho other parts.

Retaliation. j Lincoln Plnmer, the genial, rotund American actor, who. generally appears as bullying • police inspectors - m the Muriel Starr productions, was ones an "undersfcander." This announcement will probably not provide any information until it is explained that an "understander" is the man in a circus act who stands under and supports tho weight of the others who rest upon him. Mr. Plumer certainly appears to be admirably suited, physically, to such a part, but ho explains that it was years ago, when he was associated with a "two brothers' act" in a circus. "They were both heavy-weights," ' Eaid Mr. Plumer, "and I had the' heaviest work but the lightest salary. One day, at practice, we were rehearsing a new trick fall. One of the brothers landed on mo and my collar-bono gave way. I faded •away to the hospital, and when I camo out again I retaliated. They, broke my collar-bone; I broke my contract."