THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; tho Earth a stage.—Hoywood. fßr Stlvius.] Lewis V/atler's Death. By the death from pneumonia in London of Mr. Lewis Waller one of the brightest half-dozen ornaments of tho English dramatic stage passes to the beyond. Mr. Waller, who has had a notable record, can with confidonco be placed in the samo category with Sir George Alexander, Sir H. Beerbohm Tree, and Forbes Robertson, for ho proved himself to bo a brilliant exponent of Shakespearean parts suited to his disposition and bearing. Ho gained immenso kudos for his interpretation of tho fiery Hotspur in "Henry IV" ; a sound Othello and Brutus, and the most picturesque Henry V that the English stage has known for a couple of decades at least. As far back as the early 'eighties ho toured the provinces with Madame Modjeska, playing Orlando to her Rosalind, and after that was associated with Henry Neville, Kate Vaughan, Mrs. Brown Potter, Julia Neilson, John Hare, Mrs. Langtry, Beerbohm Tree, and Wilson Barrett. Some twenty years ago lie toured with his own company in 'A Woman of No Importance," and later became part lessee of the Shaftesbury, where he produced "The Manxman," "A Woman's Reason," "The Sorrows of Satan," and "Henry IV." He afterwards tourod in "Tho Three Musketeers" and "A Marriage of Convenience." In 1899 he produced "Henry V" at tho. Lyceum, with great splendour, and as Hal added considerably to his prestige as an exponent of Shakespearean roles. In ■ 1901 he leased the Comedy Theatre and produced "Monsieur Beancaire," which ran for 400 nights, and with tho title role in 'Brigadier Gerard" ranks.as one of his most finished performances in the sphere comedy. Mr. AValler came out'to the Williamson, management last year, but tho tour was restricted to Australia, perhaps for the reason, that he did not catch the public of Sydney or Melbourne to anything like the degree anticipated. He appeared with Miss Madge Titheradgo m "The Butterfly on the Wheel," "A Marriage of Convenience," "A Fair Highwayman," "Henry V," and "Monsieur Beaucaire." Mr. Waller married Florence Brandon, _ a daughter of tho late Mr. H. Brandon, solicitor, ajid sister to Mrs. Clement Scott and Lady Arthur. She, too, is a notably good actress, but has not been associated with her husband on the stage for some years. Their son, Mr. Edmund Waller, was iu New Zealand with "The. Cheat" and other plays about five or six years ago, his wife being the leading lady of that company, .Miss .Ethel Warwick. Potash and. Perlmutterings. At the beginning of his career, Paul Burns, who plays Abe Potash in "Potash and Perlmutter," to be played in Auckland next week, earned his living as a stage doorkeeper at a New York theatre, at a salary of twelve shillings and sixpence per week. The time came, however, when he was prut into small parts, and one day he went home and informed his father that he was now raised to tho salary of £4 per week. "Twenty dollars a week for saying a fenwords in the play!" exclaimed Burns, sen. "That's wonderful." "Why," replied tho young actor, "that's nothing. Kubelik gets a. thousand dollars a night for playing a- few times on his violin." The old man looked'at his son reproachfully, and murmured, "Paul, how many times have I told you to go and take lessons on the fiddle?"

"When I was a boy 1 used .to go around, studying types," said Sam Le Bert, whose performance as Mawruss Perlmutter is one of tho features of the production of the comedy. "I had mado up my milid to be an actor, and 1 wanted to get acquainted wilih just those types of characters I thought 1 would specialise in. At tho Synagogue, in tho Ghetto, in the market place, and other localities whero Jews congregated, I saw them all, noted them in my mind, watched them, studied them, and stored up all my impressions for future use. Every Jewish character I play is taken from life." Jottings from New York. Mr. William Brady intends to revive "The Law of the Land" and "The White Feather" ("The Man Who Stayed at Home") on tour this season. No fewer than five plays will torn- with "Sinners" this season under the Brady banner. "The Uncliastened Woman" is the title of a new play Oliver Morosco promised New. Yorkers for October proauction. Raymond Hitchcock, Leo Ditrichstein, Fred Niblo, and Chauncey Oleott are mentioned as the Cohan-Harris stars for the present season. George V. Hobart has written a new comedy, called "Come On, Charley 1" E. H. Sothern was to open the season under the Schubert management in a modern comedy by Alfred Sutro, entitled "Tho Two Virtues," which Sir George Alexander played in London. Other new plays scheduled for performance are "Ruggles of Red Gap," "The Last Laugh," "Hobson's Choice," "The Cry of a Child," "Oh, James I" "The Strange Boarder," "Find the Woman," "A Mix Up," "Tho Bubble," "The Three of Hearts," and "Taking Chances." This management had also successfully produced "The Blue Paradise," a new Viennese musical comedy, before the last mail left.

Derwent Hall Caine, son of the Hall Caine, is to appear in New - York in a dramatisation of liis father's book, "The Manxman," under the title of "Pete," and probably ho will also appear in "Drake." London Doings, "Kick In," another drama of tho underworld, has succeeded "The. Man Who Stayed at Homo" at Her Majesty's Theatre, London. The new "crook" drama is by Willard Mack, and deals with Chick Howes, a man who has served a sentence for forgery, but since his release and marriage with "a great little kid" named Molly has "been on the straight." The leading artists (from America) are favourably reviewed. At the St. James's Theatre, Pinero has altered the ending of "The Big Drum," and the lovers are united, instead of separating in despairful dudgeon. Sir Arthur Pinero once altered "The Profligate" in the same way, but it made no difference in the result at the boxoffice. Other items of London news refer to Sir George Power, Bart., who, at the ago of 70, has iust married a daughter of Sir Samuel Boulton. Power until middle life was a comic opera tenor, and created Ralph Rackstraw in "Pinafore" at the Opera Comjquo (1878) and Frederick in "The Pirates."

Miss Muriel Starr, who lias had a unique success in Australia during tho past three years, i 3 roturning to America at the end of tho year.