THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2652, 24 December 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Hey wood. [Bl Sll/VXUS.I A Sober George Broadhurst. Wo know George H. Broadhurst, the author of "Bougnt and Paid For," more as a writer of farce-comedy than of anything tending towards the drama." This acquaintance was gained through the medium of "The Wrong Mr. Wright" and "Why Smith Left Home," such excellent rib-ticklers in their way that it was difficult to imagine their author desiring to get serious at all — it almost seemed like a bar-tender "getting religious"—something that should not logically occur. Still, here is tho case of an author at the top of the American, tree (at all events) as a writer of farce comedy, getting serious and being successful at it. "Bought and Paid For" is a strong realistic pliiy, dealing with the problem eternal —the rights of the man over the woman, how far thoy may extend in equity, no matter how the man behaves. The subject is not a new one, but its treatment in "Bought and Paid For" is certainly original as well as entertaining. With Miss Muriel Starr and Mr. Charles Millward in the chief rolos, the performances of this play, commencing at fhe Grand Opera House on Monday next, should serve as a magnet after the spell Wellington lias had for the past month. Christmas at His Majesty's, Tho Fuller management havo arranged an especially strong bill for' Boxing Night and the week succeeding what is usually regarded as "the last show night of tho year." Those artists who have never yet been seen in Wellington who are to appear on Monday night include Manuel Defra, an equilibrist and chair-balancer of unusual ability; the three Los Teodorewitcz, three Danish acrobats with a Continental reputation; a charming vocal interlude, arranged especially for Misses Amy Murpliy and Nellie Black, bath vocalists of raro capacity; Wykeham and Preston, the gifted sketch artists: and T'ozart (second appeavanco in Wellington), who will do a land or sea-scape in.tho "twinkling of an eye. With such a programme business should bs good at the_ palatial vaudeville theatre ill Courteriay Place. Play Profits. The late Mr. George Edwardes was not only the most successful of modern theatrical managers, but. he was also the most speculative He thought nothing of investing £10,000 to £20,00u in the presentation of a big musical comedy. When ho sent the Duchess of Dantzig to America he lost £10,000,' and another £20,000 on"Veronique." On the other hand, ho scored stupendous successes, notably with "The Merry Widow." At Daly's alone, £241,000 was paid for scats, and over 500,000 copies of the music of the "Merry Widow" Waltz wore sold in England. As an illustration of the pranks fortune plays sometimes in connection with the production of musical .comedies,'it might be mentioned that Mr. Edwardes sold "Dorothy," one of the first plays he ever produced at tho Gaiety, for £1000 because it was such a failure there. Mr. H. J. Leslie, who.bought it, took it to the Prince of Wales's Theatre, and made £100,000 out of it. One would probably bo safo in saying that the four men who havo made the most money in writing for the English stage are Sir W. S. Gilbert, Sir A. W. Pinero. Sir J. M. Barrie, and Mr, Henry Arthur Jones. Sullivan's operas •provided Gilbert with an income ot £12,000 a year. "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" alone brought Pinero something like £60,000. in addition "Sweet Lavender'' poured £40,000 into his pockets, and although tho late Mr. Edward Terry paid this fium in fees to tho author, he cleared £60,000 < out of the play, and probably half as much again from provincial tours. ' "The Little Minister" earned Sir J. M. Barrie £400 a week for a number of years, and long before the curtain fell on the last performance at tho Haymarket tho net profits had reached £100,000. "Iris Intervenes." Tho critic of the London "Times"— evidently Mr. Walkley—writing of John Hastings Turner's new play, "Iris Intervenes," which has just been produced by Lena Asliwell at tho London Kingsway, says: "Its heroino, the typical Bohemian, is at times a frank amorist, asking for kisses, but more often a termagant, who has blacked one man's eye and knifed another's ribs. Contrasted with ,her is t'ne type of suburban respectability, a church warden who thinks low-cut dresses immoral as Tartufte thought Dorine's. There is war between the "two, church warden being outrageously rude to Bohemian, and slio retaliating by flirting with his foolish son but peace is ultimately declared by the side of a broken-down motorcar somowhore on the Dover Road, where Bohemia and Suburbia, temporarily stranded, theorise about thomsclves and ' becomo'conscious of one another's qualities as'well as infirmities. To account fjjr the motor-car adventure there is a cock-and-bull story of a chase for a stolen document into which it would be unprofitable to enter. Miss Lena 1 Ashwell plays.'the termagant, a type for which she seems to have a foible, and, of course, dominates tho stage, out-ar-, guing all opponents or conquering them' by a passion of tears or else simply shouting them down. The lady is represented as of Russian origin, and certainly needs no scratching to reveal the Tartar.. Mr. A. E. George contrives to give a- certain freshness 'to the overfamiliar stage-type of respectabilityworshipper, "and Mr. Owen Roughwood plays with a pleasant air of ease." "The Case of Lady Camber." . A writer to the "Sydney Morning Herald" under date London, October 21, remarks: —"Tho Case of Lady Camber," played by Mr. 11. B. living's .company at the Savoy Theatre, and to which 1 went this afternoon, is of the genre that Mr. Irving usually chooses for his ■ productions. It is drama in his hands, while in.others it would be melodrama. "The Case of Lady Camber" is that of a delicate lady who in her early youth has loen a shining light of the variety halls or ausical comedy. She marries a nobleman, as so many girls of her class have done, and her physician still rotains happy momories of tho manlier in which Ins patient played Cupid in burlesque. A rising specialist (H. B. Irving) is invoked to euro this ra}lidly L wasting woman. Worn to a shred by .her unrequited love for her husband, she is dying rapidly of heart diseaso. Her old dresser, a confirmed riiischief-maker, puts tho unhappy girl upon tho track' of an alleged liaison between Lord Camber and tho whose voice the patient then imitates in telephoning to her husband, and dies of heart failure upon learning (as she supposes) tho truth of her suspicion. Mr. Irving's acting as the specialist was wonderfully fino. Mrs. Leslie Stuart was tho Lady Camber, but tho real heroine was the nurse (Miss Jessie Winter), there being a complicated sub-plot, in which tho latter was, suspected of poisoning Lady Camber. Her innocence in every direction once proved tho specialist.marries her. It is considered that this play will attract tho public. Notes. R. L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island" has been produced in dramatic form in Now York. Mr. AV. S. Percy has been touring English. halls for somo months with Mr. Jietbar.fc Ctaton., .who ..will Jjb

Bored-here as the baritone in "The King of Cadonia." The "Evening Standard now states that "When Harry Norris and Herbert Clayton produce their far--1 cical comedy revue "Who's Who?' at tho Oxford oh "November 1, they will introduce to . Engiand Australia's load- . '"K sud most popular comedian... Mr. u. S. Percy, who will be supported by Miss Blanche Browne, one of the late George Echvardes's loading ladies, who | has just returned from a remarkably successful Australian engagement." 1 H. A. Jones's play "The Liars" has • been revived in New York, with Miss Grace, George in tho leading' role. ' "Twin Beds," the newest American , comedy, was produced in „ Sydney on , Saturday evening last.; . • •th'.?'' 10 in the House," by Eden . Plulpotts and B. M. Hastings, which j had a; successful run in London when 3 staged by Mr.; H. B. Irving, was pro--3 duced in New York during the second , week of November. -. .-i