ROUND 0' THE YEAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2660, 4 January 1916, Page 3

ROUND 0' THE YEAR

« THEATRICAL REVIEW AMERICANISINC THE AUSTRALASIAN STACE. (By "Sylvius.") If it is admitted that the stage has an educational influence 011 a. people, it must bo conceded that wo are in a very fair way of becoming Americanised. Of late year's those managements on which we rely for our theatrical entertainment have been giving increasing attention to American plays and players, and correspondingly less and less to the products of English playwrights. They are, of course, guided by the box office, and to-day, it has to be reluctantly admitted that the taste of the public runs more to the showy "realistic" American play, be it drama or comedy, than to the more cultured works of Pinero, Henry Arthur Jones, Sutro, or Somerset Maughan. Ask any manager whether he would prefer to risk his money on a play of "Within the Law" .type or "Thunderbolt," by Sir A. W. Pinero, and lie would grin at the choice offered and "plunk" for tho American article as the surest winner. And, commercially, he would be right. At the same time one may bo permitted to grieve over the change in taste from the halcyon days of the Brough and Boucicault- Company, playing the Pinero-Grundy-Jones repertoire, to such comparatively poor stuff as we are getting from America. This, I think, is the outstanding feature in the trend theatrical in Australasia. And it is fostered and accentuated by vaudeville managers and tho picture people. The Americans may be said to have broken the crust of British reserve, and are now over-running us.' .This by way of preanible to what has not proved a very interesting year theatrically. Not for many years have wo had so many vacant dates at the one theatre available for itinerant companies as during the twelve months ended on Friday last. The year opened with Julius Knight in revivals of popular romantic drama, and was followed by the Gilbert-Sullivan Opera Company,' which did not disturb any of the impressions created by the original companies in 'the famous series of comic operas. Tho Gilbertian sense on l the stage is becoming a rare factor. Still it was good to hear once more the subtle stinging dialogue, and revived memories of the undying melodies created! by the late Sir Arthur Sullivan, of blessed memory. We were favoured with a visit from one other musical organisation bearing the Williamson brand, and it was one of the best allround companies of its class thai has ever visited New Zealand. The reference is to the company which played "High Jinks," "Girl in the Taxi, and "The Girl on tho Film," each play being made to sparkle by the work of such clever people as Miss Dorothy ■Brunton, Miss Marie Eaton, Messrs. W. H. Hawlins, C. H. and Field Fisher. A Patriotic Effort. Early in the year Messrs. Harry Plimmer and Whiter Hall were seized with the patriotic notion,- and toured New Zealand with "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "The Mummy and the Humming Bird." Though the 'company did not attract as it should have done, the management was able after a six weeks' tour to hand over £3500 to the Belgian and other deserving finds. The effort was unquestioningly a praiseworthy one. The Best Performance. . What was the best, performance of the year? The answer to such a question can only be matter of personal opinion, but if the writer were asked ,to say what he considered best lie would saj that for all-round excellence, Graham Moffatt's "Scrape o' the Pen" was the most convincing and artistic dramatic performance of the year, and in the realm of comedy 110 better company has been seen here for some years than the English company which played those rather naughty farcical comedies, "The' Glad Eye," "The Chaperon," and "Who's the Lady?" Each and every one of this little company appeared to have a penchant for flippant comedy, and their performances were very finished and amusing. That they did not do well in New Zealand is one of those pecular happenings which cannot be explained. The jew on the Stage. In quite another vein, but equally as interesting, was the company which made us all laugh in "Potash and Perlmutter," excellently played by an American company, the outstanding performances being tlwso given by Mr. Paul Burns as Potasli and Miss Lizzie Wilson as Mrs. Potash. It was the revival of the purely character play, everyone in the cast being given a distinct individuality. V'Potash and' Perlmutter" must have its sequels. They, will all bo welcomed, if they are anything like as • good as the original. Another Farewell. Miss Nellie Stewart "farewelled" through New Zealand, three years ago. It happens, however, that the "farewell" of an actress who is physically fit and still popular is one of those charming illusions that everyone can see through. So Miss Stewart came back to us again last year, and entertained .vastly in the historical romance "Du Barry" and the comedy ' Dorothy 0' tho Hall." It would be sheer nonsense to say that Miss Stewart is still the actress she was; but so abundant arc her talents, so wonderful her vitality and purpose, that we can only sit back and applaud. Other dramatic attractions were "Tho Seven Little Australians," a dramatisation of Ethel Turner's novel, fairly well played by. a company of Australian children; whilst Allen Doone came with some emerald green plays, hung w ; th harps, and loud with "hooroos." Toono is one of the most popular actors on and off tho stage. Whilst in New Zealand he conceived the idea of wrii.mg a play entitled "O'Leary, 7.0.," after the Irish hero. It has since been produced in Australia. Enterprising Amatjurs. In the field of amateur endeavour, the tour throughout New Zealand of a company comprised of Wellington amateurs, playing "Charley's Aunc " asnblished « record for enterprise and business. This littlo company sin.ply could not f,o wrong anywhere, showing t-'ie astonishing vitality of the old farce. The Wellington Amateur Operate:: Society pUjed "Les Cloches do Cornajille," but the effort fell he low previous piufcrin.anceis in standard. The Classios Rsvived. Greek tragedies ?!i"h its "The Trojan Women" and "Tho Baccbae," were recited with fine intelligence to select audiences by the talented visitor from England, Miss Dorothea Spinney, whose recitals gavo much pleasure to all wiio heard them. That talented lady also recited Syngo's "Riders of the Sea" and otlior "moderns" with equal 'impressiveness. Vaudeville in Favour. Permanent vaudeville entertainments have been given at His Majesty's Thcatro throughout the year. It is satisfying to note that the standard of talent employed has been considerably raised during the year, and in view of the difficulty of having to change the hill so ofton, tho show is a really good one. There have been. 60veral revue compan.jjgft Court Card*!,,

otc., to fill in odd daie«, and clever Joseph Blascheck was once more with us. The outlook is all Americas. Three distinctly now companies are now playing American plays in Sydney. One in "Stop Thief," another in "Twin Beds," and a third in "Under Fire," whilst tho latest American musical frivolity, "So Long,- Letty," is being played at His Majesty's Theatre, Sydney.