THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2681, 29 January 1916, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Ihe. World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heyivood. IBi Syhids.] TRE LATE MR. G. S. TITHERADGE AN APPRECIATION. Titli," the late Mr. George S. Titheradge was called by his familiars—a name revered throughout Australasia, something more than a passing mention is surely due to this great actor and true gentleman, for he was, to my mind, the finest actor we liave been privileged to see during the past generation, including, all the much-boomed stars and more-boomed lesser lights, hose histrionic fame was, as often as not, based .upon-their fortune in securing leading parts in plays so insistently advertised that everyone, -must see them. Titheradge was a stylo of actor that the stage does not breed nowadays. A scholarly, reserved, thoughtlul man, with a fund of rare humour ii hen he chose to thaw; -one with a«eei> reverence for his art; with a- full and complete knowledge and appreciatwo r , c ' asslcs . and a fine command' or -Mglish when an occasion arose. For the stage he had none of those physical graces that help a man; his face was hard, angular,, yet strong; his figure was not Apollo-like, and, curious •j s '' a ' G T ' his voice was on the weak there was 'hat about him ii inch compelled attention, as soon as no came on the stage. An actor once .said: I would give a hundred pounds if I could walk on to the stage and i nothing like Titheradge!" A singu. thing to say, but it was true that litJieradgo could walk on to the stage, seat himself at a- table and just do no"■ingi yet ajl eyes would be upon him, not on those engaged in the dialogue. i j"? an instance, of it in "Nobody s' Daughter," played here by the l iimmer-llamilton Company a ' few years ago. Personal magnetism, of course! But behind that inherent quality Mr. litheradge was a deeply intellectual actor, with a power of reserve force that only apppared to fail within the last five ■ yoars. Allied to this a culture lu j a ' w 'ays fitted him so perfectly to the draiving-room comedies of Pinero, 1 -; U! ) and Jones, a. fine elocutionary and a gift for character, anil nth ' stands revealed ks-the foremost of intellectual actors of the past generation..

It is scarcely necessary to retail at length the varied roles lie essayed in Jus long and honourable connection with the stage, but who can think of the actor without recalling that gallery of that included tho romantic "Silver King;" the dear, gentle Abbo Dubois in "A Village Priest" (a perfect realisation of a swect-natured old priest); his Brabazon in "Sowing the Wind" ; the polished Aubrey Tanqueray In "The Second 1 Mrs. Tanqueray"; his brilliantly cynical Lord' Illmgworth in "A Woman of No Importance"; his bishop in "Dandy Dick''; and a hundred other performances one could enumerate.

In the days with the Brough and Boucicault Company was at its zenith, and people liked plays of intellect instead of noisy claptrap. Mr. Titheradge was a tower of strength to that almost perfect organisation, which included so many highly-gifted! performers, notably the late Robert Brough, Dion Boucicault, Cecil Ward, Mrs. Brough, Jenny AVatt-Tanner, Grace Noble, Emma Temple, and Bessie Major. As long as the company lasted Mr. Titheradge was a member. When it disbanded, he wentto -England, playecl in London for a time, and tlieu supported Mrs. Patrick Campbell during a tour of the United States. He informed! the writer that he was hot on speaking ■ terms with that actress off the stage during the wholo of the tour, which is a little insight as to the curious relatione' that sometimes exist between members'of a' company. They may in a play havo to make violent love to one another, whilst entertaining altogether different feelings. Mrs. "Pat" is said to be a difficult woman to get along with.

lii the course of an. intimate interview I had with Mr. Titheradge only three years ago, I had the temerity to ask him who was tho finest actor he had ever seen. His answer was a complete surprise. After analysing the styles of I'ecnter, Bandmann, Forbes Robertson. Edmund Kean, and Irving, "Tith. said:—

"Of all the actors I have known Charles Dillon was the god of my idol-' atry. He was a man without a single physical quality to recommend him—a short, stubby, thick-set' man with a black moustache like a ■ shoe brush, which he would never shave off. There were times when he would act most vilely; but in the vein m actor approached him. Ho had a most wonderful voice, vibrant with tones that in pathos or agony used to thrill even those acting every night with him. He was simply wonderful as Belphagor the Mountebank, and he was the finest Othello and King Lear I have ever seen."

Shakespeare says that "one man in his time plays many parts." The truism ha 6 a double' application in the case of. the actor, but,there are few actors one can readily recall ■ who were as su-per-excellen/t in their mummery as the late George S. Titheradgo, whose departure for "that bourne wlience no traveller returns" will be regretted by many an honest lover of the playhouse in this country. fn connection with the death of Mr. Titheradge it is interesting to recall that he was skilled in the cultivation and Hfe history of narcissi, and that hoffi in Australia and Eriglnd his siav vices as a judge were often requisitioned. He has been known to remark that no liner narcissi are grown in tne world than those produced in the Hutt Valley.

The Quaker Cirl. > "The Quaker Girl," which is to be revived this evening at the Grand Opera House, abounds in music of a light and refreshing character, while it possesses sufficient romance to create a real interest in the story as it unfolds itself. The opening stages in which the Quaker community look upon the ordinary mode of living and expression with abhorrence and dread, and in which the Quaker girl, Prudence, is aroused from the slumber of a strictly religious and monotonous life, afford scope for much humour. The marriage of the exiled Princess Matliilde to the King's messenger in • a country village is an interesting function chiefly by reason of the effect it has on the amorous propensities of the other individuals, notably Tony Chute, a naval attache, and Prudence. The quest of the Chief of Police in Paris for the Princess furnishes some exciting situations. The last act includes the famous Champagne dance, one of the' features of the performance. Bletsoas at Fullers', The Bletsoes will renew their acquaintance with Wellington patrons at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday ovening, and return with such an enhanced and novel entertainment that they should re-enact their jlpDvious triumph. In place of their compact and original little company, which filled tho Theatre Royal nightly three years ago, tliey have collected round them a full revuo company of 16 artists, reinforced by a handsomo bevy of choristers and dancers, and some of the latest scenic and lighting novelties and sensations revealed upon the American stage. Albert and Maud Bletsoe went to England and America, and tho general opinion of critics in Australia, whpre ths initial afterine, ."Eua in a.

Sanatorium," created record treasury returns, was that nothing quite so quick, alert, and live, had been shown on tlie Australian stage. The management promises a unique entertainment from tho hand of comedians associated with the principals.

Florence Young's Voice. If over there was a natural born songstress it is Miss Florence Young. Others n?ay float on to the stage, sing their little lilt, and disappear without disturbing one's sleep, but when Miss Young sings tho effect is like the waving of a Union Jack.. Hor tone is ablazo with primal colours, and they, flash brilliantly in the light of her flamboyant temperament. There is nothing finicky or affected- in her style. Her enunciation is as clean-cut as a newly-minted coin, and sho sings buoyantly, joyously, exuberantly. Glad to be singing, she gladdens everyone who hears her bip;, bold, bracing soprano. If she had been caught young what a Wagnerian artist would sho have made? _ . Melba In Canada. Following many triumphs in her na<tivo Australia, Mme. Melba captured the hearts of the Canadians, and drew huge sum 6 from their pockets on behalf' of the Red Cross Fund. At a concert given by the diva at Toronto 4500 people assembled at the Massey Hall, the not result being an addition of 9000 dollars to the fund. There was a scene of tremendous enthusiasm when Mme. Melba appeared on the platform, after- an absence of twenty years. Sba was pre-, sented with a life membership certificate and the badge of the Canadian Red Cross- Society. In reply to the. warm thanks accorded her, the singer replied: "I am very happy and very proud. It is a great honour to be made a'life member of this society, which is doing such a noble work. But do not thank me. Thank the public. I only sing a- song or two, but they spend their money." Mme. Melba bore the entire expense of going to Toronto as well as the cost of taking three artists with her.

A Smoke In tho Theatre. Sir Arthur Pinero is enthusiastio over the concession of' "smoking- in theatres" recently granted by the Lord Chamberlain in London. "It is a fulfilment of what I have long been working for," said the distinguished dramatist to a "Daily News" representative, "and I am very glad indeed to see it done." "Would you approve of smoking during the performance of one 1 c-f. your more serious plays?" "I should not at all object in certain circumstances," replied Sir Arthur. "I am for free trade .in places .of amusement. So long as a theatre is safeguarded against the danger of fire, and so long as the entertainment is wholesome and cleanly, the manager of a theatre should be able to do just as ho pleases in such matters as this." With the "Movies." . ■ In Los Angeles the local police force find playing for pictures a nice recreation when off duty_. It has become so common for the inhabitants to' see a real policeman—off duty—chasing a thief or a "crook" of some sort through the _ street, or knocking one down with his truncheon, that they have petitioned the City Council to prohibit policemen from playing for moving pictures, on the ground that night duty men. who play for pictures during the day, when they ought to be in bed, are making themselves unfit for duty at- night. Tho. police have now been forbidden to become stock policemen for a film company, but they may act occasionally if they wish, to do so.

.Mr. Tom Terriss lias invited his sister, Miss Ellalhie Terriss, and her husband, Mr. Seymour Hicks, to go to America to play for pictures. It is said that.they have accepted the invitation, and will appear in "Blue Bell in Fairyland," an ambitious production for the moving picture. It seenfs, too, that Mr. Tom Terriss has bought the film rights of all their stage successes,

Mark Twain's works are to be filmed in' America, which has secured the world's rights. "Tom. Sawyer," "Huckleberry Finn," "Roughing It," "The Jumping Frog," and scores of short stories have been secured by the Lasky Company, who can be trusted to get the. very best that can be got out of them. '

Notes. Prior to coming to Australia, Lilian De Venny, principal boy of the "Mother Gooso" pantomime at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, was approached by Hobert Courtneidge to appear in tho leading role of "Light Blues." This was a new musical play for production at the London .Shaftesbury Theatre. Mr. Clj'dej Meynell, however, 1 had already secured Miss De Venny for "Mother Goose," and it was impossible to release her for Mr. Courtneidge. Miss Do Venny has done a good deal of musical comedy work. As a matter of fact, she has been associated less with pantomime than any other phase of stage work. Musical plays in which she has appeared in England include: "Oh, Oh, Delphine," "The Country Girl," "Our Miss Gibbs," "The Gay Parisienne," and others well known to Australians.

Frank Harvey, the popular player of romantic roles, at present representing Captain Larry Redmond in "Under Fire" at Melbourne Theatre Royal, originally intended to adopt a naval career, olid ho put in three years at Portsmouth Royal Naval College, and two years at Devonport, and was looking forward with keen expectations to the completion of his years of preparation when an erratic, cricket ball put an end to liis naval career. It was at a match that was played by a team from the Naval College against a team representing tlio Powerful, later the flagship of the Australian Station. The ball struck Mr. Harvey just above an eye, and a medical examination indicated that the" nerves had been impaired. So Sir. Harvey decided to put to practical use some ability he possessed as an amateur actor, and went 011 the stage. •

Harold Asliton, who lias 'been connected with the J. C. Williamson organisation for a number of years, has been appointed associate director to the firm. Sir. Asliton, who returned to Melbourne recently from South Africa, whore for two years ho managed tho J. C. Williamson, Ltd., interests in that country as resident managing director, will leave at the end of this month for America, to secure new attractions and artists for J. C. Williamson. Ltd., in Australasia and Smith, Africa. i