THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stago.—Heywood.

[Br SrLTfica.l A Protest. Tho riotous intimacy of some of the Scenes in "Twin Beds" recently roused "Sydney Morning Herald" to tho following timely protest:— "Remonstrance with the dramatists who prepare this kind of nonsense i.s always thrown away as long as there remain people who rush to see it after lealising the perils of its absurdities by perusing their _ newspapers. More serious, however, is tlie low-toned conduct and conversation of Signora Monti, a ono-time cabaret singer, more especially in the sccno in which she wrecks Blanche's chances of happiness by pouring into her ears all the evil knowledge of marital infidelity springing from her middle-aged experiences with a giddy young husband. This is very bad for Blanche, and worse for a crowd of girls in tho stalls, circles, and gallery ; • and the allusions to the nightscenes on Broadway veall.v should bo expunged by the J. C. Williamson direction." Hugh J. Ward In Defenoe. The American farcical comedy "Twin Beds" was attacked by correspondents in Sydney for its alleged suggestive frivolity. In an article entitled "What Australians Need," in tho . "Sydney Daily Telegraph," Mr. Hugh J. Ward replies in the following strain: — "A correspondent to tlie 'Daily Telegraph' urged that the serious matters of life should be treated only on the stage during the present crisis in human affairs. The fact of my view being diametrically opposed to this may bo taken as evidence in some places of a frivolous mind. As a matter of fact, it is tha result of seriously considerwhat the theatres can best do at a time like the present. My reading of conditions is that there is enough misery to dwell upon in the world, -without the theatres' deepening the gloom. If ever there was occasion for die theatres to adopt a policy of cheerfulness, it is at this time. It is "entirely tlie wrong moment to harrow the feelings of people or to assume a woe-begone expression. Tragedy plays too great a part in actual life for the theatre to pile on mimio agony. When the world is at peace, and all are prosperous and happy, people like to be made aware, through the medium of the theau-e, of their deeper emotions. Just now these are too near the surface, and relief is fought in laughter. It is a mistake to imagine lliat laughter just now shows thoughtlessness, or indicates callousness. It is rather a physical necessity. Human nature demands it, hence the entertainment that carries people out of themselves for a few hours, and sends them away from the theatre without anything to seriously reflect upon, is welcomed. "It is only by the entire loss of the sense of proportion and perspective that one can import heavy morality into utterly frivolous farce. Farce, to begin with, begins with the ridiculous. To try and argue anything else into it is to make oneself absurd. Everything has already been reduced, to an absurdity, and the synthetic moralist—he who constructs calamitous effect from nonsensical cause—can only hone to becomo part of the joke."

Charles Hawtrey's Failure. Mr. Charles Hawtrey's "fianancial failure" to the tune of £20,000, is a visible sign that the stage in England has been hit hard by. the war. Apart from his activities in tho theatrical profession, Mr. llawtrey is known to bo a gentleman who likes to make the most of the pleasant habit of .existence, and wlio is said to have accounted himself as only "passing rich," while ho was drawing £130 a week iu salary. Mr. Hawtrey had his first success in his own 1 adaptation of the German farce-comedy, "The -Librarian," which was immensely popular in England as "The Private Secretary," and which* was brought to Australia in 1885 by Mr. F. Thornton. During the 1899-1900 London season, Mr. George S. Titheradge was associated with the aotormanager in the long run of a "A Message from Mars." Mr. Titheradgo. played the part of the supernatural Messenger at 52-4 performances. Some time later, when the popular piece reached Australia, Mr. William Hawtrey, the actor-manager's talented brother, appeared as the Tramp. Mr. Charles Hawtrey toured England with Miss Ethel Irving six .years before the accomplished actress won fresh laurels in Australasia.

Bombs in "Faust." During an October performance, of "Faust" in London a bomb dropped through the roof of the Shaftsbury Theatre and burst in one of the dressing killing a dresser, but missing the principal, who was engaged singing "The King of Tliule" solo that leads into the famous "Jewel Song." Of the incident the London correspondent of the "Musical Courier" wrote:— "I was interested in it primarily because Carrie Tubb, one of our leading concert sopranos, was undertaking the role of Marguerite for the first time, as also was Robert Radford that of Mepliisto; moreover he had told me that he was dressing it in black, a la Maurel. of old, and that is novel here. I confess I anticipated few if any thrills, for 'Faust' is a little vieux jeu nowadays, \eh? But by. gum! we got the thrills nevertheless. All went well, exceptionally well, until the garden scene. Miss TubJj was .singing with great purity of tone and had just completed the first verse of the 'King in Tliule' song when crash, bang! .more crash, more bang! and on to the stage came Courtneidge himself. He then proceeded to explain that a Zepp. was calmly dropping bombs round the theatre, and invited us to sit still. We did. I never saw anything quite so simple and so solid as that crowded audience. Perhaps half a dozen folk rose to depart, but they were mildly hissed by the remainder of the gallery occupants. When Courtneidge urged that we were all, noble Britons, there was a roar of huge delight, loud cheers, and oil went Miss Tubb with the second verse, as if for all tho world nothing more had happened than would naturally happen at a Dorcas Jleoting! .You know already all there is to bo known now about the raid, so I need say no more than that the effect upon the audience was absolutely nil. It did, however, produce a now thrill in 'Faust,' as you may suppose. ■ '

Notes. "Twin Beds" ran a month in Sydney, and on .the whole wa.s not voted the rampaging success managerial puff pars would lead one to believe. It has been succeeded by a farcical comedy entitled l to Advertise." Included in the case of "It Pays to Advertise," which will introduce Hale Hamilton and Myrtlo Tannehill to Melbourne audiences, will be Donald Bowles (who also produces tho comedy), Tom' MacLarnie, Beatrice Nichols, Mildred Warren, Edwin Lester, Maurico Dudley, Leslie Victor, and Nancy Stewart (the daughter of Nellio Stewart). The firm of ,T. C. Williamson, Ltd., with a capital of £300,000, recently paid a dividend of 10 per cent. "The Cinema Star" is tiio uoxt mimical comedy the Royal Comic Opera Company is to produce The company lias been rehearsing "The Belle <f Now York" whilst in Wellington, in view of a revival of the ever-popular musical comedy 011 the company's return to Australia,