THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2705, 26 February 1916, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The. World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. TBi Simios.l Shakespeare's Ter-Centenary. Shakespeare-lovers will i ejoice to learn that an attempt will be made in Wellington to mark the ter-centenary of Shakespeare's birth. Hero was the greatest dramatist and poet of all times, the one who, in the might of his monumental genius, and ivith a prescience past all understanding, said everything. England may lag behind in music; it may oven be unprepared in a military senso; its trade may be undermined by cheaper (and viler) standards of living in oth<« countries, but none can rob her of Sie glory of having cradled the greatest literary giant world has known—will over know. Tt is fitting that the centenary of his birth should be reverently honoured hy the production of some of the scenes from his works. What I would like to seo would be the performance by little groups of amateur players of about a dozen or more brief scenes —rehearsed to perfection, and all played, for economy's sake, before a plain scene, the old Greek platform for choice, with its severely simple lines, a white facade, with two. entrances therein, ' making with the prompt' and o.p. entrances, four entrances or exits, as the case may be. This would be far Better than attempting in any way to "mount" each scene, with its turmoil of work, row and confusion behind. The one set scene would give the stage that quiet atmosDhere conducive to a proper contemplation of the work in hand. The programme might, too, be varied by the introduction of a few of Shakespeare's songs, which could be sung in character, or not with equal propriety before the scene I suggest. The number of scenes to be done will largely depend on the players available, but there should he at least three distinct groups of players for the various scenes in order that each may have time to change their costumes. This, and the choice of scenes, I deem to be the most important factors in arranging the programme. There should be no need to worry ahout the support given to such an attractive and "memorable entertainment, which should V.e given either in the Grand Opera House or the Town Hall, the former for preference. .

In New York the ter-centenary Is to be marked by a series of performances of Shakespearean plays, concluding with a grand masque, written and arranged by the poet Percy MacKaye, re* fleeting in its text high homage to the poet of poets, the dramatist' of tnatists. In _ London Miss Horniman intends to give special performances, including one of "Hamlet," which idea makes small appeal to me, as it is impossible, to conceive the child mind realising the profound philosophy, the subtle and glorious romance of Shakespeare, however well drilled they may be. The local arrangements ai e in the hands of a capable committee, who are to be commended for the timely thought given to the memory of him who has shed such lustre on the letters of England.

For stage-struck Girls. Miss Annie Held, tho American actress, spoke words of wisdom to the stage-struck in a recent interview in "The Theatre" (New York): — "For the ordinary Thespian the rewards are slight. The artist is one who can please everybody. Everyone is challenged by that person's magnetism. Such a person makes a universal appeal. But the lesser person only appeals to a few; and the few are unstable. Accordingly the 'bad season,' attributed to the bad play, or the bad business management. "And the season after season uncertainty. Tho poor Methodist preacher depending upon the will of his conference is surer of his poor living than is tho actress, who haunts tho agents and managers' offices every summer, and if she is selected from among the multitude for a part, is piteously uncertain as to whether the play willrun a week. And it is among the possibilities that she will not receive full salary for that. Statistics of the stage prove that tho forty-six weeks season is among the rarities, and that it is not uncommon for an experienced playor to have but sixteen weeks' work in a year. "The girl who says: 'I want to go upon the stage,' and whom 6ome good friend who knows assures: 'You are without talent for the stage,' often makes a wretched compromise. 'I am good looking,' she argues. 'My looks will bring me a salary.' And she is right', but what a wretched salary. For the revolting display of. her scantilydraped charms she receives a chorus girl's wage. The gasping climax of 'Thais' was furniehea not by the prima donna, Mary Garden. She would not imperil her health nor her modesty by such anatomical disclosures. To a shapely woman from the chorus, this most unpleasant task fell. My manager, Mr. Ziegfeld, used to say to me: 'You fieJf ~S3t wear tlgftts. We can get someone for twenty dollars a week to do that.'

"Such an ono may think, if she remains on the boards a- few years, that she has won stage success. Poor unfortunate!

"Remember the homelessness of the actor. Actors are the gipsies of modern civilisation. In youth this roving, unless the rover bo of very fine sensibilities, _ simply satisfies the wanderlust. But in life's autumn, when tho blood is chilling, the hearth-fire calls. An artist, in whom the flame of genius burns, is willing to die far from-that hearth-fire, in a barn of a theatre, if only tho night's performance has been a triumph of his art.'' '

Notes. The ''New York Dramatic Mirror," in publishing a portrait of Donald Bowles, the producer of "It Pays to Advertise" at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, added the following in the latest issue just to hand:—"Donald Bowles has been released by Oliver Morosco to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., of Australasia. Air. Bowles will produce for that organisation many of the plays originally directed by him for Mr. Morosco ill this country. Mr. Bowles lias probably directed more original, productions than any stage director of his years in America." The firm of J. and N. Tait, impres- ' sarios and concert managers, has decided to extend its sphere of activities by embracing the drama in its scheme of things, and "Peg o' My Heart" will be their first venture, opening at the Palaco Theatre, Sydney, in March. To add to their managerial strength, Mr. E. J. Tait, for some years manager in Sydney for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has decided to throw in his lot with his brothers, Messrs. John, Nevin, and Frank Tait. This accession to tho family firm was probably at tho bottom of Mr. E. J. Tait : s first visit to Now Zealand last. year. Mr. Dion Boucicault, the partner for many years of the late Sir. Robert Brough, has entered into management on his own account, having taken over a lease of the New Theatre. London. | Miss Horniman has acquired the remainder of the late Charles Frohmann's interest in the Duke of York's Theatre, London. Sho was to inaugurate her control with a double bill consisting of "A Comedy of Errors" (produced in one act) and "The Blue Stockings," a new play by Mesley Down and Henry j Seton, really an adaptation of Mo- J liere's "La Fcmmes Savantes." Mrs. R. H. Brooke, tho veteran English actress, lias died in her eightyfirst year. She acted with Charles Matthews, F.echter, and Charles Kean,'