THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2711, 4 March 1916, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The. World's a theatre; the Earth a 6tage.—Heywood. [Br SI'LtIDS.3 Mumming In Mayfair. When tho mail left London, Sir George Alexander had opened the New Aear at St. James's Theatre with a new four-act comedy, "Tho Basker," by Mrs. Clifford Mills, part author of a successful piece entitled "Where the i Rainbow Ends." The word "basker" is used to describe tlio "dolco far niento" temperament of George de Lacorf c (a part written for the actor' manager), who has hitherto basked in the sun of undisturbed happiness from which, however, he suffers a rude awakening. The scenes are at the Ducliess of Cheviot's housei,X'Mayfnir, and at Cheviot Castle, Nortliumberland. . The only artist in the cast known on this side is Genevieve Ward, who appears as the Duchess. This veteran actress toured Australia in 1881 with the late W. H. Vernon in "Forget-me-not" and "Macbeth," and made a deep and lasfcI ing impression. Playgoers here will be delighted to learn that Mr. H. B. Irving now continues to do well at the Savoy Theatre, where his start was at first faced by the difficulty of changing the traditions of the house from comic opera to spoken drama. "Searchlights" and "The Angel in the House" both passed the 100 th performance, and now "The Case of Lady Comber has achieved the century. Hall Caine's new war drama, "The Prime Minister," blocked in London by tho censor, will be staged at Washington and New Tork under the name of its heroine,' "Margaret Schiller," a part which has been allotted to Elsie Fergusson, a brilliant American actress. • The will of/ the late Lewis Waller has been proved at £5845, which sum has been left entireto his son (Edmond) and daughter (Nancy). His brother Victor Lewis, known here as his general manager, was left mementoes to the value of £50, and was appointed sole executor. A committee, headed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mr. Gerald du Maurier, has now been formed to acquire the bronze bust of *the deceased as Brutus, executed by Onslow Ford, lI.A. . ■ The idea is to offer the bust to tho trustees of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon. The Australia!. Wn.r Contingent Association (London) has subscribed 25 guineas to the Actors' Benevolent Fund out of the splendid total of £2344 realised by the recent matinee at His Majesty's in aid of the Australian wounded. Not His Miracle. George Titheradge had a little story for smoke socials relating to the conversion of a naughty girl. He was told , that she was testifying nightly at Salv'-army meetings, and ascribing her accossion of graco to him—George. One Sunday, night he went to hear all about it. .He couldn't have chosen a worse time. The woman was orating on the platform; ' she seemed very earliest, and explained that .it was the work of the great and good George Titheradge in that, beautiful play, "The Village Priest," that had won her from her manifold sins and wickednesses. "1 saw the miracle!" she cried— "George Titheradge's miracle, and grace came to me. Mr. Titheradge called for a manifestation of the spirit, and the light fell on the Bible and the leaves turned., and 1 was saved. God bless George Titheradge, I say!" "At this point, the actor explained, "when I was feeling very good, a nasty, harsh, derisive voice from tho other sido of the hall yapped: 'Tither* a<3ge be blowcd! It's my miracle —I pull the string!'" It was a vulgar stage assistant who spoke, and Titheradge departed dispossessed.— "Bulletin." A Rising Flood.' After steeling myself against the thought that the "movies" were not going to do any great harm to the legitimate stage either here or elsewhere the conviction has boen forced upon me that we are likely to see fewer dramatic and comedy companies, than ever in the picture'.owing to the ever-iising flood, and the ascertained truth that for 80 per cent of the publio they provide all the theatrical diversion essential to their enjoyment. Olio sure and certain guide to the real position is the number of theatres ercoted for the various needs. I laiow of none, except, perhaps, the Municipal Theatre at Hastings, that have been built for the drama iii New Zealand during the last twelve months, yet the number of pic-ture-houses continues to increase without any promise of cessation. Two more houses are being erected in Wellington —the Crown Theatre in Sydney 'Street and the co-operative house in Cuba Street. In Australia the position is the same. There is always money and a site for a picture-house, but investors look sideways at a proposition to erect a thorougltgoing theatre that would accommodate big dramatic and operatio companies. J. C. Williamson's picture venture at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, will be watched with interest. It is understood a big company is being formed to take over Williamson's pic-tures-play studio in Melbourne, which so far has achieved little. "Within the Law" is perhaps tho best picture taken by the Williamson people, but we have heard little or less about the Niblo comedies that were to have made such a flutter. | Shaw Censored. Bernard Shaw's new play, "O'Flaherty, V.C.," which was announced for production at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, was suddenly withdrawn. No public announcement was made as to the. reasons for the withdrawal, but •unofficially it is stated that the play was submitted in the ordinary way to the Censor, and was so mutilated that Mr. Shaw decided not to permit the production of the sub-edited version. Death of Salvlnl. ' The eminent dramatic actor, Tommaso Salvini, has died at Florence, in Italy. He was born in 'Milan in 1829, and became president of the Actors' Dramatic Society in 'Italy. Salvini was the son of an actor and actress, and at an early ago ho showed great aptitude. He attracted the notice of Mme. Ristori, j,nd ho became a member of her company. Tho revolutionary war of 1849 drew him from the stage, and lie fought with distinction. Returning to the theatre, he played with eminent success the part of Oedipus, in a play written for him by Nicolini, and also that of Saul in Alfiori's drama. His renown brought him offers from ajl parts of tho world. In Paris he added to his Italian repertoire Racine's dramas and' Shakespeare's "Othello." In tho latter play he proved himself an incomparable exponent of tho title role, a part with which he is identified by the English public. Visiting London in 1875, and again in 1884, ho addod to his reputation in Shakespearean parts, playing Hamlet, Othello. Macbeth, and Lear. In the United States, which he visited in 1874 and 1881, ho scored a series of triumphs, mainly with Shakespeare. Most critics considered Othello his masterpiece. In 18S4 Salvini retired to his villa in Florence, where he led a life of'learned leisure. Notes, Mr. Geo. Anson, the most famous exponent of the role of Ecclcs in "Caste," and formerly a much-honoured member of the Brough and Boucicault Co., celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as aa actor at Spokane, U.S.A., in December, pceawosv .wag marked bj a guppei;

tendered to him by the members of "The Lie" Company, who presented him with a silver loving cup. Mr. Anson has two sons upon the stageMessrs. A. E. Anson and R. F. Anson, who was here with the Oscar Asche Company. Mrs. Charles Klein is writing a life of her husband, who perished on • the Lusitania. The book ought to prove interesting reading. Charles _ Klein, a genial, good-natured soul, without au enemy in the world, was in close touch with tho American stage for nearly forty years. He called every producer and every playor by his or her first name, and what lie didn't know about the ins and out of the play-writing gamo wasn't worth knowing. The story of his career, early struggles with poverty, and final success should inspire the most discouraged beginner with renewedl hope. One week was sufficient to prove that the public had no interest in "What Money Can't Buy," in New York in December, and so George Broadhurst's "new telling of an oft told tale" went into the discard. Perhaps on general principle, people are a little tired of that aggressive American capitalist who, by his money, rules everything from big business to little kingdoms.