THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2781, 27 May 1916, Page 11

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. [By BthiusJ Censorship of Pictures. ihat there is room for a censorship ot pictures in New Zealand js proved by tho. picture managers themselves, who have on certain occasions warned tile public as to the character of certain piccures. they are presenting. Whilst managers; who are considerate enough to give 6l lc'j: .warning merit the respect of the PuWic, it furnishes proof of tho fact that some outside supervision of pictures is required. It has been found necessary in England and many of the American States. The following is the "warn®'iPPetl from last Friday's "Ot'ago XUily -Urnes":—"Scandal," a picture produced With a purpose—to do good. It is not a suitable subject for the mind or sight .of children, but is intended for the man and woman of mature mind and round reasoning and understanding of a social problem which daily they are compelled to face." A False Alarm. Iho reassuring cable message of Saturday last that the announcement of Mr. rred Terry's death was premature, was very welcome. - Fred. Terry is one of the most popular players in England in the realm of romantic drama, and both he and his wife (Julia' Neilson) are society tayourites. i Their daughter, Miss Julia Nielson-Terry, 'has lately been playsng a round of star 'parts in New York from Viola, in "Twelfth Night," to Trilby. For the greater part of last year Mr. Kobert Noble (Beasley), a New Zealand actor, was prominently associated with the Terrya. ; Allen Doone. Allen Doone, the well known and popular Irish comedian and singer, will oommence his New Zealand tour on June 12 at Gisborne. Since last in New Zealand, Mr. Doom has been oh a trip to the . United States in 'search of new plays, and has managed l to secure quite a number. We will in all probability s'ce some of these in the near future. The opening play will be "O'Leary, V.C.," a play by Mr. Doone, written in New Zealand, but not yet produced here. Theatrical Newspaper, Man. | The news that Hiigh D. M'lntosh had bought both the Sydney "Befereo" and "Sunday Times," i 6 further evidence of tho capacity of this 'outstanding citizen of Australia to do big things without making a fuss about! it. Mr. M'lntosh was originally known as a caterer in a fair way of business; then deserting tho floury way, ho' W&ssoiri.'d'»s.ut as a mancvter of prize-fights, arid managed to got such good attractions 'that all Sydney quietly'into the habit of patronising his show. Then 'he built the big Stadium in Bay, and offered tho biggest purse ever known in the history of the world for a. battle between Tommy Burns and Jack' Johnson, which M'lntosh not only managed, but refereed, owing to trouble at the eleventh hour over the man for the job. Then, when Harry PJolcards went the way of all flesh, Mr. M'lntosh bought into, the firm, and soon became its guiding spirit, ami still is. Now he strikes now gronnd, and becomes tho managing director of two of .the most successful weekly paners in Australia. ■ " , Tivoli Follies* Tour. ' Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosh loves to do things in a big way, usually does them fo, and generally succeeds'. An Indication of tho character, of the man was afforded quito recently when he 'decided' to alter the dates of the -New Zealand tour of the Tivoli Follies' Pantomime Company, simply because ho learned that .a largo and better-fitted steamer was leaving Sydney' for Auckland a week J?, t! y\ n the original date arranged, 'ilio Follies have proved to bo a good money-making show, and Hugh D. M'lntosh thinks its members should have' all .this coming .to them. Hence the reason for a new. set of dates to coincide with tho Malcura's arrival in Auckland on July 9. Tho tour, as re-arrauged, is,as follows: Auckland, July 10 to 17; Gisborne; .lnlv 20 to 22; Napier, July 24 and 25; TT->=+. inpra, July 2G; Wanganui, July.27 and 28; Palmerstou North, July 29; Jl'astertou, July 31 and August. '1; Wellington, August 2 to 9; Timaru,. August 15 and lfi; Uamaru, August 18; Dunedin. August 19 fui 55; Invercargill, August 26 to 23; Ohristchurch, August 80 to September 5. Ihis re-arranged tour means that the laranaki towns are cut out in favour of Gisborne, which, for its population, is the best show-town in New.Zealand. A Journalist on His Play. Should an author be, lieid responsible for the beliefs: and acts of tho characters ho creates? Mr. Walter Haokett, the auu n » ? Norton Mystery," which u ,* m Irving is presenting at the fcavoy Iheatre in London, thinks not.' Ho Said:

"Koine of your folks here who have seen the play complain that I do not take tho audience into my couiidonce.. How can I? I worked as a journalist in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York for years, ana luiying failed to mako a fortune became a uramatist. Naturally, I now think that taking your audience into your confidence at the opening of a play, is ks onUf-date OS wooden ships.. If you want to make your audience sympathise with the frame vf mind of an important oharaoter 111 your play, tho shock that ho may havo to experience must como also as a shock to your audience.

'•Ihe correspondents who ask mo if the psychic detective In 'The Barton Mystery' is a genuino psychometrist want to got in© into trouble. In confidence, however, I will tell you that he is a bit of a fakir and a great deal of telepathist. I am a bigoted believer in telepathy, but a few folks want to insist on making rao a prophet. I am sorry I cannot stand for it, for I am only a humble worshipper of tho doctrine of tho unseen.

"I am_ told I am too lazy to be anything else. Why, tho first manager in America thought he discovered grains of dramatic instinct in mo put a paid watchman over mo to keep me at work. I Would, you see, on account of my easygoing ways be 110 use whatever as a spiritualist, and have determined not to devote my life lo psychometry. Why, 1 cannot cvon spell the word! lam physically big enough to carry a great ileal, but that word 'trinks' mo.

"Did you ever bear of Wilton Lackayo? Ho is a very popular actor in America; "When -he was young he wrote a play on tho story of Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserablos.' E-ientnally no produced it. At tho end of the first performance, when he was called on for a speech, he said:, 'I had been for years trying to find a maha. gor who would jtroduco this play, but I could not even find one who could pronounce it:.' Now, how can I write a real play about 'psychometry' beforo I even have learned how to spell itP" Notes. It is tho intention of Mr. Jack Waller, whose "Butterflies", will bo remembered, to'open a Dominion tour at Wellington about June "1 with "The Ideals of 1916" (musical revues). This combination is at present playing a five weeks' season at tho Melbourne Auditorium:' The New York. "Dramatic Mirror" of March 18, says: "Cyril Keightloy, who has been playing in 'The Song of Songs' for the past two seasons, sailed last week for his home in Australia. After a brief visit 110 will join the British Anny."