THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2908, 21 October 1916, Page 13

THE THEATRE

EBv Sylvius.] New Comedy Company. On Monday next Wellington is to have tho felicity of witnessing tho performance of tiie bright, chippy, American comedy, "it Pays to Advertise," by a company that has earned the respect of Australian playgoers during the past six months. Enough has already been said of the farce-comedy to establish its genre. Suffice to say that it is a near relative to tho recordbreaking "Got-Rich-Quick 'Walling, ford," embodying a commercial truth and a number of smart bunco men, who know what looks like a good thing (to tho public) when they see it. The comedy. should be a clean one, as the talk energy is mostly about •soap and how to sell it. Tho play will introduce threo talented American players in Mr. Halo Hamilton, Miss Myrtle Tannehill, and Mr. Donald Bowles. Suffico to say that Mr. Hamilton was the original Wallingford in New York and London, that Miss Tannehill has exerted a peculiar charm over everyone who has seen her work, and Mr. Bowles, as a character comedian, is exceptionally talented. I would hko particularly to commend to tho notice of playgoers Winchell Smith's comedy, "Tho Boomerang," which has been running for over a year ill New York, and which Mr. Wm. Brady says is tho finest play written for many seasons. During the season tho fared "Twin Beds" will also be performed.

English Amusement Tax. According to the' London "Era," the anticipations that the amusement tax would aifect to a serious extent a large number of places of amusement in the Old .Country have been fully realised. The proprietors of cinema theatres and the smaller music halls have had, it •is reported, the greatest causo of complaint. Tho patrons of these places of entertainment, who have been accustomed to pay a certain sum for admisison, are not disposed to bear the additional burden imposed by tho new tax, and have achieved, their obpect of not increasing, their expenses in this particular direction by occupying cheaper seats. Others have met tho situation by fewer visits to the cinema shows or tho music halls. Tho majority of amusement-seekers having thus evaded tho new levy, tho burden has fallen upon the proprietors, and in a good many cases with such .disastrous consequences that they have been compelled to close.. In. regard to tho houses which have up to tho present kept open doors, a big decrease in the rccoipts has been experienced. What has happened has already induced members of the Provincial Entertainments Proprietors ■ and Managers' Association to move in tho matter with the object of persuading the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make somo alteration or reduction of the duty. In place of tho present rates, taxation on a percentage basis on the total receipts is' suggested. Another society, the Cinematograph Exhibitors of Great Britain and Ireland, have also decided to support the dbmand for somo alteration, though they decline to commit thomselves to tho percentage taxation proposal. A sub-committee of the association has asked to obtain certain particulars, which will bo brought under the notice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is at least satisfactory to know (tho "Era" says) that Mr. M'Kenna intimated, when he submitted ■his' Budget, that ho would bo prepared to examine facts with an opeii mind when sufficient time had elapsed to 'enable the Treasury to judge of the effect of the tax. -

London Activities. The theatrical world of London was chiefly conccrned"in preparations .for the autumn season when tho last mail left. There is to bo a new Drury Lano drama, entitled "The Best of Luck," for which Madge Titheradge ha s been 'engaged as leading lady in an emotional character, and tho cast will include Robert Halo, the original Slithers in "Our Miss Gibbs," as principal comedian; and, as the hero, Langhom Burton. This actor will bo remembered as Orlando to Nellie Stewart's Rosalind in Sydney seven years ago. "To-night's the Night" terminated a run of 15 months at the Gaiety, whoro a musical piece from the French farce "Theodore and Co." is in rehearsal. Tho music will be by Ivor Novollo, composer of 'Keep the Home Fires Burning," said ts have replaced "Tipperary" in popular favour. At tho Queen's Theatre a new play, "Potash aud Perlmutter. in Society," is to be produced, in which Lee Colinar, a Broadway actor, is being starred. Violet Vanbrugh is touring the provinces with "We Can't Be as Bad as all That!" This is a now' comedy-drama by Henry Arthur Jones, first produced in New York, and soon to be staged in London. The many admirers of Jenhio Lee, who at one time played "Jo" all over Australia,, with <T. P. Burnett as Inspector Buckott, will sympathise with both parents in the loss of their son, Sergt. J. N. Burnett, killed in action. Jack Burnett, a sturdy little boy in. Highlana dress during his stay in Sydney, was accompanied here by his sister Joan, who predeceased him two years ago.

Busy Nights in London. Notwithstanding the breathing-space so far as production is concerned, there has probably not been since the war began a busier week in London theatres than this (writes "Vaux" in the London "Referee" of August 20). Not only are there fewer blue boards up than ever, but behind evon these everybody is hard at work getting ready for tho theatrioal "big push'' which is close ahead now, with no fewer than ten new pieces doe by the middle of next month. There are sonio, it appears, who pretend to decry this pother of preparation. They sneer at the players' hopes and fears, tho plots and counter-plots, the managerial race for favourites, tho light-hearted paragraphic controversies as to who is to bo where and so on. "Is there a war hapEoning?" they ask. A foolish grumble. i not that tho very reason why we are straining every norve, to keep things bright for the boys at homo? As a matter of fact, tho "profession," which has given, and is giving, its best loyally and willingly in men and money, is setting all such hot-airers an excellent example- in devoting what is left of its energies to getting on with its necessary job and seeing that it is done as well as can be. One may say with truth that a knock-about comedian who brings an honest laugh into being where none was beforo is deserving better of tho nation just now than any chatterer over evening papers who wastes God's time asking people, whoso opinion on the point would bo in any case worthloss, "When do they think the war is going to JTnish ?" "Peg" and the Future. ■> Whilst in Wellington Mr. John Tait was asked if thero would bo opportunities afforded of seeing Miss Sara Allgood in plays other than "Peg o' My Heart." Mr. Tait's reply was to the effect that he hoped that such opportunities would bo provided. His brother, Mr. E. J. Tait, was at present in Amorica on tho lookout for plays. But as only Sydney and Melbourno had soon "Pog" in Australia, that play would run for another six months, perhaps. Harry Lauder, Playwright. Mr. Harry Lauder's first play was produced recently at tho Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, after a successful trial trip in Americn. Its plot is slender. Mr. Lauder has attempted littlo more than to extend a string from which

will hang, with more or less coherenco, rovivals of his own Scottish creations and liis own Scottish songs, with himself in the piece singing his own songs. As lie has other ongagomonts to fulfil' at present, his part was left in the hands of Mr. J. H. Scotland, who has a better voice than Mr. Lauder, but lias to renounce his own individuality in order to appear as Laudcresque as he can. Tho production contains somo silhouettes of Scottish domestic life, which vastly pleased a Scottish audience.

Good English. "When I hear public speaking," said Miss Madge Fabian, the English actress, "I like the English to bo in keeping with the thought. Carolosß phrasing and slipshod pronunciation always suggest some defect in character. It is as if a man wore careless in his habits. It affects one in the same way as unkomptness. Personal uncloanliness is no more objectionable, for example, than bad language. Naturally enough, they very often, go together. And as there is no excuse for one being dirty physically, so is there no excuse for it mentally. Rising up the scale, thoro is no more justification in a_ man being careless in his English than in Tiis dress. Both show' slackness, and are, as I have said, an index to character. There is nothing snobbish in this thought. In these days education is within tho reach of all, and through it manners and polish are acquired. There is a mistaken idea- that one cannot be manly and have polish. That, to my mind, is the worst kind of snobbery.. It is uncouth snobbery. Somo people affect roughness of manner and of speech.' .It is just as much a pose as affected politeness and preciseness. My'argument is that all affectation is stupid. Everyone can be .his or her own natural self, obwing the best impulses and cultivating what is best."

Notes. ! Miss Gladys Moncricff. a young artist well known in Sydney, by her connection with the Williamson productions, is now in Johannesburg, where- she is starring in Betty, a musical comedy. Associated with her is Miss Vivian Talleiir (wife, of Talleur Andrews), who both plays the part.of a boy and dances wijh her old-time . skill. •' The producer is another whose name is remembered here—Wybert Stamford. Halo Hamilton made a striking impression in Melbourne by his performance as Dr. Gerald Suiuner in "The Boomerang." It is a sound and clever characterisation on lines that make a strong appeal by its naturalness and sincerity. The role is different. entriel.v to those previously, -played by Mr. Hamilton in "It Pays to Advertise" and "Twin Beds," for it depends more on legitimate acting than farcical effect, and in "The Boomerang" Mr. Hamilton demonstrated that ho is not only a clover comedian, hut also a clever actor.