THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2982, 20 January 1917, Page 11

THE THEATRE

IBy Sylvius.]

"Sunday." On Wednesday next at the Grand Opera- Houso that very attractivo drama "Sunday" is to be revived by tho lloyal Dramatic Co. (which played "Madame X." and "Are You a Mason?" in Wellington some weeks ago). "Sunday" was a character endeared to many by tho clever impersonation of Miss Tittel Bruno, and Mr. Maurice Dudley's fine characterisation as Lively. Tho play is a sound one, affording opportunities for good acting, and ' diversified character pourtrayal, and the leaven of romanco that sweetens tho story makes it a very attractive bill. The company is to bo seen in "Tho Fortune-Hunter" during the season, that delightful comedy so admirably played by thp comedy company headed by Mr. Fred Niblo.

"The Woman." Tn connection with the production of "Tho Woman" by J. C. Williamson. Ltd., at Melbourne Theatre Royal, it is an interesting fact that this strenuous drama of American "graft" has been recently revived in the United States with great success. Five companies are at present playing it on tour. Charles A. Wenman, the producer of tho Melbourne production, who moved down to the Royal after the pantomime at Her Majesty's, had been successfully staged, -remarked that "The Woman" was ono of tho most cleverlyconstructed and interesting plays ho had ever been associated with. "It required 'somo' drama to tempt me away from the varied attractiveness of pantomime," added Mr. Wenman; which was certainly a compliment to "The Woman."

Barrio on Frehman. Sir James Barrie, tho man who knew Charles Frohman best, has written a tribute in the "Appreciation" with, which lie introduces tha volume, "Charles Frohman, Manager and Man, by Isaac F. Marco3son and Daniel Frohman." This notable biography is a revelation of a singularly lovable and interesting personality. "He lovod his schemes," says Sir James Barrio. "They wero 1 a succession of manycoloured romances to him, and wore issued to tho world not without the accompauimont of tho drum, but you would never find him saying anything of himself. He pushed them in front of him, always taking care that they wore big enough to hide him. When they were able to stand alone'lie stolo out in the dark to havo a look at them, and then, if unobserved, his bosom swelled. I havo never known anyone more modest, and I have never known 110 one quite so shy. Many actors lmvo played for him for years and never spoken to him, havo perhaps seen him dart up a side street because tliey were approaching. Thoy may not have known it was shoor shyness, but it was. 1 have seen him ordered out of his own theatro by subordinates who did not know him, and lie went cheerfully away. 'Good men, . thoso; thoy know their business,' was all his comment. Afterward 110 was shy of going back, lest thoy should apologise." No two people could have been more opposite, say _ the biogi'nphcrs, than Barrio and his friend. Frohman was quick, nervous, impulsive, bubbling with optimism ; Barrie was the quiet, canny Scot, reserved, repressed, and elusive. Yet they had two groat traits in common—shyness and. humour. As Barrio says: "Because wo were tho two shyest men in the world 1 , wo. got 011 so well and understood each other so perfectly!" Frohman, in fact, adored Barrio. Hero is an entertaining glimpso of their life in Loudon:—One of Frohman's delights-when in England was to go to Barrio's flat in London, overlooking the Victoria Embankment. Ho lilted this place, first of all because it was- Barriers. 'lien, too, ho could sit curled up in tho corner on a settoo, smoking a fat, black cigar, and look out on tho historic Thames. Hero ho knew lie would not havo to talk. It was tho place of Silenco and Understanding. He was in an atmosphere he loved. In the ilat abovo lives John Galsworthy; downstairs dwells Granville Barker; while jiist across, the street is the domicilo of Bernard Shaw, whoso windows face Barrio's. / When Barrio wanted to notify Shaw that Frohman was with him, ho would throw brcaderusts against Shaw's windowpanes. In a few moments . tho sash would fly up, and tho familiar, grinning, bearded face would pop out. On 0110 of the occasions Shaw yelled across: "Aro you inviting mo to a feast, Barrie—aro you casting bread upon the troubled waters, or is .it just Frohman?"

Barrie and Frohnmn had another community of interest. Each detested the silk hat. Sir James Barrie , attributes to a Frenchman the 'play of which the_ author wired . to Frolimaii, "How is it going?" receiving in response the cablegram, "It lias gone." But tho biogi;apliers say the dramatist was Mr. G. 11. Siiiis. C. A. Redford Dead. The death occurred in London recently of Mr. G. A. Redford, for many years Examiner of Plays to tho Lord Chamberlain, and latterly the kinema film censor. From his appointment as stage censor in 1895 till his resignation in 1911 Mr. Redford was tho subject of heated, and not infrequently diverting, controversy. The advanced school of critics and dramatists expended much sarcasm and wit upon attacking both his position and his individual decisions, but he always met tho storm with disarming blandness. "I am not a censor," lio once said. "I merely uso tho experionco I have gained from a long association with theatrical 'matters to administer tho regulations of my office. No play is over prohibited without the most careful thought, and ovory chanco is given to authors to tone down their work whenever it is possible.'' Some of the most talked of plays which' his view of the "regulations" ' caused him to ban were: "Monna Vaiuia" (Maeterlinck), "La Citta Mortn" (d'Anminzio), "Mrs. Warren's Profession/' and "The Showing up of Blanco Posnet" (Shaw), "The Breaking Point" (Edward Garnett), "Waste" (Granvillo Barker), and' "The Secret Woman" (Edon Phillpotts).

Notes. "Miss Springtime" is a musical comedy that has made good in New York, and which wc arc bound to soo in tho fulness of time, seeing that tho chief source of supply is the land of the free and the homo of tho diplomatic Note. Tho new comedy is by Guy Bolton. John E. Haxzard, tho part author of "Turn to the ltight," is in tho cast. Some people think tlioy are hardly troated hero when their productions are not up to tho standard represented. This is how one Now York critic dealt with a play called "Backfire" recently:—"Tho piece is utterly deficient in novelty of plot, reality of characterisation, or cleverness of dialogue. The most absurd puppets marched on and olf, chattering platitudes, and struggling hard to vitaliso banality. Only the actors laughed at the jokes; the audience diil the laughing at the- 'situations' and 'serious' lines."

Eleanor H. Porter's charming talc "Pollyauna" lias been dramatised by Catherine Cushing iu Afiierica, and lias boon produced in Noiv York with great success, with Patricia Collinge iiK tho jeading role. It is a play that follows in the footsteps of "Peg o 1 My Heart," and like that comcdy is on tho sugary sweet_ side. As a theatrical sweetmeat it promises to have a long run. "Mister Antonio" is a play by Booth

Tarkington (author of "Monsieur Bcancairo"), and produced in New York with Otis Skinner as the Italian organ grinder referred to in the title. The critics were ijot inclined to believe that another "Beaucairo" had been created. It is described as a one-part play.

Androw Higginson, who is to come out to Australia to play in "Good Boy, Eddie," with tlie first Tait Musical Comedy Company, was in tho east of tho "Amber Prancess" in New York in November last. The comedy had a short life, and not a particularly gay one.

Tho London "Referee," in a recent issue, thus referred to an Australian favourito who has done well for himself in the Old Country:—"At the London Hippodrome on Wednesday evening a featuro of tho revne, 'Flying Colours,' was the appearance of Mr. W.' S. Percy in the- place of Little Tich, who was absent. An admirable substitute was Mr. Percy, who, in a. task of great difficulty, came through with ilying colours."

Mr. Peter Savieri, who is a member of the "Waybacks" Conrpany, was formerly a resident of Wellington,. and a ono-timo amateur performer.