THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3047, 7 April 1917, Page 13

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.). Tho English Pierrots. After an absenco of many years, during which time tho English Pierrots havo devoted .their attentions, to .West Australia during the winter season and at their Pavilion, St. liilda, Viotoria, for tho summer months, the company are announced to open their New Zealand tour at the Town Hall, commencing on Wednesday, May 10. The original proprietors, Messrs. Will and Hob 'Thomas, are still managing tho company, which has been in existence for over sixteen years, and tho dainty and versatile comedienne, Miss Elsa Langley; is still included, with Mr. Roy Cooke (bass), Mr. Leslie Austin, and Mr. W. P. Turner (comedian). The other members of the company are entirely new to the Dominion, and include Mr. Chas. Lawrence (comedian), Mr, David Lyle (tenor), Sir. ... Louis Mitchell (baritone), and Miss Shirley Cooke (pianist), who is stated to be an accomplished performer In the style of Margaret Cooper "A Kiss for Cinderella." Writing of Sir James Barrio's latest phantasy, "A Kiss for Cinderella," in ''Tho Green Book," Channing Pollock' say's:—"'A Kiss for Cinderella' is certainly the frailest of fancies, but in a most unusual degree it has that elusive thing called charm. Written straight from the heart of a child—and that, suroly, is the heart of '.Barrie — tho adventures it recounts are purely adventures of the mind. Not only, that, but the kind of mental adventures that we who have had them . vainly strive to recapture, and these vagrant visions the poet has grasped .and embodied and set before us substantially." Tho critic gives great praise to' Miss Maude Adams as Miss Thing, the poor, pathetic drudge of the big studio building. 'So far, I think, no one has been allowed to create a Barrie lead in America but Miss Adams, ever since her wistful realisation of the oft-revived "Peter- Pan" • of' imperishable memory» Truly Sir James writes of "stuff that dreams are made of," but what' a beautiful relief they-must be to a New York jaded; and harassed by the awful orook play. rage, which has obsessed American writers for the past decade. "Cood Boy Eddie-'! . Seven weeks have passed since "Very Good Eddie" first appeared'in Sydney, but there is no sign of .the public tiring of the delightful musical pleasantry. "Very Good Eddie" is something more than a collection of wheezes set to music It is full of bright melodies and' bewitching ladies,_ and.has'far niore than the usual musical comedy's allowance of plot. The piece continues to be the rage of Amorica, and, apart from the efforts of eight or ten companies in making it-known, it is leceiving further advertisement on concert platforms and drawihg-roora. pianos. As may easily be conceded, the rcjalties derivable from all sources, are enormous, and Jerome Kern, tUe composer, has become a very rioh man." On present appearances the Australian tour will add' furihor_ to his income, for "Very Good Eddie" has not even finished with Sydney yet. A Spy in Vaudeville. Zakaree Ermakov, who is ;to appear here at His Majesty's Theatro shortly, is a magnificent specimen of a Russian, and the stories he tolls of .'his experiences as a seoret service raan in the pay of the Russian Government are said to be very thrilling. His turette has naturally been a distinct draw whißt he has been on the Fuller circuit. He explains his present p'osi- 1 tion by stating that his age.precludes him, from.jnilitarj-.-service— his. son'fighting with tho forces of Eussia". He relates that he was at' Wilhelmshaven during the big spy scare, when three Englishmen and eight Germans, including a police officer named-Clause, were arrested on suspioion- of selling German naval secrets to England.. Klanse escaped, and was traoked by . blood- : hoiihds. The unfortunate man, howevor, succeeded in. eluding pursuit and reached England; but the German authorities, alive to every point, demanded his extradition on. a charge.ofembezzlement. When ho was taken back to Germany he was oharged with espionage, found guilty, and sentenced to ten years' solitary confinement. Ermakov himself spent four months in a German prison for being found where he should not be (at Kiel). The Russian gives' an exposition of handling the weapons of his country. Both ho and his wife appear on the stage inRussian costumes; The London Stage. Writing' to the "Sydney Morning Herald" from London,,' Mr. ArthurMason remarks on the dearth of good plays. "Exceptions,"- says ho, "leap to the mind in Barrie's delightful 'Kiss for Cinderella,' and Mr: Maugham's witty comedy 'Caroline.' There have been others worth their place, • too, suoh as Mr. Calthrop's 'The Old Ooun-' try,' and Mr. Brighouse's! 'Hobson's' Choice,' and a few_more, but,.general-' ly speaking, and with these exceptions, revue has'held the field, and with it the little batch of American playa which London has been grateful for these many months past—'Peg 0' My Heart,'- for instance, and 'Daddy Long Leg 3,' 'Romance,'.' and the revivified 'Potash and Porlmutter.' Musical comedy has had its chief successes in "The Happy Day,'- a quite oharming Daly's Theatre piece, and 'To-night's the Night,' now followed by 'Theodore and Co.' at the. Gaiety, while 'High I Jinks,' thanks to the ineffable W. H. Berry, is still strong, at the AdelphL""Revues, however, havo been and are everywhere. 'The Bing Boys Aro Here,' thanks chiefly to Mr. George Eobey, has quite re-established the fortunes of the Alhambra, which were at a low ebb, while the long-standing Palace success,'Bria-a-Brao' is replaced by a no t less certain success in 'VanityFair,' a revue of that better class for whioh tho Palace is famous, and in which the brilliant Nelson Keys plays a score of parts, and is cleverly seconded by Arthur Playfair, and two or three leading ladies. The little Ambassadors continues - to crowd itself eight times a week by grace of 'Pell Mell' and its admirable French artists, Mddlo. Delysia and M. Morton, while alongside it another tiny theatre, the St. Martin's, has been built and opened with 'Houp-La,' a not very bright specimen in itself, but possessing the irresistible attractions of Miss Gertie Millar, still the most delightful of musioal comedy actresses, and the astonishing Mr. George Graves, who, in the part of a business manager of a circus, is at the top of his'form. His monologues on things in general convulse not only the audience but the actors, upon whom he is always springing a new set of volcanically-uttored precepts and similes. Graves is-a brilliant comedian, and if 'Houp-La' is to survive it will bo largely beoause of him. 'Three Cheers,' too, is a new revuo, at the Shaftesbury, and a' splohdid production, with no less a couple than Harry Lauder and Ethel Levoy in the lead, and with tho Australian Ivy Sohilling and Fred Leslie also running and making a big hit with an eccentrio dance. Miss Levey, a most accomplished actress,' singer and danc-. or, with'a strange compelling personal-' ity, would of herself draw tho town, to say nothing of tho charming. Lauder, with his' so.different but also compelling personality, <ind as the production is on the magnificent scale, 'Three 1 Ohttflrs'-.-is Bafei foi" i,Jono-'cni:ls ....:':'

Notes. "Turn to the Right," the play by Wincholl Smith and John' Hazzard, that the Taits secured against opposition, is still < running at the King' 3 Theatre in Melbourne. Soino plays aro an acquired taste. This one was not a sensational boom in Melbournp, but it has grown into favour greatly during tho past three weeks. ' Mr. John Denton,' who was in 'Australia with Clarko and Meynell, has arrived in Melbourne to produce "London Pride," the coster war comedy. ■ -Mr. D, Jefferson (late of th« Geo. Willoughby Company) has secured the small town rights of "Never Say Die" for New Zealand. The company is being formed in Wellington, at tho present time. Some local players',, headed by Mr. Norman Aitkon and Mr. Paul Latham, will produce tho farcical comedy "Tom, Dick, and Harry?' at Christchurch during the Easter week. Mr. Latham (who was stage manager with tho Plimnier-Hall Company) will direct the performance. Owing to ilness, Mr. Fred Cambourne was unable to accompany tho "Baldpate" Company to. New Zealand. His part are to be played by Mr. J. B. Atholwood.