THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 13

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.) "The Prodigal Son" on the Stage. The theme of the parable of tho Prodigal Son is one of the great basic stories on which the drama, of all time is founded. It may be presented in this or that age, with the corresponding changes of social ideas, dress, and manners, but in principle it remains as' rock-like as the Bible itself. There has recently , been presented in New York a very impressiva production of a play called "The Wanderer," which is an adaptation by Maurice V. Samuels of Schmitbonn's "Der Veloreuo Sohn." Iα this play the scene is set in Biblical times, tho prodigal is Jether, the son of Jesse and Hiildah. J ether has also a brother Gaal, a steady -worker, but a hard man, who does not get along with Jethcr, and is partly tho cause of Jother's prodigality. A whole act is devoted to that which'the original author put into six words—-"wasted his substance on riotous living," which gives tho producer a chance to. show how he thought the old-timers "wasted their substance" when they had it. Here Jother meets Tisha, the beauteous sinner, and forgets his home lovo , (Naomi) in tho glamour of her opulent charmß, and even forswears his God to pleaso the siren. Then follows his utter ruin and his sorry return to the hills of Hobron, a "broken man, where he is welcomed as one from the grave by Hnldah. Gaal resents the wealth of affection that is lavished upon the prodigal, and ati one point, in a dialoguo between he and Huldali says: "What! Touch Mm? Hast seen his sores?" To which tho mother replies simply: "I have kissed his sores!" The play is/interpreted by a noble cast worthy of the theme. Nancu O'Neil is the Huldali, in which part sho had added, to her claims to be the finest American tragedienne. Channing Pollock says of'her: "Account should bo taken of Miss O'Neill, in whom is reincarnated the Tragic Muse. Electra weeping' over he sepulchral urn could not have been a nobler and moro arresting figure , than this actress, commanding, deep-throated, yearning for her departed and mourning over her returning son." Mr. James O'Neill was the Jesse, Mr. Wm. Elliott the .Tether, and Mr. Charles Dalton was Gaal. . . , .. I

"A Successful Calamity." Clare Kunimer, the authoress of "Good Gracious Annabelle," iu which Miss Marie Tempest was to have bpen■ed in Melbourne, but left, the Bcript behind in New York, has written an-' other queer comedy that promises to be a success. This is called "A Successful Calamity; , ' and relates tho pickle of a wealthy business man, who, tliough he longs for peaceful, quiet evenings at home, is unable to get them owing to the rush of social engagements, and the pursuit of tho butterfly lifo that his set consider to bo life. Hβ 3a'protesting about it one evening, when his servant suggests that poor people are able to enjoy what he desires. _ The idea takes root, and ho immediately sets about faking his ruin. The familj; are apprised of tho disaster, and in their affliction come closoer together, drop everything in tho way of rushing pleasures and crushes, and together, spend sotno. delightfully quiet evenings round tho firesido to tho keen delight of the old lnaii; The son looks for a. job, the wife pawns her jowels, etc., and the added weight of these actions bears down the stock which tho old man ownsj and enables him to make another huge fortune by simply buying all that is offering. One critic says that Miss Kummer has much of tho quaint fancy of Barrie without his tenderness, sparkle-, of Shaw, without Jus philosophy; arid the wit of Wilde, without his penetration.

Tho Enterprising Fullers. The Fullers control more theatres in Australasia than all the other theatrical managements put together, and navo established in Australia and New Zealand the most complete vaudovjlle , circuit that lias over existed; furthorniore, it not only nils so many theatres in this part of tho'world, but acts as an oxchango for vaudevillo managers iu India and South Africa, so that the interests of this pushful firm are vory far-roaching indeed. Not onJy Kayo they established a record in the number of theatres owned or controlled,' but at tho prosont timo they have a greater, variety of theatrical attractions under weigh than any other management has at any time in the history of .the business in Australasia. They have established vaudeville companies in every centre. Tho Italian Grand Opera Company, now in Adelaide, is under its wing, the Allen Wilkie ompany (Shakespearean and high comedy) plays under the Fuller banner, a Fuller Dramatic Company is playing melodrama at the Palace' Theatre, Melbourne, at the present time, and round the top corner of Bourke Street at the Princess's, the Fuller pantomime, "The Busyip,' , is attracting large audiences, nightly. There is no Fuller Musical Comedy Company at present, but there are numerous musical comedy and roveue companies of sorts playing throughout their vaudeville circuit.

Fullers' Easter movements were on an extensive scale. A special train left Sydney on Easter Sunday for Melbourne, carrying members of the "Bunyip" Pantomime Company to Melbourne and performers of the La Blanc Travesty Stars en rente to Adelaide from. Auckland. The Johnson Musical Comedy Company jumped from Brisbane to Dunedin, and tho "Follies of Pleasure" from Adelaide to Brisbane. Early in the week a dramatic company, headed b.y Harrington Reynolds, sailed from Sydney to Hobart, and an entirely new vaudeville . company left for Perth. On Good Friday the Gonzales Opera Company quitted Melbourne for Adelaide, and practically complete changes were made in every one of the twenty-six theatres which played Fuller vaudeville on Easter Monday night. The only shows which did r.ot travel were the stock dramatic company of tho Melbourne Palace, Theatre and the Victor Prince Company at Auckland.

"The Marriage of Kitty." Of the appearance 'of Miss Marie Tempest and Mr. Graham Browne in "The Marriage of Kitty" in Melbourne at Easter the "Age" critic says:— "Out of the frivolities of a light comedy they build something really touching and lyrical—something actually capable of exalting an auidence with morrimcnt. Criticism could not detect a false gesturp or a falso noto in cither performance. Tho secret of their art was very siniple to discover. It lies in the personality of tho artiste. All .that was most appealing])- fornix ine, most nimblc-witted. most cay and gripping in the part of' Kitty Silvcrton was so obviously put there by Misb Mario Tempest. All that was bo vivid and human, so neatly rdfined, on. Rightly and enthusiastically silly in the part of Sir Reginald Bolsize was put there by. Mr. Graham Browne. If Melboiiriio audiences want to appreciate tho power of personality in acting lot them remember that such parts as that which Mr. Browne plays in "The Marriage of Kitty , aro usually interpreted on our stage by a vacuous expression, an eye-glass, and an exaggerated aristocratic drawl."

Ada Reeve and Co. Miss Ada llbevs is to commence s. sqason in Melbourne this'evening at the Tivoli Theatre. The comedienne has a atrong company of English artista with her, including M.r Clarence Btefcates, Mr. lonis Kikol», k -"Sffsferj-.

man," from St. George's Hall, London; Mr. Harry Jacobs, from the London Coliseum; Lueio Linda, a jnvenile dancer, from the Palaco Theatro, London; Mr. Kennedy Allen, a comedian (from the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square; Mr. Arthur Jennor, Mr. Ashton Jarry; Miss Mollie Malim, Miss Zoo Angus, and Mies Georgie de Lara. The Uondon Stage. ' . The following list will indicate th'at "theatrical business as usual" still holds good in London. Here are the bills that were on during the secofld week in February:—Adelphi, "Higtl Jinks"; Ambassadors', "The New Pell Moll" ; Comedy, "See Saw" ; Criterion, "A Little Bit of Fluff"; Daly's, "Tho Maid of the Mountain" ; Drury Lane, "Puss in New Boots"; Duke of York's, "Daddy Longlegs" : Gaiety, "Theodore and Co."; Garrick, "The Girl from Ciro's"; Globe, "Peg o' My Heart"; Haymarket, "Felix Gets a Month"; His Majesty's, "Chu Chin Chow"; Kennington, "The Priva-te Secretary"; London Opera House, "Cinderella"; Lyceum, "Mother Goose"; Aldwych, grand opera season; Lyric, "Romance" ; Now, "Tho Land of Promise" ; Playhouse, "Tho Misleading Lady"; Prince of Wales', "Anthonyin Wonderland": Princess, "Bluebell in Fairyland"; Queen's, "Potash and Pcrlmutter in Society"; Royalty, "Home on Leave":' St. James's, ; "The Aristocrat"; St. Martin's. "Houp-lal"; Savoy, "The Professor's Love Story"; Scala, War Pictures; Sbaf tesbury, "Threo Cheers"i; Strand, "Under Cover"; Wyndham's, "London Pride" ; Apollo, "Monty's Flapper."

Actor and Artist. : Mr. Raymond Lawrence, of the "Seven Keys" Comedy Company, liow in Wellington,, is a'great- lover of New Zealand. When ho first came out to this country from England (not as an actor) he went down the West Coast, and was for some months puddling for' gold in the Toromakau and getting the colonial atmosphere. Ho has a warm affection for tho West Coast,, and admires the magnificence and versatility of its scenery. Ho lias no complaints about tho climate. With a moderate competence ho would not mind spending his days under tho shadow of tho Southern Alps. Mr. Lawronco (who married Miss Tancrcd, formerly of Wellington) has a pretty talent for pen and ink work and an original and altogether artistic colour sense. Hβ draws well, and in decorative design work has turned out some fine studies. Unfortunately there is no market for his talent in this country. •■"••■ •■ •• . Melba Returning. Melba-is due in Australia during MaJ. ' While at . , San Diego, sho inspected the Spreckles organ at the San Diego Exposition Buildings, and was so delighted with it that sho saug the Ave Maria, from. "Othello" to the accompaniment of the city organist, Dr. Stewart.' She also visited Point Loma, and was entertained by Mrs. Tirigloy, the Theosophist. Iho 21st Infantry turned out at Sail Diego, under tho command of Colonel J. P. O'Neil, and serenaded her at tho U.S. Qrand Hotel. According to the cable, the final burst of song at San Francisco resulted in a house for war relief. That brings her total np to about £50.000.—The' "Bulletin." • . . The Best Comedy Actress. ■ An altogether remarkable ; career is that of Mario Tempest, the greatest ot all English comedy actresses, who is to appear at.the Theatre Royol Melbourne, on Easter Saturday, under tho J. 0. Williamson management. From comio oporn, to 'musical comedy, then to grand opera and back again, and after that a complete right-about into comedy and emotional drama—that was .the...meteoric .-and. versatile., record of Miss Tempest before sho definitely and finally : sett-led into ■comedy, in ■■which she holds the acknowledged position cf leader. Remembering tho triumphs Miss Tempest has achieved in 'such pieces as "Becky Shape," ''Caroline," "Good Gacious, Annabelle," "The Marriago of Kitty," ."The' Troth," and others,; it is. strange -jb consider at once i sho made n. tipuendous success'in tho title role of "Carnion"! It is rather a singular fact that another notahlo comedy actress, Ethel Irving, who made such a success when she was in Australia not ''very long ago, also commenced her career as a musical comedy artist, and transferred to comedy and'emotional dra'ma, in which she won <a high position oil tho English stage. . So did Billie Burke/ for that matter. : ' . , '

Nates.; ; . ■' '■■ Miss Genovieve Ward, the actress, who appeared in ■Wellington well over thirty years ago, is fin the London cast of Louis N. Parker's play, "The Aristocrat." Miss Ethel Dane, who here as lead in the "Glad Eye" \ and ' "The Chaperon," is appearing in the New York revival of "The Professor's Lore Story." ' !; .. On February o, in London, Sir Frank Benson, the Shakespearean actor, gave a lecture on "French Poilus and English Tommies." Pictures of the "tanks" going into action were being ghown. in London early in February. "Daddy Long-Legs" is to commence a tour of New Zealand in Wellington early in June. At the same time, the Williamson pantomime "Tho House that Jack Built" will commence tour of the. Dominion at Auckland. But for Miss Marie Tempest, Edward German's charming "Nell Gwynne Dances" would never have been written. The brilliant English comedy actress commissioned the composer to write the incidental music for Anthony Hope's play, ''Nell Gwynne," and the dances were the result. "I was in the early Bernard Sbaw productions," stated! Mr. Graham Browne,, discussing the worlc of the' brilliant Irishman.. "In those days, when plays were done in holes and corners, the Shaw vogue had not arrived. I was the original boy in 'You Never Can Toll,' and was also in the original cast of 'John Bull's Other Island' and 'The, Devil's Disciple.' " ■■ Mr. Graham Browne, who is leading man with Miss Marie Tempest at Mel-, bourne Theatre Royal in "The Marriage of Kitty," lias shared for several years Miss Tempest's corned}' triumphs in, London. "The Bunyip" pantomime, which has been out ■■'of commission since tho Sydney season terminated, was the attraction at tho. Melbourne' Princess's atEaster. , The principals consist of people that have toured the Fuller circuit in New Zealand during tho past , year. Waller Howard, author of many showy but invertebrate melodramas, is the author of "The Story of the Rosary," which was produced at the Sydney Opera House by the Allan Wilkio Company at Easter. The leadiu gplayers concerned were Mr. «md Mrs. Wilkie, Messrs. V. Edwards. Walter Hunt, E. Landor, Robert Murati. H. A. Varna, A. E. Greeuaway, and Miss Harvoy. .. •■ Early in February the Royal Choral Society of London sang Verdi's "Re-, quiora." The soloists were: Miss Carrie Tubl) (soprano), Madame Kirkby Lunn (contralto), Mr. Alfred Heather (tenor), and Mr. Robert R-a'dford (baritone). Tho prices of admission are onriously interesting. They were;■'■ Stalls,. Bs.; arena, 6s. 6d.; baloajcf,' 4s. 3d. and 2s. Bd.; gellery. Is. 2<J. ' "Trail, Dink, and Harry." the farce, comedy so aucoesafully performed by Wellington amateurs in Chrietcbnreh at Ettster, is to be played in, Wefflsngtoa about, fee nsicMfo t£ sssk mcsA.