THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.)

"Turn to the Right." Ever since I saw "The Fortune Hunter" played hero by Fred Niblo and Co. I havo had a liking for Winchell Smith, formerly known in the United States as a brilliant play doctor, but now hailed as the real thing in playwrights. There were touches of humanity in "Tho Fortuno Hunter" that spoko straight ,lo the heart, none more than tho poor village inventor whoso cont.rnp. tions only seemed to lead him gradually to insolvency. Tho same homely appeals to tho he.irt. rather, than to.the head evidently predominate in tho gifted piny. Wright's newest success, "Turn to the Right." which is to bo produced hero for tho first time, on Monday evening by tho new J. and N. Tait Company, of which so much has been heard during recent months. Tho new comedy-drama exposes a new anglo of the "crook" problem, and seeks to prove in quito an unostentatious way that if you catch your crooks young and givo them tho proper environment they will turn to the right. Tho underlying principle of the play is, indeed, bused on a belief that is being given practical expression in America an<l oisowhere in, tho world, that is, the curing of crime in a man or woman by a process that shows even to dull intellects that in pursuing a life of crime they are not getting tho best out of life, and that, after all, is what we are all trying to do. In the case of 'Turn to. tho Eight" the metamorphosis is effected not in the form of a. treatise, but a brilliant comedy, in which laughter's only rival is the tears that ono feels or sheds at tho rich sentiment cnibodicd in the many beautiful incidents that are as milestones en tho road that turns to tho. right. The company is said to bo vety Competent. The newcomers are: Messrs. Walter P. Richardson, John Junior, Stapleton Kent, Vincent Dennis, and Miss Margaret Calvert. Then there are such gifted players as Miss Lizette Parkes, Miss Gwcn Dorise, Miss Frances .Anderson, Mr. Maurico Dudley, Mr. George Chalmers, and Mr. Gaston Mervqlb (the producer). Mr. Harold Jiowden is the manager for J. and N. Tait. London Bills. AVhen tho last mail left, Fred. Leslie and Ivy Schilling (now spelt without the "c") were appearing in tho "Topsy Turvy" revuo at the Empire. The stars of tho production were Robert Hale (brother of Captain Hale Munro, wharfinger in Wellington), Elsie Jauis, and Jennie Benon. Yiolot Lorraine, the best of principal boys, who was in New Zealand with a J.C.W. pantomime, was appearing in the globe trot entitled "Round the Map." "What a Catcli!" is tho title of a new farcical comedy which has been produced by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wyatt at the Duke of York's Theatre, London. "Tho Maid of the Mountains" was still running at Daly'6, London, at last advices. Miss Rose Collins was the lady lead. Other London productions wore as followGarrick, "Smile"; . Lyceum, "Seven Days' Leave"; Prince of Wales, "Carniinetta"; Oxford, "The Better 'Olo" (a war play staged by Arthur Bourchie.r); Shaftesbury, "Arlette"; St. Martin's,' "Damaged Goods"; Strand, "Three Weeks"; St. James's, H. A. Jones's new play, "The Pacifists"; King's, Hammersmith, "Floradora"; Kenuiugton, "Tho Professor's Love Story"; Queen's, "Mrs. Pomeroy's Reputation"; Hippodrome, "Zig ; Zag." "G'hu Chin Chow." "Chu Chin Chow" appears to have mndei even a bigger hit than "Kismet" with Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Asche. It is now in its second year in London, and was still going strong whon the last mail left. The pieco has been recently staged in New \orlc, with what success is not yet known at this distance. A London success does not infallibly mean a New York one, or vice versa. NewYork turned down "The Belle of New York" when it was first performed, and the English rights were snapped up by the Into Mr. George Musgrove, who made a big fortune in London and the provinces out of tho musical comedy. To reverse the picture, "A Littlo Bit of Fluff" ran for a year in London—it petered out after three -weeks in New York. You never can tell. "Kismet" was a success in both places, so the A6che touoh may again prove to have a universal appeal in the case of that gorgeous Eastern extravaganza "Chu Chin Chow." "Quinneys." Hitherto none of the comedy-dramas written by Horace A. Vachell has reached Sydney, but tho omission is (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") now to bo happily rectified by tho production of "Quinneys" at tho Playhouse on November 10, under J. and N. Tait management. Mr. Gregan M'Malion has been spocially engaged for the name-part and as producer, having filled this dual position with his own, company in Melbourne. Tiie other characters will bo taken by the "Pea o' My Heart" combination. Mr. Vachell's piece was trst staged in London at the Haymarkot Theatre. Thore it ran through most of the yoar .1915 with Henry Ainley as old Quinney, the curio 'dealer. Joseph Quinney is a keen Yorkshireman, who has begun to amass a'fortune as a curio dealer. Honesty has. been his rule of life, Ijut' he yields to temptation _l>y a "retting to fake some furniture. His moral fall is connected with a strong , love-interest, in which he paternally interfere with unhappy results, and a oharming story is evolved before tho old man acknowledges the error of his way 6. About Cyril Maude, Cousin of Major-General Sir Francis Maude, officer commanding, the British operations in Mesopotamia, Mi'. Cyril Maude, tho N distinguished English actor,' who will appear in Wellington presently in Lis famous impersonation of "Grumpy,' _ has many distinguished soldiers in his family. His father was General Maude, and his undo an Anglo-Indian who won the V.C. There are no fewer than four immediate relations' who have won the coveted decoration. Mr. Muudo'u son-in-law, Major Congrove, won it in France, together with the D.S.O. and Military Cross and the Legion of Honour. Major Congreve's father also won the V.C. for saving tlie guns' at Colenso.' But for liis lack of robustness' Mr. Cyril Maude would have, been in the Army. Educated at .Cambridge University, Mr. Maude had decided on a militaiy career, but physically the fates were against it. Mr. Maude is a favourite player of Royalty. On the door of bia dressing-room at his London playhouse, the signature of tho present King is written. Ho has a!so several gifts from His Majesty, notably a gold cigar caso with the monogram surmounted by a crown in diamonds. He has been comnnindcd to appear beforo Royalty, chiefly at Windsor Cnstlo and Buckingham I'alace, no less than sevon times! In. America Mr. Maude was chosen by tho British Government lo do propaganda work. In an unofficial mariner ho delivered <l»Uy for six months a lecture on the British cause, in addition (o his nightly appearance on tho utago as "Grumpy." Since, his arrival in Australia ho has been splendidly entertained by-tho Lord Mayors of both' Sydney and Melbourne at special Mayoral receptions and banquets. Mr. Maudohas been his own manager and possessor of a lending London theatre' for twenty-ono years, and is probably tho greatest character actor in tho world !o-day. Notes. • 1 Miss Ruth Bit'dd, who is to make Jier first appcaranco in Wellington at His Majesty's Theatre, is said to' he an extremely clever and daring gymnast, with, a winning personality. , Among the latest engagements made by tho Fullers for their vaudovillo circuit are Mr. Philip Newbury, the well-known tenor, and Miss Amy Murphy, the N.Z. soprano. The partnership which recontlv existed between Mr. Jack Waller and Mr. Sydney James has terminated. Tho Royal Strollers have re-formed and are at present appearing at the Auditorium in Melbourne. Mr. Scott Colvillo states that he has arranged with Mr. James to bring the Strollers to tho Dominion about Easter time, when' the personnel of tho company will be: Sydney James and his unforgettable'"Billy," Madolino Rossiter, G. W. Desmond, Arthur Frost, Connia Mllno, Josio Jackson, and Cyril Northcote, -