THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 312, 21 September 1918, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By- "Sylvius'.") .-

Coming Players. The forthcoming lour of New Zealand of .1. C. Williamson's Dramatic Company in the mystery drama, "The riiirtficiilli Clinir," will be notable'for the fact that it will introduce-to local playgoers ;\ talented actress in the person of Miss Margaret AVycherlv, who in private life is Mrs. lia'yard Vciller, the author of "The Thirteenth Chair" and also "Within the .Law." It rill also serve to renew acquaintanceship with a host of old favourites, who have successfully toured New Zealand at VBfioiis times. Included in the list are: Mi-s Lizette Parlies, J'Hhel Morrison, NaneVo Stewart. Gaston'Mon-ale, Leslie Victor, Sydney Stirling, Thomas Sydney, and lan MacLareih Mr. Brinsley Shaw, the young American actor, will make his first appearance .in Now Zealand, as leading man with this comj)ii:iy. Tlie Wol'iiglon season commences on Thursday evening next. Dorothy Brnnton in London. London (says a-writer in the course of a letter to the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"), both from the point of view of,the playgoer and at least one manager, ha« compensation in tlio possession of Dorothy Brnnton. Whatever be-the final estimate of the young Australian's work, there can he no doubt as tii her popular personality. H is of a quality to win out anywhere. Ju London, with its very substantial Australian contingent of play patrons Miss Brnnton should'achieve no small success. "Shangnni" has been on the stocks for some time, the first announcement of its production at Drury Lane having been made early in the year. '. It was. at first to be called "In Shanghai," and when tlie ■ lftsfc mails left Loudon Die producers, J. L. Sacks, Ltd., were easting about for sonictbwu more appropriate. Apparently thev did not succeed in their effort. Private cable- advices suggest that the new musical play has made an immediate impression. The Press criticism of Miss Brnnton lias been most favourable. Tito qualifies with which "she Ims, always been identified by her Australian friends arc seemingly unimpaired. Tb is ini"vesting to' note that, another former "Williamson star, Ivv Shilling, has iwiain made n bitr "hit" with her (lancing. ■ The association of these two girls in-the one east will ensure a steady and enthusiastic "Billjini" patronage to historic Drury Lane. The Stage and War, When war broke but' the wail of the theatrical managers. was loud" in tho land. Politicians and the Press, in their wisdom, advised everyone to cut out anything .in the form'of heroics, and as theatrical amusements .may bo said by somu to come within that elastic category, it was interpreted 'by some managers as certain that the first business to suffer would be theirs. As a matter of fuel, there was u noticeable neglect of the theatre during the first year of the war, as the result of many thinking it .infra dig. U> be seen there, but Chat notion wore itself out. The period., covering the past two years has probably been the most wonderful' period for uniformly successful business in the history of the stage. I | say the last two • years, for between the first and the third year of war the call'of; the stage was only beginning to, bo heard again by '-those who had dropped it for sentimental reasons- connected with tho war. The past year has been a veritable boom both in •Australia and Now Zealand. On : Saturday evening last a careful note was taken of the business done at the 'Wellington theatres. . At 8 p.m. every picture theatre in 'the city was crammed to-the doors, and in. some cases there'wei'o'queiies of people awaiting admission. The-commodious Tils Majesty's Theatre in Courtenay Place had I only standing room to spare, and not a great deal of that-. The Allen Doone Company played--to a full house at the Grand Opera House, and the English Pierrots.at'the Concert Chamber turned away as many people:as they entertained. Besides this, the whole' of the dancing space of the big I'o\vu Hall was closely packed with dancing soldiers- and their fair partners. I notice that in his book. "The Soul of the War."' Mr. Phillip Gibbs remarks on tho absolute, necessity of humour and laughter, and relates . how in the shambles of Nieuport in September, 1911, one would in brief intervals for meals and rest hear sounds of hearty laughter. ■ the buoyant humour of one of tho Belgian "blesses" is depicted as of rare value.' It may have sounded wildly incongruous, but, it was necessary, for in thoso. awful days it was either that or. madness. A. sense of humour has been a' factor in. keeping many people sane. Perhaps the, .theatre, here in New Zealand has claims to consideration as a saving grace to tho bereaved amongst us.