THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 27, 26 October 1918, Page 11

THE THEATRE

9~. (Hy "Sylvius.")

Alexander Watson, Alexander U'alson, an intellectual giant m the domain of elocution, will commence a week's season in the Concert Chamber this evening, Those wno would learn what elocution" really is—apart from what they' might think it is— should hear. .UivWatson. Gilbert and Sullivan Again, The Wellington Amateur Operatic Society have uec'n'very wise in•liie'jjast in their selections. .As a new Mieiely- should do, it commenced with, 'simple musical comedies such as "The Geisha''', and "Hnu 'Joy,." graduated through Plau(iuettc!ii ".fain Jone.-" and "Let, Cloches/' and. Andran's "La Ma.scotte," to Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Gondoliers," a. workthat not only calls for a higher musical culture than any of the other works mentioned, ,but its sirntle and witty dialogue makes a greater demand upon the intellect of toe players entrusted with the leading parts than is the case in English musical comedy and French light opera. Lucky indeed are they who possess, "the G'ilberlian sense," without which so many points in ilie dialogs are likely to go astray. Schoobd by such an old master at the game as Mr. Tom Pollard,.the Wellington amateurs lire not likely to be far out, and the,.cast is said to.be a very reliable one, though some of the names strike strangoly on the ear. Of the new performers,'Sirs.'.Dallas may be said to have one of. the finest contralto voices in Wellington, and hereafter the public will'know her better. Dunedin folk will remember her better as -.Miss Mabel Fsquilant, tlio most cultivated contralto that'has-been produced in that city for ten years past. Another ex-Dunedin resident is''Miss Batliie Howie-Stuart (Mrs: Croftou Umbers), a. young performer, who as a small child was a .-member of tho Pollard Opera Company in the latter years of its existence. Miss Stuart is very attractive in appearance and manner, and has rare gifts as an actress.. Her Tessa (she played the part in Dunedin a few years ago) should, be. a, feature .of the performance. Another brilliant singer new to Wellington is Miss Dorothy Cameron (Mrs. Walter Puller)) of Wellington, formerly of Christcburch, who will play Cnsildn. Miss Cameron was'formerly.on the professional stage, and her return to tho boards will give Wellington ?, rich sunshiny soprano, whose claims to attention cannot be overlooked; M'iss Helen G'ard'ner. the Gianetta of the cast,, has 'been engaged once more, ami .we may all anticipate i\ dainty and ■ charming performance at her hands, Miss Gard'ner has played Gianetta before-with the Dunedin amateurs. The male principals are well known. Mr. Trevor Forrest, has played several parts with omateurs some years ago, always with marked comedy distinction. Mr. Fred. Twiss (Guissenpe) is a well known Savaire, and a fine robust baritone; Mr, H. P., Wood (Marco) is the secretary of the Orphans' Club and one of Wellington's sweetest tenors. Mr. Zante Wood, who will'be the. Duke of Plaza, Toro. is ponulnrly known for his er.mic stunts, and Mr. ' Ohas'.' Moore (Lu.iz) is Wellington's most, virile, baritone. The Trenthnm Conip Orchestra will add eclat to.the performance.

'.'The Eyes of Youth." "'"The Eyes of Youth," ,T, and X. Taifs next production for Miss Emolio Polini in Sydney, is :i threo-act play bv Charles Guernon and Max , Unrein. * In "On I Trial" the. hands of- time turned backj ward, revealing' the scenes of a woman's | past as they were recalled bv witnesses in Court. In "Byes of Youth," thanks I to a yogi and his crystal sphere, the proI cess is reversed. The heroine sees not i indeed her future, but three or four posj sible futures with which the first act | confronts her; and at the lust curtain, i by means of a'simple sum of subtraction, elects the fourth, which nobody sees, but which the others have indicated as the path to happiness. The result is a. trick i'melodrama, said to possess tho popular 'virtue of novelty, and nli'ordinn. • Miss Polini' unusual scope for versatility. [_' r In Too Great a Hurry. Giving her views oh things in this'part of tho world and Australia in particular, Mjss Sara Allgood said she -loved the country and tho people, and the sunshine and the laughter, but when ■it came to matters artistic 'she said that .what marred a great deal of tho effort in Australia was the haste with which everything was done. "A. person seems to get a good idea, bat no sooner has he hatched it than he wants to give it public expression, instead of polishing and polishing until the idea is given its maximum worth. I have seen this in so many ways since I have been hero that I think it might do good rather than harm to-mention that anything artistic loses in the speeding-up process.'