THE WORLD’S STAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2364, 3 December 1908, Page 6

THE WORLD’S STAGE.

PLAYS AND PLAYbRS IN MANA

LANDS

A NEAV ZEALANDER’S EX PEE I-

ENCES

“Talking about 'the theatres and entertainments I saw on my trip, said Mr. W. Miller to a “Times” reporter yesterday, “there is no doubt that London is still the greatest theatrical centre in the world, and the most perfect productions and the best c’.asjj of plays can he seen there. The best theatre buildings I saw were in America, but the productions of the Amend m theatre are not u patch upon the big plays that can ho seen in London. In America I saw .‘The Man from Home,’ a play strong i,\ satirising l.lie American girl who marries the Englishman for the sake of a title. The production wa s extremely good. tV. A. Hodge played the lead, and hc’se one of the best actors 1 ,‘V.w in America. I also saw John Drewprobably the host actor in America too day—in ‘The Witching Hour.’ Thp was u good play, well staged, aim well mounted, but beyond these two plays I saw nothing in' the States that- would appeal to the English taste. The American musical comedies umd are fearful productions, but the theatres are nearly always full, so that they evidently appeal at least to the American taste. “The buildings of the London theatres are certainly disappointing. In many the accommodation is poor and uncomfortable, and the line of sight very bad. The productions themselves are, oil the other hand, most elaborate, perfect in every detail, and leave nothing to he desired. 1 saw Forbes Robertson in Jerome K. Jerome’s comedy-drama ‘The Passing of the Third Floor Back,’ a clever and beautiful story, capitally written and acted with great force. With Forbes Bobertsou in this pi!ay arc Miss Alice Crawford, the young Bendigoni^.a. who lias made considerable advpnco in the theatrical world, and Miss Kate Bishop, who wiil bo remembered as tonring Now Zealand with many coin panic/. Other actors I saw wen Lewis Waller, in ‘The Explorer,’ a strong play paid Cyril Maude, -a clever romantic actor. I visited His Majesty's aud saw Beerbohm Tree in Stephen Phillips’ and Corny ns Carr’s new version of ‘Faust.’ Mr. Tree plays Mephistopheles, -and Miss Marie Lolir Alarguerite. The play j.s looked 'Upon ias one of the greatest theatrj-cal productions London has over seen, and cost £IB,OOO to produce. It is 'almost impossible to get reserved seatt unless one bboks three months in advance. I was introduced to Mr. Tree and was greatly interested in n look around at the back of the stage. 1 saw George Alexander act, but the piiy that- .appealed most to me was the comedy drama ‘The Mollusc.’ If was a unique play, and the best 1 have ever seen. There are only four people' in the east, and these were bit Charles Wyndliam, Miss Alary Moore, Mr. Sam Sothern, and Miss Thomas. The dialogue is very clever, but 1 doubt if the play would take on in thccolonics, where the people look for a big list of characters. I also snw M'iss .Marie Tempest in ‘Airs. Dot,’ at the Comedy Theatre, and Charles Haw trey in ‘Jack Straw,’ a very powerful play. A new comedy, that teaches an excellent lesson to men. recently produced at the- Duke ei York's" Theatre, is ‘What Every AV-oman Knows.’ Mr. Gejuld cLu Maurier, son of the author of ‘Trilby, and Mr. Eddie Gwen, who pilaved the thief with Mr. Cuvier Hastings in ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ have parts in ibie play. “Dealing with musical comedies,” continued Mr. Miller, “the leading caterer for the public taste is Air. George Edwardes. His one-time leading man, Air. G. P. Huntley, * has taken to the variety stage; but Air. Edwardes always has a strong company. I saw ‘Havanna’ at the Gaiety Theatre; but ‘The Alerry Widow,' which I saw in America and England has been the biggest success of its kind throughout the .Europeanised world. I was rather disappointed with ‘The Dairymaids,’ which I snw at tho Queen’s Theatre. The cast was weak, and the artists could not compare with some of the. musical comedy people that are seen in Australasia. The comedian of ‘The Dairymaids,’ however, Mr Dan Roly it, was the best I have ever seen, and he and Miss Florence Lloyd, who was in New Zealand with the J.P. Company, were the two bright stars of the cast. “On the variety stage, Air. Harry Lauder is undoubtedly the biggest draw;/ with Alnrie Lloyd next. I enjoyed Harry Lauder immensely,” said Air. Miller. “Ho lias a strong personality, and 'has the entire audience miring before he has been on the .stage a minute. Ho is worth his price beyond doubt. Alarie Lloyd is still very clever, -and Vesta Tilley also occupies -a high place in variety. ‘ J enjoyed George Roby, but the worst thing about his turn is that it is too short. He is only on the stage for 12 minutes, and one could enjoy him for an hour. Other good variety people I saw were Little Tieh ;who is still a big draw, T. C. - Danville, It. G. Kuo wiles. Eugene Stratton, and AVilkio Bard. I met Nellie Stewart in London. She has been unwell, but hopes to be in Australia, next year. Other big show's I ‘-’-iw were Maskclyne and Cook’s magic show; undoubtedly the best in the world. I met All*. Alaskeiviie, and found him a most courteous old gentleman. I -also visited the Alhambra, and snw a- .fine spectacular ballet entiled ‘The Two Flags,’ which was the gem spectacular sight of ,anv of the theatres. I saw Ginquevalli. He has many imitators, but ho still (leads tho world as a juggler. The music halls of London -are very fine buildings, tho best of tlieir class in the world, and the seating accommodation is tho best that can be imagined. “I was rather disappointed with the theatres 1 saw in the provinces, and do not consider them equal’ to the productions of Melbourne and Sydney, even when under the control of London managers,., I'heard rainy fine bands, including the Black Dyke Mills’ Band at the Edinburgh Exhibition, which, in my opinion, is bettor than the Besses o’ the Barn Band. 'Of course I visited Covent Garden Opera- House, and heard Madame Melba as Desdemona in Verdi’s opera ‘Otclle,’ and Ala-dame Tetrazini in ‘La Traviata.’ The critics still sav that there is no soprano voice in the world to touch Melba’s, and when" one remembers that she has been the leading soprano at Covent Garden for 20 yearn it must be admitted, despite all that has been

said, that she is a wonderful -woman. “I saw many plays and operas oil tho Continent,” said Air. Aliller in conclusion,, “and I was at tho Imperial Opera House in Berlin oil a gala night, when the Emperor and Empress word present. _ Tho—Emperor has ia very distinguished appearance, and seemed very popular. All the plays on the Continent are produced in the language of the country, and I noticed that ‘Slier-lock Holmes’ was billed in nearly every city. I was inside the La Scale ThAatre, AH lan, where Verdi used to conduct, his own operas. Theatre life on * the Continent of Europe i« very gay, and the most popular form of entertainment is the Music .Tflc.L I was greatly impressed with tho fine singing I- heard in Russia, and never heard belter bass, voices. In Japan only the Europeans attend the English theatres, the Jap Ims a theatre of his own. The Jap’s, favorite line of business is story telling. An artist begins to tell «. story on. the stage, and works his audience up to a great pitch of enthusiasm, then ho suddenly comes to tho penny novelette phrase, “To be continued in our next,” and announces that his story wild bo continued to-morrow night, .when., the utdicnco «m 0 ,3 again to the theatre to hear the end of the tale. ’ Altogether 1 was much impressed with the artistic nature of the plays I saw, and a visit to the tluutros at Home is certainly an education.”