THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 27, 26 October 1907, Page 13

THE THEATRE.

Our Dramatic Standard,

When 'it is soberly considered that the population of the Dominion of New Zealand is less than 1,000,000 souls, it is a constant source of surprise to visitors who take an intelligent interest in the theatre to .find that the standard of theatrical work all round is as high as it is, not alone from the' acting point of view, but, what is moro astonishing, in the standard of production in respect to the mounting and dressing of the plays and opera* that are presented in a continuous run at'-tfc... Opera House. The writer was spoaking to a gentleman from London recently, who was praising the all-round brightness of the' "Mother" Goose" production, which he had seen in Manchester, I think. While the scenery was hardly so- elaborate as in the English Christmas performance, he said the ensomble was equally as good, if not better, thaii that (of the Homo production. All playgoers, too, are aware of the very fino standard that luts been set'by Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Bland Holt, and even William Anderson (in certain types of the drama), a standard which wo are repeatedly assured_ by travellers is only exceeded by special productions in London, and seldom in the English provinces. This very high standard that has beon set in Now- Zealand is not altogether tho most desirable tiling for managers, but is certainly a good thing for the playgoer, who is not at ail times aware how well lie is being treated. One pays 7s. 6d. for a stall in a dccent London theatre, which sum is equal to 10s. in the colony, but patrons of. the most expensive scats in our thoatres aro seldom asked to pay more than half tho 1 latter sum. Tho fortunate position of the Dominion playgoors should be a ( matter for sincere coi}grutulatioii. ' An Australian Dramatic Star. Miss. Alico Crawford, the clever Bendigo girl, who, after a tour of Australia and New Zealand with Miss Nance O'Noil, went to London, has had, a career little short of meteoric. Miss Crawford was in Wellington in.'ls)ol with Aliss O'Noil playing smell parts and walking on, her oiic chaneo being Mabel Vane in "Pretty Peg Woffington," which she played, charmingly. On tho eompanyfs rc : turn to Australia, "Lady Inger of Ostrat," a powerful Ibsen play, .was staged , in Melbourne, and Miss Crawford made quite a hit in a morbid ingenuo part; despite tho overpowering force of tho great Nanco. She "arrived" at Home when she acccptcd an engagement with Mr.. Beerbolim Tree, with whom she, recently-visited Berlin.. 1 Now she. has been, secured for tho melodramatic "lead" at tlio Lyceum Theatre, where she made her debut as Glory. Quay'o : in a \revival of "The Christian'.' on August 31. Of her performance, the London "Era" says: —"Miss Alico Crawford who, from portraying ingenues, was choson by Mr. Tree to impersonate Charmian in his. revival of "Antony and Cleopatra," is playing amelodramatic heroine for. tho first time—in London,: at any rato.- No great demands are made upon the : actress until,tho" foyer scone, where Glory resents in good round terms the dishonourable proposals of Drake. Herein the house literally 'roared its approval on Saturday night of iior fine expression of, the resentment" natural to a puro, unsuspecting r.aturo. Iri tho final act, tooj Miss Crawford was inexpressibly, tender, and realised throughout tho frank, sunny disposition of,the gonerons Manx girl." Something Missed. Out. .... i. i Tho London "Bra" of September .7 has tho following from its Wellington (N.Z.) correspondent.:—"Mr. - Williamson's: Dramatic' Company, headed by Mr. Julius Knight, are here. Tiio'opjning pieco was "Robin Hood," followed in quick : succession' by- ."Raffles,"; "Brigiidi i or:' : 'Gcrard,'' : . and , tho eyer-popiilijr "Bointcairo:" . The . principal successes haVe been'made by Mr. Hubert Willis arid Mr. Les-. lib Victor. Tho company liavo boon- greeted nightly by. crowded and enthusiastic'houses." This is rather unjust to Mr. Julius Knightand Mr. Harry Phmmer, surely. "Brewster's Millions".Tour;'' In connection with! the. tour of Mr, J. C. Williamson's newly-organised dramatic company through tho'i-jDojninioh,. when I 'tliCi great American arid London success, "Browstbr's Millions," will form the piece de resistance, The following, dates have . been, arranged: — Duuediii, December 26 to January 4; Tihiaru, January 6';- Christchurch, January 7 to- 14; Auckland, January 17. to 24 ;• New January 27; Stratford, January 28; Hawera, January 29; Wanganui, January 30; .Palmcrstpn.North, February! j -Histiiigs/Fobru- ■ ary 3 ; Napier,-February .4; Alasterton'; jFebruary s'; Wollirigtoii', 6 to ,14.' CucccnsJui Plays. , , 'i'ho 'famous'"- Amorican play, "Mrs. - Wiggs of the Cabbago Patch," .• has been - running lor sevoral"years"in : the States; and is ; said to have yielded already more'than • half a million pounds sterling. Enormous as has been tho success'of this popular-play, it, still falls far short of the record made by "Rip Van Winklo,"- in which Joseph Jefferson appeared over 5000 times, and which earned -the amazing slim of £1,000,000. "Tho _01d Homestead," with'Donman Thompson, in tlio leading part, is said to have yielded £950,000 in a dozen years, or at the rato of nearly £80,000 a year; while "Ermine" was a'goldmine. across the; Atlantic, "running-'for-1267 nights-at a siriglo theatre-aiul earning jroll ovor . £80,000. .- '"Colleen Bawh,',' " ''East Lynno," ! ,:"Poop. o' .' Day,"-.- "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and sovoral other ■- plays liavo liiade 1 profits running far into six figures, and "The Private Secretary" is credited with "a total clear profit of £300,000. , : ~ AdvancedVaudsuille. ■ "Advanced vaudeville," of which a "generous sample was submitted for tho first time by Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger. at.their Now fork Theatre 1 on August 1/, proved to be such a dosirable commodity that henceforth -tho..amusement, itinerary of .the up-to-date New. Yorker wiii riot bo'complete without.it. The 'occasion markod the...locals ontry of. tho woll-knov/ii theatrical firm into tho vaudeville field, and the event attracted.much attention; 'I'ho lobby of tho theatre resemblod a wellstocked gardeu,. and tho reconstructed auditorium,,presented a |very,' attractive, appearance., At ;eight o'clock, it- was v 'taxed to . its capacity," as , the press' agents: -say! - First ontho programme were tho BogannyH, "acrobatic bakers" from Berlin, whose lively "capers made ovcry one. sit up and tako 'notice. . lhen camo tho Aloxandrolf troupe of Russian dancers—nino of them. Their dancing was of the, "whirlwind" kind, and .was heartily, applauded. George! Fuller Golden, tho mono-loguist-(who has appeared in New Zealand),' re-appeared after a;long abscncb, and gave the .audience what slangy' young 'Americans call "a lino of talk," which caused no end of laughter, his discourse, being-chidly, on the subject of. "trial marriages. The Ititchiollearn Pantomime Company, from London, in , thoir novel act, "The London Fire Brigade," made an uniloniablo l)it. Thoir reebption was most cordial. • Grace Hazard, a dainty artist, in her "quick-chango", act, "Fivo Feet of Comic! Opera," the changes being mado before the audience, did an excellent turn, and scored a pronounced success; .and tho same remark., applies; to M. Desrochcs, Mile. Bianca, and their canine mimics, from : Paris.. Tho . dogs i)re dressed -exactly, like tho lady and gontlohian, and follow them about tho stage imitating their I actions. When tlio gentleman makes an avowal in pantomime to the lady the in trousers mimics his gestures, 'while the; other dog, in skirts, acts like tho lady. It is a remarkably clover exhibition of canino intelligence, or whatovor one may' choose to term it. Othors in tho bill wore George. Evans, the popular singing comodiari, who warbled with his' usual success; and, tho Congress of Spanish' Dancers, twelve in number, who wore scon' in.'an elaborate vocal 'and instrumental aot called "A Fete Night.in Soville,".Which was well . received, their sinuous dancing causing something of a sensation. During tlio intermissions the audienco fiockcd to tho art'room, which Ms hung with the famous collection of pictures gathered by the lato Augustin Daly, and exhibited for many years in tile foyer of iiis thciitro. "Telharmonic," or elcctricql music was provided, and a perfumed fountain attracted much attention. • ( An Eccentric Manager. "John Alexander, of the Theatre 1 Royal, Glasgow," says James R. Anderson, in "An Actor's Life," was a wonderfully cccentric person. Bom of very humble origin, and J.!

bred a tallow-candle maker, ho rail away from his trado, cut tho rush-lights to snuff .itlie; footlights in a company of strollin'g players in 'tho lang toon of; Kirkcaldy,'. and, ■ aftor many years' soverc probation, became a good and useful actor, if not a great one. At last ho tried management, and was very- successful. Having made a fortune, lie built a magnificent theatre in Glasgow, his native city, and crowded his edifice with three, marblo statues larger than lifo. by a Scottish sculptor: Shakespeare on tno right, Garrick on; the left,, and John Alexander in the .middle! "His eccentricities gavo nue'.. to. numerous, and. humorous ~.'.pjid fun. He would always, insist," on bringing" on ' tho/Ghoit of Hamlot's', father (no matter who was the 'star') on a ,Slide or groove in the stage to/slow and solemn'music from-tho orchestra. Ophelia's funeral was always accompanied by a military band, playing the Dead March in 'Saul.' . / /. "When , Helen .Fauoit..played Juliet ..with him, he had no young man to take ltomea, so he undertook it himself. Whon the play was ended, the lady was 'called,' and receivod with a shower'of, bouquets!' The gods in_the gallory'called for 'Alee,-! and ho/was-recoived with' a shower" of cabbages, carrots, roots 1 Instead of being angry, ho pitied them all up in .his arms,,and, stopping down to tho footlights; said smilingly, 'Ladies arid gentlemen, I am truly' proud of your ap-. plauso, and for, these sweet tokens of- your approbation, aw'll tak 'them to the cuddy.' Shrieks of ,laughter and . several rounds-of cheers,hiado. him quito liappy. .-. "Another anecdote is t(ild of liim... When on" his' death-bed, lie desired to ;know r the worst. The minister arid tho doctor delicately hinted that nil was over with him. |What!' said he, .when he heard the unwelcome 1 tidings, 'am I to die now that I have achioyed fame . and /orturio,, after a. life of industry and . labour,' after - haying.', built! a glorious temple, to the;drarna, and.erected my. own beautiful , statue, as. y.-cll -as Shakespeare's: and Garrick's?. Must. Ijreally,'.die now ?'• The' minister .'and /doctor replied Lvcrj. mournfully,, 'A-las I it is- but too true.' Oii hearing this, poor Alexander quietly . arid philosophically murmured; 'Then all l ean say is, it's a d— —d shameV /,! -,v' What the Theatro Costs; London. Tho "Era • .Almanac" ' supplies ' a. list of theatres and music-halls, and-this has been carefully'! examined•' and aii estimate/ been formed of tho receipts of the yaribus'.classqs of tlieso houses of public entertainment; tak-. ing account'only' of the amounts: paid for admission. London, for various reasons', hiis to :be considered separately. There are in London four theatres, with average receipts of £1(10,001) a year, each, four.' with '£70,000 a year each,'.two. witk.£6o,oQo','ir'witli' £50,000, sevon with £(0,000, four ii'ith, £30,000, 14 with £20,000, I'2'with:£ls,oooj}threb with £10,000, and seven with £5000. Thus the. aggregate , receipts of London's 68 .theatres average £2,275,000 a year. ' Turning to the London music-halls,' we .'find'' thore 'aro four with average receipts; of £70,000' a year each, six with £50,000 .a year each, 'ono with'£4o."-' 000, three with' £30,000,. •five with £20.000, 11 with £15,000, and' 20. with'i£lo,o(W.; .Tliat is, tho fifty London music-halls take on the averajjo £1,175,000: a year.' V l /.-./ • >:•

"Taking next-, the/ urban ' population aaU side, of ; the' London tirca, : there-jare;six'.pro'-' vincial'theatres'with .average yearly- receipts of £30,000 each,- eight with £25,000 each','l4 with £20,000, 22 with £15,000, 92 with £10,000, and 309 with £5000.'■-Thati-is, the 450 provincial theatres ', take -an avcrago ■of £2,535,000 a, year-among them. •-, Similarly, tho estimated receipts' of/ prbyir.cial, .musichalls shpyi-. ■ cight-m'usicthalls./withfl.'avorago, ybiirly receipts of £30,000 each, 13 with £20,,000 each, 17 with £15,000; .'44 with £10',000,' 29 with £7500, 46 with^£sooo,'arid 18 with £2500^. Thus tho. avorage/ yearly. takings -of the 175 provincial • music-halls ■ amount to £1,037,500. /. ■/ ~V '//' ■/ /,/

:Vd may' tabulate Jihesb figuro's;'in' another way, 'so as/ to sHbt? I .' th'es'..totiil/amount] for theatres and:' music-halls 03 London tlvoatrck''; .'.'.'.:!'.'.'..'.U../* £2,275,00Q 450' provincial theatres ...J..2;'s3sjpDtf'

Total takings'of tho. theatres'.,.,.,£4,Blo,ooo, 50 London niUsic-halls ■*i'^S<£l>l76,fijo0 l 175 provincial music-Ha1t5".. 1,687,500.'

: Total takings of tlie music-halls £2,862,500, ■ .-'..Totiil takings ''of-' : tlicatrcs ',v ; and . Twonty-five years ago the amount paid for admission /to British' theatres'.' ."'and musichalls . was £2,029,500; .to-day, ' estimated ' oil tho. siimo basis, it* is:. £7',672.500.'•• (■ Tlio'• csporiditure,has .more 'than doubled; it lias nearly trebled.-,,' . -.t' Notes. The. Quoeii .of Spain' has written-aolio-act' pl«y> wjiich,' it is, stiEitcd, is to' bo perfp'rmud. . at' SandrijiEjiam' in .chcj- aiitumn.x.Th's: castewill- bo made up of a mateurH, -including Miss Mirinio Cobhrano, to/PriricisS H'oriry of ,'Battenbe'rg; Miss ' Cochrane whs always stage-manager of the amateur: theatric cals which'rised to bo-performed by tiro yoiing Queen arid her brothers, v . .-.'.i.'i-':' "Tho Grey Kimona"- is. tlio titlo of;a new Japanese opera, the book of which: is ■by D.. Jl. Souter, . the,;' Sydney-, artist, ■■ arid -tlio. f music-by Ayjtimd- Jones:'.(formerly:- a resident ofWellington,and- liist hero., as! musical;,conductor with "The Fatal 'Wedding-'.'" Company); 'The .'-'Kimona" is in orio act, and.'plays- well over an hour,..and-'the characters are to bo sustained tby children.' Messrs. McyncH arid Giinn aro at.tho helm,-arid by,way;of getting: things into.,; apple-pie-order,' tho- ■ piece was: . played last, .week ,in lAlbury,, arid lasti-Sntur-day ovemng was produced iii, Adclaidej as fijrst .l liig; city porformarica.,. \ Thence to*:,BrOl-;e.ii Hill, tlijß otjier States to'fbllowv Miss '■ Milium Everett is iri ! charge of the dancing: and-1 11 in ■ ">or. of the "I'utal Wedding" children are in the cast. '- ' "i • Miss Ada Joimo Humphrey, hero recently with' "The Squaw.', Man'; Company, - has. arnved. in London, and" is, looking ouf for a \Vost .End engagement. - , In,- an .interview that appeared in the v"Era" of September. 7; she fchriracterises her .twelve months' ! niont-with Mr. J. C. Williamson's ImanaEemont as the happiest engagehient of For lifo. J he management-, tho "public,"arid her brother and sistor artists were, most charming. MANSFIELD'S POWER. I hoard of tlio death of Richard Mansfield, tho American tragedian and character actor (at least, ho practically . became ,an Americans two or, three hours after I had: been ■ talking with,a' frieitd 'and fellow fibt-nighter over tho shock-, ho /gave us when,, many, yoars: ago, lie made his .first , a ppearanc6 nttho '• Lyceum as the monster Hyde iii tho Robert Louis , Stovorison's: play of " Dr. Jolcyll arid Mr. Hyde." • " I li.ivo only been really .'scared and haunted' by : two, 'things presented in tho theatrical .'.way,"<.'said' my friend. "The first thing scared ..arid, hauutecl mo when I was a child. It' wis, the'old pri,soriei;'in tlio Bnst-illo dtingobn; with the mico running : over ) his-', broad, ,at. Madamo. .Tnssaud's.: Tho second thing scared and haunted me when I was a man. It was Richard Mansfield's alarming,, performance' '"of ' Dr. Jekyll's other self, the bcastinau Ilydo.". And then wo recalled ;,how,_ on: the' first, night of tho . a'ctor-'s presentation -of th'o play ■at tlio 1 Lycoutn; fa panic' was pretty' nearly! caused 'in tho thoatri)-by the . noisy of a lady who was almost'frightened out of her life, and coriiplately frightened out. of her stall, by the glmstliness of an episodo which practically ruined the play's chances of success in England—tho strangling of tho heroine's father by the hideous Hyde. "In that silent midnight- hourj When' all ovil - things havo pow'r," Hyde being an'unusually evil thine; oven for a melodramatic murderer, and having,, as all readers of Stevenson's startling novel may recollect, a very terrible amount of power when the fancy took him for putt-in;; innocent people to a violent death.

THE KING AND Mil. HENRY, J.' WOOD, other day, while at to ilr. Henry other day, while 'at ' Manei'ibiul, ''to' Mr, J. Wood, whoso feasts of music 'at tlm Queen's Hall arc this season more popular .tlian ever. His Majesty was attending the usual Wagner concert at the Bellovue. In addition to his..usual escort, Lady Goschen, Princesso Murat, and Sirs. Hall Walker' took tea with him. He was in high spirits', and bofore. leaving ho spoke to Herr Schreyer, the conductor, saying that ho had , much enjoyed the concert. To his Majesty's inquiry as to what Herr Scliroyer (lid-in tlio winter, tlio conductor replied: " Majestalt, I try to keep up with tlio times, by going to Berlin, Vienna, and Pjiris to hear,tlio new productions." " Ah! " said King Edward. ''But why not London? You cdn hear nothing finer than Iticlitor!s_ concerts and Wood's symphony concerts in the Queen's Hall."