THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 13

THE THEATRE.

"All the world's a stage."—Shakespeare (By " Si'Lvius.") Mid Pleasures and Palaces. On Tuesday evening next Frank Lindo's melodrama "Home, Sweet Home" is to bo presented at tho Opera House under Allan Hamilton's management. Tho company is a good stock one, capable of doing all justice to tho play. It includes such well known plavers as Messrs. Robert Inman, George Bryant (last hero with "The Squaw Man"), S. A. Fitzgerald, Gus. Noville (of local origin), Harold Carr (ditto), Horbort Sham, E. M. Bcresford, Stuart Clyde, Misses Hilda Eraser, Beatrice Usher, Dina Cooper, and clover littlo Babv Watson. Tho conipany will also he seen in an interesting revival of "A Mcssago from Mars" and "I/ittlo. Lord Fauntlcroy" (with sunny-haired Baby Watson as tho diminutive peer). Mr. Herbert Leigh, whom playgoers will remember for sterling work dono with the Julius Knight Company, will exhibit tho managerial shirtfront on the officialsido of tho house. Lack of Cood Leading Ladies. Mr. J. C. Williamson is having some difficulty in securing a presentable leading lady for tho Julius. Knight Company. The big salaried actress brought out by Mr. Knight himself, Miss Marion Grey, did not provo up to expectations, and an arrangement was come to with that lady whereby sho returned to England in tho middle of her engagement. Hor place was filled by Miss Boyd Irwin, whoso advent was announced with tho usual flourish of trumpets. There was no vocal accompaniment to her' going. Now, in sheer desperation, Miss Ola Jano Humphreys (who was.leading lady with tho "Squaw Man" Company) has been rc-cngagad in London by Mr. J. C. Williamson, and is now on her way out to Sydney, to play Lady Blakeley in "Tho Scarlet Pimpernel." Miss Humphreys is a nico, fresh, littlo actress, but her decided Americanisms will bo rather against her in representing a typo of British aristocracy of the days of the French Revolution.

"Waiting at tho Ghurch." A small portion, consisting of sonio halfdozen of Pollard's Juvenilos, delayed thoir' departure from Palmcrston tho other day (says the Manawatu "Times"), to a later train to that which convoyed the other members. The reason for doing so was another little performance which had not .appeared on the bills. A young (very young, 17 summers) member of tho company having expressed her willingness to chnngo her iiamo to that of one of tho.orchestral rjlnyera of tho samo touring organisation, such was duly offected. It is stated that tho wedding party, arriving before tho officiating clergyman, whiled away the interval by singiug, "'Waiting at the Church." Th 9 Sea-going' Theatre. Theatrical performances by companies on ocean liners comprise tho latest proposal to render Atlantic travel as complete and satisfactory as a fivo days' stay in an up-to-dato city. The idea emanates from Mr. Charles Frohman, whoso viows on tho subject iro published in the Paris edition of tho "New ¥ork , Herald." Tho cost' of frequently transporting companios frpm one side- of tho Atlantic to the other first brought tho subject under Mr. Frohman's notice.

"I think tho oxponso part of tho difficulty has been solved," he said. "Tho arrival of the Lusitania last week with 2000 passengers aboard gave mo an idea. Why cannot I'send an American company to London every fortnight, playing them right across, tho Atlantic, with a loss of perhaps only a few performances on the way? lam now negotiating with tho Cunard Company to add to tho other departmental equipment of tho Lusitania and Mauretania stago facilities for giving complete dramatio performances. I will have plays and players'Yea'dyr Months lik'o January, February, and March are not availablo for the project, but thero aro many other periods when tho schemo would.be wholly 'practical, to the benefit of tho management of tho stoamship company, and bo a wclcomo innovation for the passongors. It is not improbable that I might' utilise tho opportunity to try tho first performance of now plays in which a company was to appear in London or Now York —a first night in mid-ocean."

Seymour Hicks and "Boners." Mr. Seymour Hicks, writing to < tho "Referee," tolls of a simple method of dealing effectively with littlo bands of playgoers who, it is said, aro in tho habit of interrupting first performances from tho gallery. "On first nights," writes Mr. Hicks, "I put ton or twelve burly meii in the gallery with orders to watch half a dozen young enthusiasts who invariably come to misbchavo themselves, and if i they do anything calculated to annoy the public or interrupt the performance, to immediately take them out neck and crop and deposit them gently in tho street, wbero their noises can mingle with the dustcarts and motor-'buses and disturb no one." Mr. Hicks says that if those people do not liko a play they aro at perfect liberty to boo and hoot at the end of it. "I do not propose for one second to allow half a dozen youths—they aro not more, I know thorn by sight—to walk into my placo of business, and, because they havo a fancied grievance, behave like savages during the. progress of the play. I wonder if any large drapery house would allow six enthusiasts to come in and make hay of the goods on tho bargain counter, because, those goods did not delight their artistic eyo!" Opera House Bookings, The following are the forward bookings on,; record for the Opera Housq:—Do'comber 7 to 21, Pollard's Opera Company; December 26 to January IG, 190?, Williamson's Musical Comedy Company; January 17 to February 5, Pollard's Opera Company; Fobruary 6 to February 14, J. C. Williamson; February 15 to February 25, Mr. Mullarkey; March 28 to •April 17, Brough-Flemming Company; April 18 to Mav 9, J. C. Williamson; May 11 to May 20, E. Geach; May 21 to May 22, E. Geach (pencilled); May 23 to June 13, J. C. Williamson; June 20 to July 4, Allan Hamil-ton-July 16 to July 25, E. Geach; July 27 to August 13, Miss Lancaster (pencilled); August 14 to August 31, J. C. Williamson;' September. 2 to September 22, Allan Hamilton; October 3 to October 30, Bland Holt; November 5 to November 24, J. C. Williamson (pencilled); November 25 to December 19, Hayward; December 26 to January 16, 19U9, J. C. Williamson; February 1. to February 13, Bland Holt; February 15 to March 6, J.'C. Williamson; April 10 to April 27, J. C. Williamson; May 19 to May 27, H. ltiokards; July 3 to July 24, Allan Hamilton ; August 16 to AugUßt 28, Geo. Muagrovo (pencilled); September 14 to Octobor 1, J. C. Williamson; Octobor 2 to Octobor IC, AUnn Hamilton; April 28 to May 13, 1910, Geo. Musgrove.

A French Dramatist on Rehearsals. Interviewed by a writer on "Le Figaro" on the occasion of the dress rehearsal of MM. do Caillavet and do Flers's "V Amour Vieillo," just produced at tho Comedie Francaiso, one of the authors on being asked to givo expression to his sensations, said: — ""Wo are simply enchanted at having our play performed at the Comedie Francaiso, and tlius realising the dream of a life-time. I fee) a deal of joy. as well as emotion, and also not a little sadnoss." Asked to account for the sadness, the dramatist mado answer: "Well, an author who gives his play to the public is in somcwhnt the position of a man who is giving his daughter in marriage. To-morrow it will no longor belong to him, and ho can do nothing for it, or with it, and that is why the feelings of a dramatist are tinged with melancholy at the dress rehoarsal of his play." Bob. Courtneldge's Joko. It isi not generally known (says J. C. Williamson's latest bulletin of notes) that tho character of Dr. Byrne in "Tho Dairymaids" is founded on that of a most popular Brisbane medical man actually of tho same name. Tho real Dr. Byrne and Mr. Robert Courtnoidgo, who was not only responsible for tho production in London, but collaborated in the book, aro close friends, and it had for years beon a standing joko between them

that if ever the latter wrote a play the former should-be immortalised; therein.; The genial nnvnK doctor, so : happily' portrayed by Mr. C. R. Bantock, was tho result of that promise, and no one could say that tho author has treated his subject, unkindly. Note 3. It scorns to me that tho actual limit of spoken impropriety... has. been reached ou tho' stage. Very soon'tho plays that merely talk of thoßO things will bo" voted'old-fashioned. Already there-are- signs of "deeds,'- not words."—Mr. Otbo Stuart in tho "Sunday Times." . ..... ..,.,. ........ , --■'■• The most dramatic thing in, life,,, and that which most intorests tho vast majority of human beings, is in the relation between man and woman. It is tho foundation of all good plays and all good' novels!' Biit tho public conscience,' oh'this side" of tho Channel at any rate ( ■ has agreed;'that, it must. bo treated within the'limits of certain conyon-, tions. If thero must Be someoho to decido when these conventions 'have ' been out-, steppod, wo fancy the public will continuo to prefer tho trained' nominee; of tho ; .Lord, Chamberlain toa casually-elected Committeo of the L.C.O.'-"Glob'c.". ■"";"/" The English friends; of M. .Edmond Robta'nd, tho author of. "Cyrano de Bergerac" and several other plays,.will-bo glad to-learn that tho operation, for appendicitis which, was performed recently by Dr.; Posrai and tbreo assistant doctors was completely successful, and that the complete recovery of tho eminent dramatist, is considered (now-to. be only a matter of time.. M. Rostand.had been in very delicate health for some weeks before the doctors in attendance' on him decided that an operation'must'be "performed, and this was carried out at tho residence of Dr. Lafourcade at Bayonne. -.'••"■

the distinguished... invalids in Paris just "now, is M. Francois Coppeo, for whom absolute rest has been prescribed by. his medical-attendants. In!these circumstances M. Coppeo will bq, unable to prepare his discourse for'tho ..French Academy on the occasion of tlio reception' of'the Marquis da Bogur. Though the ceremony .will.'not. take place till January, another Academician will undortako tho. duty,,that was to have der Yolved on M. ,Coppee. Miss Winnie Birch, lato of Wellington, is to play Gormaine 1 in an-amateur production of "Les Cloches. do Corriovillo" to bo 'given; in aid ,of a .deserving .charity in Sydney shortly. Mr. Charles Kenninghara, who is arranging the : production, -will -play Grenicheux. ~, ':•■ :_,'■. . ■■.-,"