THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

By Sylvius. "The world's a theatre, the earth a' stage."—Heywood. the Williamson Dramatic Company. The name of Mr. J. C. Williamson stands 'or a good deal in the Australasian field of :heatrical endeavour, both to tho actor and .lie playgoer. AVith tho lattor ho lias made lis name a synonym for the best obtainable n the way of plays, and has in every branch >f tho business maintained a high standard if merit. Now and agaiu there is a " soft jlaco " that is held up to criticism, but it mist be remembered that that is not tho ; ault of Mr. Williamson, whoso aim is to ;ive of the best and by the best obtainable >n this side of the world. Visitors from the lpper half of the globe continuously marvel it tho elaborate character of the William>onian productions, and express surprise as xi how it is done with such a restricted play»oing public 'as is afforded in these sparselycopulated countries. But tho colonial loves lis theatre, and is loyal to the footlights so long as tho faro provided is agreeable, md Mr. Williamson has tho name for more,' -ather than as much as, is expected. At present Wellington is witnessing The Scarot Pimpernel" in battalions, and they are seeing every bit as good a production as they .vould see ,in cities outside London in England, or outsido New York in the States, ind probably a great dfeal better mounted ind costumod. For this much thanks! " Tho Pimpernel" is likely t-o run well into next week before a wise management changes tho order. Then we are to have a revival if that romantic comedy-drama "The Prisoner of Zonda" (from the novel of Anthony Hope), with Mr. Knight as" Rudolf, Miss Ola Humphrey as the Princess Flavia, Mr. Plimmer as Black Michael, .and Mr. Clinton (whoso performance as Brogard, the French innkeopor, in the last act of "The Pimpcrnol" was so outstandingly strong) as Col. 3apt, tho Man of Blood arid Iron. English Theatre In Berlin. Mme. Meta Illing, one of Germany's foremost actresses, has resolved to found an English thoatro in Berlin. Tho preliminary arrangements for initiating this, cntcrpriso are already in progress. This scheme, it is said, lias been received with favour in literary, dramatic, artistic, and social circles. Not only havo > promises ■ of moral support boon volunteered by Anglophile enthusiasts, hut "'a number of capitalists with experiencb in financing theatrical undertakings have formed an optimistic view, of tho business prospects of tho projected theatre, so that no difficulty has been experienced in obtaining the necpssary funds for a favourable start.' Several groups of financiers have intimated their readiness to take part in tlje enterprise,, and.it is intended that tho riew theatre shall be opened. in October." Possibly tho financiers will be less optimistic when they are requested, by and by, to put their hands in tlieir pockets. to make good tho inevitable deficiencies.—N. Y. "Post." t !' Tho Good Old Times. Mr. Otis Skinner, an American actor, says: —"Theatre audiences of the present daj wouldn't stand the ranting of most of the actors of tho alleged ' good old tinios' fot a minute. Lawrence Barrett, for instance: was so enamoured of the beauty of his own voice that lie would stand entranced and listen to it. Who has not cringed and squirmed when 'The Seven A;;es of Man; was being 'acted' by one of the ' olt school,' or when Mercutio's speech was being illustrated, obviously by exaggerated inflections of voico arid manner? Let us b< grateful that we fortunately outlived thai ago." • Mr. Nat C. Goodwin took up the cudgels n defenco of the past ages, and belabourcc Mr. Skinner lustily,/and passed a few re marks about present-day] sta'go- ii general. Said Mr. Goodwin: —"I'm a fairh good comedian, but I'm no more tojio com pared with . John E. . Owens, for' instance than Marshall P; Wilder is to be. comparet with me.' Where we once had actors w< riow havo personalities. The theatro n< longer deals in art; it's a business house run on strictly business principles. It i controlled by speculators. If an author ii Franco or England happens to writo a gooc •play, ono of those speculators is sure to go' a five years' option on his brain. • It is no a matter of selection; it's a business schomi to corncr the market. The actoi; has 110 op portunity to choose' his play. Ho is ob iiged to take what tho speculator gives him.' Sliaw's Stage Directions. . Some of Mr. George Bernard Shaw's act ing directions, says a correspondent of tin "Pall Mall Gazette," must severely tax tin physical resources of his actors. Indeed, i is difficult to conceive of some of them be ing literally fulfilled at all. For example in "The Man of Destiny," on the entry o the "Strange Lady," the directions run "Napoleon, on whom her eyes first fall, i instantly smitten self-conscious. His colou deepens." ' This sudden .accretion of red cor puscles must be difficult for even a Napoleon albeit a Napoleon' of tho stago, to achievi prompt to time at every performance.' Bu the feat is nothing to what is expected o the lady. Not to embarrass Napoleon, shi turns "to pay the respect of a glaiicc, the other gentleman'! (tho .lioutenant), an'< "as she ' looks at him she becomes ' deadl; pale. . . . The next moment a wave of colou rushes up from beneath the creamy fichi and drowns hor whole face. One can sei that she is blushing all . over her body.' How these violent alternations of suddci pallor and vivid blushing are to be accomp lislicd efficiently through _ the made-up com ploxion indispensable behind' footlights it i hard to conjecture. • In "You Never Can Tell" an qqually diffi cult direction falls to the part of Crampton who at one crucial moment of the play i stricken with "so keen a pang that In trembles all over; his brow Decomes wet.' Tho trembling can be managed, hut hov many actors are thero who can at will sum mon tho beads of perspiration to their hroi in - 'sight-of tho audience_ at a given cue Nothing quite so drastic is of an; character in "Candida," though Morell ha a sufficiently stiff task to perform if ho is t< discharge adequately his duty in tho patheti donouemerit of tho play, for he breaks dowi and "his oyes and throat fill with tears." Dignity and Distinction. Sir John Hare, in his "Reminiscences ani Reflections" in tho."Strand Magazine," tell an anecdote of Charles Kean which he hear from, Mr. R. Cathcart, who sorved his liovi tiato with Kean. Once, hearing that som distinguished person had boen a member o his audience, and not having been inform© of tho fact, ho sent for his acting-manage in front of the house and roproved him to the ovorsiglit. His representative cxcusei himsolf, and ended by saying that it wa difficult to know what Mr. lioan meant h; "distinguished." "Sir," said Kean, in lordly and magnificent manner, speakini slowly, with deep ■ dignity, and through hi noso, "the Archbishop or Canterbury is distinguished person; Mr. Gladstono is ; distinguished person; I am a distinguishei person!" " The Two Pins." On April 2 Mr. Oscar Asnhe presented ; new play, "The Two Puis," to a largo audi onco at the Theatro Royal, Newcastle. Tlii " comedy of tho Middlo Ages," by Mr. Fran Stayton, caught tho attention of tho crowde* house at tho rise of tlieicurtam, and excito a growing intcrost that lasted to tho clos of tho performance. It 'is admirably play© and beautifully staged. Tho action-opens in the valley of th Rhine, where Rudolph of Valnia, being in suited by Philip of Knoden, retorts that fo two pins ho would force himself into Philip' presence, and pull his noso beforo all hi. friends. Tho challenge is accepted, and th two pins sent by Philip, who awaits tho fill fulmcnt of the threat. Rudolph acts iip t< his promiso; and Philip, in passing decree declares that tho only oscapo from mdignit; equivalent to tar and feathering is'that Elsa Rudolph's sister, shall, alono and unat tended, intercedo for her hot-headed brother In the second act we find that Philip' messenger is so confused with fridit that h only imparts half tho news; that is th'

;hroateticd punishment without the alternative. Elsa, fearful of her brother's fate, sets >ut for Knodeu in the guise of a wandering knight. Philip, suspecting her sex, easily discovers the fraud, and proposes to allow Itudolph his liberty on condition that Elsa becomes his wife. ! Rudolph strongly objects jO the sacrifice; and Philip, his better feelings overcoming his revengeful ones, sets them both at liberty, not, however, before declaring his love for Elsa, and saying that ho will come to her when she sends for him. rhis, however, she determinedly declines to do. The last act- sees Philip caught at Valma in the act of seizing from Rudolph his tribute, which was, indeed, the cause of all the strife. He escapes from Rudolph's clutches; and, in tho end, has the happiness of gaining Elsa's hand, her heart beinp already won. At tile close tho members ol tho company were called and cheered, and Mr. Oscar Asche, in a fow woll-chosen words, expressed his thanks, and apologised for any shortcomings in the representation. Mr, Asche represented Philip with great energy and distinction, and realised the bold anc masterful character admirably. Miss Lily Brayton as Elsa acted with.spirit and grace; and tho Rudolph of Mr. Vernon Steel had many good points.—" Era." The Character of Shylcck. " There' is nothing occult about tho psychology of the typical Hebrew," says Mr. Beerbohm Tree in. tho " Daily News." " Bui if you want an amplification of Shylock's character I cannot, 1 think, do better thar refer you to tho fine description given bj Heine, himself a Jew. 1 Shakespeare,' wrote the German poet, 1 intended for the amusement of the general public to, represent r tormented wehr-wolf, a hateful, falmlou: creature that thirsts for blood; and, ol course,' losos his_ daughter and his ducati and is ridiculod into the bargain. But the genius of tho poet, the genius of humanitj that reigned in .him, stood over above his private will, and so it happened' that, ir Shylock, in spite of all his uncouth grimac ings,- the poet vindicates an unfortunate sect, which,for mysterious purposes has.beei burdened by Providenoo with the hate o; the rabble both high; and low, and has re ciprocated this hate—not always by love."' Nctes. "The Merchant of Venico" will furniili the' next grand spectacular Shakespearean revival at His Majesty's Theatre, In London. Mr. Tree is busy on the preparatior of scenery, which is expected to equal, il not excel, any of the gorgeous panoramas with which lie has heretofore delighted tlic public. He says that, in his view, Shylock svas neither' fiend nor martyr, from which it may l>o inferred; perhaps, that he means to avoid the extreme of tragedy or pathos, But the part is oho in which ho ought to dc well, oxcept at ono or two crises which demand' more emotional eloquence than ho can control. His Portia will bo Miss Alexandra Carlisle, who has never' before, essayed a Shakespearean part of any kind. This seems to bo a very hold experiment. Alfred Brydono Will be Prince of Morocco, Auriol Leo, Jessica; -Basil Gill, Bassanio, and Dorothy Minto, Nerissa. Next Juno Coouelin is tc a.ppear'at His Majesty's, in " L Affaire des Poisons." The Kondals have produced " The Other Side," tho now comedy written for .them by Clothilde Graves. \\ barrister, who is much concerned in the discovery of the female rospbndent in a divorce suit (in which'lie is junior counsel'for the "other side"), meets whilo resting at a tranquil little villago, the very lady his solicitor is searching for.' Ht does not know her, and soon falls in love AVhon tho revelation comes he is astounded and having heard her story, Mievcs in hei ip.rioconcc.' Miss Graves makes- the rest o! tho romance etlsy by killing o(f the husbanc in tho last act'.