THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 294, 5 September 1908, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

"The world's a theatre, the earth a stage.**—■ Heywood, Br Stltidb. , Rough on Roberts. The "Australasian" does not approvo of tho old-timo custom of the actor thanking tho audience for tho rccoption accorded him. Concluding its notico of "Tho Princo Chap" tho critic said: —"On Saturday night Mr. Roberts adopted tho very unusual courso of coming forward at tho end of tho first act to mako a spcech of thanks for his reception. Such a> practice is to be deprecated, since speeches in, an actor's 'proper person are best loft to tho fall of tho last curtain. The applauso at tho first curtain was obviously meant quite as much for the littlo maidon who had 'sustained so prettily the part of Claudia as for tho experienced actor who played Peyton." The Last New York Season. Tho recent theatrical season in New York forms tho subject of a lively articlo by Matthew Whito, junr., in "Munsey's" for July. "Ireno Wycherley," it seoms, failed across the Atlantic to enjoy its London prosperity. All that Now York saw of Shakespeare was a few Saturday night perforinances_ of "Hamlet" by Mr. Sothorn, and a fortnight of a comparatively unknown actor named Henry Ludlowo in "The Morchant of Venice" and "Richard III." Mr. Henry Arthur Jones's play, "Tho Evangelist," f6ll flat. "John Glayde's Honour" (lately produced in Melbourno by tho Kingston; Brough company) only ran for a fortnight. "Its big hit in London, where it ran for months at Georgo Alexander's theatre, did not," says Mr. White, "make Now York accept tho disagreeable family relations embodied in the plot." As the heroine in "My Wife," Miss Billie Burko at onco gained tho_ favour of American playgoers; Tho only hit of the season for British-mado drama was with Mr. Charles R. Kennedy's play, "The Servant in the House." Packed houses have all along been the rulo for "Tho Merry Widow," which is still being played at tho New Amsterdam Theatre, and will run on until Christmas, but "Toddles" has been a complete failure. In varioty the ovent of tho' year has been Snaip's turn at tho Hippodrome—"a truly wonderful trick with a piano, played by tho performer while apparently seated on nothing, himself and tho instrument meanwhile whirling around at lightning speed." Speaking generally, Mr. White declares that "New York audiences are not partial to spoken verso at tho playhouse," that thoy welcomed a chango from "tho overwrought emotion, and banal chit-chat of certain modern examples of play-writing." and that "straying from the beaten path, not hugging it oloso, that brought fame and royalties to tho playwrights who won" during the season. i An Italian on tho English Stags. "I was dolighted," said Signor AntonaTraversi, the Italian playwright (when interviewed by tho "Tribuna"), "with tho way in which plays are givon in England. English actors, who, taken separately, have most excellent qualities, as a whole succced in giving almost porfect interpretations, thanks to tho fulness of harmony between tho different parts, and the elaborate details of tho execution, which aro carried out down to the very smallest particulars. Every work, before being presented to the public, is rehearsed an infinito number of times, and thus tho aotors aro ablo to bo perfect in their respective parts, and to understand all finer shades." Signor Antona-Traversi pointed out that tho kind of piece that pleases in England is entirely different from that in vogue in Italy. "The English public goes to tho ,theatre to be amused, and does not love to lose itself in complex'psychological problems and northern obscurities. Tho English public loves comedies that aro good, simple, and honest, with a littlo sentimental intriguo and a happy ending. The Italian author that approaches most nearly to th> English tasto is Goldoni, though jjurhaps English people appreciate comical situations rathtr than elaborate jokes 011 the part of the actors." Signor Antona-Travorsi is a member of a literary family. His brother, who was Professor of Literature in tho Military College of Rome, has written many comedies. and even his sister, Donna Bice Tittoni, tlic wife of the present Minister for Foreign Affairs, has .vritten a play in answer to her brothor's "Carita Mondana," in order to try to provo that socioty philanthropists are not quite so black 'as ha painted them. Seating Accommodation of Theatres. The Wellington Opera Houso seats about 1200 people. How it compares with London theatres in that regard can be learned from tho following listAdelphi Theatre, 1297; Aldwych, 1178; Alhambra, 1980; Apollo, 1083; Camden, 1665 Comedy, 980; Coronet, 1143: Royal Court, 642; Theatre Royal (Covent Garden), 1952: Criterion, 575; Daly's,. 1255; Theatre Royal (Drury Lane), 2516■, Dukoof York's, 1119; Empire, 1239; Grand (Pulham), 982; Gaiety, 1264; Garriek, 1013; Haymarkot, 1159; Hicks's, 1100; Hipprodromo, 1394; His Majesty's, 1739; Kingsway, 581; Kcnnington, 1339; London Pavilion, 1041; Lyceum, 2800; Lyric, 1296; Now, 1272: Oxford Music Hall, 1047; Palace, 1157; The Playhouse, 940; Prince of Wales', 1052; Queen's, 1120; Royalty, 657; St. ■ James's, 1208; Savoy, 1086; Scala, 1652; Shaftesbury Avenue, 1227; Terry's, 668; Tivoli, 883; Vaudeville, 702: Waldorf, 1667; Wyndham's, 1014.,

Cilbsrt and Sullivan. The operas of Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan are good for all times. Never did two men come togother in tho history of tho lyrical, stage who were so perfectly adapted to ono another's art, and oxerting the eye and ear of memory to recall the long list oil their triumphs ono can only fervently thank the gods, or whoever'is to bo thanked, that those two great artists did como together to enrich tho world with their whimsical fantasy, musical and lyrical. 'Strange to say, neither of them flourished after the regrettable contretemps which parted them for so ' long. Thero seemed to be something wanting in tho product of their works with other collaborators —they were twins who had lost ono another, and wore unhappy in that separation. Long bofore his death,, the superb musical talent of Sullivan was rewarded with knighthood, an honour that would havo been awarded to his partner much sooner than it was but for reasons that can hardly bo referred to here, but tho honour did come eventually, and never as a reward for high art was it more meritod. There will always bo revivals of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, and of what operas or musical plays produced during tho last fivo years can that bo said with any prospect of fulfilment? Tho product that has ousted Gilbert and Sullivan temporarily is the frothy, irresponsible inanities that are built of pretty girls, elaborato scenery, cheap, catchy music, slangy dialogue, and aveneor of smartness that is vastly entertaining for the moment. Such performances, with rare oxceptions, leavo no impress on the memory, lest it bo some vagrant air that will insist on being "suicided" by humming and whistling. Tho exceptions are thoso cases in which a performer of particular talent throws his or her art into a part, and lifts it out of tho commonplace and iuto the memory box. Such performers as Jliss Ada Reevo and Mr. G. P. Huntley could be included In the category. Tho one composer who has o'ertopped the numerous amalgamations in collaborativo work during recent years is the Frenchman Massager, who wrote that dainty opera comiquc "Veronique," and followed it up with "Los Mervcilleuscs," which wo in Wellington saw produced under tho title of "The Littlo Michus." Tho Savoy Theatre, London, lias always been the birthplace and lcgitiniato hoino of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, and it is pleasing to know that tho revival of tho repertoire at the house of their conception is proving an artistic aiid financial success beyond all anticipation. The latest opera to be revived is "H.M.S. Pinafore" (what a bill for Fleet Week). Papers to hand contain illustrations of tho scenes, showing that the very best traditions of the repertoire are being observed. The following is tho casto of characters:—Sir Joseph Porter, Mr. C, H. Workman j' Cant, Corcoran, Mr, Rutlaud Barriogtoaj Ralph

Rackstraw, Mr. Henry Herbert; Dick Deadoye, Mr. R. A. Lytton; Bob.Becket, Mr. Fred Hewitt; Josephine, Miss Elsio Spam; Hebe, Miss Jessie Rose; Buttercup, Miss Louio Rono. • While on tho subjoct of Gilbert; and Sullivan, it is interesting to note that Sir W. S.Gilbert was once guilty of having written a parody on "Hamlet," entitled "Rosencrantz and Guildernstern," and was further guilty of appearing as tho in tho farco at a matinee porformanco given in London quite recently. If- he could only find another Sullivan 1 Notes. The next Williamsonian show that is to float Dpminionwards is " Mrs. Wiggs of the Gabhago Patch," a "Inimanisation of that very quaint little story of American country life of the same name. All those who liavo read the story will be glad to welcome Mrs. Wiggs and her Billy, Miss Hazy, Mrs. Eichorn, Mrs. Scliultss, Hiram Stubbins, Lovey Mary, and tho other oddly entertaining folk who depend on tho cheery Mrs. AViggs for whatever brightness there may bo _ coming to thorn. Tho company commences its tour of New Zealand at Auckland on September 26, and will play in Wellington from November 6 to 12. According to Mr. Stewart, " Peter Pan " will commcnce his fantastical career at Auckland on November 30, so it is probablo that this company—headed by Miss Tittel Brune—will fill the Christmas dates in Wellington. Mr. Denman Thompson, tho famous American actor; who has boon playing tho part of old Josh Whitcomb in " The Old Homestead " for thirty-fivo years, celebrated his sevonty-fourfcli birthday in June. To. an interviewer, ho said that ho expected to go on playing the part for another twenty years—no snvv" no reason why ho should not bo playing at 95. " Anothor reason I am playing," said he, "is to savo my_ children a lot of letter-writing. People mite them thousands of letters asking them how long I've boen dead. I've got to play to let em know I'm alive. You've no idea what a lot of trouble it saves." The cinematographic reproduction of tho proverbially popular sporting event of the day, tho Burns-Squires fight, has scored significantly for tho promotion of the enterprise of Messrs. Edwin Geach, MacMahon, and Carroll. A largo sum was paid for the osclusivo world's rights, and the promoters naturally took "a leap in tho dark, ' for had tho fight lasted only a round or two, or had bad weather conditions prevailed, tho money would havo (as tho Americans say) been "burnt." As it turns out, however, tho reproduction is a success beyond the expectation, and a world's tour is being rapidly fixed.. Tho New Zealand season will commonco in Wellington at tho Theatre Royal on Thursday next.

Following thoir immediate production at tho Opera House, tho Moynell and Gunn management will on Tuesday night .next, for a soason of four performances, present Arthur Shirley's latest drama, "The Stepmother." This play was purchased by Mr. Charles Holloway, in view of tho spccial character of Danny, for his daughter, Miss Beatrice Holloway. Owing to illness he was compelled to relinquish tho tour ho was conducting, and when later his daughter joined tho present management he transferred his interest in the play to Messrs. Meynoll and Gunn. The story is of tho vigorous, strenuous type, and has earned excellent notices in all the chief centres of Australia. A feature of the production will be the reappearance of Mr. Ernest Leicester, tho popular English actor.

One West End theatre after another is closing its doors, and it looks as though few of them, save Tlio Playhouse, tie Vaudeville, the Lyceum, the Gaiety, Daly's, and the Apollo will keep open right through tho holidays. The Hayinarket, however, will soon be in full swing again with the perpetually 'transferred "Lady Frederick," while the Adelphi will be occupied in August for at least a fortnight'with n revival of "The Girls of Gottenburg." If tho summer season has _ ended unusually early, the autumn one will make a correspondingly early start. For . the moment, indeed, no less than .thrco managements, thoso of the St. James's,- the Garrick,; and Wyndham's, secrii actually to have fixed upon September 1 for their productions.. I liopo,: however, that before that da to Mr Forbes Robertson, Miss Evelyn Millard, and Mr. Frank Curzon will have arranged something less of an embarras de richesses for firstnighters on thoir return to town. —Vedotto in " Dramatic News " of July 25.