THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

"The world's a theatre, the earth a stage, Haywood. Br Stlvicb. "The Explorer." "In his latest play 'The Explorer,' says the London "World," "Mr. W. S. Maugham gives a semblanoo of :oality to his work, not alone by the dexterous adaptation of historical fact, but by more legitimate artistic means. Nevertheless he soon quits the track of truth for the broad and popular highway of romantic sentimentalism. It is true that there seems to be somo real matter for spiritual disturbance in the case of Alec Mackonzio, who stands accused of having sent his betrothed's brother to certain death, and whoso lips are sealed as to tho true facts of the case. Examine the seeming problom and you will see that it resolves itself into a pretty piece of illusion and make-believe. If Mr. Maugham had been deeply concerned with the clash of soul brought about by the explorer's adherence to the vow of silence which he gave to the unworthy lad whose shame he seeks to hide from his sister, we should scarcely hava been ontertained by so cunning an artist to tho side-shows of the first and second acts. Those may bo stages in the development of the story, and are, from the actor's standpoint, extremely effective; but they are completely detached from the rest of the play, to which they stand in the relation of elaborate extra-illustration.". Satan on the Stage. "Do Teufel," which is the original play from which " The Cloven Foot" (recently produced in Now York) is taken, is said to have excited a sensation in Vienna. This may or may not bo true. 11l either case it has nothing to do with the actual merit of the piece. As a rule, Satan, when he gets upon the stage in a modern play, gonerally cuts a rather poor figure. In the present instance, it is said, ho appears in the guise of a man of the world and employs his ingenuity in plotting the ruin of a famous artist and the wifo of a millionaire. According to the press agont, the play is of such a daring nature that it will be tried with three different endings—Hartford being the Bceno of the experiment—in order to discovor which is likely to find most favour with the public. This is ingenuous, at all events, fatal as it apparently is to any pretence of any serious artistic or dramatic motive at the back of the production. It is not difficult to guess at tho nature of a piece, the outcome of which is a matter of indifference. There is some uncertainty, perhaps, in the managerial mind is _ to the measure of success which can be safely accorded—j-from a financial point of view—to the Evil' One. _It is to be hoped that the sense of propriety in Hartford is vigorous.

Mri Victor Bcc'k. There is at present residing in Wellington, in the person of Mr. 6. Victor Becli, a gontleman whose earner in the theatrical business has been as interesting as it has been varied. Mr. Beck, who has obtained a novel telephone book-list concession from the Post and Telegraph Department, was born in New York, and'when quite a youngster accompanied his parents to India, where they resided for two years. Then he went to England, receiving his education at Chiselhurst. At school ho was discovered to be the possessor of a voice which later en obtained special praiso from Sir Joseph Barmby, under whoso tuition ho was placed. As a boy ho became a soprano singer in a picked choir which Bach's Passion Music and Handel's "Messiah" beforo tho lato Queen Victoria, at Windsor ; Castle. iDuring' this tirno he interested himself iu amateur theatricals, which was the cause, of his being offered a small part in the first production in London of Geo. It. Sims's melodrama "Tho Lights of London." A company was subsequently formed to play tho drama in South Africa, and in this manner Mr. Beck's wanderings commenced. Tho outbreak of tho Zulu war shortened the tour of South Africa, and _ho returned to England, shortly after which an opportunity occurred of going to Australia with a company engaged by Mr. Geo. Rignold who had purchased 'the Australian rights, of "Lights of London," "Youth," "Romany Rye," and many other dramas. -A tour was arranged, which lasted over two years, when tho Georgo Rignold Company was leased by Messrs. M'Donald, Walton, and Carey for a Now Zealand tour, with Mr. Frank Catcs in the "lead, The season opened in Dmiedin on Boxing Night, 1833, and proved throughout the tour to bo a most phenomenal one. Mr. Beck by . this time had outgrown tho boy characters he had bo specialised,' and from_ that time on for many years wils engaged in _ the .mechanical staff of tho various companies he was associated with. After the New Zealand tour the company disbanded. Then followed a series of New Zealand tours with numerous managements, including Mrs. G. B. W; Lewis Company, Marie de Gray Company, Geneviovo Ward Company, Messrs. MacMahon and Geo. Leitch .Company (three tours), after which a trip to England followed. Returning to Australia, he joined the J. C. Williamson and G. Musgrovo Company in Sydney,in tho "Cinderella" Pantomime season, 1886, and then transferred to Melbourne Royal with the Opera Company until tho building of the new Princess Theatre began, when (in conjunction with Mr. Scott) the contract was taken to build the stage, gridiron, and fit up everything behind the precenium, which took nine months. Since then Mr. Beck has been connected with many companies touring Australia and New Zealand, including those connected, with tho names of Geo. Rignold, Jenny Lee, Walton and Carey,; Duuing's Opera Company, Marie de Gray,; Genevieve Ward, Pollards, George Darrell, Williamson and Musgrove, MacMahon and Leitch, Brousli and Boucicault, Chas. Arnold, Edwin < Gcach, Potter-Bellow, and with companies in America. .He has toured New Zealand forty-seven times, and Australia nine timos,, and knows America, Canada, South Africa, and India like a book. Notes. One of tho happiest theatrical combinations ever formed in the Commonwealth will come into existence when the "Brewster's Millions Company, which'has just completed its North Queensland tour, combines with tho "Peter Pan" Company at the end of the latter's Sydney season, to play several of the now J. C. Williamson pieces, such as "The Girl from the Golden West" and "Diana of Dobson's," as well as old favourites such as "Dorothy Vernon" and "Romeo and Juliet," with Miss Tittell Brune, of course, in the lead. Mr. Allan Hamilton's new dramatic company will be formed early next year, when a comprehensive tour of tho Commonwealth will begin at tho Palace Theatre, Sydnoy, on April 3, for seven weeks. A season'at tho Princess Theatre, Melbourne, will follow, and then New Zealand will be visited, the tour of the Dominion opening at tho Opera House, Wellington, on Saturday, June 26. Among tho new plays purchased for this company are " Lovers' Lane," by Clyde Fitch, which has • scored a great success throughout America, and " Queen of tho Night," a drama recently played at tho Lyceum Theatre, London. An American .paper states that 14,G00 actors claim Now York as thoir home. Miss Summer Locke, of Melbourne, has written a play, with the aggressively allitcrativo title " Tho Vicissitudes" of Vivicnnc." It was to have been produced at the Princess Theatre last Saturday afternoon. Miss Edyth Latimer, the successful Sydney actress, is appearing in support of Miss Evelyn Millard in tho new play, "Idols," produced at the Ga.rrick, London. Mr. William F. Grant, an Australian netor, whoso incisive style has brought him into great prominence in the provinces, is achieving success in a dramatisation of tho Scton Merriman novel, "With Edged Tools." Mr. Kyrlo Bellew is visiting Sydney on business connected with gold mines in which ho is interested. After a short holiday ho will return to New York to resume his professional.engagements. Miss Dolly Castles is playing in "Havana" at tho Gaiety Theatre, Loudon. The new Forbes Robertson play, "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," iu which Miss Alice Crawford is to sustain the leading j woman's part, is to bo given a tria.l provincial run at Harrogato.