THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

" Tho world's a theatre, the earth a staje. '— ITeywuod. (By Syi.vids.) "An Englishman's Homo," All London, when tho last mail left, was talking about "An Englishman's Home.'' Seats were booked for weeks ahead, and all day lon/; queues liled past tho box-office, but at an early hour two or three days after tho first production of tho piece there was not a seat to bo had at either the matinee or evening pcrl'ormancc at any price. All day long, too, the management wcro receiving a constant stream of letters and telegrams conveying tho warmest congratulations on tho production. Tho play has been seen at Wyndham's Theatre by' the principal • members of tho Headquarters Staff of tho British Army, including General Sir Jolm French and General Sir Thomas KellyKeiiuy, as well as General Baden-Powell, Viscount Crichton (Groom-in-Waiting to the Prince" of Wales), and Viscount Morley. Lord Eslier lias seen it three times. They all, according to the "Daily Mail," express themselves as highly pleased with it, and think it likely to bring about recruiting for tho Territorial Army. Major Giiy du Manrier, tho author, lias not witnessed any performance, as he is in Pietermaritzburg with his regiment, the' 3rd Royal Fusiliers. Ha .wrote'tho picco a year ago. "Tho original finish," said his brother, 'Mr.'Gerald du Maurier, "loft the invaders ill possession, anil we continued to look rather rag, tag, and bobtail as fighters. During the rehearsals, however, the company and everyone else said we must bring a little moro liopo into the end, and that wc have done. He wr.oto it—although very keen oil the subject himself—with no idea of setting forth any lesson or preaching to or at anyone, it was only an idea; but tho play, as it chances, is produced at a crisis in-the nation's _liistory when, I suppose, people are thinking about national, dei'enco and invasion, and it has crystallised what men like Lord Esher, Mr. and others have been thinking."

Tho extraordinary influence of the /play over the spectators (says the, "Daily Mail'') may be judged by the fact that Mr. Hous-ton,-ono of Curzon's secretaries, and an experienced playgoer, after seeing "An-Eng-lishman's Home"'oil th'o first night, wroto ito his local ride'club asking to be enrolled a member. i It becomes an interesting question .whether -it will arouse like enthusiasm in Australia. The reply to this will be afforded shortly, as it is to be prit into rehearsal promptly by the J. C. Williamson management. Mr. Charles- Frohman has secured the piece for America. Another Mother? , Mr. W. S. Pcrcv, at present playing Joe Mivens in "The Dairymaids" at Her Majesty's, Sydney, has been compelled to gently but firmly decline to bo adopted by anjn-mat-3 of Gladesville Asylum. Ho laid the full particulars of his ease before the Master-in-I.unacy 011 Friday of last week. That official had communicated with him requesting .his attendance at his. office, when lie would be desired to state the amount ho. was "prepared to contribute towards the support of your mother, now an inmate of Gladesville Asylum, and to furnish full particulars of her property, if any." . Mr.. Percy informed the that his mother' had been dead come years, and furnished hira with proof of that fact. "Is this a hoax?" lie demanded; "if so, I fail to appreciate the-humour'of it." Tho comedian was shown a pilo of correspondence- that had collected oil the subject. This was put before him by way of apology. "It's a peculiar tiling," Mr. Percy stated, "but this is the second time I have been claimed as a son in this irregular way. Once when I was appearing as Bertie Boyd in 'Tho Shopgirl,' a woman msistfd that I had run .away from her 12 years before. Her.name was Boyd, .and she'witnessed a performance of the piece,'and nothing I could say to the contrary would convince her that I was not her Bertie, i I told her my namo was Percy, but all to no purpose. She was also 'foozled in the filbert,' poor thing. I thought at first that it might be the same woman 011 this occasion, but the name is different. This particular form of mania is becoming a triilo monotonous. A-moro'pleasant way of varying tho delusion would be for some ono to will me a fortune. I would much sooner attend the Probate Offico than tho office of tho Master-in-Lunacy."

New Plays In Uonion. Mr. Rudolf Besier, oho of the new London dramatists whose work has been so full of promise, produced a play 'ast month, "Olive Latimer's Husband," dealing with the love of,a woman for a'man who, since childhood, has been tho friend of her husband. It is criticised, however,' as unsatisfactory in its technique. Tho part of Olive was played by Mrs. Patrick, Campbell, apparently with great power and attraction. Mr. W. Somerset Maugham has evidently arrived in London to stay. . Ho appears to have hit the taste of London playgoers in his hew play, "Penelope," at the Comedy. The history of this dramatist, at first rejected by managers, and • now triumphantly successful iii winning the laughter and applause of audiences,'shows what is possible when a clover playwright is allowed his opportunity. "Penelope" is described by the critics as gay and sparkling, for though its story is slight, as well as familiar, it is in the manner in which it is treated that its attractiveness lies. A susceptible young Irish doctor, Dickie O'Farrell, has been married for five years to a devoted and charming little wife, i'enelope, who lavishes love upon him, and when he comes home is inevitably waiting on the mat, to throw her arms around his ueck and ask him if lie "loves her as much as ever" —a question which, in Mr. Maugham's opinion, is "a rope round the lover's neck." As the result of all this, Dickie begins to seek-elsewhere a kind of love that offers/the luxury of pursuit. I'enelope, discovering her rival in. Mrs. Ada Fergusson, gathers a council of'her family,, at which her sago old father and mother give her some advico in the management of a husband. She must not lavish sd much love upon him, is their principal wanting; and so J'enelope keeps a smiling face, but ceases to besiege Dickie with her affection. Meanwhile she specialises in expensive hats and pretty dresses. Tho method succeeds beyond hope. Dickie very soon tires of Mrs. i'ergusson, and is again in love with Penelope. Then he grows conscience-striken, then exasperated, finally it' is Uncle Davenport that is caught by Mrs; Pergusson's hires, and Dickij and Penelope live happily' over after. Mr. Graham Browne plays O'Farroll,- the "Chronicle" says, "with just the '■ persuasive Irish charm to mako him forgivable," and Miss Marie Tempest is described as a delightful' Penelope.

The Clnephcne. Speaking of'.the eincnhone, to ho presented by Messrs. Fuiler_ at the Theatro Royal tin's evening, the "Yorkshire Evening ''News" says:—Who among our groat grandfathers would have believed that in the first decade of our twentieth century a flying string' of tiny "snap-shots" would bo able to mako men and women laugh or weep, or present animate pictures of wonderful scenic beauty? All the more would they bo amazed at such an entertainment as that given iiy moans of the cii'.ephono this week. While figures on the sheet are shown singing popular ditties, the cinejihone actually sings the words and music. The effect is- most realistic. but perhaps what one applauds more .than the effect, is the great ingenuity that* conceived the combination of two forms of reproduction, and tbo careful perseverance that alone can have mastered all the difficulties involved. Tlie Drama at Easter. Mr. Edwin Gcach. will send his Xo. 1 Dramatic Company across from Sydney to open at the Theatre Royal 011 Easter Saturday, when Mr. George Marlow will act as bnsiness'.manager. i'lie company is a first-class one, and is at present in tho midst of a successful season in Brisbane. No fewer than thirty well-known artists will bo imported, including that sterling actor, Mr. Robert 111man, as leading man, and Miss Ethel Buckley to assist. The opening attraction will bo "The Woman Pays," with "Lured to London," "Tho Broken, Home," and other successful productions to follow. The company will bring across 100 tone of scenery, aud also a spocial scenic artist. After Wel-

lington, tho company will proceed It) Duncdin, whilst the tour will terminato in Auckland, prior to ail extended Sydney season. The. cast of the company includes' Misses Maud Appleton, J.cal Douglas, I'attic Gourlay, Hand Anivin, and Ethel Buckley, Australia's leading comcdiennc, and Messrs. Robert liunau, Kenneth lluntor, Thomas Curran, Albert Lucas, J. I'. O'Neill, Stan. Robinson, and Harry Norman. A Now Williamson Company. The J. G. Williamson management is organising a musical company, which, according to present intentions, will make its first appearance in "T'ho King of Cadonia," a piece lately produced in London by Mr. Frank Curzon with great success. It incidentally brought forward a new librettist ill Mr. Frederick Lonsdale, who, in the mythical territory of Cadonia, built an attractive story of mirth and romance. For the Australian porformaneo somo English artists have been engaged. Tho prima donna will bo Miss Dorothy Court, who lias appeared in tho Gilbert and Sullivan revival at the Savoy recently. The baritone will bo Mr. Herbert Clayton,' who lias been prominently before tho London public for somo time past playing leading roles at tho Gaiety, and has toured with George Edwardes's companies. Ho was in the original London cast of "The Duchess of Dantjjic," playing Lefcbvre. One. of his most\notable parts was the title role in "The Toreador" at the Gaiety; ho appeared in it during the entire fun. Mr. Clayton was, part author with Mr. G. 1\ Huntley of "Tjje Hon'blo Phil." Mr. Frank Greene, vocally described as "a light comedy baritone, will bo another member of tho company. At present Mr. Greene is playing Danilo in one of Mr. Geo. Edwardes's companies :in England. A further engagement is that of Miss' Lottie Sargout, a comedienne and soubrett-e.

Motes. ' Miss Dina Cooper, tho brunette who played tho crimson lady in "The Fatal Wedding" in New Zealand, is now in New York. „Recent letters stato that she has had offers from Messrs. Frohman and Belasco. On tho arrival of the Asturias wlich is duo to reach Premantle on Thursday of this week, Miss Nellio Stewart will again set foot on her native soil. She will come straight on to Melbourne with the London portion of her company; and rehearsals of "Sweet Kitty Bellairs" will bo commenced without delay. In Adelaide Miss Stewart will meet Mr. Loring Ferine, who will at that timo bo appearing with the Tittell Brune Company. Curiously enough, Mr. Fornie was tho original Denie O'Hara in the London production of "Sweet Kitty Bellairs:" Tho. death is announced of Evelyn Greenwood Sutherland, of tho dramatic author partnership of Mesdames Sutherland and Dix, who, under the 110111 do theatre, Jolm Rutherford, wroto "The Breed of thd Treshams," recently produced in Sydney for J. 0. Williamson by Mr. Julius Knight. Tho remarkable strength of the drama would never load one to suspect a woman's hand in its construction. Mrs. Sutherland was also responsible for tho stage adaptation (if Monsieur Beaucaire, and it was her version that Mr. Julius Knight, in tho title rolo made such a success of throughout Australasia.

Mr. ltock Phillips, tho designer of stage properties for the J. C. Williamson firm, iias. an axiom that there is nothing that cannot be imitated with cardboard and brown paper. During the past week ho has made several thousand cigars out of the latter material —pure Cuban leaf they l will masquerade as in "Havana." They are warranted to dcceive even an excise officer, and as every smoker knows to his cost, it would not be the first time that the trick had been, perpetrated on that official. It is to be hoped that 110110 of Mr. Phillips's "two-fors" will be' get 011 to the local market.

; Mr. John Gordon, whose brush has so artistically onhanced many a J. C. Williamsou production, propounds a theory that the scenic painter develops a sixth sense. This sense instructs him how stage lighting, will all'ect colour. "1 cannot, explain to you bv any scientific formula," ho remarked while working on a cloth of "Havana" tho other day, "just what tone that bluo will be when illuminated as a! stage picture." From his conversation 011 the subject, there seemed to' bo something occult in his art. Ho was painting in one tone, intuitively knowing that tho fierce electric light on his canvas would reveal it as a soft morning effect 011 tho Harbour of Havana. Mr. Gordon, at tho paint frame, is like a man 011 the pavement in front of>the Sydney G.P.0., though to protect paper against libel it .is hereby stated that it is neither expressed nor implied that the carvings 011 that edifice aro included in the simile.