THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 502, 8 May 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

"Tho world's a theatre, the earth a stage."— Hey wood. (Br Stlvitjb.) "The Miner's Trust." "Tlio Miner's Trust," to bo presented a the Opera House this evening, is an Austrr lian drama written by an Australian (Mr. J Smith). It is time tho Australian steppe into .the melodramatic ring with somo idea apart from those worn to shreds by tha school of English dramatist who serves u the same old story into which a new sens; tion is worked to freshen up what was fla and stale years ago. There are numbers c talented writers in Australia and New Zei land-who should-be able to write better mel( drama than tho queer stuff that comes thi way under ■ tho everlasting label—"the lates London success." The only fear manage ments might have is that it would be to good, for it that such plays must nc soar above, a certain standard (in Australi anyway), as witness the success of "A Squai ter's Daughter," which is far from brilliarii Let us hope that Mr. J. Smith has at leas struck the happy mean in "A Miner's Trust. 1 VThe King of Cadonia." ■ "When "The King of Cadonia" is staged fo the first time in Australia by J. C, Wi liamson, so many first appearances will b included in tho cast as to render it almos a new company. The member? of the spec ally-engaged English contingent are alread on i their way out to this country. Tli Princess will be in the hands of Miss Don thy Court who, until quite recently, has bee appearing _at the Savoy Theatre as prim donna in Gilbert and Sullivan roles during series of revivals of thoso operas, an the success she gives promise c her popularity and success in this part of th world. Tho comedy part is to bo entruste to Miss Lottie Sargent who, though still ver young, has had a wide rango of. experienc on the lj'ric stago in London and the pre vinces.v Rumour has'it that Mr. Fran Greene/ another newcomer, is a fresh, brecz young actor after tho style of Mr. Andre Higginson and,_indeod, it was while appoa: ing as Danilo in 'one of.Georgo Edwardes' companies' that Mr. Greene was engaged fc JVC. Williamson by J. A. E. Malone. . Mi Herbert .Clayton, . who is also to be include in the cast, is already in Australia. •, Mi Spencer Barry has been very painstaking i the selection of . the chorus, the members ( which are possessed of good looks as well a fine voices. * . . ■ Coquolin Cadet. * The Parisian" correspondent of one of th London journals writes: "For years Coqueli: cadet, was lionised in the salons, but durin all that time,'he was not the'gay man h looked. He was, strictly speaking, coinie not gay. His dominant framo of mind wa melancholy, and ho succumbed to it in th end. His friends had often noticed hov whon on th'ei stage, between two comic scene: his' face, assumed, a death-like i sadnesi Toward the or.d ; he never • went to th Comcdie Francaise without being . accoir panied by his doctor, who had to assur him. that.his heart was in perfect ordqr, an that there .was no danger of. his brcakin down, that day.. His great fear always.wa that ho .would die suddenly on tho stage Tho feeling became insupportable, and h had; to retiro for :a long rest. .' Strangel; enough, his arrival at the, private, asylur was hailed'by..:'the. other inmates , wel bnough.to be about,with enthusiasm. H ivas asked by them to recite his monologues ind ho did so frequently, to their "mmens satisfaction. His name was very, dear to th citizens of Boulogne, and they proposed a one timo to elect him a Senator. 'If the; plect mo,' he said, 'I'shall have to.give' u all comic role's and act only noble ones." Geo. Grossrsilth Retires. Mr. Goorgo Grossmith, the English •• come Jiin,' who -hai; amused rcoro persons,", pei laps, than any. man of his.generationan without any concessions to either ignoriinc ir vulgarity, is about to retiro from activ public work. His loss will bo felt, severel; in tho. world of entertainments. In his owi peculiar voin of social satire h iad 110 equal,, and his artistic equipment wa if a high and rare order. He is going to do cote . his ■ leisure' hours to the writing o reminiscences' and to musical composition, ft New Gilbert Opera. ; . Sir William Gilbert has returned to th paths-of Savoy'opera-7-"one of, the mos ihoeiring bits'of neivs brought to tho notio >f playgoers for many a long day,'.', as tin London "Daily- Telegraph" observes. Tha journal gives, some information ; about; 'tin new' work :—"Beyond the fact that tho nev ivork comes of \tho same royal lino as 'Tin Mikado,''' The Yeomeu of tho Guard,] au< 'The Gondoliers,' no details regarding it an mown, and for tho moment the author pre iers to keep, his own secret. 'I havo reall; nothing to communicate,' he writes, refer ring to the pie:e. ■ lit has no name, no loca habitation, and no prospect of being pro iuced before Christmas.' It is good to know jri tho other hand,- thai the music is to b< imposed by Mr. Edward German, wlion 3ir Arthur Sullivan himself , shortly. before lis death, nominated as his - legitimate sue lessor in this particular sphere of endeavour Dbvionsly nothing could be moro appropriate :han an announcement that the now opor: ivould eventually be seen at the; .Savoy ilearly pre-destined by right of tradition anc if fame to be its home. Whether any ar range'ment of the kind can bo , made is stil juite an t pen question." . "v'OtOS. "An Englishman's Home" is certainly ex>rcising . a , wonderful influence ■ in Great 3'ritain throughout every stage of society .tccently tho Princo of Wales, while euloeis ng, the Australian cadet system, remarkee: iliat it would be well if tho movement coulc jo introduced into Great Britain and, incilentally, said that: ''Then an Englishman'; lome would bo safe from 'invasion.", U 'iirther transpires, in connection' with Di tfaurier's play, .that a particularly, funnj nirlesque put on by The Follies, has beei irohibited by the exaisor.Possibly he thinks ;hat the piece is of too grave a calihro t< jo subjected to 'ridicule, or, on the contrary laving originally let the piece slip throng! lis .fingers to. the production stage, has determined that there shall be no further cause 'or complaint-from tho Littlo Englanders. Miss Tittell. Bruno's stay in Australia will iloso at tho end of Juno, and alio will'then ■eturnto America. "Sunday" will bo revived 'or-, the last live nights of -the visit :o Melbourne; and a brief season in Sydncj s announced. • " ", ' A! new drama, "Via Wireless," which has ieen running to crowded audiences at•the jiborty Theatre, -.New York, has been icquired for Australia by tho J. C. William-ion-firm. ' The leading episode is the rescue: >f a shipwrecked party by- an ocean liner, iftor tho news of the WTeck has reaohed the iteamer by wireless telegraphy. Tho play, it nay be noted, was ' written before the lepublic-Florida collision. Mr. Loring Fernio, late of the Tittell 3rune is now on his way to Engand, whero ho is to be married.