THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 514, 22 May 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

■ "The world's a thoatro, tho earth a stage."— -Hey wood.

(Br Sylvius.)

"Lucky Duriiam." Wilson Barrett's drama "Lucky Durham" has been produced in Sydney by tho Meynell and Gunn Company, headed by Harcourt Boatty. The " Daily 'Telegraph,'' describing the.play, says:—"John Durham is a natural son, who comes to' London from America a. millionaire, to find his proposal of marriage resented bccauso of the circumstances-of his birth. Hence hey fulminates against tho injustice of the social codo. Ono long scene in tho second act is given over to' tho discussion of this question in an interview botween Durham and James Vallerton, the father of tho gifl he wishes to marry; and the highest possiblo tributo to tho art of tho two actors— Mr.' Harcourt Beatty,' whose Durham is one of the best piecc3 of work he has done; and Mr., James Lindsay, a telling, forooful Vallerton—:was that the audience-paid such attention'to this protracted debate. . Tho interview ■ is far,too wordy for modern drama,' sinco the author nowadays is required to convey his moral by action rathor than by talk: but its general effect may well bo summarised in. tho' declaration of Dnrham, 'In America wo ask what a man is, not what his father was,' and Vallerton's reply, ' In this country wb not only ask who his father, was, but who his mother, his mother's mother, and his father's father were.' . "flowover; Durham perseveres, and wins. For so masterful a hero there could'be nothing elso than victory. His odious father, Lord Montfallon, has planned tho marriage of his lawful son to Helen Vallerton, in order to restore the family estates witli.tho-girl's money, and . when Durham appears on , tho scene threatens to make known his secret tp Vallerton unless-110 relinquishes his claim to Ilclen's hand. Challenged to do so, he hesitates, at which Durham himself promptly, tells Vallerton the story. The millionaire's wealth enables him to buy the estates of the ruined,peer, and when ho is about to turn Mountfallon and his family out into the world, his grave,' sweet-featured mother intercedes for them, reminding him that the only motive of such an act can be revenge not justice. - Durham accordingly turns away to build n home for himself and his mother elsewhere.: ' Helen, witnessing the sacrifice, flies to his arms, confessing her love for him as the curtain'falls." . _ / . ' ..Conspicuously good, work is done in , the; production by- Mr. Beatty and Mifcs Hilda Meade (Miss Izott, formerly, of.Wellington). "Last Nfght" Fun. The merriest scene of all on the last performance of "Cinderella" in Melbourne; was when Miss Meredro, who was in tho middlo of tho "Bombadier Song," suddenly screamed. She had been gazing at the gods, and Mr. Payne had changed places with the conductor..Miss glanced down to see how tho time of tho song .was getting on, and to : her' horror saw an apparition with _ fierce black moustache and eyebrows and hair beating time—all out of time. Besides,- the ap- , parition looked 'angry, and rat-tapped his ! stick;on-the desg to call her,to attention. Sho was only a woman after all; so she screamed, and then looked foolish, for beneath tho thatch :of black wig and behind tho false noso and moustache there gleamed '•tho,' merry, dancing eyes of .Thomas Payne;' •Sho at once leant down and went on' sing-' ing, "It's 'Tahm, Tahm, Tahm, .Tahm, Tahray,' ffahmy," , and tho audience, 'recognising him,; too, shrieked with, .laughter, while "Tahm, Tahm, Talimy," turned round and bowed solemnly. . ' •■ TIIO Visit of Oscar-Aseha. i ' A cablo. message rccoived by tho MeynellGunn firm gave tbo names of the company to . support Mr. Oscar AsClio and Miss Lily | Brayton in tlieir Australian tour. Thore will bfe 26 ■ members, who, will include Messrs. Gerald Kay Souper, Herbort' Grimwood, -"Athol'Forde, Repnald lan' Penny] Oaleb Portorj Tripp.' Edgar, R. F. 'Ansqn (a son of Mr! G. W.; Anson, wlio was'out, here some 'years; ago), J. . Fritz .Russell, / . Charles , A. Doraiij' Ewan l 3rook,' Arthur.'Traiitom,-8., A;'Meyer, (manager),. Miss Elfrida: Cleinent, Mjss Constance ■ Robert-son,> Miss Muriel Hutoliihsou, and others., .. , , ,' Notes. , ' "Cinderella's" nm of seventeen, weeks m Melbourne beat the records put up by. "Olivette," "Tambour Major, , "Florodoia," "Humpty. Diimpty." '"Jack and Jill," ■and other pieces,, and (says the "Newsletter") , it is only onei .Week short.of the eighteen weoks' •run achieved by George Rignold with' "In the Banks"'2o years ; ago.\ Thore wore, however, 'no matinees given in those .days, and so the total record of ."In t/ho Ranks" is' oxceeded ■by; 'tihat' of' "Cinderella" with .125 performahcesi, ;It has. . had .the longest run of, any 'pantomime in the world.'' • Tho reason why. "Miss Hoot of Holland" will not bo put on in New Zealand by Rupert Clarko, Meynell ,and Gunn's ; Comic . Ope-ra Company, during tho, forthcoming season is that the management have , found it impos-, sible.to. travel two such heavyj productions as: "Cinderella" and "Miss Hook of Holland" pt one time, and it becamo a question whioh thby; should send.;' Inasmuch, too, as they • ,werei, not in the position .to .keep the principal, members of the company appearing in tho pantomime boyond a certain period, they decided that it would be better to send •"Cinderella,V and thereby give tho New Zea»; land people a.chance of seeing tie pantomime absolutely as produced in Melbourne."Miss Hook of-Holland" will be reserved.for alatcj tour. ■ ; At the conclusion of the run of "An Engiisman's Home" in the company (which includes Henry Kolker, Cynl Mackay, Harry Pliramer, and Miss' Ola' Jane Humphries) return to , Sydney to appear in the initial porforinance of. that successful play:"The Flag Lieutenant."