THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 639, 16 October 1909, Page 11

THE THEATRE.

"The world's a theatre, the earth a stage."— Hey wood.. . ■ . (By SytviDi.) The Hugh Ward Constellation,. . Astronomical scientists state that Mars is the nearest star to the earth,- and further asseverate that it is nearingthe earth at the rate of 250,000 miles a day—a rate of speed that even puts tho Main Trunk express to shame. When such statements are made, even scientists are warned to ..be a.little more.careful. There i 6 another star much closer than Afars, and not nearly'such an abuser of tho speed limit lawl This is Mr. Hugh Ward, who has been scintillating in his orbit for the last fortnight in Wellington before large, audiences—the astro? nomical sections.of which.state that he is not likely,to be .eclipsed .for; many;years to come, which is to say'that, after a careful study of the dramatic' heavens through powerful telescopes,' thero is no. .sign of any approaching foreign body likely, to dim the lustre of this 6tar. 'What was discovered,' hbwever,' at the same'time,'was the presence, at close quarters, of three' other stars of- particular brightness, but differing, slightly in character. One, which has been named -IJalotta, twinkles, persistently and dazzlingly; another, Musgrovia, appears and. .disappears, and throws ■ off showers "of electrons, which circumstance is accepted ;i» a -clue to the presence of. temperamental radium. "The third is 'Minerva, or," as some "ill '..have , it,, ..Gbiloni—a.. steady,. .fuU-bodied flauio -thitt lights . the ether, with a radiant golden. glow.. - -.?• •---••:

:MR,'HUGH WAED IN-"A BACHELOR'S '~:-;■'. . ''-HONBtMOON:"' ■■•; .■•:

I These 6tars" dance' attendance on "a moon—a full moon—as 1 a niatter, of fact, "A Bachelor's Honeymoon." Around' this moon .those stars h'ave.<ro'volved' in Wellington for a season of eight' nights, and they are to .appear; in'the provincial towns during the next weok or.two. Playgoers out of Wellington may sured that,' in the Hugh .Ward Company of comedians,, they aro. getting one of the brightest companies and merriest plays seen in NewZealand'for a long time. They will readily recognise the brillianco of tho "stars" in this constellation—Miss'Grace Palotta, who was a jGaiety girl of .'eminence' a"few years ago, Miss Rbs'e/Musgrovo,, tho clover actress .and comedienne,- and Miss Celia Ghiloni,' formorly a leading operatic artist with Mr..'J.-'C.'William-, son's "ebwp'anies. .Other artists''of note are Miss Ruby Baxter, a skilful dancer,, Miss Florence Redfern, Mr. Reg. Wykeham, Mr. Robert Greig, Mr. Arthur Eldrod, and Mr. H. H. Wallace. ' The company is to make its provincial tour on dates as' follow:—Grey town, October 18! Masterton, .October 19; Pahiatua, October 20; Dahnevirke, October" 21; Napier, October 22, 23, and 25; Gisborno, from October 27 to 30; Hastings/November 1; Fcilding, Novomber 2; Palmerston- North,, November ,3, .4,; and 5; Marton, .November* 6;, Wanganni, November 8 and 9; -Hawora, November. 10; New Plymouth, Novembor 11 ;■ Auckland, November' 13. The Rickards Vaudeville.Company. .;■■'■.' Wellington likes a uood vaudeville show. It ; is to 'get one' on' Monday. when the Rickards Vaudeville Company opens at the Opera House. ■It is claimed that the. company is. absolutely :one of the finest ever sent across the Tasman Sea by Mr. Hairy Rickards, and that is a'big claim when one comes to think of it. The chief -attraction is.Madame :Casselli and her marvellouslv-trained troupe of. tiriy-Chihuahua dogs'which do'everything but speak.. Wherever shown tho "turn" has created the great-,;c-st- wonderment. AVithout word or whip these ■little dogs go through some astonishing performances, including a.motor-car trip'in which the car breaks down, and the .dogs, maimed and wounded, pull the car back to town. There is'•'also'/a. comedian: dog, said to be as funny arfMr. Hugh Ward. At least Mr. Ward has riot disputed the claim.' Anart from this act there are Florence-and Lilliafti who' make a proinouriccd appeal to the, artistic mind in their charming musical turn. The Kremka Bros, are labelled " Kings of the Acrobatic .World," and Fred. Graham .and Nellie Dent are always welcome. These are but,' a few. of the many bright artists ..whoni Mr. Allan' Hamilton .is presenting on behalf of Mr.;Rickards... An Artistic Invasion. , ~ Interviewed on his arrival in Brisbane from :England and '■ America; Mr. J. ,Ci Williamson stated that, in four and a-half months' absence'he made some of the biggest, engagementsever secured for Australia. He said: "I have arranged'for an Australian tour lasting for a'few week's only by, Sir Charles.. Wyndham and Miss Mary Moore,'who will come here from America about tho middle of next year. : Sir Charles '-Wyndham -is the. greatest'<light., comedian in; the world, and the terras arranged are the'highest given any artist'ever .brought to. Australia.?'- I have, arranged with Sir-H. Beerbohm ■ Tree . for a'tour "of Australia, - and he'will bring such leading: members of his company\as Miss Marie-lohr, the gifted young Australian, who made such a big 'hit in London, Miss Constance' Collier; Mr. -Henry Ainley, and. others.'• Sir Herbert will. bring /with him all the scenery, costumes, armour, •' and appurtenances for several of his. biggest London productions. The' details have been definitely, fixed,' with the exception of dates, which are dependent upon the arrangements in connection with Sir H. Beerbohm < Tree's .London

theatres. ■''■"-. ' "•, . ..- '.'l,have arranged also for a visit : from- an important American comedy star lady whose namo 'I must at' present withhold. Further particulars will be made public-as soon as everything: is definitely fixed... " Whilst in London, I further settled. with Mr: George Edwa'rdes for an option on all musical productions at tho Gaiety and Daly Theatres, London, during the next' five years,' and'--I .'settled-with Mr. Eobert Courtneidg'e,' ,of"-the ; Shaftesbury Theatre, for an option on nil musical' productions for.the next three years. "'/With Mr. : Curzbn I arranged for an option'on all future musical productions at the -Prince -of;. Wales's .Theatre, London. 1 r So' wo have an .option-.on practically alltho musi-cal-productions for;some. years to come., Then; In addition, I have arranged with Mr.'Charles Frohman for- the -renewal of .my agreement ' whereby"l- have an option on :all his productions in England, and;: America for some years' to- come.- This, will.include",th'6 most import, ant plays, by leading French anther's controlled by. him;/- I have .arranged-with Mr. Arthur CoUln», of Drury-Laio.:Theatre, that'as toon'

as. we haTo completed our present fixtures in the way of pantomime, we aro'to bring out one of his Drury Lane pantomimes, It is one of the most magnificent productions of its kind in the world, and wo are bringing out allthe scenery, costumes, and appointments ■ complete from Drury Lane.'Further,-1 have purchased 'Henry of Navarre,' whioh has h- en an eimi • mous success.with Mr. Fred. Terry and Miss Neilson. Conan Doyle's new play 'The Fires of Fate,' which has been a huge success, with Mr. Lewis Waller in the cast at the London Theatre, and a-very important play called 'Strife,' by "Mr. John-Galsworthy, a comparatively new author,'but one who nevertheless has already made a ! name for himself, and promises indeed to hold a high position. It is one of "the most powerful plays I have ever read,-and it made a great success in London, where it was played'last year in three theatres." Mr. Williamson wont on to say:that ho had made further important engagements of artists for his several dramatic and musical companies, and for the 1910 pantomime. During his eight days' stay in New York he arranged with 6ome of the principal managers for options on their successful musical productions, and purchased " Three, Twins,"- a. musical play which ran for the-.whole of last year in Now York. He bought quite a large-number of other comedies and. dramas, and .secured. other .notable-pan-'tomime features.: Mr,'Williamson engaged Miss Catherine. Gray, 'one -of the • cleverest of America's loading ladies and a very,fine artist, withwh'qin he -expects to. replace "Miss Tittell Brune in Australia: - Heathen Weit lo Chicago, proceeding to: Vancouver and Australia.'■Barrie's \' v ".'-'. -' '"■ A little-while since' Miss Nellie: Stewart,!in the -course, of *an /interview, said that,; as Mr. J.' M; Barrie's plays .had failed, whenever presented in Australia, he ;.was':' not',going, to allow, any more of them to be played to such an unappreciative-public. This cannot be right, for Mr. J. C. Williamson has,'announced. that ,Mr. Barrio's latest, and perhaps greatest, success: "What Every Woman .Knows," has'been secured. Of all the performances which he'saw whilst abroad, none pleased him so well as Mr. .Barrie's beautiful play. Amongst the other, now plays he has secured-is"Arseno Lupin," a new. Baffles'-'piece, wherein Lupin, the thief,engages in a contest of, the' wits with Guerchard, a detective;. It,-is described by one critic as "' Battles ' much ' improved and elaborated; as well as-heightened in dramatic .tensity.'- The piec'o. is adapted from tho French of Mil. de-Croissett, and Leblanc- ■ Lupin takes upon himself the personality of a young duke, who is dead; and in the principal situation, where ho has. determined to steal a. diamond tiara from his fiancee's house, lie secures' it' from, the posSession' of' the detective himself. Mr. Gerald du Manner plays Lupin in London, where the enst also includes Mr. Wnrburton Gamble, who was in Australia in "The Man,from Mexico," .

Novel Performance of "Macbeth." ■/:' "Macbeth"/ was; played,,under strikingly: novel conditions on August 28 last'at tho venerable abbey of Saint Wandrille at Caudebec en Caiix; now : the residence of the dramatic author, M. .Maurice, Mnotcrlinck, all ordinary' scenic accessories being discarded. The tragedy..was lived rather than acted in tho spacious • halls, stairs, ; corridors, and grounds of the i abbey,•.which : lont themselves' marvellously .'to tho realisation, of the tragic incidents in'the play,, tho monastery .boing- built about the' same' period, as the castle, at. Inverness, where Shakespeare's. Bcenes are laid. Tho witches danced.in the moonlight,round real cauldrons 'in * the. park, and the spectators, who were.limited;to fifty, followod tho actors from. point to'point nnu from room to room as the. tragedy was unfolded, the effects being weirdly . realistic. . The, of. ■ Jlacboth was played ' by: H. Sovorin,' Mars, that.- of La'dy. Macbeth by Madame, Maeterlinck. A special translation rof -the play,,was . made by.' M. Maeterlinck for .'this unique occasion.—Router.

Miss. Mabel'-Muhro, 'formerly' of ; Wellington; and a daughter of Me. George Muhro, whovwas manager or' the New' Zealand Exhibition, was at latest playing apriricipp,l ,part in the Liverpool production of'Tho Arcadians."':-;' ; .'Miss Tinny- Dango seems* to have secured all tho 'honours in the- latest musical'Tcomedy staged'by'the Royal, Comic. Opera Company— "Tho..Catch of-the. Season." . Neither. Miss Florence Young nor-Mr. Reginald Roberts were included-in tho cast.'. ... _■ . At the latest "The Flag Lieutenant" Company; which is to.appear in Wellington at Christmus, was rehearsing tho new drama entitled' "The ' Cheat."'. The, repertoire of this company (whfch'includes Messrs'. Kingston, Geo.,S.'Titheradge,'Cyril Mackay, l Harry Plimmer,- and Misses Grlffiitone and•'.' Ethel Warwick); includes "The Flag • Lieutenant," "The Village Priest," "Sherlock Holmes," "Tho, Silver King," and ."The,Cheat." .■.',.,..-•..;-.'..,'