THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 799, 23 April 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood.

(Bγ SiLViua.)

"Married to the Wrong Man." Mr. Geoi-go Marlowe's Dramatic Company will inaugurate" a season at the Opera House on Thursday evening next,- in a melodrama with the highlysuggestive title, "Married to tho Wrong Man," The title is particularly appealing, ;as so many dear ladies are quito ■convinced that they have made the same mistake. Men never talk of such things, even if they have- happened on the wrong woman. It would bo unchivalrous,' and might lead to goodness knows what consequences. The play is said to retain the interest from the rise of the curtain to ijs fall, and lias several very thrilling moments. The company includes Mr. Herbert Bentley (who toured with Mr. Julius Knight), Mr. Hilliard Vox, an English actor, and Miss Clay, a young Sydney actress of promise. According to reliable accounts, "Married to tho Wrong Man" has proved a good money-maker. Though he has only been in management on his own account ; since last August, Mr. George Marlow has not let the. grass ■ grow under his feet, for he has two companies touring Australasia, and he has completed negotiations for the erection of .a new tUoatre, to. cost £40,000 in, Sydney. The site is on tho old Belmoio markets, adjacent 'to Sydney's big railway station and at the junction of practically the heart of Sydney's passenger traffic. Mr. Marlow has advised Mi - . Ncven, his business manager in New Zealand, that work has already, commenced on ' the new structure, and-that ho expects to : openit on. November 1. Mr.'Marlow further advises the theatre will have seating accommodation for 2500 people, and will bo modern- in every way, while it. will be the first erected in Sydney under tho hew 'Act. The entrances, staircases, and vestibules will be constructed of marble, and the decorations throughout will be in accordance with the other arrangements. The stage will be one of the largest in Australasia—looft. by 85ft. —to admit of the production of big sensational dramas. The opening piece will be Arthur Shirley's "Tho Mother and the Child."

Crest News. ■■■'■■ The best news. I, have heard , this week is that Williamson's Grand Opera Company will be seen- in Wellington next month (May 19). It is an exceptional event to receive a visit so early.in the tour, for it means that wo will see' "Madame Butterfly." beforo Melbourne and. Adelaide. It is a strange thing and a true one that Now Zealand used to hear raoro grand opera 80 years ago than has been the caso during the past decade. What with old Martin Simmonsen, Annis Montague, and Charles Turner, performances of such works, as "Maritana," '• "The, Bohemian Girl," "II TrovatorGj" and "Carmen," were not nearly so rare as they aro to-day. Indeed wo have only been visited by one grand. oiiera lcompany, (Musgrove's) during tho past ten years, and though that was 'not perhaps a first-class company (can , wo expect'it?), it served to whet the musical taste for Wagner, who at that 1 time was all but a closed book. Having in its repertoire such operas as "Tannhauser," "Lohengrin," ."Tho Flying Dutchman;"-its constitution wa& chiefly Teutonic. On this ' occasion Puccini will supplant Wagner, a'nd the company that is to'sing bis music is— well, it is not Italian. Bel Sorel is French, and Amy Castles (who shares tho prima donna work) is Bondigo iri the pure. Zcrgo, the first tenor, is a Chilian, and Frederick. Blarney is English. . Zanolli, tho baritone, is Italian, and Itosina Buckman .hails from Masterton. Truly a mixed company, but from all accounts a strong.- one. Sydney, the.- effervescent,. went : off '•'pop" at- "Madame'Butterfly," 'which is , still attracting enormous houses to the big Theatre Royal in 'Kiiig Street. Bel Sorel was. splendidly received, and when Miss Castles essayed "Clio Clio San," she was hailed as delightful in tho pretty but tragically pathetic role. 'Bo far we in New Zealand have only heard bits of Puccini (Melba, I think, sang the prayer from ■ "La Tosca"), but his works—"Butterfly," "La Boheme," ' "Tosca," and- "Manon Lescant," have been acclaimed, the world over as the works of a genius,, and wo 100k 1 forward ecstatically.-, to ' their production in Wellington. The conductor of the Grand Opera Company is SignorHazon, and tho deputy conductor Mr. Alfred Hill, of Wellington.

Rostand and Sarah Bernhardt. 11. Edmond Rostand, whoso plaj, "Chantecler," has created such a sensation, when chosen as one of the famous forty "Immortals" who form the French Academy, gave a small dinner to a few of his intimates to celebrate tho occasion. ■ ■ ' ■ '

Sarah Bernhardt sat in the- place of honour at the- poetdramatists'e right hand. Half-way through tho dinner bhe rose, lifted a champagne bottle, and dramatically poured the' contents , over her head, exclaiming: "Thus, in tho fashion of the ancients, do I pour libation to our mighty poet!" Tito dripping wine naturally ruined her shimmering and costly dress.' Her friends, including Eostand, pointed this out. "Thank you," sho answered calmly; "I meant it to be spoilt. I woro it for thu occasion."

A few minutes afterwards the poet's sons, boys of six and eight, were discovered pouring soda-water over their own heads, and. thereby, ruining their new lace collars. Tho poet promptly packed them off to bed.

Bernhardt smiled,: and, turning to Eostand, remarked: "Permit mo to congratulate myself,.my dear sir, that you are not my father, tool"

New Play for Miss Nellie Stewart. "When Knighthood was in Flower, , ? a romantic play by Paul Kester (author , of "Sweet Neir/ofc.Old Drury"), is to be produced-wider the Williamson management by the Nellie Stewart Company on the termination of the run in Melbourne of "What "Every Woman Knows." ; • The central figure' of the play is Mary Tudor, the younger and favourite sister of Henry VIII, and her love story with Charles Brandon, whom she finally marries after first being obliged by Henry to contract an alliance witli Louis of France, forms the axis round which the characters and themes revolve. The drama is one that has served Miss Julia Marlowe, one of America's most popular stars, for some time past, and the leading role is one in'which Miss Nellie Stewart should be seen to advantage. Houdinl the Wonderful. . In about 11 minutes Houdini escaped, on the night of April 15, at tho Tivoli Theatre, Sydnoy, from tho packingoaso in which ho was nailed by threo challengers. Tho challenge was issued by Messrs. John Anderson,-James Williamson, and William Elphinstone, on behalf, of tho firm of E. Thornton, contractors and builders, Castlorengh Street, Sydney. Et was announced that tho case, which has been exhibited in the vestibule of ■fclm Tivoli, was of ono-incli timber. Messrs. Anderson, Williamson, and Elphinstonc drove in the jiails on the stago in the presence of a committee of about 40 people, and" n crowded audience. At the request of Houdini, air-holes were bored in the sides. Then in his dress suit he leaped into the ease,- tho, remaining boards were put on, and nailed down, and the chso waa roped, nails being driven into the ropes.

The curtains having been drawn to conceal tho case, the audience awaited developments, and speculated as to what Houdini was doing. Minute after minuto passed, while tho band played popular airs, tho people singing in chorus. At length, 11 minutes after the case- had been concealed, there was a sudden disturbance of the curtains, and Houdini appeared, amid cheering, while the case was shown still roped, and to allappearanco exactly as when ho was imprisoned. It was carried into the vestibule, where the crowd struggled to gaze- at it, and wonder how. on earth' Houdini had escaped.

"Lady Huntworth's Experiment." Tho following is. the east, of R. 'C. Carton's comedy, "Lady Huntworth's Experiment," to be produced by the Mountebank Dramatic Company (amateur) at the Opera House next month: — Captain Dorraston, Mr. Frank Lanipen; Mr. Pillenger, Mr. Porter; Mr. Thorsby, Mr. Vivian Rhind; Gandy, Mr. Miller; Mr. Crayll, Dr. Isaacs; Caroline (Lady Huntworth), Miss Agnes Marshall; Miss Pillenger, Miss Sliarpo;' Lucy, Miss L. Ogborne; Keziah, Miss A. Ogborne. Tho comedy will be produced under the direction of Mr. Leo. de Chateau. .. ' Tragedy and Kisses. : Tho whirlwind Sicilian tragedian, Signor Grasso, had a great success on .February 24 at . the Lyric Theatre, London. In "La Zolfara" this wonderful actor is a victim of incarnate jealousy. Princess Henry of Battenberg and her suite were present. Miss Ellen Terry, who paid her second visit to the Lyric, was conducted behind the scenes, where she received a most thusiastic welcome by all. the members of the company; Signor Grasso, carried away by his feelings, took the matured English actress in his arms and kissed her on'both cheeks. Miss Terry, we are told, expressed her unbounded delight with tho' acting, and warmly congratulated both Signc-r Grasso and.. Mme. Bragaglia. She said afterwards: "Of course I do not understand tho language, but what I do understand is good acting, and that is exactly what the Sicilian players give us. I have never seen anything like it in my life."

A New. Dramatic Company. , At the close of -the six weeks' season in Sydney, the Allan Hamilton-Max Maxwell Company embark at once on a comprehensive New Zealand tour, starting at Auckland on. Mon'day, May 16. Fivo plays will, constitute. ,, the repertoire, .-"Woman, .and Wine," "A Woman's Hate," "lii London Town," "Revenge," -and "Lights o' London." Everything down to the smallest detail will be carried on the forthcoming tour. The company mil visit the following towns during the first six weeks of'their forthcoming New Zealand tour:—Auckland May 16 to 28, with New Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, Wanganui, and Palnierston to follow for one night each; AVelliugton, June 4 to 18, then Damievirke, Napier, and- Masterton; after which a brief season of six nights at the Theatre' Royal, Christchuroh. This will take the company up to July 2. Dates have also been secured in Timaru, Oamarit, Dunedin, Gore,, and luvercaxgill/ and possibly the West Coast will be visited. Notes. Mr. Clyde Meynell, of the Clarke and Mcynell. theatrical combination, is making arrangements for;.bringing out a-number of important attractions to Australia, and will shortly leave for England, the Continent, and America, to complete negotiations. The- new enterprise includes three .complete new companies. ■ ■ v '

Mr. J. C. Williamson is about to leave on another; visit ..to. England..;. On this occasion' he wiU v b'o'accoinpaiiied by' Mr. Harold .Ashto'n.

1 Mr. Albert. Styan, late' of. the Bland Holt" Company, has been engaged to support Mr. Matheson Lang, tho English actor, who. is being' imported by Messrs. Clarke, Meynell, and Gunn.

"La Boheroe" is to be ..produced by Williamson's Grand Opera Company in Sydney this evening- . : ' ■ ■