THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tbo World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.— Heywood. (By Sylvids.) Mr, H. R. Roberts and Miss Day. | Oil Monday Wellington .theatregoers will have an opportunity of renewing an acquaintance with two well-estab-lished stage favourites. I refer to Mr. H. 11. Roberts and Miss Beatrice Day, who head the Clark and Mcyncl! "Pete" Company. Jlr. Roberts is perhaps the brightest and most versatile of the younger school of Australian actors, and is possessed of what -J. M. Barrio would term "pairts" enough to grace almost any comedy or dramatic role. His talent is not circumscribed by any means, for Mr. Roberts has, to my knowledge, played Macduff to Walter Bentloy's Macbeth meritoriously, and has won garlands as "Hans the Boatman" ; lie has rollicked through "David Garrick," and has given Australia a very good John Stofel in "Struck Oil." He was last here with "The Prince Chap," a somewhat weedy comedy, which gave the actor little fchanco to display the full range of his art. As Pete, Mr. Roberts gets a chance in a part, I estimate, should be excellently suited to his temperament and personality, Miss Day is a cultured actress, who has been well trained in tho most approved methods. With the late Mr. Herbert Fleming, Miss Day was seen in many and varied parts, and-in all she displayed a culture and dramatic aptitude, wedded to a prepossessing appearance, that placed her in a high place in the affections of the play-lovers of this city.

King Edward at the Play. "King Edward VII as Playgoer" would (says "Vedette" ill tlio London "Sporting and Dramatic News") make an interesting article if it were written by one with' time and facilities for an exhaustive study of his late Majesty's unwearying patronage of the theatre. King Edward as dramatic critic, also, would be worth writing about by anyone who had been .privileged to know him'intimately in that capacity, and to listen to the shrewd comments upon plays and players inspired by unusually wido experience, unrivalled memory, and singularly catholic taste.. "With his robust intelligence, the King naturally had little sympathy for the efforts of the cranky school in its developments of the "advanced" drama, which is not drama at all, but merely egotistic talk placed by clover writers in the moutlis of clever puppets for tlio suggestion of no individual charapters save those of its authors. But he enjoyed thoroughly all that was best either as dramatic art or as- theatrical entertainment, and it is worth chronicling that while just beforo he left for Biarritz he went to see "Tlio Tenth Man" and "Dame Nature," he was at the Comedy for "Alias Jimmy Valentine" exactly a week before his lamented death. I am not sure that King George is quite so keen on the play as was his father, but he is at any rate very fond of it, especially when, he can take his sons with him to share his- enjoyment, as they did when they accompanied him to "The Scarlet Pimpernel" only two days beforo their grandfather suddenly passed away. As to Queen Mary, sho is known to bo a constant playgoer, as intelligently enthusiastic as any manager could wish to welcome; and the 'influence of her gracious patronage is sure to be of the happiest.

Julius Knight's Portrait Callery, ; "I always liko to think that I stall be remembered in the dramatic history of Australia," said Mr. Julius Knight to an interviewer in Sydney during the past week. Jj'or some thirteen years tho star actor lias been almost alone in the croatiou of new roles in . this part of the world. Tho character of Henry of Navarre at the Theatre Royal may bo regarded as the last in tho romautic line in which Mr. Knight will bo seen for some considerable time, as he is going to England later in the year for a holiday rest. Appearing here first with Ada Ferrar, thou with Maud Jeffries, and now in association with Miss Katherine Grey, tho popular actor has given us Rudolph ill "The Prisoner of Zenda," Marcus in "The Sign.of the Cross," Napoleon in "A Royal Divorce," Fabian and Louis in "The Corsican Brothers/' Wilfred Denver in "The Silver King," Eil de Berrault in "Under the Red Robe," David Kingsley in "Harbour Lights," Ulaudo Melnotte .in "The Lady of Lyons," Prince Dimitry in "The 1 Resurrection," the title role in "Monsieur Beaucaire," David Rossi in "The Eternal City," the title role in "David Garrick," Pygmalion in "PygmaJion and Galatea,'' Kara in "The Darling of the Gods," the title role in "Every Man,", Geoffrey Mohun in "His Majesty's Servant," the title role in "Robin Hood," Francois Villon in "If I Were King." The long list includes: The title role in "Raffles," the title role in "Brigadier Gerard," Sir Percy Blakaney in "Tho Scarlet Pimpernel," 1 the title role in "Claudian," Rat Rareby in "The Breed of tho Treshams," Lagadere in "The Duke's Motto," Janques Bemez in "Tho Sacrament of Judas," Corporal Brewster in "Waterloo," Richard Brewster in "The Third Degree," John Kyder in "The Lion , and the Mouse," tho chocolate cream soldier in "Arms and tho Man," and tho title role in "Henry of Navarre."

; Mr. Knight may lay claim to versatility with such a repertoire. ,"I have always been happy in my work," ho confesses, and it is well known' in the profession that there is seldom a day when he is absent from tho theatre. Your most popular character—what would you say it was? Mr. Knight replied: "I think if you could take a vote of the public it would be found' to be either Beaucaire or Napoleon. At one time it would have been Marcus Superbus. When I came hack' to Australia after my first trip to England, playgoers thought I could no nothing but" Marcus. I had to livo him down in a way. My mind and thoughts.change'with each character I impersonate, and it is no affectation to say this. _ I seldom realise the character fully until I am dressed for it. AVitii the scenery and tho clothes 1 get tilio 'feeling' of it all. 'Henry of Nararrc' will bo my last romantic folo in Australia., I think it very unlikely that such an attractive play will conic along for many a day. has tho story and tho atmosphere., and, so far from being a one-actor piece, it gives all tlie char" acters Tine opportunities." New Productions.

'"The Whip" and "Tho Brass Bottle" two J. C. AVilliamson acquisitions, which were produced in London within a fortnight of each other—will both seo tho light in Melbourne at a not very distant date from each other. Tho scenery of botli pieces will bo undertaken in Melbourne by Mr. W. R.. Coleman and his stalf, and will he no light matter for, while "The Whip" is considered to be almost as big a production as a panlomimo, "The Brass Bottle" is intricate,' and, to manage all the novel effects which are brought about by tlio grateful "jinnee," much careful thought and skill will require to be exercised. In connection with the presentation of "Tlio Brass Bottle," it was thought necessary to have a thoroughly experienced man, and one thoroughly conversant with tlie. piece, to supervise its production out here, and, accordingly, Mr. Claudo .Vonion has been engaged by

J. C. Williamson for tliis purpose. He is expected to arrive in Melbourne towards tlio end of this month, and the English contingent of members of the company left London a week or so later than ho did. July 23 is the date iixed for the iirst production of "The Brass Bottle" in Melbourne.

What Am I? American stage slanjj is remarkably graphic, according to Miss Toby Claude, who is to appear in "A Knight for a Day." Tile vaudevillo artist there does not chronicle a success as a hit. "I was a riot" or "I toro tho house wide open," or "my act lifted the roof off New York." Miss Grace Edmond, now appearing in "The Dollar Princess" in Sydney, also comes from tho land of the Stars and Stripes. "You call your small dance groups hero 'pony ballots,' " she said. "In America they are advertised as 'broilers.' A 'broiler' is a spring chicken. No one, from the star to the supernumerary, ever knows iHiat outrageous term a manager is going to apply to one in our country. Most of us stipulate in our contracts, consequently, what it is to be." Notes.

. Mr- Goonto Stephenson, of Dunedin, is now in command of "The, Wanderers" Company, which bsgan a country tornin Australia List weok. The singing of the Abbey Quartet will be ono of the features of the enterprise.

New Zealand will probably see Miss Lizette Parkes, who, made such a eharmiiig Peter Pan, as principal. gir! in Williamson's pantomime, "Aladdin," which is due in the Dominion next month.

Included in the forthcoming "Brass Bottle Company for Australia will be Miss Dora llignold, who' made herself so popular in tho George Musgrovo Shakespearean Company some time ago out here. She will take the part of Sylvia Futvoye, who is engaged to Horace Ventimore, and who has misgivings as to the sanity of her fiance after he falls into the well-meant, but rawer-, embarrassing, clutches of the released "Jinnee."

iT Orchid. 1S to 'revived in Melbourne this evening by the Royal Comic Opera Company.

ilr. Dion Tit-heradge, who first made the acquaintance of an Australian audience with the Margaret.Anglin.Com. pany, and followed up his initial success by appearing from time to time with various J. C. Williamson companies, returned to' England by the Osterley last week.