THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tlio World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—lloywooil. (By Syi.yius.) Miss Crey's Garoor. Miss Katherino Grey, tlio famous American tragedienne, who will make her first appearanco in New Zealand at the Opera. l'lmiso on Wednesday night next, is a Californian .by birth. Sho began her theatrical career with tlio Daly's at New York.' Amongst sonic of her greatest triumphs are Marise Toysan in "Tho Thief," with Mr. Jvyrlo Bellow as Richard Voysan, tho ingenue in "The Comforts of Homo," licxano to Mr. llichard Mansfield's Cyrano do Begornc. Slid also appeared in "Whirlpool," with Mr. Charles AValdron; who is. at present a firm favourite in New York, in "Wolfville" with Mr. . Nat Goodwin. Miss Grey has also been in management on her own behalf, having played with great success Bernard Shaw's plays at the Lyceum Theatre, New York. She has played "Candida," was in "The Man of Destiny," appeared as Gloria, in "You Never Can Tell," and enjoyed tlio honour of her first part in Shavian comedy with Richard Mansfield, in whoso production of "Tlio Devil's Disciple" she was. Her threo greatest- successes achieved during recent years wore in "The Lion and the Mouse," "The Third Degree." and "Paid in Full." The Plimmor-Dsnnlstan Company.

Playgoers will be pleased to learn that the Plimmer-Denniston Dramatic Company, which made so favourable an impression hero in November last, is to play a short return season, in Wellington commencing, at the Opera Hotiso on February 11. The crowning successes during tho season just terminated in Auckland was the revival of Ganthony's delightful, comedy, "A Message from Mars," and Pinoro's powerful play, "Tho Profligate." Both plays wcro moro than well received, and.in each a remarkable success was achieved by Miss Jrizette Parkes in "grown-up" parts. Her grace and freshness of her pcrformanco as Minnie in "The Message.from Mars," and tljo extraordinary degree of emotional depth s!iq plumbed as Leslie Brudcnell was tlio'Subject of enthusiastic criticism, marking her down as a dawning star of tho first magnitude. The company will'play'at New Plymouth on January 16 and 17; Hawera, January 18 aild 19; Wanganui, January 20 and 21; Mniton. January 23; Foilding, January 24; ' Greytown, January 25.

A Popular Actross—Miss Bcatrico Day,

The news that ?diss Beatrico Day is to appear in the leading role with Mr. George , Willonghby's English Farcical Comedy Company, in "Mr. Prcedy and tho Countess," will bo rc'ceived with pleasure throughout theatrical circles in New Zealand. This accomplished actress has gained a solid reputation oyer here. Tlio fact that she is associated in playgoers' minds principally with emotional parts should in no' sense bo allqwed to detract from her ability and experience in comedy roles. Mis'p Day has played leads, for example, in sufch '. notable laughter-makers as "Niob6j" "Our Flat," "The Lady of "Charlie's -Aunt," "Tlra Pantomime- Rehearsal," "Betsy," "The Scarecrow,." "Quality -Street," and so on. She actually commenced her stage' career in farce, and curiously enough Miss Day's first "workshop" was in Mr. 9 c orgo Willonghby's Company, in the Old Country. She now rejoins her first manager therefore. In Auckland and New Zealand Miss Day will play the Countess in "Mr. Procily and the Countess." and Mrs. Goodby' in "What Happened to Jones."

Tlio "Blue" Children. Tho army of small children appearing in the New York production of "Tho Blue Bird"-—tlio largest number of children assembled on a theatrical stage in a single production—aro well cared for by tho management. Not only do they have their own nursery and n matron and.'assistants to'care for them, but their hours' of -.-rehearsals are -' restricted- and . tlicy are-.'sent, to school save on.matinee days; When rehearsals extend over tho luncheon or dinner hour, wholesome food is served on long tables set in the roof-garden enclosure. Up on tho roof the children play games and engage iii 'wholesome frolics, and, in their own .way, they certainly do "have a rippin' time!" (says a writer in the- ''Theatre Magazine",)'. They havo. their, own "Green Room," too. Olio need- only to look at these small children to understand why tho Bluo Bird stands for happiness! Even though • they aro real actors, and interpret symbolical characters, these "blue" children in tho play are tho same as other children; they arc, in fact, jus* "kids!" But that the children- are well and happy, each taught to bo useful in his Jittle sphere and to develop tho reasoning faculties, at tho samo time having health and morals well guarded .by a paternal management, should not bo without significance at this time, when there ijs.such widespread agitation over tho question of factory child labour laws and stage children. A Gay Quakeress. . "llio Quaker Girl," which is playing to such eminently successful business ih London at tho present time, and, under tho J. C. > Williamson direction will probably bo soon out hero later on, has been tho means of attracting ; a good deal of attention to that distinct sect from which the horoino of' tho musical comedy, is supposed to havo sprung: Tlio traditional Quaker is a ■solemn, sober being, but "The Girl" in thp reigning musical attraction of London is full of gaiety and brightness, and surely this is quite fitting. Evidence has been forthcoming lately that tho niorai record of tlio'Quakers is the cleanest in the world, and a clear conscience and a light heart aro generally supposed to go hand in hand. Anyway the George jidwarde's new 'musical comedy places tlio representative of tlio "silent" sect in a particularly favourable and attractive light. Yiddish Play hi New York. On tho night of November 25 there was produced at tho Lipzin Theatre, Bowery, New York, for tho first timo in America, Leonid Andreyev's "Anathema." It was done in Yiddish. .The "Tribuuo" \vns the only New York newspaper published in English to print ;> review of the play. Yet the playgoing public of tlie lower' East Side was profoundly" stirred by this drama,- and tho Jewish press printed columns about it. That people who do not 'understand the mixture of Hebrew and German known as Yiddish should go of their own accord to sco a play, in this languitgo is not to be cxpected, but it is surprising how much pleasure 0110 can derive from seeing a play of this sort with ono cyo 011 an English translation and tho other on tho actors. If ii bo true—and it is—that 110 play is really a play until it has an audience, then a real play was to'be seen at the Lipzin Theatre, where the audience was oi' as much interest as the actors and the. drama itself. "Anathema" was written in Russia. Herman licrnstcin made the English translation 011 which the Yiddish adaptation was taken. "Andreyev told 1110.that while bo was not a .Tew ■himself lie wanted to portray the Jew as lie has never before been pictured. "I'ho Jew,' lie said, 'lias always been before tho bar of justice—he has either been defended by his friends or attacked by his enemies. lie has never been depicted as he really is. I want to portray thp martyred Jew of all ages,"- "And it is remarkable," said

Mr. Bernstein', "how ho lias caught the psychology of his Jewish characters. I asked liini, 'How do you blow tlio Jews?' Ho replied, 'I lived with them for three days at Odessa.' Hut he said,. 'If one sees, a man's coat lie can tell what he is inside. All it requires is imagination.' "■ From America. Mr. Harold Ashton, who "has been away from Australia since last May ill the interests of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., returned to Australia last week, having completed the round trip. Mr. Asliton comos directly from America, and has much to toll about the siioccss of Australian artists there and the h.'gh opinion in which they arc held by American managers. He. also comes with interesting information regarding future J. C. ■ Williamson productions which have been recently securcd by that firm. Jottings. Mr. William Desmond, who will make his first appearance here with Mr. J. 0. Williamson's Katherino Grey Dramatic Company at the Opera House on Wednesday night next, in "Tlio Lion and tile Mouse," answered the call to arms for his country during the American-Spanish war, and ho went through the major portion of the campaign.' Mr. Desmond is a crack' riilo shot.. ' "Our Miss Gibbs" is still going on its way rejoicing in the undoubted popularity which it has achieved in Sydney. At a matinee on Monday, January 2, it registered its ono hundredth performance in Sydney, and tlio audience .on that occasion marked their gratification and appreciation by coming to tlio pcrformanco i, with humorous floral offerings, so that tlio stage was simply a bower of flowers.