THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1031, 21 January 1911, Page 13

THE THEATRE.

« Tlio World's a theatre; the Earth a stage— Heywood. (By Sylvius.) Another Klein Play. On Tuesday next the very excellent Williamson Dramatic Compnay now at tho Opera Houso will present Charles Klein's greatest success, "Tho Third Degree," a play whieli creatcd an enormous amount of interest and criticism when produced in America a little over two . years ago. Klein has a happy knack of embracing some vivid feature incidental to tho crowded life of America. In. "The Third Degree" ho exposes the methods by which the American police extort confessions from suspects before trial by liours of ceaseless | nerve-racking, bullying, crossexamination. The victim is taken iii hand by batches of skilled mental torturers, who do not allow him to sleep until -tliey have extorted some kind of confession or admission, and ill the case of weaklings, it is on record that though perfectly innocent, false confessions have been made througli sheer brain weariness and ii form of hypnotism induced by tho concentrated thoughts of tho examiners. This is tho case in ''Tho .Third Degree." Tho innocent suspect, against whom tliero is. strong circumstantial evidence, is racked to'a confession of murder, but ■is' ultimately saved from' payhig tho' final penalty by tho resource and" persistency of his wife! .. The play gives; both Miss Katlierinb Grey and Mr. Whir Desmond exceptional opportunities of' displaying their dramatic . ability. A Dawning star. Writing of the. assumption of the role of Leslie Brudenell in "The Profligate," by Miss Lizetto Parkes, 'the Auckland . "Star" . said"Concerning tHe playing—to say' that Miss Lizetto Parkes last evening gained all from the part-which .could bo extracted there-! fronr would' be to discount' what sho will infallibly do in tlie future. That thei'o are in this girl tho makings of an actress pf finer calibre, or rarer naturalness, of .greater insight, truer tenderness,' ..than any that have, yet achieved faiiie from this sido of the world, is, after last evening's arid for-' mer impressions, the firm- belief of this writer.. To say that she is already a great actress—or .did with : the- part what a great and finished artist like Jfiss Kato Rorko did—would bo absurd. But the intuition js there—tho artistic instinct for what.is right, natural, and true to life! is there—staginess of any sort, is absent, and there certainly was 'soul'—not affectation of soul—in tlio finalo to tho third act. Strength will como . with use, and ; confidence will breed ■increased strength, and 1 when those arrive-Miss Parkes' Leslie will be a notable impersonation. As' it is, no critic of experience could deny its present—if. immature—charm 'or neglect. for his reputation's sake to. pronoiinco' on the oxcollenco of its promise. Miss Lizetto Parkes lias a future, and aofine one." ■' ■ "Ths Camblers." : . 'Sir,. Cliarles Klein, tho American ' author.of.7- Lion.and tho. Mouse.'.' and "The Third vDcgree"- has; turned out another-strong 'well-constructed play .in "Tho Gamblers," produced in Now York, on October 31. The play concerns a bank director who has misused tho bank andj'the prosecution' foiiitho saino, conducted'-,by. ; tho District' : Attorney oil-- motives of .personal h'ato and jealousy father than in .accordance with .his sen so of official duty! The lesson of the play (says a "New Yorkjournal) is almost negligiblo;in spite of• tlie ..fact -that the defaulter is punished His . act is-not condoned' and ho is not made lovable by reason of it.' .'Tho methods of bank' looters are bared and the folly of crime in business is distinctly shown in the personal abasement "that comes to each participant: tiie point of interest is in the coming together of the defaulter and the wife of the. District Attorney, who formerly had. been, lovers, and had been'thrown apart by -circumstances.- Thus, it is not primarily-'a drama of moral,purpose, although, that'purpose is'not 'absent, but one of sentiment. In other words, tho sentimental, situation ; is.not unfamiliar, but the circumstances and tho treatment are. ■An associate in the criminal action had weakened . and had , turned over papers to tho District Attorney that would convict. In a scone of tenso interest the situation is discussed by tho men involved. A game of. cards lias been arranged for, and it is finally : agreed among them that the turn of-a card should designate tho ono Who is. to assume the responsibility, and becomo the victim of the inevitable indictment. . Tho-lot falls to Wilbur Emerson (George Nash)! He enters the. house of the District Attorney at night,, with, aidark lantern, to -abstract the papers from the desk of his personal- and-' offlcial; enemy. Tlie" wife discovers him-in.Oiis : search, secures possession of- tho' papers •herself, and will not listen to his pleading that she givo them to him: The District Attorney has had. liim shadowed by detectives and confronts him there. Ho believes that ho has 'como by appointment with his wife, but promises to listen, to liis explanation. He sends him out of tho room and calls his wife to have her confirm it. His questioning is of such a character that she, in her indignation, declines ■to ■ finish her story, and assents to his charges, and leaves him. • • VEverywoman." Walter Browne's play- "Everywoman," shortly to be presented in Now York by Henry W. Savagd, promises to bo a uniqve -production. To quote from the sub-title the play pictures, "Her (woman's) Pilgrimage in Quest of' Love.'! It is a-modern allegory expressed in terms of absolute realism. In its juxtaposition of allegory and intense realism, its intimate study of life in Now York of the present day, it is said to surpass anything ever put upon tho stage. In no senso a musical work, " Everywoman" has as a\very important feature a! musical equipment of tweny-six numbers. These include three solos, five choruses, a trio, a male quartet, three solo' dances and incidental numbers for the orchestra. The latter will number twenty-six pieces—as many as aro required for oven tho most elaborate operettas. George Whitefiold Chadwick, foremost among American composers of symphonies and songs, has written tho music.- One-of the scenes of tho play depicts the riotous revelry of a-char-acteristic New. Year's eve on Broadway, 400 persons being engaged in the scene. Other'details indicative of tho striking magnitude of the production include mention of a chime of bells, whoso 4000 pounds' weight will call for special .reconstruction of .' tho upper parts of tho stage, and of the fact that tiio regular company, not including the supernumeraries, will comprise, all told, about one hundred persons.— "Theatro Magazine." The secretary of a Now Zealand hall wrote, to the J. C. Williamson management in response to a request to book tho hall for a ono night performance of "Tho Lion and the Mouse" to say that lie, was not sure about letting tho place for an aniilial show. Oil former occasions it has been let for dog and monkey shows, and such like, and it was left in such a dirty condition -with bones and bits of food strewn all about, that tho committeo had decided not to let it for such entertainments in future. Matters were explained to the secretary, however, and permission obtained foi the performance of the Klein play.