THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1067, 4 March 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tho ASorld's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—ileyu-ood.

(By Sylvius.)

Henry Bernstein, Dusllist. The cables of Monday last stated that, as tho outcome of anti-Semitic riots at the first production in Paris of the new play. "Apres-Moi," the author, Henry Bernstein, had issued challenges for threo-duels. A veritable fire-eater is this Bernstein, surely, but a dramatist of tho modern school, who holds high rank, not only in France, but in England, Germany, and America, where his plays aro well known. For the sake of the stage let us venture to express the hope that ho lias comfortably disposed of his victims bloodlessly, and lias settled down to his desk once more. The cause of the disturbaneo appears to be a recrudescence of that violent, antiSemitic feeling which stirred the avenues and boulevards of Paris so intensely at tho time' of "L'Affaire Dreyfus," whence France, imagined it had been fooled by a Jew—a bitter humiliation. Bernstein is a Jcvr, and as the cable states, lie had confessed that he had deserted from the French Army 13 years ago—surely an injudicious admission or boast, 'i'lio first night of Bernstein's new play would be just the opportunity for a Parisian crowd to take its revenge for- ivha.t they would consider aii insult to tho flag.-We in Wellington, know Bernstein by his plav, "The Thief," performed hero by tho Williamson Company, headed by-Mr. Ilenry Kolker and Miss Ola Humphrey, some -'three years ago. Tho-boudoir scene, .between the thief-wife and-her husband., .was a vividly dramatic one, which left both artists and the audienco gasping with cxcit-ement. We are unfortunate not-to have.seen more of this dramatist's plays—"Le Marche," ' "Lo Detour;" "Joujon," "Frero Jacques," "La Bercail,'.' "La Griffe," "Samson." and "Israel." Hcnrv Bernstein should not' bo-confessed -with Mas Bernstein, the talented. German.dramatist.

Hugh Ward Stories. According to Mr. Hugh Ward, every actor has a few'stock stories. One of his deals was with a novice whoso first speaking part consisted of the line, "Tims ;i- rush among • you!" During rehearsal lie was .seen on the stage by one of the company saying the line over with little or no emphasis. The heavy comedian, in beneficent mood, approached. -"All, a-t-yro, I perceive! If I may be permitted, I would suggest that all emphasis be placed on the word 'thus.' You see, my dear fellow, you must impress, the audience that it is. 'thus' you do the rushing." The novice began practising, when the light comedy man suggested that, as ho was now to the game, he should emphasise his personality by laying stress upon the word "L" Altering his enunciation, the novice toiled on, to be pulled up by the leading lady with a remark that he was not dancing, or running, or walking, but rushing. "Say it like this," sho advised: "Thus I 'rush' among yo.ul" Like the old man with his ass, the new actor obeyed, only to bo told later that the word to be stressed was "among," while the final command from the stage-manager told him that lie-' must emphasise the fact that he was rushing amo,ng particular people. Say it like this: "Thus I rush among 'you'!" Being .the last word, this had to go; but on the night of the performance the new-comer, Hurried by the countlcss instructions ho had received. ,qinphasiscd, oyqry word in the line, with this result : i "Thusli I rusher amusher!"

Another relates to a corner-man from America, engaged;ln*. "Pony" -More; the well-known minstrel' manager, who died 'not long since in , England. The new •;man did not succeed in provoking any 'undue laughter on the partr of his audience. Calling him aside after he had been there three weeks, Moore informed him that he would be expccted to "make good" that night, "otherwise," he-added significantly, "there's a ship sailing next Wednesday." . Hence the comedian heat his brains ail he knew, and produced his great joke, which was 'to catch the t-own,__at that niglrt'-s .performance. But the difference in pronunciation upset his scheme entirely.

.' "Why," lie demanded of the inter.locutor, "is an old maid like a tomato?" (pronounced "to-may-to," with the "a" r.s in "potato.") The answer was "Because sho has 110 one to mato her." ; To his dismay, the interlocutor queried, "I don!t know, George; why is an old maid like a tomah-to?"

"Because the sWip sails next Wednesday," responded poor George in his utter confusion." Henry Keikcr a Star. Henry Ivolker, who supported Miss Margaret Anglin in Australia,, and who headed a Williamson Dramatic Company in Now Zealand three years ago (playing "The" Thief"), is r.ow starring in America, in .a -play called "The Great Name," under Henry Savage's management. .The Chicago "American" says of the plav:—"The story is gripping, it plays on the heartstrings ■ a-tuneful anthem- of self-sacrifice, of; generoushearted friendship that brings back the story of. 'Tho Music Master' and revives its teachings. Though it deals with music and the men who make it, tho play is not a musical production. It leaves tlio impression of a\lilting lyric with a lesson —a spoken appeal to the musical heart that is intensely impressive."

Henry Dixsy Dead. Henry E. Dixcy, a talented American actor.- died at New York on February 10. For some time he had suffered from locomotoi\ataxia, and had been going blind. Deceased was born in Boston 011 January 6, 1850, and made his first appearance in that city as Peanuts in Augustin Daly's play "Under the Gaslight:" Ho "was equally 'at lioine'ift "light"""opera" ahd'eomedy, and played such roles in America as the Lord Chancellor in "lolanthe," Laurent in "La Mascottc," and S.vkos in "The Merry Duchess." Ho made a pronounced hit as Adonis in the burlesque'of that name,' which he played in London in 1886, and in which he gave a wonderful imitation of. the lato Sir Henry Irving. "A vast variety of performances included the leading comedy parts in "The Solicitor," • "Patience," "The Sorcerer," "Facing the Music," "Little Mary," and "The Man on the Box." His sketch 1 "David Warrick" was well known at all the leading vaudeville houses in the States. Noias, Mr. Walter Monk has arrived in Auckland to make tlio advance arrangements for tho Hugh Ward Comedy Company. The American farce, "Seven Days," is to bo the star bill,on the tour. Katherine Ivaelred (who appeared in Wellington with Mr. Julius Knight in "Ilobinhood," and other plays, under the name of Miss Elbert Orton) is playing the lead in New York in H. A. Jones's new play, "We Crin't bo as Bad as All That." H. S. Sheldon, who wrote "Salvation Nell" and "The/Nigger," has produced another strong plav entitled "The Havoc." There are only four characters in the play. Ernest Von I'ossart, the distinguished German actor, is touring the United States. Writing to the Foxton "Herald," Mr. C'has. Taylor, of the Taylor-Car-rington combination, states that owing to a demand for musical and farcical coined,v.he lias formed a. company to present this form of amusement to his many New Zealand patrons.

'George Anson, a strong chancier actor, popular with. the Hruiigh-ltouci-cault Company twenty years ago, is ap-1

poaring in "Suzanne," with Miss Billce JJurl-to, in New York. "Miss Hook' of Holland" lias boon revived successfully in Sydney with AYm. Crommell as. Slinks and Tom Walls 'as Hook. ..Mis:-, Winifred O'Connor is the new .Miss Hock. "ireliuvney of tho Wells," Pinero's charming play of early Victorian days, lias heen revived in New York. "Vanity Fair' 1 (Tliaekeray) has been dramatised by Robert Miekons and Cosmo Gordon-Lennox, and has been produced with success in New York, with -Ua ric Tempest as Bcckv Sharp. Miss Gcraldine Ferrar, America's great grand opera artist, lias made a I'JR hit as the goose girl in Humperdinek s new opera "The King's Son." Miss Ellen Terry' has been awarded a medal by the now theatre promoters for her lectures on Shakespeare in the United States.