THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. (Br Sylvius.) "Via Wireless." Here is a play built round a modern discovery—that messages can be flashed across space without wires. It was not to bo contemplated that such a discovery could miss the dramatist, so in "Via Wireless" we have all tho chief characters brought together at sea, and all the nice people rescued by the hero with the assistanco of a liner, which has been summoned by wireless. Tho story is "grippy," and thero are good acting chances in the play for all concerned in the record-breaking "Whip," save the horses, which r.ro now being given mild exercise in view of their pending engagement at Christchurch. "Via Wireless" is to be produced on Monday. From Honolulu. The Royal Hawaiians are to make their first appearance in the Concert Hall (Town Hall) this evening. These singers from the "Blessed Isles" are said to possess the gift of song and harmony in no ordinary measure, and their performances have the charm of originality. They sing tho old Hawaiian songs, dance the national hula, and harmonise familiar airs with much musical skill and vocal charm. "The Pink Lady." After being affected for so long with the formless hodge-podgo of vacuous theatrical nonsense, which usually passes muster on Broadway for "musical comedy" (says the New York "Theatre"), it is a genuine treat to come across a piece that not only has a musicianly score, clever lvrics and pleasing songs, but also a plot that keeps one interested and guessing from beginning to end. "The Pink Ladv" has all those qualities and more. It is a delight to eyo and ear, and at the samo time does no violence to tho intelligence. Unless all signs fail, this piece will have a long career of prosperity, and some of its catchy refrains will bo whistled by the street "gamins" for many a moon to come. The work is an adaptation by C. M. S. M'Lellan with music by Ivan Caryll, of "Le Satyr," a farce by Georges Borland Marcel" Guillemaud, which was one of the substantial Boulevard successes last season. It is not necessary to recount ,thc plot in detail here. Suffice to sav that the story has to do with tho adventures of Lucien, who takes his former iimamorata, Claudino ("The Pink Lady"), to a restaurant, and rinexpectcdly meets his fiancee. Claudino is introduced as Mme. Dondidier, wife of the old furniture dealer, all of which dohurs give rise to a series of extremely diverting complications. Unlike most pieces of this character, the fun develops logically out of the situations, and there is a consistent, well-defined action, not merely a number of variety acts strung disconnectedly together for the purpose of a "show." The curtain rises on a brilliant sceno in the forest of Compiegne. Thence the sceno changes to a furniture shop in the Rue St. Honore and later to the ball of the Nvmphs and Satyrs. Mr. M'Lellan has written a number of songs which are likelv to find popularity. 'The. Girl by the Saskatchewan" is a gem of its kiiid. while "Tho Beautiful Lady." "The Kiss Waltz" in the second act, in which the Pink Ladv teaches Dondidier some oscillatory exercises, and the ensemble. "DonnV Did, Donny Didn't, fairlv took the'hnuso by storm. "The Pink Lady" is a person whom we in New Zealand are bound to know more intimately in the future. Etna] Irving Coming. Miss Ethel Irving's season of comedy, opening ,iif Australia in July, will bo one of the great dramatic events of tho year. According to latest advices received hero bv Mr. Clyde Mcynell, this brilliant actress is bringing with her .a company of nine artists, most of whom have supported her in London and on tour. The best known of this group aro Mr. Stephen Ewart, George Alexander's most frequent understudy, and Halliwell Hobbcs, a character-actor of reputation. Others engaged are Gilbet Porteous, a one-time comic-opera artist, who appeared with success at the London Havmarket Theatre as Cnddlo in "Dollv Reforming Herself" (1908), and has"since played in comedy; Eily Malvon, a clever actress, Violet Ley, Florence Nelson, and two not yet reported. Mr George Edwardcs, a cousin of the entrepreneur, will represent Miss Irving's interests as manager. "As a Man Thinks." Augustus Thomas, who wrote "Arizona" of cherished memory, has _ written a play round the Jewish question in America. The drama hinges on a wife's attempt to exercise the right to go where life interests her just as her husband has exercised that right. The first act shows the household of Dr. Scelig, an elderly Jewish physician. His daughter 'Veda is courted, with her father's approval, by Benjamin Do Lota, a type of caddish young Jev<- who has an 'unsavoury past, but tho young girl loves Julian Burrill, a young sculptor. To this house come as guests Mrs. Clayton and her husband. Mr. Clayton lias stern notions of morality, but not when applied to himself. His infidelities are without number, but on his promise of repentance his wife has forgiven him. By accident she learns that he has bceii unfaithful again with the sculptor's model, and the indignant wife, ready to seek reprisals, turns to the cad Lota, who is quite ready to add another adventure to his list. The wife, o. course, had no idea of dishonouring herself, but Clayton discovers things, and in a lit of frenzy is about to turn her out of doors. The dramatist, however, with all tho tricks of the trade up his sleeve, is on hand to prevent any such contretemps. Their golden-haired six-year-old child is suddenly taken ill _ with some mysterious disease and his life is pronounced in danger, so, instead of turning his wife out of doors, Clayton goes away himself. The Jewish physician acts as peacemaker, and Clayton's suspicions aro happily dissipated when it is proved that the cad Lota was a year in a French prison. In tho last act the physician has to bear his own cross when ho learns that his daughter has eloped with the sculptor. Notes. "The Prince and the Beggar Maid," "Walter Howard's now melodrama, will be produced by the Anderson Dramatic Company, with Mr. Harry Roberts and Miss Beatrice Day in the leading parts. This company will also produce "Lucky Durham" during the season, a play that was witnessed with pleasure two years ago, when Mr. Hareourt Beatty essayed the leading role. "The Mountebanks" is announced to appear in Charles Faweett's comedy "A Tragedy," at the Opera House on Thursday and Friday next. Those amateur players have several good performances to their credit, and, as tho old comedy is well within tho range of their capacity, they can fairly claim a respectful hearing from playgoers. Augustus Thomas will soon go to London (says the New York "Post"), and will there attend personally to tho arrangements for the presentation in that city and elsewhere in England of his admirable play, "As a Man Thinks." He wishes, if possible, to defer the performance) there until John Mason will be at liberty to play the character of Dr. Scelig. " This is a wise provision, doubtless, on his part, but it is not pleasant to think of John Mason playing for an indefinite period on tho othe: side of tho Atlantic. ' There are fewactors who could uot be more easily spared.