THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1210, 19 August 1911, Page 10

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; tho Earth a stage.—lleywood. (Br STLVIU3.) W, S. Percy, Cynic. W. S. Porcy, the capable HI tie comedian, who has just signed on for another two years with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has, I am sorry to report, developed a vein of cynicism. It has broken out in tho form of a series of smart savings about things theatrical, many of which aro doubtless born of experience. T.-icso arc some of (hem: A'good actor is an actor who doesn't act. A head for figures doesn't always denote a lovo for statuary. Though tiio limelight man gets tho best view of the , piece, the. boy in the gallery gets the most enjoyment. Though the lending lady smiles at tho chorus, it doesn't follow they aro on her visiting list. Beauty has its uses. A girl's face may take your thoughts • off her mind.". Don't always judge a man by his habits. The miserable man in' tho corner reading I'ox's Book of Martyrs may bo a prominent comedian. An artist is a man who can make a .EICO picture out of a £o cowshed. To say that for three generations a man's family had used finger bowls, it doesn't necessarily mean that he has led a clean life. Don't forget that when the organist takes an encore, the man who provides tho wind is also throwing bouquets at himself.

Wo often see tha manager's name as part-authoiv.on a piny bill. Ilis part of the authorship is tho blue pencil. ' Never judgo an actor by his make-up box. Every show- is a troupe to a bushwhacker. The best way to a metropolitan theatre ■is through the one-night stands. Don't feel annoyed when the bush publican says: "Aro you with- the circus?- lie thinks he is paying you a compliment. When discussing a successful play with tho stage carpenter, never mention tho actors—they don't count. A manager has yet to be discovered who can mako every member of the travelling company feel they have the best cabin on tho ship. \ '■ It isn't always to keep people out that they close, tho ..doors during, a. solo at a concert. If they didn't, perhaps those inside might get out. Wh&n in doubt blame the callboy. The courso of a musical comedy plot never dicl run smooth. Eirst impressions kill tho understudy. An actor's impromptus have taken years of study. Tho smartest things don't conie. from the smart set; they only repeat them. Theatrical Matters in London. Miss Ellen Terry has -been appearing at His Majesty's Tteatre, London, as Mistress Page in "Tho Merry Wives ofWindsor," and it was evident, the btaudard" states, that "her bewitching personality had lost none of its force. I ho public cauio to be captivated, and cheered her to the echo. Even when the play was' dona ''they stayad ami clamoured for one moro" smile!" Sir -Herbert Irco has' provided'an all-star cast for, this revival of One of his most popular hhafcapearean productions. He appears as-l-al-staff, Mr. Arthur Bourchier as the. jealous Ford, Miss Violet Vanbrughas Mrs. Ford, Mr. Basil Gill as' Master I'onion; Miss Viva Birkett as Sweet Anno Page, as well as Mr.-A'. E. George., Mr. Edward Sass, aud Mr. E. M. Robson. This autumn's. London season will be distinguished by Sir John Hare's return in< a part which will give scopo to tho "feeling of character, the piquant toi-ce, ease, and' naturalness of his acting —a leading l'olo in "Tho Marionettes, M. Pierre -Wolff's comedy. Miss. Marie Loiir will-be prominent iu the cast. . Miis 'Evelyn : D'Alroy and.Mr. Cyril Keightlcy; have ■ been . engaged by Mr.' Arthur .Collins, to. take tlw two leading parts in' the .new drama-which Messrs. Cecil- Kalcigh and Honry Hamilton arc now at work upon for Dniry Lano Theatre. . • . Mr.' Martin; Harvey,, arranging .a .series I of matinees of "Pelleas and Me isande, with Mrs. Patrick Campbell in the lead, engaged Mr'. Arthur Wontner to play tho partof Golaud, and Miss Aim* Murray to take that of Queen. Gencvieve. Ellen Terry May Gome. In "his search of Europe for "show" attractions for. Australia. Mr. Beaumont Smith, besides securing tho "Tiny Town' organisation of midgets for a lour of the Commonwealth, has arranged with Mr. Nat. Gould, the well-known sporting writer, to visit Australia next year on a lecturing tour, dealing with sporting subjects. "I havo also practically completed arrangements with Miss Ellen Terry," states Mr. Beaumont Smith, "and I havo every hope that sho will visitAustralia next .March, giving a series of Shakespeare recital?." A Famous Conductor. Tho death is announced at Munich of the celebrated conductor. Felix Mottl, who was personally acquainted with Wagner. Quito early in his career, he attracted the attention of Wagner, of whoso works hu was a devoted and enthusiastic admirer, producing all the music dramas witli the exception of "Parsifal." In Ifi6(i, and often subsequently, he conducted at Bnyrcuth. Ho visited England for tho iirst lime in IMM, cmnlncting the Wagner concerts organised by Mr. Schullz-Cm-tiu.s, ami repeated his visit annually until 1808, the last year being remai'kabie for the great viitliiisiusm aroused by his conducting of three cycles of "The liing." Slulil's synipalliies,-lioh-ever, were by no means con fined to Wacner's music, for he shamed Franco by producing the- tlireo operas of her prciit neglected musical son, Hector Berlioz, besides which he directed performances at Munich every year of Mozart's works at the Priii/. Itegent Theatre. All hough bis chief work was that of a conductor, Moltl found time tn edit many of Berlioz's compo-ilions, Cornelius's "Barber of I!audad," and even to compose. "His first opera, "Agnes Dcrnauer," was .successfully produced nt Weitnnr in issn, nncl two othersj. "Hanun , '- aad -'Purst and Sanger,"

Nt Karlsruhe tbe followine year, other worl;s boins u I-'cstpi"!, "Kljorstein," a j Transpir , !, "J'iin im Busch," :i quarlct. son?.-, o!c. Ho was (rained at the Confervatnrium at Vicima, where he greatly distinguished himself. "Lady Frederick." Miss Ethel lrving i during the past'fortnight has been delighting llellourno in "Lady Frwlorick," a character which, after a brilliant career in London -as a singer and dancer in imis-irnl pieces raised her to a pinnacle of authoritative appreciation us an actress. "Lady. Frederick" was produced at tho Court Theatre, London, jurt four years ago, and ran for a year with Mis* Irving in tho name-part, in spite of transfer to iivn different West End houses. Incidentally, Miss Jrving's brilliancy helped to make a fortune for tho then unknown author, William Somerset Maugham. Artist and author having been thus early associated in tho Ini'uing-point of e;ich other's career, it is rjuito a happy stroke of falo which enables tho actress thus to introduce the 1 now successful dramatist to Australia. Notes. Jlr. 'William Anderson's company, after cnncliiding a highly successful season in ■ the South Island, will present on Mon- . day evening, Aiisust 23, the successful racin? drama, "The Chance of a Lifetime." This is tlii.' first play from the pen of Hie sporting writer. Xnt Gould, and it should 1)0 of additional interest ; to theatre-goers by reason of the fact that, for many years, the author was a journalist in Australasia, as well as a racing . expert. . i Mrs. Robert B rough c'amo into her ; own once more during the Melbourne season of'the Plimnier-Donnistoi) Company.

Mr. C. Smith, of Oriental Bay, was present on tho In3t night o£ the scusin, when "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" was played. Re states that the occasion was a notable olio. Tho theatre was packed, and hundreds had lo be turned away. Thoro was a waggon load of flowers for Mrs. Brougli and Miss Lizette Parkes, ,and bol\i Mrs. Brougli and Mr. Plimmer had to make speeches. Mr. Charles Berkeley will be advance representative and Mr. Richard Stewart manager for _ the _ Royal Comic Opera Company, which is to coaimenno a tour with "Our Miss Gibbs" at Wellington, on October 11. • ...•■.■■ A peculiar caso was before tho Albany (N.S.W.) police court on July 31. Alfred Fillis, a circus proprietor, was charged /with endangering the limbs of his.daughter, Bertha Fillis, by causing her to go through certaiu acrobatic performances. Tho girl stood with one foot on each of two chairs, which were gradually drawn apart. The girl then bent backwards and picked up with her teefli a hat from the floor. Defendant gave evidenco that tho child's limbs were not endangered. Tho cMe was dismissed.