THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tho 'World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heyw.ood. (Br SrLvms.) Why Australian? Concluding a life story interview in the Sydney "Theatrt," Mr. Allen Hamilton says:— "Latterly I have had every reason to he satisfied with my own speculations. I have frequently had three nnd four companies on the road at the same time. At present I have only or.e, the company headed by Ilarry Plimmer, Reynolds Denniston, Mrs. Brough, aud Lizette Partes. Tho company has been wonderfully successful in 'Nobody's Daughter,' a play which we recently secured from London. It will he seen here for the first time at the Palace Theatre on September 10. Within, the past few days we have also secured a comedy, 'Inconstant George,' which will bo put on hero during tho company's Sydney season. The success which has attended tho 11.-P.-D. Co., in plays of a som;ivhat superior character, and with practically an all-Australian caste, has exceeded our wildest anticipations. Aro we not justified in feeling proud of sueh an achievement r" M'hy Australian? Both Mr. Harry Plimmer and Mr. Reynolds Denniston are New Zealanders born and bred. Mrs. Brough was formerly Miss Trevelyan, of the English stage; Miss Valentine Sidney (Mrs. Denniston) is an English actress; and Miss nolroyd also hails from tho "Long White Cloud." Mr. Hamilton might take pride in the fact that tho company is presenting a good and clean class of play most efficiently, but that is perhaps not so much due to him as to tho artistic leaning of Messrs. Plimmer aiid Denniston. Art is universal, and, as long as acting is nlaced among the arts (it frequently sinks below such a oonsidera. tion), the public do not cars a jot whether an actor comes from Timbuctoo or Wigan if he please them. Much is made in advertisements of imported people,, but tho value of such does not extend over the first week in the large cities, and the real "strength" of a new actor or actress is always known among'those suf. ficicntly interested to inquire long before they reach New Zealand. "The Chocolate Soldier." "The Chocolate Soldier," to hand at Melbourne Royal (says the "Bulletin"), comes up to expectation at all points. Tho music, melodious and full-bodied, runs on grand opera lines, tlio spectacle is rich, the story compact, the acting almost as good as the singing—and in that respect expectation is exceeded.Of course, there is within" of broad, unrestrained low comedy in The Chocolate Soldier"— no privileged funny man wh~, "gags" as he pleases ond breaks tho continuity cS the piece by introducing an irrelevant turn with the soubrette. It is a fairly close parody on Shaw's "Arms and the Man," plus chorus and scenic trimmings. In a synopsis of tl ■> plot a London writer said: ''Only in tho first net is the 'musical version at all like the play. Prom then onwards the librettists present an imbroglio that is mainly'of their own conception." As a matter of fact, the plot, of Shaw's comedy is outlined throughout tho opera. The note of musical success is struck by Miss O'Connor in an early solo with a lovely waltz refrain,, which recurs in tho second act, and again at the close of the third. Mis? O'Connor has never before looked so pretty, sung so triumphantly or shown such aptitude for archness of ex-1 prcssion. The lady, who was rather hard, cold, and angnlaT in "Tom Jones," gets near to coquettish vivacity where it is needed in this case, and strangely enough she is weakest when she affects the lofty air of a mock idealist. Her ducts with one an-1 the other man are veiy effective. Epiridoff, tjie posing nnd imposing tenor (Noel Fleming). fills the bill in appearance and affectations of manner, and brings a sweet, chesty voice into action, whilst Hie cheerful baritone Chocolate Soldier (Leslie Oa7.e) represents frivolity in a hurry. His stylo is amateurish, but vigorous and jovial. Regarded as a healthy, good-humoured younK singer doing Ilia best to make things lively, Gara is a success. His part "goes"—not in tho right way; but no matter. Ho at least gets a rn'ovi o;i ii If he isn't quaintly humorous, he is brisk, anyhow.

A Lost Voice. Word of the death of Mr. Thomas Kingston, the English actor who is so well known in Wellington, rec.-.lls a remarkable incident, which occurred in immediate connection with that.actcr ten years ago. It was during the Nance O'Noil season at His Majesty's Theatre at the timo of (he opening of the Commonwealth Parliament.. Tho company had played several hard-working plays, including a new production—the only one ever given in Australia—of Ibsen's intensely morbid, drama,. "Lady Inger of Ostrot." In this play Mr. Kingston played the irresistible Nils Likke, the knight of tho shining armour, whose glance was fatal to 'any woman. It was a long "talky" part/and towards the end of tho run Mr. Kingston's voice gavo out completely. Here was a pretty mess, with "Macbetli" to go up on tho Saturday night, with Mr. Kingston as the Thane of Glamis. Anyhow Saturday came, and with it "Macbeth"—in this ease a silent husky Macbeth, whose first whisper—"So foul and fair a day I have not seen"—was hardly audible to those in the wings, let alone the audience, yet such was Mr. Kingston's conceit (or shall wo call it doggedness) he would not relinquish the part, and an indulgent management were content to permit the production to run with a voiceless Macbeth. During that time, no one could get. a word out of Kingston in tho daytime. He answered everything with signs and gestures, and even at meals ordered what he wanted by indicating it on tho menu. It was peculiar that nothing at all was at fault—he did not even have a cold. It was merely a case of a voico tired out. That experience left a vocal huskiness which the actor had lo his last day. It is a warning to actors and others never to strain the voice over its capacity. A SuccosSful Company. The Plimmer-Denniston Company has just finished a big season at Broken Hill twelve nights, which is a long season for tho big mining town in the big Australian desert. Thcv becamo favourites at once, and by the end of the season tho enthusiasm had become so great that the theatre could not contain all who wished lo be present. Strangely enough, "Tho Passing of the Third Floor Back" was the most popular bill. On the last night there was much enthusiasm, speech-mak-ing, and presentations. . Miss Valentino Sidney was presented with a brooch, Mr. Gilchrist (tho treasurer) was presented by tho front of the liouso staff with a handsome silver-mounted- flask, and as the train left 011 Sunday evening, September 3, Miss Lizette Pa rices was presented with a beautiful French travelling clock. There were 3000 people on the station to. see the company off, and- Mr. Harry Plimmcr had ta make a sp;ech. Shakespearo tho Librettist. With Mr. H. B. Irving in Shakespeare and Melba in grand opera, both in Australia, it seems a good time to tell a story of the great Italian musician and composer, Arditi. 110 was taken to Strat-ford-on-Avon, but it was plain that tho associations of the place left him entirely unmoved. His hosts tried to spur him to appreciation with references to Shakespeare. "Shakespeare, you know," they said, "who wrote 'Otello,' 'Romeo et Juliet.'" "Ah, yes," admitted Arditi, a smile of comprehension lighting his face, "Shakespeare the librettist." Mile, Lantclmc Drowned. Mile. Lantelme, the well-known French actress, and in the opinion of many tho prettiest woman in Paris, has met with a tragic fate, being drowned on July 25, whilo on a holiday yachting trip with her husband, M. Edwards, 0110 of tho founders of the "Matin." Mile. lantelme was married quite recently, her husband being a very wealthy man." and a great patron of the drama and literature. Three weeks ago they left Paris for a cruUe up the lihino i.n their yacht Aimce. They had got to Emmerich. on the Dutch frontier, where, the river is broad and turbulent, anil it was hero that, tho tragedy occurred, Mile, r.antelme falling out of a window of the boat and being'earried away by the current. The Aimee, which was usually spoken of as a yncht, is rer.llv a r-ort of luxurious houseboat. She had no portholes,

but regular windows, which explains liow the actrp»« could havo fallen out. The inside of the boat is furnished like a liousa; there are no berths, but large, uoiul'orlablp bedsteads.

Mrange In say. Mile. Lantclme did not Mem to care much for the boat. "It Elves me tin: shivers every lime I go on board," sho oiicp s-aid, laughingly. Great regret is felt in Paris at: Mile. Lantelme's sad end. She was a beautiful brunette, and as witty and clover n.-i shc> "as charming. She" had worked hard at her profession, and was rapidly forging her way to the very front rank. One of her recent successes was at Iho Kenais-

- fiinco in "La Gamine," in which slio took [ l lio title-role of a tom-boy. She also . made a groat liit as tho home-wrecking t M." 1 , 0 - Alaino ill 11. Po.rte-Riche's "I,c . \ ioil Homme." Her last appearance was lu "V'lan," 11. Bip's amusing revue. - Sara's Leading Man. Madam Sara. Bernhardt", ever youthful ' herself, likes her companions lu bo young also. Her new loading man, M. I.ou 'J'ol- | legen, ia just twenty-four, and doesn't , look much more than that, lie-was born in Athens, and is the son of a Greek gen- . oral. His mother was a Dutch dancer. ' Ho lived as a boy in Holland, and began his career on the stage as a ' at the age of thirteen. Hut. his ambition was to learn French, aiul be an actor ' in Paris, mid to this end ho bent all his • efforts. During this period cf study ho , went to Brussels, where he had much difficulty in procuring work, and experienced great distress nnrt poverty. Final- : l.v he secured a position as model to one •of the celebrated sculptors there—aiul also [ learned something of the art itself. 1 At last tho moment, arrived when lie ' could go to Paris. But three or four 1 days previous to liis departure a griev--1 ous misfortune overtook him in the loss [ of all his savings by theft. To most men ' this misfortune would havo proved an l absolute discouragement, but not to Lou ' Tellegen. His plans were made, and ■ with thirty francs in his pocket ho start-. ■ Ed for Paris. ' _ Although he is so young, 31. Tellegen is a linguist and a writer, a man of 1 mucli talent and enterprise, and has al--1 Teadv written several dramas. He was ; for two and a half years at the Paris ' Conservatoire, and from there went, to tho ' Odeon Theatre, and later to the Porte St. Martin. His looks are not his least valuable possession. "I Pagliacci' in Tabloid, An abridged version of "Pagliacci" conducted by the composer, Siguor Leonca- ; vallo, is shortly to be presented at tho , Hippodrome. Sir Edward Moss announces that ho has been two years bringing iibout this engagement. Signer Leoni cavnllo brings from Italy his own eom- ■ pany and orchestra. "Pagliacci," one of ; the composer's early efforts, is said to havo been written when'times were particularly bad with him. No musician ■ has, in fact, had a harder struggle in i his time. The son of a Neapolitan magistrate, he completed his first opera at the ago of nineteen. It was ou the tragic story of Chatterton, but the real tragedy of tho business was that the impresario decamped, leaving the youngster penniless. He then made a tour of Europe, giving lessons in singing and the pianoforte in the leading towns. Notes. •T. B. Atholwood, the well-known character actor, who gives a clever study of tho old butler, Eodgers, in "The Speckled Band" at tho Princess's Theatre, has been a keen student of Shakespeare for some timenfet. Ho has devoted cousidcrablo study to Hainlct, and has recently completed a revised and condensed version of that play, which, on being shown to literary authorities, received great commendation. Mr. Atholwood submitted it to tho attention of the Adelaide Repertory Theatre, and they have decided to triko it in hand with a viow to producing it early neit year. : The Plimmer-Dcnniston Comedy Company. the most successful organisation of its class in Australasia, will commence a season at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, this evening in "Nobody's Daughter." Tho alterations at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, havo considerably changed and improved tho appearance of til-; house. The proscenium arch curves outward right'into the auditorium, changing tho contour of the dress-circlo completely. It is decorated in s colon: •Scheme of cream, blown, and gold, while tho footlights aro all hidden from view. The result is a soft amber glow of light over the house. Of tho eight new boxes which havo been added, the two entered from the stalls and dress-circle are beautifully furnished. Juan Bonaparte, who claims to bo a genuine descendant of the great Napoleon, and is admittedly strikingly like him, has made a success iu Englaiut in a "sketch" specially written for him to go Nap in. Now that he has proved that he can act,, he i? to be given a elianco in a revival of "A Royal Divorce."