THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE

U+- : ' '" ' j The World's a theatro; the Earth a ] stage.—Heywood. - ] (By, Silvius.) j "The Woman in tho Case." Clyde Fitch's powerful play "The Wo- j man" in the Case,'' is the next theatrical attraction at the Opera House. 11ns pl.iy mado a big fortune for its author in ( America, and is accounted one ol tic strongest plavs of the many which he wrote. The 'company, which comes to Wellington under Hie direction o J. U Williamson, Ltd. (being one of the attractions controlled by Clarke and Mejnell when the recent amalgamation took place) will commence its season here on Fridav next, November 3. Its ranks include" two English actresses of excellent reputation in Miss Elinor loslv ; r and Mi»s Mabel Trevor, who have established themselves as capable exponents ot Ing dramatic roles in the English provinces and in Svdnev and Melbourne, lhe company "also'includes Mr. Gerald K. Soupcr, Hugh Buckler, Martyn Keith Arthur Cornell, Josenh Urennan, John do Laccy, Walter Grenville, Miss Florence Gret on (Mrs. Sonper),'Miss Violet Page, and Jliss Nellie Mortvne. The repertoire of the company also includes Porter Liuerson Brown's play "A Fool There Was. J. C. Williamson in London. The London "Era," August 2G, reprints the following from the New Kcvicw":— . T "You may have a piece, said Jlr. J. C. Williamson iu the course of an interview, "that has run years over here; you may produce it in Melbourne or bydney in the most complete and elaborate style, the newspapers there may praise play and presentation to the skies, and still the public may refuse to patronise the show. This decs not happen often, but it does happen sometimes, and there is no explanation for tlic fact that your theatro is empty night after nighv, except that the piece has not 'caught on. .-ow, on the contrarv, a play may not have had much success in New Yorit and 1/mdon, the Australian papers may treat it indifferently, but it may, nevertheless, 'catch on', and then everybody will go to see it. not once, but a dozen times. When a piece makes a success [hero .Ho question the people ask is not have you seen it?' but 'how many times have you seen it?'" ... .„ "What do you do with your failures .- the Australian manager was asked "Ciose them up and pocket (lie loss as ehoerfullv as possible. If the people m Svdnev 'and .Melbourne do not- like a plav. there are onlv three or four important* towns that yen can take it to. I urn there is a jump of seven nays to \>e s -l| Australia, and another of three days by . ocean to New Zealand, 'lhe great riis-j timers that a company has to trove! over j cat up all (lie small profits. II is only a big success (hat-can afford to make sum iuirns as we have over there.' "ITa- Australia produced any plr.y"Nonc of importance. The country is too voung. Yoi; must rr-meiebot that i. was"settled bv lhe Emrlich only about ITi -rears ago.' Plav-writing is one of the 'last arts thai develops in a newlysoUled cmintrr. Thee were no drama!'.'ls in \roeriee for centuries after it was settled. Tn fact, the Ameriran drimn.'st has only come lo the front dunng the mtt "eiie-alion. When T was an actor hero, in the 'sixties, there wero no American playwritrbts. nnd very few r.f eonfonuenee annearcd during tho following tventv years. "Bill 'we are devolenin? many good actors nnd actresses. In feet, conditions nre lMenl for reeVing cnnabln players. is nl-ont the enly place in lhe. w-i-rld whe!*e a net'w can cenuire the rielit Our dramat ; e eoinpanics are all enrar's°d f" r rercT.ory i-ork. Tiie actor has p'enty of onnorrunily in a variety of roles, and is never kept waiting for a part."

New Plays in London

Amongst tho new plays which havo blossomed with the beginning of the T/m----don seafon are Mr. Alfred Stilro's "Perplexed Husband" and Mr. Henry Arthur Jones's "Tho Ogre." Tho first is (lcsenl>cA bv the "Telfgraph." critic as.." The Doll's Ilouw' tipsidr down." It is tho story of Prlling, a tea merchant, who, returning from abroad, discovers that his wife has been to s.-ee Ibsen's play, and is in revolt. The "Standard" says that tho niece is. iirst and foremost, an interesting and entertaining work with no moment of dulnejs; that its characters are real and of the moment, and that tho language is always pungent, forcible, often humorous, and sometimes witty. "If there be a moral, it is the double-edged one that ideas cannot ah-ajs be translated into acts, and that revolutions cannot be carried throughout without much martyrdom." Mr. Gerald du Mauricr plays tho role of Polling and Miss Athene Sevier thai; of tho wile, with success.

and Miss Henrietta Watson is highly praised for her performance as Dulcio Elstead, a leader o'f the "women's righb" movement. Sir George Alexander is producing "The Ogre," and, according to tho "Telegraph," has had many boiler parts, though it could not: be played with more ease or humour, or neater finesse. The ogre, it seems, is another Petruchio, and tho role of the shrew is played by Miss Kate Cutler. "The Hope," the new Druiy Lane piece, resembles "Tho Whip," in being tho story of a horse who wins a race, and thereby rescues the hero from bankruptcy. The race, iu this instance, is a departure from the ordinary, inasmuch as the four horses gallop with Hogging jockeys straight at you, as though they would take footlights-find orchestra in their stride and finish in the pit. Thero is a gorgeous race ball, furnishing much opportunity for spectacular display, and a new sensation at Dmry Lane is an earthquake, followed by an outbreak of fire in the hotel. Iu the midst of all this stage management, there is left some opportunity for the persons of the drama; and an actor well remembered in Australia, Mr. Cyril Keightky, does excellent work, according to the critics, as the hero. Miss Fanny Brough is said iu bo delighttully humorous as the comic bookmaker's wile; Miss Kate Eorke, Miss Evelyn d'Alroy, Miss Madge Fabian, and Messrs. Frederick Ross, Charles Peek, and Lyston Lvlc axe also prominent in the cast. Notes. Tho Kickards theatres in Sydney, Me-1-Iveurne, and Adelaide were cioscd for tho re:k succeeding the news of the, death *f Mr. llarrv Kifkcrds in London. Lewis Waller, who comes to Australia next year under thf- J. C. Williamson, Clarke and Meynell management, has been secured to star" in the big New York production of tho dramatisation of Eobert Ititchens's "Garden of Allah." About -C 15,000 is being spent on the production of the play, and the author and pro* ducer havo"added local colour to a realistic extent by visiting the places that figure in the piece.

Mr. W. P. Ba.'-ti'n, who loft Wellington with the Nellie Stewart Company, is noiv acting in pictures tint, are being produced by Wei's in Sydney. Miss Amy 'Murphy nliernates the role of Xadina'with Miss Winifred O'Connor in the production of "The 0110031,116 Soldier" at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, with .success. A comic opera such as "The Chocolate Soldier" roouires two prima donnas owing to the heaviness of the leading role and the vocal difficulties that place strain on the artist. Madame Melba and Caruso. Tho memorial asking Madamo Melba to 6ing at tho gala representation of "Kigoletto" at the Paris Grand Opera llouso in 1903, for the benefit of flic Dramatic Authors' Societv, was signed by Victorien Sardou, Jules Massenet, Jean Eichepin, EU'red Cams. Maurice Dounay, SaintSaens, and other distinguished men. The date originally suggested was May 10, hut as Madame Melba could not undertake to appear before her London rentrco, Juno 11 was fixed to suit her convenience.. Immediatelv her decision was known, tho Rothschild family sent in £250 for a box and .£SO each for stalls. A very largo sum was cleared. In a chronicle of the performance a Paris paper said:—"To measuro the greatness of this unique event wo should be obliged to evoke the glorious names of 1 Grisi, Malibrau, Kubini, and Tamburini. In this wonderful performance of Verdi's •Rigoletto' three of the greatest exponents of the art of song took part-a glorious trio-Melba, Caruso, ■ and Ifenaud. hi the role of Gilda, Madame Melba was a marvel of graco and finesse. Her voice is of an ideal purity, her vocalisation ot sparkling brilliancy; she plays with tho most perilous diilicultiea oi tUe BCoie, anU

lends to tho dramatic action an infinitely seductive and alluring personal c'narni. That she consented-with perfect grace to leavo London and her engagement at Covent Garden at the very height of tho season, to lend her assistaneo to this charitable work, was appreciated by the audience, who accorded her a most enthusiastic ovation. It was Caruso's first appearance at the Paris opera. And wdiat a marvellous voice is his! Resonant, full of evenly beautiful quality throughout its entire range, capable of the softest effects and of the most exquisito tenderness, and growing to tremendous climax as occasion requires, it was smalt wonder that he was the object of tho wannest acclamation from his first entrance, and of an enthusiasm that developed into delirium in the final act."