THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1431, 4 May 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Br SILYIUS.) The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Hey wood. A Taste of Yeats. "The Land of Heart's Desire," the little ono act blank verse playlet of W. B. Yeats ,which Mrs. James Hannah and Mr. J. M. Clark are to produce next week is a rather oerie, poetical fantasy, soaked with the quaint superstition of the Irish of a century ago. It is n. fairy story iith a shudder, in which Maire Bruin, who has a touch of another world in her mental make-up, is bewitched on May Evo by the wicked fairy in tho cunning disguiso of a sweet child, who wanders in out of the bitter night at tho sigh of Maire for tho charmed "Land of Heart's Desire." This bit of work will require- to be handled with extreme delicacy, particularly the roles of Mairo Bruin (the spiritual creature who is bewitched to her death) and the Faery Child. The other characters are human and healthy, with all the superstition which tho ages have implanted in their inmost beings. Their difficulty will bo lo speak the lines ino. sufficiently conversational style to hold the attention, while preserving tho deep chime of their music. It is rather a delight for the Btudy than the stage, though it was produced at the Avenue Theatre, London, in 1894. On that occasion Hie caste was as follows:— Maurteen Bruin, Mr. James Welch; Shawn Bruin, Mr. A. E. W; Mason; Father Hart, Mr. Ct. R. Foss; Bridget Bruin, Miss Charlotte Morland; Maire Bruin, Miss Winifred Eraser; Faery Child, ..Miss Dorothy Pagett, On tliis occasion, Mrs. J. Hannah (nee Miss Svbil Johnson) will be the Maire, little Vera Peg? the Faery Child, Mr. J. M. Clark Father Hart, and Dr. Purdy Maurteen Bruin Mr. Vivian Rhind Shawn Bruin, and Mrs. Martin Williams Bridget Bruin. Miss Spong, of the Past. Miss Hilda Spong, who is to appear hero in "Everywoinan" this month, was a mere girl when she was a leading lady, not being out of her "teens." She hem the record of being tho youngest "star" on tho Australian stage. After three years with tho Brough-Boucicault Company she went into her leading roles, and then undertook a starring tour as Pauline in "The Lady of Lyons," "Galatea," "Niqbe," etc. Determining to try her luck in a wider field, she went to London, and immediately made a name for herself in "The Duchesso of Cooigardie," subsequently repeating her success in "Tlio Kiss of Delilah" and "The Two Little Vagabonds" at tho Princess, and "The Children of the King" at the Court Theatre. A. W. Pinero then engaged her to create the role of Imogen Parrott in

"Trelawny of the Wells." She was seen by Daniel Frohmann, who immediately engaged her, and thus commenced her long career on the American stage. New Zealand playgoers will remember Miss Spong best as the "lead" in tho HoweSpong Company, her partner then being Mr. Walter, Howe, for a long time previously leading man with Bland Holt. Thev played a repertoire which included: "True as Steel" and "As You Like It." Miss Spong was a charming Rosalind, with all the charm of bright, vivacious youth allied to a sweet feminino sweetness which won her scores of admirers. Little 'Waiter Hone was too small for such a statuesque Rosalind. One night, in tho wrestling scene, the late Oney Higgins, who was engaged to play Ch-arles the Wrestler,, became tired of allowing tho little man to throw him about, and hurled him with some force into the footlights, and nearly into the stalls, amidst tho shrieks of the fair Rosalind and Celia and other ladies of the Court. Then Oney, having given evidence ci his muscular might, allowed a rather dazed Orlando to throw him, winking solemnly at the ladies as he went down. Miss Spong's father was a very fine scenic artist—one of the, best that ever visited Australia—and his Forest of Arden, in. autumn tints, was a triumph. "Tho Miracle." ... ... Scenes of enthusiasm marked the final performance in London of "The Miracle" on Saturday night, March 16, and so;m after the departure of tho audience and the 2000 performers workmen began to demolish tho wonderful Gothic cathedral which the vast interior o£ Olympia has represented. • Before "The Miracle" was presented Londoner* had never seen anything like it, and, conservative in its likes and dislikes, foiu-ht shy of it. But the production gradually grew in popularity, and since December more than a million people have visited Olympia. Some persons witnessed "The-Miracle" no fewer than fifty times. "The Miracle has been transferred to;tho United States. A Jewish Theatre . Under brighter promise of success than any venture of its kind yet attempted in London (says the "Daily News" of March 21), Tho Temple, the new Jewish People's Theatre in Commercial' Road, E„ was opened on Saturday' night. Tlie cosy playhouse, with its tasteful decorations, was packed with a most enthusiastic audience, which applauded lustily tho National Anthem at the opening.and the inaugural speech by Sir Francis Montcfiore, who spoko of the'building" as' a dream realised and as an institution that would prove a centro of Jewish cu'itureand art.' Sir Francis was referred to as the one friend of tho enterprise among tho wealthy section of tho community, but there were telegrams of congratulation from Mr. Zangwill and- from "Shalom Asch," a .brilliant Yiddish litterateur and poet. ■ It was plucky in tho extreme to open with a grand opera,by, a new. and unknown composer,-Mr. S. Alman, the choirmaster of the Great ■Synagogue, but the boldness was justified.- by tho. success achieved. ■ Mr. 'Alman, who/is his own librettist, selected "King Ahaz" for his subject, and proved himself an'abler musician than a dramatist. The story of tho sacrifices to Moloch, of tho vindictive scheming of the wife of the Viceroy, and the Robinson Crusoe-like life Oi the persecuted hero offers scope for dramatic treatment, but the opera developed itself as a series of detached episoucs rather than as a drama. The music, however, is distinctly good. Mr. Alman. has the gift of melody, ho is workmanlike, and he is commendably modest. The performance . was unquestionably the most finished and artistic seen on the Yiddish stage in ' England. The stage management was excellent, the scenery and dresses good, and tho prompter was conspicuously absent.

Miss Ada Ward—Some History. Miss Ada Ward's name is Mrs. Fisher —unless she has been martini! morr- than once (pays the "Hullctin"). Hugh Fisher,' an actor, married hor in Australia or South Africa some 30 years ago.- He died in South' Africa, two or three years later, according to the biography that Miss Ada Ward published on the back of her Australian programme in ISB3. Tho biography stated, among other things, that Miss Ward had been placed, as a child, in a convent at Paris.-whero she remained on the hands of the nuns, when her stepfather had ceased .to nay for her board and education. The nuns wore preparing her to earn her living as a governess when the Franco-German War out—in 1870. Subsequently she was ''restored to her friends in England"—who had seemingly been quite prepared to lose her—and she came into some money and went into the acting business. This ancient narrative presents tho Ada "Ward of to-day as a woman who must be Hearing the M.tties. it is to bo hoped .•she "'ill make her reappearance on the long-aban-doned boards in the character of Juliet. Janet Achurch Redivivus. Miss Janet Achurch (Mrs. Charringtonl, who played Nora in "A Boil's House" here with hoi; own company in 161)1), staving on (o appear as Lady Macbeth with lieorgo Kiguold, and as "Fcodora" with 0. S. Titheradge ;n tiro lirough Company, has followed journalism lor many years past. This tragic actress made a reappearance last month, however, at tho Kingsway Theatre under Sir. Granville Darker in "Tho Secret Woman," a play by Kdon I'hillpotls, tho novelist, which was banned by tho Censor. The principal character of the husband fell to Claude King, here, nearlv two years ago in "Kitty IWlnirs" with 'Miss Nellie Stewart, and of the wile to Miss Achurch. One critic observes:—"licmorkablo imporsonations of tho loading parts were given, ilisj Janet Ashursn, Uio.ueU jatlior

too elderly in appearance, was de_cii.'.y impressive as the high-minded Ann Kedvers, especially in the scene in wliicli Ann charges her husband with infidelity, Hie agony,of mind and sense of utter desolation being eloquently conveyed." "The Bird of Paradise." "Tho llini of Paradise" is the title of a play which lias made a big success at Dalv's Theatre, £ew York. It is by Kichard Tull.v, part author with David lielasco of "Tho Rose of the Rancho." It is a drama with a Hawaiian sotting, and for the purpose of verisimilitude the native characters are played by real Havaiians. 'Describing Die play, "The Theatre" says:—"Paul Wilson goes to Hawaii in search of (ho bacilli of leprosy. Ho is an up-to-date, alert young American. With him, duly chaperoned, goes Diana Lamed. They aro tentatively engaged, ilardlr has lie set foot on shore on I lie Puna "Coast that ho falls under tho spcil of ft native princess, Luana. He is duly warned by one "Ten Thousand Dollar Dean," a'beach-comber, a derelict of the most pronounced kind, and has fallen victim to the insidious climate and the native drink, which ho consumes in vast quantities. ' But Wilson fails to heed the warning. Instead of pushing upwards lo the high ground—thero is true symbolism in all this—ho vacillates, yields to the lure of his siren, and decides'to wait over for tlio next steamer. "It is his undoing, for in tlio succeeding act he is found married to his dusky charmer—his abject slave—a wreck from the native drink, the shattered, feeble apology for his once assertive self. Captain Hatch, a planter for politically commercial reasons, endeavours to persuade Luana to assert her royal rights, aided by the superstitious entreaties of her own people. This ho succeeds in doing, but not until the contrast is shown in the regeneration of Dean, who, under the stimulating influence .of Miss Larned's teaching and example, has become a man once moro and discovered Hie very secret Wilson started out to solve. The opening scene of the third act is hazy, in its development, and the political intrigue in which Wilson'and his wife are involved is not over-clear, but another contrast is provided in the difference between the two natures and races as they approach the problem, and to appease iho angry goddess, Pole, typified in tho volcano Kilauea, Luana resolves to make tho sacrifice and throw herself into tne fiery crater. This self-abnegation is preceded bv a wiid, weird scene of song and incantation. "Tho bird of Paradise is a wonderful entertainment. It possesses truth, poetrv, pictnresquoness and sustained illusion. Its weak points do not detract from the real enjoyment, tucy simply mar a work which otherwise- would bo a genuino masterpiece." Notes. The benefit organised in aid of the widow and children of the Into Mr. E. T. Sterne, who produced "Tho Girl in the Train," and "Sinbad the Sailor" pantomime for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., took place at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, on Tuesday afternoon, April 23, and realised tlio handsome sum of .£2OO. "Tho Gin in the Train" Company, tlio "Sinbad tlio Sailor" Company, and Oscar Ascho and Lily Brayton with their company, gave their services, and a fine programme was presented. Mr. Robert Noble, a brother of Messrs. Cyril and Thomas Noble Beasley, of Wellington, is making headway on the English stage. In the middle of March he commenced a provincial tour leading role in "The Hope," the big spectacu-lar-Drury Lane drama, which succeeded "The Wiiiip." The drama has been recured' for production in tho colonies by Marlow and Willoughby.