THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

_ 1 (Br Silvius.) The World's a theatre; the Earth, a stage—Heywood. "Mrs. M'Swecney." "Mrs. M'Swecney" is to bounce upon us at the Opera House on Thursday ovening. When one says that the garrulous funexuding Austra-Hiberniau lady is none ether than the irrespressiblo Maggie MSore, playgoers will realise that there wiil be something doing. "Mrs. M'Sweency" is founded on Mr. Spencer's book of that name—one by the way which has not been too freely circulated in New Zealand, but which has had a great vogue in Australia, where it ranks in the same, class as Steelo Rudd's "Wayback" stories! It is a rollicking admixture of Irish fun blended with 6hrewd Australian humour, and the comedy is said to bo a shriek from curtain to curtain. Supporting Miss Moore is a capable company, including Miss Beatrice Esmond, Miss Edith Lewis, Mr. Arthur Slurley, and Mr. E. B. Russell. Mr. James Moore, one of the oldest, shrewdest, and most popular showmen who perounially sample tho keen air of Maorilaud, is in charge. "Sinbad the Sailor." On August 15 the annual Williamson pantomime will commence a tour of New Zealand at the Wellington Opera House. "Sinbad tho Sailor" is a. spectacular extravaganza of surpassing brilliance, being tho heaviest pantomime production over presented in New Zealand. Among the many startling effects arc: A flying ballot, the flight being right out into the auditorium over the stalls. There is also tho dazzling "Cascade of Diamonds," a gorgeous rose ballad (presented in a novel manner), and the "Sleedes" (brought from Paris) in their mysterious hotel illusion.

Tho cast will.be headed by Mr. Pip Powell, as "Dame," with Drew and Alders as "eccentrics." Miss Florence Imeson, principal "boy," Miss Nellie Finnis, principal girl, Fred Wynee, 0. T. Lemon (from Drury Lane), Miss Celia Ghiloni, as "Princess Fatima," Miss Nellie Nicholson, Miss Mario Eaton (Fairy Queen), and William Hassan (animal impersonator). The producer and Miss Minnie .Everett have arranged tho ballets which are said to be particularly attractive and novel. Including the invisible magicians, who work tho extensive mechanical wonders, tho production employs over 300 people. "Nobody's Daughter." The Plimmer-Deniuston Company, playing "Nobody's Daughter" and "Inconstant George," will commence a Now Zealand tour early in September. The following will bo tho route:—lnvcrcargill, September 2 and 3; Duncdin, September i to 7; Timaru, September 9 to 12; Christchurch, September 13 to 21; Wellington, September 23 to October 2; Napier, October 4 to 7; Gisborne, October 9 to 11; Auckland, October 11 to 2fi; New Plymouth, October 28 and 29; Eltham, October 30; Stratford, October 31; Hawera, November 1; Wnngamti, November, 2 to i; Feilding, November 5; Palmerston North, November G and 7. ,Oscar Asche's "Othello." One of the plays of the Asche-Bravton tour will be the production of Othello. A London critic has declared that Mr. Asche's performance of tho title role was "tho most splendid and powerful portrait of the Moor tho modern stage has given us. For," he adds, "right back to tho memory of Salvini in his prime, tho career of Othello on our stage has been n string of failures. Here, however, is Mr. Oscar Asche, physically, and by training and artistic temperament, the very man—his huge form draped in gorgeous robes of green and of scarlet and of gold, his rollflig eyes and fine teeth gleaming from tho face shaded to quite a daringly dark-brown, his deep voice rolling out with .a sonorous ' vigour that surpassed anything in the way of declamation he has ever done before. It rose to real greatness and fitness; it brought down a regular avalanche of applause." Another writer reviewed all the Othellos of tho modern stage, setting down their merits, noting whero they fell short, and concluding by asserting that "Mr. Asche has established his reputation as the finest Othello of our time."

"The Seagull.". "The Seagull,'' a play written, by the Kussian dramatist Anton Tchekhon, was played at the Repertory Theatre, Melbourne, on July 20, by an organisation which is socking to foster an appetite in the. playgoer for those untoward plays of Shaw, Barker, Ibsen, and Hauptmaiui, which are so strongly permeated by a spirit of sceptical phisosophy. Says the "Argus":—"The play deals wiHi life ou a quiet, country estate in Russia, the proprietor of which has for a sister a famous actress. The letter's son, .Constantino, is a nervous, excitable young man, who aspires to authorship, and is intensely jealous of one Trigorin, a famous novelist, not only because of Trigorin's literary -success, and because tho novelist (who is a kind of tame lover to the actress) has won tho lovo -of Nina Zaretchuaya. Desperate at his mother's criticism of a play ho has written, and at Nina's desertion of him, Constantino attempts suicide, while Nina follows tho novelist to Moscow. In the fourth ' act she returns, according to the time-hon-oured fashion of the heroine in melodrama to the scene of her former happiness, a nervous' wreck, with a suggestion of an unhinged mind; and when Constantino discovers that she still -loves, her betraver, and she persists in going out into "the storm, which is melodramatically howling outside, ho retires to an inner room, where, a few minutes later, he shoots himself (this time to some purpose), while Trigorin and the rest of the company are playing for twopenny stakes in the adjoining room."

A Chinese Play.. The Liebler C'ompanv promises that 'The Daughter of Heaven," the Chinese play which is to occupy tho stage of the Century Theatre CNew York) next season, shall bo a spectacle of unsurpassed brilliancy. Four hundred personages will bo employed in the court scenes, and flic scenes outside tho gate'of Peking, and the effect • of the Oriental costumes, copied from authentic models, is expected to be dazzling. The authors of the play, Pierre Loti and Judith Gautier. both experts, have given copious instructions in regard to all details.

Another Terry in the Field. The London reviews of the Shakespearean Festival at His Majesty's Theatre are largely devoted to the acting of Phyllis Neilson'-Terry. Speaking of her Portia, the London "Times" says: "She could hardly but havo felt that recollections of Miss Ellen Terry in the same part must have been present in the minds of ninny in the house. And every now and then, especially perhaps in the 'quality of mercy' speech, one felt that sho has'still a long road to travel before sho will be able to touch her audience with the magic, that, lay in Miss Ellen Terry's voice and personality mid art. The difference as one sees it at present between the two actresses, so alike in many respects, is that the one could, and did, always play upon the deeper emotions of the heart where Ihe other can as yet only charm the critical faculties by the sweetness of the girl-naturo which' she expresses so well."

Another commentator says: "At. present. Miss Terry lacks variety'"ami light, ami shade in (lie character, the joyf'nlness of the earlier scenes. Womanly ami patrician the arlist was, Imt not the manysided Venetian that Slmlcespcare imagined, hi the trial scene and in the delivery of the 'Mercy' speech, Miss Terry was much more successful. She- had authority here, mid tho great rhapsody was delivered, with line feeling and sense of the magic and music of the lines. The young actress must bewaro of a mannered carriage, gesture, ami vocal inflection; Iheso must not ho allowed to remain if Miss Terry is to attain the heights we hepo for her."

Notes, "13ehind tho Curtain" is the name of a new play l>y Michael Morion, which will he seen, soon in London. It is said to tell a strong love story, and is writteu in four acts, with scenes in and out of I'tiislaud. "Tho Dominion critics," writes Mr. Rirdloy Turner, from New Zealand (to the Sydney "Hun"), "want a star in 'Ben Ilur.' There is not much satisfaction in culling us up. There is, however, a star in the production—l ho Star of Bethlehem, but none of I hem are same enough to say a word against that'." i According to privale advices. the theatrical firm of George Harlow, Ltd., means

to operate largely in New Zealand ii. tliu luture, and as it is jnleiulcd tual mure than'one company will always |jo touring A'ew Zealand _at llio same, time, tho iirm has appointed Mr. Stanley Gram its general manager in .New Zealand, with Headquarters in Wellington. The opening production under die new arrangement will not bo until May next year, wlien Cecil Raleigh's plav "The .Sins of Society" will uo produced at Christcluirch. Mr. Grant is at present engaged in booking tours in New Zealand up till rjic.

"Ileal liorses!" said a patron of "Hen Hur" to Jtr. Richard Stewart, the manager of tho company, the. oilici evening in Wellington. "Vou can't tell me that! The chariot race is u kincmatograph. I'll wager you a fiver!" The genial manager accepted tho wager, and collected the next evening. Tho American comedy "Get-Rieh-Quiek Wallingford" is to see its premiere in Sydney this evening.