THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1704, 22 March 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[Br v Sylvius,] The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. "The Wearin' of tho Green." Emerald-tinted oomedy-dramas of tho bright, simple order, in which the characters, upon tho slightest provocation, break into song—the type introduced to Wellington ' audicnces a year ago by*. Mr. Allen Doone—proved very acceptable to Aus(tralian audiences, Mr. I>coite, vrlio is to reappear at the Opera' HOU9O this evening, mayed a very lengthy and highly successful season recently in Sydney, ajid exhibited his pleasing personality in a wido range of parts. One of his most {successful plays wa9 lho Wearing - of tho Green," in which title tho playgoer will find little subtlety. 10. is one of those rollicking Irish plays, with plenty of fun, a. number of good songs, a, touch of emotion, more than a smattering of love, and much pother over poor old Ireland's sufferings. In plays Mr. Doono and his company (which includes Miss Edna ICecley) aro acceptable, and if thero aro still Irish true-htarts in Wellington, tho company should not go begging- for patronago during the Easter holiday searon now upou ns. Burins tho season, which commences with The Weaving -of tho Green," such plays as "Sweet County ICerry," "A Homanco in Ireland," and "Tho Parish be presented.

A Fine Sconic Artist. Georgo Dixon, an English, scenio artist of repute, arrived hero by the 5l2 eT i'° w< - (says last Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald") from London, after an absenco of seven years, and thus pays his third visit to Australia. Mi*. Dixon, belongs t'o a painting family. He is a brother of Charles Dixon, a wellknown marine painter. His father, Alfred Dixon, is famous for that' much'-engraved work, "The Stowaway,", purchased by tho Chantrey Bequest, and \jiow in tho Walker Gallery in Liverpool, anil has -frequently exhibited .at. the. Royal . Academy. It was this artist who painted the act'-drop for the reopening.of Iler Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, about ten years ago, afterwhich ho staved some time on this side, so that his line work,. especially in figure subjects, became familiar te Australian playgoers. Our present visitor first came over.here under engagement to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and remained, with ono brief visit to London between, for two periods of two years each, painting tho set's for "The Toreador," some fine scenes for "Ben JTur." and making his namp with the Garden Sceno in the great production, of the "Darling of tho Qods." On returning to London ho was engaged as Joseph Harkcr's right-hand man in that famous artist's, paint-room at Cambanvell Gate. Harkcr's work i.s quite familiar to playgoers throughout Australasia in connection with the visits of Oscar Asche and other stars, and tho same remark anplies to that' other master, Telbin. Georgo Dixon'painted a number of tableaux for Oscar Aselie, and was engaged last year during Hammerstein's ill-fated season at the London Opera House. Ho considers Mr. Quinlan fortunate in securing Miss Felico Lyno for Sydney this year, as the youthful soprano made a veritable sensation, the only other sinrar that season of whom tho si.ma might be said ljcing Orville Harrold. the American tenor. Mr. Dixon lias returned hero to join Mr. Harry Whaite's well-known paint-room at Paddingfon, and tlieso two clever artists are,now busy upon scenes for tho Hamil-ton-Plimmer fason nt the Palace, Mr. Hugh Buckler's season at tlio Little Theatre, aii'l .for the Tivoli, Princess, and I Alhambra Theatres.

Why "Christy" Minstrels? The iirst appearanco of the Hoyal C'omic Opera Company as Christy Minstrels at the Scott Fund matinee in Sydney on Saturday week afterwards raisqd some debate. in theatrical circles.' Why "Christy"? was , demanded; and varying explanations were given. However, we havo. ..v.ow before .us (says. an Australian paper), au ''articlo oil the subject. -written in .1832 by H. IV Grattan. He begins: "In the fall of lSi2 s after playing an engagement at the Park Theatre, then the only legitimate tc-mple of the drama in New York."—in itself an .interesting historical statement in relation to a city which 70 years Inter can Imasfc more than -10 playhouses. It seems that from tho Park Theatre the visitor went to Buffalo. and on the third' day after Ills arrival was taken to a lake-side (Lake' Erie) house of entertainment where handsome Ned niirist.y. his brother George, and a man named Yaughnii. rendered with humour and charm such darkie ditties as

"Ole Dan Tucker," and "Hop light, Loo, and show your .pretty feet." Burnt cork liad not then been discovered, lampblack was used. Tho visitor arranged for tiie appearanee of these clever musicians, with bones, banjo, tambos, and 'similar instruments (they all played doable) at tho Buffalo Theatre, and this formed the initial succeM of a continuous tour which brought thorn" la' Now York only as' long after as 1817. A few years later, the founder of the first Christy Minstrels became a wealthy man—but ail unhappy one. When the Northerners received a temporary check at Bull's Run, poor Christy got it into his head' that the Confederates would capture New York and confiscate his great possessions. Melancholia supervened; and eventually he committed suicide by jumping in despair _ from an upper window of his lordly residence. The Drama in London. The new dramatist, Stanley Houghton, who mado such a rapid reputation in London last year with "Hindlo Wakes" and "The' Younger Generation," has brought out at the Garrick a third play, "Trust tho People." However, instead of photographing real life, as in tho other pieces, the author's now characters were so artificial, so plainly labelled, as to rosemb'.e melodrama. The story shows how John Greenwood,. President of the Board of Labour in 1930, has made love to tho wife of a Colonel Felton. The husband blackmails him, and his colleagues in the Cabinet recommend a secret addition to tho Treasury Estimates to settle tho matter quietly. Greenwood prefers, as a more honest course, to "trust tho people," resigns his seat, and contests his borough once more with the truth blazoned abroad. Ruin and defeat are" the result; but he wins' the hand of Lady Violet, and that consoles him. Mr. .Arthur Bourchier played cleverly ns tho hero; but opinions differ, as to. the fate of tho drama. Miss Gladys Unger has produced "The Son and Heir" at the Strand, and informs tho press that it is ° her 13th piece, has in letter.? in the title, nnd is being produced ill 1913!. Tho son and heir of Sir Evcrard Chilworth is a young snob of no importaneo in tho plot, which deals with his father, tho baronet, a bully'who has married his daughter Beatrice to a dissolute millionaire, and is forcing the samo kind of union upon i tho younger sister Amy. Beatrice forcibly intervenes; in which connection wo read- that "Miss Ethel Irving's quiet power as Bcatrico held 9omo of tho thinner episodes together, and In tho big scene she was, of course, simply immense." Two other actresses known, here wero in tho cast—Miss Ethel Dane, wife of Cyril Iveightley, and Mis 3 Cynthia Brooke, _ tho statuesque artist, who was hero with Nora'Kerin. Dora Rignold, and W. H. Denny in "Midsummer Night's Dream," about ten years ago.

The American Season, During tho week I heard from Mr. Henry Kolker, the American actor, who toured Now Zealand a few years ago with "Tho Thief." Ho was playing his eighth week in Chicago, and expected to play thero ten or fifteen weeks. The comedy (presumably "The Great Name") will last tho season. "I liavo a big serious play I want to do next—at least, I think it is a big play. I shall probably do a trial of it lato this spring. Altogether, tilings aro progressing. Ido want to make another trip out your'way. Kngene Walter wants to mako a combination between his wife, Charlotte Walker, andino to do bis plays, 'The Easiest Way,', "Tho Woli',' and 'Pine Peathers,' in Australasia. ■

"The season generally\lias not been too good in America. It's being overdone. More money than over is being spent for theatre-going, but the theatres rud productions multiply faster than the ti;calregoers. 'The Whip' is a big success in New York, Young Dion Titheradgo cwno over 'on spec,' and fell into a good purt in it,- He has got a ytar'a berth.".

Notes. A company recently formed in Sydney ha 3 secured six and a quarter acres of land nt Rushcutters' Bay, where it intends to erect a "White City," which will includo a mountain sconio railway similar to tho ono seen at the Bombay Exhibition, held in connection with the recent Durbar. Sir. T. H. Eslick, C.E., who designed and installed tho Bombay railway, liils been engaged to design and erect t'ho whole of tho buildings and railway for tho Sydney company, which expects to hare everything ready by November 1. Mr. Alfred Levey, an American .theatrical entrepreneur, is in Melbourno making arrangements on- behalf of,'tho Oriental Amusement Company, Ltd., U.S.A., a wealthy American syndicate, for whom ho is tho general manager for Australia, for the appoarano9 of a number of thoir companies in this city. Mr. Levey has secured a lease of tho Bijou Theatre, where the first of tho company's combinations, an American musical burlesquo company of fifty artists, including four sterling comcdians, was to have appeared on Saturday last.

Mr. Georgo Marlow was latoly defending melodrama on tho plea that its morals are based upon the Ten Commandments. It is (says tho "Australasian") not so much tho morality of molodrama that has beon oondemned as its inanity. Only a minority of tho Commandments are brokon during the progress of most melodramas, and always the same minority. Nor was there much need to enter into a defenco of "Tho Monk and the AVoman," except, perhaps, that its title may offend neoplo of a. particular creed, in suggesting something which tho story itself doe 3 not convey. That storm in a teacup has, however, quite subsided. The play is now drawing good houses to ' tho Princess's wholly on its merits, and those who go in mean expectation of finding a .skeleton in their neighbour's closet deserve to bo disappointed. '