THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1866, 27 September 1913, Page 19

THE THEATRE.

[BY Si'iVlUS.] The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage,—Heywood, The Royal Comic Opera Co. Thero is little sentiment in theatrical business. Plenty of it on tho stage, 110 doubt, but not much out of sight of tho footlights, but 1 liavo, howovcr, always cherished tho hope that the Williamson management entertains some sentimental regard I'or tho Royal Comic Opera Company. It is only a name, it is true, and probably there are now none of the members of the company (as originally constituted) playing under the old banner. The nhmo of tho "Royal Comics" dates back to tho early or middle 'eighties, when' the firm was Williamson, Garner, and Musgrovc, and that was practically the only permanent show which tho firm had. In those days coincdy and drama wore staged more or less fitfully, but tho Royal Comic Opera Company ran on with all the lively persistence of Tennyson's Brook. To this company wo were indebted for our" first, but lasting impressions, of tho Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and tho long glistening lino of artists who have brightened the evening hours of so many hundreds of thousands of people in Australasia —Federichi, Alice May, Alico Barnett, J. C. Williamson, Woodfiold. Charles Leuniane, Win. Elton, Nellio Stewart, Clara Merivalc, Fanny Liddiard, Iniano, Charles Ryley, Henry Bracy, Howard Vernon, Wallace Brownlow, Violet Varley; Joseph Tapley, Flora Graupner, Florrio Young, George Lauri, and Celia Ghiloni. Those aro a few of tho last-remembered artists who have figured in tho Royal Comic Opera Company's casts, and who liavo, by undoubted talent, upheld tho prestigo of what is theatrically an historic company. ' • . „ The "Royal Comics, as they are colloquially termed, are to commence a season at the Opera House 011 Monday evening in "Tho Quakor Girl," an extremely popular musical comedy, which had a big run iii London and the provinces—a success which was repeated in Australia. Indeed wo liavo to seriously fall out with' such wonderful successes as "Tho Merry Widow," "Our Miss Gibbs," and "The Quakor Girl," as they have been the direct- cause of New Zealand receiving fewer visits from tho Royal Comic Opera Company than would liavo been the case had they been ordinarily successful. A big success is upsetting. Not being in a position to close down ou a boom season, touring ground has to bo found for the company that is to follow 011, and it is chop and change with dates tho' whole timo until seasons becomo normal again.

During the season the Royal Comic Opera Company will produce "The Sunshine Girl," and revive "Miss Hook of Holland," and that melodious frivolity "Tho Bello of New York." , Quaker Clrlisms. xUiss Jessie Lonneu, the now English comedienne, will appear as l'hoebe, the maid with flirtatious tendencies, in tho J. C. Williamson production ot "The Quaker Girl." Slie is a sister of tho lato "Teddy" Lonnen, tho lino comedian that followed tho great Fred Loslie in the palmy days of burlesque at tho famous ilollingshead Houso in tho early eighties. Miss Lonnen has created many of the important soubrette parts at the London Gaiety. Sho was tho original in tho part which sho will bo seen in lioro. .

A sonsational item is underlined in the third act of "The Quaker Girl." It is "The Danso do Champagne." This is said to bo a dance symbolical of tho sparkling' wine. It is executed by Miss Vera I'oarco, together with Mr. Leslie Holland and a number of coryphees. It is tho creation of Mr. Hugh J. AVard. Mr. Frank Greene, who is Prince Carlo in "Tho Quakor Girl," had some years back a shot at frce-lanco journalism in London. At tho timo ho was making his' way in the theatrical profession. Ho subsequently went into a cavalry regiment,served in South Africa during tho war, was mentioned for service in the field, returned to England, and resumed his dramatic studios, with so fino a result that Mr. Georgo Edwardes selected him for tho part of Danilo in tho "Merry Widow," in succession to Mr. Coyne, at tho Gaiety Theatre. Mr. Greene is a brother of Miss Evio Grcono, the. famous Gaiety actress.

Olive Godwin, who will appear as the exiled Bonapartist princess Mathildo in "Tho Quakor Girl," strangely enough comes of Quaker parents herself. Sho promises herself a trip to London presently to study for grand opora. Miss Billic Barlow, the famous London Gaiety artist, who will mako her first appearance hero with J. C. Williamson's lloyal Comic Opera Company in "The Quaker Girl,"' was tho original "Bubbles" of tho famous picturG by Sir John Millais.

Mr. Leslie Holland, who made himself so popular in "Our Miss Gibbs," and who will mako his re-appearance hero with J. C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company in "The Quaker Girl," was tho original Mr. Hook in "Miss Hook of Holland." He played tho part hundreds of time in London. Merry Max Linder. Motion picture-lovers have a wide variety of players as well as subjects to entertain them week in and week out. Much is mado of tho undoubted dramatic qualities of such picture actresses as Saharet, Asta Nielson, Mary Fuller, | and Mary Pickford, but if put- to tho | test, I doubt if there is any more popu- | lar artist playing before tho camcra than that volatile Frenchman Max Linder. Linder pictures may not bo so numerous as thoso of other star players, 1 but that adds to their value, as tho comedy scones which ho engages in aro always genuinely funny. There are 110 smashing of plaster casts, 110 dependence 011 tho frailty of papier-mache bricks, and 110 silly chases, as. in tho modern Italian pictures. The Linder comedies always boast a feasiblo narrative, and in tho portrayal of them his comedy work is crisp, clean, and exceedingly humorous. To soo Max Linder is to laugh. His face is capable of expressing the slightest shade of meaning—thero is never any misunderstanding what ho is driving at. Ile i works smartly and cleverly, and is always adequately supported. Cllt-edged Daccrs. Mile. Genee's verdict, that the more a dancer progresses the harder if is lircessary to work, is agreed to by another famous artist, Mine. Pavlova, who, at. the London Palace, has just said farewell for two years to English audiences. "I have luid a very successful season," said Mmo. I'avlova, "and so full is my joy over it that 1 could begin thrco weeks more of it straight off with • tho greatest eagerness and zest. Though many people do not know it, it is tho mind that 0110 dances with as much as with the body, and 0110 must cease from mental strain occasionally, whether 0110 wants to or not. lit a few more weeks I shall bo in that land beloved of all .Russians, Italy, and there I shall rest for a season in utter contentment. Absolutely ? Oh, 110; there will be little rehearsals and experiments even there." sho added, smiling. "Dancing is not liko other arts," she explained. "At other arts 0110 works hard until success comes; thou 0110 can work less hard. No so with dancing. ' After brief visits to St. Petersburg (to fulfil obligations for which sho is under ccntract as a member of the Tsar's private ballet school), and Italy, Madame Pavlova, will return to London to rehearse for her American tour. Alter a long engagement in the United States sho will extend her field of international

conquest by a visit to South America for the first time. Tim financial signitinances of being a premiere dauseuso in tho Old World is apparent when it is known that, as her manager states, Mme. Pavlova was offered the lump sum of £40,000 for her American tour. This sho refused, preferring rather to rcceivo a large weekly salary as well as a percentage of the profits of the tour. Praise for Llzette Parkas. "A Fair Highwayman," produced b t v tlu* Lewis Waller —Madge Titheradge Company in Sydney, gave Miss Lizette l'arkes an opportunity to display her undoubted talent. Of the pcrtormance tlio Sydney "Sunday Times" said: — " Of the acting it seems almost banal to repeat what lias been so often said before—namely, that Mr. Lewis Waller is a pastmaster in tilie art of portraying romantic roles, and yet if ever he proved it before in his life lie did so last night. As Sir Charles Gresson lie found himself with a part in which rich comedy, blended with powerful dramatic situations, and, realising his opportunities to the full, lie became, from the moment he stepped upon the stage, the life and soul of tlio production. Noxt to the work of Mr. Lewis Waller in order of merit-came that of Miss Lizette l'arkes in the ingenue role of l'hyllis Gresson. ]t was a difficult and complex character that this young actress was given to play, hut she rose to the task unhesitatingly, portraying with a sure hand all its varied sides, and , wringing every possible ounce of comedy from it that the author gave hor. Her reading was good, her acting natural, and her conception was a carefully-tliought-out and excellent study. Miss Madge Titheradge, as Hetty Chevenix, also gave an excellent account of herself, although slie was inclined to overact at timeSj thus doing much to spoil her otherwise fine work. Mr. George Titheradgo mado of King George 11. a clerverly-conceived and brilliantly executed character study. The veteran's performance stood out like a clean-cut cameo, in tlio picture." All on the Same Platform. Henry Irving related the following amusing experience: "I received an unexpected blow the other day at a Highland station. Tho statioimiaster, a most obliging and kindly, jrentleman, suddenly grasped my hand, exclaiming, 'Irving, man, 1 liopo to sco you some day 011 the same platform with Stephen Blackwood.' 1 confess I was taken a little by surprise, and I said, 'Well, I hope so, too.' Then I recovered my self-possession, and bethought me that Mr. Stephen Blackwood must be a popular and excellent preacher, and my conjecture was right, so I plunged in boldly. 'My friend,' said 1, 'we are all on the same platform. You look after tlio trains and take care of the passengers, Mr. Stephen Blackwood, lauels them for their ultimato destination, and I do my best to amuse and entertain them upon their journey. So you see, my friend, wo all do our best, and if we do strivo to do our duty we work for the same .end., and no one really has a monopoly.' " —From "The Life of Henry Irving," by Austin Strong. Suooess After Failure. Madge Titheradge enjoys tho distinction. of having made a great success of a play that had previously proved a failure. This is what happened to the first Aniciricnn production of "A Butterfly on tho AVheel," in which she is starring at tho present time in Sydney. Staged by Oharlos iVohnmn, with Marie Doro in tlio rolo of Peggy, New York playgoers stayed away. Mr. Frohinan was convinced that there was nothing in the play, so hp.rc-loased tho American rights to Mr. Lewis Waller, who had previously urged that audiences in America had not really seen the play until they hod witnessed Miss TitherI adigo's performance in the central role. However, Mr. Frohinan would have none of it. The result was electrical. Miss Titheradge iwhs lauded by the critics, who proclaimed her a "miniature Bernhardt," and the piece ran for six months to great business, whilst Miss Titheradgo could still be playing at a salary of £300 per week, which she was offered by a Now York manager. But glie had arranged to visit l'er native country, and that arrangement sho would not altw. Next year, however, sho will again bo in America, as a star.