THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2752, 22 April 1916, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

l'he. World's a theatre; tho Earth a stage.—Hcywood. rßr' Syluub.T Tho Royal Strollers. With, the lino reputation the Royal Strollors liavo mado for themselves in Australia and Auckland their success hero should bo sccurc. Mr. Sydney James is a ventriloquist apid comedian of exceptional ability, and Miss Rcssiter is a comedienne and dancer of unusual capacity. Of the other members two only are known in Wellington. Miss Conuio Milne played responsible parts with Williamson's Mnsicnl Comedy Company for some years, and the basso, Sir. Geo. Graystone, was in Now Zealand last year with the Court Cards. The season commences this evening at tho Grand Opera Houso. Amerloan War Drama. The new Williamson Company that is to produce tho Amerioau war drama, "Under Fire," at Auckland tfliis evening! includes the following pKayers: — Julius Knight, Lizetto Parkeu, Loui9 Kimball, D. J. AVilliams, Eile°ni Sparks, Boyd Irwin, Herbert Leigh, Emma Temple, Hugh Huntley, Charles Moiise, Viotor Tatnall Alfred Bristowe, J. Bi. Atholwood, Rosslyn Vane, H. Wi 1 Varna, Harry Sweney, D.flT. Lalor, Carlton Stuart, Raymond Lawrence, Thomas Lloyd, T. Wilkins, James Hugh en, - Herbert Leigh, A. Vincent, Kenneth iSrampton. The Wellington season will commence on May 9, and Christchurch on May 25. Later on the company will make a return tour, playing several of the pieces associated with Mr. Knight's name in the past. Hoskins Redivlvus. William Hoskins, excellent actor and splendid Shakespearian scholar, and one of tho founders of the theatrical business in Australia, turns up in. the reminiscences of G. R. Sims. ' In- his boyhood Sims lived close to Sadler's Wells Theatre, at the time when the famous Shakespearian Co. of Samuel Phelps was drawing all London to the venerable playhouse. Hoskins was a prominent member of tho company, and. in it too was a little girl named Rose Edouivi, who later became well known in Melbourne as Mrs. G. B. W. Lewis. Sims recalls _ how Hoskins at 8' o'clock in the'morning used to give lessons in acting to a young wine-office clerk—the Henry Irving of his later famous days. "Caroline." From an Australian artist in London (via the "Bulletin"): —Somerset Maugham's juicy comedy, "Caroline," is the success of the season.'' It has been very cunningly produced by Australia's old friend Dot Boucicault, whose wife, trene Vanburgh, is playing the title ■ role. Lillah M'Carthy is another Aus. tralian favourite, who materially assists. .Maugham in delivering the goods. Boucicault is the identical Dot I faintly remember at Melbourne Bijou sometimo 8.C.. He is still the best comedian at his weight on earth, and is the finest producer here, as he was there when tiiey summed-up the Brough and Bou> cleault Co. (then 11 in number) as "Dot and carry 10;' - A New Star. Madge Fabian, who is i now rehearsing for "On Trial," in Sydney, is a Drury. Lane star. An even greater test of her acting is that for 18 months in : a small community—South Africa—she has headed a dramatic, company that constantly showod profits for, the J. C. Williamson management. . Yet South Africa' is often the grave of. theatrical reputation, just as it was of military^ ill South Africa Miss Fabian mado a big success as the wife of the defendant in "Oil Trial." She also scored as May Turner in "Within the Law," as Madame X, nnd in "Bought and Paid For." The plays in which Muriel Stan made her successes in Australia were all played by lier at Johannesburg uud Cape Town. "Hindle Wakes" in Sydney. The full cast for the production of "Hindle Wakes," at the Little Theatre, Sydney, when "The Second Mrs. Tanquera'y" comes to an end, will be: — Nathaniel Jeffcote, lan Maclaren; Mrs. Jelfcote, Janet Warden; Alan, Frederick Ward: Mrs. Hawthorne, 'Tempo Pigott ; ; Christopher Hawthorne, "J. Plumpton Wilson; Fanny, Eily Malyon; Sir Timothy Ferrer, Herbert J. Bentley; Beatrice Ferrar, Esther Mitchell; Ada, Althoa Hyde. The play, which is a drama of Lancashire life and dialect, was written by Stanley Houghton, and for its novelty and for the social and moral problem that it presents, caused a good deal of discussion in Great Britain. Notes. Afteri a successful, resurrection of "Peter Pan," Dot Boucicault has made a first-rate start with his dramatic season at the New Theatre (London)'. His initial venture, "Carolino," by Somerset Maugham, is warmly acclaimed as a light comedy sparkling with wit and brilliant dialogue. • Irene Vanbrugh (Mrs. Dot) has made a big hit in the title part,' and Dot has scored as a sententious, Teady-witted family doctor. Another of Australia's acquaintances, Lillah M'Oarthy, plays an eccentric role with rich humour.

Forbes Robertson is (says "0.0." in the "Bulletin") onco more hankering after a tour in Australia. It was his wish to visit these parts two or , three years a®), but arrangements fell through, Tiecause, as Robertson put it-, "Australian impresarios think the classic drama is dead and my pieces played out." The classic drama, however, as George Marlow can prove, is not so dead as reported; and Forbes may bring his "Hamlet" along bofore the year is; out. He particularly wants to boast of haying appeared in all the Englishspeaking countries before - he retires. .Robertson is now in' his 63rd year, but is still able to demonstrate that his young Prince of Denmark is the best .within living memory. . The Williamson tribute to the Anzao Fund jn Sydney wilLtake the form of a matinee next Thursday. It will be an organisation test in efficiency. The pantomime arrives ill the morning and •appears at the matinee. The under Fire Company leaves for New Zealand at 4 p.m., after appearing at the mat ince. The "Oil Trial" and "So Long Letty" companies also participate. There will be 400 Williamson people available for the day. The much revived comedy, "A lies, sago From Mars-," has been resuscitated once more in Melbourne, this time with Mr. Gregan M'Mahon as Parker, Mr. Geo. Bryant as the Messenger, and Mr. E.' Duggan as the tramp.-' "So Long Letty," in which Miss Dorothy Brunton, makes such a delectable Letty, was originally a spoken farce, entitled "His Neighbour's Wife," and by a simple process of evolution it developed into one of the liveliest musical plays of recent years'. "So Long Letty" opens in Melbourne on Easter Saturday night.

Miss Irene Browne was appearing at the London Shaftsbury and Miss Ivy Schilling at-Daly's when latest bulletins left England.

By. all accounts, Adeline Genec, {hat crcaturo of and lightness, has lost 110110 of the wonderful charm of her art or personality. Tlio lint-white hair and Dresden shepherdess face, as well as the heavily-insured limbs, are as youthful as ever. Yet Adeline, as mere years go, must be considerably past tho meridian. Recently in a new Spring ballet conducted by Sir Frederick CJowen, who wrote the music, she triumphed in a typical fashion over a crude and terrible setting that took tho glnmgur from the work of 1 the fllher fliawrsj