THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.);

"The White Chrysanthemum." Having sampled the Tait Musical Comedy Company in "Very Good Eddie," and found it 6uper-excellent, tho public will be interested to know-something about tho Japanesy free-andreasy, sure-to-please musical play, "Tho White Chrysanthemum," which follows "Eddie." This is ono of the quaintest and most comical of musical farces that has hit tho popular taste in recent years. Barry Lupino figures in it as a bold bad chauffeur who lias married a Japanese wife, and is the father of a big family of young riceeators. In desperation the Cockney chauffeur "flies the coop," but is pursued with varying fortunes by his irate wife (vitally characterised by Miss Nan Taylor), and throughout the ensuing adventures there is a rare spirit of the wildest humour, whilst other characters provide touches of the. romantic. "Tho White Chrysanthemum'' has the prettiest settings imaginable, and the music is said to be particularly infectious. The play was a distinct success in Melbouruo during the recent season there.

Christmas Pantomimes. According to Mr. Barry Lupino, "Aladdin" is to bo tho name of the pantomime to be produced by Messrs. J. and N. Tait in Melbourne) or Sydney next Christmas, and tho show will in duo course tour. New Zealand' next year, if such things aro not taxed out of existence. The • firm are also to continue their adventures iii musical comedy for some time to come, when 'Miss Fayette Perry will appear as co-star with Mr. Lupino, which indicates that the sprightly comedienne has impressed Australian audicriccs to some nurpose. With the Williamson, Fuller" and Tait managements in competitive pantomime, there should be some high flights of theatrical invention to record. Jack Cannot is to be tho Williamson comedian, and Mr. Lupino the Tail. star. . Fuller's "Buuyip" is to be piodueed at the Opera House, Auckland, at Christinas, and in Wellington a month later. ■■ '

Born in Naw Zealand. "Out There," which' achieved a triumphant success on its first.presentation at the. King's Theatre, Melbourne, last. Saturday, night, is tho result of a. suggestion made to the author by his wife. Sir. and Mrs. Hartley Manners wore on a motor tour through lS T ew Zealand a little while ago, when it occurred to the lady that a play dealing with woman's work and influence in tho war would be a dramatic innovation. Mr. Manners Was struck .with the idea, and then set about devising a. story with a dominating female character who would mako-a wide popular appeal. After some weeks of _ hard work, during which he concealed himself in the country and saw no one at all, he p'roßuced tho expressive' -rital figure of 'Aunted Annie, who set all New York talking, and is destined to achieve a. similar distinction in Australia. " The piece, sis given in Australia, is practice ally the same as the original script.

About Fayette Perry. Mr. Barry Lupiuo, in the course of n brief chat with a pressman at. the close of his Auckland season, expressed the opinion that Miss Fayette Perry has the best judgment of any. woman he ever played with. "You don't think that means much, do you?" added Mr. Lupino. "but it does, both to an audience and to' the play itself. In the course of stago dialogue • and repartee the actors and I 'actresses must understand exactly tho moment at wfcich the dialogue must proceed after the audience laughs. Let me explain. .There are, in the, first place., different, sorts of. laughs, just: as thero are- varied voices. There is the titter, the guffaw,' tho stomach laugh— a long laugh, bursting - into resounding peals—and: the artistic laugh—a form, of snigger, a suppressed laugh, generally associated with the front seats. _ JNow, there is a study in the production of laughs, and they have to be changed to get. the. effect*. In 'Very Oiobd Eddie,', for instance, I have introduced no fewer; than eighty-four gags to catch what are called 'sure-fire'' laughs, which are always there, according. lo<t;he skill with which the gags are presented. Well, to continue, eighty-four different gags require tho same number of pauses in the dialogue.. So that an actress must have to understand when she is expected to carry on with her expression, following the Hberty and leisure of the. comedian, who, in his search for laugh responses from the audience, is liable to depart from manuscript settings and carry on at will in order to get the laugh he aims at. I have never yet required to give Suss Ferry tho 'quick march' cue in tins respect. In theatrical parlance, every laugh is worth a pound in money. Just imnginfi what a tribute it is to say that Miss Perry, on five years' experience, has assimilated •Shis aptitude and skill? She Ims the technique of the business. It is just like designing a book." . >•

Notes. Miss Dorothy Brunton concludes her farewell season with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in Sydney to-night- With her mother she proceeds to America for a long holiday. There she will probably appear in a few .pictures, having already had an offer to do so through the firm's; New r York office, but slio wishes most ofall to succeed, there in musical comedy. Later on London, where she may appear,in "So Long, Letty." "Grumpy" proved such a thumping success" in • Melbourne that Cyril Maude ■was only seen there: in the one play, and there is to ■be no return season. Melbourne people were permitted a glimpse of the actor in.another famous role, Mr. Maude hating played Sir Peter Teazle in the screen scene from "The School for Scandal" at the patriotic matinee organised by Melba. The Maude season in Sydney commences to-night. Ethel Morrison (formally Miss Etlie Maginnity, of Wellington) lias been with Marie Tempest since her tour .-f Australia commenced •in Melbourne. Her work bas been consistently praised by ' the critics. It seems as though she has found her true metier. The English Pierrots are to occupy the Concert Chamber again : from September - to 15, inclusive. The Auckland.season is-pioyiii" as successful as the last one in Wellington of this papular little organisation. ' ' , "The Courtiers," a costume comedy company, which has been assembled by Mr. Sydney Mannering. for Mr John M'Callum, of Brisbane, includes the tollowing performers:—Kozalie Lyon soprano); Violet Silvesta (souibrette), Madge Griffith (contralto), Harry Borrodale (monologuist), George Edwardes (comedian), Eosio Partes (comedienne), Linda Dalo (dancer), Sydney Mannering (tenor), Maggie Foster (violinist), Leslie Holmes (comedian), Henri Penn (pian15Jack Waller (formerly of the Butterflics) and Sydney James (late head of The Strollers) have combined in present; ing a revue entitled "Look Who s Here at the Sydney Palace It is said to e one of the brightest entertainments of its class over presented in Sydney. In "Mary Goes First," the H, A. Jones play in which Marie Tempest is now appearing in-Sydney, one critic stated that so i tied is the comedienne that she must have been melted down and poured into the part. There are quite a lot of people who could stand the same process, Ct who persistently avoid the lx.ilmgdT Tom S 'Pollard arrives towards the end of next week to 'put the. hn.shmg touches on the ■ amateurs who are to appear in "La Mascottc" on fpembci **> Mr Frank Thomas now holds tiv position'of accompanist and deputy-con-dlMiss' Muriel Starr has -.achieved a striking success in Chicago hi the production of the Hawaiian play, Jheßi d of Paradise." Press notices to hand bj tho last mail refer in the most eu oguitio terms to her performance 11) the leading role. Miss Starr, who is under engagement to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., will "npcnr in "The Bird of Paradise" when she returns to Australia iu tho near futUßumoiir has it that Allen Hoone, the favourite Irish actor, is now wearing Ichaki in the United States Army, so it looks as though he will not bo back m Australia for some time, - ■ At the conclusion of the present season of J. and N. Taifs company at the Melbourne King's, Messrs. Bert Bailey and Julius Grant will commence a Shakespearean season with lan M'Laren as the 6 Ada. Bcove is said to be the youngest woman for her age in the world.