THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 247, 6 July 1918, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(lly ".Sylvius.")

A Veteran Comedian. The doyen of 'the Australian static is Mr. Howard Vernon, who is at present playing the Sultan of Morocco nightly i:i "Dick W'hittingtoii" at the Grand Opera House. Most hardened playgoers over this wav can remember Howard Veinon farther back than any other performer still before us, with the possible exception of Miss Nellie Stewart, who. it must bo remembered, went upon the stage as a child. Mr. Vernon, to those playgoers of mature years, stands as tho highest-placed Gilbertian ever seen iu New Zealand—that is to say, that of the many excellent people who have ttod their brief hour in Gilbert-Sulli-van operas in this country, Mr. Vernon looms as a giant. Ho had in a remarkable degree that rare gift—the.. art of in-parting the. fullest meaning to every line Gilbert -wrote; It is usually called "the Clilberlian sense." because it calls fui a sense beyond those usually called for in the player. A lot of us never knew the superb beauty -md depth of Shakespeare unii! we heard.Ellen Terry. Similarly hundreds of thousands of people jiavo failed to realise the radiant wit of Gilbert, because there, have been nu Veruous to express it. Theonly one to approach him was.the late Win. Deans Lyon, of Wellington, an amateur, but a "great Gilbertian, whose place here has never been filled. Mr. Vernon, will never In forgotten in at least jour parts. I refer to his Bunthorne .in "Patience," his Koko in "The Mikado," tho Lord Chancellor iu "lolantho," and his 'Wilfred Shad bolt in "Tho Yeomen of the Guard." His subtle methods rnd wonderful inflexions, which gave just- tho fullest meaning, cannot -be forgotten. Competent critics froni London havo preferred him lo Grossmith, senior (tho original of the rules at the Savoy Theatre, London), and there'-were none who knew who did not enjoy the luxury of witnessing Vernon in the. days of his greatnew. Mr. Victor -Prince, the .txuber-. ant comedian of the Puller circuit, is a son of Mr. Vernon. The English Pierrots. Tho English Pierrots commence their last week in Wellington (of an eight and a half week's season) at the Concert Chamber ou Monday. This -little show is one that does itself infinite credit. Its members are talented, they aro workers, and there is a line esprit do corps between them, all .that makes for beautiful dove-tailing and tomplcto harmony. "I always feel.so. happy at the Pierrots!" said a young girl to her friend, as- they descended the Town Hall stairway tho other evening. Surely no prettier or more genuine compliment could be paid to a show. It is giwd to hear that, after a long summer in Perth, the' Pierrots will return to Wellington. "Peg o' My Heart," All liioso who havo made loving obeisauce to Miss Sara Allgood in "Peg o' M'v Heart" will be pleased to hear that "Messrs. J. and N. Tait have do-, cided to embark ou another tour "of New Zealand, commencing about tho end of (ho present month. Since the company was in New Zealand it Ims been playing ■ v Pc" o' My Heart" almost continuously, and "always to capacity business, and tho number of performances given .ot Ihw bewitching comedy almost equals tlio record ot "Sweet Nell." Miss Allsood will be supported by a first-rate company, including several of those who were iu tho original east.. Jlr. Gerald Hanson will once more appear as Jerry, Miss Doris Gilliam will again , assume the role of the haughty Mrs. Chichester, and Miss Jicttv M'Donald will injure aa Ethel Chichester. "Michael, tho sagacious dog who plays his part with convincing ardour, will again im<l a. place amoug Miss Allgood's treasures. The Amazing Bernhardt, Tn "A Writer's Recollections," which Ph t is contributing lo the "Cornhill Magazine," Mrs. Humphrey Vvard debcribes the impression made on her and tier husband bv Sara Bernhardt when first they saw that great actress iu Paris forty-four years ago-.—"One night we were in the Theatre u'rancais, and Kacine's M'hedre' was lo be given: 1. at least had never.been in -the Maison du Moiiero before, and in such matters as acting I possessed at'twentythreo only a very raw aud country-cons-inish judgment. There had been a certain amount of talk in Oxford of a new ami remarkable French actress, but neither of us had really any idea of what was before us. Then the play began. And before the first act was over we were sitting bent forward, gazing at the stage in an intense and concentrated excitement, such as I can scarcely remember ever feeling again, except, perhaps, when tho same actress played 'Hernaui' in London for the first tinio in 1881. Sara Bernhardt was then—December, 1871—in tho first full tide of her success. She was of a ghostly and willowly slenderness. Each of the groat speeches seemed aoi.ually to rend the delicate frame. When she fell back after ono of tliem you felt an actual physical terror lest there should not bo enough life left in the slight; dying woman to let her speak again. And you craved for yet more and moro of the voix d'or which rang in one's cars as the frail yet exquisite instrument of a mighty music. Never before had it been .brought home to me what dramatic art might be, or the power of tho French Alexandrine. And never did I coine to near quarrelling with 'Uncle Matt' (Matthew Arnold) as when, on our return, after having heard my say about the genius of Sara Bernhardt, ho patted my hand indulgently, with the remark. 'But, my dear child—you see— you never saw Eachel!'" Debussy's Funeral. Concerning the funeral of Debussy, who not only created a new school of music, but who arrested tho tide of German influence over French composers, Leonora Haines writes in "Musical America": Tho funeral of Claudo Debussy took place from his home on the Avenue du Bois <!e Boulogne in tho greatest simplicity, according to the will of tho composer. In speaking of funerals, Debussy expressed. the desire that when his "turn" came his remains should leave tho house, without ■ discourse, without flowers, without -music, that only his close friends follow tho hoarse, ami that thero bo no eulogies and small mention ol him in the. papers. Consequently very little hit-? been written. Always a modest man, his three years of illness caused him to draw in his shell more and moro as time advanced, and ho almost never, appeared in public. ' Tho last time the writer saw him was at a concert a year ago, got up for a charitable- purpose by Walter Morse Hummel, and thero Debussy accompanied some of his songs. Notes. Major Henry L. Higginson has given up his historic connection with tho Boston Symphony Orchestra. Edith Wynne Mathison has revived Thomas\ Kami Kennedy's notable play, "The Servant in Hie House," in New York. Madame Schumann-Heinle, tlio German operatic contralto, who early in tho war made statements of a distinctly pro-Ger-man character, was at the latest singing fioni the steps of the sub-Treasury in Washington' in aid of America's latest .Liberty Loan. Oh, these Germans! "The Bing Boys Are Here," the successful revue, which had a record-break-ing run in -Sydney, is due to open in Auckland on Monday evening. \ Mr. Hugh D.'M'lntosh has left on'a (rip lo America.