FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 16263, 4 November 1916, Page 1

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By Loitekkb.] HOSPITAL HORRORS. On the table before me is the play (forwarded by Messrs Duncan and Simpson) that suggests the above phrase, a translation of Brieux's ' Les Avaries'—the ' Damaged Goods' about which so much has been written, and which J. C. Williamson, Ltd., now announce for colonial production. With a terrible disease for its motif, tainted in almost every phrase with the odor of a hospital for the worst kind of incurables, this so-called "play" yet represents an earnest attempt to 'impress the playwright's art into the cause of sociology—to promulgate through the stage certain measures for excising one of the most hideous| ulcers that lies at the root of our social system. From the viewpoint of the propagandist, M. Brieux handles his theme—the diseases that arise among profligate men and women and are sown by them among the innocent and unwary—with splendid sincerity. There can be no room for doubt that (as Shaw writes in his preface) what Brieux says in 'Les Avaries' needs saying. Nor* can it be denied that (and this is Bricux himself) this social scourge "must cease to be treated like a mysterious evil, the very name of which cannot l>e pronounced. The ignorance in which the public is kept of the real nature and of the consequences of this disease helps to aggravate and to spread it. Generally it is contracted because ' I didn't know '; it becomes dangerous for want of proper care because ' I didn't know'; and. it is passed on from person to person because ' I didn't know.' " But, in this column at least, we are only indirectly concerned with this propagandist aspect—only so far, in fact, as it becomes necessary to determine whether the play is one which should be set upon the public stage. And even this question may be deferred until wo have inquired whether ' Damaged Goods' is, indeed, a play at all. Certainly two of the threo acts—the first and the third—are merely pamphlets in dialogue form, all the real drama being sealed in act ii. Brieux's constructive faculty lias obviously succumbed to the earnestness of the zealot; particularly in the third act, which consists of a series of stump -speeches by the doctor,-addressed to the deputy, Loches. It is honeycombed with anti-climax, and in the theatre anticlimax is -rill-; deadh- sin. Unfortunately.' I cannot attempt a description of Brieux's treatment of his theme, because it would involve a frankness of terms neither permissible nor desirable in a journal read by the young as much as by the old. Could I do so it would be apparent that the treatment is essentially undramalie (except in act ii.), the characters being merely the puppets of the playwright's propaganda. Any interest it excites rests upon the inherent horror of the subject. It is therefore a bad play in the true dramatic sense. But I shall contend further that 'Damaged Goods,' in spite of its sincerity and the soundness of its doctrine, is a" bad play : because it is not fit for representation upon the ordinary public stage. Disease may be, and has been, used as an element, in the catastrophe of drama, hut it suraly cannot be made the very essence of drama, as it is in 'Damaged Goods'—the inception, the development, and the catastrophe all in cne. Mr Bernard Shaw, in a characteristically specious arraignment of the prohibition of the play, says: " All the" illv.remcnts of sex may be" exhibited on tin' stage, heightened by every- artifice that the imagination of the voluptuary can dovise, but not one of its dangers and peralties." Well—of course! The stage is an epitome of the passions of lite, hoc an ante-moilem examination cf pathological conditions, or a post-mortem analysis of disease. , Brieux's play, with its grisly pathological descriptions,' contains matter to make the unsensitive retch. Two attractive new acts will be shown at the Princess Theatre on Monday night—the Flemmings and Jeannette Spellman. The Flemmings are said to present the finest athletic and posing exhibition we have seen in this country; while Miss Spellman is a diseuse of similar type to Miss Hilda Felstead, who won such popularity in this town. In the second half Bert La Blanc and Co. will stage their final revue, 'At the Exposition.' . . . Bluett, the successful Australian vaudeville comedian, who has been in England for some time, is returning, to Australia*

Violet Trevenyon, the attractive little English comedienne who became such a warm favorite here, lias joined Fullers' 'Follies of Pleasure' Company in Melbourne. W S. Percy is in the cast of 'Flying Colors' at the London Hippodrome.

Alice ' Crawford, who visited Dunedin with the Wilson Barrett Company, has married major serving " somewiiorc in Franco." James W. lia/.litt. manager for J. C. Williamson, Ltd . at the Sydney Criterion, has lost another eon in France." Ho was a sergeant in the 51st Westralian Battalion, and died in a Cambridge hospital on September 21 from wounds received: Jt is just 12 months since Mr Hazlitt lost his eldest son. the well-known cricketer. The London comedian A. G. Sprv is reported to he considering an offer "for an Aystralian tour with his successful' revue 'Spots,' and, if present arrangements avo confirmed the piece will bo produced in Melbourne in May, 1917. 'fiiis will lie, Spry's third visit to Australia, hie former appearances be ins; m Rkknrds's vaudeville. Mi« George Gardiner, well known to the vaudoviJle stage as one of the Musical Gardinars, died sudden-y in Sydnev recently from heart disease. Sl'ia was a native of Parramatta. The Musical Gardiners were on torn- in New Zealand a few months ago. Jack Waller, whoso " Butterflies" Company won the esteem of New Zealand playgoers, has taken over the Lvric Theatre, St. Kilda (Melbourne), for the summer Reason, and will appear there with his latest company, "The Ideals of l'Jl6 " 13 artists in all. William Fcrd, who has hce.i wardrobe manager for J. 0. Williamson. Ltd., for over 35 years, has been granted a pension by the firm. Ford, in his da-,-, was a wellknown cricketer, and was' a first-class wicket-keeper. H. B. Irving has revived "The Professor's Love Story' in London. The cast included Henrietta Watson, "i'he Professor's Love Story' was played here by the late Charies Arnold. Tares artists well known to Australian audienceo have heen encaged for the new-Inter-State Grand Opera Company of America. These are Madame Eleonora de Cisneros, mezzo-soprano of th-e Melba Opera Company; Mr Graham Marr, bass; aid Ernest Knoch, conductor, who were both in Australia, with the Q.uinian Opera Company. The Inter-State Company were founded and promoted by Mm Cora Stetson Butler; and are to plav regularly o*i a circuit embracing Cleveland; Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and Detroit. _ It is probable that the popular Prince Revue Company will play a return season at the Princess Theatre very ehaxtix.

Williamson' Hale Hamilton-Myrtle Tannehill Company commence the'ir Ghristchurch season to-night with 'lt Pays to Advertise.' Plaza patrons are promised exceptional entertainment on Monday in the initial screening of the much -discussed film ' The Divinity of Motherhood.' Having seen a private exhibition of this subject. I can say without reserve that it handles a difficult theme with great delicacy, points a moral by means of an absorbing story, and provides a beautiful spectacle. The t>pecialty of J. C. Williamson's next Christmas pantomime is to be the Ritchie's Rough Riders, a comedy cycling act, which was the biggest hit of last year's Drury Lane pantomime "The act 'held up th-) show," wrote Mr Meynell, in describing the furore it caused. When the last mail left Home the team were appearing in the big revue 'Look Who's Here' at the London Opera House. It was stated recently that the veteran E. W. Royce (how many remember his masterly performances at the old Princess's in 'Jack Sheppard.' under the unfortunate Robert Broach management?) was going to cross the herring pond, and act as producer for Mr Charles Dillingham at N>iw York But this has been denied. The- versatile conwdian of another generation has linked up hitn fortunes with those of Mr Alfred Butt, of the London Pavilion, the Alhambra, and other metropolitan music-halls, and con-tii-uec- to be general manager o£ the firstmentioned hov.se. Miss Beatrice Yaldwyn, the clever young Australian actress who is to appeal' in J. and X. Tait's 'Peg o' My Heart' Company at His Majesty's Theatre on Thursday week, has had excellent experience in London. She was trained in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree's famous school, and then played for several seasons in Miss Mario Tempest's productions. She also took the leading part in England in ' Oflicer 666,' the American comedy in which Fred Niblo made such a success. The "Fuller firm are to he congratulated on the enterprise they show in sending the Gonsalez Grand Opera Company to New Zealand, for undoubtedly they incur some risk in a venture of such magnitude. This firm, however, have never moved until every contingency has been studied, which is one reason why their movement has always been forward. "New Zealand is to hear a repertoire such has not been attempted sine"" the days of MontagueTurner r.T.d Martin Simonseii. _ The company open at Auckland on Boxing Night, and bring with them a repertory of nine operas—'ll Trovatore,' 'Aida.' 'La<Trayiata,' ' Lucia di Lammermoor.' ' Cavalleria Rusticana,' 'I Pagliacci.' 'Madame Butterfly,' 'La Boheme,' 'Barber of Seville,'-and perhaps 'lves Hugenots.'