THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18629, 9 February 1924, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

Future of the Theatre?-^ Mr. John Drinkwater, a noted poet and dramatist, addressed members of the O.P. Club, on "The English Theatre To-day," at the Hotel Cecil, London. Since the Restoration, at any rate, he said, the theatre in England had been roughly divided into two groups of activity. The most powerful, commercially, had always been that which had concerned itself with giving the public what it wanted. He did -not use the term "commercial theatre" in an offensive sense. It performed a ? very definite and by no means harmful function, and-they, all liked It flattered the public by giving it something that was already in the mind of the public. Ho was not striking his colours in regard to the intellectual theatre, but after a time one found that one's energies were better expended in trying to establish the thing one cared for'; instead of. trying to destroy the thing one did not care for. On the other hand, there had always been, in every age, a certain group in the theatre concerned, not in giving the public 'what it wanted,♦but-' in -finding the largest possible hearing for what the greatest artists wanted, and- in working for the permanent improvement of the public. Such . meu; had ...not always be«n encouraged." He did not think thero was the smallest likelihood of a national theatre coming into existence. People talked of raising £1,000,000 for that purpose when they had got -promises for €2500 They were neither ripe for such institution, nor did he think national genius would profit from it. ■'Who would manage it? Imagine what would happen when it came to appointing a national board of managers! ' There would probably be no actors left after the first meeting. „>•• «r ii. What was to he the future? Were the lew gallant efforts of the repertory then.res and other enterprises going to flower again and develop or were thev going, to die.... away? _If the playgoing societies • and various enterprises would organise there was ready to hand all the material for making a really satisfactory English theatre in London for the coming generation; for financial reasons the commercial theatre must be ruled out from that sort of enterprise. An- extraordinarily brilliant" croup of young-writers'-was now coming from the universities- who would like to work for the theatre, if encouraged. Ha did not believe that dramatists were bom and not made. The 'art could be learned if one had a genius for writing at all. Plays and Players. One of the most important theatrical matinees ever held in Sydney is listed for the first' week in March, when managers will concentrate their best efforts on a mammoth performance to be held at the-" Grand Opera, House. The proceeds will -go to the Big Drive Fund, of Pnnco Alfred Hospital. 'The Beggar's . Opera" concluded a phenomenal run of 1465 performances at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London, just before Christmas. With 'the exception of "Chu Chin Chow" this is the longest run of any musical play in London. It fell but three days short, moreover, of the run of Brandon Thomas famous farce, "Charlie's A«nt." "A controversy as to whether or not the Sistine Choir, which, is .mow,, touring America, is' the original choir irbm the Vatican at Rome is said to be ruining -the troupe's business, ' and"' causing its management no end of trouble. 7 Several Catholic papers in the country < have written articles faying it is not the real' thing. The management, however, has an imposing list' of references, one from 1 the Papal Secretary .of State' at Rome, -nd others from several archbishops and high Catholic dignitaries. Caruso's little three-year-old daughter Gloria was a charming figure ._ in a front seat at her mother's wedding, in London, when Signora Caruso, the tenor's widow, r.iarried Captain E. A. Ingram at the Brompton Oratory. The bride arrived with the Italian Charge ,d*Affairs in Paris, who gave her away in place of Baron Avezzano, who was too busy to leave the Paris Embassy. She wore a • sable trimmed black' velvet dress with black hat, having tufts of. ospreys, and she carried mauve orchids. Formerly Miss Dorothy Benjamin, . Signers Caruso married the famous tenor without the fiermisaion of her father, a New York awyer and naval expert, who, however, forgave her before he died.

Patrons of vaudeville will learn with regret, that Miss Posie Parkes, of the Edwards and Parkes duo, well known on the, v Fa]l«eu,circuit, „died a .week- ago at Queenscliff, Victoria. Miss, Parkes a few months I ago had to undergo an operation the , second within a . comparatively short period—and bad been recuperating in Victoria after having left hospital. She was the wife of Mr. Harold Parkes (the "George; Edwards" of the duo), formerly with-J. JG*. Williamson ' Ltd., George Willoughby, and the Dandies. They appeared in Australia and New Zealand in smart sketches, jointly written, and were recognised as ' among the best and most cultured artists in vaudeville. Mr. Parkes has sustained a heavy loss in the death?. 6f£; his life-partner ~.*sd stageparbjer, whom playgoers will remember for her attractive 'personality "* and infections'laugh. * .*

The London Times musical critic joins his confreres on the leading London papers in his complimentary criticism of Miss Stella Murray, the New Zealand singer. He refers to her recent songrecital at the Aeolian Hall as the most successful, and he continues: "We knew her already for the possessor of a contralto -voice exceptionally fine in quality, and equally rich in tone throughout its compass; but we had not previously heard her undergo the test of singing great music. She proved an excellent interpreter of Wolf, whose " Come Mary, take Comfort " (Miss Murray sang throughout in English, a proceeding justified by her unusually clear dictior.;) stood out above everything else in the programme, with Pergolesi's " Sun Above Me n as a good second. We look forward to bearing Miss Murray again when she his not to contend with a physical disadvantage (cold) -which obviously presented her from doing her best."

A case which promises to have great interest for theatre-goers, and particularly frequenters of the Oomedie Francaise, may shortly come "before the courts, writes a Paris correspondent. It has been instituted by Mme. Silvain, the famous actress of the " House _of Moliere," who has taken action against the management. The Comedie Francaise is directed by a committee, which decided to bring about the retirement of two " Societaires," and at the same time to prepare for the resignation of others. Before decisions of this nature can be executed they have to receive the assent of the Minister of Fine Arts, who in the last resort, is master of the destinies of the Theatre Francais. As one of the Societaires in question, 'Mme. Louise Silvain, with the consent of her husband, who is doyen of. the company, has informed M. Fmile Fabre, the general manager, of her intention to . proceed against him and to claim damages. Mme. Silvain argues that the committee by its action is forcing the hand of the Minister of Fine Arts. Whatever may be the result of the committee's decision, whether it is withdrawn or confirmed, the actress, who is only 49, contends that it will be damaging to her in France and abroad. She assesses the damages at 300,000 franca. The " Affaire Silvain " is giving riga to much talk, and it is not doubted that there will be a full house at the Palais de Justice if it comes up for bearing,