PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7336, 14 January 1911, Page 8

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

BOOKINGS AND PEXCILLINGS. OPERA HOUSE. To Jan. 14.—J. C. Williamepn New Comic Opira Co. I Jan. I'j cjii„;ii-(ls.—Kailicrlnc Grey Co. I-'uh. 3. 3.-c::.rku and Meynell. Veb. U, 18.-11.1'.D. Co. MarWi 29. April IZ.—Hugh. .1. Want Co. April la. .Viiv 6.—. J. C. Williamson, iluy 8, 17.- A.lim Hamilton. Mav 13. June 7.—.(. C. Williamson. June 12, Julv I.—(icoreo Marlow. Jmy 6, 2'j.—Ularku and Meynoll. Auirust 17, 20. .1. 'J. Williamson. ricpt. 1:.. 31--Clarku and lloyuell Oct. 5. 20.—J C. Williamson. Nov. ,5, 16.—Clarke and MtynclU Due. 2. 16.—. Max ilnswell. C-iiriatmaa ueasim.—J. C. Williamson. TJIIiAXHK KOYA.L. Vaudeville (permanent). IIIS .MAJESTY'S THEATBE. Picture..: 'permanent!. TOV.-'i HALL. Jan. Zi.-Fullers. tub. li/ ami March 2.—J. and N. Tait. CONCERT HALL. Jan. i'j. ÜB. Laurence Campbell and M. G.3;ipoir. VV'IfiTU'S CIKCDS. January 16 to 21. NOTES. (By "Lorgnette.") The sustained success of Charles Klein's play with a purpose, "The Lion and the Mouse," which will be produced at the Opera House ou Wednesday evening, ti " ; lStk iust., by J. C. Williamson, ouows the drift oi modern drama. Sufficient for the (lay is tlie successful production of a play dealing with the living present that can hold an audience without melodramatic; episodes and without tailing in the aid of circus ring and clowning. "The Lion and the Mouse" has succeeded on its merits as a straightforward play founded on. a bloodless buttle, between right and might. Australian and Cliri.stchureh audiences watched with keen interest the step-by-step victory of Shirley Kossinore, tho plucky American girl, over the stronghearted millionaire, John Burkett Ryder. Wirth's Circus and Menagerie will open a Wellington season on Monday evening next. The huge tents will be pitched, on a site at tho bottom of Taranaki street. The combination of performers and animals that the Messrs Wirth have got together tor the present tour of the Dominion is said to be one of tho best that has ever visited these ■shores. Matinee performances will be given "on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The usual largo audiences greet the rise of the curtain every evening at the 'Theatre Royal, where the tine programme submitted by the Messrs Fuller is keenly enjoyed. The headliner this week is Mr Alt' Holt, who ariived a fewdays ago from Loudon, via Australia, •under engagement lo the enterprising management. Mr Holt goes through some rather remarkable and amusing voice gymnastics, giving, clever imitations of various musical instruments, steamboat sirens, and other every-day sounds, which it would be thought impossible to imitate successfully with tho human voice. Another clever "turn" is that given by tho Demos. The other niembi/rs of the company do good work, whilst tho pictures displayed are greatly appreciated. In fact tho present programme is brimful of good things, and fully deserves the fine patronage accorded it. "The Lion and the Mouse," the play ivith which'J. C. Williamson's Dramatic Company opens its Wellington season > jii Wednesday- evening next, created a profound sensation when it' was first staged in New York, and President Roosevelt wrote the following to the author: "You have said in an evening what I have been trying to drive home for years." Senator Delaney also wrote about the same piece: "1 thank God wo have a man in our midst capable of ■ writing such a drama. May it penetrate the hearts and conscience of those at whom it is so justly aimed—those who through their own cupidity would destroy every vestige of honourable dealing in this country." "The Lion and the Mouse" is- said to be a play that gets to the very soul of things, portraying with vivid and telling power the -corrupting ■ influences which attack the body politic, 'and attempt even to smirch and utterly destroy tho administration of justice itself. Miss Katherine Grey, who ranks with Miss Ada Rehan as tho greatst actress in America, and Mr William Desmond, one of New York's most brilliant romantic actors, are both said to bo at their best in "The Lion and j the Mouse," whilst the other members of the company were nil specially selected for their various roles. Only a few

representations can be-given of the opening piece, as during the season "The Third Degree," "Paid in Full," and "Truth" will also bo staged.

Splendid houses have been the rale during the past week at His Majesty's Theatre, Conrtenay place . (where all trams stop if desired), to witness the high-class programmes submitted by the pnergetie and enterprising management. The lovers of pictures are getting the very best that can be secured at this cosy theatre. First a dramatic subject, then a comic film, interspersed with sporting and educational subjects, is the ordeT of tho programme. Every one- is good, and are therefore much appreciated.

The star performers of Wirth's Circus for its present tonr of the Dominion is undoubtedly the Frantz family of acrobats. In describing their act a southern contemporary says: "The company is very strong in acrobatic performers, and in this connection the performance of the Frantz troupe is unique, and borders at times on the miraculous. Two men, three ladies, and a boy comprise the troupe, and while they were in the ring they seemed to traverse the whole scale of acrobatic performances. Singly, in twos and threes, and combined they went through their evolutions, and •earned the h<*arty applause of the large audience. The tallest lady in the troupe reeled off somersaults by the dozen with the greatest rapidity and ease; the boy did some daring somersaulting from the shoulders of one of the male performers to the other; one of. the other ladies showed her wonderful strength by balancing a male performer on her shoulders, what tim" two of the others clung '" her arms; while one of the. gentlemen did some splendid shoulder' somersaults, as did also the tallest lady. In fact, each unci every one of the six has some fipecinlty out of the ordinary, and they provided a unique entertainment. • The mo<-t wonderful turn concluded their net. A male performer balanced .head on on the head nf one of the ladies; his male companion stood close in. whereupon the balancing one dropped his feet on the lntt<>r's head, was gradually suspended straight out—head on the ladv, fort on the male acrobat—and in that ttosition was lowered .to the ground by hi- two supporters prostrating them.??lves on the carrot. After a brief spell, and while lying flat down, the suspended one resumed his former position, and his two supporters then slowly raised themselves to thpir. feet again. Thev then gradually closed in, and the balanced quietly . jerked his feet, from his male companion's head and once more stood with his feet to the'sky head on to the lady. Two of the members of this troupe—Harry and Edith Frantz—-

'ivu-e associated in a unique barrel-jump-i <» act—the rapid maanw in winch tho lady made standing jumps out ot one b.irrel into otiiers placed in a row and ai-o at different heights affording eaii-e for wonder as to whether another 'spring-heeled Jack' had come to life.

Mr Harold Ashton, representing th ■ J. C. Williamson Company, Ltd., who lias been on tour in England, - v ™ en< ; a j and the Continent, arrived in Dunwlm on .Monday to take over the management of the Katherine UreyComp-.n.> It is in the fitness of things that HaioM Acuton should take charge of the. com-,i>-inv as when on his previous visit to America he engaged Miss Katherine Grey •ind Mr William Desmond, together with the 'nlays which the American stars are to present at the Opera House during the coming season ot the J. O. vvnliamson Ditimatie company.

Mi« Katherine Grey, the prominent American actress whom .1. C. Williamson wfll present to Wellington playgoers on Wednesday evening as Shirley Rossmore in "The Lion and the Mouse, is evidently a lady of wide and varied experience. Like so-many of the successful stars in America she is a Californian by birth, and made her first appearance in San Francisco under the management of Augustm Daly. With

his. company she went to New York soon afterwards, and for the next few years. .she was aimo-st exclusively connected with Broadway theatres in suitport of various famous actors like Yv. H. Crane and .Richard Mansfield, with whom, by the way, she was when MiGerard Coventry was his stage director. Subsequently she toured with Charles, Cogklan, 11. E. Dixey, Nat Goodwin, and Arnold Daly, with whom she appeared in several of Bernard Shaw's plays. Her' repertoire reads most interestingly, embracing as it does a very wide viii.iety of parts and pieces. .Outstanding among her successes may, be mentioned Glory Quayle in "The Christian," Sopnie in "The Gay Lord Quex," Helen Berry in "Shoreacres." Uno of her earliest was Ruth in "She-, naudoa'h," in which Maigaret Angkh, first scored, by the way—and. one of her latest was last year as Christine Deh-i ring in "The Reckoning," a strong melodrama of American life.

The J. C. Williamson. New Comic] Opera Company will bring to a close this evening one of the most successful comic opera and musical comedy seasons, ever played in Wellington. Capacity business was done at every performance,, and no wonder. The company is without doubt one of the strongest that has over, toured the Dominion, whilst tue pieces staged were all first-class. The. company's farewell appearance will be in a performance of "The Merry Widow."

Mr William Desmond, who will make his first appearance in Wellington next Wednesday evening with J. C. Williamson's Dramatic" Company in "The Lion and the Mouse," is said to be a new type of leading man for this country. Jle is essentially a home-loving person, and has no yearning to be tlie big Broadway star. For that reason he continued for six years at the Alcazar Theatre, Los Angeles, California. Offers cams from New York, and it was only when, they became specially tempting that he accepted (said a Sydney pressman the other day). "When I was there," he said, "I had no home and friends. On Broadway it is a continuo-us gamble for an actor. There is no guarantee that a

MR WILLIAM DESMOND, The brilliant romantic actor, who will make his first appearance in Wellington with J. C. Williamson's Katherine Grey Dramatic Company in "The Lion and the Mouse" at tho Opera House on Wcdnesnight next.

new play will be a success. The actor is engaged, for a part. Tho play may run a year or a week. It may be a mediocre success, and go 'on the road/ Thia- involves a succession of strange hotel.-;. At Los Angeles, as a leading, man with a stock company support." there, were fifty-two'weeks' work for rne every year if I wanted it. If I wanted a "vacation I could get it. I could call- the town my home, for I was acquainted well enough to slap a man on the back and «ay. 'Hello, • .lack,'- and hear him come ba'ck with 'Hello, Bill.' There is' a

mighty lot in that. I liked to go to baseball games or an occasional tight, and to feel part of tho community. No Broadway man spending the major portion of his time on the road could do taat. Just what I mean about that homo feclir.g I can best illustrate with an incident from ray own experience. 1 was pretty well known in Los Angeles as an atnlete, having annexed a medal or two and an odd cup. The boys called me 'Billy' mostly on that account. Well, a newsboy attended a matinee of a play in which I was appearing. Wheu I was coming from the theatre I met him, and he saiu. to me, 'Say, Billy, that's agie-ut show.' 'Glad you like it,' 1 said. 'But in one of the scenes you fall down, Billy,' he continued. And he went anead with an explanation of the scene, and how, to his mind, it could be bettered. His suggestion was good. 'That scene's bully now," he told me a fewdays after. * His criticism was honest and friendly, and I profited by it." William Desmond is an actor who demonstrates that their is more of tho man about him than the clothes make, 'that is the general view of the antiactor brigade. When one's lady friend in the audience murmurs her adoration of the siago hero the man "sees red," and makes some scofliiig remark, such as "It's a pity he drinks," or, "What would he look like without his brave clothes?" Wiliiain Desmond is an ex- , ample of the athletic actor. The result is that he looks more like the matinee idol tnan ever. He is as hard as iron in the muscles, and keeps himself, fit by haid training. In America he is popular as a baseball player, a Marathon runner, and has held tno amateur championship for wrestling for i\ew lork State. When he piayetl Marcus Superbus in "Tho Sign 'of tho Cross" throughout America he had tho physique for the Woman patrician, and the iankee press emphasised the iaet by giving nis recoid in games. Mr Desmond is a non-smoker and a teetotaller—v.rtues that proclaim him tho ideal matinee idol. Apart fioin tho theatre, clean open-air sports are his one attraction, and he takes his brisk walks abroad with a big bun-dog rolling along at his heels.

The following dates have been booked for Wirth's Circus:—Wellington, January 10-21; Blenheim, 23-21; l'icton, 23; Neison, 27-23; I'etone, 30; Featberston, 31; Greytown, February 1; Carterton. 2; ALasterton, 3; Blteiauuna, 4; Fahiatua, 6; Danuevirke, 7; waipawa, 8; Hastings, 9; Napier, 10-11; Wcodville, 13; Levin, 14; Otaki, lo; Falmerston North, 17-18; Feilding, 20; YVunganin, 21-1:2; Stiatfoid, 23;-New i'lyinoutn, 24-25; luglewood, 27; Hawera, 28; Fatoa, Marca\l; luurioii, 2; Hunterville, 3; Taihape, 4;' Taumarunui, 6; Te Kuiti, 7; To Awamutu, 8; Hamilton, !); Cambridge, 10; itotorua, 11; Waihi, 13; Thames, 14; Faeroa, 15; Huntly, 10; Pukekoue, 17; Auckland, 18STAGE GOSSIP. Mrs Robert Brough closes her engagement with the ti.l'.l). Company at His Atajesty's, Auckland, this evening. "xne.i,adiier or Hie,'' now running at the 'King's, Melbourne, was Mr William Anderson's first plunge into sole man-. iigt.nient.

The H.F.D. company will open a season at the Sydney palace on Saturday, March 11th, with' W. Somerset Maugham's successful play "Smith." ' Aliss May-Martin is said to have improved her contortion and trapeze acts oui of sight since the last visit of Wirth's Circus. She also aoes a fine equestrian act, driving eight ponies.

The Lentous, who, some years ago, toured tiie Dominion under the Fuller banner, are now members of wirin/s "Circus. They do a clever hat-spinning a.nl acrobatic act.

The animal acts presented by the Messrs Wirtn during their present tour are said to be regular hair-raisers. T'Jie two trainers with tne show, Alons. Marco and i-iorr Rutioipu, each present most t-.iiili.ng perioimauces. Mr George L. Peterson, the hustling advance agent of Wirth's Circus, has gut everything in a,pple-pie oraer for tne opc-uu.g of the Wellington season, wnich commences on Ai'onuay evening. It, is no easy matter now to secure sins in New Zealand to pitch circus tents, but tne energetic G.L.I', knows how to do it. He gets there every tune with h.s courteous and obliging manner. Tho business of theatrical managers, c-urried on ay Sir Rupert Clarke aim Mi Ciyde Meynell has oeen registered as a p opiietary limited company with a cap it.il of j;3U,000. Tho shareholders at tut .e of registration were Sir liupei,. Clarke, Messrs Clyde Meynell (theamca. :uuinager), J. F. ryffe (sqlicitorj, J. V. M. wood (mcorpoiated accountant), C 1). Yencken (solicitor), and J. W. Cari.tew.

The J. C. Williamson New Comic Opera Company will leave Wellington on Monday morning for Mastertou. Thi. following is ' the tour booked: —Masterton, January 16; Dannevrike, January 17; Hastings, January 18; Mapier, Janu : land, January 26-February 18; .New Plymouth, February 20; Wanganui, February 21-22; Paimerston North, February 23-24; Dunedin, February. 28-March 10, Oamaru March 11-13; Cimstchurch, luirch.. 14-29. . • "The Third Degree," with its wonderfully effective, situations and its powerfully written dialogue, is said to hav« appealed strongly to Christchurch and lJunedin playgoers, and both iVLiss Kathenne Grey and Mr William Desmond have won warm praise for the excellent way they handle two finished portraits At' the faithful wife and the big lawyer. i"The. Third Degree" will be staged at itue Opera House during the coming 6eajson of ' the J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company.

Mdlie. Millie Dagmar (Mrs Tom Fitzgerald) is how a-member of Wirth's Circus, which opens a Wellington season on Monday evening next. Mdlle. Dagmar gives a very clever performance with a number- of small dogs and ponies. On tho opening night of the Dunedin season one of the animals was evidently most anxious for. the time to come to put on the piece de resistance of this act, and on the word being given hurriedly climbed, a'ladder leading to the top of the tent, stood out on a small platform, and then leapt down 60iue 30ft into a sheet held out to catch him.

When witnessing the tragic scenes between the millionaire and the Supreme Court judge in "The Lion and tho Mouse," which th© J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company will produce -at' the Opera House on Wednesday - evening nest, playgoers would do well to remember that the position of a, j udge in' the United States leaves him open to threats, attacks, and plots which wo would not tolerate in British communities. In America the judge.s are appointed and dismissed by the "party in power," and men with enormous wealth at. their command have from time to time attempted to poison the fountains of justice.

One' o£ tho cleverest and most mystifying acts in the programme of Wirth's Circus, which opens a Wellington season on Monday evening next, is that done by Raymond the Great, who escapes from an iron trunk after ho has been (says the "Otago Witness") handcuffed and leg-ironed. After Raymond had been placed in the trunk a " screen was lowered round, it, and as he had not made his- reappearance at - the end of three minutes the audience-became somewhat apprehensive, and this was accentuated by the clever fooling of the ringmaster, .who called for . water to . revive the handcuffed one . and a . crowbar to open the trunk. On the trunk -being opened, however, it ■ was found .to be empty, and Raymond immediately afterwards came back to the ring by a side entrance,. ■ ■ _ .;. ...