Plays & Players

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 18

Plays & Players

OPEEA HOUSE. [n Season.—J. and K. Tait, Yicola, 'tasician. August 17-26.—J. C, Williamson, Panto’mime, “Jack and tho Beanstalk." Atigust 23, September 4.—Florence Brine Come.ly Company. September 11-50. —Oiarho and -..’cync-i. 3 I “Gav Gordons’’ Company. 1 Oct-brr U-25.-.1. C. Williamson, “Onr Miss 1 Gibes” Company. , ~ ’ November 5-16.—Clarke and Moynell, ‘•Woman in the Cafe" Company. December £3. January 36.—0 G. Williamson THEATRE ROYAL. Fullers' Vaudeville (permaner,t). HIS MAJESTY'S, Fullers’ Pictures (permanent). THE NEW THItA’EEE. Hacmabon and Donnelly. Continnoilfl Pictures (permanent). TOW-V HALL. August 16-I’).—Sousa’s Band. A laudable and, m certain respects, a very interesting production was made at the Savoy Theatre, .London, of a new stage version, by Mr Metcalfe Wood, of Dickens's “Dombcy and Son’’ (writes the '•Standard.”) It was laudable in its sincerity and the, evident affection of its producers for the work of the novelist; -it was inten’sliiig in its faithful, reproduction, in tlv “atmosphere” of the time—the reception at Dombey’s house was quite well done. But, nevertheless, the effect, altogether, was somewhat archaic; wo were scrutinising an article of bijouterie arid vertu, rather than a living, pulsating thing. The is that Dickens does not dramatise. With tho one exception of “Tho Tale of Two Cities,” his novels are diff use and descriptive, not concise .and closely knit. It 'is too difficult a task to sift the theatrically effective from the anecdotal embarrassment of riches. And, for these days, a certain subtlety of suggestion rather than downright statement is requisite. Had some skilful craftsman of Dickens’s own day tramdated his work to the stage we might have had a classic. But tho modern playwright cannot, save in externals, reproduce the essence of the great man’s genius.

Mr Rob. Thomas, of the Enßlif.il Pierrots (lately performing at tho Wellington Exhibition) writes:—“We have just concluded three weeks’ touring. All along the lino the Pierrot entertainment is received with enthusiasm. Tho reception accorded to us everywhere has been most gratifying. Unfortunately, in several of the small towns we had to contend with the elements, and business was not so good in consequence. At i:h,o start, tho southern Wairarapa district was in a state of flood, ajid in Carterton and Eketahuna torrents of rain fell on the nights wo played. On the other hand we have enjoyed some ideal winter days in other parts, notably in this district, whore the charming views of Egraont and, in tho distance, Euapebn and Ngarnahoe emitting volumes _of smoke have aroused the excited admiration of our little company. Wo have booked the Concert Chamber, Wellington. for August 31st, Seotember Ist and 2nd. We intend revisiting some of tho towns in which wo have played before returning."

"Our Miss Gibbs” will conclude its Melbourne season to-night and. start on a comprehensive tour, including New Zealand, which will occupy tho company right up till Christmas time. This bright musical comedy, by tho time it finishes its Melbourne run, will have recorded 313 performances in Sydney and Melbourne alone. Even tho most popular of tho pantomimes under tho J. C. Williamson management. "Mother Goose," "Jack and Jill," and "Jack and the Beanstalk,” havo had to travel over the whole of Australia and Now Zealand to fill out tho time that has been occupied by this one piece in Sydney and Melbourne. During tho time that Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, has been under the J. C. Williamson regime, many changes have taken place in tho construction of the building, one of tho last big undertakings having been to make tho roof over the gallery movable. But now a radical alteration is in progress. The idea is (says tho "Sydney Telegraph”) to erect a huge arch, after tho style of the latest English and American theatrical construction. Let into tho arch will be eight boxes—four on either side. Then the gallery is to bo brought further out, and altogether the interior of tho building will be much moro compact. For this work it has been decided to close tho theatre for three weeks. It will be re-opened by Mr H. B. Irving. After completing the stage-direction of “Thu Merry Widow" revival, Mr Wybert Stamford will leave for Melbourne to meet the J. C. Williamson company recently associated with Miss Katherine' Grey. During the Melbourne season at the Princess Theatre this company will be rehearsed by Mr Stamford for "Tho Speckled Band." This new Sherlock Holmes play will be produced for the first timo in Australia at the Theatre Eoyal, Sydney, on August 19th. ■ ■

Mr Beaumont Smith returned to Australia last week from London. Ho has been on a "rush" tour through England and the Continent, searching for theatrical attractions for Australia. Interviewed, Mr Smith said: "My chief mission was to engage a really wonderful attraction. • This is what it is. It is a village of remarkable little men and women, all under 30iu in height, ranging in ages from about eighteen years to sixty. They are all perfectly developed men and women in miniature. Some are married, and have families. They are bright, intelligent, handsome little folk, some of them speaking as many as seven languages. Some little women are dreams—mere handfuls of feminine daintiness. They will tour Australia ,as ‘The Tiny Town; or the Village of lalliput.’ There will be about forty midgets in all, about twelve ponies and midget horses, four state carriages. a tiny town fire brigade, milkcart, etc. There are two dainty feminine wire-walkers; little Sandow, 29in high, who lifts astoundingly heavy weights, and. to cap all, bears two fullgrown men on his chest. • I did over 5400 miles by train in -a month on the Continent, chasing them, visiting France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Enssia, Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium. This is not tho only attraction I have booked. An old friend, Mr Nat Gould, will revisit Australia next year on a sporting lecturing tour, lecturing to the accompaniment of exclusive pictures, on tho history of racing, tho world’s greatest racers, sporting reminiscences, etc. Of course, that. is an item only of interest to the sporting public, but hero is something that appeals to another great pubbo. I have the offer of the celebrated Miss Ellen Terry for a short Shakespearean recital tour, commencing next March. She has just completed a triumphant tour of America. Sho has four delightful lectures on Shakespeare’s women and children. With regard to her tour, the whole matter is standing in abeyance till I reach Melbourne."

Mile. Axarine will sing alternately with Madame Melba the leading soprano roles in "Lucia di Lammermoor," "Faust," "Eigoletto," and other works in the Melba grand opera repertory in Sydney and Melbourne. A native of St. Petersburg. Mile. Axarine entered upon her operatic career under advantageous circumstances, as she had tho benefit of tuition from the famous Jean do Keszke. Jshe. has acquired prominence on the Continent in the operas mentioned, as well as in "Carmen.” "La Boiicrae." "Borneo and Juliet." and others. Preparations are actively going on for the tour; the chorus is now busy rehearsing in Melbourne under the dirco

tion of Signor Sacerdote, and tho prin--1 cipals will shortly arrive in Australia. I ' GOSSIP. J Tho Paris Opera has just given j Giordano’s "Siberia,” which was first I produced in Paris about sis years ago ( at tho Theatre. Sarah Bernhardt in an •Ttaliau season,” and then had consider, able success. Now, however, tho critics with one consent havo fallen tooth and nail upon the work, and 1911 has burned what 1903 adored. Nicola, the American Magician, docs not give a "one-man" show. Ho has some ten or a dozen assistants, most of them professionally termed "double j handed 1 ' —they assist Nicola and also do turns on "their own. The principal i assistant, Nadolny, is a clever comedian I am! comedy juggler, who, with Miss M. Sutton, Miss S. Whipple, Miss T. I Adams, and several others, are said to give a performance that not only mystiues and astonishes, but thoroughly! delights everybody. j To-day Mr William Anderson will have five companies commencing new seasons i in various theatres in Australasia, j Three will have their inaugural presenta-! tions in Sydney. Joseph OJlaschecfc makes bis first appearance in Sydney at the V.M.C.A. Hull; the William Andcr- i son No. 7 Dramatic Company will pre-1

sent Albert Edmunds’ second Australian drama, "Tile Man From Out Back,' at the Criterion Theatre; and tho Children's Pantomime will be presented at the Palace Theatre for tho first time in that city. In Melbourne Mr Anderson will present Mr Walter Baker and miss Frances Bess, supported by a newly formed company. in Christchurch the Harry lioberts-Beatrioc Day Company inaugurate a three week’s season.

After a successful tour round the world, tho clever Cfierniavski Trio made a reappearance at the Aeolian Hall, London, in Juno. Tho promise that these Buseiau boys showed when children has been fulfilled.

A new drama in one act by Joanna Redmond entitled “Honor’s Chance" was produced at the Queen’s, Dublin, recently. as a curtain-raiser to the old Irish drama, ‘‘Tile West’s Awake." Miss Redmond is Urn daughter of Mr John Beamond, M.P., who is not new to dramatic authorship, as another play from her pen, "Falsely True," has already been produced. The production of "Pinafore" at the Casino, New York, has proved so successful .that the management havo decided to follow on with "Patience” and "The Pirates of Penzance,” while out of town operatic companies are making preparations to take advantage of tho publicity attaching to the revival, added to the lamentable misfortune which ended the life of tho brilliant author, which has had tho effect of reviving tho interest iu tho Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The "Quaker Girl" (Mr George Edwardos’s Company) was played at the Chatelot, Paris, before one of the most brilliant bouses ever seen, showing that tho vogue of tills theatre's "first nights" is rapidly eclipsing ithoso of tho Upera and the Theatre Francais (remarks a Paris correspondent). Any doubts that might have been felt as to how English musical comedy would please Paris were set at .rest half-way through the first act, as soon as the actors began to (got over tho very evident shyness of playing before such a huge and strange audience. In the case of M'iss Phyllis Dare this was all tho more understandable, since it was the first timo she played Prudence.

Tho Beading Committee of the Com-cdie-Francaise has had read to them, and has accepted a four-act tragedy byAlfred Poizat, the author of "Electra, entitled "Sophomsbe.” Tho celebrated Queen has already been the heroine of quite a number of tragedies, tho first of which by Trissin dates from 1515. Voltaire, it may bo recalled, referred to it as the first well-written play Europe had seen after centuries of barbarism. The best-known plays entitled

“Soph-onisbo’’ are that of Mairet (1629). that of Corneille (1633), and Voltaire’s, of 1774. There are, .'however, two others, namely, "Sopihouisba," by James Thomson, for which Pope wrote a prologue, and that of Alfiori.

Tho Now York correspondent of “Tho Stage” writes: —“I am sure tho hearts of everybody will go out to Dfivid Belasoo and his wife in the sad loss they ■have sustained, by tho death of their favourite daughter, G'ussie, who was only married at the end of last January to Willie Elliot, who played the part of Almond in “Madame X." ‘ Poor Elliot, .too, must feel it terribly to lose his bride of but a. few months. They spent their honeymoon in Atlantic City, and there Mrs .Elliot contracted pneumonia, alter which complications ensued, and, in spite of the finest medical advice and nursing sho passed away, and was brought .hero for burial." A Goethe theatre is to be erected at Wilmersdorf, near Berlin. The scheme, which was mooted some. months ago, met with considerable opposition on the part of the municipal authorities, who .were by no moans amiably disposed to it, chiefly owing to a reluctance to grant a municipal subvention, without which the whole plan would not bo feasible. Owing to the strenuous propoganda made by tho Gothe theatre Verrin, which has been joined by all tb© leading inhabitants of Wilmersdorf, tho authorities have withdrawn their opposition and expressed their readiness to make the necessary grant, so that within a short period Wilmersdorf will havo a theatre of its own.

Mr Charles A. Wenman, who will produce "Tho Chocolate Soldier” for Clarke and Moynell, commenced rehearsing the chorus engaged in Sydney last week. Some fine voices havo been secured. Meanwhile, tho piece is prospering at the London Lyric, where its first anniversary has just been celebrated, and its record in America is exceptionally successful. In . New York, performances take place at 10 o’clock in the morning, in addition to the regular evening performances. In Philadelphia, two companies are playing the piece in tho one theatre, and under the same management —ono appearing iu the afternoon, tho other in tho evening.

The opening of a four-nights’ season by tho plimmer-Dennison company in Her Majesty’s Theatre. Ballarat, was marked by an excited rush to gain admittance to see tho performance of "Nobody’s Daughter." Before tho play began three women were knocked down, and several fainted in the crush. The women used hat-pins to save themselves from the crowd, and tho police had some difficulty in restoring order. Nobody, however, was injured. The police prevented further admissions to the house.

Vacuum cleaners are said to be the means that will in future be .used for cleaning coal mines of the dangerous coal dust that has often been the cause of explosions, and through which many miners have lost their lives. The machines are stationed at a suitable distance from the scene of operation. Two men, each holding th& suction cleaners, over the mine, drawing the dust from the top- sides, and bottom through the hose into a car or truck in waiting, ■which is then taken out of the mine ! and dumped. Expert mechanics are oi the opinion that one machine could thoroughly clean a half-mile of entries in one night. Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens, the youngest son of Charles Dickens, while a member of Parliament in Australia, was one day, in the course of a speech, frequently interrupted by a snappish member named Willis. “Mr Speaker,” said Hr Dickens, turning to the Chair ‘'lt may be remembered by some present ■ that my father coined an expression ' which attained some popularity. ‘Barkis is willin’.” The circumstances to-day arc such.that I' am strongly tempted to reverse the phrase and say, ‘Willis is | barkin’ i’" ' 1