Plays & Players

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 18

Plays & Players

OPEEA HOCSE. la season,—Rickards' Vaudeville Co. December 21-January 16. —"iho fepecklcd Band" Co. T . „„ January 25-l'ebruary 14.—1 t. B. Irvins Co ' T February 15-22.—New Comic Opera Co. J--0. Williamson. Ltd. ' „ March 19-26.—Allan Hamilton Dramatic Co. April 4-20.—" The Chocolate Soldier Co. April 27-May 13.—Mat-low Dramatic Co. May 25-28.— “Everywoman" Co. July 17-30.—J. C. Williamson, Ltd., ranto mime Go. August 14-27.—“ The Blue Bird Co. October 19-Novcmbcr 2.—Oscar Ascho-Lilj. Brayton Co. November 5. —"Ben Hur’ Co. THEATRE ROY AD. Fullerc' Pictures (permanent). SKATING RING. INOKSTEE STREET. Fullers' Pictures (permanent). THE NEW THEATRE, ilacmahon and Donnelly, Continuous Pic* tures (permanent;. Mr John Gordon, tv ho died in Sydney last week, was one of the best-known scenic artists in Australia. His work m the J. C. Williamson productions over a long series of years lias been m»™ admired by audiences throughout the Conimomrealtli. “A must lovable man, was a friend's tribute tu.him upon hearing of ins death, and this judgment “"Hi I bo readilv endorsed by all who knew Mr (Jordon. Quite ho wortinlv upheld the traditions ot nis art, as Australians who have admired tho work from his brush well know (says the “’Daily Telegraph”). Mr Gordon, who was born in London, cttiuo to Australia as a boy with 3ns pa rents, was cclucatcd at the Scobs' College Melbourne, and learned his profession from Ins iathei, the late Mr George Gordon, who :n hp day was one of tho leading scenic artists in Australia. The latter came to this country under engagement at the time Mr Garner brougnfc out tho Lon don. Comedy Company; tho visit of this brilliant organisation, of which Mr G. fc. litheradgo was one of the principals, is well remembered by old playgoers. Mr George Gordon was also a leading member ot the companv, which began its Sydney season in May, ISSO, in “Friends. Mi* John Gordon joined the staff ot ‘-the Firm” as a young man, and received, his first salary in Sydney from the hands of Air G. H. Goodman, tho present manager of Her Majesty's. Ono of tho incidents of his early career was his success in winning two prizes offered tor advertising curtains. Tor one ot these ho contrived a peacocks tail, and for tho second a pack of cards, and tho design in each case won much approbalion. He was a man of original ideas as well as genial personality, and his taste and skill in the stage settings ot musical comedy, drama, and pantomime, and latterly of tho Melba Opera Company have gained, him wide recognition as an artist of Judgment and imaginative qualities. Ho was only in his oJtii year at tho time of death. ( fr Yon do not think Hamlet was mad?" Mr H. B. Irving was asked, "No/’ ho replied, but he feigned madness. Shakespeare ‘was far too good an artist to make, him really mad. He knew people would not stand a play about a lunatic. Once an audience thought Hamlet was mad they would leave tho theatre. People do not like mental or physical disease exhibited on the stage. 'That is ono ot tho reasons why ‘King Hear/ flue as it is, is never a popular play. The story of the mad old. man. is almost too painful. It is dreary, and nowadays audiences do not caro tor what is dreary*. .They co not mind what is sad, and having their feelings moved to sympathy;. Tney do not ooject to tears of sympathy or pityj but do not like dreary, hopeless themes. Sad as the end of ‘Hamlet' is, there is something ennobling about the whole tragedy. A certain section of modern playwrights resent the fact that .their play’s are not more successful. Sometimes the simple reason is that audiences, taken as a whole, do not want drab play's. People do not desire to go and see a reproduction of their actual live®. There is quito enough trouble and dreariness in their every-day r lot, and they' do not want to see almost photographic reproductions of their own conditions on tho stage. They go to tho theatre to get out ot themselves, and to bo lifted into another world of thought and feeling. Me actor-managers are blamed for not making a success of these pieces. Me say They are very clever and very good, but tho people will not come to eee them. After all, the theatre has to be kept open. It is no use trying to force on the public something it does not want. M. Ho Bargy, who has just signed a contract for a five years' engagement at the Porto St. Martin Theatre, at the high salary of <£sooo a year, plus 25 per cent, of the receipts, was once said to bo a? unpopular as Goquelin was popular, and many anecdotes are related illustrative of his mercurial temperament. On one occasion he was announced to give a performance of "T/Autre Danger,' in , Toulon, but, on discovering that M. Dou- : nay’s play was to be preceded by some variety turns, he refused to act. As one wearing tho decoration of the Hegion or Honour, ho declared, his dignity would bo compromised if did so. .Eventually, however, he relented, and appeared. As ono of the Administrative Council of the Comedie Fraucaise, and one of the finest French actors of to-day, M. He Bargy mas (savs a Houdon critic) long been_ an important figure in the French theatrical world, but his colleagues, have otten had occasion to complain of bis difficult ways, and on ono occasion at least he came near to having to depart from the Comedio Francaiso altogether in consequence of his behaviour towards M. Olaretie, the distinguished director. M. Ho Bargy is an exquisite in his dress, and sets tho fashion for all masculine Paris. _ •

GOSSIP,

Becoming reminiscent to a Sydney interviewer the other day, G. S. Titheradge said; On January Ist, 1877, X was the herald appointed to proclaim Queen victoria Empress of India in Calcutta, i had been to India in '76, had gone Home and made my first appearance in. London in '77, and in '7B went back to Calcutta, playing “Hamlet" very Miecessfully there. I'll show you. Mr Titheradge excused, himself, and presently returned with his "certificate.'' It runs as follows* "Under command of his Excelleiicy the Viceroy and Governor-General this certificate is presented in. the name ol her Host Gracious Majesty Victoria, Empress of India, to George button iitneradge. Esq., in recognition of his distinguished service as herald at the JJurbar held for tho Proclamation of the Imperial title at Calcutta, on January Ist, 1877."

. The Christmas pantomime for Melbourne will be “Red Biding Hood, presented by Mr William Andersens Juvenile Company, which has just finished a successful tour in New South. _ wales. The members of the company arrived in Melbourne last week, and are about to commence rehearsing.

Hr George Tallis, ouo of the directors of Messrs J. C. Williamson. Limited, had some interesting remarks to mate Last -week on the Melba season of grand, opera in fho diva's native city, -these corrected the impression that lias been current in Sydney as to the business. "It is quite erroneous," said Mr lailie, "to think that tho Melbourne season, has not been successful. As a matter of fact, tho receipts there are ahead ot Sydney, duo entirely to the size of the Melbourne theatre, which accommodates quite 25 per cent, more than Her Majesty's hero. Tim Melbourne business throughout 'has Ijceu excellent, while on Melba nights it has been enormous. Mme. Melba herself has been, in great health ami spirits, and she admits that

she never sang bettor in her Hfo than .-ho is binging now. Her eiifhucuu/uu, 100, hart been tho inspiration or the whole venture." Mr Taliirt indicated that, while tho receipts had been phenomenal in both eitu-rt, tney needed me money. "We have got to take AG-LOOU, as tho expenses work out at JbltMJ a week. This will clear Uc ii jivo manage it, and anything over will constitute tho profit. Wo could have played the eight weeks out in .Melbourne quite comfortably the way things, are shaping. By cutting tho season to six week-, the business has however, been congested, and tho result** are magnificent. Wo arc only able to give ono performance each of ‘Aida’ and ‘Otello’ in Melbourne by playing only six ivock.V' “Mmo. Melba, however,"' continued Mr Tallin, "its bent on returning to Sydney. She was deeply touched by the reception of the enterprise hero. The warmth cl’ the Sydney jioople and their clcmon.stradivo enthusiasm, she *ayrt, she cannot forget. She wants to make up the performances oho lost owing to her unl’or* tuna to illncrtrt. Wo endeavoured to arrange an extension-of the engagements of tho artists so as to play the full eight weeks in Melbourne, and then come to Sydney for a fortnight. But this was impossible, as the artists were all booked. Mine, do Cisneros loaves immediately upon tho termination of the sixteen weeks for America, joining the Metropolitan House Company at Chicago. Mr John McCormack also had completed other arrangements, and ha« to leave by tho January boat, also for the opera in Chicago. Mine. Korole-wicz-Wayda has to return to Berlin, Signor Zor.i to Warsaw, Signor Seandiani to Milan, and Mr Edmund Burke to Covent Garden, where he has a throe years’ contract. These artists could not remain a day longer than was stipulated in their contracts. There was no alternative, consequently, seeing that Mine. Melba has set her heart on returning to Sydney, than to do ns wo arc doing."