HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 691, 4 June 1903, Page 11

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

A MODERN MAGDALEN. The drama which Miss Nellie Stewart has chosen to show us for the first time that she can play tragedy, is not unfamilar either in type or incident, but it is a fine piece "of work nevertheless. French in foundation, American in setting,. there is incorporated in it so much that is essentially English that one persistently forgets that the action does not take place in London. The one distinctively . Transalantic character, though if is faithfully pourtrayed and costumed with a scrupulous regard to truth, appears to be an' exotic, with rich comic possibilities, and when the hero talks of going to “ The War ” the thoughts of the audience go to South Africa and not to .Cuba, as they should. Of course, the story is older than either England or France, to say nothing of the States, and is not uncommon, onse supposes, in all countries, civilized and savage, at the present day. Woman’s sacrifice keeps the world sweet, but every woman does not make a renunciation so supremely terrible as that made by Mr Haddon Chambers' heroine, Dolores. There are several obvious morals in the play, but there is one that lies deeper, though the author makes no secret of it. Dolores would sell her beauty to rescue her family from want and sickness, but she would not •“ marry ” her “ protector.” There is surely no need to labour the point ! Mr Chambers has, in pursuance of his art, selected an exceptional, but certainly not an inferior type of woman, and in his hands it has not been difficult to separate what is inherently gross from what is intrinsically beautiful, and to make the latter overshadow the former, without sacrificing the ethical significance of the combination. The work is remarkably well-balanced, and one is surprised when all is over to remember how much there was in it to amuse. And the humour is made to flow from, and not into the action, as it does in stark melodrama. Miss Stewart has made good her claim as an emotional actress. Her power does not strike like a thunderbolt ; it bears down like a strong, steady wind. Her restraint is beyond all praise, but she knows when the note of passion should be struck. Nell Gwynne is still unsurpassed, but Dolores comes very near. Mr Harcourt Beatty has in this play an opportunity for displaying his quite exceptional talent in an entirely, new direction. As the dissipated, worthless, pompous of Dolores (a part, by the way, remarkably like that of “ Eccles ” in “Caste”) he was faultless. For the time being he was Garburn, the thriftless humbug, and not a glance of the eye, not a turn of the hand, or a shuffle of the feet was anything but proper and inevitable. Mr Stirling makes Lindsay, Dolores’ tempknows his class for. He is selfish and pleasure-loving, vicious and weak, but pleasure-loving, vicious and weak, and he does not draw down the opprobrium of the gallery. Mr Russell played the part of the old money-lender with considerable force, and Mr Tapping gave a finished portrait of the American journalist. Miss Levettez, as the stepmother, and Miss Edith Stewart as the sister of Dolores were effective, and in the difficult character of Allan Hargreaves,

the honest lover of Delores, Mr Webster Lawson quite achieved success, while the smaller parts were ail competently filled. The scenery again calls for the warmest commendation, and the costumes were maguificient. “ A Modern Magdalen ” is announced to run until Saturday, and on* Monday “ A Country Mouse ” will be staged. On Monday night, Lady Ranfurly and a party from Government House occupied seats in the Dress Circle.

MR. J. C. WILLIAMSON’S COMEDY COMPANY.

“ ARE YOU A MASON ? ”

Mr J. C. Williamson’s new Comedy Company will make their first appearance, and also present for the first time in . New Zealand, the latest and most successful of all farcical comedies. “ Are You a Mason ? ” at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, on Monday,. June 15. A little more than twelve mouths ago, “ Are You a Mason ? ” was first presented in London, and scored an immediate success, the comedy being received with shrieks of laughter, almost from the rise of the curtain right on to the conclusion. The success was so pronounced, that Mr Williamson’s resident London representative lost no time in securing the Australasian rights for his principal, paying a much larger sum than had ever been previously given for this class of play. The result was that the comedy received its first representation in Australia at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, on April nth, being interpreted by a company the individual members of which were each specially selected by Mr Williamson and his managers for their known adaptability for the different parts. Foremost amongst these artists is Mr Geo. Giddens, one of London’s most popular comedians, who created the leading comedy part in the original production, and who, of course, sustains the same character here. He made a great hit in Sydney, and was the central figure in a play which, for provoking boisterous laughter, was admittedly ahead of anything previously staged. The leading lady is Miss Ethel Knight Mollison, a beautiful young American actress, who holds a high position in the theatrical world in her own country. Other important selections from England were Miss Olga Beatty Kingston, Miss Eileen Munro, Miss Molly Pearson, Miss Kitty Drew, and Messrs Herbert Jarman and Arthur Desmond, whilst a great Australian favourite in the person of Mr Cecil Ward appears in one of the leading parts. With the exception of Mr Ward, all the members of the company will make their first appearance in New Zealand, with the commencement of the forthcoming season, which promises to be as highly successful as Mr Williamson’s attractions invariably are in this City.

OUR POLLARDS.

Mr J. O’Sullivan writes on board thje s.S'. Persic, en route to Capetown, on April 17 :—“ Just a few lines. We left Hobart on March 30, and experienced very rough weather for seven days. , Then the sea went down and it was delightful. Alt the company, with the exception of the scenic artist, are on board. The latter was left behind ; missed the boat. Have had

several concerts on board, and Jack Ralston is the big favourite. The passengers seem charmed with his singing. On Good Friday night we had a sacred concert on deck, and on Easter Monday afternoon held sports, ladies’ races, etc. Kate and Gertie Campion and Addie Williams fell, so 'Molly O’Sullivan won the prize. In the evening we had a concert and dramatic entertainment, and on Tuesday afternoon a ladies’ cricket match. Next Monday night there is to be a grand fancy dress ball, and there is great work getting the costumes ready. Every Saturday night Will O’Sullivan holds a smoke social, and they are a big success- We hope to arrive at the Cape about next Friday week, nearly one month on the water, opening on May 4. I am going to play the Shogun in " Djin Djin,” and that means my moustache must come off. All the members are well, and I am pleased to say that they have suffered very little from sea sickness. We open with ‘ Djin Djin,’ then do ‘ La; Mascotte,’ " Tambour. Major,’ and ' Olivette,’ and Alf. Stephens will have the leading parts in the three operas. We have changed the name of the company to v Royal Australian Comic Opera Company, ’ On 'account of* several other Pollards having visited South Africa. There are about ten New Zealanders on the boat, bound for England.. Mrs and Miss Wells, of Christchurch, are amongst them. Miss Wells is going to study under Santley. She has a fine contralto voice. I trust all our Auckland friends are quite well. With best wishes to all.”

THE POLLARD OPERA CO.

Mr Charles Pollard’s. Comedy Company will leave Sydney late in June oil their way to the East, the first place of call being Manila, whence they travel to India, China, and Japan. Miss Millie Ascoli and Miss Eva MacDonald, who are well and favorably known in the dramatic world of Australia, have joined the company under a twelve months’ engagement, with the option of a renewal, and they will play leading parts in the various pieces in Mr Pollard’s repertoire. . The first-named young lady is best known for her interpretation of the part of Tillie in “ The Wrong Mr Wright,” in which her effective dance, combined with her vivacious style, earned for her considerable prominence in that play. Other parts she has appeared in are Rose in “ Why Smith Left Home,” and as Minerva in “ What Happened to Jones.” She has recently appeared as the “Winking Girl ” in “On and Off,” 1 at tjhe Melbourne Bijou. Miss Eva MacDonald attracted considerable notice at the Melbourne Princess Theatre about two years ago, when, as a member of the Crane-Power Companv, she gave a very captivating representation of the part of “Mimi ” in “The Only Way.” In' this character her manner and her appearance were admirably adapted to the role of the faithful little wench who loved Sidney Carton with dog-like fidelity. As Bessie Van Buren, in “ The Charity Ball,” this artiste was almost equally successful. In view of the consistent work done by both these young ladies, the hope may successful on this, their first tour well be entertained that they will pro’, abroad.—Melbourne representative of the “ Referee? ’

Sardou’s great play, “ Dante,” written for Sir Henry Irving, was to have been ataged at Drury Lane at the end of April. The first act takes place at Pisa, a show scene. Twelve years elapse between the first and second acts. The first tableau of the second act depicts the Feast of Spring at Florence, in front of San Miniato. The second tableau is very short : it includes the death of Francesca. The curtain rises on the third act on a landscape bathed in mist; it is at this juncture that Dante and his partisans invade the convent of Santa Clara. The fourth act shows us one of the most important and effective scenes of the play : Dante visits the tomb of Beatrix, and reproaches himself with having been unfaithful to her memory. He gives way to. lamentations, and talks of self-destruction. The ghost .of Beatrix suddenly appears and upbraids him for his weakness and discouragement. Tn a dramatic scene of hallucination, Dante witnesses a series of apparitions representing the “ Inferno.” The last act takes place at the Papal residence, where Dante, in the course of a magnificent speech, shows the Pontiff the extent of his errors.

STAGE DOOR NOTES.

The Dix Company have z been doing well in the Empire City.

The Haygarth Comedy Company have been touring in the Far North.

Miss Lilian Digges, of Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company, is a cousin to Cecil Ward.

The Williamson Comic Opera Company have concluded arrangements for an extended tour, including New Zealand.

" Secret Service,” played here by the Williamson Company, with Mr Cuyler Hastings in the lead, will be the opening piece of the Neill-Frawley Company in Melbourne.

There are whispers from London of a wonderful aoprano who> is destined to rank with, and some say, excel, Patti and Melba. She is a Jewess, and is only seventeen vears old.

The Dentons Lave severed their connection with the Thornton Comedy Company, and left Sydney for England by the mail liner on the 16th ult. Their engagement expired on the 15th ult., so Mr Denton and his wife. Miss Leonie Thorbury, were in harness up to the last.

Few comedians were better known in Australia than the Cogill Bros., Charlie and Harry. A fortnight a-o was chronicled the death of Charlie Cogill. He died on March 16, at his mother’s house at San Francisco. Intelligence has now been received in Sydney from Mrs Cogill, mother of the brothers, that her other son, Harry' died on April 9, in an hospital at New York, 1 from consumption. The object of the brothers leaving New South Wales for San Francisco some three years ago was to see their aged mother.