THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 13 March 1913, Page 20

THE STAGE

AUCKLAND FIXTURES.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATBE. March 10 to 22—Allan Doone March 24 to April 12 —J. C. Williamson, Ltd. April s—Hugard’s5—Hugard’s Mysteries. May 9 to 21—Branscombe Company May 22 to June 7—J.C. Williamson, Ltd. June 9 to 25—Geo. Marlow, Ltd. June 26 to July S—J.C. Williamson, Ltd. July 7 to 19—Allan Doone Aug. 4 to 16 —J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Aug. 2S to Sept. 27—Branscombe Co. Oct. 1 to 11 —J. C. Williamson, Ltd. TOWN HALL March 21—Crosby Braund Concert. March 22—“ The Butterflies,” Costume Comedy Company PICTURE SHOWS. Queen's Theatre (Continuous). OPERA HOUSE. Culler's Vaudeville

HIS MAJESTY’S.

THE ALLEN DOONE SEASON. “THE WEARING OF THE GREEN.” The Allen Doone season opened propitiously at His Majesty’s on Monday evening, and although the weather has been anything but pleasant good houses assembled both on Tuesday and last evening to greet the “Irish singing comedian” and his excellent little company in their production of “The Wearing of the Green.” The play is typically Irish and appeals irresistibly to the patriotic spirit of Irishmen, while it is certainly not without its charms for the Sassenach. There is something very attractive about Irish plays of the stamp of those affected by Mr. Allen Doone. In the one under notice there is much to admire, to interest and to amuse and there are none of those “blood and thunder” scenes that, in the more melodramatic plays, are apt to jar upon sensitive natures. Wellmounted and equipped the play proceeds briskly from start to finish. The dialogue is sufficiently smart to sustain the interest all the way through and Mr. Allen Doone’s songs are always welcome and are warmly appreciated. Of the four he sings in “The Wearing of the Green,” the song of that name and “Norah McNamara” are certainly the best. The sprightly nature of the latter makes it a general favourite, but the patriotic character of “The Wearing of the G'reen” naturally makes it the most popular, item. Encores are the order for both songs, but the call of the evening always follows the Music Hall scene, in which the audience is supposed to be viewing the happenings at the Dublin Hall of Harmony) from the wings on the music hall stage, and Mr. Allen Doone’s singing of the Irish patriotic song. Readers of the “Review” will be familiar enough with the incidents of the play, so that there is no need to elaborate the plot or to detail the experiences of the hero —Philip Fitzgerald (Mr. Allen Doone), a young gentleman who believes in fourleaved clovers as emblems of good luck, but whose faith in them is strenuously tried —and the heroine, Nora McNamara (Miss Edna Keeley), a young American artist. The chief interest of the play centres, of course, around their sayings and doings. In the love-making scenes Mr. Doone is at once an ardent, although gentle and resourceful lover, and Miss Keeley responds with a natural grace and' winsomeness that is very pleasing and that quickly enlists the sympathies of her audience. Squire Fitzgerald (Mr. Frank Cullenane) and Captain . Adair (Mr. Tom Buckley), the old cronies who have settled it between themselves that Philip is to marry the latter’s daughter, Kitty Adair (Miss Ethel Bashford), although the young people have mutually placed their affections in other directions, afford interesting charac-

ter studies, the parts being well played. The role of the romantic school-girl, who is ready to elope with the adventurer, Gill McDougall, otherwise Cunningham (Mr. Onslow Edgeworth), who is the villain of the play, is ably sustained by Miss Bashford, and Mr. Edgeworth makes a not unpleasing sort of scoundrel, sustaining the distasteful part with a good deal of ability. Mr Clive Farnham is well placed as Sir Eustace Vane. The broader comedy parts of McGinnis (Mr. Maurice Lynch), Mrs O’Callaghan, landlady of the Shamrock Inn (Miss Ethel Grist) and O’Shaughnessy (Mr. James Sheehan) are well sustained and the remaining characters in the play 'find sufficiently able representation to make it. a well

balanced production from start to finish. In this connection it may be stated that Mr. Frank Cotter fills the dual parts of Murtagh McNamara (Nora’s father), and Larry (stage hand at the Dublin Hall of Harmony), Mr, Bert Hogan that of Ralph Carson, the Kentuckian who has suffered through Gill McDougall’s villainies; Mr. Fred Daley that of Sergeant Mahoney; Mr. J. Vincent White that of Connelly the manager of the Music Hall, and Mr Ross Creagh, that of Finnegan, the doorman at the hall; the other characters having only silent parts. “ The Wearing of the Green” will be staged for the last time during the current season on Saturday and will be replaced by “Molly Bawn” on Monday evening with Mr. Allen Doone in the part of Ted Luttrell.

Mr. William Anderson has secured several fine plays from America. One, “The Queen of the Highway,” was produced with great success at The King’s Theatre on Saturday night, while another, “Life’s Shop Window,” is being prepared biy the Anderson Dramatic Company for production in Melbourne at Easter.

OPERA HOUSE.

No new faces appear at the Opera House this week, but nevertheless, the programme provided sparkles with many bright and interesting turns. The Punchinellos continue in popular favour, their items, especially those of Will Raynor, being much appreciated. Three artistes wellknown to Aucklanders in Jules, Garrison and his Loman Maids re-ap-peared, and were in good form. Their “living models” turn, in which the posings represent some of the works of the world’s best known artistes, 'Ts very clever and effective, ‘.n amusing and well-acted sketch is

“The Other Fellow,” the artistes being Mr Frank Hawthorne and Miss Ida Inger sole. Mr Hawthorne fills two roles, and proves himself to be entitled to rank with the best of his kind yet seen here. “The Other Fellow” is new and amusing, and being well acted, leaves nothing to be desired. Earnest Pilcher continues to please, his trump card being his manipulation of the concertina, on which instrument he is most accomplished. Mark Ericksen, an entertaining plain clothes comedian, sings a number of songs in his best style, and these ate much appreciated by the audience. The present programme will be repeated nightly till the end of the week, and on Monday evening several new artistes will be introduced.

The latest example of novelty in matters theatrical comes from New York. One of the managers there conceived the idea of sending the chorus girls around bare-legged among the audience, and the plan was tried >a night or two ago. The. ladies paraded ' through the stalls, and there was no. » doubt about the ! innovation catching on.

QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Heading a capital programme on Monday was . “The Schemers Outwitted,” an absorbing drama, dealing with two adventurers who scheme to obtain the riches of an influential citizen. Their, plans, however, are frustrated, and provide an interesting plot which is cleverly and realistically unfolded in a series of exceptionally good pictures. Another subject that appealed strongly to public Cavour was: “The Chief White Eagle,” chiefly concerned with the life of a young Indian, who had been brought up amjong white folks. “Clay Industry” was an ( educative study that was watched with keen interest, while the New Zealand Biograph Co.’s Gazette was presented in a number of attractive items. “Feathered Comrades” showed bird lite in interesting phases, while the humorous element left nothing to be desired in a couple of good subjects. The usual bi-weekly change will be made to-day.

“Art and nature cannot be separated on the stage, and the most effective combination of the two gives the best and most effective results.” The statement was made by Mr. Oscar Asche in reply to a critical comment to the effect, that in the moonlight wood scene in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” it was disillusioning to see the principal characters illumined by a spot light. Speaking of this, Mr. Asche said: “The public pay their money to see a performance, and no matter how beautiful a moonlight scene may be, if the audience cannot distinguish the characters or the scenery it fails to please, and therefore, loses its effect. In the semi-darkness of the stage, when everything is in a doubtful gloom, one can feel the spirit of unrest amongst the audience who cannot see clearly, and the effect can be noticed immediately when the light goes on. One might as well be expected to keep the stage in darkness for a scene supposed to be enacted at midnight, with the characters invisible in the darkness. This would be the real thing, certainly, but would it be welcomed by the audience, who have come to the theatre to see something?” The latest files from America contain long notices of the series of concerts which John McCormack has been giving in cities of the Eastern States. Particular reference is made to his New York recitals, which occurred at the Carnegie Hall and apparently were always thronged by audiences containing more than a sprinkling of Irish Americans. Mr. McCormack is naturally very popular with his compatriots, and when he announced a special concert for their delectation on January 5, the hall was sold out a week before the performance.

“The professional pride of some singers is remarkable,” said the great comedian Harry Lauder on a recent occasion. “I remember that when I was a verra unimportant member of a concert company to appear for one consecutive night in a Scottish town, a stout basso profundo was engaged to give several items on the programme. Everything went well until that man spotted me making up in one of my approved character parts. He was highly indignant at my presence and said that either he or I would not appear, as it was as much as his reputation was worth to be seen on the same platform with a “vulgar comic singer.” “Verra well,” said Lauder “you know what to do,” and when he found that I wouldn’t give way, he got very angry and somewhat rude and left the hall in high dudgeon.” “I need not say,” concluded the comedian,” that concert was a great .-success, and I might mention, that soon after my large acquaintance became a choristei’ in a third-class opera company, and only the other day touched me for two shillings in a London street.”