THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 248, 13 July 1908, Page 3

THE THEATRE.

"The world's a theatre, the earth-a-stage."-Hoywood. '■.- ■ ;•

By Stlvidb,

"Butterflies." The latest musical comedy of note is "Butterflies," founded by slr. W. J. Locke on "The Palace of, Puck," the music by Mr. J. A. Robertson, produced at tho Apollo Theatre on, May 13. "Let's show them life—you understand, the lifo of a rather moro joyous brand, the life, that is always gay." Such is the agreeable task that Mr. -W. J. Locke has set' himself in "Butterflies," and the enthusiastic approval of a large and distinguished -.audience'at the-Apollo on Tuesday night put the seal upon a very remarkable success. Every part of tho house'acclaimed, in no uncertain or half-hearted fashion, .the wit of the libretto, tho neatness of the lyrics,the, charm of tho, music, and the delightful abandon of the. company headed by Miss Ada Reeve, who returns to her beloved London in a part entirely-worthy of her conspicuous gifts. "Butterflies," as wo havo stated above, is founded'on "Tho Palace of Puck," Mr. Looke's fantastic comedy, that was produced at the Haymarkot, on April 2, 1&07. There is a faint echo, of tho aesthetic craze that Gilbert' and Sullivan immortalised in "Patience," and the introduction of an unromantic- shopkeeper into - a palace of art, where every society convention is decried, leads to situations that the witty satirist and the deceased composer would have' revelled in in the palmy days of the, Savoy Theatre. Wo noed but outline the main features of the scheme, which - forms a 'Capital groundwork for the score of Mr. J. A. Robertson, ■who conducted on tho ope'njng night. Widgery Blalso, the wealthy scion of a successful patent corn-cure proprietor, has bought a chateau in France,, wherein we find assembled a number of dilettante young people, who figure as poets, singers, or artists, and rejoice in. their emancipation ■ from- unconventionality. Thrust into this curious coterie by the mere accident of a -motor breakdown, Christopher, Podmore, a Mincing-lane merchant, his wife,.: Nora, and his daughter, Elsio, siipply the necessary contrast 1 in what is known, as Philistinism. Of course,'tho trio,from tho grey world of prosaic routine havo to be converted into disciples of Bohemianism. In the caso .of Mrs. Podmore (Nora) and Miss Podmore (Elsie) tho process is quito easy. The older , lady discovers in Mas Riadore a professional singer who was not'-'altogether ' to her charms in tlio'long ago, and who now renews his attentions, even though ho owes allfegiance to Rhbdarithe, an artist's model (called' the Witih).' She in her turn lays siege in'the most uncompromising fashion to Christopher, and her wiles, quite succeeded in making him a "butterfly" like tlio rest.. Mrs. Podmore, even more giddy than ho, becomes a tigermoth, and oventually four elopements are planned; but Widgery .Blake (Puck), contrives that no reputations are'compromised in the ■ smallest degree. Reconciliations are . happily effected between the estranged couples; the tangles of Cupid aro' straightened out; and the gaiety-of ;the ; dwellers in the "Palace of Puck" ' suffors no. .apftreoiablo diminution' when Hymen, is elected to. rule the 'impulses,, the aspirations! and' the ( ambitions of a most fascinating Bohemian coterie.' Mr.' Louis Bradtield and Mr. Haydn Coffin supported Miss Ada Reeves 'in an excellent cast; . ; - , ' "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch."

Melbourne and Sydnoy 'had each the pleasure of witnessing d how theatrical production under,the J.;C. Williamson management on i.Saturday evening (June 27). In the latter city ..'Miss ; Margarot Anglin opened in "Tho Thief,"; while.; in Melbourne playgoerscrowded the Princess Theatre and laughed themselves to tho point of. collapsing,-over the ludicrous tj'pes of- character as presented to them by .the. new American company in "Mrs. Wiggs of. the Cabbago Patch." And yet' though laughter dominatod tears, tlioro were severaj touches of real pathos in the production. The spectacle of Mrs. Wiggs with twenty-fivo-years of-poverty behind, her memories of-one long continuous battle.against.adversity in her mind, still cheerful, still determined to-'"put her worries at, .the- bottom of ,her heart and;sit on the lid aud "'smile,.'' -brought a. .dimness, to. the, eye not'caused by:merriment. It is a fino lesson, in humanity,. one .'that is' worth- half-a-dozen sermons- of .the ordinary type. Miss Ada Dwyer, who filled tho'.name part,- was the' very personification of the kindly, sympathetic, yet,-philosophical, and humorous Mrs. Wiggs . as, she; is . known •to thousands 'of readers of Alice Hegan Rice's inimitablo story' of Kentucky life. Miss Hazy, as portrayed by Miss Helen Lowell, evoked peals' of laughter when she made her appearaiico as the die-a,way woebcgpne''spinster v.'ho -suffers herself to -be "managecl" into a matrimonial'allianco with-Mr.'Stubbins, tho lean and lank. Then there was , an'old friend to welcome in the person of Miss Jennio Roiffarth; who appeared as the big,'portly German woman,; Mrs. Schultz, ana the : gossip and mischief maker in chief to tho Cabbago Patch, Mrs. Eichorn, played-by Miss Heloiie Raymond,' Miss Lottio Alter as Lovey Mary, Miss Florence Busby; as Miss Lucy, Mr. John F. "Webber as Mr. - Stubbins, Mr.' J. w! Smiley as tho'Sheriff, Messrs. Eugene Shakespeare, Argyll Campbell, George Bryant, Richard lAllon', R. Hick, and others all admirably placed and forming an exceptionally strong cast. /