THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1002, 17 December 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Jhp World's a theatre; the Earth a stage— Hoywood;

(Bi Sylvius.) "Tho Dollar Prlncoss." ill's! sight it scems.a far cry from llio Dollar Princess" to "Tho 'i'aniing ot the Shrew," but the camicctioif between the extremely modernised version of the' Shalt espcarean comedy is not so remote. As a matter of fact, tile first germ of tho idea that set Leo 1' all to work oil his haunting score, a direct effort to set the tale of Ji-atliorine and Petruchio to music— I and that famous composer .Brahms gave lit to Him. They were talking in a Berlin Cafe one day on operas old and new, and Brahms remarked ;t- : as singular that no one had thought of setting "The Taming of the. Shrew" to music. Within a very, short while Leo Fall was at work oil the task, though ho and his librettists chose to bring the story right up to date. The quality of the music, however, . sets one thinking whether he would not have .been just as successful if he had preserved the Shakespearean atmosphere, and made it grand, and not light opera. '

Lawronco Gamphsll,

Mr. Lawrence Campbell, tho Sydney elocutionist; has made arrangements to S'vq .recitals at tho* Opera House on Christmas night: (Sunday) and at the Concert Chamber on December.'26 and 2/. -

" 'How he.can sustain interest (says a Sydney paper) is littlo short of marvellous. From simple, humorous sketches of his own, like 'Yawning,"'des-' .SJl'jA""? , a tired, modern 'Weary' Willie, or a .fiery, racing ballad demanding great force, gesticulation, and shade, he can turn- : and paint 1 with wonderful eloquence that great scene ,p.') vccn Camlet and his Queen-mother. 1 his passage, gives most effective scope -for this talented elocutionist t<J interpret Shakespeare. Hie chattering utterance, of tho guilty woman, and the tonfc of grieved authority on tho part of tho Prince, tho farewell; tlio sayings of the spirits—solemn sayings—are all most vividly brought forth before tile audience. _ ■ -

Ghrisimas Theatricals,

When I write of, Christmas .-.theatricals it is . not intended t-o mean-wliat most English people would make of "tho. term. At Home, amateur theatrical endeavour plays an important part in, the . festivities concerned with Christmas, and much iun is deducible therelrom. - Thore is next t-o nothing to correspond with "homo theatrics," as understood in England. If a few young men and maids burn with a desire to light tlie torch of Thalia in this country they, do not confine their efforts to tho circle of their immediate friends,-' not they! It.is a case for a big hall, and an appeal to the public. When the object to bp. assisted is a charitable one, tho excuse is sufficient, but the habit- has grown to-the exclusion of home, -theatrics." - The Plunkets wero fond of; theatrical parties, and, now and again, gave great pleasure to their friends, hut the idea of following tho lead never' seemed , to occur to anyone in particular'. Of course, such amuscmeiifeor. let mo call it intellectual recreation—is-for 'the .winter,-time. It is really,-worth while. '" Chrislmas theatricals in New Zealand are wholly professional. In " Wellington we' arc ivJ, lave , . Dollar' Princcss," . Leo I*all s charming light opera, which succeeded. the big run lof "Tho Merry Widow!'" in London sonic months ago, and at once leapt into favour. Tho New Comic. Opera Cr—.-pany will also be hoard in "Tho Waltz Dream," "Tho Merry Widow," "A Knight for a Day," and "The Bollc of New York." Auckland is accounted 'tho." best' Ghrisfm'ds date in New Zealand. Hia) Majesty's Theatre in that city will bo occupied by tho Plimmer-Denniston Company, who arc to stage the popular Christmas comedy, "A,, 'Message from Mars," which has always been such a pronounced favourite with New Zealand audiences. , At Christchurch' the now Williamson Dramatic Company, headed b.V Miss Katherino Grey and Mr. \VinV-Desmond,''will appear in' a repertoire of ultra-Ammcah play"o, which will include "The Lion and the Mouse, , "Tho Third Degree," and "Paid in I''u!l." It" is understood'that' Salvation Nell"—Sheldon's vivid play of New York .slum'life—will not bo played on tour.. • . "

To Sarah Bernhardt. 11l these dull decades, von alone, 0 fair Pale Princess, Queen" o£ attitude, have skill • -To wear a lily, ,weild a sword, and still lhe heart a moment, treading a broad stair. , ■.. ■ ; You rave and stifle, in our heavy air— :.You poetise, aiid die of love, and kill ■ And dream and suffer, working your hot will , On helpless hearers, bound with • your .-- bright hair. J Avid of suffering, you wound us all j lour plaints are echoed throueU a troubled hall,.' And down your cheeks 'tis our salt-toars-j that steal. And sometimes, Sarah, when 1 your ■ fervent lips ' - Spell magic, furtively you feel The kiss of Shakesneare 011 vour fingertips. —Edrnond Rostand.----Snaha as an Actor. ,A' member of the cast of the Australian production of Conan Doyle/s drama, "Tho Speckled Band," which will bo staged nest vear bv J. 0. Williamson, Ltd., that is hardly likely to become really popular with playgoers, will bo "The Speckled Band" it-, self, which will bo nothing more or less, than a real, live snake.- In the London.' production of the drama a "property." .snako was used, but. it is proposed to go one bettor out here, and present tho real article. To this end Mr. Bocko Phillips, the property master in Sydney, lias bought a line specimen of a reptile from Messrs. Toafc and Kohn, and now has it in training in-his workshop, where'it is installed in a glass house, and has half an hour every day spent on its theatrical education. ;-

Nev; York Calendar. _Tho_ biggest successes of the last Y°rlt season, judging by the length of-their respective runs, hare been: First, "The Fortune Hunter." 301 times; second, "Tho Chocolate SoU flier," 291_ times; third, "The Midnight Sons," 267 times; fourth, "The Dollar Princess," 250 .times; fifth, "Seven Days," 233 times; sixth, "The Passing of. tlm Third Floor Back," 219 times; seventh, "Is Matrimony a Failure?" 201 times; eighth; "The Lottery Man." 194 times; - ninth, "The Lily," ' 165 i times;, tenth, "Tho Jolly Bachelors," lot times.. Othor plays that local, playgoers may have heard of were presented as follows:—"Alias Jimmy Valcn' ? tino,"- 140; "Tho Arcadians,l4s; "Arseno Lupin," 141; "The Cliriia.x," 301 (reserved); "The Easiest Way," 195; "The Flag-Lieutenant," 24; "A Fool' There Was," 97; "The Girl from llcetor's," 9S;' "Havana," 15S ; "The Lily,'' 165; "The Man from Mexico," 49; '(Paid in Full," 33; and "The Third Dfgi'ec," 115. Notes. . - ~ Mr.'.John Lcmmono, who has .been visiting. London mul Paris, .to collect a 'group of'artists for Mme. -Meib;v->and J-. C. r "Williamson;- Ltd.,, in connection with next year's 1 grand' opera will leavo Dresden' . in .time to join -the Orontcs on Dboe ruber

-■3;' and will" thus reach Sydney early in February. Ho writes to Mr. H. N. Southwell, of Sydney, that his missiou lias Jnet with much success. Except in l'bgaird to.the definite engagement.of Mr. M'Cormick, tho Covent Garden tenor, all sourccs of information concerning this important enterprise have been hermetically sealed by Mr. Williamson, who will presumably "unbottle" the-details when .he reaches Australia again. Mr. Lenmionc's task as a voice expert and manager nas been, varied by a tour with lime. Melba as flautist, and when last heard from tho party had been appearing at Montreal and Winnipeg. Miss Fanny Dango is back in England. She says that she. will return to Australia after a holiday. Mr. 0. H. Snazolle, who has been tliree or four times in Australia, is leaving England for a long lecturing tour in Australia and New Zealand. "Tho life of Sarah Bernhardt will," says Edmond. Bostand, ".form the greatest marvel of tho nineteenth century. It will develop' into a legeivd. To Uescribo her tours round the world, with their -ever-changing scenes and actors, their beauties and absurdities, to make the locomotives and steamers speak, to portray the swelling of seas and tho rustling of robes, .to. fill up the intervals of heroic. recitative with speaking, singing.'shouting choruses of poets, savages, .kings, and wild animals, this would need, a new Homer built up of Theophiio Gautier, Jules Verne, and Rudyard Kipling."

It was mentioned at a meeting of tho Palace Theatre Company, Ltd., London, that the well which' was being dug under the stage-would .give '\an. abundant supply of water 'and : save £250 a year. An excellent idea,. a well below tho stage. Covered;' we presume, by a trap-door, through which incompetent comedians can be dropped with' .tho minimum of fuss and inconvenience. Much simpler than "ringing down."