THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1114, 29 April 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's » theatre; tho Earth a stage.—lieywood. (By Sylvius.) "Tho C;-:;.'; Nama." Mr. Henry Kolker, who was hero with Williamson's Dramatic Company, which played "The Thief" a couple of years ago, lias achieved a great success in a comedy drama entitled "Tho Great Name," produced in Chicago under the management of Mr. Henry Savage. In this play Mr. Kolker plays a young American-German musical composer, who has a special facility for composing catchy music of the Lenar sort. Not content with that, he desires to compose a high-class symphony. His attempt is a failure, and he knows it, but there is a man in his orchestra with tho divine gift who cannot get a chance. So tho young man agrees to allow it to ho played as his, and, after it has been received with acclamation, tells tho world that it is not' his work at all but that of his friend. The play is said to bo full of bright comedy, and has an interesting love theme without which few plays succeed. A Great Cast. Tho festivities in connection with the Coronation will commence over a month before the actual event, Even now peoplo are beginning to pour into Loudon in anticipation of the wondrous sights aiid sounds which will mark the Imperial pageant. One of the hrst and most interesting events (from one point of view) will take place c:i May 17, when an 'amazing all-star cast will appear in Lord Lyttoii's comedy, "Money," a_performancc to be given by Royal command in honour of the Kaiser and Kaisorin of Germany. There have been some notable "star" casts for special occasions in London, but it is doubtful if there was over so strong a male cast as tho following on the metropolitan stage:— Lord Glossmoro Mr. Fred Terry Sir John Vesey Sir John Hare Sir Frederick Blount... Mr. Cyril Maude Captain Dudley Smooth... ..■;.- •,. Sir Charles Wyndham Mr. Graves ...... Sir H. Reerbohnt Tree Mr. Stout Mr. Arthur Bourchier Alfred Evelyn ... Mr. George Alexander Mr. Sharp Mr. Laurence Irving An Old Member of the Club... Mr. Alfred Bishop Sir J. Vcsey's Servant... Mr. Lewis Waller Toko Mr. Edmund Maurice First Member of the Club... Mr. Charles Hawtrey Second Member of the Club... Mr. Sidney Valentino Frantz Mr. Wcedon Gros-sniith Tabouret Mr Norman Forbes Mac Finch Mr. Charles Rock Crimson Mr. Dion Boucicault Patent .'. Mr. Dennis Eadio Lady Franklin ... Miss Winifred Emory Goorgina. Vesey... Miss Alexandra Carlisle Clara Douglas ... Miss Irene Vanbrugh Officers, Club Members, Waiters, and Servants, by Messrs. Henry Sinlcy, Gerald, du Maurier, Harry Nicholls, Marsh Allen, H. V. Esmond, Arthur Playfair, Allan Aynesworth, James Fernandez, E. Vivian Reynolds, J.- H. Barnes, George Graves, Frederick Ross, George Barrett, Lyn Harding, C- Aubrey Smith, Vincent Clive, "Robert Loraino, E. Lyall Swote, Frank Collins, C. M. Lownc, Herbert W T aring, William Dovcreux, Dawson Milwarel, Ben Webster, Kenneth Douglas. "■'■■ ■'-". ."■'"' "Hero We Co, Girls!" After tho first performance of "The . Girl of the Golden West" Caruso was . praised in this journal (says the New : York "Post") for his success in acting and looking liko a California "road agent," but exception was taken to one detail —the abject fear he showed when ho was about to be hanged. That was pronounced extremely un-Westcrn. Tho real thing is amusingly illustrated in a book just published, "Life on tho Pacific Coast," the author of which, the i Hon. Samuel D. Woods, tells of tho execution of one of these: Californian ; desperadoes. lie was a 'horse thief, ' and when tho spring was about to bo touched which would laud him in eternity, ho shouted to tho crowd: "Here we go, girls!" and that.. ended his career. 3 Coronation Theatricals. Tho gala performance at His Majesty's Theatre, London, on Tuesday, Juno 27, which is to form part of tho Coronation r festivities, is being arranged by a committee of London managers. In all probability the came course will be followed as at Covont Garden—scenes from several works being presented, in which all tho leading English actors will take part. The performance, which will begin at 10 o'clock, is timed to finish about midnight. The greater portion of the stalls >. all the boxes, and the whole of the dress >- circle at His Majesty's Theatre have at ready bson reserved for the King ane '» Queen, tho Court, the members of the Cabinet, and the. Ambassadors. "It is as good as settled that tho King and Queen will have their box in the centre of the dress circle tier. Tho advantage of this arrangement appeals to the officials oi ' the Court, as there is a largo foyer ai the back of the balcony overlooking the a Haymarket. A novel and elaborate scheme of decoration is being designee for the interior of the theatre, and a 5 temporary entrance is to bo built ii: tho Haymarket so that tho Royal party may pass straight to their box. The Demand for Opsra. ; y . An interesting opinion on the present 3- day demand for opera is given by An--16 drc-as Dippel, of the Now York Metro,e politan Opera House. It will be remembered that it was with Dippel that Mad- (■,' ame Melba arranged for tho inclusion of John M'Cormack in her Australian i. Opera. Company.' It was by consenting to sing twice aweck in Chicago, in" addition to carrying out her engagement v ' at tho Metropolitan Opera House, that this satisfactory engagement was arranged According to Dippel, the demand for opera is on the increase. Some people, he remarks, arc convinced that : the desire for this class of music is a i. transient, one, and that it will in time pass away, but Dippel considers that the « taste of the public for opera is like the tasto of tho tiger for blood. Tho tiger, ". when onco he has tasted blood, is foi >[I ever thirsty, and, when once the opera diffuses its glamour in the brain, the c brain requires to bo constantly stinui- '" lated. Also the opera differs from the '*. oidinary typo of theatrical entertainment, in that, while the latter deals P with subjects which happen to be h: f' vogue at the moment, the opera is concerned with masterpieces of all time. It forms part of the cultivation of thi musical mind, and it finds supporters all tho world over. f- Notes. fc- The pictorial representation of the lif( n. and adventures of "Thunderbolt," the i"ii Australian bushranger, is to bo exhibit nD ed in Wellington shortly. Winslow's play, "The Fencing Mas ' tor," was revived' by the Hugh Ware Company at Christchureh during the Le week. "Why Men Love Women" is the tith J, > of the melodrama with .which tho AJlai Hamilton Dramatic Company is to opei ir* yas'in in Wellington next month .. Wilii ■•The- Whip" to follow this wfi '" ;;;,-..;, ih-, t ! :'<" !!/!'':!'■'>m> 1 ii' ro::ip;>lli-i