THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Bt Svlvius.)

Thp World's a. theatre; tho Earth a stage.—Uoywood. The Huddcrsfield Bellrir.ners. Bell-ringing is a much more popular form of music in England than most people out licTo know. It is not uncommon for the towns and villages—in tho Xorth of England particularly—to havo their own Wlrimjors just, as they havo br.n-ss bands in tliis country, and those bollringers are brought together now and again in competitions. The Jluddeisfield Hellringcrs, who aro to commence a hyjof reason at the Opera. House this evening, aro a noted band in England, having repeatedly carried all before them at tho big Manchester competitions. They have a repertoire which ranges from the simplest folk songs and ballads to operatic selections, and their work is said to be marked by really fine expression and finish. Fie, Sarah! Sarah Bernhardt, tho most vitally inspired actress of modem times, was , G7 years of ago on October 23, yet the cablo messages report that she is 'to marry 11. Lou Tollegen, a 2li-year-old Flemish actor, whu has been appeariug with tho "divine Sarah" lately. But then " Bernhardt is.no ordinary woman. . She is at the present time as active mentally and physically as most women of forty. Only recently she completed a hard-working tour of America, during which she gave ten performances a week—and what performances are tliev? Iho everyday English actress would light shy at having to frivol through a musical comedy part ten times a week, but here is a woman approaching her threescore years and ten playing such trying emotional roles as in "Camille," '"La Sorciere," "Theodore," "l'edora," and "Sister Beatrice." Her fortitude and volafilo nientaliiy created amazement in every city visited. Since then she has been appearing for six weeks at the Loudon 'Hippodrome" in a condensed form ot Pardon's "Theodora," after which sbo was to appear in beloved Paris in Victor Hugo s "Lucrctia Borgia." The brido to bo is a great grandmother. Saint Sasns as a Dancer, Mr. Edmund Bm-ki?, the basso of Hie Aleloa Grand Oiwni Company, made his Corait Garden (Wmt as tho high pnVt in damson and Delilah," in which ro'e he has Ijstn appearing in Melbourne. Ho iells how Saint Snens. a very -elder;v man, eroded the Channel to witness the vehonivrals Dunns Uif preparation of the ballet the composer wished to convey an idea of the Eastern movements which lie do-n-ed the dancers to perform "To ?:e him, a very feeble old man, trvin" to make the sinuous wriggle characteristic of Oriental dancing, and pirouette at the same time, was too much for our =en=e ol humour,' narrated Mr. Burke. "We had to retire or explode with laimhter. As a matter of fact, wo did both V More Opera for Australia. In a notice of the opening of the Quintan Opera Company at Liverpool. England, ' ihc Stffo , ' si.ys:-"Aftcr visiting Wasgow and Ldmburgh the enmpauv will pivc a four weeks' season in Dublin! On •January 21 tho company go on to Australia, where tho sta-oit will be plaved in conjunction with the J. C. Williamson management. The visit will necessarily be of brief duration, and will bo coiiniied to Sydney and Melbourne. Tho opening date will be May 25, 1012, at Her Majesty's, Melbourne. From the 'Sunny South' the company will return in time to open a second season in Dublin at Christmas. 1912.

"The repertoire of the Quintan Opera Company includes 'The Girl of (ho Golden West,' 'Carmen,' 'Faust,' 'Madamo Buttcrily.' 'Tristan anil Isolde , 'Tho Valkyrie,' Tannhauser,' 'Tale s ; of Hoffmann,' 'La Boheme,' 'Aida,' 'Luliousrin,' 'The Prodigal Son,' anil 'Hansel und Circle!.' The company includes I.alla Miranda, Vera Courteiiay, IMtina l r reeman, Edna Thornton, .Muriel Terry, and Rosinn Benyou; Messrs. John Coates, John Harrison, Bvudon Ayres, Franco Gregario, Spencer Thomas. Alloa Hinckley, Charles M'Grath. Robert Barker, Clarence "Whitohill, and Arthur AVymic. The 'conductors are Mr. Ciithbert Jlawley and Sisnor Yodiora, with Mr. Hubert Bath ami Mr. Frank Mummery as sub-conductors. Noles. Mr. Joseph Blnseheck, llio great English humorist, will commence his lour of New Zealand at Duncrlin on December '2G, and will visit nil the principal cities in the. Dominion with his popular entertaiumeut, "Society Snap Shots." Tho world's tour of this entertainer has been a success, and it is the remarkable versatility of Mr. Blascheck that seems to have surprised the critics. The "Sydney Morning Herald" said: "llis entertainment stands quito above anything else of its kind ever scon in Sydney. Tliero is no doubt of its quality. Mr. Blnscheuk is unusual in that he is a comedian who can provide serious, oven tragic interludes.." "The Swiss Express" at the Melbourne Princess Theatre is said to havo caused a stir. Tho production is so different from every other form of play that has been, given in Melbourne for some Hmo that playgoers were at a loss at first under which heading to classify it. As a matter of fact, it comes under many categories. II comprises (Irania, musical comedy, pantomime, burlesque, farce, and even biir'.pr.iiinadc. It is also tho first play seen in Australia for years in which the old-time pantomime in'dumb show is introduced to carry on tho action of the piece. It is interesting to note that New York managers nre sending to London two'complete productions and companies. The ■ attractions arc: "The Pink lady" and I "H?n Hut." bath of which nre. to be staged by .T. C. Williamson, Ltd., in the course of Hie next year. Hilda Spong, who is io appear in tho name-part in tho J. C. Williamson pro- [ iliietion of "Every 'Woman," arrived at Fremanfle by the OtrnrJn on Tuesday, November 11. She will' come right on to Melbourne for rehearsal. The morality play is to be staged by Mr. Charles A. Weivman. Strauss came next to Richard Wagner in Vienna as the favourite operatic composer for the season, but it was Johann "strnus, not Richard! The Viennese think sn much of the works of the waltz king that they mount his.light works with all the care of grand opera. ZnHe.r. Mendelssohn's teacher, once said of Mendelssohn: "It is not his genius which surprises me and compels my admiration, for that was from God and many others have the same. No, it is his incessant loil, his inflexibility toward himself and his actual adoration of art. He will gain a name in everything he undertakes." "The fingers of thy hand are as good as mine. I was obliged to be industrious; whosoever is equally industrious will succeed as well."—John Sebastian Bach. "To me, nothing is easy."—Richard Wagner. Busoni, the greatest living exponent of Beethoven, has composed an opera which is to receive its premiere in Haiuburshortly. :