THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2976, 13 January 1917, Page 13

THE THEATRE

[By SyLvius.] Panto Specialities. q In this year's pantomime, "'llia Houso that Jack Built," tho J. C. ji Williamson, Ltd., management has given particular attention, to the inelusion of as big a variety of features y as possible. Tho varied scope of tho g , pantomime, which is in two acts, com- ! prising eighteen scenes, will bo indicated from tho following list of fea- | v turos: Building a chickon liouso, tho g animated dolls, tho procession of vegctables, dance of tho emotions, the up- j, roarious telephone scenc, the minstrel g " show, tho haunted mirror, tho terrify- C) ing "tanks," the Allies and tho Anzacs, tho Baccanalian banquet, the. griicoful p skating girls, . the comedy duel, tho wonderful Jingle Johnny, the ballet of tho seasons, the deck of H.M.A.S. Aus- , tralia, tho children's animal danco, tho .' palaco of Empire, march past of tho , Allies, Ritchio's reckless rough riders, and patriotic and naval and military ° pageants. s Extravagance in Words. / How often does opo find most oxtra- t ordinary language being used in 0011- I neotion with theatrical and ooncori t artists in this country, and rarely, if v ever, justified. It is not infrequently i that 0110 sees a struggling amateur's c efforts described as "splendid," "mag- c nifioent," aud in one instance, an ac- v cusation of genius is hurled at people a who make no pretence to such inteliec- t tual eminence. Fancy describing an 1 occasional indifferently trained ama- I tour's rendering of "The Rosaiy" as J "magnificent 1" Melba, in th« mad v scene from "Lucia",might bo thrilling I and vocally magnificent, but surely not 1 this local singor, tho fame of whoso i talent has never spread beyond her t own district. Genius is born onco in 1 a hundred years, Some wdttTii have it i bobbing up all over tho place. It 1 all comes down to 011 c common piano— i the meaning of words. What is "mag- I nificent," "splendid," and "genius"? j Tho English language is very beautiful and expressive, and it should be the aim of all to carefully study tho real ' meaning of words, and thoroby preserve tho truth in its proper perspective. , ■ 1 Croat Peoplo Dramatised. During the past few years a whole series pi dramatic pieces with music j have been written with great musi- , cians of the past as the central figure. ' It is only a few years since Sir Herbert ■ Tree appeared in London as "Beethoven," a character in which David J Bispham, the American operatic bari- ' tono, was singularly successful when j 110 toured the United States with ( Mario Narelle as soprr«io. Schubert. , has now been made the protagonist of , a musical ploy, and there is to be a ! revival of a piece in which Mozart will \ he the hero, with all the accompany- [ ing music drawn from the score of ! "Don Giovanni." Tho latost effort of .this kind, however, is a "composcr- ■ play" recently written by Edward : Knoblock, and staged in New York : under tho title of "Paganini." This ; eccentric genius was of a most irritable disposition, but for stage purposes 110 "shows himself to advantage in a pleasantly romantic atmosphere," while in love with a j'oung Italian girl. A remarkablo study of the character is attributed to Mr. George Arliss, the actor who played Louis Parker's "Disraeli" in America. "Home on Leave." Edward Knoblauch, the New York actor-dramatist, of- "Kismet" and part author of "Milestones," who changed his name from Knoblanch. on account of tho war, has just produced a now war-comedy. It is entitled "Home on Leave," and was staged at tho Royalty (London) on October 19, when it was welcomed with considerable reservations. . Evidently it is brightly written, and has some attractive warcharacters that are definitely drawn, but many objections are taken to tho sordid .Divorce Cqurt plot. The heroine (Marie Lohr) is married to a drug victim, but was formerly engaged to a jolly, breezy lieutenant in khaki, a character engagingly played by Denis Eadie, and when he has three days' leavo from the front he invites to meet him at the Ritz Hotel with his mother (Mary ,1 crrold) and sister. She explains that her husband is "awfully jealous," but that she has evaded his vigilance, but tho comedy-scene becomes distinctly unpleasant when a third gentleman (Julian Royce) appears on the scene as a very compromising lover. • The husband hears 'of the Hit/, dinner, and threatens tho lieutenant with an action for divorce, and Constance forwards the idea, hoping to be freed at the expense of tho soldier-lover so that she may marry the real co-respondent. But Constance makes the amazing discovery that the compromised one really does not wiab to marry her, and as tho soldier is called back to the front, tho husband accepts his assurances of innocence, and all onds happily. Marie Lohr's brilliant acting could not reconcile tho audience to such a heroine, but opinion is about equally divided as to the prospects of a run. Mot a Creat Composer. London has received the symphonic poem "Dante," by Granados, without excitement, and declines to support Spanish audiences in tho belief that 110 i.i a great composor, or in any way to follow Paris, whero Granados was a brilliant 1 studont, in'tho belief that he is a modorn master. It seems that Granados was on his way back to the United States from Spain, aud perished at sea as the result of unjustifiable attack by a German torpedoer. Ho was in his fiftieth year, and was already famous in America, whero his pianoforto composition "Goyescas" has been played at leading classical concerts. Tho poem "Dante" is i)j four of which only two are published, "Dante and Virgil" and "Paolo and Francesco," and these wero performed by Sir Henry Wood's orchestra at Queen's Hall. The London verdict is an absence of novelty in form or harmonisation, a want oi' individual or national chara'cterißtic, thus leaving the impression of a respectablo European composition already becoming a little old-fashioned. Thero wero moments, as at the end of the first movement, whero tiny drum-taps are felt rather than hoard through softly-played harmonics 011 tho muted strings, which caused one critic to declaro that tho audionco "stood breathless on Hie brink of eternity"—but they may live many years yet if wo are to judge by tho general tono of criticism, and they may even outlive Granados's music. Notes. Tho production of "Tho Houso of Glass" at tho Criterion Theatre, Sydney, will introduce Florence Rockwell, the new, J. C. Williamson leading lady, in a role that will provide her with abundant opportunities. "The House of Glass," hy Max Marcin, is described as one of the most fascinating and dramatic plays ever produced since "Within tho Law." It relates the remarkable experience of a young woman convicted on circumstantial evidence, who is pursued and persecuted by tho police after breaking her parole. Associated with Miss Rockwell will be Frank Harvey and a strong cast in support. "Tho Common. Law," Robert W. Cliambors' "host seller," apjwars to bo just as popular 111 its motion picture form. After completing a three weeks' season in Auckland, it opens at the Empress bore at 10.30 this morning. Clara Kimball Young is tho eTar.