MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 49, 26 August 1911, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC.

(By " Orpheus.'") TH£ SHOWS OPERA SOTJSB 3. C. Williamson, season Closes to-night, William Afldersoti, 28th August to 2nd Sep< terober. Lang'l-angford Fight Pictures, 4th to &th September. Olarke and Meynell, loth to 30th September J, 0. WiliiaiUßOil, 6th to 2SU) October. Clafke and Meynell, 3rd to 16th November Maxfcell Dramatic Company, 2nd to 16th Oecewber. J. 0 Williamson, Chflstmai n»ason. tfHfiAf&E feOYAL. Fuller's New Vaudeville company. Hl3 MAJESTY'S THEATRE. His Majesty's Pictures. TflE KING'S THEATRE. Royal and West's Pictures. ST. THOMAS'S HALL, Star Picture Company, THE NEW THEATRE. MacMaUon and Donnelly's Pictures, TOWN HALL. The English Pierrots (Concert Chamber), 31it August, Ist and 2nd September. William Anderson's Dramatic Company will be the next tenants of the Opera House, opening on Monday night for a short season, in Nat Gould's racing drama, "The Chance of a. Lifetime." The play, which has been well received in the South, will serve to introduce a new leading tedy, in Mis* Lillian Lloyd. A feature of the drama is a racecourse scene, showing the 'start and finish of the race for the Cup. The Eriglish Pierrot* will mak« atl« other appearance in Wellington next Thursday, when they will tommenc* a short farewell season of three nights i» the Town Hall. The delightful entertaiments by the Pierrots at the Coronation, Exhibition Ate not forgotten, but they should be seen and heard to betteiadvantage in the Concert Hall, which is more suited to their class of show thati tho makeshift hall in the Exhibition, The Pierrots are just concluding a very successful tonr of the North island. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) has extended' his patronage to the Pierrots, and- will attend the opening performance. Playgoers will regret to learn of the death of Eriiesi Garden Wiiedft. which took place in Sydney on the 15th inst. The deceased actor, who suddenly developed consumption, was only 38 years of age, and his untimely departure will be regretted, as he was both genial and talented. During the past few years he filled with success many engagements at the Tivoli, in Sydney, and with the Fullers, and his marvellously vivid imitations of the star actors were known, all over Australasia. The late Garden Wilson, who leaves a widow> vf&is a son bi the late W. J. Wikon/ «cenic artist and theatrical manager. A copyright production of a new Australia drama, "The Wool King," written by Wilton Welch, wae given in the iSdelphi Theatre, Sydney, on 31st July, '"fhe Wool King" will shortly be presented to ihe general public in Sydney/ and may eventually be eeelt m New Zealand. Mis» Nellie Strong, who was her« with the Max Maxwell Company, and who went to America recently to Appear in vaudeville, has joined the David Belasco ranks. She is now with ilte Nance CNeil Company playing good parts, and next season she will bo appearing with Belaseo^s people in New York. "A.GhTs Temptation," a powerful London drama written by Mrs. Morton Powell, will be the star production of the George MarloW Company on their next visit, to New Zealand. Clarke and Meynell 's latest operatic attraction has paved the way very nicely for "The Gay Gordons," which, is to have its p*emiei<e in Wellington September 16th. The firm have made & nice profit over "The Arcadians," and it is not reasonable that 'they are likely to lower the standard which was much apttfeciatdd by old . and new theatregoers in the, Dominion. Miss Florence Imeson, the pnma donna, has had much experience in South Africa, "where she established a great reputation as leading lady with George Edwardes's musical comedy ' enterprise. t Mr., Tom Graves, the principal comedian, is a brovher ot George Graves, who created the yoles of the Marcmis in "The Belle of Brittafty" in London, Popoff in "The Mefry Widow," and other notable parts. The success of "A "Royal Divofce, which has bsen continuously played in the English provinces for about twenty years, furnishes in its way a remarkable testimony to the infcsrasb which, the figure of 'Napoleon arouses in the pre-eent-day theatre. The original production of this piece, -it is recalled by a writer in the Daily Chronicle, took place at the old London Olympic, where Mr. Murray Carson was, the Napoleon, and Miss Grace- Hawihorne the Empress Josephine. Since then the role of Napoleon has pass«d into various hands, ! tn London or' the provinces, those appearing in' the part including Messrs. Herman Vezin, Matthew Brodie, Julius Knight (who has been seen several times in the role in Australasia), Fuller Mclli6h, J. H. Clyndes, Fred Victor, Frederick Moyes (not long since in Australia with the Nellie Stewart Company/, George 0. Miln, and Frank Lister. It is Mr. Lister who has been engaged for the present Lyceum revival in London,* and for the Josephine Messrs, Melville have secured Miss Ethel Warwick, Mr. Lewis Waller's daughtef-in-law, who was in the Australian production or "The Flag Lieutenant." Miss Edyth Olive will be the Marie Louise, while the supporting company will include as Stephanie Miss G. Scaife, who scored, so well in Australia by het performance *a the maid in "Mi. flo^kinson," as well as in other comedies. The combine of the J. C. Williamson and Meynell and Clarke firms will 1 corae into operation on Ist September, but the arrangements at present existing for the tr&nepoH of attraction* to New Zealand will, as far as possible, remain undisturbed. "Our Miss Gibbs" will be the first to arrive, opening in Auckland on lith September, Four days later "The Gay Gordons" will commence & torn in Wellington. The repertoire of this combination will include^ in addition to' the opening opera, "The Gay GrLsette" and "Sergeant Brae." "The Woman in the Case" and "Fool There Was" Dramatic Company will open at Auckland on 6th October. These companiefc will be touring the Dominion at the same time, and will carry forward until Christmas. Efforts are being made, too, for a visit to these parts at Christmw» ol H, B. Irving and Dorothea Baird iv a round of Shakespearian plays. Early in January "The Chocolate Soldier" Company opens in Christchurch, and later on the Williamson Dramatic Company, playine "The Speckled Band" and "Ben Hury' will arrive in New Zealand. Oscai' Asctie and Lewis Waller ate also promised next year, and the pantomimes "Sinbad the Sailor" and "Dick Whittingfcott." In the problem play of "Everywe-mah," Secured by J. C. Williamson for Australia, each of the characters represent a. human trait, There is Nobody who announced the play, then he fades away and EverywOinan enters with her com* panions, Youth, Beauty, and Modesty. Then another woman enters, Conscience, and as the play evolves, Truth is heard of. She arrives with Nobody, and proves to be an old, winkled, bedraggled, witch, bearing a scourge of cords in her hafid. Everywoman is afraid of li«r, Touth, hides, Beauty and A Modeet^ ali£ a.sa& abd. |>tteQj di£a&r

j p&«'3.* , Well is it said that Truth is beloved by Nobody, the only one ' ft with her. Then Everywomar wants to shine upon the stage, and upon her appearance she is met by ,Blu{f and Stutf, theatrical managers, and Puff, a. press agent, Paeeion, an actor, sings a love ditty to Everywoman, then Time appears, a call boy, old, white, and feeble, who gives the cue for the curtail* to fall. JSverywoman is also visited on the stage by vVealth and Witless, who are repulsed by Bluff and Stuff until they discover that Wealth has money, and that Witless is a member of one of the first families, then they -grovel, crawl, and cringe. Then 'them ia an ensemble. Wealth, Witless, Bluff, Stuff, and Puff all pay court to Everywoman, while Youth, Beauty, Conscience, and Modesty dance attendance, Then there is a ballet ecene where Pert, Flirt, Smiles, Dimpka, Curls, Curves, Shape, Shy, and Giggles do some' fine dancing, ae^ sisted (by remittance men, stage-door Johnnies, gamblers, beggars, idlers, and the like. Everywoman abandons herself to the fun, and succeeds in capturing Bluff, Stuff, Puff, Wealth, and Witless. Another scene shows the new and gorgeous city apartment of Everywoman, in which there is a wonderful feast. Beauty, Modesty, and Confidence come to the affair, but Beauty is ill unto death, and tho othets weary and worn. Aftei the banquet and departure of tho j gueste, Beauty dice, then Wealth returnS) but ie repulsed by Everywoman. Afterwards one eees Everywoman with j Youth, who has lost her individuality, ! and Conscience, as her companions. Her i hair is silvered, her fin© clothing faded and torn. Truth meete her and speaks a warning, and Everywoman, forsaken by all her friends save Conscience, cries aloud in. grief, " Have I not one friend left?" when Nobody steps out of the ehadow and exclaims, "Yes, I am your friend." There is one more scene. Everywoman's modest and simple home. On her hearthrug sleeps Love. Everywoman returns to her ov?n house in company with Nobody. Next, Truth arfivos, not tho old hag, but a beautiful and noble woman, who has grown younger with the years. Truth is tho mother of Love. Then Nobody finishes th© play with a few words, " Be merciful, be just, be fair to Everywoman everywhere. Her faults are many. Nobody's the blame." The first woru of the operatic peries itt which Sydney audiences will hear Madame Melba- is "La Traviata." It is a fitting opening (says a, Sydney writer), as Madame Melba is recognised in tho operatic World as the greatest exponent of the role of Violetta at the present day. "La Trayiata" is the music drama of " Camilla," so well known to playgoer*. Jules Panin, a Parisian writer, has given an account o^the womaa whom Alexandre Dumas fils selected a« the central figure of his novel. At the opera flo duchess was wore splendidly apparelled. Loaded with jewels eh*» would atlffact all eyes _ as she sat in one of the boxes. Always she had with her a bunch of her favourite camellias, which won hef the soubriquet, "La Dame aux Camellias." When, marked by consumption for its own, 6he(waß ordered to fcpa, her sole object ia the last days of her life seemed to escape ennui. And so the tragedy of her life closed. When Dumas pere read the manuscript of the novel he went, over the death Bcene, it is Telated. The dramatised, version of the novel was taken from theatre to theatre, but it was not before it had been many times re- ' jected that it was played at the Theatre dv Vaudeville (2nd February, 1852), with Fechter playing Armatid Duval. The author, attending a rehearsal, asked Fechtev t<> throw Camille violently to the floor in the "fourth act. " The play will never reach the fourth act," cried' the actor, angry at the interference. | At the first ■ perfotmanoe, which had , been going tamely, Fechter unexpectedly followed the author's wish in this particular. The effect was -electrical. It roused the audience to such a pitch that success was immediately realised. From that time onward all the leading emotional actresses, including Bernhardt, Duse, and Olga > Nethersole, have portrayed Camille. Bernhardt and Olga , Nethepsole have both been seen in the ! role in Australia. The story so appealed | to Verdi that he gave the character still further fame by selecting Marguerite Gautier for this opera, giving her the j name of Violetta. The musical work i achifiveu instant bopularity. Always it has retained its place in the repertoires of the leading opefa houses of the world. It Bas been a tradition of the opera that Violetta should be ablaze with jewels. When Madam© Melba last sang the role at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, the smart paragraphists of the daily press devoted a large amount of space to a computation of the value of hef diamonds, and came to a unanimous agreement that tho part was well beyond operatic aspirants for the reason that they could not provide the " diamond department of the outfit ' unless they were well in with Tiffany" —Tiffany being the diamond merchants of New York, ' An interesting revival in London, the other day was that of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," which, though it has served the purpose of Miss Julia Nidson and Mr. J?red Terry for many a day, shows no sign of diminution in popularity. .With them, as the Telegraph aptly remarks, "it ifi no longer a question of what should be put into tho bill 'when in doubt'; the obvious aiisww to the pro blem is, revive 'The Scarlet Pimpernel,' " Hence last month piece deceived at the New Theatre a welcome a» hearty and enthusiastic as though it had been given, ior the first time. Mr. Terry, as Sir Percy Bkkeney, and Mise Nielson as Lady Blakeney, appeared to have scored as great a success as ever. "The Importance of Being Earnest," which is Amongst tho wittiest of Oscar Wilde'fc plays, was revived at St. James's Theatre, London, tho other day, after having been withdrawn not long before in the full tide of its success. It proved the critics state, as laughter compelling as at' any time in ite history. These revivals indicate that new plays of the successful order are not being written as freely as might bo expected. Miss Ellen Terry has been appearing at Hifi Majesty's Theatre, London, as Mktress Page in "Th« Merry Wives of Windsor," and it was evident, the Standard states, that "her bewitching personality had lost none of it« force The public came to be captivated, and cheered her to the echo. Even when the play was done they stayed and clamoured for one mare smile!" Sir Herbert Tree has provided aft all-star cast for this revival .of one of hi« most popular Shake* I epeear&ifi productions. He appears as* Falstaff, Mir. Arthur Bourchier as the jealous Ford, Miss Violet Vanhrugh as Mrs. Ford, Mr. Basil Gill as Master F>&nton, Miss Viva Birkett as Sweet Aaine Page, ac well as Mr. A. E. George, Mr. Edward Sass, and Mr. B. M. Robson, This autumn's London ses» «on will be distinguished by Sir John Hare's return in a part which will give scope to the "feeling of character, the piquant force, ease, and naturalness of his acting"— a. leading role in "The Marionettes " (M.( M. Fiefro Wolff's comedy. Miss Marie Lohr will bo {Mfominent in the cast-. Mi*e Evelyn D'Alroy and Mr. Cyril Keightley have been engaged by Mr. Arthur* Collins to take the two leading parts ill the n«w drama which Messrs, Cecil Raleigh and Hemry Hamilton, ai* now at work ufxm for Drury Lane Theatre, Mr. Martin Harvey, aT- ! ranging a series of matinees of "Pelleas 1 and Mtslisattde,'' with Mrs. Patrick Campi bell in the kad, engaged Mr. Arthur Wontner to play the part of Golaud, and Mies Alma Murray lo take that of 1 Queea GsaevifiYe,,