"A CLOWN'S CHRISTMAS" AT THE LONDON LYRIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2416, 28 June 1900, Page 64

"A CLOWN'S CHRISTMAS" AT THE LONDON LYRIC.

" Why do the beggars rap their chins constantly," wrote Dickens, " with their right hands when you look at them? Everything is done in pantomime in Naples, and that is the conventional sign for hunger. A man who is quarrelling with another, yonder, lays the palm of his right hand on the back" of his left, and shakes the two thumbs — expressive of a donkey's ears — whereat his adversary is goaded to desperation. Two people bargaining for fish, the buyer empties an imaginary waistcoat when he is told the price, and walks away without a word : having thoroughly conveyed to the seller that he considers it too dear. Two people in caria-ges, meeting, one touches his lips, twice or thrice, holding up

the five-fingers of his right hand, and gives '■ a horizontal cut in the air with the palm. The other nods briskly and goes his way. He has been invited to a friendly dinner at ) half-past 5 o'clock, and will certainly come. " ; This extract from the "Pictures from Italy" might be printed on the programme for the matinees at the Lyric, to show that Italian jmilomime is a thing inborn and of familiar use. If the new play is not as clever an invention as the " Enfant Prodigue," and if one has reserves to make in favour of Mile. Jane May, it is a pleasure to have a performance without words by actors, every one of whom is Italian, with the exception (import-ant, no doubt) of " La Petite Marcelle." Signor Sgidio Rossi takes the part of the I Clown who cannot fulfil his engagement I on Boxing Day, having met with an accii dent. Limping in, garbed in modern dress ] and in a neat smoking jacket, he finds his ; housekeeper laying the supper. This good i woman is a retired Columbine, and, having i consoled her master to the best of her j ability, makes ready to go to church. While 1 a hymn is being sung, Clown grows despon- . dent, but, plucking up courage, hangs his j stocking by the cheerful fire. A knock is ! heard, and a poor little waif half-famished, j with her dainty feet wet, somes in. It is | Clown's Christmas gift. He puts en his 1 professional dress to amuse her, dandles 3 her, and gives her sweets, and when the , housekeeper returns she finds that the little | foundling and the Clown are most amii cably saying' their prayer together on the i hearthrug. j In the second act the little girl has grown up, and has become a famous dancer under the name of Fanette (Madame Zanfretta). Clown has retired, and living in a " pavilion " hard by a royal palace (so the scenery ! indicates). In the bright summer a musiI cal youth in velvet coat and knickerbockers has left a bouquet for Fanette. Clown has j bought his adopted daughter a present. , She is delighted, but her thoughts are ab-

sent. The youth enters and pleads. " Never," is Clown's rejoinder. Fanette becomes defiant ; the usual disinheriting scene follows. In the last act, to quote the printed argument : — " Clown is very ill and almost brokenhearted. The day reminds him of the one when, 15 years ago, his Christmas gift — his darling Fanette — came to v him. He has not seen her for five years. His housekeeper is decorating the robin, but Clown' stops her. He would rather forget the season. The church balls and the Christmas carols however force it upon him and greatly increase poor Clown's distress. With his heart

full of love for his lost one, he breaks open a box and takes out a photograph of her and her tiny socks. He kisses and idolises them until he falls asleep. His housekeeper enters, also Fi-melto and her husband with their little four-year-old child. They place the child in front of Clown, who slowly awakes, and, seeing the child, is astounded, and thinks it is a dream of long ago. He compares the photograph with the child's face and breaks out into a passion of affection. On turning round his dream is dispelled, for he sees Fanette and her husband. They plead for his forgiveness, and explainthat it is their child and that they arc married. Clown forgives, and the curtain falls on a family group, to the sound of carols and the church bells ringing in Christmas morning." Signor "" '-^" "Rossi and Madame Zanfretta find . pi* scope for their gift in this scenario. The »music is graceful, and the mandoline-solo of the second act was played astonishingly by Signor Ciociano. I have not heard it done so well even in Italy. — H. N. M., in Sunday Sun.