Theatrical Notes.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13828, 13 February 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

Theatrical Notes.

- Latest iKiokings at the Tliealre Royal, fimaru,'are as follows: — February 26th —Ada Crossley. March 10th and 11th—Cooper's Biograph Company. March 13th and 15th—.T. and N. Tait. March 17th and ISth—.l. C. Williamson. March 24th —Timarn Boxing Association. March 3lst to April sth—West's Pictures. April 20th—Madame Melba. April 29th and . 30th —Miss Florence Baines. In one of the Irish towns recently, Gounod's "Faust" was done by a capable .amateur body of artists in a highly creditable manner. The point of greatest interest, however, was that the libretto was done in Gaelic of a highly classic character, in which tongue the talented soloists and chorus sang it.

■ The two great outstanding musical events of the present year will be undoubtedly the return of Melba and the coming of Miseha Elman (says an Australian paper). Mme. Melba will be happily paying us her third visit since she became the greatest light saprono of the present day, but Miseha Elman has not yet been heard here. Over and over again the English and Continental critics have pronounced Elman the most marvellous, of all youthful players since the late Dr. Joachim made his bovish debut some three score years ago. \Ve are to expect in Elman a wonderful technique, coupled with that rarer gift, warmth of temperament. Elman made bis farewell appearance in London with the London Symphony Orchestra at Queen s.Ha . under the baton of Eiml Mlynarsk. - 1 the end of November. He is now turning the United States, and, a^°» ~n K to advices received by Mr. 1-rank Musgrove, will reach Australia in July. Devotes of the nicotine weed and the theatre in London are m a." a PP? mood, for the Lord Cbamberlnm has withdrawn his prohibition of smokmß in. the threatres tinder his control. A resolution in favour of smoking in Hres-was passed by the managers Association and by the Theatres' Alliance:. -.Appropriately enough (says the "Era") something of a haze hangs about the history of th,s :nrn«er of smoking in theatres. In the old Elizabethan playhouses smokmg was certainly nermittedl" "At the back of each .vS" says Mr H Barton Baker in his "History of the London Stage, s?ands a page/a veritable Moth whose duty it is to keep his master• s ppo supplied with tobacco from the hue lilypots that, upon being opened, smell like conserve of roses; while between a pair of silver tong he holds a glowing coal of juniper-wood to ignite tno Virginian weed, which is "drunk, as the "phrase goes from bowls of silver or clay of many curious shapes.

Paul Cinquevalli, the eelehrated juggler has commenced his Australian Reason at Perth. It is six years since this 'wonderful performer was last m Australia. His fame as a juggler is world wide, for he has performed in the principal music halls and vaudeville places of amusement in England, America, France, Germany. Russia, \ustralia, and South Africa. Ifc is acknowledged that he has few, if any. equals in the world. His engagements now hooked carry him up to 1910. Talking to a Perth Press representative Cinquevalli said he has heen "on the hattle field." as he termed it for .U vears. He has juggled since childhood, and he has achieved feats that are astonishing. Since he left here in March, 1903, he has heen continuously appearing hefore the puhlic. ' Ho has now a circuit which he rarely diverts from—London, the English provinces, Berlin, America, and hack to London. Onlv when lie desires a complete change for health purposes does he take a tnn to South Africa or Australia. He will he due in London in Octoher next, and hefore then he will tour the Eastern States and New Zealand.

At what period of a play should an audience applaud? Mr. Julius Knight, savs that ho is strongly of tlio opinion that the time for applause is at the fall of the curtain upon an art. While the plav is in progress it should not be interrupted by demonstrations from the audience. Particularly is this applicable to a drama of an intense character. Applause slackens the grip, dispels illusions, and breaks the power of a strong scene. Tn a word, it is an anti-climax supplied by the audience, and it is opposed to art. Silent interest is a far better way of conveying to an actor that his work is effective. "Until audiences realise this, he adds, lull dramatic value will not be got from stage representations. Tn reply to the argument that the audience might appear cold and unapnreciative. Mr. Knight said: "In the first place, art should be above personal gratification, and it is parrying the latter to extremes to desire that the action of the play should be staved so that a weakness might be indulged. T have not said that the apnlause should cease altogether, it "should begin only with the fall -of a curtain." Mr. Knight is ouit r-right. but artists generally look for the applause at any stage of the play.

A pan (.online without a red nose! liicreaihlf as it may .seem, tins is Hie ideal winch Messrs. George julwarcles and Robert Courtneidge set themselves to aciu'eve in the London Adelphi pantomime of '•Cinderella." The low comedian in love with Cinderella is made a more pathetic than humorous character, the ugly sisters are charming ladies agreeable to make themselves unattractive for a children's holiday. Dandir.i is a man, and the only concession that is made to pantomimiery is that the principal boy is a girl and the Baroness is a man. There is a charm about pantomime rehearsals. And if managers were astute enough they would admit the public at the usual prices. It is certainly worth half .1 guinea to see a fairy godmother in si white blouse, plaid skirt, and a Merry .Widow hat, or to watch a girl rehearsing, say, Cinderella, in an incoiigrous costume of pink with a dainty red jersey, kid gloves, a pretty pink pancake Jiat, and furs about her neck. '"Cinderella," as it is to be played at the Adelphi, is a pantomime on comicopera lines. There will be a few topical allusions, and the story is rigidly adhered to. There is all the timely symbolism of charity and goodwill in the pantomime. In order to be quite realistic, the management secured rabbits to run about in the wood scene. Mr. Fred Graham and his wife, Nellie Dent, have returned to Sydney after an extended tour of tl:e world. In an interview he said: —"Although we are Londoners, I never knew we liked Australia so much as we did until we went to America. This country is far ahead of them all. The show business in America it all right, but it is hard work all the time, and no comfort like you have here." "Theatrical matters in England were very quiet," added Mr. Graham. "Tours that used to do well years ago are doing comparatively nothing now. Hut the vaudeville business in England has greatly improved, a better tone throughout being evident, refinement take the place of the once somewhat coarse turns," But after a

close study of..the stage in England and America, Mr. (Graham confirms previous Australian travellers' views that the people, of the Commonwealth were being catered for better, in matters, theatrical than most other places in the world. In America, he was of the same opinion of Mr. John Fuller, senr., that the programmes were poor, generally speaking, and long drawn, out. But the sketches there are very fine, the Americans making a speciality of these, producing them in a.magnificent manner. A large number of Australians were met on; their travels, and'-in American and 'elsewhere all were doing well, though at first they found the work very trying. Many of the Aiistralians now think nothing of three performances a day arid five on Sundays' Mr. Graham has secured.a number of sketches more in the nature of small nlnys for his Australian tour. In America, he added, there is a great prejudice against Englishmen, hut Australians receive a- kindlier reception, and once they "make good" they are all right.