Theatrical Notes.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13863, 27 March 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

Theatrical Notes.

March 31st to April sth—West's. April 7th and f-tli —Florence Mains April 9th —Taylor-Carrington Co. April 20th—Madame Melba.

-A 'clistiiigukßed.4iving dramatist h'sisgiven it as his opinion --that iir -every English theatrical company there is at least one member who declares that he "acted with ,Koan." Jiowevor true that may be, the fact remains that a member of the audience at the Theatre Royal a recent night informed Mr J. C. Williamson that lie had seen Feehter as Henri cle Lagardere when that celebrated actor played in Broughton's version of "The Duke's Motto" in London in 1864. The memory of the nighter is deeply rooted in the past.

The family to which Miss Florence Young belongs is surely a stage on. Besides Miss Florence Young, tliere is Mrs George Tallis, a member of the J. C. Williamson linn, another 'sister. Gladys, is appearing in the Royal Comics, Mr I£red Young is the stage manager of the company, "while his sou a youth of-19, is on the theatrical staff of Her .Majesty's,-' Melbourne; Mr George Young is with the " Jack and Jill" company, as is his .wife, Miss Erickspn. Miss Florence oung, was marked by Madame Marchesi for grayid opera, but she chose the lyric stage. •

The death is announced of. Evelyn Grenwood Sutherland, of the dramatic author partnership of Mesdames Sutherland .and Dix, who, under the nomde j theatre, John Rutherford, wrote "The Breed of the Treshams," recently produced in Sydney for J. C. Williamson by Mr Julius Knight. The remarkable strength of the drama would never lead cine to suspect a: woman's hand in its construction. Mrs Sutherland was also responsible for the stage adaptation of "Monsieur Beau-' caire," "and'it was her version that Mr Julius Knight in the title role made such' a success of throughout , Australasia.

Miss Nellie Stewart, interviewed in London, said she was looking forward to her return to Australia, where warmth predominated in everything. She is bringing out a, handsome actor and a talented girl, and some gorgeous gowns. "Australians," she added, "will have the best. At the same time they are establishing a national standard, so that what is called the best in England or America is not always what the Australians consider thfi best. Their sense of lmmour is quick and keen, their sympathies alert and active, but they will not tolerate pathos, and are sharply critical of false sentiment, requiring real human nature in all guises."

The Queen's Hall was packed at Sydney, when the great Salome dance, which created such a- stir in Europe, was introduced by Miss Freda Cuthbert, a shapely young woman. The lady relied largely for her efforts upon a pretty stage setting of mirrors, which reflected her movements from mirror to mirror, a novel effect being produced. The story of the beautiful Jewess dancing before Herod for a guerdon of the head of John the Baptist is illustrated in the Salome dance. Standing at the hack of the stage in a costume (said to be historically correct) of beaded shield vest and gauze draperies, which allow' the limits free play, Miss Cuthbert commenced with a series of poses, then danced a little and introduced some high-kicking. A request, for the reward of the head is made. The dance is resumed, and the head appears. At the sight of this (be dancer is overcome with a feeling of aversion, but this is succeeded by the elation of triumph, as. seizing the trophy, the girl whirls it round and collapses on the floor. In addition there i« an excellent nicture programme, and lapses on the floor,

The patriotic play "An Englishman's Home "- seems (says a. 'Homo' pajyer) likely to awaken an' enthusiasm for' the Army as, Charles Dibdin's sea songs xli'd for the Navy more tlian a . hundred years ago.' It was'said of tlioir author that , by writing such songs -as "Come cheer up my lads',"/ . ".Tom Bowling," and " Blow high,.blow low,'.' he brought' more men into , the /Navy in war time'than all the pressgangs put together. > And in his * autobiography he boasted' truly that his songs;! had been " the solace of sailors on : long voyages, in 'storms, in ba'ttle,, and, have been quoted in 'mutinies' to the restoration of Order and discipline."

An Australian formerly, connected .vith (lie J. "C. /Williamson, company, and how at the London Ciiuety',:'writes to the Sydney " Rb'fpree,", saying .'that the' chorus, at. thp> .Gaiety . .learn ' .tlie imisic by. its being played-over to withbut the score, -A; typewriter! copy of the words; song by song,,.is I 'Wtjien gi.ven, after , which. the,-business r. is taught. Then, the manager, producer, and. authors—for • tiier©;''is-. . generally more than one. author concerned 'witiii a. piece—sit! in. judgment ..and '.out. oij.fc or amend anything. The alterations are rehearsed, but the original, is 'generally reverted to. The chorus' is .the'n rehearsed with the . principals. - /TJie Australian methods, the lady adds;;iare preferred by., her.' , , • .

A suggestion for the production .011 a permanent basis of plays of the better. class—Shakespeare, old and, . new comedies, and modern literary .works: — has been talked, about for soine ; time..in Melbourne, and Sydney.. „Miss," Mndgo Mcintosh, the . well-known , English actress, is at.the head,of a proposal to form a stock •compauy. of artists, . and-it dramatic school/similar to. tliat in England. Proposals for a company with a - share capital, of £.5000' have beqn made;. Eight artists .would coine from England, and , Melbourne and .'Sydney would be placed for foj(ir'or/six (months'. Suitable dramas; "writteiv :. by-.. AuatralinpS",; would be 'included lin tho sclienae, and if a, successful play Svhs found it could sent on tour,.'and.tho profits used in! developing the schema. Negotiations are still proceeding. /

The old amusements arq always coining back. They lmd , dancing puppets in ancient Egypt and Eturia, and.mhrionettes are again •in London—at .the Alhambra, -hard •; "by- Charing ' Cross, where Air Pepys took his wifo, to the Italian puppet show, and it critically with a similar, performance that they had witnessed at Covorit Garden. The Italian " fantoccini." " had native English rivals, especially at. tjia various fairs; /Mr Pepys, for instancy, went 'to Southwark Fair, ; very dirty, and there saw the puppet-show of tirigton, which was-pretty to scoj.niul how that idle thing do. work upon .peo-ple-thsft'see it, and eVeh'myself, iqo!" We ■ should have liked' to hear Pepys on Crawley's puppet-show (about "175% which included the . Creation, •• Noqjile flood (accompanied by. angels riiiging bells), Divlea land Lazarus, ;and/t}je "merry conceits of Squire Punch and Sir John Spendall." . , -

According to .Mr Clyde 'Mcyriell there is a golden opportunity for Australian playwright . at, present. English playwrights seem to bo writing for the 'late diners—people, who came into a theatre at about 9 o'clock. Consequently fw of these - plays are such as could be produced in Australia. This gives the Australian playwright his opportunity, but so far he has. not arrived, " 't.l- -have, read many, but an,ug? norance of stagecraft ii>id of dramatic sequence is apparent right through,',.!; said Mr Meynell. ''One play which was produced here by an Australian aur thor," was, rightly speaking, finished ill the second act, but two others wero .ap"ende'l. Climax and anti-climax -aboundsin'; the: m&fage'.x.play submitted to us ; a-good situation'is oveivshadowed by-'others, and generally speaking, the plays are impossible, many of thembeing execrably written. We have read many and - have -rejected" as,-many. No, the Australian playwright 'lias yet, to make his appearance." •/