Theatrical Notes.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13957, 17 July 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

Theatrical Notes.

theatre bookings. July 22 —Cooper's Biograph. August 6th and 7tli—The Buxmg Competitions. August 27—TV illiamson s. Septembero 14, 15, 21, —-3 Allan Hamilton (pencilled). October 9, 11, 12-Will.amson October 25, 26, 2,, 28—The Operatic Society.

\fi-« Elsie Hall, wlio has been appointed "to "teach the pianoforte to Princess Mary of Wales, is an Australian by birth. She studied on the Continent and when she was 16 years of age she won the Mendelsohn Prize in Berlin for pianoforte playing.

• Lord Hothfield's only daughter, Mrs Stuart Gordon Anderson, who was so successful in a recent performance by amateurs of "The Mollusc" at the Kings way, has decided to become a professional singer, and accepted an engagement to appear at Mme. Harie Home's entertainment in London recently.

Mr Alfred Moul's artistic ballet, "Psyche," is attracting Londoners to th© Alhambra (Bays a Home paper). It is certainly on© of the daintiest and most interesting spectacles that have been produced at this house, and the music is of a character that pleases all ears. Tlie other divertissement, "On the Square," has lately been made exceptionally entertaining by some welcome additions.

"Woman in Music" is the title of a volume of interesting essays by Sir George Upton, recently published by Stanley Paul. Without woman's influence, says Mr Upton, '"many of the masterpieces which we now so much admire might not have, been accomplished." As writers, however, few -women have achieved distinction, and it is consequently curious that the author should not have made complete his . list of women composers which is given in the book. There are , many notable omissions.

Mme. Lilian Nordica, who lias not been heard in London for several years received a very cordial welcome at lier recital at Queen's Hall, London, and a large audience, which included Princess Christian, enthusiastically applauded her charming interpretaiion of a. number of popular songs. The gifted vocalist was in her best form, and sang throughout with that sweetness and expressiveness which so long ago won her fame and admirers in this country and America. ' For her next and last concert, which was to be held at Queen's Hall 011 June 17, Mme. Nordica secured the support of the London Symphony " Orchestra, conducted by Herr Arthur NiHsch.

Signor Caruso, in an interview published by the "Ccrriere della Sera," (Milan) waxes wroth over the alleged treatment of himself by certain English Yellow Press journals. These, he ■declares, seduced by the brazen-faccd-ness of their American rivals; have taken to publishing articles over his signature, although he never in his life penned a line for publication. Tlicy seem to revel in the idea that he lias lost his voice; and what keenly afflicts him is that one newspaper has hymned the triumph of the young tenor, Carasa, at Convent Garden with the monster headline "Caruso Eclipsed." Sig-. nop Caruso says he is remaining for some time in Milan under treatment, but will fulfil his concert engagements in England in August.

On May, 28th Mr Oscar Asclie and Miss Lily Brayton sailed for Australasia, and will start their tour to-day in Melbourne, where they will remain for thirteen weeks. Then they go to Sydney, where they will play for another thirteen weeks. The pieces in which they will appear are" Tib Taming of the Shrew," "As You Like It," " Much Ado About Nothing," " Othello," "The Merchant of Venice," and Mr Stanley "Weyman's "Count Hannibal," productions which necessitate the transportation of 500 tons of scenery. Mr Asche has been looking forward to this trip for many months, for he is an Australian, and has not had the opportunity of visiting his native land for eighteen years. He does not expect to be back in London until the autumn of next year.

In London recently Miss Fannie Ward started a season at the Hicks with a play written by Messrs Lee Arthur and Forrest Halsey, called "'Eunice." The action of this piece, which, contains four acts, passes in New port, U.S.A., the interest reaching its culminating point in the assassination by the heroine of the man who betrayed her by a false promise. -of marriage. ' The next day, Mr Clyde Fitch's "The Woman in the Case " will be produced at the Garricfc, under the direction of Sir Herbert Sleath. This play, which has been a great success in America, centres round the efforts of a devoted wife to save her husband, who lies under a charge of murder. Only one person can prove his innocence, and " the woman in the case " has good reason to maintain silence, though at last the wife succeeds in extorting the truth from her.

Archdeacon Itogers gives an account of pageantry in Chester at Whitsuntide, 1594. "Every company had its pntzoant ... a. high scaffold with two rooms, a higher and a lower, upon four wheels. In the lower they apparelled themselves, and in the higher room they played, being all open on the top, that all beholders might hear and see them. The places where they played them was in every street. They began first at the Abbey gates, and when the 'first pageant was played it was wheeled to the "high cross before the mayor, and so to every street; and po every street had a pageant playing before them at one time, till all the pageants for the day appointed were played." So we recur to the modes of Thespis, first of touring managers, who carried his plays about on a cart.

After a tour of 30,000 miles in South [America in the company of Lord Howard de Walden, Mr Joseph Holbrooke has returned to London, and lias resumed work on his great music-drama, "Dylan." The libretto of this opera has been written by Lord Howard, and it is hoped that some public performances will he given in a London theatre in the autumn or next spring. Mr Holbrooke will allow the public to hear the prelude at a concert at Queen's Hall devoted to his own compositions. Tho selections will include tho last movement of Apollo and the Seaman," the choral symphony "Homage to Edgar Allan Pop." and the barllad " Annabel Lee," and these will be performed bv tbe Alexandra Palace Clioir of 400 voices, and the Bcecliam Orchestra. In order that intending visitors may have an idea of what they are about to hear, Mr Holbrooke lias arranged for the issue a week beforo the concert of a programme containing analytical notes by Mr Gilbert Webb. They-will thus be prepared for the ■introduction of the saxhorn family, the bass Ante, the bass trumpet, and the eight concertinas, which play so prominent a part in "Dylan.: 1