Theatrical Notes.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14039, 23 October 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

Theatrical Notes.

THEATRE BOOKINGS. October 23rd. —Englishman's" Home October mh, 27th and 28th.—Operatic Society.

"PIRATES OF PENZANCE." AN INTERESTING SUMMARY. Next Tuesday at .the Theatre Royal, J. imaru, the Operatic Society will open their annual comic opera season. The opera to be presented is Gilbert and feullivan s "Pirates of Penzance.," possibly the most popular of the famous twains' works with, the general public. The catchy melodies are, Hummed and whistled throughout the music loving world. Who does not know the famous "Tarantara" chorus of tlie unheroic police? The plot so thoroughly "Gilbertiaii," , teems with whimsicalities. Frederic (fclie Slave of Duty) indentured through his nurse's. (Ruth) stupidity to a pirate instead of to a' pilot, eager to break from his evil associates (whoso redeeming feature is a merciful forbearance towards all "orphans")— Frederic having reached tho ago of 21 and anticipating release from his indentures finds alas, that lie was "born iii leap year" and has only, seen five birthdays, and so keen in his "sunso of he remains with liis pirate friends, and almost heartbroken is com- •' pelled to share in their attack on Tremorden Castle, inhabited by . Major General Stanley and his 20 charming daughters, oiie of these daughters, "Mabel, being poor Frederic's sweetheart.. The Mnjor-General has incurred the wrath of tho pirates on a previous occasion, wlien by tliogang,' bv, falsely describing himself as an "orphan." In the meantime tho gallant (P) posse of police have been called in to defend the castlo, and just at the critical moment when .the Pirate King has given orders <for tlio. MajorGeneral's death, these noble heroic, constables, headed by their courageous Sergeant arrive on the scene. A bloodthirsty struggle ensues, resulting in the. downfall of the police; but the wily Sergeant, knowing apparently something of the antecedents of the pirates, calls upon them "to yield in Queen Victoria's name." These pirates being all noblemen in disguise and members of the House of Peers, feel , their , sense of loyalty touched, and at once .kneel in submission to the now triumphant Major-General and the police. All however, ends. happily as the MajorGeiieral gives the repentant pirates his paternal benediction as follows—"Resume your rank and legislative,duties, and take my daughters, all of whom are beauties." The opera throughout is simply full of fun and comical situations, and the lovely musical gems are household words among • music lovers. The society will produce the opera in its entirety; the taste of principals, is an excellent one, while, tho choruses (taoro esoecially the male chorus of Pirtps and Police) is particularly strong numbering 50 persons. Tlie' orchestra of 17 members consists of, the pick ot the district's instrumentalists, and with their veteran musical conductor and experienced stage manager, the opera of "Pirates of Penzance" should prove a brilliant success.

Miss Nellie Borthwick, who was a. well-known member of Pollard's Opera. Company some years ago, but now of the '' .7ack and Jill Gompanv," recently gained high honours in a beauty competition. The striking resemblance of Miss Borthwick- to that >well-kno>vn English actress ;Mi& Mario Studholriio has caused somo comment in theatrical circles in England, and Miss Borthwick has been Styled "The Australian. Mario Stud holme." She is the wife of tho popular- comedian Mr Fred Leslie.

The Ahlbergs, recently in Australia and latcrly with Hagenbeck Wallace's circus, were appearing at, the Sail Francisco Orplieuni in July. The Clar-' ence Sisters, "The Australian Nuggets," were also there in a character change singing and dancing .act. They make three changes, and first appear in street clothes, then change to nurse maids, and then to Australian cowboys. They darry their own scenery, which depicts the beautiful scenery of' the land of the Southern Cross (says an American exchange). .

Mr Oscar Asche and Miss, Lily ton liad their first experience of Sydney Harbour a few days ago. • "With a party they indulged in a outiric, and struck the gale itlia'. set things considerably—in more inn one I—during 1 —during the afteniboii. Pyr the Heads they encountered a -sailing boat, which had been cnnsiw'd. .ajid to the keel were clinging throe boys. In the teeth of the gale the motor boat went through the heavy sea that was running, and threatening to engulf the tiny vessel, and. running alongside, the Asche-Brayton party were able to render timely succor, and take the sodden and anxious crew on board.

Mr Lucas' Gaiety Entertainers at Hobart are in their 143 rd week, and their manager appears to he catering well for'his patrons. Among, recent appearances there is Fred Meymot, hilled as the merry musical magician. The "Mercury" says lie fully justified the term, and kept the audience on the "go " by his extremely "neat business. The Eltons' versatility in playing on all sorts of instruments stanips them as front-rank artists. They are an entertainment in themselves. Their turn is so attractive that, they must be responsible for increased business at the hall. Fun and music are happily mingled in their entertaining act. Keilderson, the ventriloquist, is also, on tho hill.

" People who are rude sometimes say to me," remarked Mr W. S. Percy, "that tliey wonder liow I can play the fool every night for a living. I asked one of these the other day liad ; lre seen me, and lie replied that he lind teen .a' couple of times to "The Kins of Cadonia," and had laughed heartily , at the Duke. Now, I argued with him that he was, on his own showing, a greater fool than I, for I was paid a good salary for my fooling every evening, where'as ho pays to see mc._ If it weren't for the money I. receive I wouldn't act the fool, and he, as a. theatregoer, supplies the wherewithal to the managemmerit to make it profitable to engage comedians. It is logically cause and effect-—he tlio cause, the fooling the effect; or. again, it is supply and demand—he is 0110 wlio creates the demand, and 1 lush 111 with the supply. I think I luivo made it quite clear that a eomeihcili Ji» nob so silly as he looks."

Some superb temperamental ;:cting •by Miss Lena. Ashwell iti a fimkly sensational trial scene melodrama marke dtlre re-opening of the kite Hicks Theatre, London, uudcj its new style and title of the Globe. Tlio play itself, "Madame X.," adapted from Alexandre Brisson, is neither very great nor very new, hut it as least supplies some real "moments" for Miss Ashwell. The idea of tho thing ran he set down iu a few words. It .is that a. counsel' for tlio. defence ol n prisoner charged with murdor should, all unknowlingl.y, be pleading for his own mother! It is brought about, too, simoly enough. In a prologue, happening twenty years before the action nf, the play. Jacqueline Fleuriot had been somewhat cruelly driven from lioustv. *vtkl lioiyk* ?incL froTvi ner littlo bov. when she had come back repentant' from an unfortunate escapado

■with a lover. For twepty years she wanders homeless, falls. lower and lower, takes to drugs, anil becomes atj last mistress to an out-of-worC blackguard, who, as it happens lflfe been on the job of blackmailing her'former husband. Lest her son, whom site had never seen, but of whom she dreamed niglit and day, should find out- tbo truth, she shoots this latest love'r there and - then. Sbo is tried ,-for murdsr,'. and who should' appear as the defi-iiti-ing counsel but her oVn son> making his first, speech at tho Bar. Thanks to his passionate she is acquitted, and dies happy in'liis arms.'

" Datas," whose real' name is said to be John Bottle, a 'Londoner, and who is styled tho " mar.vplldus. memory, man" and human ; efacyclopa^dia;,has joined "Wirth- Bros.', .circus.-. Hie .is leaid to be able to answer any qucstion ro-, lating to any event that, has- 4b&irf&ct during the last 2000 years.. His" manager declares a New . York medico'has. given £2OOO for " Datas'" head at liis. death. ' . ~ . . '.,

Miss Stella Selbourne, of J. C. .AViJl.iamson's Pantomime Company, • Sydney, has personal and physical charins which, with her • natural' talents, have done much towards her success on tiiaAustralian stage. Sho was ' .always passionately fond of ,tho ..theatre, .ljtifc slie never seriously thought of earn-, ing a livliliood in this manner until tho death; of her fathdr. ' She did not. fancy an office or other _ such work, and her subsequent cxperienco of the footlights lias not in ;any way . altered this opinion." She first started lier professional career with ,'Mr Musgrove's _ Shakespearean : ..Company; ( then she joined, tho banner of the 'late John F. Sheridan. \ She remained,, with Mr Sheridart for .three and a half years, and played : many ■ parts 'in that versatile comedian's varied;, repeii»ii;e. A -few weeks_ before! the death ofMr Sheridan, Miss Selbpurno ' joined ttyo J. C. Williamson management,, and was cast for Prince Opulent, in. "Jack and, Jill/' which she now playcd for ten months, showing 'tbo remarkable run pantomimes have: in Australia 'as compared with other parts - of v ( the; world.

• Homo papers in " describing linck's " Macbeth" at. Rouen jqu , August 28th., state:—"-Witli astounding plausibility and every detail contributing to a realistic effecit, the ; play fyas carried out with the utmost beauty amid enthusiastic plaudits. , Nothing could appear more appalling than tho sinster laugh of; the weird isistera" as it echoed through tlio lower end of the woods, tho glowing of 1 tlio will-o!-tl>e-wisps, nnd tlie distant smile of tlio moon silvering the neighbouring treo tops; nothing aiore weird' than, tho solemn entrance of Duncan' and his soldiery retiriue in the murderer's den, the sound of drums and haUthois miiiglitig with the genuine barking of a dog. One lady fainted; ; dnd most of tlio men grow pale as the tV'ulls and) floors were shaken by the gllouts of despair .arid stampeding feet whew I\laebeth's bloody work . •was ,'. discovered and proclaimed tiy u- m'Quastery alarm bell. The same thrilling sensation was produced by the awful ghost scene in tho beautiful dining-hall, down to. i lie last appearance of I^adyMacbeth ps tho remjorse-'stricken somnambulist, arid the closing scene jri iylxich"Maeterlinck managed ingeniously' to. realise the fiction of. a; moving* forest. Tho soldiers, ill rushing victoriously into the castle on. Macbetli's death,, .appear Carrying the boughs of Birnam trees, whereas in 'Shakespeare they havo discarded them before the.' tryaiit's last stronghold." .', iv .

" Dear 'Little Denmark,", tho new .; j production at the : Prin6e of Wales's I Theatre,' was 1 received with mark I of favour recently by" a complaisant first-night audience. With a modesty tliat disarms criticism, /"Dear Littlo Denmark-' is described as a "Danish musical incident in two acts. , Chatter, jinnies, and tunes'by Paul A. Rubens.' It is quite a good plot, and can easily be followed- by playgoer who - regard the. theatre as an aid t° digestion. Christine is the daughter of tlie Burgomaster of Falsternorc, arid as she is , represented by Miss' Mabel .Tay, the Burgomaster is a very '■-happy.' man. Conrad Petersen (Mr. Bertram Waller), is also a very happy man because *, ho. loves and is loved by. '.Chnstirie. Sho is, according to. tlio custom of tlio country, tjie god-daughter of the Duko von Kasmusseri,, whose, gout and '•iher ducal eccentricities are clierfulI-- borne and interpreted by Mr. James lii-k.'lrv.- He has a portegc in 'the per-. "mm • !' ( fans Harisiu, offical dock v:in- ■ •d'T.to the towii,. arid the hitter's pfej to the-hand of Christine have f a'fherly and godfatherlynipj»ori. So, of'cioi'rse. Conrad is. into > dungeon in Mie Duke's castle at 'Capenhageu,. where' all the characters,'' on one excuse or "nr^t.hcr,• are -found iii the- -fse"ond act . The-first* «H>. takes place in the Haricot place of .falsler-' . nore.. Some day—but not yet—a; revolutioiinry bramntist will arise who will loy his first act- m a castle and his second in a. market place.- !