Theatrical Notes

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14141, 26 February 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

Theatrical Notes

♦ American playgoers evidently thin] Yery highly of the new industrial plaj "Strife," by John Galsworthy, whicl has been secured for Australia by J C. "Williamson, for it has been decidec by the management on account of it popularity to retain it in the reper toire *of the New Theatre in New York,for the whole of the season there "Arms and the Man," the Bernarc Shaw comedy, which is so delightfully original, and away from the ordinary modern style of play, is to be the nexl piece to be done by the Knight-Grej combination at the Theatre Royal, Syd ney, following upon "The Lion" and the Mouse." As the practical, level headed Captain Bluntschli, Mr. Julius Knight may be expected to appear al his best more particularly as he is personally an ardent admirer of the works of Bernard Shaw, while as Raina, the impulsive heroine of the story, Miss Katherine Grey is sure to give every satisfaction. "The Walts Dream," which went up The visit which Signor Hazon paid Melbourne on his way through to Sydaey was a strenuous and hurried one. He arrived in Melbourne on the Thursmorning, and went up to Her Majesty's Theatre there to interview and rehearse the chorus that had been selected for the Grand Opera season in that city. In the afternoon he left by the Sydney express, and the following morning was being welcomed by numerous friends at the railway station, who expressed their sincere pleasure at having him back once-more in their midst. He has returned full of energy and vitality, and is most enthusiastic about his work, and has every, confidence in the success of the artists whom he has selected to fill the leading parts in the forthcoming opera season. ~ The principals for the J. C. Williamson Grand Opera Company are now on their way to Australia. Mdlle Bel Sorel, the prima donna, Bhould be well up in the leading role in "Madame Butterfly," having spent some time before her departure watching the performance in Paris, and not only so, but some little time ago she studied the part with Signor Puccini, so that her interpretation of the role will be in accordance with "the composer's own conception of the character. When Signor Puccini heard that a company was coming out to Australia to produce ''Madame Butterfly," he wrote to Signor Hazon expressing his pleasure that such was the case, and remarking that he was sure the opera would receive thoroughly adequate handling by the company selected by Signor Hazon to perform it Although the Nellie Stewart Company have every reason to he satisfied with their recent season in West Australia from a financial point of "'"view, they were nevertheless "very glad to. get back to Melbourne where the weather _ (though trying at times) is perfect in comparison with what they had to.endure at Kalgoorlie. During their brief season at that flourishing mining centre, the thermometer rang the changes on temperatures well over 100 degrees, and rose up and up, and up, until the conditions were almost intolerable Then it was that the manager of the refrigerating chambers came to Miss Stewart and offered her a seat in one of the corridors of the icfl. house, where the temperature stood at about 65 deg. Miss Stewart readily accepted the offer, and in this way managed to pull herself together for the performances in the evening. A star fresh from the refrigerating chambers! . When He was in Capetown some Hme ago Mr./ Price of" the famous Price and Revost combination in the Aladdin's pantomime at Her Majesty's Melbourne, met with an i accident, and broke two of his ribs > through his partner failing to catch him when he stumbles back towards the orchestra in his comedv tumbling act. The doctor whom the acrobat ■ consulted told him that he would have ! to he up for some time, and take a' rest from work, but Mr. Price would' not hear of such a thing as disappoint- ! ing his public. After a good deal of: arguing h 6 eventually prevailed upon! the doctor to encase him in a firm, ' supporting bandage, and in this way : he managed -to go each evening and play out his contract. That a tremendous amount of will power was exercised is proved by the fact that «ven now if le knocks the weak side he is made of it, hut mere and bruises are "trifles light as air to the conscientious and hardv : tumbler. * \ A fine house assembled at Her Ma-" jesters Theatre, Sydney, to greet "The * ? f Gottenberg," in its week's revival by the Royal Comic Ooera Company . and the way in which" the musical play was received showed that the revival met with approval from the audience. On February 12th, "The Waltz Dream," the Viennese operetta by Oscar Strauss, which rivals "The Merry Widow" in the lilting charm of Ws music, was produced for the first . tune in Australia. The scene is laid in one of. those mythical German provmces which of recent years have Ste^'°i 1 " , ? Bl3r **-**& and the| on the night of his marriage with a ! princess shows his disdain for E?? 1^ 8 *S }S goin « off a friend &»+??* G £ riea - he falls a vicof th« the leader ZIaH - S orche stra. But in the end die princess appears on the scene i • J heU "n5 hare *° Whica &ey di™rull justice ThepartofFranziwarlgi 1 . bv M, SS Fanny Dango. The newcoine? Mr. Langford Kirby, took the comedy I role of the German Prince, Count' Lothnir and Mr. Claude Bantoek aS-1 peared as King Joachim, while other placed company were suitably ■PI-AY OF THE PRIZE RING. V an of Perfectly placid inTestieation and scrutiny, well befitt, ?/<;£? of so cool a customer os Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthus Conan Doyle sat m frH of the Adelphi st™ °- n i D rt ml,er 17th , attending a rehearsal nf his great play of tie ring, "The House of TemperleyT" whirl, so approximately is designed for productKm on Boxing Night™ "Our ?Sl* un J ls . to *• realistic," said Sir Arthur and fust then, as if b/war <rf ervme foreibJe illustration tothTau! "Tom CribVs Saloon jn Ponton-street" made a great aim at the nose of his opponent, which was so very realistic as to twitch Tus nostrils and wipe the water from h£y eyes. '""t J? ir A J+hur Doyle went on: "An ex«W difficulty with'.the great'fi^tof the contest ,n the okl style, without \ gloves. Brnismg and bloodshed make ' np a somewhat severe concession to F*!T£-- * m imagine how hard it is to avoid such nnpleasant re- f P"Ks, and yefr to conver to the anan iTupressjop of a prize-fight of a hundred -vears ago." 7 i A few seconds after Sir. Conan Doyle | hid *poken. Mr Charles Mapde'. in nrno- ' fcs*ng lersev stepped' into th«; rinc • '™- a« showed ns. the J>s<=*^>p«.r , <vf Vn" ' nf-the fancv. bow- {ji3<4l " -it was -b> empr«p Tmmjnred froVWh ' a Wam— •■peeially his enenrc- tJ " "■,

"I presume, Sir Arthur, that you d< not intend your aim at an,absolut< realism to be baulked by a weak sub mission to prudishness in the matter o' your fighters' costume ? It would b( something of a knock-out blow for realism if your men wore jerseys." "That question is in the balance,' : replied Sir Arthur; "but I quite agre? with you that it ought not to be. The men should be stripped to the waist, and I have no doubt they will be." A sigh of relief here fell from the lips of one who is most perticularly anxious for the great fight not to be spoilt , by squeamishness—to wit, Binnington, the fighting instructor to the Ist Surrey Rifle Brigade. "Your play can scarcely be said to have been adopted from your book, 'Rodney Stone'P" asked the press representative of the author of both. "No," answered Sir Arthur. "It is certainly suggested'by 'Rodney Stone,' but it would be quite wrong to describe it as a stage version of my novel." And here, lest we should give away too much before Boxing Night, and particularise the difference between the play and the book, Sir Arthur Doyle lost himself in the excited crowd of backers and bookmakers wEo had assembled on Crawley Downs to witness one of the most remarkable encounters ever prepared for a theatrical production.