“HASSAN."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

“HASSAN."

FLECKER’S GREAT PLAY. Flecker’s live-act story of how Hassan, lilie comtcnoner ox naguaci, came to maiie the boiuen Journey to Samarkand, with music Dy Den us, dances by hOivine, anil scanty costumes lor Eastern lames by other ingenious and ima-

ginative people, proved just a littie less tnan a masterpiece. The magic of blocker s verse is more effective in the written book than in the spoken word of the theatre. But the tragedy is a worthy effort, and fully justined production. Thanks to the music-makers, dancing masters, and dressmakers aforesaid, “ Hassan ” may well have a long run. The confectioner was played by Henry Ainley. an actor with a fine speaking voice and some power, but afflicted with a growing habit of overacting. The real interest of “ Hassan,” however, was not the acting, but the fact that belated justice has been done to a poet who died under tragic circumstances at thirty years of age, and seemed destined to be forgotten because his talents were hidden in one small book of lyrics.

Flecker died of consumption in January, 1915, the last part of “ Hassan ” being dictated to his -wife when he was too ill to write. Airs Flecker came from Paris for the first night of the play at His Majesty’s Theatre, and' had the satisfaction of seeing belated justice done to her husband's genius. She tells that “ Hassan ” was originally written as a farce ; at the time Flecker was in good health and in the mood to write' an uproarious comedy. But he anil Airs Flecker moved from Corfu to Syria and the mood changed, especially as the writer’s health failed. When he left tho East and went to Switzerland to die, Flecker determined to complete 44 Hassan ” as a tragedy. There is another full-length play byFlecker in existence, an early work on the theme of Don Juan ; it is to he published shortly, but does not appear to be suitable for the stage. Air Arnold Bennett has also written a version of “ Don Juan,” which has still to he produced, though it has been jminted privately. Delius, who wrote the music for 44 Hassan.” is as c urious and unlucky a. personality as was Flecker himself. When “Hassan” was produced last week. Delius was lifted from a taxi-cab and wheeled in an invalid chair to his seat in the stalls. Hu has been a sick man for the last ten years, and lives the life of a recluse. In spite of his Dutch name, Delius was born at Bradford and comes of a typical Yorkshire wool family. As a youth he went to Florida, to grow oranges : returning to Europe, his musical genius was discovered. and Sir Thomas Beech am produced his opera. “A A illage Romeo and Juliet,” at Covent Garden. He is now sixty years old, and no English composer has a more enthusiastic following among Continental musicians. Whether as a writer of concerted music, symphonic poems, or opera , Del ms gives the impression of musing He ,s a poet who dreams in music, and allows us to overhear the musing dreams. Grieg was a dominant influence in the art of Delius, which finds fair scope in the ballets and other incidental music of Flecker’s nlny.