THE MODERN THEATRE AND FIRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 715, 19 November 1903, Page 19

THE MODERN THEATRE AND FIRE.

Says a Paris message to a late London paper : — M. Coquelin, the well-known comedian, is about to build a theatre on an entirely new .principle. Plans have been drawn by M. Vinet, and the building is to be put up at the Home for Aged Actors at Pont aux Dames. M. Coquelin intends it to stand as a model for future theatres. The old order of things is to be reversed, the boxes being placed in the pit, the stalls on a tier above them, and over these again the gallery. The stage will be entirely separated from the rest, of the thegtre. after the Roman fashion. M. Coquelin promises something absolutely new in the way’ of open-air scenes. They will be formed, he say s, by the projection of electric light on the stage. By an invention of Messrs) Fortuny the actor says the most exquisite natural tints will be obtained. At the end of the first performance the three hundred occupants of the seats will be asked to withdraw till the scenery is set ablaze for the purpose of proving that it is fireproof. Above the stage is an immense chimney, which will take off the smoke, and ias a further safeguard against asphyxiation, all the windows in the house can be instantly opened, and powerful fans set working- by touching an electric button. My Wellington correspondent writes, under date November 10, that the Frawley Coy. are playing to good business at the Opera House. “Barbara Freitchie” is going strong, and the various (members quite excel themselves in it. It is perhaps the; best thing done, this season, which closes on Saturday with two nerformances of “Secret Service.” . . . The popularity of the Theatre Royal as a place of amusement, shows no sign ol falling off, the various, songsl of Tod Callaway being in very great demand. Miss Nellie Zohe is also a great favourite, and these two clever people are in their last nights. The Delavales, trickcyclists, Dora Taylor, Carleton and Sutton, Misses Malvena Moore, Jessie Thorne and the Galardis assilst in the attractive programme Now that the “strong man” boom is over, the various members of the Choral Hall have settled down to work again, and are ably assisted by the reappearance of Will Stevens, who looks quite voting after his sojourn in Dunedin Hospital.

Watts and Lucas are very popular, and are assisted by Miss Millie Herberte, Bessie Young, the Bertotos, and Ted? Tutty Pantomime occupies both the variety houses at Xmas, “TheHouse that Jack Built,” at the Theatre Royal, in which Mr Dix promises great things, and “Robinson Crusoe” at theChoral Hall. .... The Stine and Evans Coy. arrived in town this morning from Blenheim, and are making their way South. Business has been gocJ. . . . . Mr Bentley Young (recently with Hawtrey) leaves for? England < thisweek under engagement to Wilson Barrett John Lemmone writes, to Mr Brookes, of the Dresden Coy., that he is arranging Paderewski’s tour. A season of two nights will be played inWellington in August next. * * s|t . * A short time ago there were bitter •complaints that London was being overridden by American artists. The latter, apparently, are now being attacked in their own citadel, judging by the following from the latest “Stage” : . - It is of interest, to note that New York, is, theatrically speaking, very English just now. ‘A Princess of Kensington,’ Mrs Langtry, ‘Three Little Maids,’ ‘Ulysses,” Charles Hawtrey, and Charles Warner are among tire attractions, with Sir Henry Irving and Forbes Robertson, in the near future.” There is nothing like reciprocity. * * , » Miss Carrie Moore is playing Lisettein “The Duchess of Dantzig,” which Mr Geo. Edwardes has just produced at the London Lyric. The new title has replaced “Mdme. Sans Gene.” » # w * Haddon Chambers’ new play, “The Golden Silence,” just produced in London, has had a mixed reception at the hands of the critics. * * * * Mr Charles Holloway during the week received a lengthy cable from Mr A. Clifford Alderson, his English representative, concerning Arthur Shirley’s latest play,. “ The Midnight Mail.” The Criterion manager promptly replied, and has added; the piece to his repertoire. * * Frank Hawthorne is now playing withthe Charles Holloway Company at Sydney. J’r Pinero’s new play, “ Letty,” hasjust been produced at the Duke of York’s: Theatre, London. Mr Dion Eoucicault is in the east.

Miss Mary Anderson has now formally declined Mr Robert Grau s offer to return to the stage. Nobody ever thought she would.

Mr Bronson Howard’s play, “ Saratoga,” has again gone on tour in America. It is the same piece as Sir Charles Wyndham played many years ago at the Criterion under the title of “ Brighton.”

The “ New York Mirror ” announces that the Marquis of Anglesey hopes to make his appearance on the stage in New York at some future date.

News has reached London stating that Mr Alberto Randegger is seriously ill in Italy. The distinguished musician, who will* next year celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his residence in England, left London in the best of health a few weeks since for his usual summer holiday.

Mr Charles Warner’s reception in “ Drink,” at the Academy of Music, in New York, partook of the nature of an ovation, and it is quite certain that his performance of Coupeau has made a remarkable impression.

More aristocracy to the stage. This time it is the Countess Ninon von Haseendorpf, who is appearing in Miss 1 Anna Held’s company in America. She is the wife of a German officer.

Signora Duse’s intention to produce Gabriele D’Annunzio’s “ La Citta Morta ” at the Adelphi Theatre, London, has been rendered nugatory by the refusal of a license for the performance of the play. Mr Redford, the Examiner of Plays, gives no reason for his decision, and thus a play that has been performed in Italy, France, Germany and America, awakening everywhere the greatest interest, is denied a performance in Italian in a London theatre. Signora Duse appeared at the Adelphi in “ Gioconda,” “ Magda,’ “ Hedda Gabler,” and “ Francesca da Rimini.”

I take the following from the London “ Daily Mail,” of the 30th September “ Herr Kubelik has arrived in London, and will open his autumn season) at the Festival concert rooms, at York, tomorrow. He will travel in a saloon carriage which was formerly used by the King when Prince of Wales, and will be the guest of Canon Fleming at the Residence, York. He is accompanied by Frau Kubelik (Countess Csaky). The newlywedded couple had a novel experience on their journey from Marienbad to London. Herr Kubelik had forgotten to arrange for sleeping accommodation, and found on boarding the train that all compartments were engaged. Lord Dudley,, the Viceroy of Ireland, who was on the train, heard of their dilemma and at once placed hie compartment at their disposal.

In Mr Maude’s i{ History of the Haymarket Theatre ” there is a capital yarn of William Terriss, whilst playing in “ A Marriage of Convenience,” assuring his present Most Excellent Majesty that “ We’ve all got our shirts ” on Persimmon for the Gold Cup. Terriss, it seems, was an advocate of the “ air-bath ” system, for one of his'peculiarities was that he was “ very fond of lying on the floor of his dressing-room between the shows absolutely stark naked.” Mr Maude is most laudatory in his references to the Bancrofts, Mr Tree, his wife, Miss Winifred Emery, and his partner, Mr Frederick Harrison, all of whom, in company with him l , have speaking likenesses given. “ Brilliant and plucky ” are the epithets

applied by Mr Maude to Mr Tree’s management of the Haymarket, and it is pleasing to observe his absolute freedom from petty jealousy or rancour regarding anybody of whom he writes. As this might be thought not to apply to Chapter XVI., an apparently very sarcastic account of Mr George Bernard Shaw’s rehearsing of “ You Never Can Tell,” it should be explained that this is evidently a piece of characteristic “ spoof ” contributed by the irrcpi essible G. B. S. himself. Mr Edward Rose also gives some Haymarket reminiscences. Mr Maude makes a very brief allusion to the brilliant Adelaide Neilson, who was a Haymarket star during the seventies, one of

his *‘ sins of commission,” to quote from the preface, and many other famous names, such as Compton and Sothern, figure among these brightly-written pages.

Miss Ada Rehan and Mr Otis Skinner are to appear this season in *‘ The Taming of the Shrew ” in America.

The” Sherlock Holmes ” Dramatic Company will open a New Zealand tour at Dunedin on Boxing Night.

Bain’s Gaiety Entertainers are in their 29th at Hobatt Temperance Hall. The present company includes Geo. Scott, Chas. Howard, Arthur Albert, Geo. Wallace, Frank Melvin, Lily Williamson, Hodge Sisters, Adeline Palmer, Lyla Thompson, Vivie Keeling, J. P. Knowles, Carmo, Lottie Lome, Fred Garnett and Victor, the Magician.

Mr George Majeroni has taken the place of Mr Cecil Ward in the “ Are You a Mason ?” Company, as the latter has come to the Hot Springs here as a cure for his rheumatism, which has been very bad.

The Pollard Company has lost the services of Nina Osborne, who has established herself as a prime favourite with African audiences. Miss Osborne is remaining in Johannesburg, and will devote herself to concert work.

Cabled that the operatic version of “ Madame Sans Gene ” has proved a success. Included in the cast were Carrie Moore as a vivandiere, Mr Courtice Pounds as Papillion, and Miss Violet Elliott as Pauline. The latter, it will be remembered, was an attractive vocalisit, here with the World’s Entertainers.

It is stated that other engagements arranged by Mr Fred. Duval for Mr Geo. Stephenson in addition to the StineEvans Company, due in Sydney at the Palace on Boxing Night, include the Miss May Mannering Company a high-class comedy company, and the “ Four Cohns,” who plays musical comedy. ** ♦ ♦ ♦

Arthur Shirley, the well-known melodrama writer, whose works have been made familiar by William Anderson and Bland Holt, has a peculiar way of playbuilding. For his melodramas he goesi to the newspapers, snips out his case, thinks over it dramatically, colours it with all the actualities of the hour, and then rails away into his dialogue.

The late Grattan Riggs was once playing in an Irish melodrama the part of a prisoner who, having just broken out of gaol, is shot dead by the sentry ; but the musket missed fire. The resiourceful comedian was nonplussed for a second. Then he exclaimed, “ Great Heavens ! I’ve swallowed the file !” and fell flat on his back.

The syndicate that is trying to get Madame Patti for Australia find £lOOO a night a stumbling block to securing the prima donna, which were her rates in the American tour. * * * * The Clown in “Twelfth Night ” is often played by an actress. The inimitable Nellie Farren played the part during the run of the comedy at London Olympic in 1864. Osric, in “ Hamlet,” is also very frequently played by an actress, and Le Beau, in “ As You Like It,”, was enacted by Miss Fitzmaurice Gill during the HoweSpring revival in 1894. * * V * It would be interesting to know how much George B. Sims has made in author’s fees out of the “ Harbour Lights.” Ten years ago, when the Ibsen boom was in London, Sims acknowledged in the “ Referee ’’ that the play had brought him in over £30,000, and doubted whether Ibsen’s whole dramatic writings had earned him that sum, or anything like it. And the “ Harbour Lights ” has been running in various parts of the world constantly •ver since.