“CAMILLE” IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 782, 2 March 1905, Page 19

“CAMILLE” IN AUSTRALIA.

MISS TITTELL BRUNE. “Peter Quince,” in Alelb. “Punch,” writes The performance of the week from an artistic point of view has certainly been that of Miss Tittell Brune. In actual histrionic merit it must rank below some others that we have seen in Melbourne, hut for originality of conception, Miss Brune’s Uamille should almost be placed first. It is a daring departure from custom and the tradition that makes custom for an actress to play “the lady of the camellias” and not wear a single camellia with any of her dresses. Marguerite Gautier had earned her brilliant but unenviable reputation as a fast woman by the fact that she was always known and recognised b) the camellias. This trademark of shameiul reputation has always been adopted by actresses as a necessary part of the dress. Some “played lightly” with the flower, others crowded them upon their dress. Nance O’Neil, alv. ajs thoughtful and clever, emphasised the bloom by wearing one in her hair. Miss Brune goes a step further, and wears none ; yet she has gained the title of Camille from the fact that she always wears camellias. The idea is original, but I am inclined to think that the actress in her “happy thought” has torn her passion to tatters. I assume that Miss Brune’s reading of the character of Camille is that although she was a woman with a past, she was capable of a great and allsacrificing loxe. It is, therefore, conceivable that when the man and the moment arrive the denii-mondaine wishes to shut out the past and cut herself away from all recollection of her career as an infamous woman. 'lhe very flowers which had been* her advertisement and sign-hoard might become hateful to her, and the camellias, which in the days of her shame were her delight and the delight of her numerous lovers, might be cast aside as worse than worthless things—as reminders of the time when she was “everybody’s hero.” So far I admit all Miss Brune’s brilliant and daring originality, but when the play opens, the absorbing love for Armand has certainly not developed in this extraordinary and original fashion. As a lover he does not exist, while Camille is still the lady of the camellias in the heyday of her popularity and the burning sunshine of her" shame. In the first act certainly the flowers should be worn in some conspicuous place in hair or dress. Apart from the matter of detail, the performance ci Miss Brune calls for very high commendation, but it does not make a record here, even with Englishspeaking actresses, She has all the intensity necessary for the part ; she is good in the different phases of that chameleon character. lhe intensity of her love, the pain of her unselfish sacrifice and the long-lingering threes of her death are represented with painfully photographic realism. Cn Saturday evening it was evident to the audience that the actress had so intensely identified herself with the part that she made herself-ill. At one time it seemed as if she would be unable to resist the effect of her own hysterical identification with the simulated heroine. In “Camille,” of course, there is very' little opportunity for anything but the heroine, but Armand Duval gets occasional chances, and of these Mr Roy Redgrate made the most. He is one of those versatile actors that nothing comes amiss to him. He does nothing ill, and many things well. Mr Gaston Mervale played Duval, senr., in good style, and was dramatically effective in the onte scene in which the father of the infatuated Armand makes his anpeal to the bitter nature of the Parisian courtesan. Mrs Walter Hill was happily placed as .Madame Prudence, and furnished some of the necessary humour to a plav that is calculated to give the ordinary playgoer the “creeps.” AIISS NELLIE STEWART. The Sydney “Referee” thus refers io the Sydney version of the play :— “Aliss Nelli'- Stewart has added another to her growing- iist of dramatic triumphs. On Saturday night Air George Alusgrove presented ‘Camille,’ and, though there were many theatregoers who had doubts as to how the clever actress would fare in so ambitious an undertaking, th<*rc was but one opinion at the close of the performance—Miss Stewart had achieved a success even more brilliant than any of its predecessors. The house was packed in all parts, and when the curtain fell at the close of the last act there was a demonstration which has seldom been equalled. “The version of ‘Camille’ which Mr Alusgrove selected was that originally written for Aladame Modjesl-a, as Hie en-

terpreneur considered it ‘more faithfully in sympathy than! any other with the true character of the beautiful blit hapless Marguerite Gautier, as portrayed by her biographer, Al. Dumas, fils. r lhis, no doubt, is correct, but, after all, there is little to choose between the different versions, the foundations of which are practically identical. Australia has seen some notable? Camilles —including the great Bernhardt —and recently th re has been quite an epidemic of exponents of the part, the latest being that other clever lady, Aliss Tittell Brune, in Al elbourne. “In her support Aliss Stewart is most fortunate. Air Harcourt Beatty makes a notable Armand Duval, and the ren aining characters are distributed as follows : —Alonsieur Duval (Armand's father), Air Harry Hill ; Comte de Varville, Air Alalcolm Dunn; Gaston Rieux. Air Dudley Clinton ; Gustav, Air James Lindsay; lhe Doctor, Air L. Moods ; Alessenger, Air Staeb ; Aladame Prudence, Aliss .Amy Singleton ; Bichette, Aliss Nannie Bnnett ; Olympe, Aliss Amy ’Milhird ; >an nie, Miss Evelyn Davenport. “As usual. Air Al uso-rove has dene the thing handsomely in th<- way of s 4 aging and dressing, while Air M. IL ( o’em an

for his scenic illustrations, and Air Harry Parker for his stage direction. u.-t also be accorded unqualified pia’.-e'

Miss Nance O’Neil will produce Sudermann’s “The Fires of St. John” during her Australian season. • • • • Of “Sunday,” now running in New York, a critic writes that it is “senile melodrama, enfeebled and toothless.” • • * * The Howard Brothers, with a company that includes Harry Shine, patter comedian, Miss Alice I ayton, and Air Percy Denton, are meeting with a good d al of success in the West Coast towns of the South Island. • • • * Air Alf. Sutro has written a new play for Mr George Alexander. “AloUentrane on Women” is its somewhat peculiar title. It will be put on at the St. James’s after “Lady AVindermere's Fan.” Concerning “The Walls of Jericho,” which we shall soon see out hero, Air Arthur I’ourchier has published a letter from a colonial bishop, praising the piece for its high and salutory moral tone and lesson.

'I he following items are by “Lorgnette” in last week’s Wellington “Al ail”: — I he farewell season of Air George Stephenson's Aluisical Comedy Company is proving a great success in every way. “’lhe Rose of the Riviera” was played to a packed house last Friday evening. On Saturday night and the two following evenings “1 he Skirt Dancer” was staged to splendid houses. A piece new to AAellington theatregoers, namely, “lhe bandy Doctor,” will be staged to-night. Ihe season will close on Friday (evening, the company sailing on Saturday for Sydney iy th> Mor.o'.'ai en route to Brisbane. A return season wi 1 be commenced at the Sydney Criterion on Easter Saturday. Fuller’s Entertainers have been appearing to excellent business during the past week at His Alajesty’s Theatre. Air Les Wharton is without doubt one of the greatest favourites ever seen under the Fuller banner, and he has to sing his usual half-a-dozen ditties before he satisfies his auditors, lhe Reyes Trio do a fine “turn,” for which they get ajround of well-merited applause. Aliss Lulu Eugene, Aliss Alay Rose?, Aliss Jeannie Johnston, and Aliss Alay Dagmar contri-

bute acceptable items. Messrs T d A - dersou, Carleton, Cowan, and Mr Huia Alorton also appear in the bill. ’ * * » Air George Alusgrove may (says an Australian exchange) shortly ‘ ta' e‘ a Ilyin >• trip to England to secure fresh plays for his dramatic company, and make other arrangements for his companies. Speaking of his immediate plans, Air Alusgrove says the present season at the Lyceum will dose on Alarch 10, and Air A’an Biene will appear in “The Broken Melody” for a season- of nine nights, while the alterations and improvements to it are completed. lhe new Lyceum Theatre will be re-opened by the dramalie company with either “Dorothy o’ the Hall.” a new romantic play in four acts, by Paul Kester (author of “Sweet Nell of Old Drury") and Charles Alaior, which was ree<‘ntly played in England for ti e first time by Aliss Julia Neilson, who appeared as Dorothy A T ernon, or a new play, of which Air Alusgrove has the manuscript, but which has not yet been named. Charhs Warner will follow the return season of the dramatic company, who arc due in Aidbourne at Cup time.

In the course of an interview in Alell .ourne the other day Aliss Tittel Brune, the young- American actress, spo’-.e as follows concerning the morality of the stage: —“Alothers ask me about the temptations to which their daut hters. are likely to be exposed. I always answer that there may be an evil side to the stage. If so, I am glad that I know nothing of it. But I; don’t think the evil is more than exists everywhere. Such as there is comes from outside; among the little stage coteries there is none. The flattering letters that girls receive come all from the public.” “I suppose artists themselves are not affected by the glamour of the stage?” “The ‘glamour of the footlights’? No, I suppose not. But perhaps you mean the glamour that surrounds the hero and heroine,” said Miss Brune, with th'- gayest of gay laughs. “Even that is not so visible to the players as to the spectator.” T’cgarding the spectators, she said:, “I find ustraliun audiences excellent; they arc' uick, sympathetic, intelligent. They know —you feel that they know —the meaning of a gesture before it is quite complete. r l hey are not afraid to express appreciaten. In Sydney I must have had 1100 or 1200 letters expressing pleasure at my work.”

Airs Potter and Air Gilbert Hare are producing at the Savoy a version of the Du Barry story called “Ragged Robin.” ■8 * # • lhe s.s. Cooevanna, which arrived at Alelbourne on February 7 from Calcuttaand Singapore, brought eight elephants, consigned to Alessrs Fitzgerald Bros., and intended as an addition to the performing staff of Fitzgeralds’ Circus. Ten elephants were originally shipped, but the rigours of the voyage proved too much for two of them. The value of these two animals was said to be over £BOO, the value' of the eight landed being given at £3OOO. One night during the voyage two of the elephants became mutinous, and. breaking loose, wandered through the ship looking for miscellaneous food. Some cases of sperm candles were the last delicacies which they swallowed before acute biliousness induced them tosurrender to their keepers. The elephants are to be put into training at once, and it is estimated that in five or six monthsthey will have graduated into the circus profession.