THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 728, 29 January 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

; : ■ •:"'■■",'.' : v —-—"■•. 1 The .World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood.

(Br, SYLvros.)

"The King of Cadonia." . wo.aro to.have "The King of tadouia, and expectancy runs high, certainly the issue of a performance out ot tho. common may reasonably be-antici-pated., J. a Williamson has sent along the original.Australian cast in its on--tn-oty. : lho.King-bf Cadonia," by all accounte.is a light opera possessing much good music,, a really witty libretto, and tho acme of possibility in; tho .way of goigeons and up-to-dato costuming. Undoubtedly tho cast submitted, is a strong one. Each of the five principals have starrahm their particular rlines of .art" m England. Miss Dorothy Court has the ■distinction of being, not only a favourite with Sir W..S.,Gilbert,':but also, of being tho prima donna at tho London Savov% under Mr.; and, Mrs. D'Ovley Carte's direction, y A -London-favourite is -Miss Lottie Sargent,,whilst:Mr. Herbert Clayton and Mr.. Frank' Greene ,havo sung tho principal-baritbno parts continuously .in tho best London theatres. Mr. Bert Gilbert will, makp his first appearance here to-night, "as the nerve-racked ; Duke of A r lasli 3,-.„ Th t erD , is much curiosity to see Mr. Gilbert, who has the reputation of being one of .the. finest natural comedians ot. tho , Lnglish-speaking stage. Reputation,-, patent interest, and that "something in;tho'air,. combine to promiso! v a successful, premierp for this imnortant musical attraction to-night, and, • taken "big and large," an artistic performance of unusual merit may bo ' looked-for.. • "Count'.'Hannibal."'. /•' ' "Count Hannibal," Stanley Weyman's romantic .story., has ybeen " successfully, staged by Mr; : Oscar-Aschelin Melbourne.'' Tho "Age" - has'tho following criticism to. officer the chief players':— ■ "It goes'.without saying that tho characterof Count Hannibal is ono that lends itself.to effectivo: portrayal, at tho hands of an. actor with the physical endowments of voice, fignve,. and bearing of Mr._-„ Oscar vAsche.: Tho' character'.is, one in itself,: that :Would : command ready admiration. ' , Although, he is among : tho trusted:: Catholic, hdherents-./of the-JCing ho. ; makes,it. known to tlio,-fanatic'-.mob that they may murder and plunder where they will, but not whero, ho is. He is a;;bold,' but-not "an unscrupulous lover, and. despite, his forceful attempts to win the' lady's ;,lovo;-he eventually; is' ready to.;, sacrifice , himself, for her; and .her lietrbth'ed.; Mr.yAscbe .avoids, with true artistic, instinct tho- mere swash-buckling and; melodramatic element which might bojso easily imported int'o tho part, and wins ■ the sympathy which the ' novelist who drew the figure intended it'should command."' To this endytho.'author.;has' bebh compelled to divest tho young courtier, i :Tignonvillc,. of that bravery ■ and manliness which might have retained the affection of-tho body.. '; Tho' part "was taken;; by, Mr. Gerald 'Kay Souper, .who gave it .a thoroughly satisfactory .presentation. ' Nothing better",in, its way than the'sword:aud dagger duel ih-whichMr. Oscar;Ascho,.,an,d Mr.'Sou'per take part has'been .seen.oh the. Australian' stage. Thrust.-and,' parry,"feint, and lunge fol-, in quick: arid ; thrilling', succession, until bya,lightning-stroke the unhappy Tighouville.-lie's' proho ) mr the floor.; 'The duel ..'scene was arranged -by Mons. Bertrand,', reputed to bo one of : the finest swordsmen in Europe. Ho would; bo hard tp please who, could desire anything better',; inythe: way of. artistic dramatic portraiture :'and ,tho simulation of tragic emotion thiin;fhe .picturo presented ■by Miss.Lily Brayton of, tho.Lady. of Vrillac.: Clotildo is torn.by tlio ■ conflicting forces of .love, and duty;.- But sho is' possessed.of.indomitable .spirit nnd/courage,',and/Count Hannibal realises fully' her; fitness'' for, a .soldier's wife. , Her sentiment for Tignonvillo merges finally into mere' pity,: and; sho finds her true ideal./at ;last. in ; the man;.of ''.-. loyal, de-, votion and courageous deed. It was a tragic part throughout, redeemed only by the charm of the'portrayal and'the touching beauty of the final lovo scone. My. Herbert Grimwood had a. chanco of sliowirig.what a good-.actbr he is iii. : l'he c'pnyincingyrepresentation lie''gav6 of -the hysterical, and' half',mad monarch, whose name has been 'blasted by tho -niassacro which, he ..was weak enough: to : authorise.: :Ai. noble arid delightful character.in the book is'that,of.'La Tribe, tho Protestant' minister, and Mr. Charles A. Doran succeeded, in giving artistic vraisemblance to the. conception. ■..::'', ...:,. :. ,': Notes,.; ,v. : y','"';:' .-■,-;'/.yy ;y'-: :;The Moldavia, which is now on its way out : to Australia,-having left London at the -beginning of., the current luontlvdias on .board.'Mr. -Alexander Butler,'a; wellknd\vn and'.mdoly-experience'd stage m'anageryand producer. Mr. ■Butier'.'is.uudor' engagement-to J; C. Williamson,'and on' arrival': in Australia will! coirie ■ straight to. New. Zealand to take in hand the' rehearsals of "The-DollaryPrincess";with, ,tlie; new: comic y'bpera, corii'pany' (now', in,' Wellington), who, are';; to; appear in'that, popular■.'musiJal-.,play on' their., return from/the Dominion.V/ ."' , , .': ■Mr: Charles Wenman, general man-ager.-.of .the' Clarke and Meynell Comic' Opera, Company,, has, completed riegotia-. tion's with the members of •' tn© company to extend their .season for; a/short time. They .will. appear.in the successful-,Lon-don musicaly play, ."Sergeant Brue," at .the Theatre, Royal, Melbourne, when. the. Asohe'-Brayton Company goes' : to Sydney.