THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 February 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The.: World's . a theatre; the Earth a , stage.-—Heywood. (Bi Sylvius.) "Chantecler." ■ ... ; . . Eostaud's estraorilinary and fantastic, satire - on human; follies, "Chantecler,"which the cable announced was produced in Paris this week, was the subject of much preliminary discussion in theatrical circles in England and on tho Continent for .some time preceding its .performance. It also seems likoly to be associated with, a costly law suit. The sole rights of publishing the'play were, it appears, bought from M. Rostand by an illustrated weekly for a sum said to bo .£IO,OOO. - Various alleged piracies wero committed in advance of the production, and early fin January/ tile police confiscated . copies of an Italian . newspaper published in: Milan, and of ■ two: French newspapers published . in Paris, for publishing -what purported to be - pirated fragments. Simultaneously the proprietors of tho weekly and ; tho lessees of tho theatre commenced separato legal, pro-' ceedings- against the;, three, newspapers concerned,' MM. Hertz and Jean C'oquelin (managers of the Porte Saint Martin Theatre) suing for XIOOO damages., It was suspected that the. piracies were, tho work of an. actor who retired from, the original cast, but it has since transpired that the real culprit was .a .-young friend of the actor, who was rash and foolish enough to show a: journalistic acquaintance a copy of his friend's; part, and.permit a copy to : bo .taken... But' this is not all, and the "Affaire Chantecler"has only ' begun, writes the Paris - correspondent of a -Londoh ; daily. ;• More' and more "indiscretions";.are: .pouring; -out, .and niijre,. publications are being seized by . the:,indignant Jproprietori. of' the 'illustrated weekly, which has bought, the rights of,, "Chantecler." police officer 'visited • the • printing office ■ .of : rft,, littlo magazine,'. edited' by a' rather, eccentric Brittany: bard, M. Theodore Botrel, and seized 2600 copies' of the newiissuo, .coil-, taining ivhat. purports' to' ho a fragment' of 138 lines of' "Chantecler," consisting of almost the entire opening scene.' The editor ' says • that the manuscript was "dropped into his bos by an- unknown hand on Christmas Day," which is perhaps a picturesque, touch, of liis imagination. Ho does not appear to be, quite sure of tho genuineness of ■ the - pirated verses,' for he;describes them as "an iniportant( original; fragnieht of, the first; act of 'Chantecler/ 0r,,, iiiayhe,; an, ingenious imitation."-.; ...-What' is-ccftain. is the indignation of all who possess tho rights of the play. MM."Hertz and Coquelin are bent on obtaining' a verdict in- the Courts. "Tears ago :Victorien Sardou won an action iagaiiist a'.paper whicli liad puljlished an .account of-T La Toscabefore the 'first j.night, but-,after -the], dross jehearsal. Our case is a still stronger one.", ..

Mr. Justin M'Carthy's New Play. | A new play by- Mr. Justin Huntly. jrCarthy : was. due at His Majesty's Theatre, early this month, produced by Sir : ' Herbert .Tree.--. It bears the , title of "The O'Flynn," and is described as; "a tale of love and ,war." The period is .1685, the principal character an Irish gentleman Who has served ,iri .the wars in; Slanders.. The story opens ; shortly; after the' death of ."his father, an-event which, brings- O'Flynn back ; to - Ireland, itnd to his impoverished estates.' %It 'is', to Castle Famine he returns, for there is neither food'- to eat nor wine to- drink-.in-- -the place. :::On - the journey.:,home. 'O'Flynn,. ever eager v for, adventure, lu.s _ had the good luck to .rescue .a .beaiitiful'; and charming .girl from tho hands ,of . certain ruffians'. What. less surprising, than that, anxious to express her gratitude; the Lady Benedetta should, ride over to Castle Famine to renew acquaintance with her gallant protector. : The. second. ;act open 9 at. an' inn in Dublin, . wliithcrf'O'Flyim, the.,invitation of a .troupe of 'travelling, actors, :lias,.,fp,Uow;^rjhis fair, inamorata.; Alas Ithe. fascinating - Beno-detta-has set a;ivorth-; • less •"iordling, ;.\Hiom; -unfortunately, ; : :she, .regards as .a vevy:- typo'" of' ' chivalry,:;' Thenceforth the 1 intrigue broadens out on '' strongly; dramatic lines'to a happy issue. The third-act takes the audience to the' trenches before Drogheda, . the siege of which O'Flynn lias valiantly undertaken to raise.- enough has been said to indicate;the scope of : the novelty arid to show the character of the hero as one o£ those dashing, self-sacrificing, humorous, big-hearted, Irishmen of: the kind which Charles Lever delighted" to : portray. It may be gathered,.too, that ''The O'Flynn" is full of exciting incidents, of sensational . surprises,-, and-of ;witty.;, encounters. Sir Herbert " plays. .the,:'.titlerole; while Lady Benedetta will, be represented by Miss Evelyn" D'Alroy. Mr. ■Henry Ainley.-.is,'.to'bo-the wicked lord- v ling, and in tho cast will.,also ; be in-, eluded Mr. William Mackintosh (in old days a prominent member of. Sir Henry •Irving's 1 company at the Lyceum), Mr.. .Edward Sass, - Mr.'. Shiel Barry, Mr. pubert Carter, Mi'. -Nigel . Playfair,-■ and Miss Elinor-Foster. .'

A Grand Opera Scheme, -! Signor Hazon, who returned to Sydney last week from Italy, stated in an interview with a representative-of ."The Daily Telegraph""l said. I would never conflict but. then I never thought I. should havo: the. offer of introducing Puccini's .beautiful.-.;Madamc. Butterfly to ■ this country." • . "Puccini;is just now the.vogue," Signor. Hazon adaeu. "in itaiy. wnere every year ■they have tho,.carnival 6cason.for .three mouths in every town of importance, his' works are not only always included, but ! are'the''great attraction.'. 'Tosca,' 'Butterfly/ 'Boheme'—th'oy are earning him royalties all' over.' Europo.-. .'England, : and North and South America. , -Ho cannot count the money they are earning. He is now writing an opera on "The; Girl of tho Golden West,' which will'be ready this year. His music has passion and melody, and the .orchestral effects are,very beautiful. Before I left for Australia he wrote me a letter, saying he had heard and : hoped Sir. -Williamson's venture would bo successful. He also mentioned, that Australia was the only musical country that had not heard 'Madame Butterfly.'' I have heard it'many times. I : heard it .in-.'-London w;ith,-S(innn..in the name part'iri.Pai'is, and again'.and' again in Italy, where it is very familiar. ' In Italy everybody goes to tho theatre. I have no hesitation in promising -you a rare treat." Notes. ■ ? •-' 3lr;"Bert' ; winf^talents are so -, 'appreciated- ■ ■by-: ■ NewZealand ■ audiences,can, • ,"it f-appears, '.'.'count'; back" for . generations ; '.;in,-; the theatrical profession, .'.for lather and .mother, . grandparents .. and : gr'eat-tgrand- ' parents' were all .'connected; with; the,.- stage., Mr.' Gilbert himself, made his 'f. first; appearance. when' three) months oldi.i'beinp carried on as -aii - ilifant in . "Piza'rvo.' Mr.. Gilberts .'gre'at-graiulfathCT,'./Mr •.; 11. 11. Edwin, was the oTiginal Ezekiel.Jipine;spu'n at I)niry .lane : Th'eatre;' Oiicf grandfather. was' a -playwright;; mid: the :ptner;, an acting manager.;:,'lTis;'father.',. wa3J:also a theatrical- manager; 1 aiidhis iliother >v ilutli Edwiiip.wasia trcmendousVfavourite' with English, audiences.- .: . 0

'vPeter I'an"' was -revivcd'-at..tho;\l)uko of-' York's-Theatre,;" Loitilo 11, : ]ristirtonth for tho sixth successive -yoar, uu'd;it« reception 'was, : according to 'mail*;' advices, nioro cordial than ever. Tho cast included Miv Cvril'Bell, who willO/o better.a'ecogniscd' 'by Australians-' 'as tho:. husband:. of tho lady who; .was formerly • Mrs.: Robert lirough. ..'. '■* Vv\'.

i Messrs. Chappell and Co., of London, are proposing to start a, very interesting experiment in connection 'with tlip,'.new musical agency. wliielv they havofounded. They .propose at 1 ; diiriug. ..t ho season to give a.'series of matinee? 'at tho Aeolian Hall for . tho-express purpose, of introducing those"; young' -artists \whom tlioy,- consider .bost-°.quaUfied .'to .make. a suocess -on tho concert -platform,': Tho recitals, will probably be llimited 1 to four during tho first' season; .••a'nd'.'ittvsaih recital ono vocalist and'orio'instrumentalist will appear. _ A feature of this experiment'will bo' that Messrs. Chappell will defray the cost of tho recitals, and tlioso young .artists who are- unable from financial reasons to get a hearing will havo tho opportunity of being judged strictly , 011 their merits.