THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tho World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—lleywood. (I3y Sylvius.) "Tin Ross Cavalier." Dresden was greatly excited over Dr. Richard Strauss's new opera, ."The Rose Cavalier," the first production of which, as announced by the, cable messages, took place last month. Tho audience in the beautiful theatre of the lving of Saxony, in that city, numbered two thousand, amongst whom were two princesses, white-haired generals, musical people from everywhere, and apparently every well-known theatre director in Europe. There wero eighteen calls after the second act, and Strauss answered five of them ill person, the whole aiidieiico standing and applauding wildly. Tho public, which Knows Strauss cliiefly by tlio extravagant polyphony of "Electra" and "Salome," seemed to find it difficult to understand that the same man had written the exquisitely delicate music of this act. According to an article in tho London "Daily Telegraph," written by a German composer, one is struck, above all, by the number of waltzes which occur in the opera. Strauss clearly wished to emphasise tho Viennese element of tho piece, though waltzes in the.Theresian epoch are really an anachronism. In the first when tho Princess and Octavian are at breakfast, there Js an A major waltz, a delicate, minuet-like, old-fashioned morsel. Another and quicker waltz occurs in the following scone. Tho sccond act gives us what may be called a regular Viennese waltz, the "favourite son;;" of Baron Lerchenau. In the third act thcro is a positive superabundance of three-four time. In the first place a long-spun-out and (with intention) rather trivial "Soupcr Waltz." which is played by an orchestra behind the scenes. Numerous waltz motives accompany a sceno between the Baron and tho supposed lady's maid. Among others, the motive from the second act crops up once more. Finally, there is a frolicsomo waltz in C major, during which the BaVon is being harassed by the landlord, waiters, musicians, and other persons in tho hotel. Tho "Daily News" correspondent says the governing impression the opera leaves is that Strauss has succeeded with the help of four graceful women, all of them excellent singers, in upsetting tho theory put forward by his critics that lie cannot write melodious music. "Tho Rose Cavidier" is a combination of. tuneful melodies and delightful themes; tho old noisy Strauss, savo for two or three passages, is entirely lacking. Tho front rows of the stalls for this performance wero eagerly snatched up at HOs. each, and the theatre could havo been filled three times over at these and correspondingly inflated prices. Indeed, tho three performances of tho opera first announced were completely sold out some days before.

"Nobody's Daughter." Tho Plinimer-Doniiiston Company have socurcd tho Australasian rights of "Nobody's Daughter," a very successful comedy-drama, which has been running for tbo last five months to big business at Wyndhani's Theatre, London, and seenis like running for_ another such period. The story is a strong one. Two of tho leading characters are a man and a woman who have been indiscreet in the past, and have since married otherwhere. By tbo threads of fats they aro drawn into tho samo littlo group of society in after years. Tho result of their indiscretion is a very beautiful girl, whom tho mother has kept at a board-ing-school, and to whom sho-has pesed as a guardian. Tho young girl, however, falls in love, as young girls will, with a motor-car mechanic, and, to prevent tho matter going far, tho mother introduces her own daughter (but not her husband's) into the house as her companion. Of course, tho inevitable occurs—tho woman is found out, and there is an interesting domestic storm, but a complete reconciliation is subsequently brought about quaintly, and something is done for the chauffeur, who wins his lovo honestly, and turns out a real good fellow. It is the first play staged by Mr. Gerald Du M.iurier,' under his own management (in partnership with Frank Curzon), and liff bids fair to make tbo play as g''oat a financial succcss as its forerunner "Arsone Lupin."

The Plimmer-Denniston Company arc now booked up till March next. At the conclusion of tlio Sydney season they go to Perth and tho fields for five or six weeks, returning to play in Melbourne, Baliarat, Bendigo, and opening again in Sydney with "Smith" and "Nobody's Daughter" on September 30. Tho next Nov.- Zealand tour commences in Invercargill' ou Boxing Night.

Wallaco Brownlow Alive. Some time ago—about the middle of last year—the death under distressing circumstances was reported from San Francisco of Wallace iirownlow, one of the finest baritones who liavo graced the ranks of the ltoyal Comic Opera Company. It appears that this report, like many others from the land of gross exaggeration, was untrue. Mr. Downe, formerly df Randwick, Sydney, writing to the Sydney "Sunday Times" under date January i' 6 says:—

"The account- of Wallaco Brownlow's serious illness, wliicli was copied by you from an American paper, and which a friend in Sydney posted to me, is half truth and half fiction. Tho operatic baritone, I am happy to say, is now in good health, and anxious to return to .Australia. The story of his illness and his sufferings has been grossly exaggerated. Little more than a year ago Brownlow thought he would have a try at gold-mining. So ho went to Nevada, and helped ill developing a property near Virginia City. The thing did'not turn out well, and he lost money. Then lie joined a travelling theatrical company, and while playing in San Diego was taken ill with typhoid fever. When ho left tho hospital he sang in vaudeville as William Tracv, the name ho assumed on tlio gokllields, as lie did not wish to bo bothered by newspaper notoriety, which would have been the case if he retained his own name. Returning-to light opera again, lie appeared under his proper name. Yesterday I called on Mr. and Mrs. Brownlow at their flat, 1760 Washington Street, San Francisco, and had a long talk about old times in Sydney. Wallace had been in tho hospital again—this time with a troublesome liver —yet he looked remarkably well. He doesn't strike you as being a day older than forty, and his voice is in excellent condition. Tho liig-vosccd baritone hopes, to be in Australia before the year is out. He is a little stouter than lie was, but he sings as well as ho did fifteen years ago. His daughter has grown to lie a most beautiful girl, and is just thirteen years old. She is tall and graceful enough to be sixteen."

"Chanteclar" In Haw Yorlt,

M. Rostand's "Chanteclor," with Miss Maude Adams in the title role, was produced last month at the Knickerbocker Theatre, New York, for tho first time in English on any stage. Mr. Charles i'Vihman had spared neither expense nor pains to make tho event memorable in the dramatic annals of New York, and while ho succeeded in that respect, and earned universal praise for tlie superb staging—the pictures were all very lovely and impressive— it is nevertheless agreed (according to the London "Daily Telegraph" correspondent) thnt the achievement is remarkable more as a spectacle and as

food for the eye than as drama. Miss Maude Adams, America's foremost actress, in tin) part of the barnyard Borneo, was odd, weird, plaintive, pathetic, wistful. She was Maude Adams of the enchanting smile, great personal charm, and lovely mellifluous voice; but she was not the blatant vainglorious, mouthing bird, dallying with tho rising inn, that Rostand* depicted. It is questioned, indeed, by the American critics whether any actress could have put tho breath of life into a play which rajiiires, above 'all, in tho title role, masculine force and a keen sense of variety. "Instead of a rampant, purseproud, mock-valiant Chantecler I ' —to quote one authority—"we saw a sweet little feminine bird, trying to assume virility, but swamped by her feminine charm." The hit of the performance was achieved, apparently, not by Miss Adams, but by Miss May Blayney, who, as the Hen Pheasant, was irresistible. This was tho real delight of the barnyard. "From tho moment she entered until she left us, tho Hen Pheasant captivated and charmed. It v:as utter femininity in the right placo; Clnintec!er was utter femininity in the wrong place."

At tho end of the third act Miss Adams was recalled 22 times,'and there were colls for a speech. All she could say,, however, was, "I thank you." She was charming then, but the "Daily Telegraph" correspondent liked her best when, before the play began, she camo beforo tho audienco as a slim girl in white to speak tho eccentric prologue uttered in Paris by Coquelin. That was Maude Adams herself, giving her public a chance to see tho woman before tho pluniago of Chantecler submerged her.

According to tho Now York "Tri bune"

Time and events alone will show whether many American patrons of the theatre \vill see more in M. Rostand's famous play than a Drury Lane audienco sees in the Christmas pantomime. 51. Rostand has adorned this play with literary craftsmanship of a high order. Succeed it will, but its success will bo a success of curiosity, and, after all, some of us prefer poultry in their proper places. Notes, Hugh Ward's farewell tour of Now Zealand commences at Auckland on Monday evening. The Wellington seasen begins on March 20.

The Williamson pantomime, "Jack and tho Beanstalk," completes a run of 100 performances at Melbourne this evenine.

Laurcuco Irving, who has made a hit in London in "Tho Unwritten Law,'-' now hopes to get permission to play Brieux's "Three Daughters of M. Dupont" in London. Mr. Bedford, apparently doubtful concerning tho piece himself, has submitted it to his newlycreated advisory committee, which is now called into action for the first time. Thcro seems to bo some doubt about tho scopo of .its function —as to whether it is an advisory or judicial body, or whether its verdict must bo unanimous,—"New York Post."

Beforo she came out to Australia Miss Evelyn Kerry, of "The Whip" Company, paid a visit to St. Petersburg. jlefore she started 011 the journey she told her friends that she was looking forward to seeing sonic real Russian dancing, but, when sho arrived, she found to her astonishment that all tho dancers were English, apparently on tho principle that a fair exchange is 110 robbery for, in England when sho felt, Russian dancers were all the in tho musical halls and musical comedies.