THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

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Thfc World's a theatrs; tho Garth a stage.—Heywood.

Genee ana the Russians,

This evening an entertainment unique in tho history of the Wellington stage is to bo presented at the Opera Houso. This will be the appearance of Adeline Genee, the peerless Daaiish dancer, and a selection of members of the Imperial Russian Ballet, who are visiting Australasia with tho special permission of the. Tsar. Enough has probably been written to convince those interested that the entertainment is one calculated to open up a vista of new fields of artistic endeavour. It will* certainly bo a new experience to Wellington playgoers to sit from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. watching nothing hut dancing—but then it is inspired dancing—it is tho drama in a form entirely new to us, and one which will no doubt make a compelling appeal.

At one time—and not so very long ago —tho ballet was the first consideration in graaid opera. That is why all tho great composers hare socialised in daneo music. There are, for instance, the waltzes of Chopin, the minuets of Boccherini aiid Mozart, whilst Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Rubinstein have all given a great, deal of attention, to dance music. It is said that the ballet only retired into second placo with tho riso of tho incom- . parable ■ Jenny Lind, whose glorious voice rather dimmed the value of tho twinkling feet of such marvels of grace as Taglioni, Grisi, and Fanny Ellsler. But in tho heyday of the ballet, when tho premier dansouso was tho star of tho company, tho dancers had the world at their feet, and marriage with titled folk was just as common as it is to-day in the caso of the "gaiety girl.", \

Long have we Tead of Genee and tho Russian Ballot, never daring to entertain the hope that we would ever see them this far afield, and here they are inviting us to tlw dance as it is presented to London and New York houses. This evening at tho Opera House, Genoo will appear as Swanilda in "Coppelia," ono of her finest performances, and a great favourite in London and Paris. Tho Russians will show their wonderful art in the "Arabian Nights," and all will participate in "Les Sylpliides," which is to bo danced to the alluring music of Chopin. Tho ballets will bo presented under. the direction of M. Glaser, who has been associated with Geneo's productions for many years.

"The Arabian Nights." A striking feature of the second pro-! gramme to be submitted by Mdlle, Genee and the Imperial Russian Ballet (on Thursday) next will be the dramatic seena entitled "The Arabrian Nights." A desert romance is the briefest possible description of this splendid barbaric Oriental spectacle, which teems with the atmosphere of Arabia. Tho warriors of So'hali-Rahman, a powerful tribal chieftain, returning from a raid, lay at tho feet of their lord a beautiful captive, who liad been carried off while gathering blossoms at a distant river bank. Sennit-Rahman's wife, Sett Bourbour, recognises in tho captive iier former royal mistress, Azzyiade, but is commanded to keep her identity secret. Sehah-Ilahmau orders a feast, which develops into a mad revel. Azzyiade completely captivates Scliah-Rahman, wlio is supplied with wine, and finally Azzyiade hands him a poisoned cup, and drinking, ho dies. Azzyiado andSett Bourbour steal forth into the night. This ballet will be presented for the first time during tho Genee season, on Thursday .evening, with Alexander Volinin as the Desert Chief, Mdllo. Halina Sehtnolz as Azssyindo, and Mdlle. VJasta Novortna us Sett Bourbour. The Imperial Russian Ballot will also take part.

The Late Charles Brookfield. Charles Bookfield, the London actor (and of late years joint censor of plays), is dead. Ho was a fairly sound actor, but was never possessed of any degree of brilliancy, on the stage. Oif stage, lis was a charming and polished Englishman with a delightful faculty for spinning stories, and his entrance to any one of the clubs was generally hailed by someono saying: "Here's Charlie Brookfield —come and hear his latest yarn 1" That was in the hey-day of his career as a, Bohemian. In his "Random Reminiscences" lie tells of many experiences, mostly in gay tones. Ho tells of his .first meeting with. Sir Beerbohm Tree'as follows:—

"The first time I ever saw Tree was at Cambridge, probably in 1877. He had not been long on the- stage, and ho was staying at Trinity with a friend of niiuf. called Pashloy. Pashley was invited to dino with tho Hibernian Club (I presume it was on March 17), and, oil his explaining that ho had someono staying with him, ho was told to bring his guest to the dinner. It was a tremendous banquet given in the Guildhall, and thero were something' like 200 guests. After various toasts, the president in. duo course proposed tho health of_ 'Tho Guests,' and a distinguished old Irish peer on his right took a final glance at his notes and a final gulp of port, and dug his knuckles into the tablo .so as,to hoist himself into position to reply, when, at a. remote end of-the room, a slight, auburn-haired youth rose, pushed back his chair, and addressed tho company. " 'Mr. President and gentlemen,' ho said, 'I thank you from my heart for the gracious way in which you have drunk health. I will not inflict a long and tedious speech upon you, but I will give you a few imitations of popular actors. Mr. Irving: "Eah! daun't you hear —the sund of bell-11-U-lls?" '

"Tho elderly peer turned purplo and barely escaped a fit of apoplexy. Tho president turned pale, hurriedly scribbled a noto thanking Treo for his kind offer to entertain, but explaining that tho prearranged toast-list must first bo duly gone through, and dispatched it down tho tablo by a flying waiter. "But the young histrion, with a characteristic gesture, waved tho menial aside, and- proceeded; " 'Mr. Macready as Melantius in "The Bridal'"

"I think tyro or three presidential notes were sent hegging him to stop, but all in vain. He went right through his repertoire from Irving to Toolo, and Thome to Ednrand Kcane as Oroonooko, and then sat down without turning a hair. "Tho Irish peer rose after him, and endeavoured to speak, but failed to utter a singio intelligible syllable." " Androcles and the Lion." The London "Daily Mail" gives the following description of George Bernard Shaw's latest play, "Androcles and the Lion":—ln a sea-green Futurist cave the meek Androcles, a Greek tailor whoso Christianity enables Jiim to put up with a nagging wile, meets tlio most human of lions. Not without protest tho lion allows him to extract a tremendous thorn from his foot. With baby talk Androcles encourages tho noble beast to apply primitive asepsis to the wound, and. then dances joyously off with him—a. sublimely ridiculous effect. Wo see him next when lie joins a party of Christians who are on their way to the lions._ But there is an undercurrent of seriousness in the special pleading of tho handsome captain with tlio fair Lavinia, who refuses to burn so much as a pinch of incense to an idol. Whereupon the soldier declares that her oourago is only pride. Comic relief comes.from the warlike smith Ferrovius, a muscular Christian who is inclined to backslide, and a dandified young patrician. Then tho entrance of tho solf-samo lion leads up to a not very choice joke about tho menu of his approaching dinner.

We are now, of course, in Homo, irliero it is tho custom on holidays to grant freo admission to tho circus arena to approved dead-heads—prefer-ably Cliristians. Outside tho Emperor's bos, whero tlio victims are grouped, Fcri-ovius hammers an his faith 111 a way that will seem tactless to all, perhaps, hut the truly devout. Yet when goaded to fight the gladiators opposed to him in the arena, poor Ferrovras has a fearful relapse in uiu'cgenerate habits and slays tho whole pack of them. Thiß delights tho cynical Caesar, who sees immortality conferred on his reign by the deed.

Consequently all tho Cliristians are pardoned, but as someone must be fed to the now lion Androcles _ volunteers himself. "I hope my wife will be happy with her next husband—poor fellow," he says mournfully. Then in tho arena, wo have a splendid bit of pantomime between him and the lion, after whicli these two good friends dance off as before. Tho apologue finishes on tho Tight note, after some more fast and furious fun, by Androcles bein" saved from bondage by the lion. No slavery for me and no cage for you," erics the heroic tailor as he and his formidable pet leave the stage. -It is all excellent fooling with a humanitarian " purpose that is not too much insisted upon. -So that had tho all-too-modcst author appeared ho would have met with a great ovation. Mr, Shaw was admirably served by those who represented 1 him on the stage. Mr. 0. P. Heggie, vrho came straight out of a revue, was absolutely life-liko as tho early Christian Androcles, '-and full' of inimitable dry humour. The lion of Mr. Edward Sillward was by turns terrible and comic, roaring himself ana making the audience roar also. Mr. Ben Webster looked picturesque as tho gallant captain, and _ Miss _ Lillali Sl'Carthy made a beautiful Lavinia.

"Tho Fugitive." "The Fugitive," Mr. John Galsworthy's new four-act play, which was successfully produced at tho Court Theatre, London, on September J6, is an interesting and sincere, if not intensely dramatic, piece of work. Written in tho approved modern stylo, which gives the audience a series of small shocks without producing any very definite sensation, it treats of that . familiar and rather trying person, the' woman who is misunderstood. Glare Desmond, the woman in question, does not hit it off with her husband, and leaves him, intending to support herself. She proves helpless to do so, however, becomes involved with a literary "gent." named Malise, and eventually commits suicide by taking poison in a smart restaurant where some noisy bloods are holding a hunt dinner. "The Fugitive" is full of well-observ-ed touches of character, with flashes of a somewhat professional humour; but, in spite of its undoubted cleverness, it is unlikely to find a permanent place in -the theatre. It was adequately, though not brilliantly, acted.