THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By "Sylvius.")

Counod's Centenary. Tlio present your marks tlio centenary of Gounod's birth, and throughout tlio Anglo-Saxon world the fact is being marliid by special performances of this works of the great French composer. It is lilting, therefore, that tlio local Choral Union should - liavo selected his opera "Faust" for performance this month. Although 59 years have rolled by sinco this opera was first produced in Paris, it is still perhaps tlio most popular of all the -grand operas, not only oil account of tlio radiant score which Gounod wrote, but not inconsiderably on' account ol ! the poignant humanity of the story it tells. Goethe's fascinating poem on which so many stage productions .have been based inspired'such master composers as Spohr, Schumann, Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner, and I3oito. Tlio spell which attracted so many, master milids must have a universal appeal, and it remained for the illustrious' Frenchman to clothe it in undying melody.-Gou-nod's opera, was first performed in London in 1863, when its success, at first doubtful, became enormous, since when it has never lost its popularity. .

Tho centenary of Gounod has not been overlooked b.v English writers. Among tho various comments one of tho happiest is that of.ltobin H. Legge in the London "Daily Telegraph." To many to-day, says this distinguished critic, Gounod is the composer of "Faust," and he is nothing more. They havo forgotten his songs, for we rarely hear cveii "Nazareth" to-day and the "Serenade" never, while his other operas, save only "Romeo and Juliet," are, anyhow temporarily, lost in tho limbo of forgotten things. The majority probably never know, and never cared, that he is one. of the prime milestones in French operatic history! And what a history that is! Imagine what it must have meant to a youngster, hovering between the theatre and tho monastery, to have been brought in youth and early middle-age into contact with Scheffer, Corot, Berlioz, Saint Saens, Wicniawski, Vicuztcmps, Leonard, de Beriofc. Ambrose- Thomas, Massenet, Cesar Franck, Lalo, Dore, our own Leighton, Turgenieff, and so on! Gounod's music,' from first to last, lias played a great role in.the world. It has afforded, perhaps, a wider pleasure than that of almost any other composer of his epoch. Gounod permeated every household in which was a voice, a pianoforte, or violin, or an American organ! ■ - One of tho Irish Players. As most people interested • in tho stage are aware, Miss Sara. Allgood was one of the famous Irish Players of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and accounts the years she spent with that company tho happiest in her existence. She confesses that the long, long time she lias been playing Peg in "Peg o' My Heart" may accentuate tho rellc«« tivo pleasure she had experienced when changes. of bill were frequent; when every month or so brought in new plays from such gifted authors as Synge, AY. H. Yeats, Lady Grogory, and other equally-gifted, _ playwrights who have sticeeedod in giving Ireland a dramatic .literature, even as Ton-. Moore bestowed on Erin a- flood of gorgeous song! Miss Allgood relates the charm which affected tho rehearsals, the pleasant relationships between authors and players, and tho atmosphere of culture, without stiffness or formality, that infected everyone.

Miss Allgood (who is to return to "Wellington next month) informed me, when passing through Wellington recently, that W. B. Yeats has two gifted sisters, who are as clever and singular in their way as ho is gifted as a poet and dramatise. She snowed me a blouse with tho most delicately-tinted floral design in tho linest silk on the lapels, which was executed by tho Misses Yeats, who have a sort of school in a village not far from Dublin, where the art crafts are fostered among the girls of the 'village in the ploasnntest of ways. The girls are taught how to do certain things, and as they pursue their tasks one of tho others •.•tells stories or reads a play or a book. The worlc turned out under these auspices is of tho very best, and always commands good prices, even in Ireland, where tho handwork in.linen and silk is superfine. Miss Allgood was asked if tho influence of war had Jiot been detrimental to artistio endeavour, and she replied, with absolute conviction, that she believed that tho war had not only not checked it, .but in somo subtle way it had fostered the arts—and she instanced the wonderfully fine poetry and books which tho war had inspired. Notes, The Williamson Dramatic Company, headed by Miss Muriel Stan", is to commence a tour of New Zealand •in Christchurch on November 30. Sir. "William .Russell (who has managed the MacDouell-AValdron Company)'will supervise tho New Zealand tour of tho new company. . Mr. Norman A it-ken, the well-known amateur actor . and secretary of tho "Charley's. Aunt" Club, has'been icjected as unlit for active military service. When "Peg o' My Heart" was first sent out op tour in. the provinces in England it was impossible to send tho creator of the leading role. Miss Laurette Taylor, with it, as the piece was running to tremendous business in London. Applicants were called for,' and from seventy-live names Miss Sara Allgood was selected. She was personally coached by Miss Laurette Taylor and tho author, -Mr. J. Hartley Manners, whom Miss Allgood describes as charming people with oceans of talent on both sides.