THEATRICAL NOTES

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 462, 12 April 1890, Page 4

THEATRICAL NOTES

(from OUR LONDON OORRUSFONDENT.) London, February 14. Although the “Tosca” is still drawing what a manager with an inexpensive company would probably call *‘ good business to the Garrick Theatre, Mr Hare (whose nightly expenses come to over £100) cannot aflbrd to run the piece longer, and tomorrow Mr Sydney Grundy’s “Pair of Spectacles” will be produced. Mr Jerome K, Jerome anxiously impresses on his friends just now that good pieces never do much business during the first month of their run. This, besides bein'; as a trenoral statement incorrect, is in Mr Jerome’s case a weak subterfugo. “New Lamps for Old” has (despite little Penley’s comic clowning in the lilt) failed, and the author is foolishly and futilely endeavouring to conceal the collapse, even from his own eyes. Better far confess the truth, receive absolution from Manageress Cissy Grahamo, and try again. It would be manlier, and more like the writer of ] “Idle Essays.” By-the-bye, I hear Mr Jerome was originally “something (not very much from a financial point of view) in the city.” This explains his intimate knowledge of the genua clerk, as displayed in “ Three Men in a Boat.” Sara Bernhardt’s latest whim is to play “ Borneo ” in English to Ellen Terry’s “Juliet.” The fair Ellen, 1 hear, pleaded her engagements with Irving when approached on the subject, whereupon Sara condescended to Mary Anderson. The very idea of “our Mimi” playing on the same stage, and being theatrically cuddled by.the naughty Bernhardt, nearly gave Colonel Griffin apoplexy. What the young lady herself said is unrecorded. Probably she never even heard of the shocking proposal. The death is announced of Frank Marshall, who will be principally remembered outside literary circles (where he was known o a o nnneninn Mmi ft student of fihaksuore)

by his comedy “ False yhame.” This piece, which turns on the morale of duelling, hit the mark chiefly through the admirable acting of handsome Harry Montague (long dead). As the hero, Lord Chillon, whom everyone supposes to show the “ white feather,” he was a great success, especially in one thrilling scene, in which the old Earl and a military uncle try to arouse the sense af honour they imagine dormant in the young man. The denouement too was effective. Marshall not many years ago married Ada Cavendish, who then retired from the stage. Her buxom figure is, however, invariably to be spied somewhere about on all interesting “ first nights. ” Irving’s new theatre will be built on similar lines to the Garrick, save that the cheaper parts of the house are to be on an extra large size. Tho site is in Arundelstreet, Strand. Drury Lane has the best of tho two big pantomime shows this year. Mr Toole’s Farewell. The apotheosis of Toole came to an end with the big banquet at the Metropole on Wednesday evening, and yesterday morning the victim of over-much hospitality left with a grateful heart and a disordered digestion, for tho Riviera. You have had so much of Mr Toole lately that I think I shall bo doing you a favoar if I cut short the accounts of tho “kettledrum ” last Friday afternoon, the last night of tho season at “ the genial comedian’s ” theatre on Tuesday, and the going away scene at the station yesterday. Of the first named, at any rate, it is only necessary to say that Miss Ellen Terry, in a ravishing tea-gown of sage green silk with rose pink lining, received the company, and the two veterans, Mrs Koeley and Mrs Stirling, made a tour of the rooms together. The ladies of the. profession mustered in great force, tho most conspicuous absentee (save Mrs Langtry, Mrs Bancroft, and Mrs Bernard Deere, who were ill) being Miss Nelly Farren. None of the Gaiety Company, in fact, put in an appearance, a circumstance which, owing to the guest of the day having at one time been a member of the troupe, excited some remark. Rossibly, however, the skittish darlings felt they would be out of place solemnly drinking tea with the “upper suckles” of tho profession. FruUcs an champaave at the Continentol would be more in their line. Sir Saul and Lady Samuel, however, were present, so were the Cord Mayor and Mrs Isaacs, Mrs Maxwell, better known to fame as Miss Braddon, Lady Hardman, Lady Moncktoo, Miss Wallis (in black velvet and priceless sables), Mrs Henry Loveday and many others. Mr Bancroft came to apologise for Mrs B.’s inability to be present, and Miss Kosina Brandram represented the Savoy Company. The farewell"banquet at the Metropole on Wednesday evening suffered somewhat from being only one of a scries. It was, of course, infinitely the smartest of the numerous Toole valedictory functions, but almost all the present company had already on several previous occasions drunk tho same toasts and expressed the same wishes. Nevertheless, tho affair went off briskly enough, and when Sir Edward Clarke pronosed with appropriate solemnity tho health of “John Lawrence Toole” we all' sprang to our feet, and waving the dinner napkins on high, cheered frantically. Truth compels me to stato tr\at the speeches of the occasion did not reach a high level of post-prandial oratory. They were of tho sort which sound well at the time, yet read but indifferently afterwards. Toole’s own drolleries made us shout with laughter. As, however, I can’t reproduce tho comedian s inimitable manner, 1 think I had better perhaps leave his matter alone. Clement Scott’s verses, recited with appropriate feeling by “friend Irving,” were as follows : Farewell! but not Good-bye ! Remember well Though fate may sever, time can still restore ! The Parting Hour has come, its cruel knell Will clash in Welcomes on yon friendly shore! Our loss, when wc are parted, will be gam To liearls in hnnoreds, who await to greet Our King of Kindliness ! While snows of pain Will melt in ilowers of friendship at your feet! Round English hearts like ivy you have clung, Love has no test that has not found you true! Grey time, that whitens heads, has kept you young, , , , And grief, tliatbovvs men down, has chastened you ! One Bumper more at parting, brimmed with wine! The voice may falter, tears may dun tire eye. One song of Friendliness ! for Auld Lang Sync ! Farewell, old friend! Farewell! but not Good-bye! Farewell! but not Good-bye ! let no despair Mar the memorial of our love to-night! Fill up the Stirrup Cup ! Luck fills the air That gently waits to .waft you out of sight! Not from our lioarts-there ever you remain Enshrined, the secret’s ours of where or when 1 We part, alas ! but we shall meet again The truest Comrade, and the best of Men! Jdan of the merry heart! how wo shall Tbekiudly crew with whom you’ve cheered life’s stage : _, ~ . , . , The Peeping Pry ! . sweet Caleb s gentle kiss ! The youthful Bpriggins ! Garner bowed with How a we‘ shall lobg for one more grasp of When" ades the ship, apd <ebger3 in distance God speed you, Johnnie! to,thatToyely land We 1 lend,our ljesf) Jape well! but pot Good-byeJ

Amongst the Anglo-colonists present may bo mentioned Mr Heaton, M.P., Mr A. P. Martin, Mr Haddon Chambers, and Mr W. McArthur, M.P. Our ’Enniker’s face was a picture when the Chairman announced that owing to there being “ no Australian of sufficient importance present to couple with it’’the toast of “Our Colonial Empire ” would not bo replied to. Though the Prince of Wales failed to persuade the Queen to command Toole and Co. to Osborne, H.R.11. graciously putin an appearance at the popular comedian s farewell performance on Tuesday evening and brought the Princess with him. What is more, the Itoyal couple sent for the merry iittle man between the acts, and wished him “God’s speed” and “good luck ” in the kindliest manner. Mr Toole himself (despite rumours to the etlect that he was unwell) seemed in the highest spirits, and pl-iyed “ Spriggins ” for (as he said) the 4,765 th time with as much unction and | vigour as though it wore a first night. And now one last word about your visitor. Do not lot all this feasting and fine talk mislead you into expecting to see a greater comic actor than has ever before visited Australia. Toole is Toole, and as much a part of London theatrical life as the Garrick Club. It is the man we know and love and respect quite as much as the actor. People go to see Toole just as they go to church, because it is reoufablo and usual and the proper thing* to do. They laugh directly the well-known voice is heard, and applaud delightedly as each familiar joko recurs. Viewed, however, by the cold light of a stranger’s hypercriticism, I am by no means sure Toole would seem specially droll. Americans can see nothing in him- His humour is Greek to them. They can no more comprehend Toole’s broad farce than the average John Bull can appreciate Artemus Ward's dry, chippy humour. You colonists, however, if you don’t expect too much, will heartily enjoy Toole. He is a very similar comedian to poor Fred Marshall, whom you all liked so well.