OUR LONDON LETTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8342, 26 January 1907, Page 7

OUR LONDON LETTER.

THEATRICAL. (From Our Own Correspondent). LONDON, Dec. 14. 1906. THE ROYAL STANDARD HALL • B OF VARIETIES—VICTORIA. There are in several districts immediately outside the theatre districts properly so-called, a few halls where thoroughly up-to-date and enjoyable programmes are given at prices very much below the ordinary. Of such is the Royal Standard, opposite Victoria Station, and not two minutes' walk from the offices of the High Commisisoner and the New Zealand Association. Last week's was a fairly representative performance. "Harmony Two," in their musical molange and Japanese scena, "The Belle of Japan," caused roars of laughter; the brothers Corcoran, who migrated from the Sunderland shipyards to the stage, kept the audience spell-bound; the series of animated pictures, shown by the Edisonigraph, were quite equalto any to be seen at ~ the best halls; "and there were two roaring farces "Only a Wedding" and "Larks in the Park." Altogether sixteen items, and very few dull moments. It; THE CRITERION THEATRE. ?*?At the Criterion Theatre Mr J. Grant Allen is producing "The Amateur Socialist." by W. Kingsley Tarpey. Miss Lilian Braithwaite is the Evelyn Rivers, and Mr Eric Lewis the Sir Hubert Pennefather. It is a very amusing farce, dealing with the escapades of an, elderly aristocrat who turns Socialist, addresses a meeting in Hyde Park and is arrested. It is preceded by "The Collaborators," a one act play by W. Kingsley Tarpey. THE GILBERT AND SULLIVAN REVIVAL. At last we have an English opera worthy of the richest city in the world. Whether public tastej is degenerating, or first-class playwrights are scarce, is a question difficult to answer, but it is certain that of late years—bar the unexpected exception now and then—our comic operas have been of the purile order, both as to wit and music. In Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan's "Yeoman of the Guard," revived at the Savoy last Saturday, we have again a piece of the first order—a masterpiece of the famous collaborators. As the D'Oyly Carte, Gilbert and Sullivan connections are a matter of history, and as we are. to have a revival of their best productions, a few words may not be amiss as to these musical comedies, of which Mr W. S. Gilbert is responsible for the words, and the late Sir Arthur Sulivan for the music. The first was a burlesque "Thespie," produced in the early seventies, Nelly Farren and J. L. Toole being in the cast; followed in '75 by "Trial by Jury." The amalgamation of these giants of the drama, the autiior and composer, was entirely due to Mr D'Oyly Carte, who foresaw the success to be derived from such an alliance, and who has long since reaped the benefit of his foresight, since his name is known the wide-world over, but who, unfortunately, has not lived to see the present; revival. -His first company is memorable as having in the cast Sergeant Ballantine, the well-known barrister, who defended ROger Tichborne, "the claimant," against Coleridge (afterwards Lord Chief Justice) and Hawkins (now Lord Brampton). "The Sorcerer" saw the light in 1877, and "H.M.S. Pinafore" in 1878, the former being the occasion of the introduction of George Grossmith, and the latter being remarkable as having been pirated by the Americans, which suggested the "Pirates of Penzance," which Mr Carte produced in New York, where Miss Rosina Brandon made her debut. "Patience" followed. This piece was the first played in the- Savoy, which was built and planned by Mr D'Oyly Carte, and of which Mrs TVOyly Carte is now the sole lessee. And here on the first night a great surprise was in store for the audience; the building was lighted by electric light—it was the first public buildingin the world to be lighted by electricity. The "queue" was also an introduction of this enterprising manager. Before then, first comers used to crowd at the doors and fight for first places, horse play and free fights not being uncommon. The "queue" system now obtains at every theatre, early comers standing in an orderly line, two or three. abreast, "first come, first served," order being maintained by policemen. This is absolutely necessary now when, at a popular piece, there will sometimes be as many waiting for the opening time as will fill pit or gallery an hour before the doors open. At the Savoy came "lolanthe," in which the fairies wore electric lights in their . hair. Folks in those days were very nervous of the powers of the illuminator, and Mr Carte had to present himself every night before the performance commenced and smash an electric lamp in his hand to show that an explosion was impossible. Next the wonderful "Mikado." And of this a strange tale is told of a conflict of writs—the Britisher versus his cousin across the herring pond. Mr D'Oyley Carte had settled on a certain day to produce the piece in New York. An American manager got-to know of it, and resolved to pirate it and produce it before Mr D'Oyly Carte, there being no laws to prevent such an abuse. But Mr Carte bought up all the Japanese dresses in England and on the Continent, got together a . large company, engaged apparently for the purpose of visiting the provinces, shipped them "under sealed orders" to New York, and out-timed his adversary. Now to Saturday's performance. If the old editions were popular it can hardly be said that they could compare favourably with the one just revived. To say that the' theatre was full conveys no idea —it was literally picked, and far more were sent away than could have J filled the theatre half a dozen times over. I am informed that all the reserved seats have been booked ahead untiH the middle of January. And for applause the audience shouted itself hoarse and accorded Mr Gilbert such a reception as rarely falls to the lot of a living dramatist. The "hit" of the evening was decidedly the Jack Point of Mr C. H. Workman, minor successes being the Phoebe of Miss Rose, the Elsie Maynard of Miss Coomber, and the Kate of Miss Milsch. It were tedious and useless to travel all

through the story of the play—unless the music could be produced also — and it is probably as well-known your side as it is over here; but your readers may like to refresh their memories by reading the following few lines, which, if I am not very much mistaken will be in the mouths of the youth, old and young of this city for some time to come: — Duet—Point and Elsie. Point: I have a song to sing, 0! Elsie: Sing me your song, 0! Point: It is sung to the moon By a love-lorn loon, Who fled from the mocking throng, 0! It's the song of a merryman, moping mum, Whose soul was sad, and whose glance was glum., Who sipped no sup, and who craved no crumb, As he sighed for the love of a ladye. Heighdy! heighdy! misery me, lackaydaydee! He sipped no sup and he craved no crumb, As he sighed for the love of a ladye.