Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-20
rAsroMMn TIME ooNrs SOON.
London Thcntcrs PrCpurtra for the
Annual season of Fan.


Copyright 1896 by the Associated Press)
LONDON, edo. 10. The Christmas
pantomme has become a national in
stitution. What the carnival Is to
Rome and Paris is the advent of hsrle-
quin. clown. columbine and psptaloon to the
average Briton. OF late years the theatrical
season dates from boxing day, for boxing
day heralds the advent Of pantomime. This
year proves no exception to the rule, for in
London and the outlying suburban theaters
there are no less than seventeen separate
performances OF this popular form of amuse-
ment. These begin, Of course, with the an
nual production at the National theater,
Drury Lane. whose performance has long
been recognized as the model with which all
others are compared. The theme of this
years entertainment Is Aladdin" 1t is
estimated that the Christmas pantomimes
in London and the provinces give employ
ment direct and incidentally to between
1900 and 5000 persons. To many poor
families whose children are taken in the
season is a godsend. The demand for talent
on these occasions is also enormous. The
music halls and various b'irlesque companies
are ransacked for their artists. The con-
tracts with these people usually contain the
provision that with the advent OF the pan
tomlme they shall be at liberty to accept a
more lucrative engagement.
The new statue of Ibsen, which Is to orna-
ment the front of the National theater at
Christiania. is finished and has been sent
to Berlin to be cast. II represents tL-
dramatst in long closely -buttoned coat
with his hands behind his back, bending
IhSnf, fnAGp il 4
| isied with the statue.
Minnie Palmer has been appearing to only
fair business in 1.-The school Girl" at the
Standard. Since its return from America
the play has been entirely rewritten by Will
liam Gill, author of MY Sweetheart"
| Miss Abbey St. Ruth's play. "The Key to
King Solomons Riches, Will be produced
at the Opera Comique next Thursday. Miss
st. Ruths husband, who Is mining engi-
neer, will take in hand the staging of the
big scene in the third act. This represents
mine in full working order.
The advance booking of my Girl re-
Gently transferred from the Gaiety to the
Garrck, shows that the play will run until
| we'll into the spring. AT its conclusion
my Friend from India will be produced
| to be followed in turn by revival OF La
Perishote," wherein Miss Florence st. John
| will appear
The new Armenian opera, which has been
in rehearsal for several months, has been
entirely rewritten as to the hbretto. This
proved such an improvement upon the orig
inal that now entirely new music has been
written by Cecil Raleigh and Seymour Hicks
Adelina Patti is hard at work rehearsine
| a new operate role in Dolores" an opera
composed for her by NJ MAndre-Pollonnais
The part is to be created by Patti at Nice
during her spring visit to the Riviera.
Mascagni has just finished new opera
| The scene is laid in Japan. The composer
was paid an enormous sum for the opera by
the publishers. sl -
Sir Henry Irving.s N ahard L." produced
| IN the usual Lyceum style tonight. brought
about frequent calls before the curtain. Sir
Henry Irving made a brief speech in response
to the applause from those in attendance
Ellen Terry occupied one Of the stage boxes.
Many prominent frst-nighters were present.
1