The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-24

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
London, April THE other evening
went to the performance of the dra-
matte class of the Royal Academy of
Music, and let me say right here that
had a veritable treat. This class is
the youngest in years in the academy,
having been founded only a year ago
by it's present teacher and coach, Mr..
William Farren-God bless him-and
ever since it's debut upon the stage of
academy life its achievements have
been of the highest order, distinct i'm
provement being a marked feature in
every succeeding performance. You
have all heard of Mr.. Farren, and some
of you have had the great delight of
seeing him upon the stage, Suffice 1t to
say for the benefit of those who have
not, that he Is one of the veteran act
ors of London, great in everything he
acts, and indeed the greatest Sir Peter
Teasle that has ever been seen upon
any stage.
Mr. Farren has been the principal elo-
cution master in the Royal Academy
for number of years, and chief among
my privileges when there, 1 shall al
ways count the fact of having studied
under him. And having done SO, l can
speak with authority when 1 say that
as teacher he is no less great than as
an actor, and that the brilliant sue
cesses of his dramatic class are only
10 be taken as a matter of course, when
one remembers who it's teacher is.
MIR. WATKINS SUCCESS.
But l must "move on" as the police
say to the crowds and busses over here,
and tell you about this particular per-
formance, in which - will be par
ticularly interested. for you don't know
what / am all this time keeping up
my sleeve" for you; namely, the sue
cess of your clever townsman, Mr.. j. II.
Watkins, in this particular play of the
other evening. 1t was Tobins old
comedy in four acts, "The Honey
MOON" acted by twelve or fourteen of
the best pupils in this class, the prin
cipal part in which was allotted to Mr..
Watkins. TO say that he acquitted
himself we'll would be putting it mildly.
His portrayal of the varied emotions
that beset the Duke of Aranza, whose
part he took throughout the piece, the
dramatic intensity of his action, and
the magnificent stage bearing of this
young artist won the admiration and
applause Oh all. 1t was an Ouu COIN
cidence that, in the course of the play,
when a very pretty country dance was
introduced, the two end men, and
therefore principal ones were Mr.. Wat
kins and another American, Mr. Ell
kins, by name. l will just whisper in
your ear the little fact that l was
proud when / thought of that. There
were no American girls, however, in
the cast, the principal success being
made by one of the Welsh students,
Miss Katie Thomas by name, who act
ed and declaimed much better than
her English sisters in the piece, l must
say, although there are some English
girls who rank as high in their work as
Miss Thomas, but who did not appear
In this play, their talents having been
displayed in other works.
l went to see His Majesty" again
last night. Much of the irrelevant
matter has been cut out, thus curtail-
ing the piece to the extent of at least
three-quarters of an hour and l did
not experience a dull moment What
people can see in Sir Alexander Mac
kenzies music to call heavy and
scholarly" l do not see. 1t is as bright
and sparkling as that of any light
opera l ever heard, with the added
charm that it is what great many of
them decidedly are not-good music
But it is not paying, nevertheless.
am afraid it is a case of "give a dog a
bad name" for the people, after seeing
its first night production condemned
In the papers, do not seem to take the
trouble to go and see it for themselves,
but remain away. Let us hope that
the fate of the forthcoming Savoy
opera will not be in any way like it.
Failures are saddening, and failures of
good things particularly disheartening
even to contemplate. The greatest sue
cess that has been made in London for
ten years, they tell me, is that of the
piece La Poupee," at the Prince of
Wales. Tickets are not to be had for
months ahead, either for love or money,
but II guess" as we say at home, can
squeeze in somehow, soon. At least
shall have try at it.
PADEREWSKI.
Paderewski is industriously "recita
ting" in the provincial towns of the
Kingdom at present, coming money, Of
course. He gives an orchestral concert
next week in London, at which he is to
play. two concertos, the Schumann A
minor, and the r fiat Liszt So far
there is no indication of a full recital
but perhaps we may hope for one late
in the season. He may be waiting for
Diamond Jubilee weather, with Dia-
mond Jubilee guests in England then
and the consequent Diamond Jubilee
prices. l don't blame him. I'd do 1t
myself If l could. After much heeing
and having, our beloved Melba has at
last decided not to sing in opera in
London this season, but her presence
here will be seen and heard by means
of a concert at Queens hall which she
means to give.
Musical London is very sad over the
death of Brahms. l did not imagine
that / could care, myself, so much as
/ did feel when 1 heard the news, but
to be told all at once that no more
work can ever come from that mighty
pen again. is rather a shock. even to me.
who know only his songs and some Of
his works for strings. Blanche Mar
chest, the vocalist, at yesterday after
Moons popular concert touched ten
der chord by her singing of the beauti-
full "VOn Eoiger Liebe" and "Wiegen-
lied" of his, and many of the audience,
who had only just heard of his death,
were in tears, for he is indeed beloved
in London, How magnificent a thing
1t must be to leave, like such men
when dying, such footprints on the
sands of time!"
JUBILEE TALK.
The nearer we get to June, the more
diamond jubilee talk do we hear. II is