The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-02
NEWSOFTHESTAGE ABROAD
IBssy xrD BJORNSON RECENTLY HON.
vRED IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

henrik lDben anu DJOrn DJDrHbOn Wolo wv
heroes OF the festivities attending the dedica-
ton OF the new National theatre at Christianla'
Iargestatues OF both were unveiled, and In the
three days celebration plays by both OF them
were performed. They sat together during
the first performance with Edward Greg ana
Christian SindinR on either side oil them'
Whom the King took his place in tho royai poA
at the first performance he bowed 10 ths Two
dramatists before he greeted the rest Oh inc
public. The first evening was de'oteu 10
revival OF some old Norwegian comeuleS ny
Hoberg, music composed for the occasion py
native musicians and the recitation OF verses
written for the dedication OF the theatre. All
the we'll known actors in Norway were seen on
the stage at some time during the evening.
On tho second night OF tho series. Ibsen's
"An Enemy of the People" was acted. and the
audience welcomed the author with great
enthusiasm. The last performance was de-
voted to BJ0rnson. One OF his earlier
works. "Slgurd Jorsafer." with music
by Grcg. was given. Bj0rnson's son
10 the manager OF the theatre. Tho
repertoire will not be confined to Norwegian
plays although most OF the dramatsts OF the
"9iFS are %S''Gf 81
sF iHSs Of ths and SS %eh
Night" have been taken from the foreign stage.
While M HTys G to ss af Ssrs s acs
loa: a." %t,ns frxIps Place ,hsssTs H S;;0
Fs sienFcr H HsG '' and Ghosts will
also be PRODUCED. Henrik Ibsen has an
Tss &c hi. S and viii S there
English writer recently, described his method
oiconduet.ng rehearsals. and also OF Born
Henrik ibscn. when the rehearsals OF one
OF his plays begins. sits in the wing silently OBJ:
rarar At the end of the rehearsal he hands
these suggestions Of alterations to the stage
yaBEs has been Hs scrbbes AGAIN.
and hands the slip to the manager. saying IN
his gentle manner os am afraid you you must hd
the pleasure OF writing them again. At
the third rehearsal everything is as be:
the performance, when he addresses tho man
ager courteously in this wise: The ladies
e." am Sr not the author. Then he marches off,
and is seen no more, not even at the irst
night. BI9rnS;tjerne Bjornson 10 less placid
Of which he insists upon having at, least
twenty for every one Of his plays beg OF
rehenrse the play with your written, parts in
your hands. You won't know It in less than
hearsa!s. on the actual boards. but not at
home. 1t is the French method Of rehearsing.
snS i i so2 down IN the front reW 81 he
stalls. puts on u skull cap. and the rehearsal
begins. At tho end of each act Bjornso1
mounting OF his play, and Is never satisfied till
some twenty-five or thirty rehearsas have
been held"
Eleonora Duse recently wrote to a friend in
Berlin that her co inception and performance OF
Camille" had been materially altered since
her visit to Paris. She says that she formerly
display al in the role too much the nature Of
an Italian woman and too little OF the Partisan.
Rosaspna is again acting with her in Ger
has LATE haan nj vi in Ra
lin where her first appearances two years ago
were highly successful. A characteristic story
Is going the roun ds in Paris During the very
hot weather there in the late summer the
theatre attracted very small audiences. One
house In particular suffered and nero hand
full OF people had come to be looked upon as
rather fair gathering. One night not ticket
was sold. The heat was intense and the man.
ager hoped that nobody would come. The ac-
tors we're equally anxious to escape the duty
Of acting on such warm night This agree
able prospect seemed likely to be realized as
there were no signs OF spectators. Just before
the time set for the performance. however. q
stranger arrived provided with ticket he had
bought from an agency and was shown to
his seat. The manager argued with him
over the absurdity OF demanding performance
for one person. promised him his money back
ard more besides ii he would consent to waive
his right to see the performance. and pleaded
on behalf OF the actors who would suffer in the
exercise exc OF their profession on such night.
But the managers appeals were in vain The
stranger was determined to see the play. he
was going to leave town the next day and he
had bought his ticket which gave him tho
rlght to see the performance. So ths actors
had to begin work. They read their lires so
rapidly that they we're barely distingushable
made no pretence at acting and went through
the first act so quickly that tho curtain soon
ielL The solitary spectator Kissed Indignantly.
for
The audience had right Tor its ticket to see
had been called and the audience was marched
out Of the building. The actors and the man
Of seeing the play. Rivoilet's "AIkesss."
Tnfn is and SFp tSe TG he Of R GeGss wifi
probably be taken into the repertoire Of the
Comedie Franchise. 1t was prepared for the
Little ked Bug" s the title OF the newest farce
referred to is one which infects the country
about the shores OF the Mediterranean. and the
story dSas With the adyepurss Of govern
La Goulue," formerly one OF tho most vicious
q lion tanner in circus, One OF her predeces-
eors; Celeste Magador. who used to be q star at
toqei The French Government for a pension.
a. her husband died while French consul at
iI9ibonrne. Whlthcr ne was sent Dy Napoleon
III in 1854.
King John" which Beerbohm Tree has
lately revived in London. is one Of tho least
familiar OF the Shakespeare plays. and details
Of no performance earlier than Garrick's time
are positively known. Whether the author ever
played in the piece and which part BurbaGe
acted, has never been known Toward the
middle 81 the eGhteanth century Colley Cibber
prepared version OF II. which he called
Fapal Tyranny" He said he had made 1t
more Of pay than its original author did.
Both he aud Mrs. Pritchard acted in 1t. She
was the greatest tragic actress OF her day. Glib
Der was a toothloss old man then, but the
public accepted his Cardinal because he was
popular. King John" was revived stimuli
taneously by Garrick. who gave the play as
shakespeare had written it, The performance
was elaborate for those days. to Judge from
notice which read: 1T is hoped no gentleman
vii. take it i'll that he cannot be admitted be-
hind the scenes. the play icing so full OF char
acters that any company there will be OF great
prejudice to tho performance" This produce