Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
are not peopled by their usual animated
crowds of men and women.
ANTONY and Cleopatra

The spectacular glories prophesled for
Mr.. Trees production of Antony and Cleo
patra" were realized Only the Tree pro-
duction of Julius Caesar can be placed
In the same class. There has been tho
usual clipping of the text. four acts, sub
divided into thirteen scenes. with tableau
depicting the return of Antony TO Alex
ander thrown in. being the limit of the ver-
sion presented. The tableau IS designed to
make up for the gap in the action between
the scene in Antony's house at Athens and
that at Caesars house in Rome.
Mr. Trees excisions have somewhat In
paired the full significance of Cleopatra
part. and his own conception of Antony
cannot be said to be great, but the i'm
preston the characterization made may
nave been due to the fact that he was
Tar from line perfect on the first night.
Miss Constance Collier. on the other hand,
achieved something like full success as the
Egyptian queen. In the scene where she
learns of Antony's marriage to Octavia
she acted with real force. and IL she had
maintained her influence at the times when
she was not the central figure her imperso-
nation would have even more nearly APP
preached the ideal. Excellent work also
came from most of the cast IL was how
ever. the spectacular wonders of the pro-
duction that told, the enthusiasm after the
big scenes, and particularly at the close.
leaving no doubt at all as to the success
OF Mr.. Trees latest Shakespearean pro-
duction
Millions for Pantomimes.
1t is estimated. so / learn from an expert
in such matters. that the initial cost of the
production of the Christmas pantomimes
throughout the united kingdom is not less
than half a million of pounds sterling That
represents pretty fairly the outlay before
the rising OF the curtains on boxing night
BEFORE the season is over the salary lists
cause further expenditure of GGOo 600 or
4poopo Therefore. the total outlay on
pantomimes Is considerably over mil
non. AS the profits on the performances
are often very large. my informant was OF
opinion that the British public paws some-
thlng like million and a half for the
FORM OF theatrical merriment which long
custom has identified with the present sea-
SON. The late Sir Augustus Harris used
10 say that he considered himself lucky
If his expenditure on a Drury Lane nam
tomlme before the curtain went up on box
ing night was under G25 600
Col. Mapleson's scheme for the esta blish-
menu IN London of national opera house
seems 10 be moving at last The inde-
1atgable impressario. having failed to OBJ
tam either the Coliseum or the I.yceum az
nome FOR national opera Is determined
TO buiid house OF his own. The architect
OF the new Gaiety Theater has | am told
prepared plans and as soon as a site can
De obtained these plans will be converted
INTO sold stone. iron and marble. 1t is
known that the colonel has a wealthy syn
dictate at his back, and everybody knows
tnat there are plenty OF sites to be had in
AldWych kingsway or the Strand Col
Maplesons projects, however. have been so
often frustrated that he may not be able
10 OBTAIN q Site on the terms he offers 1t
IS great scheme: for the colonel proposes
10 give performances OF English German,
Italian and French opera and to organize
complete English opera company
l.. H. MOORE.