Punch (89.1885)

October 17, 1885.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

"EXCELSIOR! EXCELSIOR!"

So, Sir, I felt inclined to cry, when I saw the agile and graceful
Signor Enbico Cecchetti proceeding by leaps and bounds, in the

The Bishop of Lonbon taking Steps as regards tile Ballet.
Lord Chamierlain (severely). I must insist on your Xordship lengthening
your skirts.

ballet at Her Majesty's own Theatre, which his Lordship, the Bishop
of London, is expected to visit in state. On this joyous occasion the
orchestra will strike up one of Bishop's Glees.

The honoured name of Hawtbey, as Lessee and Manager of Her
Majesty's Show, ought to be good enough for the Bishop, who
doubtless remembers the well-known
Head Master, subsequently Provost of
Eton, with whom, to some of us at
least, the name of Hawtbey must
always be associated. If the Bishop
does go there, he '11 have a real treat,
and if he doesn't he'll lose one; for
jExcelsior, as being not only amusing,
but highly instructive, ought to satisfy
most of the requirements of those very
superior persons who delight to gush
about "the true mission of the Stage";
and though here they will grieve for
the absence of the long-winded speeches
crammed with tine words, which they
> consider the expression of true poetry,
yet they will see long-winded dancers,
) who could go on for ever, apparently;
and they will also see posing with a
real meaning and purpose in it, instead
of the vain attitudinising which they
laud as "so picturesque."

In Paris, I went to see Messalina at
the Eden Theatre, another historically
Excelsior ! Going up nightly! instructive ballet, developing a plot as
_ dramatic as that of Theodora. A
strikingly dramatic ballet is the charpente of a drama. Action
before words was ever the stage rule, and it would, I think, be true
to say that, vice versa, the plot of any really good melodrama might
easily serve for a first-rate ballet.

The Silver King would have been much better as a ballet, without
those long sermons delivered^ by the hero, who would then have had
a chance of legitimately showing us how "romantic and picturesque "
he could be on one leg (this would have been quite leg-itimate), to

No expense spared, and yet this is a Niggardly arrangement.

what" an altitude of genius" he could rise in a pirouette, and of what
" fiery passion " he was capable in the grand pantomimic situations
of the murder of Geoffrey Ware, and in the wharf store-house, where
he frightens the Spider and his friends into fits, and then, as would

181

be permissible in a ballet of action, he might escape by leaping
through an open window, or by bounding oif a spring-board and.
disappearing through the skylight. If Excelsior—which is now
attracting, and certainly its fame is spreading—is to achieve a sub-
stantial successful career, additions must be made to the numbers,
and the costumes must be
renewed from time to time.

Its brightness must be pre-
served at any cost, and this
outlay will ultimately re-
pay. A ballet in Acts, no
less than a drama, requires
comic relief. Such a troupe
as the Mabtinettis, or the
Hanlon-Lees, would be
well employed as part and
parcel of its plot.

It should commence as
early as a Drury Lane
pantomime, and end about
the same time. Our people
do not want long entr'actes,
as our theatres are suffici-
ently comfortable for the
spectators to remain in
them, instead of rushing
out, as in Paris, where the
audience is only too glad
to breathe the fresh air for
twenty minutes, take
refreshments and cigar-
ettes outside, or promenade
about the foyer with the
windows open.

One very noticeable fea- This is part of an AU-leg-orical Tableau, in
ture in Excelsior is the which, the Bishop may think, there's a
good dancing and graceful Sreat deal of 'arm-
posturing of the men. Are they all Italians from Italian Ballet
Dancing-schools, or are they largely recruited from our ranks
of Supers? If so, it speaks immense things for " Super"-human
nature, and ought to give an impetus to all Dancing-Masters. As a
rule, men-dancers, when not absolutely of first-class talent and per-
fect training, are either repulsive or ludicrous, or both. Here it is
not so. I wish every success to this venture, and hope that Her
Majesty's will establish a reputation for this class of entertainment
alone, and then the title of the next ballet will be El Dorado. So
mote it be. Tours, Medium Nibbs.

P.S.—Since writing the above I see that Miss Kate Vaughan is
now dancing in Excelsior. Delighted to welcome her again: just
vot vos vaughanted. Excellent notion. But I question whether
giving a lever du rideau, with Mr. Hebman "Vezin and talented
assistants in it, is not a mistake, unless they dance Planche's two-
act Secret Service as a comic ballet. This might possibly add to the
attraction.

^Ruminations of a Radical

On Mr. Chamberlain's Visit to Mr. Gladstone at Hawarden Castle,

Our Joe at Hawarden! What may that portend ?
Leaves he it less, or more, the People's Friend ?

To the four points of subtle W. G.

"Will he, or will he not, postpone his three P
Hugging his ultimatum does he go
Feeling that office—yet—is not for Joe P
Or leaves he yielding, reconciled, and pardoned,

Softened at heart, in fact, by being Hawardened ?

The Casting Vote, lately produced, or, rather, earlily produced,
as it is a lever du rideau, at the Prince's, is called by its Author a
"Musical Electioneering Squib." It seems, judging only by the
libretto, a very damp squib, let oif by a small backward boy in the
lower fourth form of the Gilbertian Bah-Ballad-Opera School.
Perhaps if played after the ingenious Pink Pearl, which we have
seen—once, we may have a chance of hearing the music. But
this sort of thing is of very little use unless signed by the firm of
Messrs. Gilbebt and Sullivan, which this squib can't say it is,
without lending itself to a cracker.

The Beabing and the Application.—Lord Dunraven is reported
to have said that " that the only thing the Tories have to fear is ignor-
ance." Yes, but; in that case some of them, who, if ignorance is bliss,
ought to be very happy, would seem to have more to fear than to hope.

vol. ltxttx.

It