Punch: Punch (89.1885)

252

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[November 21, 1886.

Herr Peiniger playing Yaria-
tions on the Contango, or
Bach-wardation movement.

A LITTLE MUSIC.

Veey pleasant evening at Herr Peinigeb's Second Recital. Inter-
esting programme, though at first sight rather serious, the commence-
ment being Gbimm. This was from his
" Op. 14." An 'Aeby observed that he
supposed this was intended for dance-
music, and wanted to know if Gbimm
gave many " 'Ops " during the season.

The Analyst in his published re-
marks,—price, with programme, six-
pence, and cheap at that, — says:—
" There is an element of broad humour
in the inversionof the three notesalready
indicated, i.e., cic on the violin, and,
by way of the tu quoque, the piano re-
torts c b c, and vice versa"

Isn't this real fun ? The audience
was convulsed—respectably and quietly,
of course; doing what Mr. Weller Senior
tried ineffectually to practise—" a silent
chuckle."

Subsequently, the Analyst remarking
on Bach's " Ciaccona in D minor"—
if Bach had been a great traveller, he
might have written something in Asia
Minor, but he didn't,—says that Variation 16 is " of a character so
full of repose, and anthem-like "—yes, we were almost asleep, like a
Dean, qui a bien dine, in a Cathe-
dral stall,—"that one is sorry to
be drawn along with the next
variation into the bustle of figu-
ration again."

As this suggested a Milliner's
Measure and a Dress-Improver,
we woke up, and looked about
for her appearance on the plat-
form, but we were disappointed.

"We heard "the bustle of figura-
tion " to the end, were delighted
with Herr Peinigee in his "Airs
Hongrois " (" used to have Pom-
made Hongrois for?n.y 'airs," said
Abet, but he was immediately
'ushed down), and when four
Violinists got up together, and
began to attack an Andante and a
Rondino, we thought it was time
to retire, and so we did, but it was
the last selection, and then out

Music from a Stone,—Miss Stone.
Wonderful portrait!

we went, and out went the lights. So home to bed with great content.

A leg-grow movement.

') \ I

Bather an " Ould " joke.

An Opebatic HoNorm.—Sir Donald Maetin Stewart, Bart.,
Q-.C.B., C.I.E., has been made an Extra Knight G\C. of the Star of
India. We congratulate Sir Donald, but the title of "Extra
Knight" is so familiar to old subscribers to the Royal Italian Opera,
that it is a question whether this dignity could not be appropriately
conferred on either Mr. Gye or Mr. Mapleson.

Shakspeabe on the Pbimeose League.—A student of the divine
Williams draws our attention to the speech of the Porter in Mac-
beth, Actii., Sc. 3. "We refer the Primrose Knights and Dames to
the passage, but do not suppose that those who "go the primrose
way " will care to quote Shakspeaee to their purpose in this instance.

How to Ruin Woolwich Infants.—Give fifteen Commissions in
the Royal Engineers to unqualified outsiders.

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

The Art of the Stage, by Percy Fitzgerald (published by
Remington & Co.). This is a Collection of Charles Lamb's Essays,
with a Commentary by Peect Fitzgebald. These Lamb-chops with
mint-sauce are dedicated, oddly enough, as far as the name goes, to
Mr. Pig-ott. With the

everyone is more
or less familiar; and Mr.
Fitzgeeald's commentary
adds nothing to them
except a Commentary. All
Shakspearian students will
agree with Chables Lamb,
and also with Mr. Pebcy
Fitzgerald, who has the
advantage over the de-
lightful Essayist in posses-
sing a practical knowledge
of the modern Stage, and
a further advantage in
being alive to write about
it. A student of Shak-
speaee gifted with keen
dramatic instinct, whether
he be a player or no, will
not only meditate upon the
poetry, try to think out
every line, and gain an
insight into every charac-
ter, but will also attempt
to realise, in his mind's
eye, the scenes in action.
Shakspeabe's Dramas, to
be thoroughly appreciated,
must be studied with the
heart of a Poet and the
eye of a Stage-Manager.
An intelligent and ex-
perienced Actor may throw

First of a Series of Unrecognisable Portraits
of Celebrities. This is " Pursy Fitzgerald."

great light upon some otherwise
unintelligible passage"by the invention of appropriate stage-business
which, it will be at once felt, was the one thing wanting to complete
the Scene.

But this is equally true of all plays of which we do not possess the
" prompt copies," or where the details of the action have not been
most carefully provided and written down. Mr. Ieving in his study
can put down all the business for all the characters in Hamlet from
beginning to end, and how few comparatively would take the trouble
to read the laborious compilation when published! But in three
hours they can be impressed with a clearer view of how Mr. Ieving
thinks the play of Hamlet ought to be represented, by visiting the
Lyceum Theatre, than ever they could by studying day after day
such an " acting edition " as we have just imagined. They may or
may not agree with Mr. Ieving's views, but, on the whole, the
majority of those who are fairly well up in the play will enjoy the
performance more for that very reason; and the fact of their having
seen the play intelligently performed, will add a zest to their next
perusal of it in the privacy of their own study.

If we had no theatres, and suddenly discovered the plays of Shak-
speaee, there would be a national subscription, or, in these days, a
Limited Liability Company immediately formed, for the purpose of
building a theatre for their special production. "We should not be
content merely to read them: we should want to see them in action.
What Chables Lamb, who was not much of a dramatist himself,
does not seem to value sufficiently is, the undeniable fact that these
plays were written to be performed, not to be read, and the characters
were in many cases, notably that of Hamlet, written to suit certain
members of Shakspeabe's Company. We fancy Mr. Fitzgebald
has missed this point—or we have overlooked it, in reading his com-
mentary, which, by the way, is written in a pleasant chatty style,
and if it does no more than promote a general re-reading of JIlia's
Essays, it will have served a good purpose.

A Christmas Angel.—We protest against Mr. Fabteon getting us
to take him into our houses with his Christmas Angel, and then in
return taking us in, and making us weep and snivel and blow our
noses, and giving us red eyes and violent colds in our heads. It isn't
kind, Mr. Fabjeon. Such Angels' visits are fortunately few and
Far(jeon) between, so it will be another twelve months before he
dares to do it again. There is yet another month to Christmas, so our
advice is, read this book—a beautiful little book it is, though a bit
cloudy and mysterious at first,—before Christmas comes, and then
get something to make you laugh, for Mr. Fabjeon's Angel will not
do this. Very much to the contrary. Most of the illustrations, by
Gordon Beown, are full of character, but here and there a little too
'1 frenchy " in style for truthful representations of low Cockney types.

ijgp TO COltKZSPONDEHTS In no case can Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, or Drawings, be returned, unless accompanied

by a Stamped and Directed Envelope or Cover. Copies of MS. should be kept by the Senders.