THE THE A TRE

IE title is certainly inter-

esting, inasmuch as a variety of meanings may be left to the imagination. At first sight I was at a loss, whether the " Oueen's Mate " were a lady in waiting or a game of chess which terminated in a peculiar manner, and upon which perhaps grave matters of state depended ; or whether, in some diplomatie problem. a fair ruler had found her more than equal. So, in order to solve the problem of this hidden meaning, I followed the example of the inquiring multitudes, and went to see the opéra at the Broadway Théâtre.

We arrived (there were two of us) in time to dérive the pleasant satisfaction afforded by the announcement on the drab-colored drop that it was a " Fire-Proof Curtain."

In addition to this reassuring information, we enjoyed the rare luxury of being able to understand the diagrams on the programmes explaining the fire-escapes. As a rule, one finds mere blurs in the form of horseshoes, and were it not for the traditional laws respecting the printing of plans on the bills, one would never realize that they purported to be keys to the various means of egress. And here I must say that the unusually modest announcement of the managers, that the théâtre is " practically fïre-proof," has always annoyed me, for, with ail the précautions against the origin of fire, and still greater against tts spreading, it seems strange they do not claim for their structure an absoluie non-combustibility.

A moment later, and this iron life-preserver ascended, revealing one of the most beautiful act drops I have ever seen, at home or abroad, thus showing that beauty has been combined with utility. This work of art is well worthy of closer inspection, for it is a copy of a celebrated French painting, "The Arrivai of the Bride," in which the adapter, Mr. Arthur Jule Goodman, has ingeniously introduced the portraits of several of his friends.

The incidents on which the opéra is founded are supposed to take place in the Canary Islands shortly after the démise of the ruler of that région. Inez is the heiress to the throne. She and her friend Attila have married two brothers, Pedrillo and Inigo, who keep a country inn. General Bombardos, uncle of Inez, in order to secure for her the public récognition of her rights, disguises as a miller Roderigo, and takes the young ladies off with him from time to time in a very mysterious manner. This Melusina-like character of their young wives annoys the inn-keepers not a little, and they remonstrate, but in vain.

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In the meantime. Cnural /',r/<ir//e, \, leader of the rival political faction, has put l'une, Guzman in power. The plots and counter-plots that are concocted to place the rightfui ruler in command constitute the hinges on which swings the action of the pièce.

Of course, Inez is at last made Oueen, and Pedrillo becomes " Thk QUEEN'S MATE." Miss Lillian Russell plays Inez. Who is not familiar with lier features? We have them preserved in photographs and engravings of every sort. Ail know what an additional flavor is imparted to a cigarette when one of airy, fairy Lillian's pictures if found in the package. In fact, she might be termed the Patron Saint of the Kni^hts of the

Tobacco Leaf. Tlu queer thing about it i:that no photo ever flattered her. But her merits are by no means confined to her looks, foi she sings the song t( Pedrillo in the first act with much taste and feeling, while the " Toréador Song " (a sprightly thing, without suggesting Bizet) goes with a zip which elicits fréquent recalls.

The part of Anita h taken by Miss Camille D'Arville.who.although not long in this country, is fast making friends. Her voice iffresh and clear, whilt her exécution is ver} good, indeed. She makes a charming companion pièce to Miss Russell, and they seem to take turns very pleasantly in giving the eneores. I wonder what the effect would be if one made up as a brunette by way of contrast ?

Messrs. Frédéric Darrell and Harry Paulton

lish text) make two very

amusing brothers — Pedrillo and Inigo. Their struggle to out do each other in apologizing is quaint, while their puns — in which they indulge somewhat freely — are for the most part funny ; and when a thing is funny, I see no harm in laughing at it — every one else does.