MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

MIMES AND MUSIC.

-_ .0, [By Orpheus, j COMING EVENTS. OPERA HOUSE. Wellington Physical Training School Exhibition, 31st October and Ist November. Tho Thespians, 28th to 30th November. Koberfc Henry Dramatic Company, 3rd to 17th December. Williamson & Musgrove Company, 26th December to 21st January. EXCHANGE HALL. Payne Family, 26th December to 3rd January. The American dramatic version of Mr. Hall-Oaine's novel 'The Christian,' whioh, as the cable informed iis the other day, had created a ' profound sensation' in New York, differs materially from the version which was completed by Mr. Wilson Barrett while iv Australia recently, and also departs in several respects from the novel itself. The American play is from Mr. Caine's own pen, and was written, it is said, partly under the supervision of Miss Viola Alfen, who plays the part of Glory Quayle. In it John Storm is not so much of a fanatic, and the vagaries of Canon Wealthy are treated more from the humorous side. The situation in Glory's apartments, where Storm, temporarily bereft of reason, comes to kill her, culminates in the play in an altogether different way from that indicated the book. ' Glory's friends appear,' says a writer in The Munsey Magazine, 'and after she is left alone again the cur* am falls on the interpolated scene, which — as it reads at least — is strongly effective in itself, and gains additional pathos from all that has gone before.' Mr. Came &lsrt ' has practically eliminated from the stage version the controversial questions of church creed, and dogma, so prominent in the book. Whatever of the religious element is retained will form but a striking background to the human character of John Storm, and to the love story which will predominate in the action of the play. John Storm, ,on the stage, will not be the intense and extreme, though consistent, religious fanatic of the story. Mr. Came, in making the dramatic version, has held constantly in mind the fact that the first purpose of the piece is to serve as an evening's amusement, and not solely as the vehicle for a sermon from behind the footlights.' Then again, while Mr. Came has discarded the hospital scenes, Mr. Barrett has made notable use of them, and the latter's version is said to be altogether * much more melodramatio in treatment. In both instances, however, a happy ending is provided, whioh of course is quite different from the novel. Mr. Barrett's version will probably receive its first representation in England, though the *script is in the hands of Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove, who may itage it in Australia, and claim honours of the" first production. The Opera House will be used on 2nd November for an entertainment in aid of the Societies for the Protection of Women and Children and for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In addition to musical items, two dramatic pieces will be performed, one by Hutt and the other by local amateurs. Mr. W. S. Gilbert's pretty comedy 'Sweethearts ' is to be presented by Dr. and Mrs. Purdy, MissFitzherbert, and Mr A. Stevens, and th it clever farce * My Lord in Livery ' by the Misses Watson, L. Watson, and Fleming, Messrs. Spicer, Forrest, Wilkinhon, and Master Olaf Stout. His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Ranfurly are to attend, and I cordially recommend the entertainment for generous patronage. Mr. 'Jack ' Lohr writes me that Dante, the juggler, has caught on very big in Sydney, and is filling the Palace Theatre every night to its capacity. This is fully borne out by the press notices. The Daily Telegraph, which is not given to gushing, describes Dante as ' a marvellous magician.' He returns to New Zealand early next year. Mr. Bland Holt has become the happy possessor of several new dramas. The titles of the two latest are ' The Great Ruby,' and ' The Gipsy Earl.' The former was produced at Drury Lane, London', on September 16 th, and its principal spectacular scene is a military tournament. The authors are Messrs. Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton, who wrote ' The White Heather.' The second piece is a 'romantic melodrama' by Mr. G. R. Sims. Mr. Holt's other acquisitions are ' Women and Wine,' and * How London L'ves,' and the whole bunch are to be played during the Melbourne season, which begins on the 29th inst. ' Mr. Lesly Thompson, -who came out from En-/ land with Miss Pattie Browne specially to play the part of Rev. Gavin Wiahart in ' Tue Little Minister,' was only able to appear in the revival of the piece at the beginning of this month. He has been seriously ill in Melbourne ever since his arrival in the colony. Mr. Lee Williams, who visited the colonies last year as examiner for the Associated Board, has composed a new service, whioh has been performed at the Gloucester Musical Festival. The Figaro remarks that ' the three works severally contributed by Dr. Harford Lloyd, Mr. Lee Williams, and Mr. Brewer for this service, indeed, indicate three generations of Gloucester Festival conductors.' Messrs. Hall and Savieri, who successfully piloted the recent series of Weduesday •Pops.' at the Skating Rink, are to have a • benefit ' tendered them by the long line of performers who assisted at the concerts at various times. It will take place at the Opera House on Friday, 4th November, the idea being to make the first part a concert, and devote the secc*ad to something light and amusing. It should be a great night. The Henry Diame.tic Company was to have opened at Auckland last Thursday night in the melodrama 'From Scotland Yard.' The newly-formed Amateur Sooiety at Nelson has had a payable season with ' Les Cloches de Corneville,' and the same opera was taken to Wanganui this week by the Marton Amateurs, who will stage it at Palmereton on the 26th. r J he Woodville Amateur Dramatic Society is proposing to stage 'The Guvnor on race nights, Dec. 13th and 14th. Mme. Annis Montague (Mrs. Charles Turner) % has settled in Bush-street, San I'raD cisco, as a teaoher of singing. She informed an interviewer that in her earlier days both Melba and Frances Saville were amongst her pupils. There will be two notable defections from tho Pollards next year (according to ' Call Boy 'in tbe Dunedin Star). Miss Marion Mitchell will return into private life about March, and report saya that the favourite contralto will follow her example in the sweet by-and-by. Tho report that the artistic partnership between Mrs. Potter and Mr. Bellew had been dissolved was wrong. The stars have just acquired Ro&tand's famous romantic play ' Cyrano de Bergerac ' for their next Australian tour. They have also secured 4 The Medicine Man ' and ♦ The Scarlet Letter,' and are negotiating for the new Napoleonic drama ' Plus que Reine,' which will be known in English as 'More than Queen.' After a short rest in Paris Mrs. Potter returns to London for her part of Miladi in Mr. Beerbohm Tree's production of Mr. Sydney Grundy's version of ' Les Trois Mousquetaires ' early next month. Mr. Bellew, as already stated, is to join Mr. Charles Wyndham for a spell, having a part in the new play by Messrs. Louis Parker and Murray Carson, 'The Merry Gentleman.' Miss May Pollard made her English debdt at Margate in the name part of the Firm's 'Belle of New York,' and the Era says the character was ' charmingly played,' and the conflicting emotions between love and duty pourtrayed with • ingenuous freshness.' Miss Nellie Stewart has also been playing the name part iv a second touring company at Dublin, and is said to have achieved a great triumph.