MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1904, Page 13

£By Orimikus.] COMIN'uIsVeNTB. OI'KRA HOUSE. J. C. Williamson's "Marring© of Kitty" Company, in season. Pndetowski Concerts, 12th, 14th September. Stephenson Comedy Company, 20t>h October to 2nd November. Harry Rickards' Company, sth Novemver to 15 Novomtoor. J. C. VVillinmsou, Boxing Night to 14 th Januury. HIS UAJE3TT'B TITEATnH,, Fuller's Entertainers. TUEATIIE HOTAt, Dix Gaiety Coiupnny. Miiw Ella Abotnnh, tlio Amazon Giantess, and «aid to bo tho tallest lady in tho world (being over Bft high), arrived in Melbourne- by the White Star Liner Afrio, on which special arrangements hud be«n macks >Jor her accommodation. Sho contemplatos a tAvelve-monlhs' tour of Australasia. A Melbourne paper s;iys of hor : "Tho colo&sa] «nd well-proportioned figure of tho South Carolina Giantess, Abomnh, lowers daily and nightly at tho waxworks. Sho is deservedly admired by all, not alono because sho is a raro sample, but; also on account of her pleasant manner and happy .smile, hor intelligent conversation, and her ugreeablo singing." A - correspondent, "Thespian," writes from Waipawa .— "lfc 'may interest you to know that I witnessed tho incident referred to in your notes of ilia 27th ult. Tho play was "Tho Companions of the Chain," not "Tho Last Link of the Chain." Tho performance took pine© in the Old Queen's Theatre, Princes-street, Dunedin. The star of tho production was an actor named Beyers, who stood over 6ft high and hud a voico in proportion to his sizo. He impersonated sovcxal of tho "legitimate drama", heroes. When ho "tore a passion to tatters," and figuratively "lifted the roof off tho theatre," wo boys in tho pit used to playfully sug- ; gest that ho should "speak up !" In those days playgoers liked long bills. If tho show was over bofore a quarter-past 11 the audienco reckoned there was "something rotten in the state of Denmark." "Tho Companions of the Chain," however, proved too much for even tho njosb enthusiustio lover of tho drama. Tho writer hung on until 1 o'clock in the morning, hoping that tho mysterious plot would bo elucidated. But tho company was a small one, and each member had to play many ports. The companions mode short work of their opponents. As one- after the other was despatched ho of she had to appear again and again to be treated in similar fashion, until none was ftblt to separate tho living fropi the dead. Beyers, however, was alive at the end of the fourth act. Whether ho mot tho fato ho deserved iB a problem no one has been able to solve." Tho Marist Brothers Old Boys' Dramatic Club has arranged to stago "For England's Glory" in bhe Guildford-street Sohoolroom. in aid of "the Sacred Heart Ohurck organ fund. The following is the casts— Air. Davenent, Mr. E. Heaiy ; Paul Davonent, Mr. K. Sievers; M Grenouifle, Mr. J. Pike; Col. Egerton, Mr. H. Liardotj Sergt. Murphy, Mr. U. Gamble; John Bull 4 Mr. D. Kelly; Private Cricket, Mr. D. Jones; Omcer, Mr. C. M'Grath; Countess Woronzoli, Miss Eily'Gurne-y; Nadine, Miss L. Russell; Mrs. Bull, Miss E. Bead; Moana, Miss M. Meaton. The Professional Musicians' Association of Sydney has now 157 Ordinary members. It has just voted over £50 to tho Sydney Hospitals It is stated that Mr. Alfred Hill, who is now settled in Auckland, contemplates producing locally two of his latest operatic compositions. One is a romantic opera entitled "Don Quixote," in two acts, the libretto of which is from the pon of Mr. \V. H. Beattie, of Sydney. The second is an operatic extravaganza in two acts, the book of which is by an Aucklander. Tho latter will in all probability bo the one selected for first production. Tho Theatre Royal, Christohurch, had a narrow escape from being burnt down during tho Woods- Williamson season. The fire originated in the property-room about 7 o'clock, and had got a good hold before being discovered. One of tho actors connected, the theatre hose, and before the brigade arrived succeeded in getting the firo under. Most of the stage properties uwaed ,by the company wero destroyed. "L'Aiglon," tho Napoleon drama which Mr. Williamson will bring to Now Zealand next Easter, is tho fanciful name given to the Due do Reichstadt, the son born to Napoleon I. by Mario Louise of Austria, and whdse early demise in his mother's land relieved tho mind of more than ono Continental Minister. It is upon the youth's reflections upon his father's greatness, and upon hit* own lack of will-power to realise his aspirations, that the play, which is described as a literary production of exceptional beauty and power, is based. Other characters in the play are Metternich, the Emperor Francis, and Mario Louise, but they never assume importance. Mr. Williamson purchased the rights of the play afber seeing Miss Maude Adams as "L'Aiglon" in America. Miss Tittcl Bruno will be the second actrews to present the character in English. The drama presents plenty of opportunity for scenic and picturesque display in regard to dressing. During the seaso]), Bardou'ii "Theodora" will also bo presented, with Miss Brune in tho name part, a charaoter she has already played in America. Mr. Charles Frohmnn lias asked Mr. Williamson if he is prepared to arrange for a season of musical comedy in Aus- j tralia next year, with Miss Edna May as tho principal. Mr. Williamson is considering the proposal. Miss May has long wanted to mako a visit to Australia. If tho tour t in arranged tho repertoire will include' "Tho School Girl 1 ' and "Voronirjue, 1 the French comio opera now being played at tho Apollo Theatre, London, with marked success. * Mark Hambourg, when^ the mail left, was spending his holidays with Ysayc at tho latler's country house, Godinne-sur-Meuse (Belgium). On 21st July ho appeared at a concert with tho Kurmial Orchestra at Ostend. Ho was further engaged to play at the Mozart festival on 12th and 13th August at Salzburg. A wealthy citizen of Aachen, Germany, a city of 135,000 inhabitants, hns given £7000 to establish chamber music concents at a low admission fee. A publicspirited citizen of Duren, a town of 27,000 Inhabitants, has given to the municipal authorities £25,000 to build a city theatre and concert-hull. Two recitals hare been given by Mr. Alfred Hollins, the blind organist whom the Sydney City Council has engaged, and (Kays an exchange) he Ims proved an unequivocal success. His repertory consists of 200 pieces of tho best class of organ iijublc. He dtxwt not descend to the trick? which are reckoned necessary by some players to maintain the Interest <tf a popular audience, but effectively relies on the master works of Mendelssohn and Bach, with some delicious trifles thrown in to secure variety. A» an extemporher he has tho reputation of being tho best in the world, and ho generally deals with a theme selected for him just before his performance. The Council has

granted permission to Mr. Ilollins to visit Invorcargill, whore ho has old friends. Mrs. Iloiidorson, a member of tho Williamson Comedy Company now performing at tho Opera Houso, will be better known to Now Zealand playgoers as Miss Maggio Knight, who some thirteen years ago was starring in Australia. Mrs. Henderson is New Zealand-born, and tbo wife of Mr. Harry Henderson, son of tho Into Hon. Thomas Henderson, for many years a member of tho Legislative Council of this colony. Sho retired into private life for somo yours, but lias again returned to grace tho Australasian stage, of which she wus always v bright particular star. Says the latest London St<\go: "The Duchess of Dantzio" will bo sent on tour in tho early autumn by Mr. George Edwnrdcs. Tho company, which will includo Miss Evio Greene, Miss Billie Burke, Miss Adrienno Augarde, Miss Elizabeth Firth, Mr. Holbrook Blinn, Mr. Courlice Pounds, Mr. Herbert Clnyton, and Mi-. Leonurd Mackity, will open at tho Prince's, Manchester, on Monday, 22nd August." This company, it is understood, ooinea to Australia to Mr. Williamson. The Hongkong Daily Press is responsible for the statement that cinematograph pictures of Mo execution of 200 criminals at Canton will bo secured for the St. Louis Exhibition. "A short timo ago" (says tho journal) "a Hongkong photographer paid a visit to tho Viceroy and came to an arrangement with him whereby all executions wero to be postponed until a date towards tho end of the present month." This pending tho arrival of tho cinematograph apparatus on its way from tho United States, Manuel Garcia, tho celebrated singing master, is now in his hundredth year. Seventy-eight years ago he assisted his father and his sister, tho distinguished prinm donna, Malibran, in the first performance of Rossini's "Barber of Seville" at New York. In his timo modern music lias developed ; Beethoven lived twenty years after Garcia was born. Ho ia truly the "Grand Old Man" of music. Jenny Lind was ono of his pupils. So also wero Mdme. Marches! and Stockhausen, tho celebrated German singing teacher. A hitherto unknown portrait of J. S. Bach was recently discovered in Mainz. A Bach enthusiast, Dr. Fritz Volbach, has secured possession of it, and is making investigations as to tho painter. It represents tho composer in his sixtieth year, and' unquestionably is one of the best of all tho known Bach portraits. Tho powerful intellect and, unbending energy of tho creator of tho Matthew Passion and the B Minor Mass show forth in tho face. It ia supposed to bo tho missing Erfurt likeness. July is tho last month of tho Now York dramatic season, and in giving a rosumo of tho year's work all tho papers agree in saying that it has been tho most disastrous on record. Now plays have gono down like trees in a cyclone — merely to onumoralo tho failures woirld make a fonnidablo paragraph. Among pieces which signally foil away from expectations woro "Ulyssps," by Stephen Phillips, with Tyrono Power in Iho namepart; "Drink," with Charles Warner, which was voter! "both unplcnstuit ana okl-fasliioned" ; Sardou's "Dnnto," ployod by Horiry Irving; "A Midsuinmor Night's Droam," with Nat Goodwin ns Bottom; "Tho Light that Failed," with Forbes Robertson and his wife, which was called "tedious." Among tho few successes of tho yenr are reckoned "Uaflies, tho Amateur Cracksman," with Kyrlo Bellow ns tho star; "Tho Admirable Crichton," by William Gillette; "Tho Girl from Kay's" and "Tho Throe Littlo Maids;" "Tho Marriage of Kitty," with Mario Tempest and Ada Fcrrar in tho cast. Theatrical Clips.— The Woods-William-son neA&on in Cliristchurch was so successful that the original AOiison of nitw nights wns extended to soventcun. . . . The Royal Comics have- "Tho Orchid" in rehearsal, and it will be produced in Melbounro about Cup time. Clara. Clifton, a member of George Edwardes's London Co. now in Australia, will appear in tho niece, and it is probablo that W. S. tercy, formerly of tho Polkirds, will bo ill tho caflt. . . . Bland Holt's next new drama will bo "A Uesperato Game," a mining story by Shirley and Landeck, with scenes act in Australia George Edwnrdcs' London Company leaves Australia on ltd return to England on tho 17th hist. . . . The Thwitro Royal, Melbourne, is to bo almost entirely reconstructed, at a cost of about £20,000. London Stage announces that Annio Russell, the English actress, w*4 make a sixteen weeks' tour through Australia in the spring of 1905 Tho American invasion of England is to bo followed by an EHglish invasion of America. Charles Frohman .vttites that he lias encaged 400 English actors and actreasoft Tor liis American ventures. . . . Hilda Spong h«« been engaged by Charles Frohman for Henry Millar during hi* forthcoming starring tour in America in "Joseph Entangled. . . A cable- reports that Percy Grainger, tho Melbourne pianiM, played with brilliant success in tho Tsclmikowsky concert at the Queeif'fl Hall a few days ago, and wns recalled ten times Reporting a concert at a Charity Bazaar in London of lute, a ladies' puper said : "After Miss had sung, Mr. — , of the Theatre, recited. Tho audience then rapidly dispersed." Surely Mr. Blank is not «o baa art nil tlutt? .... Louis Bradfield, who mado such a success in Australia nine* yenrs ago with the Gaiety Company, is singing nt the London Empire; he has a burlesque- of "Sammy," called "Snlly in tho Pit," supported by a chorus of 24 girls. . . . jJiavolo," tho celebrated "Looping the Loop" cyclist, will 'probably vteit Australia shortly. Combs and James, of tl»© American Travesty Stars, are negotiating with that object. . . . . French plays, well acted, are «o popular in London that the company lately performing nt tho Avenue Theatre hn» been engaged for another aenron there next yenr. ... It is reported that a series of realistic biogrnph pictures depicting the burning nnd sinking of tho American steamer General Slocum, nnd the drowning and rescuing of the unfortunate passengers, are- on their tfay to England for representation at a music hall. There's hilarity for you ! . . . . Ohnrlcß Pope is pUiying Chloo in Randford's version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Charles does not need any make-up. . . A new drama by Walter Howe, entitled M A Victim of Villainy," was produced by John A. Atkin and Walter flowc on August Bank Holiday at the Borough. Stratford. . . . . It i H announced that J. M. Barrio is writing a new plf# for Ellen T<rry, under the management of Charles Frohman. The work will exhibit the "modem feeling" shown in tho attitudo towards each other of n mother and daughter, and will 130 a xtraightforward play, in four ncte, without satire or fantasy The dentti is announced in America of Jnmcs Emmet, a very old-time minstrel, whuse. clnim to fame ia that ho wns the composer of "Dixie." Ho \vm 86 years old. . . It is reported that Dolly Castles, who i« .studying »ingiiiff in Paris with her sister, Amy Cuatks, has accepted a twelvemonths' engagement with J. C. Williamson's Comic tlpera Company Tho London livoli hnlauco-sheot for the past year shows a net profit of £7100, a decreaso of £2400 on 1902-3. Thte is accounted for in part by the exceptionally hot summer. . . . Alfred Dumpier produced "Tho Merchnnt of Venice" in Brisbane the other week. . . Uolnnd WnttaPhillips has been engaged ns a member o{ the Nellio Stewart Company, \yhiclj opeua i»i Melbourne in October^