THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2237, 14 January 1897, Page 39

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Br Pafquin. Tuesday, January 5. • . • In consequence of Mi«s Irene Carlyon's illnee;, the dramatic ea&sou whidh Mr Barrie I Marscbel bad intended to opsn at the City j Hall last week was abandoned for the present. ' . * We are glad to learn that arrangements in i connection with the George Ward benefit are ! prcgresfing mo»t satisfactorily. Everyone '< seeing to be of opinion that it is a very proper j and fitting thing that "Old George " should I hare a benefit after 34- yearn, and as he has now ; pftgsed the allotted span of life (three score and i ten), and feels age telling considerably on his sight and hearing, his friends and well-wishers will certainly leave no stone unturned to secure him a bumper bouse. Mr Barrio' M»rschel is going to play "Cramoud Brig," supported by a Very strong caste, as his contribution to the entortdiumeiifc. { ■ . • Prof. Ilmifimanr), of Gow ar,d Hausmann, has anirnd in Dunediu to make arrangements for the exhibition of Edison's kinem&tograph, which it is claimed is the only genuine one in t,h« colonies. The whole machinery is worked by electricity, and the electric light is used for j (h* pictured. I • . • The Woods'e Dramatic Company were to | open at the Christchurch Royal in " Hands Across the Bea " on Monday night. • . • Miss Bessie Doyle, the clever young Australian violinist, who paid New Zealand a y\h\\ a year or two back, and who wan lait before the London public as Miss Eileen O'Moort, has married, and it is said will nob again appear as it professional. j • . •It is slated that " The S ; gn of the Cros3 ! "has in Great Britain alone drawu between £150,000 and £200,000 during its career, which has now extended over 1000 performances. • . *Mr Sims Reeves, according to a correspondent, has met with a great sucsess iv South Africa. At hie farewell appearance in Johannesburg the rueh for seats commenced at early as half-past 7 o'clock, and by 8, an hour before the time at which the concert started, there was scarcely one available Still tbe f rowd flocked into tho grounds, with the result that passages and doorways as well were packed. Many were turned away at the Rate. • The veteran tenor had a splendid reception. He give as his first song "My pretty Jane," wbich evoked enthusiastic applause. On his necond appearance he fairiy took the audience by surprise by hit artUtic aud spirited rendition of the " Bay of Biscay." He was twice rsnailed, and finally responded with " The jolly young waterman." Mr Sims Reeves is a wonderful man, and bis re-marriage seems to have given him a fresh lease of life. • . • So intimately i« the version by Leopold Lenis of " Le Jaif Polonais :: associated with the fortunes of Sir Henry Irving that it was natural he should give sorno distinction to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the day of its prodnction. It in a matter of common knowledge tnat although on November 25, 1871, Sir Henry bad made his mark, ifc was the p»rt of Mathixs which distinguished him from the rest of the able players of the day, and was the foundation of his extraordinary career. The revival at the Lyceum of "The Bells" attracted there all Sir Henry's friends. ■ . * On one ocosiod, as Miss Terry was returning from rehearsal, she saw on the pavement a little ragged girl of eight, weeping bitterly. In a moment the great actress stopped her brougham, jumped out, and inqaired what was the matter. " I wanted to see Mis 3 Terry act," said the little girl, "aud I'd saved fruppence, and now mother's took it." " Nevei' mind," said Miss Terry, hastily pencilling on one of her cards, " go to the theatre to-morrow night, and give them thi«, and you will be let in." " Truth ? " exclaimed the little girl, in wonderment. "Yes" said Miss Terry, "it is quite true." And next night the sole occupant of the stage box at the Lyceum was that little ragged girl. • . • A South African reporter, who dropped on Mr Sims Reeves the other day, was carious to know why he had never before sang out of Europe. The great tenor promptly replied that od two occasions, he had accepted offers and signed contracts to sing in America. With f isk he had signed a contract to sing at 100 concerts for £30,000, and after he had sent it to him for his signature he heard that Fisk was shot in New York. The second time was with Hartog, and she died of cholera iv Chnrleslown. •»• "A laughable incident occurred some years ago," aays a writer in a Home paper, " when I was touring with a melodramatic company. We were playing a 'blood-and-thunder' type of drama, for the first time, in a small provincial town, and tho viliiin of the piece had just reached an important point in the play, where be had to ejaculate, 'Ha,! I hear the hareb. voice oi the tyrant ! ' Scarcely had the words left bis mouth when a baby, someTriwre in the galtery, set up * ohrill scream.

j Unfortunately the audieuco inatantiy caught. ' ' tho humour of the situation, and bunt into a { roar of laughter. The unlucky ' villain ' retired ; in confusion, aud we plmyed a different piece on the following evening."