STAGE AND STUDIO.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 202, 28 August 1886, Page 5

STAGE AND STUDIO.

[By Ent_r__.]

The Cogill Minstrels aro on the West Coast of the South Island.

An improvement, though slight, is reported in tho health of Messrs W. Hoskins and J. H. Deorwyn at Melbourne.

Mr A H. Burton,'of Duncdir, has resolved to start at onco for England with his pano rsma of the Hot Lakes district.

The musical critic of the " World " (Dr. Louis Engel) says that Sir Arthur Sullivan is hard at work composing his Leeds oratorio.

Aatatemont is printed in the Paris"Figaro" that, "pwingto the demand of too high a sum, M, Nicolini and Mdmo. Patti had to resign themselves to tho absence of a dispensation from the Pope."

• Just before hia death Liszt wrote to ono of our Engliah composers—Mr Mackenzie -^volunteering to write a transcription for the pianoforte of some of tho principal melodieß in his new opera, " The Troubadour."

<_n his journey through Paris to St Petersburg, M. Rubenstein, it is said, informed a friend that his net profits in tho 106 " historical" and other recitals which be had given since last October amounted in round numbers to £20,000.

Another new play, entitled " Diana," odapted from tho Itolian by Mr Wybort Reeve, has been produced at tho Melbourne Bijou. There is a Btrong suspicion of tho farcical element in it. Signora Majoroni rests the brunt of tho.comedy.

The Sheridan season, at tho Theatre Royal,.. Wellington, closed with the play "The Fool's Revenge." The Company jb now in Christchurch, where their season ends to-night.-

, The NuggetThearto, Melbourne, originally " Tbo Polyteohnio " Hal), is now entirely in the hands of the Freethinkers and Secularists, headed by Mr Josoph Symos, who will shortly obtain complete possession of the building.

The Alexandra Theatre, in Exhibitionstreot,Melbourne, is fast approaching completion, and will, it ia said, be opened by a Captain de Burgh from Capetown, for a phort preliminary dramatic season prior to the grand, oporo season to be inaugurated by Mr- Ma'f tin Simonson on his return with his Italian Opera Company from Italy. A Mr Henry Clapeott, 8.A., is giving liberies of lectures at the Athomeum Hall, Melbourne, and an exhibiiiin by the aid of oxyhydrogen light of photographic views illustrating the fire zone of Now Zoalnnd, and views of the Pink and White Terracos and buried villages, before and after the recent volcanic outbreak.

In spite of most execrable weather _uring nearly* the whole of their atay, the Rignold Company drew good houses in the Cathedral City. The season in Dunedin opened lust Monday, and according to an exchange, tbe indefatigable Liddy has the town from tbe Grand Hotel to the smallest beerahop billed quietly, but firmly.

Prince Biamarck is (says " Figaro ") to bo the horo of a now comic opera written by the well-known pianist, M. de Kontski, and shortly to be produced in New York for tho benefit of the Poles whom tho German Chanoellor has driven from their home 3. The opera is said to illustrate the tyranny of Prince Bismarck, the expulsion of the Poles, and the beneficent freedom of America.

Mr Alfred Maltby has arrived in Australia under engagement to Messrs Williamson, Garnor and Musgrove. He is the author of several farcical comedies, and tor the past ten yeara haa designed the principal costumes for pantomimes and opera bouffes. He bas proceeded to Sydney to play in conjunction with Mr Henry St Maur. A Melbourne journalist wails over tho doings of a number of depraved patriarchs from Adelaide—"the city of eternal snuffle." "I never go to the Melbourne theatres," he says, " without seeing io the front rows.especially with operabouffc, a number of well-nigh hairless old gentlemen from Adelaide, drinking in the Bpioy bye-words, and gloating over the eight ef the fair lassos in dishabille."

Before the poge which narrates Mdme. Patti's wedding ia finally closed, it may be oj interest (says an English paper) testate that the register of Ystradgynlais Church is signed —

Adelina Jeanno Mario Patti, Bpinstcr, of full ago, lyric artißt. Ernest Nicolini, bachelor, of full age, lyric artist. " Maritana " has been successfully revived In the Victorian metropolia with Mias Col-bourne-Bober in the title r6le. The new prima donna possesses a fine soprano voice, And having a very attractive appearance she made an excellent impression. She showed throughout tho possession of both vocal and dramatic talent. Miss Melville was at her best as the page Lazarillo, and Mr Armes Beaumont as Don Ca;sar de Basan, recalled tbe most favourable memories of his many former successes, though he was not in the best of voice. Signor Verdi appeared oa Don Josfe.

When Mr Rignold announced "Faust" to the Christchurch public, he took the singular precaution to notify that the public should " regard the play in the light of an allegory, ond not deem the devilish sarcasm placed in the mouthof Mephistopheles as impious." Two Scotchmen, however, were overheard diacussing the merits of the piece. One of them wished to convince tho Either that there was nothing immoral about Mr'Rignold's "Faust" as distinguished from other Fauste his companion hod eeen, bo ho said, " Ye ken this is not the same play— Bignold's is the scriptural Faust and Marguerite. There are three scenic artists in Wellington nt the present time, namely, Messrs Willis, N. Thornton, and W. Nicholson, and it is probable that the former will have the scone-painting fer To Aro Theatre For Sloan's Theatre, Invercargill, Mr E. L Williams, who came to thia colony from Victoria with the " Silver King Company, has just finished a new drop-scene to take the place of the well-known view on the Wanganui river—plus Mount Egmont, its first and only appearance in that locality. It represents tbe Lake of Coma. A atory of Miss Mary Anderson comes from America. While she was rehearsing the part of Juliet nn eminent physician, an intimate friend, was present. The performance delighted him till towards the conclusion of the play, when hia countenance wore a troubled expression. When it was over he went up to the actress. "My dear young lady," he said, "you are wrong in one of your effects. Don't you kßow that a corpse doesn't stiffen for at least six hours after death?'' "My dear doctor," responded Mary slowly, speaking in deep, rich tones, and adopting a strong American twang, "do you think I'm going to keep my audience waiting for six hours while I ttiffen I" Amongst notable books about to be published are the following :—Mr G. A. Sola's autobiography, by Messrs Bentley, in a few weeks. " Tho Songs of Scotland," by Mr j. D. Ross, who has been engaged upon tho work for some years. It will contain 700 of the most popular songs from the time of King James V. onwards, and memoirs of the writers, notes, and glossary. A life of the late Mr W. E. Forater, by T. Wemyss Beid, author of " Gladys Fane," from the very abundant materials left by the late statesman. " Personal Reminiscences of Thomas Carlyle," by Prof. Charles E. Norton, of Harvard, in the " New Princeton Review." Mr Norton was on the most intimate terms with Carlyle, ond was also in the habit of making notes of their conversations. . During the Rignold seasou at Christchurch some little sensation was causod in one of tho main streets by an episode of a rather uncommon character. It seems that a man residing in the vicinity, who was either administering correction to his wife or engaged in a tussle with her, became a little too vigorous, and was in tho act of beating her severely, when a popular actor of stalwart proportions (evidently tho athletic Goorge himself) happened suddenly to ftppoar on the scene. This gentleman, with more chivalry than discretion perhaps, immediately espoused the cause of the oppressed female, and dealt the aggressor a mighty blow. The consequence was an immediate flow of human gore, and the husband, thus uncoremoniou _y interfered with, had his attention diverted from the wife of bis boaom to his nasal organ. At Rockhampton, Pearelle and Hording a Opera Company lately gave a Sunday evening sacred concert, for the benefit of two women who had been suddenly widowed. £40 was realised, but church and stage fell fot.l of each other over the affair. A local clergyman, preaching on the Sunday evening, told any of his hearers who wero awake not to go to the concert that night. The play-acting people were merely doing the thing to gain a littlo cheap notoriety, and it was a desecration of the Sabbath. Before tho opera commenced next evening, Searolle prasented himself before the curtain, and retaliated upon his reverend assailant by saying, " Let bis or kindred congregations, give an entertainment for the same laudable purpose on any day of the weok, and the chances are that the results will be a paltry £5," True enough,