STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 147, 22 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The Stanton Opera Company closed a three weeks' season at the Opera House last Saturday night, aud left on Monday for Napier, whei-e they are playing a four nights' season. The company started oft rather badly in Auckland, but rinisheid up ip splendid business, the house being crowded every night during the week of the Royal visit. "Dorcas," their concluding production, was a big success, and should have been put on first of all, instead of the somewhat flimsy "Wang." From Napier the Stanton Company proceed to Wellington, and thence South, afterwards crossing to Sydney for a twelve weeks' season there.

Last week was a record in the annals of Dixs Gaiety companies. The business was simply tremendous. The attendances at thy City Hall during the week may be yaug-ed from the sranouneement that the "takings" for the week exceeded by £150 any previous record! The aggregate takings in the four centres of the colony last week also constituted a record for the circuit.

Irene Franklin, the clever American comedienne who has been delighting the City Hall audiences during the past week or two, makes her last appearance to-night, prior to going South. She has made a great hit in Auckland, and is sure to catch on down South.

On Monday Miss Emmie Owen, a soubrette .singer and dancer, who made a hit in Australia in "The Scarlet Feather," iirivea from Sydney and makes her first appearance at the City Hall. The Haytor Family, who have been wonderfully popular in the South, are due here next Saturday.

Dixs Gaiety Company in Wellington celebrated its first anniversary last week. A facetious wire from the management describes the local manager, Mr Whaite, as "fuzzy," Mr Duval as "antipathetic," and the Haytors "Cornwallic" after the auspicious event. The last adjective is' distinctly good. It is to be hoped that medical aid was available to deal with the alarming complaints enumerated.

The opening of Williamson's Italian Opena Company in. Melbourne has evidently "been a great success. Mr J. C. Williamson seems to have produced "Aida" upon an immense scale, with beautiful scenery by Mr John (ioi-don, whose various tableaux of the Temple of Isis on the banks of the Nile, with a view of the pyramids dominating- the clear blue river, and of the gorgeous Consecration of Radames, are described as transcendently fine. Crowds of warriors, priests, musicians, dancers, and Moorish slaves contribute to a striking scene. Much praise is bestowed upon the new orchestra formed by Signor Hazon, and the long Egyptian, trumpets employed in the famous march of the second act told out with splendid effect in the processional scene. Signora Lina de Benedetto, the new Aida, is said to possess a brilliant upper register, and to be especially charming in soft passages; and an immense success was made by the new tenor, Commendatore Yincenzo Larizza. His powerful voice, with grea.t chest tones, carried up to the high B flat, vastly pleased the audience. Signora Marcomini, the new mezzo-soprano, acted dramatically as Amneris, Signor Travaglini's rich bass voice was again admired, and the whole production was warmly received.

Lately an Australian syndicate has been endeavouring (says Wellington "Post") to secure a twelve months' lease of a theatre in each of the four centres of the colony, with the view, it is understood, of trying the experiment of establishing a permanent service. The nature of the fare to be submitted, whether drama or opera, or both, is not yet known, as negotiations have not yet been concluded. It may be mere speculation,, but rumour gives it that as an effect of this, Mr J. C. Williamson will for the future send companies across regularly, and it is said that he is the purchaser of the Theatre Royal at Christchurch, which was put up under the hammer receiitlv.,

Thus the Hobart "Clipper";— Charles Arnold, who has been some 28 years before the public, has serious thoughts of retiring from the stage at the conclusion of his Australian season. Dad Lohr will probably, follow suit at the conclusion of his turn with Arnold. Charles, by the way, has, we hear, a nice little property in London, quite sufficient to live upon. Lohr still has his eye on that quiet little hotel that he has been dreaming- of for so long-. Trouble is that the hotel Lohr wants nmst have somewhere handy a little good shooting-, a little good fishing, a little good society, a little good scenery, and so forth—a hopelessly ideal hotel, such as "Daddy" is not likely to occupy this side of Heaven.

The prologue to Mascagni's latest opera "Masehero" is a queer one. A few lines of the overture are played, when the stage-manager rushes forward as if a mistake had been made, and explains that the author would like to have his piece explained to the public. Then the curtain rises, and discovers the actors with just a few finishing- touches of toilette to complete. To them enters the chief oomedian with the news that they are to mum a new piece by one Mascagni, of whom they have never heard, and after a pantomimic recital of the chief outlines of the story, with here and there an interjected thrill or snatch of melody by way of suggesting some of the principal numbers, each actor is formally presented with his "mask." The opera emulates the travesties of "La Fille de Madame Angot."

A Melbourne pressmen, who was over here in connection with the Royal visit, stated that the members of Musgrove's Grand Opera Company's orchestra are expected to play correctly, at sight, any music put before them. Any member of the orchestra who plays even two notes out of tune at a rehearsal is instantly dismissed. Perfect expression is not expected in reading at sight, but the music must be played correctly. If not, the performer is of no use to them, and out he has to go. This will give some idea of the quality of the musicians of which the orchestra is composed. The rehearsals generally last about nine hours a day. Slappoffski, the conductor, is said to be a born musician and a wonderful conductor. He gets very excited when conducting, and seems to infuse some of his tremendous energy into the whole performance.