STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 30, 4 February 1905, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Mr Williamson's •TBio-Tableau" (the latest of the new series of names for a cinematograph exhibition) is a really I welcome visitor. I cannot reall any en- | tertaminent that could be said to 'rival j this for all-round excellence, for variety, j and for the interest of its subjects. The artistic and inventive achievement of the opening evening was undoubtedly the Parisian "paticomime-"' (which, by the ■way, is to our pantomime as is the sun to a farthing candle), entitled "Suomarina." But the intellectual interest centred in the serious subjects, and especially a really excellent series of war pictures. The educative value of such a near approach to direct experience of incidents- in all quarters of the globe hardly needs enlargement. Mr Henry Braey vrill act as business manager of the J. C. Williamson Repertoire Company during its impending New Zealand tour. The Fisk Jubilee Singers will open at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, for a short seas.on on Monday, February 20. The combination are having a very successful tour so far, the new artistee coming in for special mention in the Southern papers. Sir Herbert Flemming, now in London, having completed arrangements for the Brough season in Australasia, is understood to be arranging for the advent of an "Earl ; s Court" exhibition upon five acres of land leased for the purpose in Melbourne. It is to be ready next Christmas. '■*• At Perth, recently, Pollards cast the pantomime of "The Forty Thieves" thus:—Ali Baba, Alf Stevens; Cogra, Harry Quealc-y; the Robber Chief, Nellie Wilson; Ganem, Olive Lenton; Lieutenant, ArthwT Crane; Fra Morgiana, Alice Pollard; and the Fairy Queen, Mat. Haggie. The Woods-Williamson Company is making its farewell tour of New Zea land, and it is understood that the company will disband at Gisborne. As stated recently, Mr Woods and Miss Williamson intend to try their fortunes in America. Mr William Anderson has booked the Dunedin Princes 3 Theatre for Boxing night, and onwards, of 1906, making the sixth year in succession Mr Auclerson hae secured these dates. Dunedin has been a wonderful town to the young Australian manager. A sensational divorce case is promised in Australian theatrical circles shortly, ii well-known actress being one of the principals. The Brough-Flemrning partnership have secured for production in Australasia "The Walls of Jericho," "Beauty and the Barge," "Quality Street," and "Little Mary." Miss Annie Abbott, the "Georgia Magnet," was again entertaining a. London audience on Boxing Day, having been secured for the Chelsea Palace for a sixnights' engagement. In tho last annual report of Barnum and Bailey, Limited, a profit balance of £69,125 is shown on the years working, and of this amount £30,000 is placed for wintering the animals. Keeping a circus in idleness is apparently no inconsiderable draw on the resources of a proprietor. Miss Tittel Brunes' acting in '■"Romeo and Juliet," produced the other day at the Melbourne Princess', is highly spoken of by the critics. Madame Lydia Yeamans Titus and Professor Titus, who passed through here on the last mail boat for America, intend returning to the Antipodes al the end of next year with a concert company of their own. Miss Marie Corelli has promised to write a play for an American manager. Stated that the champion wrestler, Hackenschmidt, draws £200 a week from Manager Harry Rickards. The repertoire of Mr J. C. Williamson's Opera Company, which is to commence a tour of New Zealand at Wellington in March, will consist of the fol- ! lowing Gilbert-Sullivan operas:—"Patience," "Pinafore," "Yeoman of the Guard," "Pirates of- Penzar.ce," and "Tbw Mikado." An attraction in itself should be the appearance of Mr Howard Vernon in all his old parts in these operas. The Wirtha open an extended New Zealand season in lnrercargill on Feb J rurry S. The musical comedy drama of the "Broken Melody" will be introduced u> colonial playgoers by M. Auguste Van Biene, the celebrated actor-mueician. who is now on his way from England ■with a specially selected company, and •will open in Auckland on March 27 th. The tour will be under the direction of. Mr George Musgrove. It is worthy of notice that "SubI marina," the remarkable pantomime ; shown on the _Bio-Tableau screen, was produced in Paris at an immense expense for the sole purpose of being re- | produced throughout the world by means of the cinematograph. Two hundred persons were engaged in the production. Tho George Stephenson Musical Comedy Company play a return season in Wellington, commencing on the 17 th inst. Miss Alice Hollander, in December, according to the "Era" successfully took lup the roie of Aurora in "Sergeant 'Brue, ,, at the Strand Theatre, which had been vacated by Miss Madge Lessing. The newcomer, who'is well known on the concert platform, quickly sang herself into favour (says' that paper), her rendering of "Never mind the weather," a new number in Liza Lehmonn's happiest vein, being much appreciated. Another new number, a prison trio entitled "Put mc in my little cell, , ' also met with much applause. Nance O'Neil, the Californian actress. Us having the fight of her life in New York for recognition as a star worthy of Broadway audiences. Dramatic critics of the dailies as a rule are unsparing in unkind remarks about her performances. It is a matter of easy* recollection, however, that other actresses have received a hostile reception there, but ultimately won out. She has a good backing, and means to persevere. The papers are very severe, however, and don't stand at trifles. One New York daily says her performances of Magda kept the audience "tossed between amusement and amazement/ Pinero's play, "A Wife Without a Smile," which caused a sensation in London a few months ago, because of the questionable antics of a dancing doll, was presented recently at the* Criterion Theatre. New York, for the first time in America. So much was said about the doll, and so much adverse criticism was created by its gyrations, that, at the la.rh moment, the manager of the production cut its antics out, and the play proved lifeless snd dull. The whole story lacked point, and the witticisms and sarcasm which would otherwise .have carried it to success, proved pointless. The final curtain feD in silence. The story, which has to do with a husband who tries by every means in his power to make his wife laugli, is well conceived, but without the doll incident, upon which it is based, it is apparently dismal. The. oast was excellent, but accomplished little. The play had a comparatively short run of eighty performances ia London,

Millie Porkina, who has been engaged by Williamson for 25 concerts in Australia with a specially selected concert party, was a through passenger "by the Sierra on Tuesday. She made several appearances with Mclba in America, the i great diva, playing the accompaniment ! of her first song in her native city, Kan|s&3. Melba has been one of Parkina's ; guardian aiigels since lier earliest ap- . pearances in London after her four years' study with Marchesi, and Melba has j sung duets with her on different ocI easions. She has also sung with Cross- ' ley and other colonial singers of note. ! She goes back to London to Covent i Garden opera parts, like Sybald, on her j return - to England after six weeks in ' Australia. Her ambition 3s to sing in ■ opera, and most of her song 3 are operatic ; " THE DEADHEAD. BANDS AND BANDSMEN. (By Presto.) Lost Sunday afternoon the Auckland bands were to have given a massed band ; performance in the Domain, but owing • to the inclemency of the weather only > about 100 people and half the bandsmen ventured out; so it was decided to postpone it until next Sunday, if possible. The bandsmen assembled, under Lieut. Mohr, played "Constellation" twice > through and then dispersed. On the ' same day J>evonport Band were to have , opened their new band rotunda, but ! owing to the state of the weather this function was also postponed till to- . morrow. While on tni3 subject I may , say how surprised I was at the rotunda the Borough Council have erected. It ; is about the most hideous thing I have ever seen, standing on rough tarred • house piles, -with a flooring and rails on > top, and without rooi or any protection • for a breeze or rain. 1 The Garrison Band played the fololowing programme on board the Vie- ■ toria, the flagship for the Anniversary , Regatta: "Herb," "Gay Paris," "Brit- : annia," "Plus Que Reine," "Royal Cor--1 inthian," "Coonlaud," "Blue Danube," ; 'Darkies' Revels," "Crown of Victory," • "De La Reine," "Nantical," "Southern Cross." The No. 1 Battalion Band were engaged for the Ngapuhi on Monday last, journeying to Waiwera. This band is also playing at the First Battalion camp to-morrow afternoon in the Domain. For the benefit of those at a distance L propose giving a synopsis of the week's programme for the contest week, so that those who cannot attend all the events will be able to select their favourite nights: Monday—9 a.m., baritone solo; 2 p.m., Eb bass solos; 7 p.m., euphonium solos. Tuesday—9 a.m., BBb bass G. trombone solos; 2 p.m., fiugal horn solos; 5.30 p.m., first test .selection, "La Straniera." Wednesday —9 a.m., Bb bass solos; 1.30 p.m., grand Mayoral reception and garden party on the Domain. Bands to muster on the grounds at 1 pjn. sharp. 6.30 p.m., quartettes and trombone trios. Thursday — s) a.m., Bb trombone solos; 2 p.m., 15b iiorn solos; 7 p.m., Bb cornet solos. Friday—9 a.m., Eb cornet; afternoon, 'rest 55 ; 5 p.m., final test selection, "Gems of Mendelssohn." Saturday— Morning, "rest"; 1.30, gteat military marching competition on the Domain Cricket Ground. Bands to muster on the grounds at 1 p.m. sharp. The Trass and side-crum contest will Lake pla.ee directly after the .marching competition is over. My readers will see at a glance they are in for a real musical treat. I have it on the very best authority that/ the three champion*, Wellington Garrison, Wang&nui , Harrison, and Kaikorai bands, are practising every night in the week, and . aearly all day Sunday, so determined , are they to be up to the standard for i i.his contest, and so keen is the fight I to be. Wiih, regard to the solo CGinpetitiuns, ail I can say is that Aucklanders are in for hearing soiner thing they have never beard before. • Measra Buckley (Wanganui) and Parker (Wellington), New Zealand eham- • pion cornet players (and the former th« . cb-iimpion JBii soprano comet player of i Australasia), are both competitors for . the Bb cornet solos, while in the JEb i ij-omet division Messrs W. Sneddon (of' I the Wellington Garrison), W. Nicholls • (of Hastings), both good men, are I. playing, while we have a local man, Mr S. Hunter, who is playing splendidly, • and I shall be much surprised if he does ) not give a good account of himeelf. > Coming to the euphoniums, we have in • the No. 1 Battalion the second prize • winner last year, Mr E. Whittle, and 5 he should make the pace merry for that I event this year, but, of course, it must . be remembered that neither Wellington ■ nor Wanganui were competitors at last i year's contest;, and they both have • splendid men on these instruments, i Donaldson, of the Wellington Garrison, : being champion of Australasia, and ' Gray, of Wanganui, is fairly well coveTed with medals, so that this eventwill be very keenly fought. The trombone solo will be a fine item, such players as Dan Boyd, of Kaikorai, Lamb and Sly, of Wanganui. Andrews, of Wellington, Harold Taylor, of No. 1 Battalion, and o-thexs are reifl first-cla-s3 men. One mac I should have liked to see competing in this event is A. Artingstall, of the Aucklan-d Garrison Band, who has gained nine medals, and is the champion of Australasia on that instrument, "but who, with that commendable spirit, has taken on the euphonium for his band to help them out of a difficulty. The quartette and trombone trios ■will be a grand evening's enjoyment after the garden party on Wednesday. To those v,-ho hold that a brass band is too loud, I would ari- ! vise them come this night, for they will hear euch men as Waaganui and Wellington can some of the finest music ever Britten. Mr E. J. B. Holben, secretary of the North Island Brass Band Association, of Palmerston North, is in town. The Ksikorai Band, having entered for the Auckland contest, is leaving no ; atone unturned to retain the laurels gained at the Palmerston North contest last year, when it secured first prize in the test selection and the quick step (says the Dunedin "Evening Star"). The band leaves Dunedin on February 9. In addition to the attention being given to the selections and march, twenty-one members of the Kaikorai Band? aro preparing for the various aolo ' competitions. The trip is estimated to j cost. £250, and the band has raised j £200 for the purpose from Sunday open- \ air concerts, donations and other en- ' gagements. The band has also ordered new uniforms, at a cost of £150. to be I ready in time for tho contest, and it is 4 expected to raise fciUs amount during ! the winter show vrcex from a carnival. which the baud intends to hold in conjunction with The Otago Football Association.