DRAMATIC NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11580, 11 May 1903, Page 9

DRAMATIC NOTES.

('Weekly Press and Referee.") •Mr Edward Lloyd, the famous tenor, now touring Ai_itralia, is an amateur farmer in his spare time at.horne —also a regular church-goer. When he first.started to sing in tho village church opinions as to the result varied amongst the worshippers. "It's a great gain," the clergyman said to one old lady, "to have so fine a singer as Mr Lloyd in the church." "Aye!" said the dame, rather grudgingly. " 'E do sing loud—'c do." "Yes, and a voice of such magnificent quality," added thcpastor. '"But 'c do sing loud," the old lady still protested. "'E do sing that loud 1 can't no longer 'ear myself "nm." Herr Hans yon Wolzc.gen. the enthusiastic Wagnerian, lias compiled 1 a list of the Wagnerian operas which wore performed during last year in Europe. Altogether there were 1339 representations of the music dramas, 1028 being given in tlie Fatherland. Of the. 311 given outside Germany, 45 were staged at Stockholm. 44 at Paris, and only 23 in London, including those sung in English by the Moody-Man-ners Company. "Lohengrin" and "Tannhauser" were by far tlie most, popular of the works represented, the "Dutchman" and the "Waikyrie" coming next at an interval of 100 performances behind the other two. The public, even in Germany, do not, therefore, support the theory of those superfine critics who aver that "Lohengrin" and "Tannhauser" arc utterly unworthy of the muster, and that he is only to be really gauged by tlie "Ilheingold," or the "Twilight of the Gods."

Tlie Neill-Frawley Company will make its initial appearance in Australia, under the management of Mr J. C. Williamson, tit Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday, May 30th. For many years past Messrs Neill ar..d Frawley have ranked among the leading actor-managers of the United States, a:ad tho present tour marks their first attempt at extending their reputation. A specially (selected company of over twenty favourite American artists will cotr.o to Australia under the personal directorship of Mr Frawley, who will take the leading roles, supported by Miss Mary Van Vtrren. Many new dramas and comedies will be presented..

Mr M. St. Leon, the oldest circus proprietor in Australia, died very suddenly on April 15th at Oakleigh, where he had been living for some feme with a married daughter. Tho deceased, who was 84 years of age, was apparently in good health, and had just lighted a cigarette, when he turned round, made an exclamation, and dropped dead. He was. c, remarkably clever trainer of animals, and only recently had been negotiating for on engagement with Messrs Wirth Brothers, with whose father he was associated in tho circus business forty years ago. Two sons of the deceased are travelling with Harnu.ton's circus in India.

News arrived by the last San Francisco mail of the death at Oaklands, California, of Mr Wallace King, the coloured singer, who .so often in days gone by delighted Christchurch audiences with his fine ballad singing. Mr King had been in ill-health for a long time. When in Wellington last year he broke down while under engagement to Mr P. R. Dix, but struggled back to a semblance of health, and managed to reappear for a season. Subsequently 1« was assisted back to his native State, which he reached apparently only in ti_ie to d : e. ;

Writes "'The Bulletin's" London correspondent:—The most overcrowded raft on London's turbid sea is the concert platform, and, though there is ever room at the top, Melbas and Crossleys do not leave Australia by every weekly mail-boat. "The" openings for bright* Australiennejs ore the musical comcdV stage, and tlie good class music halls. " The girl from "Down Under" has the pull over 'her English sister in quickness and subtlety of intelligence, and she is not 60 "boundish" as tlie typical American. Edna May is more Australian than Yank in style, and. Australia has many like her. In the "North American Review Leoncavallo gives an account of his early struggles, which culminated in the production of "Pagliacci," the work with which his name Is principally associated. He admits that, the success of Mascagni's "Cnvalleria Rusticana" started him upon the path which led to success. In __ younger days he hud been a wanderer over the face of the earth; he had written much and had knocked at the doors of many opera houses in vain. "After the success of 'Cavalleria.'" he says, "I last all patience, and I shut myself up in sheer desperation, resolved to make a last struggle. In five months I wrote the words and music of 'Pagliacci.'" Mdme. Sarah Bernhardt has appeared in another masculine character at her Paris theatre, viz., as the Werthcr of Goethe's melancholy work, expanded by M. Cecourcclle into five-act play. It has not altogether pleased French teste. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily News," describing the production, says:—"The play is full of the rusticities of tho Little Trianon. We find in it a pretty village that has its 'Bailli,' and a young girl simple, frank, and natural as a field flower, and just as refined. One can recognise in her Charlotte Steiubach, who is betrothed to an excellent man of her own station, which is that of a well-born family. The falling in love with her is repeated in the play, but the playwright has given a loose run to has imagination in the drive with Charlotte on the sultry evening to the fete champetre, the intoxicating waltz at the end of which Werther kisses her hand with transport, and her eyes overflow with tears. There is another dance at the Bailli Steinbtich's house, to amuse the little brothers and sisters of Charlotte. She and Werther again spin round to the music of a violin. Mdme. Sarah Bernhardt, in an eighteenth century suit, too fine, perhaps, for the condition of Werther, dances with grace, and is an accomplished cavalier. Still, she is not quite satisfactory as a young lover. She has fuller play for her dramatic talents later."

"There is nothing new under the sun. Still less co under the footlights," writes an old Thespian to a London paper. "1 thou gut till the other day that the custom of booking seats for the play or concert was quite a modern institution. Quite the contrary! I have just read an old journal par. which tells mo 'At Richmond Wells tomorrow being the 12th of August (1703), By the Request of several Persons of Quality will be a great Consort of Mustek (Mr Liford and Mr Weldon will perform several new Songs) all composed on purpose for this entertainment by the said Mr Weldon. Beginning exactly at Five o'clock in v.evening and to end at Seven because of the Dancing after. Five shillings a Ticket, and to be had at White's Chocolate House and Garaway's Coffee House. The Tide serves at seven o'clock in ttie Morninz and light nights.' Theatres and entertainments generally begani at early hours in those days, for I read about the came period how 'Her Majesty's (good Queen Anne's) servants of the Theatre Royal being returned from the Bath, etc., And whereas the audiences have been incommoded by the Plays usually beginning too late, the company of the said Theatre do therefore give notice that they will constantly begin at Five o'clock without foil.'"