MIMES AND MUSIC. [By Orpheus.] COMING EVENTS. OPERA HOUSES.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

MIMES AND MUSIC. [By Orpheus.] COMING EVENTS. OPERA HOUSES.

Durward Lely, 19th to 25th May (with jptionof 18th). Amateur Operatic Society, early in June. EXCHANGE) HALL. Gladys Leigh Dramatics Company, to-night. The Festival Choral Society has lately reseived a magnificent addition to its library, noluding full vocal aud orchestral parts of 'The Speotre's Bride,' « Bleat Pair of Sirens,' (Parry), ' The Rose of Sharon ' (Mackenzie), and some smaller works ; the cost of whioh has been subscribed by the President (His Honour Sir James Preudergaat) aud a few other friends of the Society. ' The Spectre's Bride,' that marvellous work whioh made so great an impression at the festival of four years ago, will be given this year, as will also Gade's fine work ' The, Crusaders ' and Handel's 'Judas Maooabeeus,' which are both in aotive rehearsal. The Society will be glad to welcome a few additional singers to its ranks. Mr. R. Parker is making arrangements to continue during the coming winter the chamber concerts which were so much appreciated last year. The new teiies will begin at the end of May or early iv June, and the concerts will be given at intervals of a fortuight. Further selections will be given from the works of Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Schumann , and in addition to these rooro familiar masters, certain evenings will be devoted to lesser known composers, including tho Scandinavians Niels. Gade and, Edward Grieg, the Germans Rheinberger, Jensen, and Rnff ; the Slav composers Rubinstein and Tchaikowsky, and others. It is also probable that an evening will be given to the two giai.ts, Bach 'and Handel, who ttand side by side at the threshold of modern music. Biographical and descriptive notes will be funnshed at each concert by Mr. Parker, who will be assisted iv the musical performances by several of our beat wugers and players. Mr. Pringle, to whose prood management the success of the former series whs in no small measure due, will again act as honorary secretary. The greut Albani made her linal appearances in Australia in the soprano parts in tho 'Messiah' aud 'Elijah,' which were performed by the Sydney Philharmonic Society on the 16th and 18th inst. Enthusiastic Sydneyitos rolled up in tremendous force, and made no socret of their appreciation of the renowned singer's talents. Next Wednesday a revival of the weekly 'Pops,' which proved suoh money makers a few winters ago, is to be inaugurated on lines which, if carried out as told to me, ought to ensure their instant success. Mr. Bland Holt and his company, when the last mail left, were in the throes of a successful Sydney season of 'The Cotton King,' which was played during the last Wellington visit. Prof. Kennedy, the mesmerist, who last passed through New Zealand with a troupe of educated horses and mules, is repeating his hypnotic entertainments in Melbourne. Miss Jennie Reiffarth, who gave such a clever sketch as Madame Vinard in 'Trilby,' is making successful appearances ns Mother Rosenbauer in a drama, 'Th 9 Great Diamond Robbery,' now playing in New York. It is understood that The Firm is arranging for a season of opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, at the close of Mr. Wilson Barrett's appearances. Sydney theatrical managers clubbed together to give the veteran actor Mr. Lachlan M'Gowan, who now lies ill at Charters Towerd ' the most stupendous entertainment ever given in Sydney.' Every company playing in Sydney was to contribute something to the programme of the entertainment, whioh was to have taken place in the form of a matinee at Her Majesty's Theatre on the-22nd' inst.' - Mr. Walter Spong, the well-known scenic artist and father of the fair Hilda, who went to London some time back, has had two water - colour pictures of Egyptian scenes accepted by the Royal Institute of Water Colours. The coming theatrical sensation, according to the Bulletin, will be the trial of an action shortly in one of the Australian provinces, in which plaintiff (a manager) aues defendant (a much-married squatter) to recover damages for the alleged abduction of a burlesque beauty, who, he claims, was under a professional engagement to him, the manager. Nat Goodwin, the actor, and Miss Maxime Elliott, leading lady of his company when \n Australia last year, were married in Dleveland, Ohio, in February. Three weeks Defore Mr. Goodwin had received official lotification that his former wife had livorced him. By the decree he was prohibited from marrying again during the ife of his divorced wife, but this prohibiion, while legally operative in New York, ias no effect in Ohio — auch is the convenience of American law. ' The Second Mrs. Tanqueray ' has arrived in Berlin. Mr. Forbes Robertson and Mrs. Patrick Campbell played the piece in the German capital in March with 2onspicuouß success. A previous translation, under the title of ' The Second Wife,' was condemned by the critics. 'All the prouder,' says the Daily News correspondent, 'may Mrs. Campbell be, therefore, of her success, which was personal in every respect. Her Mrs. Tanqueray is not a woman whose doubtful past is felt and guessed at in her whole behaviour and manners, but she lends the character a cerbttiu sentimental tenderness which appealod to the sympathy of the public' The fine old actor, Mr. H. R. Harwood, who died at Melbourne last week, waß a great sufferer by the recent financial crash in the Southern capital, and since that period has been in indifferent health, his chief ailment being cardiac asthma. Mr. Hnrwood's name has been associated with tho Australian stage for many years. He was a member of Harwood, Stewart, Hennings, and Coppin, whose management of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, extended over ten years. He was of the utmost value aa a stock actor to vißiting companies, and fulfilled many important Shakespearian engagements. He was in the cast of 'Tambour Major' when that opera had its unprecedented run in Melbourne of 100 nights. Latterly he was associated with the Brough and Boucicault combination, and under engagement to Mr. Frank Thornton he impersonated Mr. Cattermole in ' The Private Secretary ' with the utmost success. His last appearance in New Zealand and Australia was with tho American { Trilby ' Company as Little Billee's reverend ancle. Mr. George Rignold's dog Rex was the Bubject of a recent action in the Sydney District Court. George Taylor and hin wife, Anne Maria Taylor, claimed £100 damages for injuries alleged to have been sustained owing to Mrs. Taylor having been bitten by the dog, which was described as a ' theatrical artist.' It was stated that as Mrs. Taylor was walking along the street, Rex attacked her and bit her on the left hip. As the result of the attaok, besides suffering personal injuries, her clothes were damaged, and the shock had caused the return of an internal complaint from which Bhe was still suffering. For her personal injuries Mrs. Taylor claimed £65, and for the damage to her clothing £5. Mr. Taylor claimed £30 for being deprived of the services and assistance of his wife. Mr. Rignold expressed his sorrow for what had taken place. He offered to make good the damages to Mrs. Taylor's wearing apparel, and to pay any reasonable expenses for attendance to her personal injuries. The defendant paid the sum of £2 into court in (satisfaction of the plaintiffs' claim. After hearing the evidence, Judge Backhouse awarded plaintiff £30 over the amount paid into court, and gave the husband £2 damages, with coat*-