MIMES AND MUSIC. [BY ORPHEUS.] COMING EVENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 3 (Supplement)

MIMES AND MUSIC. [BY ORPHEUS.] COMING EVENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Harry Rickards Company, from 3rd co 17th February (pencilled only). Maggie Moore Company, 27th February to 11th March. Pollards, 3rd April, for three weeks. ' It has been stated that Mr. Julius Knight, of the Knight-Ferrar Company, who returns to England in May, contemplates coming out to the colonies agair. at no distant date with a company of his own, but I can gain no confirmation of the rumour. A Maori opera, written and composed by two ex-Wellingtonians, Messrs. A. H. Adams and Alfred Hill, and now in the hands of Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove, .is likely to be produced in Sydney about the middle of March. Another Wellingtonian is going on the stage, Mr. P. A. Savieri, who has given promise of developing ability for the profession in the many amateur performances in which he has from time to time taken part. Mr. , Savieri left for Sydney by today's steamer, and his future career will be watched with interest. The Nelson Amateur Operatic Society has decided to become an operatic and dramatic society, with the idea of alternating drama with opera each year. A drama is to be put in rehearsal for production before April. Miss Hetty Tansloy leaves Dannevirke on the 30th inst. for South Africa, via Sydney, having (the Bush Advocate states) accepted a 12 months' engagement with the well-known Payne Family, wno after a season in South Africa will probably leave for a tour' through England. Mr. J. M. Clark, whose abilities as an elocutionist and an amateur actor are well known in Wellington, gave a humorous and dramatic recital in the Exhibition Hal 1 at Auckland last week, and is referred to as "a distinct acquisition to the corps of entertainers at the Exhibition," and a performer whose "genius is versatile." Mr. G. F. Titheradge, formerly of the Broughs, is to make a London appearance, having accepted an engagement to appear at the Court Theatre. Three scholarships, giving three years' free education at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at Adelaide, and for which New Zealanders are eligible, will be open for candidates applying^during the next two or three weeks. A new addition is just now being made to the Conservatorium, the main features of which will be a concert and examination hall to seat 1000 people, and fitted with a fine organ, with sound-proof teaching rooms underneath, and large rooms for chamber-music concerts. Mr. Musgrove is in New York, purchasing some new plays for " The Firm '" in Australia. Mr. Fred. Maccabe, ventriloquist and society entertainer, well known in the colonies, was, it is stated, until recently an inmate of Ormskirk Workhouse. i The "Forty Thieves" panto., which did not altogether " go " on its first pro duction in Sydney at Christmas by "The Firm," has been licked into more popular shape, and is now drawing well, and competing with " Matsa " and "Djin-Djin " as a money-maker. It will probably run into February, and I should not be surprised to find the Pollards annexing it for this colony later on. Friend Tom does not miss much that spells dollars. Miss Florence Perry, " The Firm's " newly-imported prima donna, has established herself a warm favourite in Melbourne. A yarn is going about that Mr. George Darrell has "acquired the rights" of the modern Mttnchausen de Rougemont, for appearance as the hero in a play of Mr. Darrell's own writing, to be produced lirst in London. A Darrell play, and George not the hero? I can't believe it. What will the limelight man find to do? The Fitzgerald Bros., at last advices, had planted their circus in Flinders-street, Melbourne, and were filling the big tent every night. They may be expected back in Maoriland during the year. That accomplished Australian, Mis 3 Ada Crossley, it is stated, has refused an offer by Messrs. Allan and Company of £100 per week for a concert season in Australia. The fair contralto, while pleased with the offer, concludes that it were wiser to remain a year or two longer "at home," and assure her position on the concert platform. News reached Australia by a recent mail that Miss Flora Graupner, who was a member of Messrs. Williamson a-nd Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company when it visited New Zealand, and gave us our first introduction to " The Gondoliers," was lying ill in a private hospital in Germany. The trouble was nervous collapse, from which a speedy recovery was hoped for. The dramatised version of the sequel to " The Prisoner of Zenda," entitled " Rupert of Hentzau," Avas successfully played at Philadelphia on 21st November by Mr. Daniel Frohman's company, headed by Mr. J. K. Hackett, who sustained tho leaSing part. According to the Paris Figaro, Mdme. Melba, who recently embarked for the Northern States of America, declined an offer to subsequently visit the Southern States, though she was offered £30/000 for a six months' engagement. At the London Savoy Theatre recently " The Sorcerer" attained its majority. Sir Arthur Sullivan conducted, and Mr. WilYnm Gilbert beamed benignly on the overflowing audience from a priv.uo box. There aave been exactly 6^53 Gilbert and Sullivan performances at the ■ Savoy, and the 6000 th is well in sight. "The Mikado" is far the most popular work of the series, as the following totab of performances at the Savoy show : ~ Mikado, 1147 ; Pinafore, 820 ; Gondoliers, 679 ; Yeoman of the Guard, 609 ; Patience, 577 ; Pirates of Penzance, 440 ; lolanthc, 398} Sorcerer (still running), 362 ; Ruddigore, 287 ; Princess Ida, 246 ; Utopia, Limited, 245 ; Grand Duke, 123. The disturbing question of the big theatre hat 'has at last been solved (writes Melbourne Punch). A dainty little hart for theatre wear has just appeared in America, which is a most remarkably novelty. It is a patented hat. The hat, when it makes its first appearance in the theatre, looks like any other fashionable small hat. But as soon as the woman who wears it is seated, the difference is immediately detected. For she puts up her hand, and, with the greatest ease, takes off the trimming. The trimming may be feathers, birds, or flowers. But whatever it is, it is so adjusted to the hat that it may be easily lifted off and transposed into a fan. In the arrangement of this trimming lies the secret of the patent. The hat after the trimming has been removed is not only effective and becoming, but it is so flat that in no wav can it obstruct the view of the stage. The removal of the trimming and the adjustment of the handle of the fan is exceedingly simple. It does not even require the aid of a mirror. | The Picton wharf is said to have been ! the scene of a general melee in the small hours of a recent night between the Woods' Dramatic Company, which was taking its departure by the steamer, and the wharf porters and several sympathisers. The trouble arose over the handling of the Company's luggage. The leading actor took exception to the way in which some of his property was chucked down by a porter, and on being defied (so the story goes) promptly knocked the latter J down. Then a general scrimmage ensued, in which about 30 men took part. The screaming «f ladies added to the din. Accounts differ j as to how the encounter ended, but the general verdict seems* 1 to be that the theatrical company "swept the board.,"-