MIMES AND MUSIC,

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 47, 23 August 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

MIMES AND MUSIC,

£By Orpheus.]

COMING EVENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

Pollard Opera Company, to 23rd August.

Uerardy Concert Company, 28th, 29th, and 30th August. George Musgrove Company, 18th October to 6th November.

J. C\ Williamson Company, 7th to 22nd November.

Willoughby-Geach Company, 24th November to 6th December. , Charles Holloway Company, 26th December to 22nd January, 1903. Frank Thornton Company, 24th February to 14th March, 1903. J. C. Williamson Company, 11th April to 2nd May, 1903. Hawlroy Comedy Company, 4tk to 30th May, 1903.

THEATRE ROYAL. P. R. Dixs Vaudeville Company, permanent.

The Sydney Telegraph gives the following as the correct interpretation of an obscure eablegrnni received and published recently: — Madame Sarah Bernhardt, the celebrated French tragedienne, has accepted for production iv France n new play written bj Mr. Haddon Chambers, the Australian dramatist, translated into French for tho purpose. Mr. George Musgrove, of the Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, now on his way back to Australia, has secured the exclusive Australian rights in this play, as well ns of others written by Mf. Chambers, and Miss Nellie Stewart will create the principal female part on its production in Australia.

Mr. Frank Thornton's Comedy Company x is now playing at Brisbane for a season, and after that will visit Melbourne again, Tasmania, and New Zealand. A return season will be played in Sydney about next Easter.

The Sydney Liedertafel, after' a long period of consideration, will shortly settle the appointment of a conductor, to fill the position vacated by Mr. Alfred Hill.

The dramatic company organised by Mr. Williamson hns starlet! nuspieiously with n. production of "Sherlock Holmes" at Perth,' Mr. H. Plimmer appearing as Conan Doyle's famous detective ; nnd tho company is now playing "A Still Alarm," which,- lias an American reputation, and a sensational fire station scene, to recommend it. Before "Sherlock Holmes" is presented in Melbourne next month, Mr. Cuyler Hastings will arrive from America to present the detective hero. Mr. Hastings succeeded Mr. Win. Gillette in the character in th# States, nud ho was specially engaged by Mr. Williamson's New York representative for the Australian season. Tho drama will not be seen in Sydney until October next.

The effect of the drought was experienced in a peculiar way by a travelling theatrical company in a country town in New South Wales a. few weeks ago. Bills in letters of rainbow hues, seating forth the supreme taknts of the organisation, were plentifu.ly plastered all over tho town. "Thnt will fetch 'em," said the gleeful advance representative It did. A few hours later a large number of the picturesque posters had disappeared. There had been no rain, and tho "man ahead" was puzzled, nnd vengeful. The disappearance- of tho bills was attributed to the small boy. " 'Taint 'bhoys,' " snid tho police, "it's cows." "Cows," shrieked the agent. "What kind of cows?" "Just Jmngiy ones," was the answer. Even whrle this discussion went on a cdw was detected "in flagrante delicto" licking the bills off the Wall to get a meal out of tho paste. Miss Ada, Colley, tike Sydney soprano, recently appeared in grand opera in Berlin, selecting the role of the vivacious Roslna in Rossini's "Barber of Seville" for her debut. Apparently Miss Colley's long apprenticeship to the music halls has not fitted her for opera, for she is said to have left much to bo desired in singing and acting. Her remarkably high range caused the usual surprise and approval, but the medium ahd lower registers are weak. \

q---~ — - -. The run of "The Circus Girl," the new musical comedy, which was not favourably commented upon in Melbourne, hns been a shoit ono. The piece hns been withdrawn iv favour of a revival of "The Runaway Girl." Next Mr. Williamson's O pern Company appears in "Robin Hood," which will be played for the first time in Melbourne. Mr. George Lyding, who came from America with tho Josephine Stan ton Opera Company, but did not appear in Sydney with them, and who was through New Zealand with the World's Entertainers, sings the tenor music.

The death of Mr. Frederick Gow Packer, whose song, "Listening," is popular, occurred n't Parramatta bn the Ist insfc. The deceased composer came in liis early manhood from England, and for sixteen years was clejk in the House of Assembly in Hobart, and for long was organist of St. David's Church. About five years ago he retired from the Government on a pension, and settled in Sydney. In "a letter to a New York friend, Mrs. James Brown-Potter says:—"Although the newspaper.? keep announcing me, I have not tho remotest idea of crossing the Atlantic. lam doing the Antigono of Sophocles, music by Mendelssohn, at the big music festival at Bristol in October. It is an art that I havo made quite my own-, and is what was called in the olden days 'to cantelato.' I go to Paris to recite for -Princess Barintinsky, 20th July, and to Venice later. I can ask what I like for my musical recitations, as I stand alone, nnd in both church and stage nnd drawing-rooms they itre in demand. If I do not return it is purely a private and family matter. I have so many bitter- recollections of the unhappy family ties of my youth that I don't think I would have the coufage to take pen in hand to sign an American contract and revisit the places ' I suffered so much heart disappointment in. My friends alone know the real leason why I decline every offer that has keen made to me."

Mr. Bosco Wilson, tho well-known theatrical agent, is back in Sydney from the wars. Mr. Wilson was in South Africa with a dramatic company when the war broke out, but found that the big drama of real life then going on was overwhelmingly attractive. He was with the South African Light Horse, nnd his "takings" included ono or two wounds. In consequence of Mr. George Rignold's contemplated departure for England, there was sold recently the sole right of performing in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zenland, the "Lights o' London," "Romany Rye," nnd "Fedora," with the working manuscripts, music, ■wardrobes, and any scenery that may bo in stove, was offered. "Light! o' London" was stinted pt £250, and eventually knocked down to Mr. Bland Holt for £260 (subject to the approval of the vendor). For the other two plays no offers were made, and they wore passed in.

Stories about Melbn, who is coming out to tho colonies this year: — She is one of the <best musicians among the great singers, and when Melba sings the orchestra does not tremble for fear she will suddenly jump one or two notes and expect them to follow her. She studies faithfully every morning, and is as much a student to-day as when she began twelve years ago. But she prac« tices only in the piano tone. "Half the singers ruin their voices because they

shout too much," she says. Her voice pioduction is always in her teeth, which she considers tlie only method. But the student who tries to imitate Melba's trills will discover how much is the work of nature, after nil, and .not the work of art. They are not the tremolos of technique, but the tremulous vibrations of a bird. When she was a child at school the girls would crowd around and beg, "Do make that funny shake in your throat." Few of them thought, perhaps, of the time when so many golden guineas would be paid to hear that same "shake." . . . Melfca has a wonderful physique, and she scarcely knows what illness means. Mr. Neilson, of Covent Garden, tells a story about a night in New York several winters ago when he saw her standing in the midst of falling snow waiting for her carriage, delayed for some reason. Another singer watching her told her she was taking a great risk to stand there, but James Huneker, tho American critic, also in the group, interrupted with "Ah, you see, Melba's is a God-given voice, and God will not let a little cold spoil it." . . Oue of" the most touching stories about her is told of this same severe winter in America. It was at Philadelphia, and ns she stepped into \ her carriage nu old woman was pointed j out to her who had waited outside in the cold for hours to catch a glimpse of her. Melba's arms were full of flowers, and when the old woman asked for j "just one flower," iMelba overwhelmed her by giving her all of them, and then stooped down and kissed her. The most touching point in the incident is found in the words with which the old lady thanked the great singer, "God bless your beautiful heart," she said.— R.A.l., in the London Daily Mail. I take this delightful little' paragraph from tho London Daily Telegraph : — " 'A Peer's Daughter,' who is good enough, to describe the doings of 'society' in the 'Lady's Realm,' must be a clairvoyante of the first order. Clearly she cannot have been present nt the gala performmice last evening, for ns we all know, no gala performance took place. Nevertheless, this inspired writer gives he» impressions of the occasion in the July number of the magazine aforesaid, and* ju}ministers sundry rebukes into the bargain . 'The gala night at the opera was a disappointment to many, no doubt, but certainly not to all. Seldom have we had a worse chorus' — this is a little hard upon the Sheffield singers, who were to have appeared — 'and even stars of song must shine less brilliantly as years go on. The unrivalled Jean'— this is a particularly happy shot — 'has not the wottderful power ho had once, and if Melba is as delicious as ever, she is no better. As for Caruso, he is a distinct disnppointment.' Finally says this veracious chronicler, 'the prices fell to a quarter of what was originally asked.' This surely is intelligent anticipation' with a vengeance." Theatrical clips. — Prior to his departure for Europe Signor Dani sang' nearly a hundred of his best vocal selections into a phonograph. It is intended to reproduce these records in large numbers, and place them on the Australian market. . . . Antonio Dolores completed a good season in Melbourne. The favourite soprano goes on to West Australia. . . . Regina Nagel has had tho honour of singing to Princess Henry of Battenberg. . . . The well-known English music firm of Chappell nnd Co. •has lost its head, the veteran Thomas Chappell. . . . Admiral Prince Henry of Prussia hns taken up musical composition. He recently compose 1 *! a. march for the Ist Imperial Marinas ; it is arranged for piano, for orchestra, and for military band. . . . Alice Hollander's debut in London on 2nd July was a success. Tho leading critics all notice the concert, and speak with admiration of tho voice, while admitting, of course, that Miss Hollander is not yet a finished artist. . . i Dvorak has completed a new opera entitled "Armida." . . . Paderowski's "Manru" will possibly be henrd in London next year. . . Mark Hambourg leaves London in November

for an extended tour in the United Stages and Australia It is said that the forthcoming performance of Wagner's triology at Bayreuth will be the last for some years. . . . Mascagni, with an orchestra of his own, and an operatic troupe, and set of scenery for "Cavalleria liusticana," will visit America next season. There is a probability of the return trip to Europe being made via San Francisco, Sydney,- and Melbourne. J. C. Leete, wQio managed Harry Rickards's Company through New Zealand," has resumed managerial control at the Sydney Tivoli. Mr. Marcus, who piloted the combination, is again at his old post at the Adelaide Tivoli. . . . Jennie Watt-Tanner, well known in Australia, is fulfilling her third year of engagement in England as Mouillot in "A Greek Slave" and "The Geisha." .- . . The production of "Cyrano de Bergcrac" by Henry Lee in Melbourne hns surprised the fritics by its general excellence. }<*r. Lee . is supported by Janet Waldorf as leading woman, and a big company. . . Bland Holt's season of melodrama at tho Sydney Lyceum Theatre will close an 24th October, and the company will then return to Melbourne. . . . Juhus Knig4it is playing in "The Queen of tho Hoses," a new three-net comedy, at Wyndham's Theatre, London. . .* The amount realised by a performance of J. C. Williamson's No. 2 Opera Company in Brisbane in aid of the Brunt on Stephens Fund was £150. . . . Harry Hall's Australian Juveniles were playing "An American Beauty" at the Standard Theatre, Johannesburg, in June. Walter Monk is now in advance of Ashby's Vaudeville Company, which is at Palmerston North to-night. . . Anderson's Dramatic Companj' has concluded its New Zealand tour, and left for Sydney to-day by the Waihora. . . Sir Henry v Irving has appeared iv seven hundred characters during his long stage career.. . . . • Clifford Walker appears iv Auckland next Wednesday nnd Thursday. . . . R. Keenan, late of Wellington, is cast as Charles Middlewick in "Our Boys," to be played by the Auckland Atom Club. . .s. s . Charlie Carter concludes his Pollard engagement on 22ud September. . . . Eddie Noble, late of Pollards, is in Bulawayo with the . Australian Comedy Company. "What Happened) to Jones" was to be staged under his supervision. . . . Montgomery's Entertainers are down the West Coasts playing to good business. . . . Willoughby, Qeach and "The Wrong Mr. Wright" are doing enormous business in Westralia. Wirth's- Circus is still appearing nt Auckland. The pantomime "C« 'erella" was a great success. Mr. Wirt has engaged a number of Continental a. Ista for fiis next tour of the colony. . . . Ben. Fuller has returned to Hobart. . . Nellie Borthwick, late of Pollards, is with Williamson's "San Toy" company. Lulu Evans is also with tho company. . The Federal Hall in Mnnners-street will ■probably bo occupied shortly by a stock dramatic company. . . . Masterton amateurs are said to be contemplating producing "H.M.S. PinnXore." . , "The Gondoliers" was played by the New Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society on Wednesday and Thursday. ... St. .Hill's Sporting Life Company with the Jefferies - Fitzsimmons fight is at New Plymouth. . . . The Kelvins, comedy sketch artists, left for the Wairaropet to-day. Gus Neville is a member of the company. . . . Colby and Way hay« left Sydney for America. . . * Th© Jubilee Singers are in Sydney, . .' . Little Alma. Grey ktives for England shortly. She h«s been booked for a season nt Edinburgh nt Christmas. . . . William Anderson, who is 53, is the youngest thoatrical manager in Australia. He was born and bred in Australia, nnd hns never been out of the country, not even to New Zealand, -where he has sent out many of his companies. . . The Stratford Amateur Dramatic Society has a credit balance of £23. F. S. Kimbell, a former acting member of the Wellington society, is a Vice-President. . .' . "Daisy Davidson, the- New Zealand soprano," now figures on the regular programme of the Tivoli music-hall.