MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 136, 5 December 1903, Page 13

MIMES AND MUSIC.

[By Orvheus.]

COMING EVENTS. | Ol'ttHA BODSK. Muegrove Oomiw.ny, to 18th. December (Shakcflpeariiiti season). Anderson Company, 26th December to 22nd January, 1904. Willougbby and Geach Comedy Company, 23rd January to 3rd February. J. C. Williamson (probably the Cuyler Eastings Dramatic Company), 4th to 20th February. Holloway Dramatic Company, 9th to 30th March. J. C. Williamson, 2nd to 22nd April (probably opera). THEATBB ROTAU Dix Gaiety Company. CHORAL HALL. Fuller*' Entertainer*. The Natal Advertiser of 21»b October publishes some particulars of the loss incurred by-tha Pollard Opera Company by the fire in tho Durban Theatre, at which the company was performing. The nrtistea and chorus cleared out of the theatre on Monday night, 19th October, about 11, the Brothers O'Sullivan (W. and J.) being the last to leave. The wardrobe of "The Casino Girl," performed that night had not been packed ttway in view of the intended run of it to Friday night; but the dresseft nnd paraphernalia of "The Gay Pftrisionno" •were being Stowed away by the mistress of the wardrobe in tho cases. These, together with tho scenery and effects, were entirely destroyed ; but tho box of music and books of worda were saved, through Mr. Pollard's desire that the box should be kept in the front office. This wob a rather remarkable circumstance,' eeeing that .these books are nlrea«ty scorched and eotuo of them half-burnt, through being reacu6d from the fire at Her Majesty* Theatre, Sydney. Tho black and white striped dresses of " The French Maid" were also luckily saved, the ladies' of the company having worn them at, a Charity Sports, nnd not having Tetnrned them to the wardrobe mistress. But everything el»o of this comedy was destroyed, also of tho burlesque "Djiii Djin," which at tho close of the tour in South Africa was to have been sent to England on tour. In addition to those already mentioned, tho totally destroyed wardrobes included those of the following ;_" Messenger Boy," "In Town," "La Mascotte," "La Fille dv Tambour Major," "The Toreador," "Tho Geisha,' "La Pounce," " Olivette," "Ermine," "Tho Old Guard," "Florodora," and "The, Gondoliers." "'Tho promptness with Which Messrs. B. and F. Wheeler have extended their generous practical sympathy and kindly consideration to Mr. Pollard is. (says tho Advertiser) deserving of much praise. To-day these widelyknown enti'eprenenrs wired to Durban that the cttmpiete wardrobe or " Th« Messenger Boy " hdd been" placed on the rails 6fc Johannesburg, and would be in Durban in time for the company to reopen on Friday night. Th 6 scenery of this musical comedy having been saved, although saturated with water, the artists nre lending a ready lmnd to the scenic ir'tist in gotting the cloths in order again 'or immediate use, arid the ladies are busy trt assisting the wardrobe mistress in repairing where they can the damage to other suites of effects. Messrs. Wheeler nre also preparing to forward in the course of next week the properties and drtsscs belonging to "In Town" nnd other comedira that they have at their command. £5000 is ft very modest estimate of tho damages of the company, a number 0! the members of Which navb lflit pnVat« effects used in tho operas, in addition to the proprietor's properties tisually worn." The company had an insurance upon its effects. "In 'Letty,' recently produced nt the Pake of York's Theatre, Mr. Pinero (says' The Times) reverts to nn earlier manner. It is a play of incident and character — that is to say, it just tells you a story {or the story's sake— it fs not a contribution to the ' drama of ideas.' We do not, of course, mean that it is 'unideVd.' By no means—it may even bo said to have its little thesis, just ns every baby in 'Utopltt, Llriiittd' had 'its little prosfiectue.' But the little thesis is quite unpretentious ; it has almost tho air of an nf tor- thought, of a mere certain tag." The paper sums up by stating that "Letty is not a great, but an extremely interesting- play. The Daily Telegraph cays : " ' Lfttty ' is an odd play, odd both in vrhii it soyß and does not say, odd in its bitterness, its natirio power, its scathing exposure of murplatie folly both in the upper and the middle classes, nnd in the utter nordidness of its milieu." Another critic declares that tno play '' is uhsolutaly startling in its unebnventidnality." Letty S,helt is a clerk at Dugdale's, a bucket- shop in Regent-street. She has iwri lovers, one^-Bernard Mandeville, one of tho proprietors of Dugdale's—an unutterable cad, and the ojher, Neville Letchmere, a well-bred gentleman. MandeviUe wants to marry her. Letchmere, who is married, proposes to make her his mistress. The girl is without relations, and is naturally attracted by a life of ease and luxury. She loves Letchmere, and Mandoville" naturally and inovitably repels her. She decides to give her life to her lover; and goes to hi 9 rooms at midnight. Then, in a scene -wElch tot sheer cleverness recalls the third act of " The Gay Lord Quex," Mr. Pinero brings us to the crisW of his drama. Letty has changed her shoes ,t(rid lot down her hair, when a letter is brought to Letchmere announcing that this favourite sister tins' left her husband And "bolted" with nnother man. The Brother is almost broken-hearted. All the Letchm^reel aro "rotten to tllo core,". but his sister, His little sister Tiny, flue was to be tho exception. Then the settle* drop from the woman's eyes. She foels the ground slipping 1 under her feet, and that if she is to save herself .pho must go now when the man is at his best. And 'she goM. So finishes the play. In a brief epfltiguo wo are shown Letty happily married to a quaint little photographer, who brtct been one of her early friends—happy with her huHband and her child, full of thoughtfnlness for Jier old friends. Le'tcbmero ii ill, almost fatally ill, bnt h«, too, is happy? His son ftrbmised to be A better mnn than his father, and fie to grateful for the recollection of having behaved well to a womftn ho had <iult« niHecrely loved. Writing 1 ft week after it* first production, the Loridorl correspondent of the Sydney Telegraph says that " Letty "w a distinct success. "In due course, no doubt," he writes, " it will be seen iri the colonies, arid ohe has no hesitation ia commending it witliotit reserve to ifltipbdeari Audiences. It is ft study 61 terhp'eram'eht, presented by Air. T'mero's eonsiwnwfe Art in the form of an interesting and lifelike drama. 'Letty ehould enjoy a long fun of popularity. „ th<* most imprint nrtistie event in England for October was the performance of Dr. Ekar's nrw oratorio, <rr he Apoeties," jcrhtoh took place on the 15th of that rtontfi. The London Daily Te.fegraph devotes a eoliimn to the consideration of whether audience* may be oildwed to prefer the " Messiah " to " The Apostles," and ends by reluctantly admitting that possibly the? may. Th* London pr«* generally Bails "'The ApoStles" as 1 the most remarkable work of the present centnrf." Dt. Elgar himself conducted, with Mm? Album as Mary the Mother, and the Angel, Miss Muriel Foster (contralto) as Mxry Magdalene, Mr. John Coates (ten-*) bb St. Johp Mr. Kew**-

ley Rumfnrd (baritone) ns St. I*etcr, Mr. Andrew Black {baritone) as Judas, and Mi 1 . Ffrnngeon Davies (baritone) as Christ. The Daily Express critic summarises the performance in tho words: — "As to Dr. Elgar's individuality there can be littlo question. His musical characterisation is apparent in many bite of melody, his originality is kliowii by many startling changes of koy ; but only in two of tho scenes was one moved to put down the scoro nnd lot the full force of the music moiiopoliso tho attention. For tho rest, it was an appeal to tho intellect; and of this kind of mimic it may at once be said that it holds its own with anything wo havo had in modern days." Air. George Musgrovo is said to have cleared about £36,000 by the two years' tour with " Swcot Nell of Old Drury," olio of tho most successful plays ever staged in Australia;, in which connection (says tho Sydney Herald) it. is impossible to forget that tho romantic play was on offer to any ono in tho United States for tho traditional " more song " for years before Miss Julia Neilsbn had tho good luck to «co it there. Failing novelties suitable for Australia during his visits to Chicago and New York, Mr. Musgrovo (who nas loft for England and America, in company with M^s Nellie Stewart) will buy attractions in London. During his stay on tho other side, the AngloAustralian manager will sell Mia-Mia, the handsome property ho acquired solno years ago at Kingston, his intention being to settle in Sydney on his return, probably near Rose Bay. Miss Stewart refuses to make any stage appearances either in America or in England, and after a brief holiday expects to return, here with new pieces in about eight months. Mr. J. C. Williamson has ' also sailed for London. The great business of opening Hor Majesty's Theatre, and of his own dramatic season, followed by the pressure of incessant work, rendered a brief period of rest advisable. Mr. Williamson's visit to London will, at tho sumo time, put him in touch with all that is going on there, more especially in regard to tho proposed acquisition of Tho Duchess of Dantaiig " at tho Lyric Thentre (produced 17th October) and of "Tho Orchid Hunt" at tho. new Gaiety Theatro, for his Royal Comic Opera Company. It is aloo his intention to bo prosent at the Boxing NigHfc performance of tho new pantomime at Drnry-lano Theatre, which will probably be thejlrst now production after his arrival baeff in Australia, about six months hence. Mr. Williiimson has taken with him as confidential secretary Mr. Monte tirover, a Parliamentary reporter in Melbourne, who is responsible for the libretto of " The Sleeping Beauty," to be produced in Sydney at Christmas. Mr. Henry Bracy will direct this pantomime, as well ns tho municul sido of the absent manager's affairs generally ; whilst Mr. H. H. Vincent has [ general control of all the dramatic comf panics. Mh William Anderson will have four i shows running on Boxing Night. At tho Sydney Lyceum, "The Great World of London" will form tho attraction. At the local Opera Houso he will stage " Her Second Time on Earth." At Newcastle, " A Woman of Pleasure " will be. presented, antf at His Majesty's, Ballarat, " The Worst Woman in London." Mr. Bert Royle on Christchurch as a show town, supplementing similar remarks made by Mr. Allan Hamilton :—: — " It's not a matter of opinion, but ono of facts. During the past ten years, tho visits of Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove's companies to Christchurch show an aggregate loss of £7000. Wilson Barrett made £2000 profit on his New Zealand tour, but in Christchurch ho lost £700. Tho other towns havo to make up for Christchurch, and if my advice was taken, Williamson and Musgrovo's companies would not show at Christehnrch dt all, as by doing so' they only reduce their profits. As a show town, Christchurch is only good for three nights, and oven Wanganui can beat it." Theatrical Clips. — Miss Frances Adler, who about three, years ago song minor fiarts with tho Royal Comics, and has atoly been studying under Marchesi, has received a three years' engagement at tho Opera Comique, Paris. . . Nelson Amateurs stage " Betsy " on tho Bth and 9th insfc. . . Gertie Campion has been making a particular hit in South Africa as Julie Bon-bon in "Tho Gay Parisionne." Interviewed, she confided the fact that she was uncertain whether she liked South Africa or not, but sho liked Capetown and Johannesburg, and sho liked tho audiences for their appreciation of the company's performances, . . Ada Crosßley will appear in tho "Messiah ", and " Israel in Egypt " during tho Royal Choral Society's season early next year. Philip Newbury will Bing the " Messiah " tenor music. . . ' t Mascagni is said to be engaged in composing simultaneously four operas, including the ono on tho subject of "Marie Antoinette," and another oh " Frou Frou." .... Blanche Mfirobesi has been engaged by Herr Angelo Neumann for tho roles of Brunnhilde, in the "Nibelungen Ring," and Isolde, in " Tristan," when Wagner's works ore performed at tho Royal Opera House, Prague, next winter. . . Ada Reeve is abandoning musical comedy for the spoken comedy, and is entering upon London management on her own account. . . . George Titheradgo is supporting Henry Miller and Margaret Anglin, American stars, in the United States. Titheradge will play Colonel Damas in the " Lady of Lyons," Duval pero in " Camillo," and parts in Bernard Shaw'g "Tho Devil's Disciple" and "The Taming of Helen." . . . Ray Jones has r-turned to Sydney from London. An attack of laryngitis interfered with her prospects in England, where she contemplated getting an appearance. . . . Henry Irving is making another tour of the American States. . . Cecil Ward, who has been visiting tho Hot Lakes of New Zealand for tho purpose of testing their curative qualities for an attack of rheumatism, has returned to Sydney, muoli improved in health. . . . Harcourt Beatty and tho other English members of the " Sweet Nell " Company have left Australia on their return to England. . . Stephenson's " Mama's New Husband " Company had a very successful seastin in Diinedin. . . . Stated that a firm of solicitors has been instructed to proceed against several New Zealand newspapers for publishing reports stating that Frank Leon and Lizzie Kirk were connected With a recent Lofldon tragedy Ada Crossley gives twenty-fivo concerts in South Africa. Fitzgerald Bros, offered to lease Sydney Zoo for six months, but the trustees declined the offer. . . . Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company will commence its New Zealand tour at Dunedin at Easter. . . George Lamson, fathor of Nance O'Neill, died in San Francisco recently. He always opposed his daughter going on the stage The inanvscft b for " The Light thnb Failed " has been received by J. C. Williamson and .forwarded to the Cuyler Hastings Company. The piece, together with "Admirable Crichton," will bo staged on the forthcoming tour. . . . Ada Guildfordf of Anderson's Company, is at present incapacitated owing t,o. an injured leg. When playing in Melbourne the actress fell on the stage, and some fragments of glass from a broken electric light entered the knee, . . . Maggie Moore has left for a Queensland tour with her company. . . . George Rtfphenson is in communication with Albert Whelan for a tottr of Australia und New Zealand with ra English Comedy Company. . . Hokitika Amateurs are rehearsing " The PieiLtaa nf Penzance "