MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 14

MIMES AND MUSIC.

[By Oni'iißus.] COMING EVENTS. Ol'l'.KA HOIISU. Andorfcon Company, 26th December to 22nd January, 1904. Willougliby and Geach Comedy Company, 23id January to 3rd Febiuary. J. C. Williamson (piobubly the Cuylor Hastings Dramatic Company), 4th to 20th February. Holloway Dramatic Company, 9th to 30th Mart'h. J. C. Williamson, 2nd to 22nd April (probably opera). TUEATnB HOYAL. Dix Gaiety Company, Christmas Pantomime — "ilouho Tfuit Jack Built." ,his majesty's theatre. (Late Choral Hall.) Christmas Pantomime — "Robinson CruSOO." SKATING lUNK. Christmas, Boxing, and Now Year's Nighta, Miss Nora North-Barrett and World's Entertainers. Mr. M. B. Curtis, who was here last with Dante, tho conjurer, is back in Auckland, and has an American Dramatic Company on tho way out for a tour of tho colony under his management. Mr. J. M. Barrie is a lucky man. At I tho present moment he has two plays running in London, the royalties from which bring him in perhaps as much as £250 a week, and in addition hia income is increased by tho royalties on his other works now being performed in the provinces and in America. But nothjng succeeds like aucci'jss, and Mr. Charles Frohmnn is so delighted with tho returns from "Littlo Jlary" that ho has commissioned Mr. Barrio to write another play for him. This, doubtless, will Iks of a less frivolous character than "Littlo Mary," because the lending part, it is understood, is to be impersonated by an English actress who has distinguished herself in serious drama* The piece will not be ready until next autumn. Mr. Stephen Phillip's new drama "Miriam," which Mr. E. S. Willard is rehearsing at tho St. James's, deals with tho period 1640-5. Tho opening of the story may bo thus described : A Puritan general is ahout to preside over a courtmartial summoned to consider the conduct of a fellow-officer, who, married to a charming wife, has committed tho unpardonable sin of turning covetous eyes in tho direction of another woman. But the general soon tmffero from the very Eossion wliich ho is forced to condemn in is prisoner, for he- is inspired by a consuming love for Miriam, tho wife of tho man whoso behaviour ho has stigmatised. Mr. Phillips'* drama is iv thrco acts. Heron House, tho headquarters of the Puritan army in tho Fenlnnds, is the scene- of the first and second, and the third is laid in a house- near Wakefield, six ycara later. Messrs. Tom Pollard and Davo O'Connor have como to loggerheads. Capo papers of November report that in tho Court at Durban on 13th November David B. O'Connor, an actor, sued Thomas O'Sullivan, trading as T. Pollard, theatrical manager and proprietor Jbi the Royal Australian Comic Opera Company, for the sum of £91, mado up of £28 salary duo prior to tho present tour in South Africa, £18 for passage to England, and £45 as three weeks' salary in respect of three weeks' stoppage- by defendant during the. company's present tour. Tho defendant claimed in reconvene ion £33 12m, being money advanced during September this year (£22 10s), board and lodgings, and an amount paid in error on account of profits. Plaintiff stated that tho £28 w<m for acting in Dunodin and Hobart. Tho company wero idle for two w«ck» in Capotown. Fcoling dvwatisfied, ho sought an interview with tho defendant and arranged that, ho (witnew) should be paid every Monday morning, whethor ho had plavod or not. Ho also stated that it was agreed in Invcrcargill (New Zealand) and Hobart, that defendant would pay the passage of any ueratar of tho 'company to England if so desired instead of to Australia. Ho denied tho claims in roconvention. He was eight days sick at Johannesburg. For tho defonco Alfred Wyburd, manager for 8,. and F. Wheeler, said it was not tho cus< torn to pay actors when they wero off sick. It was tho custom to deduct two weeks' salary for idle time in the courso of a six months' agreement. Thomas O'Sullivan corroborated as to the customs referred to, but maintained there- was no legal liability upon him. He owed tho plaintiff no money for work in New Zealand and Tasmania. Witness terminated his engagement in October with O'Connor, and before that had never heard a word about back pay. Profits were divided in Johannesburg, but the original profits thoro were swamped by subsequent losses. Tho company lout money in Capetown and in Durban through the firo. They wero now making profit in Port Elizabeth, and there might ue, at the end of the tour, a further payment of profits duo to O'Connor. If© w«s willing to arrange for a passage to England. Ine cneo was then adjourned, and tho result is not yet available. It is stated by tho Spectator that Dr. Elgnr, the greatest English, if not tho greatest" living, composer of choral and orchestral musio, "has never had a lesson in huxmouy and counterpoint in his life, lie is certainly perfectly original; not a phrase evor' reminds you of any ono else, lie- scorns to begin where Wagner left off." Tlie Bayreuth Festival next year will, commence on 22nd July, and will finish' on 20th August. There will Bo seven performances of "Parsifal," two cycles of "Uer Ring de» Nibelungen," and fivo performances of . "Tannhauser." Somo London Christmas pantos: — "Humpty Duinpty," at Drury Lane; "Aladdin," at the King's; "The Forty Thieves," at tho Camden; "Dick" Wliittington," at the Marlborough and Elephant and C««tlej "The Sleeping Beauty," nt the Aloxundra. For tho Adelphi Captain Basil Hood has written a piece entitled "Little Hans Andersen, 1 setting forth tho adventures of "Hans when a boy. Mr. Walter Slaughter has composed the incidental music. The author of "Tho Fatal Wedding"— a curious dramatic medley imported from America, and now being toured by fivo. companies in England— is a person with ideas. His ideas run in tho direction of melodramatic sensation. One of his latest, plays promises to ho rather startling.. The heroine makes no appearance in the pieoo till near the close of the second act, when sho stands up in a stage box (from which die has, like an ordinary' •spectator, been witnessing the play) nnd discharges a revolver ut tho villain. Tho effect will be somewhat alarming to spec:' tators who know nothing of the author's intention, {or the feeling will be that tho nctor hna been shot at by a member of the audience. A lending London critic yearns for new, prima donnas and new operas. Ho prays' for some other roles than those of alar- 1 i/uerite, Juliette, &liMibeth, Elsa, Mimi, Oilda, or Aida. Further, he longs for the time when the critic will not do asked to go and hear one "star" after another as Marguerite during the same season, and when the innnager, cs well as the .•ublic, will be nble to have what they like, not what a capricious singer dictates. A group of prominent musicians in Berlin have decided to establish a ptilaco of music in Unit city It will comprise n concert hull »o sent 5000 persons, with a platform giving accommodation for 1000 ■performer*. <t ballroom, v smaller concert hull, it school of nuiMO, a museum of lusi torioal musical objects, AJUd.o- portrait

gallery of celebrated musicians. It will bo tho largest mu»ical institute in the world, and will cost. £250,000. The proinoteis include Professor Joachim and Horr Richard Slmu*s. Clu'iwtinns greetings reach me in tho filmpo of cards from Mr. Michael Joseph, touring manager for Mr. Willium Anderson, and Mr. Kdwin U<?ach, of the Wil-loughby-Qeach Company. Thanks; the sunm to both of you ! Mr. Pinero recently lectured at the Birkbeck Institute on "Robert Stevenson, the DramatiM." In tho courso of the lecture he declared that of the poeta nnd novuliflte of the 19th century, "they had ono and all attempted to write for the stage, and it wns ecarcely too much to say that "they had ono and all failed, not only to achieve theatrical success, but even in any appreciable degree to enrich our literature, all «save Bulwer Lytton." flier© is nt least one novelist, Mr. .Barrio, whose »uccc*e in tho theatre as well as in dramatic literature, i« ecavcely second to that of Mr. Pinero, remarks an exchange. But perhaps the author of "riwoet Lavender* reserve* the authdr of "Tho Littlo Minister" for the 20th century. Patti gave an inerviewer lately some interesting particulars on dieting for singers :— "In the matter of diet and it« relation to tho voice," say* Patti, "I can only my that I havo been able to eat and drink in moderation anything I like. During a performance I do not t«ke anything unices it may be a little chicken soup, nor at such times do I feel like eating. Eating after singing I consider injurious, for ono is then always more or less fatigued. I never make a. point of having my dinner at 3 o'clock on the days that I mng, nor could I ever understand why somo singer* insist on thia plan. I dine half an hour before I go to the hall for a concert, and as I do not nppcur at the biginning of the programme I havo at least an hour between dining and singing, which interval I always find quite enough. Over and over again it hae bceu said that I never speak on tho day on which I am to sing. This is not by any means, tho case. I talk all I want,, but, of course, I hold no receptions on those, days. Fresh air, and plenty of it, is of vitul importance to the singer. Every day that is not too inclement I take from two and a half to three hours* exercise in the open air, driving nnd walking. To this regimen' l attribute in great degree my good health and powers of endurance. . When a singer enters upon a public career there is one point to bo considered : that of fitness for concert or for opera. I think if you can sing in concert, if you have feeling and discernment, ,you can sing in opera, though in my opinion some who arc good in concert are by no means fitted for opera. The' operatic stag© domands so much of everything: voice, knowledge* of singing, and acting. Everything has to be calculated, even a wrong step or two during & phrase will bring ono into the wings instead of to tho front of tho stage. Ease of movement, dramatic instinct, and feeling all are necessary of response with the opera singer, and yet without them a fairly good voice may bring to its possessor a degree of success on the concert platform. Again, the demands on personal appearance are far more exacting on the opemtic thnn on the concert stage, though equally of decided advantage to those who fortunately command them. Another most important gift, and one absolutely indispensable to success in opera, ia presence of mind, for on tue stage it is always the unexpected that happens. In my early career I knew -no such thing as nervousness. I had nothing to lose tli en, but later it was different. When I had mado my reputation I grew more and more nervous, for it is one thing to build up a reputation and another thing to* sustain it." Lcschetitsky is often asked to listen to aspiring pianista. Tho Viennese teacher telfo how a gtrl once came to play for him. Ho had to list-en. She played badly, and tho grea^pianist advised her to study singing. Two years later a young woman urged her way into his house, and insisted on singing for him. "But I know nothing of the voice," he protested. Without tho loss of a moment sho began to sing. When she had finished, the great teacher x'emarked : "You sec, singing is difficult. Absolute purity of tone is required. Now, why don't you study the piano T That's easy. ' j "But you told mo to study einging," the singer replied, tearfully. "Merciful heaven, writes Leachctitsky, "sho was my piunist of two years ago !" At the Theatre Royal, Margate, recently, where "A Cigarette-Maker's Romance" hat) been playing, tho curtain fell on Count Skariatine's indignant protest at being branded by Akulina as a madman and a thief, and the audience testified their appreciation by prolonged applause. When, however, the curtain wo* again raised, there were shrieks of laughter. It had caught up the ample skirt and crinoline which hung from the waist of tho buxom Akulina, displaying the latest thing in grey ''bloomers." Poor Skariatine had forgotten the injasticojust dono him, and was seeking to hide his laughter in a corner, and the members of- the company felt intense relief when the swiftlydescending curtain shut out the embarrassing tableau. Mr. Arthur Symons, in his "Music, Acting,. and Plays," ha* the following on Yaayes playing of the Kreutzer Sonata: "Then the Kreutzer Sonata began, and I looked at Ysayo, as he stood, an almost shapeless mnss of flesh, holding the violin between his fat (fingers, and looking vaEuely into tho air. Ho put the violin to is shoulder. The face had been like a mass of .clay, waiting the eculptor'a thumb. As tho music came, an invisible touch seemed to pass over it; the heavy mouth and chin remained firm, pressed down on the violin; but tho eyebrows and the eyelids began to move, as if the eyes row the sound, and were drawing it in luxuriously with a kind of sleeping ecstasy, as one draws in porfumo out of a flower. Then, in, that instant, a beauty which had never been in the world, ctttne into the world ; a new thing was created, lived, died, having, revealed itself to all those who were capable of receiving it." ano uncertainty of theatrical management haa been shown once more in the case of "Little Mary," at Wyndham's Theatre, cays the London Era. The piece is one of the silliest which hns been put ou the boards for a long time; and yet the stalls and boxes are filled nightly, and it is impossible to ' book eeata for some time to come. There is no accounting for the tasto of tho "swell" society set, and the use of the "catch words, 1 ' "Little Mary," to mean the stomach, hns dono more for the piece than a good plot or original characters. Wherever you go, the first question asked is, "How is your Little Mary?" If your business takes 3'ou 'to the city, your stockbroker enquires, "How is your Little Mary!" and if you stroll iv the West-end the 'first acquuintanco you meet puts tho snmo question. Indeed, the constaitt repetition of the title is exciting hundreds of people to go and see the "stomach play. i hcfiitrical Clips. — William Anderson will pay his first visit to tho colony with "Her Second Time on Earth Company," opening at tho Opera House on Boxing Night. . . . Fuller's lease of the City Hall, Auckland, runs out on 16th January. Tho firm will re-open again on Easter Monday. . Ben Fuller leaves for Australia at the beginning of February in 4>eurch of fresh talent. . . John Fuller, jun., at present in chnrgc of the Wellington house, goes to Dunedin in Febiuary, and John Fuller, een., will take charge here. . . .? Lieut: -Colonel Newnham Davies and Paul Rubens are the authors of a plnv to be called "Tho Miscief Maker," to be. produced ut one of the West-emf theatres. - . According to the Era, Dau Leno is con.-.

siderably better, and studying hi» part for the Christmas pantomime at Drurylano The annual conference of the Licorporated Society of Musicians ! will be held in Glasgow at the end of December. Dr. F. H. Cowen will read a paper on "Tho Mannerisms of Composers." . . . E. S. Willard lias purchased tho English and American rights of M. Alfred Co-pus's new play, "L'Adversaire." .... Martha Morton has lately finished a society comedy, which Amelia Bingham is to produce nt the end of next month in Philadelphia. It is culled "The Entertainer." . . . . M. Oasip Gabrilowitch, the Russian pianist, is in Petersburg preparing for hia tour through Europe, in the course of which, in February, he will visit London to give threo recitals. ... Joe Casino and his wife, here with the World's Entertainers, are now running an hotel in Buda Pesth Fuller*' Panto will cost. £200 before the doors open on Boxing Night. . . . Percy Brady is now ahead of Montgomery's Entertainers .... The rent of Melbourne Princess is £200 per week. . . . Dunedin'a pantomime will be "Cinderella," by Johnny Sheridan's Comedy Company. . . . Will Jamieson lias been in town during the past week on business in connection with Pix's pantomime. . . . "Her Second Time on Earth" is being billed in quite a lavish manner by 1 Michael Joseph. "The Bank of England" will be Fitzmaurfce Gill's opening production at Auckland Opera House on Boxing Night. In this drama Charles Blake, as Sherlock Holmes, plays no fewer than eight characters. . . . The Slapoffski's will also be in Auckland for Christmas. . . . . Hettie Warden has left Australia for Manilla, under engagement.