MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue LXVII, 30 January 1904, Page 13

MIMES AND MUSIC.

[Br Oiu'hkus.] COMING EVENTS. OI'ICKA UOtISK. Willoughby and Geach Comedy Compauy, to 3rd February. J. C. Williamson (Cuyler Hastings Dramatic Company), 4th to 20th February. Alfred Dampier Dramatic Company, 22nd February to sth March. Hollow ay Dramatio Compnny, 9th to 30th March. • J-. C. Williamson, 2nd to 22ud April, and 27th April to 18th May. ' Sanford's American Players, 19th, May to 14tli Juno. Frawloy Company, 16th to 18th June. IUB MAJESTT'S THEATHB. Closed during alterations. Mr. Charles Holloway closed his season at the Critorion Theatre, Sydney, on tho 26th inst, and next day tho meml>ers of the company left for New Zealand, opening in Auckland on 6th February. Mr. Mullarbey, who has recently been under Mr. Williamson's management, ia now in Auckland as actingmanager, making all necessary arrangement* for tho season. An amateur orchestral society has been formed in Ashburton by the leading members of tho defunct musical union, with Mr. H. A. Gates as conductor, and Mr. iz, M'Clnrg as lender of the orchestra. The Dannovirkc Musical and Dramatic Society baa. secured tho scrip of ono of the latest dramas, " Harvest,' and' claims to be the first society that has decided to put this pioco on tho stago in this colony. A 1 fresh batch of new plays for tho West End theatres is in preparation (says tho London correspondent of the Sydney Telegraph, writing on 11th December). "The Girl from Kay's" finishes at tho Apollo Theatre to-morrow night, and then, moving to tho Comedy, leaves tho Apollo stage clear for " Madams Sherry." This is a comic opera by Dr. Hugo Felix, a young Viennese composer, who is also a clever lyric writer. " Madame Shorry " will be tho first of his works to bo played in England. The loading role will bo played by Miss Florence St. John. Sir Chnrtes Wyndham brings his season nt the New Theatre to a close to-morrow week, and " Mrs. Gorrlnge's Necklace " -will then give place to "Alico Through the Looking-glaas," a Christina* play. Another new play announced for to-mor-row week is All Fletcher's Fault," by Mostyn Piggott, a light comedy which Mrs. Cosmo Hamilton (Miss Beryl Faber) will produco at the Avenue. Mrs. Maesmore Morris is in the cast. Mr. Arthur Bourchier will revive "Tho Water Babies" at the Garrick on the 22nd, nnd Mr. Tree's new Japanese drama, " The Darling of the Gods," will mako its appearance just after Christmas. Current events in the Far East may lond a special interest' to tho production. The performance of the first part of an V Odysseus " cycle for orchestra in tli« Odeon, at Munich, has brought promi- j nently before the German public a young and most promising composer of some twenty-throe years of age, Ernest Boche. , His new work is a cycle composed of four ' parts, each pieserving \\b soparato entity,but linked together to form an artistic whole. The parts or "episodes" are: (1) "Ausfahrt und Schiffbruch," (2) "Dio Insol der Circe"; (3) "Die Klngo hor Nnusicca"'} (4) "Odysssous Hoimkehr." "The Homecoming" is still to bo finished. Bocho was bom in 1880 in Munich, and is tho sou of an officer in tho Bavarian Army. The well-worn topic of tho decay of tho ' British drama was recently dealt with by Mr. Jerome K. Jerrfme, who, to tho members of the O.P. Club,' at the Criterion', propounded the question : "Is tho British Drama Worth Keeping Alivo?" In Mr. Jerome's opinion it is ; and it can be i done, and done only by a plan which he has worked out with almost as much minuteness of detail as Mr. Chamberlain bos bestowed upbn tho working man's ' household budget. But it would nob j bo fair to carry the parallel fur- , ther. - The British drama at the , present day, said Mr. Jerome, is bound hand and foot by the bonds of public favour; and what the manager had to think of was not tiro drama but j tho box-office. It was for the country to I take care that literature was not excluded from tho stago. In all other countries the drama wooed literature ; in England the occasional courtship genorally ended in a broach of promise case, in which literature wno tho plaintiff. In a review of the last twenty-five years Mr. Jerome discovered that, while thero were at the beginning of that time twenty out of tweny-fivo playhouses successfully dovoted to the drama, now seven wore proving aniDly sufficient for the playgoers who Would support British drnma ; although the theatre-going public had trebled, nnd tho playhouses increased in even greater proportion. Mr. Jerome's plan is to build a theatre in a central position, at a cost of £26,000, with accommodation for

650 people at low pi ices, aud havo astock company, tho leading actors in which should receivo not more than £10 a week. As Mr. Jerome pointed out, enthusiasm would havo to bo the keynote of the scheme, and' that we should never get, ho declared, by appealing to tho government or the County Council or a syndicate of milliunahes to establish a national theatio. Mme. Pntti has been asked by an American lady journalist about tho s<ocri't of hor youth. The div.i could oiler no explanation, but she denied that she took any elaborate euro of herself. "Why, 1 was reading tho other day," said Palti, "a minute description of my system of maasige. Such rubbish ! 1 never was massaged in my life. But wheiever Igo I am always happy, been usol never wony. Havo plenty of fresh air, and, above all, avoid otoam-licatetl rooms, if you want to preserve your voice." Dr. Klgur has loft London for a long visit to the Riviera nnd Italy, and does not proposo to return beforo Easier. Those of his friends (says a writer) who expressed fours lest too exclusive a devotion to sacred music might intorfero with tho freo and many-sided development of his art, will be relieved to hear that ho is at present devoting his attention to a subject which is very secular indeed, and not cvon very serious. Recent developments havo made it unlikely that his Symphony will be performed, after nil, at tho Leeds Festival ; but there oro still hopes that before long an opera of his may bo produced nt Covent Garden. A grand musical festivol, in which upwards of 10,000 Ringers are expected to tnko part, has been planned for Riga next, summor. Preparations for an audience of 50,000 aro being made. 'Hie concert-hnll is to bo an enormous building, as may bo anticipated. Some interesting flguies are' given hy Professor Rittcr, of tho Wurzburjr School of Music, in a pamphlet upon tho work nnd pay of orohestral musicians in Germany. First viola players in concert and opera orchestras are piyd from £75 to £100 a year. Their work demands so much time that but little opportunity is afforded to supplement this income by outsido work. Tho averago conductor in provincial towns is paid a salary of £6 to £9 a month. Somo timo ago 140 men applied for the post of Cnpellmoister at Rutibor; fifty of theso applicants had received nn~*Academio °ducation. A staggering fact 'came to light nt tho recent celebration of " Tho Silver King's " twenty-first birthday in London. It wna discovered by Mr. Wilson Barrett, whoso company gave a special coming-of-age £orformnnco of (he drama at the Opera ouso, Cheltenham, that this specimen of Mr. Henry Arthur Jones's early work had earned no less a sum than £6,000,000 1 Tho amazing total was arrived at by calculating that the ever-reigning "Silver King" (it is even now boing taken round tho London provinces by three companies) had been played thirty thousand times to houses averaging £200 onch. Apropos ol "Tho Light That Failed," now being played in the South by Mr. Williamson's Company, it is communicated to M.A.P. thnt wo owe to Miss Olga Nothersolo what pleasure wo may have extracted from the dramatised version of Mr. Kipling's pretty but painful story. With that perseverance for which she is famous, and to which with commendable frankno«s sho does not hesitate to own up, Miss Nethersolo twice refused to' take " No " for an answer in tho corresponding number of applications she made for Mr. Kipling's permission to stage tho book, and in her third application succeeded in taking "Yes." Miss Nethersolo then went to work and made 'a, detailed scenario of the play, which sho g"ave to " Georgo Fleming " (Miss Constance Fletcher) to develop into the play by which Mr. nnd Mrs. Forbes Robcitson, as well ns the public, have so largely profited. It is interesting to lenrn that Mmo. Sarnh Bernhnrdt has applied to Miss Nethersolc for tho right to produce a French translation of " Tho Light Thnt Failed" at the Theatre Sarnh Bernhardt during tho coming season, and thnt the Vicomto d'Humieres, who has turned " Tho Second Mrs. Tanqueray " into French for the Odeon, will be the operator in the Kipling case also. A lotter from Percy Brady, in advance of Montgomery's Entertainers, states that business has been good in the country districts. Tho company were at Foxton fast night, nnd open in Feilding on Monday. Woodville follows for the show' dates, and then tho company play back to Wellington via the Wairarapa. After a short season here, probably at tho Exchange Hall, the company make for tho goldilelds of the Noith. Tho company has been strengthened by tho inclusion of Miss Eva Brady (balladist), Mr. Dudley Trent (baritone), nnd Mr. Lawrence Redwood. Tho next production of tho Christchurch Musical Union will bo "Faust," arranged for the concert platform. It is probable that Mr. Hamilton"nodges, who mud© such a hit nt the Wellington Musical Festival, will sing the music of Mephistopheles on tho' occasion. The Cuyler Hastings Company, which is touring under the mgis of Mr. J. C. Williamson, M-ill open it's Wellington season at the Opera House next Thursday evening, with J. M. Barrio's fantastic

play, "An Admirable Crichton," a piece which lutH not 3 r ot been seen in the Australian colonies. It has proved wonderlully attractive in the South. The other production during *tliu two and n half weeks' season m Wellington will be the dramatisation of Kipling's "Light thai Failed," which, In view of the general popularity of Kipling as a wiiter, -w ill attract/ many people curious to hcu, how his dramatic story fares on tbn Nlaju 1 . Mr. W. A Lavtr, vlcr-direclor nf tht> Melbourne Univeusity Consorvatoriuni of Music, who lms visited many of tho Continental cities to pieparo a lvport for the CWsorvatorium on the 01 ga luxation and methods of the European consorvatoria of music, has left London for Melbourne. Theio has been a completely successful production in Now York at tho Belasco Theatre of "Sweet Kitty Bellairs," a dramatical ion by Mr. David Belasco and Mr. Egciton CaMle of tho latter's highly popular novel, "A Hath Comedy." Thu play has extorted from tho piess the highest culogiums, and is spoken of as "calculated to captivate public approval just as emphatically as " The Darling of the Gods." A one-night representation of Goldsmith's comedy, "Shu Stoops to Conquer," was Riven at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, last Saturday. Mr. W. 11. Denny, who is a notablo Tony Lumpkin, arranged to produce tho piece in order that a Melbourne audience might judge of his capacity in thU familiar example of low comedy. He was assisted by somo members of tho Shnkespearinn Company with whom he has been associated. Mr. E. H. Sotlicrn has nob yot decided whother or not ho will produce his new piny, "Tho Proud Prince," in London during the coining season. He is joining ivuss Julia Marlowe in a series of Shakespearean revivals, an arrangomont to last for threo years, and threo different plays are to bo produced each souson. Air. Sothern speaks of Mr. M'Carlhy's play, " Tho Proud Prince," with the greatest enthusiasm, and says that with it his recei'lts haro been greater than with any other play that ho has yet produced. Theatrical Clips.-— Montgomery's Entertainers passed through Wellington on Monday. . . There wore three dramatic companies in Wollington on Annivorsary Day— Anderson's at tho Opera House, Wood-Williamson's and Alfred Dumpier 1 * passing through. . . . Tho seats in the dress-circlo of tho Opera Houso are now all re-covered with dark blue plush, making that part of tho house quite attractive. Tho orchestra stalls mo now receiving attention. . . Stanford's American players are now in Auckland, where they are receiving eulogistic notices from tho press. . . Yet another dramatic company for New Zealand ! — Holioway's company opens in Auckland next week. We shall then have ten di'amatic «nd alleged dramatic companies in this colony 1 . , , Charlio Popti is in Brisbane- with Holland's Vaudovillo Company. . . Tasmania is being exploited by tho Majeroni Dramatic Company. . . Ben Fuller leaves Dunediu for Melbourno to-morrow to confer with Harry Rickards, with n, viow of obtaining btar turns for the New Zealand circuit. ... It is said that tho members of Williamson's Dramatic Company were vaccinated at Timaru before leaving for Christchurch. . . Harold Ashton and Dick Stewart, lh r mnnageis of Williamson's "Admirable Crichtun" Company, return to Dunedifl at tho end of tho New Zealand tour to moot the lloynl Comic Opera Company, which opens there at Eawter. ... M. 7naudi, the lightning calculator who visited New Zealand last year, gave a performance before the King at E'.vcdun Hall, the seat of Lord Ivcngh, the othei day. . Musical postcards aro now becoming a fashion in (Jcininny. Sonic of the*? cards contain quite elaborate and long pioeos of music printed in almost microscopic diameters. . . . Tho Kendo Im' now play at tho Coronet Theatro, London, entitled "Dick, Hope," deals with tho reformation of a, tlrunkunl, nnd h at. interesting, though somewhat amatourinh drama. . . Tho latest musical comedy is entitled "Tho Karl and the Girl," nnd is but 0110 more variation of the familiar type. . . A swa.-hbuckling traitor, who rises to tho heights of Pelf-sacriflcc, and faces torture and death for the «<ike of the woman he adores, is tho central figure of "The Breed of tho TrCslmms," recently produced by Mr. Mtwtin Harvey at tho Kensington Theatre, London. . . An Amateur Operatic Society is being formed in Waihi. . . Cajni>in Mayshall haa ft new modern comedy which is to be produced this month at the London Criterion. . . "My Lady Molly" has reached its 300 th peiformance in London. . . . Lionel Brough will .shortly complete his fiftieth yenr on the stage . . . "Glad of It" is the title of 11 new play by Clyde-Fitch, tho American playwright. . . . The Cuyler Hastings Company did splendid business in Christchurch last week. . . . Mr. John Prouse, tbo well known Wellington- tjingor, will in ull probability reside in London | for aorno months longer. . . . "Or ever the knightly years had gone from tho old worid to the grave, I was a King of Babylon and \ifci were a Christian slave." — A fancy from. "The Admirable Crichton." . . . J. C. Williamson baa secured tho Australian rights of " The Darling of tho Gods," and has engaged Haigh Jackson, baritone of the Carl Rosn Company, to succeed Harold Thorloy in tho Royal Comic Opera Company. . . . William Anderson will meet hi,s dramatic company in Auckland, and return to Australia with Mrs. Anderson (Miss Eugenic. Duggan). ..." Life is like a cup of tea; the heartier. wo drink, tho sooner wo reach the dregs." — " Tho Admirable Crichton." . . . Albert Whelan is a great success in England. Owing to his extended engagements, he will not bo able to visit Australia uiuW Gcorgo Slephonson's management until late in 1904. . . That historic London show, Madamo Tuasaud'a Waxworks, celebrated its centenary recently. . . . Jean Qerurdy was playing to packed houses lit tho Queen's Hull, London, when tho lust, mail left. . . . The Vuldares, trick cyclists, were in London at Christmas timo, having concluded a tour m< China, Japan, and India. . . . The eux'igemcntH of most ol tho English anhh now with Fitzgerald Brothers' Circus terminates on their arrival in Sydney. . . . Colonel William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) has been mado a millionaire, it is reported, by tho dUcovery of a rioh vem of coal on his Wyoming wife]). . . . William Anderfcon has purchased the rights of a new piece, "A Girl's Cross Ways," which Avill bo produced for the flrfct timo in Australia at Easier! ido. . Musgiovo's; Shakespearian Company concluded its seawn in Molboinno last Friday week, when the combination dis>banded. Mr. Musijrovo is not now represented by any nlhaction in Australia. . . . Plays with tho acenei laid in tho Far East aro multiply inff. The latest is "A Jnpnneso Nightingale," produced at Daly's Theatre in Now York, adapted fiotn "Onoto Wotanna's " novel by Willitun Young, who wn« responsible ior tho dmmatisation of " Ben lltir." Wi«llor Lannen, brothei of the htlo E. J, Fjonnon, aiid, like him, a clever comedian, died at Kentish Town of consumption ju«l prior to the deparluie of tho list nvul. '

"Ye* ; ho proposed," Miss Pnssny continued, Munliing, "nnd when popu" cawo mtit^tho loom ha found mo in Mr. Hugpi!.in aims " "Ah, now 1 ree," exclaimed Mt.v< Sj'ci!/., "I wondered what your Jiilhei meant to-dny mlism I hciud liini ti-lliiiK n>y lather t)mt Mr. Muggins had (in o.d hoitd on .yuung slionldois. '['esc— "I don't kcc \\ hy him nhould go and marry that old man for his money?" Jess— "\Yl»v, how else could dio jjet it?"