MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1908, Page 4

MIMES AND MUSIC.

The Herbert Fleinming Comedy Company, reorganised by the actor-manager during his visit to London at tho end of last year and now appearing in Auckland, is in a strong position, as all the pieces to bo played on this tour will be new, with fine parts both for Mr. Flemroing and Miss Beatrice Day, whilst the now artists of the company have already won acceptance in Melbourne. The New Zealand repertoire will consist of "The Mummy and the Humming Bird," "Olivia," "The Red Lamp, R Murrary Carson's new comedy, "Simple Simon," and Locke's new play, "The Morals of Marcus." After leaving N-ew Zealand the Flemming-Day Company have engagements to meet in Hobart and Launceelon. "The Mystery of Edwin. "Drood," left unfinished by Charles Dickens, has been completed for the dramatic stage by Mr. Comyns Carr, the well-known dramatist and critic ; and the first production of the new play by Mr. Beerbohm Tree was the event of last month at Her Majesty's, London. Tfle drama bagins, as Dickens' s story does, in the opium den. The old beldame apostrophising her opium eaters with "Dearie" is there; the lascar and Chinaman, in drowsy opium delirium, are lying on a couch ; Jasper, scheming to mttrcter, is there. The 6econd act is a prolonged agony of morphinistic introspection on the part of Jasper, fatalistically impelled towards tbe dead, and the great srene on Christmas Eve. Edwin Drood escapes, but Jasper, in the blissful agony of opium, thinks he 1 has murdered aim. This is described as a great scene for Mr. Tree, who, a>s Jasper, is said to be fine in this study of tho terrorstricken opium eater. -Six months elapse, and the rest is the elucidation of the mystery. Mr. Crisparklo takes the part in the book of Datchery, and there is a dramatic momfent when he and Durdles discover Jasper in thecrypt of the cathedral— where the "old uns," according to Durdles, sing o' nights. But even, then there is no climax, no conculsiou, no consequen.ee. In the meanwhile Jasper bullies Rosa into accepting him, ana at last, in Mr. Crisparkle*s room, Jasper comes for his answer. She falls on her knees before him. Then Jasper feels the pity of conscience for tho first time, confesses — though without apparent reason— and is marched off to gaol. The end is in the infirmary ward of a prison. Jasper is brought in to die, and Rosa and Edwin Drood, redivivus, are brought in, clasp hands, and make a pretty, sentimental relief to the death scene. Mr Basil Gill plays Drood, and Miss Adrenne Augarde Rosa. The productions of the new year in London have introduced a new dramatist, a student of humble life, named George Gloried, whoss .piece, "The House," at tha Court Theatre, refers to tho. "workhouso," to which old Jack Mudsoy is reluctantly driven. The honest, half-starving Creek family, headed by Mudsey's married daughter, is noarly broken-hearted over it all ; bat it will bS" ope mouth less to feed , and ho bravely trudges away. Then, after six weeks, another scene shows that the Creeks are a trifle better off, Joe Creek having got a job, and there aro bloaters on tho tea-table to welcome "grandfather's" return from the "house." He enters in his livery, looking better, cleaner nnd stronger, Tjut .puffing over tho steep stairs, whilst he irotfully explains "at our place they ''as lifts!" So it is ah along the line. He shirks his bloaters and tea because "at our place they 'as a joint, two ■'veggies,' and a glass o' beer," and he alsj misses his game of billiards and his round' of cards. Their horrified cry that it is 1 all "charity" does not move him. "Stuff and nonsense ! If s all out o' the taxes !" .And, generally, the family deteriorates, Gone are the sturdiness, the, pride, and the valour of the striving, poor.-. They will all go off to the Qouse;,, and this lesson, this sermon ' against "overdoing it" at our charitable institutions, is brought home in a comedy overflowing with observation and- humour. The queer piece seems to have been cleverly acted, with Mr. Albert Chevalier especially fins in a forciblo character-study as old Jack Mudsey. 'A cablegram which announced tho return of Mme. Ada Corssley to Australia on a starring tdur^ne^t 'September is confirmed by a letter from the contralto (dated 10th January), expressing her delight at the prospect, says' Sydney Morning Herald. It seems that as soon as Mme. Crossley had signed the contract, under which eho saijs from London in August the fact was communicated to tha press, with the* result that within a fortnight 5b.0 received noarly two score applications from artists of position for places in her concert party. Nothing will bo derided in a hurry, however, as Mme. Crossley intends to take the- greatest caro to form a strong combinntion. In order to carry out her Australian tour, the contralto has just cancelled October festival engagements for Norwich, Birmingham, and Sheffield, as well as nbout 40 other oratario appearances during the (English) winter. For Good Friday of this year Mme. Crossley has concluded three important engagements, at the Crystal Palace in the afternoon, in the "Messiah" at the Royal Albert Hali in the evening, singing her last solo at 9.15, and then at Mr. Wm. Booeey's "Chappell Ballad Concert" at Queen's Hall ! No Wonder the writer "feels rather nervous," and "hopes everything will go all tight !" However, during the past half-year the demands for the Australian contralto's services have been greater than sho^ can meet, and the parcel of press-cuttings now foiwardett betoken .-a marvellous activity ApQfcher new Song to bo introduced by the contralto jn Australia this year wwl be Dr, Cowen's fine setting of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem, "Ho Giveth His Beloved Sleep." Mine. Crossley 'sang this with the Liverpool Philharmonic Society's Orchestra and full chorus, under the composers baton, on 17th December. All tho critics agree that this singer continues in splendid voice. It is probable that the Australasian musical ce.^son of 1903 will be opened by tliß return oi Mr. Philip Ncwbury and Mme. Emily Spada, inasmuch as the New Zealand tenoi vrote from London, at tho close of last year, to a. Sydney paper, to announce thnt he was to mil for Australia with his wife on 24th January. Their scheme is to givo a few concerts in e.ich of tho largo towns, returning to London, tho United States, in time for tho Englishj autumn season. According to tho British Australasian, the Now Zealand tenor is singing better than ever, and Mme. Spada is also completely restored 'to hoalth/ so that their prospects of a successful tour should be good. Mr. Nowbury will hi ing with hin as organist ana pianist -Mr. Sydney Scott. F.R.A.M., a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London, to which institution he is organ examiner, as well ns to the Guildhall School of Music. He is said to be a brilliant player, and .bhould notably strengthen the party. At tho commencement of tho ninetoenth century, Ludwig Spohv's violin, w liich had been presented to him at St. Pctersbuig, was ulso stoleji . Since ihen another Sliadiv.irius was abstracted from the glass rase oi the Imperial orchestra, and sold vi Berlin for £600.