MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 38, 13 August 1910, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC.

fBl OKPHJEUB.I COMING EVENTS. OPERA HOUSE. Hugh Ward, season closes to-night. Miss HarUmso Maltby ("Caste"). 15th to 17th August. National Picture Company, 18th to 31sfc August. J. C. Williamson, Ist to 14th September. Allan Hamilton, 7th October to sth November. Fred H. Graham, 12th to 24th November. J. C. Williamson, 24th December. THEATRE KOYAL. FuHera' New Vaudeville Company, in leasoa. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATIIiC. His Majesty's Pictures in season. THE KING'S THEATRE. Royal and West's Pictures, in season. ST. THOMAS'U HALL. Star ricturcb, m icasou. Jldnday night will see Miss Hardingo and her company of amateurs in possession of the Opera House. A three nights' season will be played, and T, W. Robertson's grand old comedy, "Caste," will be the production. The comedy has been in hand for some time, and the rehearsals have been attended with much success. As all of the players have had more or less stage experience the comedy should receive a fine interpretation. The chief comedy part, Ecclea, will be played by that capable amateur, Mr. Walter Bastin. Careful attention has also been bestowed on the mounting and dressing of the play. There was an enomious rush for seats on the opening of the box plan at Auckland for the Aladdin pantomime season last week. People assembled at the office as early as 5 a.m., and by 8 o'clock there was an immense crowd of people in a long queue, four deep. At the end of the day practically the whole of the circle and orchestra stalls seats were booked up for the first six nights. X early £700 was taken at the box plan office during the day. It was a record booking for Auckland. . "Mendle's Marriage," the three-act comedy which the Catholic Dramatic Olub so successfully produced in the Town Hall recently, will be staged at Newtown, in St. Thomas's Hall, on lionday night. The proceeds of the performanca will be given to St. ■ Anne's Club. C-n Tuesday the club will produce the comedy in the Town Hall, in aid of the Northland School-chapel. Miss Tittell Brune (says the London "Stage") has had a tempting offer made her to appear as Claire Forster in "The Woman' in the Case" in Australia for six months. As, however, she has do cided not to leave England for two years, she has had to decline it. At present Mitss Tittell B^une is at Brighton enjoying a well-earned holiday. Although 'the plans for the proposed new theatre to be erected in the Octagon in Dunedin have been passed by the City Council, there is no sign yet of a start being made with the building. Meanwhile there is talk of a now theatre being erected in Stuart-street, on the way to the railway station. After the Wellington season the Hugh J. Ward Company will visit the following towns:— Blenheim, 15th and 16th August ; Nelson, 18th and 20th August ; Westport, 22nd and 24th August; Greymouth, 25th and 29th August ; Reefton, 30th August; Hokitika, 30th August and Ist September ; Greytown, 7th September ; Masterton, Bth September ; Dannevirke, 9th September ; Waipawa, 10th September; Napier, 12th and 13th September"; Gisborne, 14th and 17th September ; Hastings, 19th September ; Palmerston North, 20th September ; Wanganui, 21st September ; Hawera, 22nd September; New Plymouth, 23rd September ; , Stratford, 24th September ; Waverley, 26th September; Marton, 27th September ; Feilding, 28th September. The company leaves for Sydney on the 30th. The supposition generally entertained abroad that leading English artists make almost all their money in London is a fallacy. Mme. Albani remarked upon this to the Sydney Herald critic on ncr first visit to that city nearly twelve years ago. "We do not make our income in London, but in the great provincial centres," was her dictum. Even Mmo. Melba, has only given one concert in London since her return, and Mmo. Clara Butt's matinee at Queen's Hall on 29th June was advertised as "her only appearance in London this year." Mr. William Cromwell, who has become a great favourite during his two years' stay in Australia, and has now made another hit as Simplicitas in "The Arcadians," will .be tendered a benefit by' Rupert Clarke and Meynell during the next season in Melbonrne with Edward German's now comic opera "Tom Jones," and will then return to London, says a Sydney paper. Mr. Clyde Meynell is now in London engaging a wellknown artist to replace him ; and Miss Maie Sydney, having revisited her Australian home, and proved her mettle as a dainty and tuneful Sombra, also has engagements in view which will take her away after the run of "The Arcadians" opera. Mr. Meynell will thus have to engage a new prima donna ; and there is even mors than that in hand. This firm will shortly bring out from London another complete new comic opera company for two or three of the latest musical successes. In al) this work Mr. Meynell has the co-operation of Mr. Charles St. John Denton, a powerful London entrepreneur and theatrical agent, who brought out "Miss Hook of Holland" and "The Arcadians," and returned at once to look after his English interests. Miss Dora Denton (the Fairy in "Cinderella") sailed again for London with him after nearly two years here, and he brought out in her place her twin sister, Lena, who may be identified amidst the choral Arcadians by her striking resemblance to "the dear departed." The scheme for the Melba Grand Opera, Company under the J. C. Williamson management next year is being actively forwarded, as will be gathered from a letter sent to Mr. H. N. Southwell by Mr. John Lemmone, who state* : "I was joined by Mme. Melba and Mr. Williamson in Paris on 30th June to hear singers, and they found a whole crowd assembled, from Russia, Poland, Italy, and France. Altogether we heard 40 of them, and we engaged a magnificent tenor and a dramatic soprano. John MacCormack is also engaged." The mention of the Irish tenor in this connection sounds "almost too good to be true," says a Sydney paper, Ma-cCor-macK has only appeared at Covent Garden during two or three seasons past, antt mis been huiled on all sides as the most representative English-speaking operatic tenor of the present day. Ho was singing ;n; n "La Traviata" with lime Tettrazini as star throughout Hay. appeared in other lyric operas wilh Mme. Melba, and when the Australian soprano sang as Violetta for the first time this year (Saturday, Ist July), the young tenor was again m the cast as Alfredo. Two hundred members of the famous Sheffield Choir will leave England next March with their conductor, Dr. Henry Coward, and Dr. Charles Harriss, in the interests of the "Musical Festival of the Empire " which is being organi&ed by the last named. Dr. Harriss, -who is married to a Canadi-.ui heiress, will guarantee the almost fabulous expenses of this tour. It if pretty certain to end in a loss, but wiJl advance the cause of music and Empire unity in the one move-

ment. The London Musical Courier of 11th June devotes its first nine pages to this scheme, with portraits of the patEarl of Minto (India), the Earl of Dudley (Australia), Earl Grey (Canada), Viscount Gladstone (South Africa), and Lord Plunkeb (late Governor-General of New Zealand). There are also portraits of the "Founder of Musical Reciprocity j around the Empire." It appears that Dr. Harriss took the Sheffield Choir to Canada in 1908, when they created quite a sensation, and were ieted everywhere ; and he was associated with Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Herbert Parry, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Sir Charles Stanford, Sir F. Bridge, Dr. F. H. Coweu, and Mr. Edward German in the British-Canadian Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in 1906. Portraits of all these celebrities are . duly published. Dr. Henry Coward has already chosen 200 worldaingers from amongst 560 choristers personally examined by him, and ho considers that about half of thoe© chosen could earn their living as soloists. The Sheffield singers will not only sing separately, but will unite wifch other musical bodies on theii tour of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa, and the most elaborate organisation will be needed to ensure success. Mr. H. N. Southwell is at the head of affairs for the Commonwealth, and Mr. Hugo Gorlitz is similarly at work in the Dominion. Th« sLngulajr p-re-eminence of Calve as an operatic artist waa shown by tho three •extraordinary performances she gave at the Princess Th-eatre, Melbourne, recently. Appearing in costume arcd with full scenic and orchestral supports, the fascinating woman displayed her amazing capabilities in ©xcerpt* from "Faust," "Hanikt," and "Cavalleria RujSticana." In .each of the brilliant scenes tlie diva- astonished the most enthusiastic of her admirers, not less by her vocal a-bilfty than by the striking quality of her dTamatic methods. Each of the characters she portrayed with an intensity and vitality that were almost photographic, and sho left a very general .impression, that liad she not been gifted with a- remarkable voice she would have been the equal of Bernhardt and Duse as a tragic actress. It would be difficult to dcclaire which of her impersonations was the most meritorious, bnt it can be said that her Cantuzza in "Cavalleria" was the most poignant, as it certainly is the most unforgettable. The New Zealand tour arranged for Madame Calve is as follow*: — Auckland, 24bh, 27th, ,and 3Oth August; Wellington, 3rd September,- Christdhurch, sfch and 7th September ; Dunedin, 12th September. Th<e prices will be 10s 6d, ss, and 3s. The National Picture Company will occupy the Opera House 'from 18bh to 31st August, when, by special arrangement with Hayward's Enterprise Company, a new speciality in- moving pictures will be presented to Wellington, The well-known comedian, Harry Jjauder, will be pictorially and vocally represented,- This speciality was shown for forty-three conseoubiv© weeks at Spencer's Lyceum, Sydney, to packed houses, and is at present being shown in His Majesty's Thea-tre, Christ-church, by Hayward'e Emterpri&a Company. 'Two or three changes of programme will be shown during tho short season here, and the Lauder songs »vill bo supplemented by-other subjects new to Wellington. • W/fch good show of authority a South■eiw paper learns that when Oscar Asche and Lily Braytoa return, to , AustraJia a tour of New Zealand will be included in their itinerary. Also bhiat the new comic opera, "Tne Arcadians," will ba staged nere early next year. Messrs. Meynell and Clarke purpose exploiting New Zealand with all their successes in future. So successful nave the comic opera ventures of Clarke and Moynell proved, that ard'angemeii'ts a.re being made fot the formation ot 'another complete com pany. Mr. Clyde Meynell, who is at pvesent in London, is now selecting the members. Mr. Max Maxwell has informed "Pasquin," of the Ota.go Witness, that, despite unforeseen circumstances, the New Zealand tour of the Maxwell-Hamilton Company just concluded had been fairly satislactor-y. Ho was of the opinion, however, tnat it wab baiter to tour New Zealand in thie summer months, and is accordingly making arrangements for another bour with a etiong repertoire of new pla.ys. Noting de'iinito has yet been decided, bub the tour will probably cammeraoe at Auckland in February, concluding at Dunediu in April. Mr. Charles Frohman has expressed his delight at the success of his Repertory Theatre venture in London. "Not ' only," he says, "havo we made a great number of productions, but wo have brought into prominence many artists whose success lias served to secure them fine engagements elsewhere." Mr. Froh■man thus foreshadows his plans for next season at this theatre :—"I: — "I hope and believe I shall be able to show a goodly list of plays by those authors whose co-operation during the one just ending has been to me a source of unqualified delight. For instance, I can reckon positively upon a full evening's play from Mr. J. M. Barrie. Mr. Somerset Maugham has already agreed to write for me a special play, and similar promises have been made by Mr. Henry Arthur Jones, Mr. Alfred Sutro, Mr. Haddon Chambers, and Mr. Henry James. One ' of Mr. Barrio's revivals will be 'Quality-street' ; one of Mr. Chambers' s 'The Tyranny ot Tears.' This may be taken as sufficient indication that wo have no fear of runningshort of material for next season, and that even now we are well started with the work. What I shall' term my 'new' Duke of York's Theatre comes into operation m September, when I shall present Miss Irene Vanbrugh in a new play. In December she will move on elsewhere, in order to make room for the annual revival of 'Peter Pan.' After the withdrawal of that perennial favourite we shall make a fresh beginning with the repertory system. To that I intend devoting the winter and spring of each year, the summer and autumn months, I recognise, are less fitted for work of the kind. Besides, I like to make my repertory productions while t am in this country, and the early winter calls for my presence in New York. The stage management, not only, of the Duke | of York's, but of all my other theatres, will continue to be under tho direction of Mr. Dion Boucieault." Theatrical Clips. — tiaceo Homan, the fasting man, hao been challenged by a ; Sydney faster, Rexo. They are to occupy the same glass case in the negative occupation of sitting still and eating nothing. . . The death in Melbourne of Mr. William Joseph Ireland, well-known as an actor in the early days,, is announced. The deceased was in his 87th year. . . . The Clarke and Meynell Opera Company returns to Melbourne on the conclusion of its Sydnej season. "The Arcadians" will probably be revived for a little while. . Mr. A. E. Greenaway will take the part of Black Tom in Mr. Hull Caine's version of his now famous novel, "The Manxman," whii'h will be produced by the RobertsDay Company. . . At rest :• William Watson, the stage doorkeeper of His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin ; tetat 78. . Mr. Harry ]■>. Roberts hopes to play another tour of the Dominion .shortly with "The Pnshinsj of the Thiid Floor Back" a.-> the trump card. . .