FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 10448, 19 October 1897, Page 3

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[By Call Boy. J

The Oamaru Opera Company stage 'lolanthe' on race nights this week. The Wauganui Amateur Dramatic Association successfully produced 'Dandy Dick' last week.

Mr Wybert Reeve arrives at f.he Bluff by the Wakatipu, and opens hia New Zealand tour at Invereargill ou Saturday night. As already mentioned, hia raaiu attraction is the original Lumiere cinematographe, which presents pictures measuring 9ft by 6ft Gin without the unsteadiness that has marred previous exhibitions. Besides the descriptive lecture, Mr Reeve gives a couple of recitations nightly, Miss Hope Nation (contralto) sings appropriate ballads, and the musical selections are in the hands of Mrs E. F. Gallaugher. Encouraged by the success attending the present season, the Bland Holt Company will pay us a return visit in March, when three or four novelties will be presented. The 'Sign of the Cross' Company aro now appearing in Melbourne in 'A Royal Divorce,' which seema likely to rival the success of Wilson Barrett's religious play. At the Melbourne Opera-house last week a matictb civen in aid of the family of the late Mr \V. A. Jiakins, who died in Wett Australia while in charge of one of Harry companies, realised £SO. Lady Teacher: "Good morninc*, sir. I wane Beethoven's ' Funeral March ' for the piano, please." Music-seller : " I have only one setting of it, Miss, and that is in seven its. Will that suit you ?" Lady Teacher: Urtam]y;thefnt.= flonotsignify. Youknow, I always erase the flits for my young pupils if there's more than one. The little ones don t observe anything wrong, and it's far easier for the teacher." Music-seller: "I 'should Ray it would be quite a novelty to hear your pupils. Do you give any public rehearsals V Lady Teacher : " Oh, dear, no • I don't bother about that kind of thing. Most of the parents aro thoroughly satisbVid with their children's progress. If you tick them off a new exercise, and give them a little praise oecisinmilly, the parents are continually telling their how well their httlo girls are getting on with the piano, always reminding them to call in some day and hear Beethoven's 'Funeral March ' played."—' New Zealand Musical Times.'

The popularity of the relig : ous play in English-speaking countries {writes our London correspondent) may have had something to do with inducing tferr Sndermaun, the German playwright, to construct ' Johannis,' a drama in which the great Biblical workn of John the Baptist's life are reproduced with additions borrowed from legends and from the author's poetic fancy. Its publio representation haa been forbidden by the censors, but it was read the other evening to a select company of journalists and friends. The prologue ahows John, surrounded by psople, listening to his preaching of repentance and the indications he (jives of the coming, of Christ. John hears "of tho marriage of Herod, and the guardian of tho law goeato Jerusalem., The drama opens with tho Baptist preaching against Herodias. He is arrested, but Salome falls in love with him, although she has been thoroughly corrupted by the influence of her mother. John, of course, spurns her attentions and her love turns to hate. Ho becomes ecstatic on hearing of the approaching visit of the great prophet from Galilee, and after hearing Christ's doctrine of love his whole nature becomes transformed. He is no longer the stern prophet, but the follower of the new teaching. The feast at which Salome dances and the dramatic incidents which follow are finely treated. As John is being led to execution a message is brought to him that Jesus of Nazareth is approaching the town, and before the curtain falls the procession heralding Christ comes on the stage. It is with these sounds in his ear that John is beheaded. The play is generally considered to be one of the be3t that Sudermann ever wrote.