DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9118, 28 July 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

"La Toscu." proved an entire success in San Francisco, and drew "deeply interested crowds" at each performance. Dockstader's Minstrels, from New York, are appearing at the San Francisco Bush, and are meeting with good success. "The Old Homestead" has been produced at the San Francisco Baldwin to good audiences by Denman Thompson. At the San Francisco Alcazar Lizzie Evans has been appearing, her last piece being "Fogg's Ferry," which is to be followed by '• Maud Miller." " Girofle-Girofla" was given at the San Francisco Tivoli, and did such a satisfactory business that it was continued for some time longer than at first intended. It was succeeded by " Said Pasha," which had also hit the popular taste, the house being crowded nightly. One sure sign of its popularity is that the music of the piece has been picked up by the boys on the streets, and is heard almost everywhere. Mrs. D. P. Bowers opened at the California Theatre, San Francisco, in "Queen Elizabeth," and is drawing large and appreciative audiences. " Lady Dudley's Secret" followed, with no diminution in either the audience or its appreciation. Patti Rosa has concluded a very successful season at the San Francisco Bush, and proceeds to New York and England, where she is to play a ten-weeks' season, at the conclusion of which she comes to Australia. A San Francisco critic says:— "Patti Rosa came to this city practically unknown,but her fine talent, handsome face, and graceful dancing have won for her a goodly host of friends to whom she can always confidently look for a hearty welcome. She is a bright, hard-working little woman, and deserves all her success.

At the New York Bijou, "Town Lots, or a Paper City," has been produced. It is a I ,new play, and is an eccentric farce comedy. .fit is a satire on real estate "booms" and telephone exchanges, and enough fun is made out of these two things to keep the audience in a state of hilarity during the performance. Edouard Lalo's first operatic venture was recently produced at the Opera Comique, Paris. It is called "Le Roi d'Ys," and gained an instantaneous success. The libretto is by Edouard Blan, and the plot is founded on an old Breton legend of the ancient city of Ys, which a thousand years aero or so was swallowed up by the waves. The style of instrumentation is Wagnerian. The score abounds with fascinating arias and ensemble pieces. The principal parts of the performance were taken by Mdlles. Deschampes and Simmonnet, and Messrs. Talazac, Cabolet, and Bouvet. Marie Van Zand has returned to Paris from Moscow, where she has been singing with much success the leading parts in *' Mignon" and " Lakme." Ernest Roger's opera, "Salambo," which is based upon Flaubert's famous work, is nearly finished, and, it is stated, will be first produced at Paris during the coming Universal Exhibition. The "Golden Legend" was recently performed at the Albert Hall, London, before Her Majesty the Queen. Sir Arthur Sullivan conducted, Mr. Banks singing the part of the Prince, and Mr. Henschell taking the part of Lucifer. Mesdames Albani and Pater took their usual parts. Bandmann is still performing at the California Theatre, San Francisco. He recently produced "Narcisse," and as the attendance did not come up to his expectations, he came before the curtain, and made a speech, in which he stated that his season had suffered, owing to the popularity of "La Tosca." He stigmatised the San Franciscans as a" very bad lot," " for," he said, " no honest man or pure woman could sit that play out." A recent performance at the Boston Theatre was given for the benefit of the Actors' Fund. Messrs. Booth and Barrett both appeared in the second act of •" Othello." The proceeds amounted to about £675.

. Gussie Cottlow, a little ten-year-old pianiste, recently made her professional debut in Chicago. She is said to be a prepossessing little maiden, with ruddy brown cheeks and dark eyes, full of robust health and energy, and overflowing with life and spirit. At her debut, which was attended by most of Chicago's music-lovers and critics, she played a Beethoven rondo in G major, a Haydn fantasie in C major, Handel's "Harmonius Blacksmith," the difficult Beethoven sonata in G major, two selections from Chopin, and a rondo by Moscheles. Her work is characterised by

a -wonderful depth of feeling and an ap parently intuitive musical taste, with a quite remarkable technical faculty, which, when her strength to overcome mechanical difficulties is increased, will make of her a really wonderful pianiste. " Nadjy," at the New York Casino, is quite the rage. It has almost completed its fiftieth performance, and an extended run is anticipated. » • r Frank Sanger has secured Mrs. Frances Hodgson-Burnett's play, "The Real Little Lord Fauntleroy," for an American tour. Helen Barry is to open in the three.-act comedy "A Woman's Stratagem" at the Union Square Theatre, New York, in September.

At the Bijou Opera House, New York, "A Brass Monkey is to have a six weeks' run shortly. " Barbe-Bleue" is to be revived at the Eden Theatre, Paris, with Madame Jeanne Granier in the principal part. It is probable that Nat Goodwin, the veteran New York actor, wi 1 play an engagement in London shortly. , Mrs. James Brown-Potter has closed her season at the Grand Opera House, New York, and has sailed for France, where she is to remain until September. During her absence, Mrs. Potter is to study and prepare for "Antony and Cleopatra," which she -will produce at Wallack's Theatre, New York, in October next, under the management of Henry E. Abbey. It is stated that Mrs. Langtry is endeavouring to secure the American rights for the New English play, "The Love Story." The Mohawk Minstrels have been showing at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin. On the first night, owing to the late arrival of the express, the company had to appear without their scenery and some of the members, the performance being half an hour late in starting. Good downstairs houses have greeted them every night. Miss Col bourne Baber was advertised to give two concerts in the Dunedin Choral Hall on July 18 and 19, assisted by Miss Alice Wooldridge, Messrs. H. B. Smith, and A. J. Baber, Mdme. Scherek as solo pianist, and Mr. A. J. Barth as musical director.

At a meeting of the Council of the College of Organists, held in London in May last, the honorary membership of the College was conferred on Mr. G. F. Tendall, Mus. Bac., Oxon., organist and choirmaster of the Christchurch Cathedral.

The Sydney Morning Herald of the 19th 'jist. says:—We have had no concerts of note during thS past fortnight, and all the theatres, being now devoted to the drama, there is nothing of a musical character to report. Indeed, the only concerts that we have had for a long time worth speaking of were a concert given by the Sydney Liedertafel and one by the Orpheus Club, both on the same evening, about a fortnight ago. The Orpheus Club is the only society in Sydney that performs chamber music. _ The most interesting matter in connection with the stage just now is the appearance of a French Comedy Company, introduced to the colonies by the wellknown impresario, Signor Tessero, of Melbourne. The company has already appeared in the latter city, and opened in Sydney something over a week ap-o. The company though not what would be considered first-class on the Continent, is exfa are wpl f nd the Performances so far are well spoken of. Amongst the comedies already played were -.-" Lo Voyage de M Pemchon," "La Joie de la Maison, Les Deux Veuves" "T na Vivacites du Capitaine Tic" and «r ! Depute de Bombignac." At' the Theatre Royal Henry IW. comSy^S™ Taken from Life" is now being played • Her Majesty s Theatre is still fttracting largely with the "Lights o' London," the real water to represent the Regent's' Park Canal being a great sensation ; and at the Criterion Messrs. Brough and Boueicault's Comedy Company are playi n » •< v,„ Versa" and " Turned Up." " The Woman in Red" is on the boards at the New Opera House, and a dramatised version of the popular novel, " Mr. Barnes, of New York " is "being presented at the Royal Standard Theatre. The music halls are drawing good houses with minstrel and variety entertainments.

Karl Formes was to leave London for America the latter end of June, and is to again take up his residence in San Francisco. He has refused most tempting offers to remain in London. °

The amateurs of Christchurch intend giving the opera of "The Mikado" on August 7th, Bth, 10th, and 11th at the Theatre Royal. The performance is to be given in aid of the Mount Magdala Asylum. Sarasate is having immense success in concerts in London.

" Shy lock," translated into verse, is about to be produced at the Paris Odeon. The most beautiful dresses seen on the stage just now, writes Edmund Yates from London, are those worn by Ellen Terry in " The Amber Heart."

Mrs. Rignold, who died a few days ago at Birmingham, England, was the first actress to undertake the part of Hamlet. She tried it fifty years ago. The latest beautiful American prima donna abroad is Miss Emma Eames, whose notoriety has been helped along by having her portrait painted and hung in a Paris salon.

The London Daily News says that the Daly company's first performance of ''The Taming of the Shrew" "left a considerable feeling of disappointment." Miss Rehan rather carried of the honours. Audran is at work on a new operetta, the book of which is by Chivet and l)uru. The title is "La Petite Fronde," and the first performance will take place in October, at the Folies-Dramatiques, in Paris. Sally Holman, an ex-queen of light opera, at one time well known in nearly every city of the United States and Canada, died at her home in Ldndon, Canada, on June Bth. At the time of her death she was the wife or J. T. Dalton.

Edvard Greig, the Norwegian composer, is described as a pianist of exquisite touch and elegant, refined execution. His songs and piano pieces are thoughtful and original, and his wife sings the one and he plays the other delightfully. The couple would be welcome in America.

That favourite establishment, the Paris Hippodrome, is having a brilliant success with its Russian military pantomime, a florification of the great Russian hero, kobeloff, in three tableaux, got up with wonderful success, intermingled with Russian national songs, bell-ringing, and performance of Russian airs, including the National Anthem. Russian war scenes and

I popular fetes, a march past of Russian troops, Russian dances, etc., the costumes and accessories all brought from Russia, make up a very original and interesting spectacle, which the present adoration of Russia causes the Parisians to find exceptionally charming; and when the hero of the piece finally makes his appearance, amidst a grand wind up of spectacular and orchestral splendours, the enthusiasm of the house is most vividly displayed. At the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, Miss Carrie Swain has continued to please her many friends by the whole-heartedness with which she throws herself into the work of developing the dramatic force of "The Miner's Daughter." " Uncle Tom's Cabin" will take the place of " The Miner's Daughter." The Lynch Bellringers are performing in the suburbs of Melbourne.

Billy Emerson has been appearing on the stage in America with Katie Putnam, a star actress, and the papers say he has made the hit of his life. He has discarded the burnt cork business, and, in spite of his nervousness on the first night, he got a good reception, being compelled to respond to many encores. This is how he advertises himself : " Worth 250, OOOdol. Salary highest in America in black or white. Always plays the limit. Lost 40,000d01. within a year. Hit the Kentucky Derby Monday with 800—had it placed at from 50 down to 10 to 1. Will play white face next season with Katie Putnam. Knows his own business and only works when in the mood. Time, 2;07£. Mr. Henry Irving has arranged to tour his company through the Continent in 1890, letting the Lyceum to Edward Booth and Lawrence Barrett during his absence. A music hall on the plan of the London Alhambra is to be started in Sydney. Miss Ruby Greenwood, is referred to by a Sydney newspaper as " the clever little pianiste and elocutionist." Madame Melba's father, Mr. David Mit-

chell, is a contractor in Melbourne, and is said to be enormously wealthy.