DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9130, 11 August 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

The arrangements for the production of *' The Pirates of Penzance" by Auckland amateurs fire now completed, and the performances promise to be a great success.

" Hans the Boatman," which is to be performed at the Opera House shortly, is likely to attract crowded houses. It is a pleasing and interesting play, and has met with a very favourable reception in the South. The company is an admirable one, and includes a number of Auckland Favourites. Mr. Cunard, the advance agent, is now in town conducting the necessary preliminaries. The "Star Combination Company," who have terminated a very successful tour in Austrialia, are on board the Mariposa, due to-morrow, en route to America. They have, I understand, been in negotiation with Mr. Abbott for a New Zealand season, but no agreement has been come to. However, on their arrival here it is possible that terms will be arranged. New Zealand has been lamentably free of dramatic companies lately, but I hear that we may shortly expect a welcome influx. There is talk of Charles Warner and a strong company, ar.d Mr. Bland Holt and his company, paying us a visit. It is also rumoured that Miss Amy Sherwin contemplates a return visit to Maoriland at no distant date. By the next mail steamer, the Alameda, the' London Gaiety Company will be passengers for San Francisco, where they will give a series of performances, afterwards proceeding to New \ ork, and, after playing there, thence to London. It was at first intended that they should make a tour through New Zealand"; but in consequence of the great expenses of the company—two of the actors alone receiving £100 a-week, almost equal to the pay of a second-class journalist —and the depressed condition of our unhappy colony, the trip has been abandoned. It is quite on the cards, however. that, they will give a morning performance in Auckland if sufficient inducement offers. A Melbourne paper says that Miss Leonora Braham, her husband, and child sailed from Brisbane for home on July -B.^ Matinees are now regular institutions in Sydney as thev are at" home, and most of the theatres will probably give them during the remainder of the winter. The French Comedy Company is doing | better business in Sydney than it did in Melbourne. The various pieces they put on are all well played, and well staged. Mr. Charles Templeton, once w ell-known I as a leading operatic baritone, is said to be dving in the Brisbane Hospital. The Lynch Bellringers have reappeared at the Atiienaum, Melbourne. Their own efforts manifestly occasioned great satisfaction. and the singing of Mi*s Ivanova met with so cordial a reception as to demonstrate. without any question, the good position she holds in the general estimation. The Jungfrau Kapelle, after a successful season in Brisbane, have gone northwards. Mr. Maccabe also is still in the north. Miss Carrie Swain, at the Theatre Royal (savs a Melbourne journal), has lost no jot of popularity by the" continuance of her engagement at this house. On the contrary, she appears to increase in favour the longer she pi a vs. And the good reason for this hold she appears to have taken upon the general liking is to be explained by her thorough earnestness. She enters completely into the spirit of the characters she plays. She does not merely act them according to certain prescribed methods, but she becomes involved in them. Consequently her " Topsy" is not a reflection, but an embodiment. Sarah Bernhardt produced her play, " L'Aveu," for the first time the other day in Lisbon at the Dona Maria Theatre. She had a superb ovation. Called into the royal box, she received from the Queen a superb bouquet, bound with ribbons bearing the Braganza arms and secured by a pin surmounted by a sapphire surrounded with brilliants. Among other presents she cot a small chased silver coffer from Count Franco.

The new opera M. Massenet is writing for the Paris Opera Comique is called provisionally " Pertinax," but does not refer to the Roman emperor of that name. The librettists are Alfred Blau and Louis de Grammont, and the idea of the work is taken from Shakspere. The composer h;is written the principal role for Miss Sybil Sanderson, who has been engaged on his recommendation by the director, M. Paravav. She will make her debut at the Opera Comique in a revival of " Manon." In a little Swiss town lately some players were performing' a drama entitled, " The Last Postillion of the St. Gothard." It was pare of the hero's business to pretend to shoot his betrothed. The weapon used had already served the purpose some twenty times. To obtain a better affect the actor applied a cap to the weapon. He pulled the trigger and the actress fell dead. It came out that the gun had been loaded for four years without the knowledge of its possessor. The Cogill-Rickards Combination, at St. George's Hall, has been doing pood business, and the season promises to be a very profitable one. The Italian tenor Masini, travelling for pleasure, sang recently to the Sultan's harem at Constantinople. The ladies, as is usual on such occasions, were hidden from the view of the artist by high screens. Masini sang the aria from the " Huguenots." As he finished he was astonished to bear a voice from behind the screen sine, in a marvellously finished style in Italian, the song of Valentina, which in the opera follows the tenor aria. Struck by the exceeding beauty of the voice, Masini instituted inquiries, and discovered that the mysterious singer was the daughter of a high official of the Turkish Court, who had studied in Rome with the intention of going on the operatic stage, but, upon her returning to Constantinople, had been forced, much against her will, to enter the harem of the Sultan.

Carl Rosa's newest prima donna is a pretty Aberdeen girl. Miss Annie Emslie Smith comes of a good family, and received her musical training from Signor Garcia, who taught Jenny Lind. Miss Smith sang at rehearsals of " Maritana" and " Faust," and so pleased the famous impresario that he offered her a three years' engagement. She will drop the "Smith," and sing as Annie Emslie.

" A Desperate Game," the new play by Mr. CuncliffeOwen for Arthur Forrest, is to be produced in London this month. Signor Edgardo Sonzgona is to manage a season of Italian opera in Paris next year. Twenty-four pianos were played on at the same time at a recent concert in St. Petersburg, there being two players at each instrument.

The Thalia Opera Company, under the management of Gustav Amberg, is meeting with great success at the Summer Garden Theatre, New York. The company opened with the German version of "La Belle Helena."

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is now located at Erastina, Staten Island, New York. The troupe has been augmented by the addition of fresh Indians, cowboys, buffalo, elk, and other features, and is drawing great crowds. Jules Levy, the cornet player, has just returned to New York from a Southern and Western tour. Steele McKaye's new play is called "A Noble Rogue," the scene of which is laid in Chicago. Gayler's new drama, " Lights and Shadows," at the Standard Theatre, New York, has proved a great success. The company is a good one, and the scenic effects splendid. "The Pearl of Pekin," which has been running at the New York Bijou for some time past, has been withdrawn after a very successful season. It is to be revived early in the fall.

The United States Patent Office have just issued to Joseph Arthur, the author of "The Still Alarm," a full patent covering the entire scene and effects of the enginehouse in the play. This is the first patent of the kind ever issued.

" The Queen of the Plains," a new romantic drama, said to be founded upon the actual life of a brave and desperate woman, has been produced at the Windsor Theatre, New York.

A new comedy-drama, "The Parvenu," has been produced at the Atnphio'n Academy, Brooklyn (New York), with & very strong cast. Jules Verne's spectacular play, " Matthias Sandorf," is to be produced at Niblo's, New York, this month. Musico-Dramaticus.

»/ All communications intended for tnis column should be addressed "Musico-Dramaticus," Hehai.ii Office, Auckland, and should be forwarded as earl? as possible.