MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8842, 2 April 1892, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

Waltbb Bentlky and hie company have been attracting large audiences at the Opera House during the week. Alexander—tho only Alexander —Wirths' Circus manager, writes me that " the Wirth Bros', enormous shows, three circus rings in simultaneous action, hippodrome, and Wild West," will open in Auckland on May 27. Tho company, he says, has been greatly strengthened, and includes a number of new faces. The stud has had Ravenscraig (a well-known blood stallion) added to it. It was a present from Mr. J. S. Rutherford, of Albury Station, Timaiu. Mr. William Rignold and Miss Maggie Moore, who are at present, in Brisbane with a company, are asking for New Zealand dates. Tho company will probably be piloted by Mr. J. E. Moore. A young Irishman in this city (says the Wellington Post), named Frank White, has, we learn, written a drama founded on a story of evicti-ju, and he is about to produce it with a specially formed company, first in Christcluiroh and then in Wellington. The boy author is full of hope that fame and fortune are within his grasp. The Catholic Times reports the following as having been overheard during a lecent theatrical performance at the Opera House, Wellington Local person (to gorgeous young globe-trotter in a massive collar) : "What do vou think of Bentley's David Garrick ?" Globe-trotter : " Fair, vewy fair, for the kawlinies ; but I've seen David Garrick himself in the part, dontchersee ; in London, dontcherknow !" There is general lamentation amongst the Melbourne theatrical managers. At a recent meeting of shareholders the statement was made that all tho Melbourne theatres, except the Opera House, were being run at a loss. Tho chairman said that one manager had told him it was the worse time thev had had for management. Another said that he would like to lock tlio doors for twelve months. Austin Brereton wires me from Hokitika that G rat tan Biggs, the popular Irish comedian and character actor, is enjoying a most prosperous tour of the \\ est C oast. He has already played Westport, Reetton, and Grey mouth with great success. He commenced his season at Hokitika on Monday night before a crowded and delighted audience. He plays on the coast for another fortnight, and then proceeds to Gisborne, where he opens on Easter Monday. Mrs. Bernard Beere, after the conclusion of her Australian season, will return to London, and will not visit New Zealand. John Sheridan, the lively Widow O'Brien, has made a contract with rank Sanger, the well-known theatrical agent, for a tour of , the United States. J. C. Williamson set going negotiations for Mr. Sheridan witli this object during his last visit to America, with the result that a very extensive tour will be arranged, during which Mr. Sheridan will introduce "Bridget O'Brien, Esq.," to the audiences of that country. Mr. Sheridan leaves Sydney in the Monowai on j May 16. L. J. Lohr is looking forward to a big season in New Zealand. He hopes open in Dunedin on Master Monday ith Hertz, the man of many wonders. A cable to the Australian papers states Another section of the Gaiety Burlesque Company, which is about to visit the colonies, will sail from London for Molboure on March 25th. This detachment will include Miss Marion Hood, Miss Ad'llo Conyers, and Mr. Edward Lonnen. The company will take the whole of the mountings and effects for the production on a large scale of the popular burlesques, "Car men Up To Date, "Jbaiisc Up lo Date, arid "Joan of Arc." Miss Marion Hood visited the colonies with the first section of the Gaiety Company, and i.* therefore known to Australian audiences ; but neither Miss Addie Conyers nor Edward Lonnen have previously been out here. Mr. Lonnen is the original singer of many well-known comicalities, including " The Bogie Man ' and " Killaloe." It was first thought that Mr. J. C. Williamson as at the head of the enterprise, but it is now said that his late partner, Mr. Mu.-gruve, is running the venture. Richard Nesbiit M'Cron, the old Australian actor, when in 'Frisco in the rough days (says the Sydney Bulletin), had aquarrel with Mrs. Hudson Kirby, afterwards Mrs. Stark. The lady came* to the front and complained that she had been insulted by the " Britisher." A row arose, and after repeated calls Nesbitt came forward and disclaimed any intention of offending anyone. Some rough in the pit sang out, "Shoot the ! ' Whereupon Nesbitt, who was playing Richard 111., melodramatically walked to the footlights and, opening his shirt, said, " Fire and be ! I come from a country whose men do not fear bullets." The alterations to the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, cost £8000, and the business loss on the half-year is £5000. The annual report of the Cornedie Francaise shows a profit of £14,000. This will give £640 to each societaire. In the course of the year 1891 11 new pieces, including Sardou's "Thermidor," were produced and 12 plays of its old repertoire revived. An electric hand-fan for theatre-goers has been devised which is likely to take the place of the present methods of cooling auditoriums. It is about the size of a child's toy windmill; the motor is concealed in the handle, and it will act in any position. The fan is very light, and it may be hung on the back of a theatre scat. A push-button on the side of the handle switches on the slight current needed to revolve the flukes, which compels a steady rush of air without making the least noise. Madame Albani has lost some jewels from her hotel in Chicago. Among them one of the most precious was a large emerald, surrounded by diamonds, the gift of the late Earl Dudley, IS years ago, upon the occasion of Madame Album's first appear ance in London. Other missing jewels are a catseye set in diamond®, presented to her by the Duke of Westminster, and three or four valuable rings. One point strikes me in connection with the Christmas shows this year (says a writer in a Home paper)—namely, the evident decline of the topical song. I have not heard a first-rate example anywhere, and those I have heard fell flat. Fashion, of course, changes even with respect to so humble a form of art as the topical song. Thirty years ago Lady Halle was playing in Upsala, Sweden. A young student, enraptured with her playing, took off his white academic cap, which the students prize so highly, filled it with roses, and presented it to her. The student is now a professor, and the last time Lady Halle saw him she told him that she still greatly prized the academic cap presented by him so many year ago. It is generally admitted that Sir Augustus Harris has outdone all his previous efforts in this year's pantomime. There are two scenes the like of which have not been witnessed even at Drury Lane. The first is the " Dolls at Home," in which the vast stage is filled with hundreds of dolls of every size, shape, and make, and from every country where dolls are manufactured. Living puppets have frequently figured in pantomime ere this, but never on such a scale as the present, and the spectacle is as astounding to the elders as it is mirthprovoking to the youngsters. The other scene is the " Procession of Nations" at the Royal Wedding. Twenty-four countries are represented, and as everything has been done to ensure accuracy in matters of costume, the possession is calculated, as they used to say at the Polytechnic, " to combine instruction with amusement." What must have been the cost of the hundreds of richest "confections" worn, and how Sir Augustus Harris is going to get his money back again, are matters requiring a very big note of interrogation. MUS ICO - D AM A T C S.

One of the features of General Booth's scheme is the formation of a " Matrimonial Bureau," which would arrange marriages for persons in foreign lands and elsewhere. Colonel Barker a few days ago received a letter from a young man in one of the colonies, asking him whether he could find him a wife, but she must be "none other than a Salvationist." Be had a good situation, and was earning good wages, and would not, he stated, object to marry a young woman, even if she had been "rescued" from a life of shame, or had been one of the "submerged tenth," or even if she had one child. Colonel Barker expects to be able to make a match of it. This will, be the commencement of the bureau's work. ' v . c . i