MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10836, 20 August 1898, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

■'•■"■■■■' The Alfred Woods ,Company' have intii«V mated to Mr. J. M'Connochie, of the Opera ';.'■ . Hquse, that they will commence their Auckland season on the date originally fixed, viz., Saturday, September 3. &' ■ , Mr. E. Sclmtz's departure for Wellington will leave a gap in local musical circles which it will be hard to fill. As a humorous vocalist he is facile princeps, and his appearance is always the signal for 'rounds of i applause. I am pleased to learn that the musical people of Auckland intend giving him a monster benefit on Friday, September 2, and it is safe to predict a packed house. Miss Celia Dumpier and Miss Constance Hatherly have been giving concerts in southern towns. They have appeared at Asliburton, and are gradually wending their way to Dunedin. Afterwards they will return to Christchiireu, and Miss Hatherly will assist the Musical Union in the performance of "The Martyr of Antiodi,'' in which there is an important part for the harp. Mr. F. Duval informs a contemporary that during the past three years the Pollards have losi money in only two towns, in Brisbane when the heat was torrid, and in Newcastle during a coal strike. Miss Edith Maude, well known in New Zealand, is playing Mrs. Rennick in "The New Boy," at the Queen's Theatre, London. The Stage remarks that she "acts admirably;" and that "she is one of the best actresses we have seen at the Queen's for some time." Piper Findlater, V.C., has, according to the London Daily Mail, declined the situation offered to him at Balmoral in the Queen's service. Apparently lie finds that his valour and his V.C. prove more remunerative in the music-halls than in official recognition and employment. He complains in a letter to an Aberdeen concert-promoter of his treatment by the military authorities, who have bound him down, he states, not to appear as an artist for twelve months. It was the Duke of Fife, lie adds, who intervened in connection with the Alhambra performance. Mr. Albert Lucas, who some lime back visited Auckland, has organised a new dramatic company at Dunedin. A leading member is Miss Constance Hardie, who comes from Sydney, and Miss Gladys Hughes, " a child actress," has been specially engaged. The company's repertoire includes j "The Middleman." "The Silver King," and "The New Magdalen." Miss Pattic Browne lias concluded her : Sydney season. She does seasons in Gee- i long, Beudigo, Ikilarut, Adelaide, and ; Perth, leaving for Westralia early in : September. New Zealand follows. i The Broughs have acquired the rights, it ' is cabled, of three more new and successful ! comedies. "The Master" is a heavy play ' with a grand character part, which was specially written for John Hare, who is at present appearing in it at the London Globe. " One Summer's Day" is a delightful, good, and pure comedy, by Louis N. Parker, and was produced by Charles Hawtrey at the Comedy last year, and made a success. "Jedbury Junior" is by a New York penwoman, Mrs. Madeline Lucette Ryley, and was done at Terry's Theatre in '96 at Eastertide. Our London correspondent writes: — "The week's important music has been confined to the Covent Garden Opera, where the last cycle of the "King des Nibelungen" has been completed. Felir Mottl, the famous Carlsruhe conductor, who directed the whole, has written an enthusiastic letter lauding to the skies the London audiences for their reverent and intelligent attention, and their splendid enthusiasm for the masterpiece of genius. He admits some inevitable shortcomings in performance, but maintains that on the whole a worthy and dignified interpretation of Wagner's colossal work was presented, for which he generously gives chief credit to those who were associated with him . in the hugh task. "Rossini's evergreen 'Barbiere' has been revived at London to let Mclba display her superb voice and marvellous scale-singing in 'Una voce' and the •Lesson Scene.' "She sanj; so finely that Rosina has now been loudly proclaimed her best part. Unluckily, tho ' Barbiere' cannot be repeated this season, but it is sure to come out again next year. Two novelties have been announced, 'Hero and Leandcr' (Ero e Leandro'), by the conductor Mar,cinelli, who composed it originally as a cantata for the Norwich Festival, and 'Henry VIH.,' by Camille Saint Saens, France's greatest living creator of beautiful music." The Payne family of musicians and bellringers arrived in Auckland on Monday by the s.s. Mararoa. Since their last visit to New Zealand they have toured twice through England and South Africa, and have met with phenomenal success. They are at present resting at Onehunga, but will shortly appear in Auckland. According to the British Australasian, M. Henri Kowalski, formerly of Australia, who visited New Zealand with a concert company about six years ago, " has accepted a .very excellent appointment in Paris in connection with one of the leading firms of music publishers." I learn that the repertoire of the Alfred Woods Dramatic Company is an extensive one. and include several dramatic novelties which should take well in New Zealand. The company is a good one, and the leading lady, Miss Maud Williamson, has displayed histrionic ability of no mean order. Miss Ada Ferrer is shortly to take a wellearned rest during the company's stay in Melbourne, and will only play a small part during.the run of "The Harbour Lights." Miss Emily Hughes will sustain the principal parts. I should like to see Miss Hughes as Mercia in the " Sign of the Cross " and ,Glory in " The Christian." The principal topic of conversation in theatre - going circles at the present time in the city is "Les Cloches do Corneville." The annual performance of the Amateur Opera Club is generally • looked forward to with a good deal of interest naturally, but on the present! occasion, I hear on all sides, that this year the club is " going one better," and " Les Cloches" is to be a great production. I had an opportunity of looking at Herr Vennermark's scenery the other day, and must admit that I was agreeably surprised; it is a perfect panorama of beauty. The marvellous change from the historic chamber of . ancient trophies and pictures to the beautifully illuminated gardens of the Feudal Chateau needs to be seen to be admired. That it is from the brush of one and the same artist is hardly credible. Then the fishing village, the hiring fair, and the apple orchard, are equally beautiful in design and execution, and reflect the highest credit on Herr Vennermark. Of course the opera abounds in funny situations and witty dialogue, but from a musical standpoint alone, I believe the amateurs' production will be •well worth seeing. I predict an unqualified success. The advance agent for Alfred Woods Company, who open in Auckland on September 3, is Mr. E. P. Gallaugher, who is well known an New Zealand. Mr. Gallaugher arrives -by the Elingamite, which is due in Auckland about the 22nd inst. Mr. Durward Lely passes through Auckland in tho Alameda, which leaves Sydney for San Francisco at the end of the present month. Mr. Lely and wife have appeared to fair business in Australia, but the tour has not been so successful as was anticipated. A dramatic and burlesque company under the management of Marcella Alexander,'late of the Gaiety and Tivoli Companies, opened a short season at the Opera House on Thursday night. The drama "Aurora FlovH." and the burk'sque "Belle of the Barley Mow " were presented, and appeared to be enjoyed by those present. The company .will appear for the last time this evening. The Greenwood benefit on Wednesday was one of the most successful entertainments ever given in Auckland, and reflects : , credit upon the performers and those re- : sponsible for the management of the pro- .:' gramme. A special word of praise is due to the energetic committee consisting of the following ladies and gentlemen: Mesdames i: St. Clair, Alfred Nathan, C. C. McMillan, Nelson, Napier, Thos. - Morrin, ■•: Scberff, Moss Davis,. Masefield, Devpre, C. Haines, > Keogh,, Leece, : , Lindsay, A. Tayler,'Edmiston,'Ch'eesemanVj'J. McFarlane, Segar, Hanson, HardTc, Sca'nlan,' Collins, Dufaur, ' Kilgoup,'Drs.- Purchas, ; Douglas, Marsack, Lowe, Scanlan, Messrs. Napier, A." Nathan,' '•;.': Segar, McMillan, Hardie, A. ayler, Cheese- ' r /man, Simpson, Hanson, W.Bloomficld.'G. Leece, . ' j MVSICO-DbAMATIOTS. t:ferf' ; ; " : •' : : V: -\.. i - '•'•'.■ ; . : :' '--•'<•