MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10890, 22 October 1898, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

OPERA HOUSE ENGAGEMENTS. Henry Dramatic Company. __ Dec. 7_Ooinic Opera " Mikado. Dec' 16-Coinic Opera " Gondoliers. Dec. 26-I'ollard Opera Company. Jan-sarrv Rickards ll'attie Browne) Co. Williamson and Musgrove Co. AGRICULTURAL HALL. Poller's Jfyriorama Company. reclaimed Land. Harmston's Circus (date not definitely fixed.) Bristol's American Circus. ON COUNTRY TOUR. Greenwood Dramatic Company. Payne Family of Bellringers.

The Henry Dramatic Company commenced a season of melodrama at the Opera House on Tuesday night, when "From Scotland Yard," which consists of four acts of sensation,'was produced. The hero (Mr. R. Henry) is an aristocratic - looking detective who strolls round in frock coat and tall bat, and persists in foiling the villain (Mr. W. S. Marshall) at every turn, much to the aforesaid villain's annoyance. The latter is a bloodthirsty individual who makes a fair Start in the opening scene by arranging the preliminaries of a duel with knives, in which the combatants, panting and gory, fall to the floor with the usual "dull sickening.' Hie programme informs the audience that the villain is a man " with a record," said record consisting of having eloped with another man's wife, committed several diabolical murders, and who is further guilty of robberv, seduction, coining, impersonation, fraud, and sundry oilier crimes. The manly husband (Mr. H! X. Douglas) of the erring wife (Miss K. Raleigh); the innocent and trusting daughter (Miss Laura Keenel: the poor but honest friends of the young man (Mr. J. R. Ooodall) who wanders through several acts without locating his father (Mr. H. N. Douglas); and the heavy character of the "Bill the Stousher" type (Mr. W. Coulter) are all represented, while the drama is enlivened by several topical songs contributed by 'i daring young lady (Miss llillie Howarde) who, attired as a West End dude, lenders valuable assistance in the foiling of the bad man's several plots. On Thursday night "Shamrock and Thistle" was produced, and quick changes for the rest of the season are announced. Mr. Heller informs me that, lie is arranging several specialities before leaving for the South, where the popular conjurer is sure to do good business. Home of the novelties are said to be equal to anything of the kind yet produced on the colonial stage. The Greenwoods returned to town from Whangarei on Monday last after a most successful season. In spite of bad weather and rough roads the houses were filled each night. At present they are playing in the Waikato, and return to town by the Ist of December to play a short season at the Opera House, producing several new pieces. The family leave New Zealand for Australia early in the Dew year. Mr. J. McConnocliie, the manager of the Opera House, has returned to Auckland. The Alfred Woods Company, which he accompanied through several of the towns between Napier and Wanganui. have proceeded to Dunedin and have opened in "The (iates of Bondage." The Payne Family are appearing in the suburbs, and are attracting splendid houses. Mr. John Hodge, the business representative, informs me that the company is to be strengthened by the addition of several new performers. An Auckland syndicate has been formed (of which Mr. John Fuller is the head) to cater for the public at Christmas and during the Exhibition. The entertainment will be called. "The World's Fair." and will consist of waxworks, the latest English illusions, and any other novelties that can be secured. Mr. R. H. Beattie, well-known in circus and theatrical circles has been engaged as manager, and with Mr. Ben Fuller, will proceed to Sydney on .uonday to purchase the above novelties. The Ada Juueen Dramatic Company has disbanded in the South. Aucklanders will

not hare the pleasure of seeing this lady in drama, as she has left the stage for the present.

Harmstnn's circus is journeying Southwards, and will not be in Auckland till next year. Good business is reported. The parts of the Duke of Plazo-toro and The Mikado, in the coming productions of " Gondoliers" and Mikado" will be sustained by Mr. Em. Keesing: Mr. Archdalc Tavlcr appearing as The Grand Inquisitor and KoKo respectively. The annual examinations of the London College of Music have been postponed owing to the non-arrival from England of the examination papers. The Nelson Amateur Dramatic Society staged " Lcs Cloches de Corneville" for foulnights last week. The performances were >» a great success, but the houses were not so good as they would have been had the circus been playing in the next town. The handsome costumes of the Auckland Club were greatly admired by the Nelsonites. The genial Lohr, who is managing Dante's 'Australian tour, writes enclosing the press notices of the Sydney papers, from which I gather that the American conjurer has caught on, and that the season at the Sydney Palace promises to be a successful one. Dante will return to New Zealand in a few months, make a tour of the colony and then return to Australia, where he makes a lengthy tour.

Australian Shows : — Sydney : "La Poupee," by the Firm's Company, at Her Majesty's; " Sporting Life," bv Bland Holt's Company, at the Royal; Rickard's Variety Company, at the Tivoli: Professor Dante, at the Palace: St. John's Company, at the Al-

liambra: the Newbury Spada Company, at Town Hall. Melbourne: " Under the Red Robe." by the Knight-Fcrrrar Company, at the Princess; " The Little Minister," Puttie

Brown Company, at the Bijou; "Sons of the Sea." Bateinan and Manna, at the Royal; and Harry Rickards Variety Company, at the Opera House. Mr. A. Brandon-Cremer was called upon to play two parts in " From Scotland Yard" at very short notice, and proved hims;'( equal to the emergency. Cremer however, is capable of better things if the opportunity is afforded him. Miss Gertie Campion, who plays Suzette in "The French Maid " and Julie Bow Bow in "The P.irisienne," came to New Zealand under special engagement to Tom Pollard, who has obtained the Australian rights of a successful English musical play " The Telephone (rill." Frank Lincoln is doing good business in the Rand. Miss Eva Clements and D'Arcy Stanfield are also still in South Africa, anil were by latest adivces at Port Elizabeth with a variety company. The Era, on Miss May Pollard's performance in " The Belle of New York":—"The

part was charmingly played by Miss May Pollard, who cleverly and with ingenuous freshness portrayed the conflicting emotions between love and duty." Grattan R-iggs is playing a series of Irish parts with Holloway and Anderson's Company. The tour beiran at- Bendign, and will include Ballarat, Geelnng. and Adelaide. Misses Alice Deorwyn. IdaGresham, Oenreie Leighford, Messrs." O'Neill. Willard. dial-

mers, and others well-known in New Zealand ire among the performers. Miss Lilla Wilde, here with the Albert Lucas Company, is claying in " The Sorrows of Satan" and "The Sign of the Cross" Company on tout in English provinces. A dramatic company has been formed to tour the West Coast, opening at Blenheim. The company includes Messrs. Scott Leighton (late of the Robert Inman Company), C. R. Hill, J. Manville. Marriott (formerly of the Bland Holt Company), Fred Archer (formerly with Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove), Miss Marriott, and Miss Olive Bronghton. The following pieces will be plaved : — " Struck Oil." " The British Flag" (a military drama which has not yet been produced'in New Zealand). "The Victoria Cross," The Unknown." "The Black Flag," "Caste," and "The Snowball." It will be' remembered that Mr. Hedmondt a Canadian tenor who was engaged b<- Messrs. Williamson and Muserove, Limited, at the London Shaftesbury for the production of the " Scarlet Feather," recently brought an action against that firm for breach of contract. It will also be recollected that the case was "amicably settled." A writer in the London Weekly Sun now hears that Mr. Hedmondt received jtiOO as a solatium. Musico-Dbasuticcs.