MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

OPEEA. HOUSE BOQEINQS. Auckland Banjo Club—December 10. Nance O'Neil Company— week. "What Happened to Jones"— February 19, 1901, to March 16. Holloway Dramatic Company—April 6 to 27. Tyrone and Power Dramatic Company— 24 to July 13 (pencilled). OTHER SHOWS. City Hall— Dix Gaiety Company. Agricultural Hall-Fullers' Waxworks. Palme&ston Nobth is going in for a £6000 opera house. Mdme. Melba starts on another American tour shortly. Mr. Frank Clark has proved a great draw at the City Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Fitz-Gerald have returned to Australia aftei their tour abroad. Messrs. John Fuller and Sons' Companies are reporting very good business in the various centres. "Banjo" Paterson has started upon his New Zealand tour, with the story of " The Boer War," as he saw it. Miss Zoe Karkeek is in London, en route to New Zealand, where she will probably rejoin Pollard's Opera Company. According to the Dunedin Star, the worthy people of that city, who now know " What Happened to Jones," thoroughly enjoyed the denouement. Mr. Fred. Duval, who takes over the position of general manager for Mi. P. R. Dix on Monday next, leaves at once for Wellington to supervise the production of the Christmas pantomime. George Rignold will shortly make a tour of the Australian colonies and New Zealand under the maaagement of Phil Stuart. A strong 'company to support the eminent actor is now being formed in Sydney. That deserving organisation the Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society will be tendered a benefit at the City Hall on December 6. Mr. Dix has generously promised to hand over the proceeds of that night's entertainment to the society. Amusement-seekers will be pleased to know that James C. Bain reappears at the City Hall on December 10. This visit will probably be the last New Zealand will see of Mr. Bain, as it is his present intention to leave for America early in January. Miss Lily Stephens, who, I understand, is to be married shortly, will probably retire from the Pollard Opera Company next month. She has always been popular with opera-goers, who will no doubt wish her every happiness in her new role. The production of "The Babes in the Wood" at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, will necessitate the employment of over 60 trained supernumeraries. Mr. Dix is determined to spare no expense to make it a success, and is ordering tights and dresses from Sydney. The Christchurch newspapers contain most appreciative notices of ' The King's Musketeer," as played by the Crane-Power Dramatic Company. which appears! soon in Auckland. The Press describes the play as a superb one, full of the most entrancing interest. Miss Crane gets a lot of kudos for her interpretation of Miladi.

Mr. Gerrard Coventry, accompanied by his wife, passed through Auckland on Wednesday las; by the R.M.s. Alameda en route to Sydney. Mr. Coventry has been connected with the Shaftesbury Theatre in London and the Casino, New York, and is proceeding to Australia under engagement to Mr. J. C. Williamson in connection with the staging of the Christmas pantomime at Her Majesty's Theatre. Mr. Coventry was last in the colonies with the Belle of New York Company.

A grand concert of vocal and instrumental music is to be given in St. James' Hall, Wellington-street, next Thursday evening. The following well-known artistes will contribute to an excellent programme: Misses Annie Taylor, Laing, Miles, M. Peak, L. Burfoot, Mrs. Geo. Reade, and Messrs. J. W. Ryan, Geo. Warren, M. Lewis, Geo. Higgott, James W. Steel, and others. As the proceeds are to be devoted to augmenting the funds of the Auckland Presbyterian City Mission there should be a large attendance.

Miss Billie Barlow, the London music hall favourite now appearing under Harry Rickards' management at Melbourne Bijou, says variety business is not nearly so exhausting as burlesque, and that it pays better. The burlesque artist* has to be at the theatre at half-past six or go, and rarely gets away before half-past eleven, and rehearsals often keep her going all day for weeks. The variety artiste need not leave home until nine o'clock, and is invariably finished by eleven. Most of her rehearsing is done at home, and when she appears at three theatres nightly her earnings exceed those of the leading burlesque lady.

" I was born," says Miss Gertie Campion, in an interview with " Pasquin," of the Otago Witness, "in Liverpool, England. Left when very young with all my people for America, where we lived four years in West St. Paul, Minnesota. Then returned to England for 12 months, then to the sunny shores of Australia. My father was born in England and my mother in Ireland, but she left (or rather, was taken) with her people for France at the early age of nine months, and lived in France for over 20 years. Both my parents speak French. How did I come to go on the stage? It was through my sister Mollie. After she had finished her singing studies under Sig.nora Coy, Melbourne, she became a member of the last Italian Opera Company. I then gave my parents no rest till they allowed me to go on the stage. I have been on the stage five years last Easter."

Miss Lottie Collins, the latest addition to Mr. Harry Richards' Company, has made one of the biggest hits of the many stars yet imported by the enterprising manager, remarks the last Sydney Referee. In view of the great name which preceded her, however, this was only what might have bejen expected. When the lady made her bow the enthusiasm was so pronounced that it was several minutes before she was able to proceed. Her turn comprised four items, all of a different stamp. Opening with " The Girl on the Ran Dan Dan," a dashing song, she followed up with " The Coalman's Wife," a coster character song. "The Little Widow," which succeeded, was her biggest hit, and her last item was " Gertie, the Gaiety Girl," which also met with exceptional favour. Though not the possessor of a very powerful voice, Miss Collins' singing is exceptionally pleasant.

Mr. Frank Lincoln, the famous entertainer, tells a good story of himself. He was giving his performance one evening in a country town. The audience was small at the beginning, but it became gradually and beautifully less. He felt inclined to cut out some of the stories as one person after another went creaking out. But the patient attention of a man at the back of the hall was an artistic encouragement*to go on. Before the evening was over the speaker on the platform and the man in the back seats were the only human beings left in the hall. Mr. Lincoln did not omit a single word of his two hours' entertainment. When the end came at last he addressed his audience thus: "I am glad to perceive there is one intelligent man in this town!" The man in the back seats stood up. "That's all right, sir," said he, " if you've quite finished I'll lock up — the hallkeeper." A new play by Mr. J. M. Barrie, " The Wedding Guest," made its debut at the Garrick Theatre, writes my London correspondent on October 5, with Mr. H. B. Irving, his wife, Miss Dorothea Baird, alias Trilby, and Miss Violet Vanbrugh in the principal parts. It is a "problem play" on the " two-women-and-one man" theme, as one writer phrases it. A somewhat painful subject is skilfully, if somewhat unevenly, dealt with by the author of "The Little Minister," and the play met with a favourable reception, but it is doubtful whether it will command anything like the success or the "run" with which "The Little Minister" made Mr. Barrie's fortune. At all events, it is the most noteworthy dramatio novelty of the autumn season so far, in respect of its literary and constructive merit, although, of course, "The Price of Peace," which I mentioned last week, is of a far more strikingly spectacular character. Musico-Dbamaticus*