MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11807, 9 November 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

OPERA HOUSE BOOKINGS. Pollard's Opera Co.—November 1 to 30. Bron?h Comedy Co.—December 26 to January 22 W. F. Hawtrev's Comedy Co.—January 23 to February 3. ,'■'.«,. Williamson's Opera February 5 to 26. Pollards Opera Co.—March 27 to May 9. Holloway Dramatic Co.— 9 to 30.

OTHER SHOWS. City Hall—Dix'B Gaiety Company.

The Pollards are doing splendid business at the Opera House, " Florodora" having oaught on like wildfire. This is by no means to be wondered at, for it is as bright and melodious a work as has been staged here for a long time.

Nothing cleverer than Miss Rosie Evesson's and Mr. Percy's imitation of the Dartos could be conceived, and this alone has drawn no end of playgoers to the performance.

The company has returned to us vastly improved in many respects, chief of which is the work of "the chorus. Their long training is standing them in good stead, and they give plain evidence of their capacity in "Florodora."

Since the opening night the piece has run very merrily, and everybody who has witnessed it has been delighted.

There is, I hear, a probability of the popular Pollards extending their season another two weeks. A matinee performance of "Florodora" is to be given this afternoon.

At the City Hall more new attractions have been added, and Mi. Dix's present. company is a strong one. To-night Mr. Charles" Faning will appear, and on Tuesday next the De Wynne Bros, open in a return visit.

Miss Maginnity's farewell concert on Monday last was largely attended, and the programme was much enjoyed. The young Wellington contralto received quite an ovation, and sang three solos which charmed her hearers.

Following the Pollards at the Opera House the Brough Comedy Company open there on Boxing Night for a three-weeks' season. They will play a round of comedies which have proved very successful both in England and Australia." These will include "Lady Huntworth's Experiment," by R. C. Carton (the opening play), " Second in Command" (Robert Marshall). " Mrs. Dane's Defence" (Henry Arthur Jones), "Tyranny of Tears" (Haddon Chambers). " Sweet and Twenty" (Basil Hood), "The Magistrate" (A. W. Pinero), and " The Amazons" (A. W. Pinero). Mr. and Mrs. Brough will be supported by Miss Temple, Miss Susie Vaughan, Miss Mary Chatteris, Miss Gillies Brown, Miss Helen Gibson. Mr. Cecil Ward. Mr. Leslie Victor, Mr. Ernest Vere, Mr. Charles Garry, Mr. Percy Walshe, Mr. Mclntyre, Mr. Orlando Daly, etc. The whole of the scenery (by Goat-cher), furniture, and stage appointments will be carried, as usual, and the various plays produced in the same way as in Melbourne and Sydney. Speaking of " Lady Huntworth's Experimert" an Australian exchange says: — " Mr. Carton's new play is something to be heartily laughed at. it is so full of innocent merriment, and in the evenness and general excellence of its interpretation it will find a place amongst the best and brightest performances "Brough combinations have given us." Bland Holt's company opened at v the Theatre Royal, Sydney," on the 26th ult., in Cecil Raleigh's " Hearts are Trumps," a melodramatic spectacular play of the approved type. I notice from the programme that Miss Jennie Pollock, the young Auckland lady, plays Lady Dovedale in this production. The latest additions to Mr. Bland Holt's repertoire are " The Price of Peace" (Cecil Raleigh), A Criminal Judge" (Arthur Shirley and Ben Landeck), and "The Betting Book" (Sutton Vane). The Topical Times reports that Mdme. Amy Sherwin has accepted an engagement to sing the prima donna part in the opera of "Rob Roy" for thirteen weeks. Mr. Frederick Tyrone Power, the wellknown actor, has filed his schedule at the Melbourne Insolvency Court because of the failure of the theatrical business carried on by him at the Princess' Theatre, Melbourne, the takings being insufficient to pay expenses. His unsecured debts amount to £1238 13s 7d.

The Brothers Fitzgerald have erected a permanent circus building in Melbourne, with a seating capacity of 7000 persons. The structure has been substantially built and 'comfortably seated, the chairs and benches being so arranged that a full view of the performances is obtainable from every part of the auditorium. The circus and menagerie are reached by a pleasant avenue from the main road, and the whole place is brilliant with electric lights and gas. Geo. Musgrove's new dramatic company is due in Australia next March.

Chas. P. Hammond and Herbert Ross have signed on with W. F. Hawtrey for Tasmania and New Zealand. The company are due to open in Dunedin on December 5. Frank Thornton, accompanied by a new company and with a new repertoire, is due back in Australia at Easter. *~~~~*~r---Alice Hollander's singing at her 8W P2 Town Hall recently strengthei^o~s^^- le first impression into the conviction tha , ir- : »ui a^.^ contralto has every prospect of a career. Madame Amy Sherwin will sing the prima donna part in "Rob Roy" for thirteen weeks in Scotland. Minnie Palmer has returned to the variety stage. She is doing " Rose Pompon" in the provinces at Home. Ada Crossley has been engaged as sole contralto for the current Leeds Festival. She will fill a similar position at the Bradford Festival concerts in December, and is to be principal contralto for the Gloucester Festival. On November 12, in St. James' Hall, she will give a recital, at which the only other artiste to appear will be Lady Halle, who will go specially from Italy for the occasion.

The Globe Comedy Company, an American organisation, with whom Clarence Harvey and George Lyding, late of the Stanton Company, have thrown in their lot, are said to be inquiring for New Zealand dates. Henry Hal lam, who was much annoyed at the defection of the two artistes named from the Stanton Company, has issued an injunction to prevent them playing with another company, and the* Court has so restrained them pending a further hearing.

Will Stevens, well known to New Zealand players, and who was with John Fuller in Auckland during his tenancy of the Agricultural Hall, played for a week at Sydney Empire with a broken arm, and did not know it. He is now in the hospital getting mended. Mrs. Brown-Potter contradicts the story cabled from America that she is to produce a play called " The Mills of the Gods," and says that she has "not even been approached in the matter."

Sir Alexander Mackenzie is writing an opera based on Dickens' " Cricket on the Hearth."

Bill Nye was asked to write in an album belonging to George W. Chikls. This is what he wrote: " Wagner's music is not so bad as it sounds."

The employees of Wirth'.s circus and menagerie, which crossed from Queensland into New South Wales recently, had a lively experience at Tweed Heads." In consequence of the tick regulations, the Stock Department demanded t'hat the animals should be smeared. This was done on board the steamer Lady Musgrave. The tigers, lions, bears, and monkeys evidenced great disinclination to be interfered with in this way, and the work was" performed at great risk by those in charge. One of the crew of the stealer was severely bitten by one of the tigers. A camel, even after being clipped, and a goat, were not allowed to be landed. The horses, which were coming overland, were stopped at the border and smeared.

Mr. George Musgrove has purchased the Australian rights of " The" Thirty Thanes," whidh met with great success in the English provinces. A feature of the new Gaiety Theatre, London, will be . a picture gallery, filled with portraits of the many old favourites who have shone in the ranks of that organisation. A young artist, whose talent runs to portraiture, has received a commission to execute several, and t/he list includes John L. Toole, . Edward Terry, Samuel Phelps, Charles Mathews, Nellie Farren, and Kate Vaughan. • ■ Musicq-Dbahaticts.