MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

OPERA HOUSE BOOKINGS.

, March "29 to April 28-Pollard Opera Company. ' ~ ' . : *".., ' ... „ . May! 12 and 14—Amy Castles Concert Com-

pany. ' May 15 to 24-Pau! ClnqneTaUi (Harry Ric- • hards). May 26— C. Williamson. Jan* 9 to 30-Andenon Dramatic Company. July 1 to 8-Georg9 Muijrrove's Company. July 14 to September 20—Closed for alterations. "' ■ "' ,*' ■ September 22 to October 13-George Masgrove's Company. October 18 to November 22—Pollard Opera Company. $'. December 26 to January 21—Gmcb and Willousrhby Company. April 11 to May 2. 1903-Holloway's Dramatic Company. December 20 to January 25. 1904—Pollard Opera Company. OTHER SHOWS. Dix'B Gaiety Company-City Hall.

Thk Pollard season closes with Monday nights performance, of "The Belle of New York," the first two presentations of which take place to-day at a matinee and in the evening. During the week "The Gondo- ' lier*," " Maritana," and "La Poupee " have been revived, all proving successful. After leaving here the Pollards play a season in Gisborno prior to opening in Dunedin. The marriage of Mr. W. S. Percy, the justly popular leading comedian of the Pollard Company, and Miss Jessie Ramsay, another popular though less known member of the same combination, is to take place in Dunedin on May 27. Mr. Percy has been with the Pollards about 11 years, . and the name of bis friends and admirers in the profession and amongst the public is legion. That he is as popular behind the scenes as he is" in front is evidence of his sterling qualities. As a worker he is is indefatigable, and he never takes up a part without putting his whole soul into it. Ever ready to take a hint, if he has confidence in the qua iter from whence it comes, Mr. Percy is continually on the alert to make improvements in his impersonations. It is a phase of his character that he often spends hours in thinking out " gags" or " business"," «specially to amuse the children at matinee performances, and on any special occasion the public must have noticed how quick he is to pick up some topical subject, and adapt it to his own use for the sake of putting his audience into a good humour. Again, he is always willing to play a small , part, and plays it as thoroughly as a " fat" ! one. Air. Percy is a good scenic artist also, I and many a canvas has been indebted to his brush for its stage effect.. Miss Jessie Ramsay, the bride-elect (at present in Dunedin), has been with the Pollards four or five years, and has played several prominent parts, always pleasing the public by her piquant style. I take this opportunity of ottering my congratulations to the prospective bride and groom, and am confident that 1 voice the sentiments of most operagoers in expressing the sincere wish that happiness and prosperity may long attend them. As the wedding is the first inter-company one since Tom Pollard formed the combination, Mr. Percy intends to celebrate the event by giving a breakfast to the members. He and his bride will spend a brief honeymoon, and then rejoin the ranks :. of the company. In view of "Mr. Parry's immense popularity and his appKwwtoig marriage I should not be surprised were Monday's audience to give him a demonstration at the conclusion of the performance and of the season. It only needs that some admirer should call 'out his name to rouse the audience up to the required pitch. Athas and Collins, the clever sketch, artistes, who have during the week kept City ■■: : Hall ' audience.i vastly amused with their clever act, leave by "the mail steamer today, en route for England To-night Mr. Dix's Company is to be strengthened by the appearance of Miss Madge Morris and Mr. James Harvey. The , lady is described as a charming singing ~ comedienne and the gentleman as a great ' mimic and impersonator. Their duologue entertainment should prove attractive. On Monday next Miss Beryl Gillman is billed ( to make her first appearance. Mr. George Wirth, proprietor of Wiuh's Circus, is at present in Auckland fixing up preliminaries for a short season here, commencing early in May. Since their last v .visit the combination have toured Australia and the South Island of New Zealand to splendid business. Amongst a host of new attractions being brought along is a.tiger act, in which two tigers, driven by a third, draw, a" chariot round the ring. The MacMahon Dramatic Company have cancelled their Auckland dates, May to June. The Society for the Protection of Women and Children and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have arranged to hold their annual entertainment on May 17. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Kanfurly, who have always ta,ken great interest in the society's work, have graciously consented to grant the use of the large* ballroom of Government House for the occasion, and have also .signified their intention of being present. The programme now being arranged is likely to be an exceptionally strong one, and will include a short comedy, under the supervision of Mr. Archdale Tavler. His Majesty's Theatre is beginning to take shape. The walls forming the outline of the stage are up to a height of several feet, and a glance at the site gives a good idea of the plan of the new building. It is seen thai: the stage runs at right angles to Queen-street, facing Durham-street, so that future audiences will face the proscenium, having Queen-street on their right-hand sides. From the activity displayed in the building operations, it would seem that there should be no difficulty in having the playhouse opened on Boxing Night next, as in- : tended. : The syndicate which inaugurated His Ma- , jesty's Theatre scheme will shortly be a thing of the past The concern is to be floated into a company under the title of the Arcade and Theatre Company. No original shores will be offered to the public, as every share has been privately subscribed. However, some of tha large holders have undertaken to allow the public an opportunity of purchasing a limited portion of the. shares at par (£1) for the sake of distribution. The whole cost of the theatre block will run into between £40,000 and £50,000. Mr. A. Devore has the flotation of the company in hand. The Otago Witness says that Melba cabled to Australia to have New Zealand included in her Australian tour. Many New Zealanders (says "Prompter") will doubtless remember Mr. Warwick Gainor, the tall, handsome baritone, v. no visited the colony with the Montague-Turner' Opera Company. Tidings have been recently received" that Mr. Gainor died at, Roosevelt Hospital, New York, on January 21. At the lime of his death he was a member of the Colorado Opera Company. Mr, W. l\ Haw trey will pay a return visit to New Zealand'in the near future. Amougst the new plays that will be included in the company's repertoire"are "The .Lady from Ostencl,' " Cvprienne," "My Soldier Roy." "Saucy Sally," "In the Soup," and the curtain raisers, "The Setting of the Sun" and " The Colour Sergeant." Miss Janet Waldorf, who is now under engagement with Mr. J. C. Williamson was to have opened her .Sydney season at the Theatre Royal on Saturday' last. The Hawtrey Comedy Company is now touring West Australia with " A' Message ,-irom Mars." The part of Horace Parker, formerly played by Mr. Herbert Boss is being undertaken by .Mr. Qregan Macmah'on A Sydney cable says —Mr. Alfred Hill', conductor of th« Liedertafel and other musical organisations, has resigned owing to illhealth. He returns to New Zealand. Mdlle. Dolores will return to Christchurch next week to take part in the oratorios, "The Creation" and "The Messiah," to be given by the Musical Union. Mr. M. Marcus, Harry Richards' representative, arrived in Wellington on Thursday "ahead" of Cinqxtevalli. Harold Ashton is now in Dunedin making arrangements for the opening of Miss Amy Castles' season there. On the other side the tour has boomed in an unprecedented .manner.

, Mr. P. K. Dix has successfully introduced ' ; an. American musical extravanganzit into lis programme at the Christ-church Opera House. It is mentioned as curious that Miss Amy Castles gave her first concert in Melbourne oil April B—three years to a day from her hrst public appearance in that city. M.VSICO-D'RMiAXKVS.