MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12266, 9 May 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

THEATRICAL BOOKINGS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Api'il 13 to May 51—Anderson Dramatic Co. May 12 to June ; 3—Geo. Musgrove's " Sweet Nell" Company. June 15 to 27— J. C. Williamson's "Are "ion a Mason?" Company. July 21 to August Hawlrey Comedy Company (pencilled). August 6 to 26—Geo. Stephenson's American Attraction Company. . September 19 to October John F. Sneridan's Musical Comedy Company. October 12 to 26— J. C. Williamson. November 23 to December s—. T. C. Williamson. December 25 to January 22— J. C. Williamson.

ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE. June 27 to July 10—Harry Kickards. Julv 16 to 18—Mark Hambonrff Concert Co. December 26 to January 24, 1904—MacMahon 3 Dramatic Co.

Great interest attaches to the forthcoming production at His Majesty's Theatre, by Miss Nellie Stewart and Mr. Geo. Musgrove's English Comedy Company of Paul Kester's romantic play, " Sweet Nell of Old Drury," which will be staged for the first time in Auckland on Tuesday evening next. " Sweet Nell" carries its audience back over more than two centuries to the gay and gallant days of the Stuarts, when, the men were as richly apparelled as the women, and when there was an artistic touch about everything. The story is simple yet exciting, and full of interest throughout. What will appeal both to the interest and the curiosity of local playgoers in witnessing "Sweet' Nell" will doubtless be the fact that Miss Nellie Stewart, who has won such honours in the 'title role, will be seen here for the first time in other than opera. A matinee performance of "Two Littie Drummer Boys" will be given at His Majesty's Theatre this afternoon by the Anderson Dramatic Company. This is quite a delightful play, made the more interesting owing to the"excellence of the acting, and the tasteful mounting. It will run until Monday night, after which the company will move to the Opera House, playing there for live nights in " Night Birds of London." The production of "II Trovatore" at the Opera House on Monday last by Madame Lilian Tree, her pupils, aud other artistes, reflected especial credit upon Madame herself. The mere outsider can have perhaps little idea of the big undertaking it was fortius lady to train, single-handed, both principals and chorus. In her evident desire to give us good music and encourage local talent Madame Tree thoroughly deserved success.

Whilst on the subject of local talent it occurs to me once more to refer to the fact that in the selection of items for concerts several of our resident performers continue to display a curious aversion to enlarging their repertoires. Songs and recitations worn well-nigh threadbare are repeatedly to be found opposite the names of certain artistes on programme after programme, and there is positively a danger of some of our performers becoming inseparably associated in concert-goers' minds with two or three familiar items, and with 110 others.

No combination of artistes, however popular, can expect the public to pay again ;iud again to hear them in items they have already heard them.—or othersin, time out of number. These are days of progress, in song and story as in other arts, and concert artistes should endeavour to keep up with the times, or concerts may go out of fashion. This would be a pity, tor from the point of view of actual talent we have many singers, instrumentalists, and elocutionists in Auckland who are capable of doing really sterling work. Also there are hundreds of new compositions being put upon the musical aud literary markets every year. Personally I shall welcome the day when the oft-repeated familiars are relegated to the class labelled "encore numbers."

Says a writer in a contemporary: —■ " Sweet Nell of Old Drury"' is delicious. The most perfect comedy 1 have ever seen on the Melbourne boards since the days when Mrs. Bernard Beere charmed us with " Peg Woffington." The smoothness of acting, the harmony of dress and manner, and the artistic finish of the performance makes the comedyso delightful in itself— charming presentation. Apropos of the death in California of the coloured tenor, Wallace King, a Waihi correspondent writes as follows:"Amongst your notes of last week you record the death of Wallace King, which recalls to my mind an incident in the great tenor's life. Some years ago while King was engaged at the Alhambra, Sydney, the lessee, Frank Smith, died, and after the burial service was read, the coloured tenor sang 'In the Sweet By and Bye' o'er his grave. Let us hope they have met."

It is satisfactory to note, says " Prospero," that the new proprietors of the Christchurch Theatre Royal are taking the first step towards the erection of a new building, viz., calling for competitive plans. It is to be hoped that the result will be to give Greater Christchurch a theatre worthy of the city. Mr. Harry Rickards' Company, headed by . Lightning-calculator Jacques Inaudi, opened at Dunedin Princess' on May 6. The Auckland season commences on June 27.

Although "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," which is to be staged at His Majesty's for the first time on Tuesday evening next by the Musgrove Comedy Company, headed by Miss Nellie Stewart, first became a London success on its production at the Haymarket in September, 1900, it is worthy of note that previously it had already been running five years in the United States, so it is not after all such a very recent production. The Fullers resume vaudeville in Christchurch on May 25. Mr. Geo. Musgrove has joined his Comedy Company in Christchurch, and will probably come on with them to Auckland. Southern exchanges state that Messrs. Harry Plimmer, 11. W. Diver, and C. R. Stanford, intend taking over "the Brough repertoire and touring New Zealand with their own company. This was their intention, but 1 am in a position to say that it lias been abandoned.

It is said that Jean Gerardy, the famous young 'cellist, returns to Australia at the end of next year to claim his Australian bride, Miss Amelia M'Quade, of Sydney. " Lorgnette" states that notwithstanding cable advice to the contrary it is quite possible that Mr. Edward Lloyd, the English tenor, and his concert company, will find time to make a (lying tour of New Zealand before they leave the colonies. It is possible that the spectacular produeton, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," will he played through New Zealand. The staging and mounting of "Sweet Nell (J Old Drury" are said to be of more than ordinary excellence. In the second act Miss Stewart's song, "How Happy the Lover," to her own accompaniment on the harpsichord is a particularly pleasing item. " Sweet Nell of Old Drury" promises to have a most successful run in Auckland, judging by the booking to date. Miss Maud Jeffries and Mr. Julius Knight, well known to New Zealand audiences. .-.re mentioned as being likely to come out to Australia in September next, with the company engaged by Mr. J. O. Williamson, to play in The" Eternal City" and " Resurrection." Both pieces have been produced in London by Mr. Beerbohm Tree. Mr. John Prousc, the well-known Wellington baritone, accompanied by Mrs. and Miss Florence Prouse, was a- passenger co ; 'Frisco by the Ventura yesterday. Mr. Prouse joins Mdlle. Dolores in America, and forms one ot her concert party during r.ei tour of the States. He will probably be absent a year. Miss Florence Quinn, the young Aucklander, is still pursuing her musical studies at Bendi«;o, and her voice is reported to be showing marked improvement. Miss Quinn recently took part in a public concert at Beudigo, and the local papers speak in high praise of her performance.

It Has stated recently that Hiss .Alice Pollard was engaged to a Dunedin gentleman, but this is contradicted by "Prompter," in the Canterbury Times.

Fred. Duval, on the eve of his departure toi America by the Ventura yesterday, assured me that he is going to bring back, not a musical comedy company, but a novelty musical and comedy company of 11. very first water. His principal, Mr. George Stephenson, of Dunedin, is at present, with Mrs. Stephenson, resident in Auckland.

• From Table Talk:—New Zealand, reports say, has been visited by far too lvany shows lately, and some members of small affairs have causae to regret the trip. One would-be comedian was recently seen driving a milk-cart, while three "others had g....0 «rass-seedJiig. MUSICO -Dramatic CS.