MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12609, 25 June 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

•j, .'" t THEATRICAL BOOKINGS, , . UTS MAJESTY'S THBATEB. '; 'June 30—Farewell : Coiiert to Mr. Arthur ' .*«■'!.• To'waey. i" • -■' ■•■'i- '■•.,.,■* , Jnly and onwawls—Woods-Williamson Dra- * s . matic Co. ■',;" '■:';;■■ ...",. .-.- •;••; July 25 to August 15— J. 0. Williamsons New • English Comedy Co. ; . ' ' August 31 and September 3—Paderewski Re- ' ■■■' - citato- '' '■'■;■ September 19 to 25—Watkin Mills Co. v - ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE. November 5 to December &—Anderson's • r: Dramatic Co. (pencilled). « ■ Foixowujo on what T has been almost \» plethora of theatrical events, Auckland play* goers are now " resting." Sure the curtain was rung down on the. Royal Comics' season at His ''Majesty's last Saturday, none have taken theit place, and until next Saturday night this, state of recess will continue.* The Opera-House will also be untenanted for a while, and the days of entertainment at the City Hall have vanished into the past. In the meantime Mr. G. JR. Bailey, lessee of His Majesty's, is having important alterations) carried out. The stalls, which hither* to have been divided "off into three blocks, with "one passage down the centre and one at either »ide, are being arranged on a different' plan. Patrons of this part of the house will in future find but two dividing aisles, each leading* straight from the two em trance door*-to the front row. These aisles •will be 4ft 6in wide, allowing two people to walk abreast. The new arrangement will 1 obviate any crushing on coining out,' since t it will do away with the necessity, on reachj ing the back, of turning to gain the doors' jby 'the- former back passage. The side j blocks of seats will be taken right up to | the walls on either hand, and the centre Mock' will contain twenty-eight more chairs right in the "best position.' By running the seats back to the rear wall there will also be more seating accommodation than previously. 'The alterations necessitate the dismantling "of every chair in the stalls, but th« work is well in hand and will be com* plete<! during the coming week. A few alterations are also being made in the family circle. [ "v ' ;.,,„■ " ..' * .The programme for Mr. Arthur Towsey's farewell concert at His . Majesty's next Thursday, is in a very forward condition. The large orchestra comprise* all the leading professional and awnateu, players of the city, to, the number of fifty, and their rehearsals give ■";« fort.taste ot a musical treat. The Liedertafel items, include "In Vocal Combat," Dudley Buck's • wonderful _ combination -part- son*. .;■■ Madam Wie'laert, the Melbourno artist, is assisting. This lady has a. mezzosoprano .■; - voice ;of great ; richness and i wonderful sympathy. v Madame. Chambers, the popular soprano, will once more' give an-■; example of : he* vocal jiowers. The other j f soloists ■:assisting . are Messrs. Frank Gra- ■ ham,; W. Manning, J. W. Ryan, G..Edward \ Poore. and Geo. Warren, It is to be hoped | that the public will give Mr. Towsey *a' j bumper house, thus showing him the appreciation in-which he is he'd. ~

j The Woods-Williamson Dramatic Com- ! pauy, who are at present playing a season I 'Wellington, will open here at His MaJ jesty's theatre on, Saturday,>,'next, July 2. | The repertoire is » strong one and the manI agement promises that the: productions will be .elaborately: mounted and in casts, scenic and mechanical effects compile ;.< in every detail. . - •■ - rr* . ? ; The production- of Marit ana under the direction of Madame Tree at the Choral Hall on Wednesday, Jttly ; ! 6, -promises to bbaae a a brilliant success. * A chorus of 50trained , voices has Keen organised : to give some of the larger concerted gems 'of the opera. f% exceptionally strong cast of characters has been secured, including Auckland's leading soprano, , Madame Lilian Tree, Miss Marie Ralph, Messrs. Walter Whyte, Wilf*ed Manning and Percy Lee. Mr. P. Adams ; will conduct. ■ ? '♦'.-.-»■. The George Abbott Musical Comedy Company hi disbanded. ':':':. Mr. Fred. Graham and" Miss Nellie Dent jour; the Fullers in Wellington, commencing to-night.'.' * . * ' ''"'■ The successful and picturesque 'old English concert given at St." Thomas* schoolroom, last. Tuesday was promoted by: Mr. arid Mrs r Chennery Suggate-ih"-. aid \, of the: fund for repairs * to; the; school. The entertainment is to be repeated next week. ■ ! i The Japanese play. *,'. The Darling iof the Gods" will not (say* Lorgnette) be included in' the repertoire of the Beerbehm Tree Dramatic | Company for the forthcoming New Zealand tour, the lighting and mechanical effects being much too intricate for the New Zealand stages." " '-V ' ->• " ;« : J -..''. Mr. J. W. Ryan, the basso, who it will be remembered went Home,to advance him«elf musically, is performing at Mr. Towsey's farewell"concert at His Majesty's next Thursday night. :• Since his last appearance here Mr.l'RVan'B' voice has gained considerably in finish and resonance, and his- reappearance in Auckland is a matter of interest. 1 So successful has Mr. J. C. Williamsons English Comedy " Company's production of •f^hfe' Marriage of Kitty" been in Sydney, that the Referee informs theatregoers that they 'are not at all likely to see the company' in any- other production during the present season, for the 'piece named still exercises a arm hold. The comedy m brightly plaved ;by * Miss Rose Musgrove,: Mr;lDraycori, and* Miss Hamer. and is an ideal night* entertainment/ This company opens in Auckland on July 25. a Mr. G. F. Boyle, the 'clever - young pianist" who was through New Zealand with Mark : and Boris ;Hambourg, has blossomed out into »s soloist, and gave his first recital in'% Sydney recently. ' <- - j -.. "' ■ •'[ - ; .." ' Mr. 5 ; George .v* Stephenson's ■-. American Comedy Company is doing splendid business :in West v Australia. x ; :Of his new company, now ; appearing in Sydney in the • "Rose of Riviera," :an exchange savs;<~T The entertainment on the whole is bright and brisk, and produced with an energy which, sweeps everything along. It is in- , consequential, and develops practically into a j vaudeville entertainment owing to the large - number of- introduced ,' songs and "business." There: is a ballet of four, which is. constant 1 v in evidence, and a chorus of considerably less dimensions than we ate accustomed to at the higher priceAlso "The Rose of Riviera" could not be seriously compared with the better type of musical : comedy to which we have been accustomed, though it. is equal in general type i(and (more ? efficient '*' as ; a; laugh-maker) to others of the "Chinese Honeymoon" class, for < instance. -." '.'■', ■ It. is stated that Miss Dolly Castles, who, with her. sister. 'Miss Amy /Castles, is studying sincinsr in Paris, has received from Mr. J. C.-Williamson an offer to join his Comic Opera Company, and that her advisers are now negotiating with Mr. Williamson as to terms. Of Mr. Edward Parlovitz, the young Polish' pianist who is touring with Mr. Wat-kin Mills, a Canadian exchange says: —" Mr. Parlovitz is neither a pedant nor an'extremist, but is an artist with' an artist's noul, possessing exceptional skill is technique, and withal is modest, yet refined and sensitive, and is able to reveal a. wealth .of beauty in eveiy composition played by him." The many Auckland admirers of Mdlle. Dolores will have ': been gratified to learn. by the recent cable' that the sweet-voiced soprano made a great success on her reappearance in London, after a long absence. Mr. Geo. Musgrove's latest venture at the Shaftesbury Thsatre is on an unusually vast "scale. The " Prince of Pilser" is to be performed by a brand new company imported from America, numbering altogether 115 performers. It is said to be the largest American theatrical ■'.' outfit" ever imported into England. ■ Paderewski, the famous pianist, arrived in Melbourne by the R.M.s. Ortona yesterday, and will give his first recital in the Commonwealth there on July 7. , Mr. Charles Holloway has been on the sick list with an attack of pneumonia. ] A piece called " The" Bride and Bridegroom," staged on May 5, at the New Theatre, London, produced one of the most unseemly outbreaks ever witnessed inside a place of amusement. All through the piece the audience was hostile, and at its end Sir Charles Wyndham.tried to remonstrate. From the gallery carte loud and continuous shouts of "No"speech!" "Wo don't want the piece." "Take it off!" "Turn out the lights 1"^ "Send the policeman out of the gallery." Pandemonium seemed to have broken loose. Sir Charles did speak at last, but did rot mend matters. Musico-DnjuuTicua.