MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12859, 6 May 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. April 15 to May 6—Mr. J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Company May 26 to June 24—i(r. George Musgrove (" Pretty Peggy" Company.) Juno 26 to July Alfred Hill's new Comic Opera Com v. August 10 tif September Tittel Brune Com--1 pany. OPERA HOUSE. April 22 to May 27—Anderson's Dramatic Company. The Gilbert and Sullivan season, which terminates to-night at His Majesty's Theatre with the Williamson Repertoire Company '<s second representation ..f "Pinafore/' has been a pronounced success. It has shown, moreover, to a very marked degree, that the public appreciate as much as ever the operatic fare that was tor a tin).- .Ast into the background by the flitting fascination exercised by musical comedy— ally only another name for vaudeville. The large attendances throughout the present season warrant tho assumption that the revulsion of feeling against the trivial musical play has spread to Auckland. Legitimate opera would seem to have again taken its proper place in public estimation, and, this being so, Air. J. C. Williamson could scarcely have done his patrons » better turn than in his revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan classics. It is indeed with no little regret that oue pens the final word regarding the versatile company that closes its delightful series of performances to-night. There should be a hearty valedictory greeting in store for the members of the combination.

Melodrama continues its triumphant career at the Opera House, where the Anderson Dramatic Company gives another change of bill to-night, producing "The Best Must Win." In litis lovers of the emotional and the sensational are promised a play after their own hearts.

A word of congratulation to the Auckland Liedertafel upon the auspicious commencement of the season made on Thursday night. Both subscribers and singing members have increased very largely and the outlook is most promising. 1 understand that at the final rehearsal foi Thursday's concert the previous record attendance at rehearsal was beaten. Mr. Alfred Hill's former training as conductor of the Auckland Liedertafel most suitably equips him for the pos* he now- holds an conductor of the local society, and he has undoubtedly obtained fine results already. The queue system in connection with theatrical performances has been inaugurated at His Majesty's Theati by Mr. Turner, traffic inspector, who states that it is working capitally, the public quickly tailing into this way of entering the theatre. It is to be hoped the innovation may be continued, thus avoiding the unpleasantness of crushing at the doors. The Otahuhu Musical Comedy Club intend repeating Mr. J. H. Phillpot's very successful musical comedy. " The Second Mrs. 5.," on Friday, 19th inst. The piece on its first representation was witnessed by a crowded house and was received with gratifying tokens of appreciation. Some new features have been introduced.

The Gilbert and Sullivan Company are now actively rehearsing '* The Gondoliers," and if will most probably be produced shortly. This will make seven of the Sullivan series iu which the company have been seen, and it is not intended to add anj more. Considering the short time in which the repertoire company has been in existence, they have worked wonderfully hard to bring their work to completion. It is feared that Che ca&e of Miss Gertie Campion, now lying ill in Johannesburg, is-well-nigh hopeless. A cablegram received last week stated that she was worse.

Mr. J. C. Williamson has found it necessary to contradict most emphatically a wholly unauthorised rumour that Miss Maud Jeffries will shortly terminate hei engagement with him and retire into domestic life. As a matter of fact. Miss Jeffries has but recently agreed to continue with her company, at any rate until January 13 next, and she has no thought 01 intention of giving up the stage until then. Mr. Daniel Fiawley is considering an offer to star under the direction of a prominent New York manager in a new \ilay by an English author. A new theatre is to be built in Kalgoorlie at a cost of £15,000. Mr. George Musgrove, having abandoned his dates iu Brisbane, Mi. J. C. Williamson has secured His Majesty's Theatre there for June next. The Knight-Jeffries Company, at present repeating in Sydney their Melbourne experience of increasing' popularity, will open a, short season there on June 26, prior to their departure for Adelaide and West Australia 1 .

Mrs. Kendal, the veteran actress, says "art and acting begin with the same letter, but somehow after that they drift apart." Mr. H. H. Vincent, whose engagement with Mr. J. C. Williamson has terminated, will leave for England this month. George Stephenson's Musical Comedy chorus has been increased to 50 well-trained voices.

TITe cabled news of the illness of Paderewski from "-spotted fever," in New York, will have been received with dismay. The disease has accounted for many victims, and it will be generally hoped that the famous pianist may escape its fatal virulence. The absence of further bulletins may I trust be taken as favourable in the light that no news is good news. Now that the winter concert season is coming upon us I venture to throw out the suggestion to vocalists that they should add to their repertoires some of the new songs, of which there are numberless attractive examples to be readily procured. It in really remarkable how some singers will cling to the old, old numbers, that patient audiences have heard often enough to know by heart. Let us have something new. The poor ancients could well do with a rest, say for one season. By the way, whilst on the subject of concerts, it occurs to me to draw attention to *he encore nui.sa'nce. No number should be supplemented unless at the strictly unanimous wish of the audience. How often <}o we see an encore taken that is only asked by a minority of those in front. Tho majority suffers. ' Referring to the marked change recently apparent in the entertainments given at music halls in London, and, indeed, throughout the United Kingdom, a friendly critic writes:—"lt will take some time "still to knock into the heads of certain people the idea that music other than the vulgar comic song, may be heard in our London music halls to-day, but I am happy in the thought that, icarping criticism is powerless to stay the general improvement now taking place, both in the stylo of entertainment and the tone of the audiences in our extremely well-conducted variety halls."

Boris Hainbourg, brother of the great pianist Mark, is spoken of by English papers as the coming violiucellist. The Wellington Amateur Operatic Society has started rehearsing " Dorothy," which is to be the society's nexf production, for a season of seven nights, beginning from August 1 next. Mr. Maiighau Barnett is the conductor, and he ha.s a strong chorus under his baton.

Our old friend Mrs. Bahnson ia now settled with her husband, Mr. Albeit Mallinson, at Dresden, where the latter is organist at the English church. Mr. Mallinson is no mean composer of songs, and Ik and his wife, with the assistance of Miss Ada Crosslev, have been giving some concerts lately, which have been highly spoken of in the press. Apart from her more modern roles, Miss Tit tell Brune is likely to have a useful Shakesperean repertoire before very long. Already she has been seen and liked in " Romeo and Juliet," and during the present Melbourne season it is proposed to stage "The Merchant of Venice," with Miss Bruno as Portia, and probably Mr. A. E. Greenaway as Shylock, a part in which he has already appeared. Later on "The Turning of the Shrew" will also be added to the company's list? Only recently the Australian actor, Mr. Oscar Asche, and his wife, M'iss Lily Brayton, made a success of this comwiy in London. The recent purchase by Mr. K. Vickerv of the Lyceum Theatre iii .Sydney, and hi's announced intention of dismantling it as a place of entertainment, leaves the two best theatres. Her Majesty's and the Royal, in that city under Mr. J. C. Williamson's control ; while at the present moment he is occupying Her Majesty's and the Princess in Melbourne, with two of his strongest attractions. Mtjsico-Dbamaticus.