MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

bookings;

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. May 14 to .Tone and Sullivan Co. ' June 4 to June 9—Meynell and Gunn Co. June 11 to June 15—Mr- Frank T. Bullen's

season. June Anderson Pantomime and Dramatic Co.

OPERA HOUSE. Faller's Empire Vaudeville Co. October 6to October 27— C. Williamson's Dramatic Company (Miss Tittel Brune).

CHORAL HALL June 2.—Andrew Black Concert Co.

The Gilbert and.Sullivan Repertoire Company conclude a highly successful season at His Majesty's here this evening with "Patience " and a musical melange, as if " Patience" were not enough! The company has played to excellent business throughout New Zealand, and has been most cordially welcomed. They remain in this colony until the end of July, when they return to Australia in time for a season at Brisbane. Mr. J. C. Williamson may fairly claim to be the prince oi* lightning-change managers, for, during the' week Princess Ida," "Yeomen of the Guard," "The Mikado," and "Patience" have been on the bill, and in each case, so far as the week has gone, the performances have been complete in every detail * and as ' finished as though in the swing of a long run. . To musical people the magnificent work done by Mr. George Hall's orchestra, in connection with the Gilbert and Sullivan opera season at His Majesty's, must have been as enjoyable as the operas themselves. The players were artists themselves, but much of,tho fine work done must be attributed to the firmness, tact, and absence of lleryplay which distinguished Mr. Hall's conducting. The overtures and entr'actes were of course marred to some extent by the movements of the audience, but they were performed with all the earnestness and enthusiasm of the concei hall.

Mr. Andrew Black's concerts at the Choral Hall have been. a great treat to musical peop'c. His programmes have been liberal in their length and acceptable in their variety. Auckland ' has recognised in Mr. Black a great artist and has supported him accordingly. The Fuller proprietary are unremitting in their search for novelties for the Opera House. This evening, in addition to the present excellent company, the Musical Bernards, in their splendid musical, trapeze, and gymnastic turn,- will make their first appearance. Bernard's performing dogs have a place in the bill,' and the Rowell sisters, serios and dancers, with Clara Keating, will also make their debut, and' vet more novelties are on the way. - Much interest is being evinced by local playgoers- in "The Fatal Wedding." which will be staged for the.first time in Auckland on Monday. The principals in " The Fatal Wedding" are two new English artists. Miss May Congdon, the leading lady, was educated at the Brussels Conservatorium, but her preference for the stage induced . her about six years ago to take up dramatic work; she has since played Peggy in "Mice and Men," as well as leading parts in "A Marriage of Convenience," "Sunday,"and ' many Shakesperean pieces. Mr. Charles Vane was in India when "the sweet uses of amateur theatricals" taught him his powers as an actor. He was in Mr. F. R. Benson's Shakesperean Company,, also iu Sir Henry ! IrvingV company at the Lyceum Theatre. Mr. Vane toured the provinces with the Irving combination, and went to America, ■ where he subsequently supported E. H. Sothern in " Hamlet" and "If I Were King.", After a second, visit to South Africa,, the traveller joined Mr. John Hare iu England, ail actor of considerable experience. Miss sDilia Cooper, who also plays in "The Fatal ; Wedding," is a niece of Sir Pope- Cooper, Chief Justice of Queensland.

The "Fatal Wedding" children are under the immediate care of at trained London muse (Miss "de ; Burgh) and an assistant. Their ages -range from" eight to 12. AH are equally independent, able, to sew, mend and dam, and attend. to their own make-up. They can colour their faces and treat their eyes, or "do each other's," they say merrily. Fun. and happiness seem to surround them. They can . all act the .whole play right through. The wedding scene they find particularly fascinating. Maisie Posner enjoys being, carried across the rope on Mr. Cannarai's back. All regard the " tin-can" march as .if it was part of real life. ■ The Auckland Orchestral Society will give its second concert of the season on Thursday next, when a very fine programme will be submitted. The concert will open with Reinecke's overture, "King! Alfred." Amongst some of the otlwr items may be mentioned Raff's " Lenofe" symphony, the overture to " Cavalleria Rusticasa." by Mascagni (the tenor solo of which will be sung by Mr. ' Abel Rowe), and, by special request, the weird "Dansfj Macabre," A feature of special interest will be Schumann's " Piano Concerto," played by Miss A. M. Batger, with orchestral accompaniment. Solos will be given by Mi's. Mervyn Rylance and Mr. Barry Coney. Altogether the concert should be a. thorough treat to musical people. L ,' The Auckland Shaker,pere Society have now/ completed all arrangements in connection with its forthcoming winter session. The first reading "Macbeth'," takes place on Wednesday, 20th inst. , and the two leading : parts will be undertaken bv Mr. Fred. Earl :(Macbeth), arid Miss Jennie Arndt, of Wei-, lington (Lady Macbeth), who is coming here specially for the occasion. The society has done excellent work in the past and deserves all the success it, has achieved. Miss Nellie Stewart at last advices was playing at Salt Lake City and was to have gone from the centre of Mormondom to San Francisco, where she opened 111 America under singularly happy circumstances. The earthquake, will have necessitated a change in her itinerary, of course, but one thing is certain will 'be absent in America until 1909. I have been told that she may never again return to Australia, but never is a very long time.- However, Miss Stewart's magnificent reception in the United States will, no doubt, influence her in remaining there long after 1909. . "The Litt'e Michus" will be staged by Mr. J. C. Williamson at Her Majesty's, Sydney, for tTie first time in Australia this evening. "The Little Michus" may be described either as light opera or a musical play, but, with the score from the pen. of M. Andre Messager, there can be 110 question as to the daintiness and charm of the melodies, while the plot, promises excellent opportunities both for comedy and sentiment. The trouble began, when tho elder Michus decided to bath his own infant and a-, foster-daughter entrusted to his care by General des Ifa. Man-like, lie mixed the babies up, and ever since the two maidens have been classed together as Blanche Marie and Marie Blanche, without anybody disentangling their identity. Naturally when' the general demands his daughter and two insistent young lovers join their clamour to his - there is much worry for the shopkeeping Michus, whose well-meant but misguided explanations arid evasions keep the ball of fun rolling until everything is straightened out. The play will be interpreted bv the full strength'of the Royal Comic Opera Companv, reinforced by the presence of Mr. Reginald Roberts, recently arrived from America. . • L • The Australian press generally speak in the most favourable terms of the Rev. T. Hillhouse Taylor's dramatic version 01 Wagner's grand opera "Parsifal," which he undertook <at the suggestion of Mr. J. C. Williamson, who saw in the part of Kiindry a character eminently suited to the particular talent of Miss Tittei Brune. Reviewers of the book speak of its scholarly treatment, sympathetic, appreciation of the sensuous, the religious, and the epic qualities of the poem, amd the possibilities for stage production in the work as he has adapted it for the stage. The plaiy as written has not only 11 powerfully dramatic note but com-' I bined therewith is a very strong spectacular j element. Indeed from the point of view of theatrical production this is a most important point and abendv Mr. Williamson's .staff is at work on its .preparation. The preparation of the mechanical properties and effects will it/ is estimated take fully six-'months before they aic finally complete, and the present vear will be drawing to a close before the drama is quite ready for production. - , Mdsico-Dramaticus