MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13390, 19 January 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS,

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATER-

January 13 to January 24— Meynell and Gunn Co.— The Little Stranger." January 25 to February Royal Comic

Opera Co. „ February 13 to March 9—" The Squaw Man and "The Virginian" (Mr. J. C. Williamsou's Co.). March 12 to March 16—Meynell and Gunn Co. March 25 to 30— Besses o' th' Barn Band. April 1 onward— William Anderson Dramatic

Co. July 22 to August 10 —Grand Opera Co. August 12 to August 24— Mr. J. C. William son. OPERA HOUSE Nightly—Fuller's Vaudeville Co.

The great reception accorded Miss Gertie Campion at His Majesty's on Thursday night mi the occasion of her benefit was striking proof that the public never readily forgets a favourite. The audience was the largest at the prices ever known at the theatre, and from the hist to last tile performers had enthusiastic receptions. Miss Campion, who had travelled a long distance and met many difficulties, in flooded country, appeared to personally tender her thanks. It was all the audience asked, and there was one continual salvo of applause and cheers. One of the features of the concert was the appearance of Madame Staunton, a native of Auckland and now well known in England and the Continent as a concert singer. She sang that immortal " Good-bye'' which alone was sufficient to make Tosti's name live for ever. The talented singer was recalled again and again. The local singers were ail in excellent form and the audience spent a most pleasant time. Tho palace of vaudeville iii Wellesleystrctt continues to attract liberal patronage, and Mr. John Fuller is a busy man. '.the audiences are giving Lcsso and Roberts splendid receptions for their very fine comedy work. Little Eileen McLeod's dancing is charming all patrons of the Opera. House, and Slade Murray, the comedy vocalist, is having a " big'' time. "The Little Stranger" made his first bow to an Auckland audience at His Majesty's last evening and baby and his audience were soon on the very best of terms. From first to last the piece kept the spectators in a continual simmer ot merriment, and Auckland thealre-goeis who neglect seeing this sparkling comedy will miss something very good. A visit by Mr, J. I". Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company is always an event of interest to Auckland theatre-goers, but the forthcoming visit, commencing at His Majesty's Theatre em Friday next, promises to provide far more entertainment than usual. The present repertoire is invested with all the charm of novelty and success, as exemplified in the last two triumphs, "The Orchid' and "The Cingalee," both of which ate to be produced here during the season of twenty nights. "The Orchid. ' which is to he the opening production of the Auckland season, is noted for its exotic beauty, and is said to be the biggest, brightest, and most splendidly staged opera ever seen in Australia. With a Londoninn of nearly 600 nights to its credit, its first Australian production was in Melbourne, where it achieved an immediate triumph, and its runs in all the principal centres of the Commonwealth have only been eclipsed, and that by very small margins indeed, by the fascinating " Florodora'' and " A Country Girl.'' The story is said to be above the usual character of musical comedies, and the music, contributed by Ivan Caryll, Lionel Monckton. and Paul Reubens, is only what might be expected from sucli past masters; it is up to a high standard and vivacious. "The Orchid" is also celebrated for its wealth of catchy airs and pretty numbers. " Little Mary, ' "Fancy Dress," "When Two Hearts Meet," "Come Along with Me," "From Far Peru," "1 Must Propose to You," and "The Lady Secretary" became the principal whistling ami bingiug topics in Australia. Mr. Michael Joseph has been appointed to the position of resident manager in West Australia of Mr. William Anderson's theatres for two years. Audran's famous comic opera "La Ma.scolte," which will be staged on a. new and lavish scale, and the immensely successful and popular musical play "A County (.Sill" will In- revived during the forthcoming season of Mr. .1. ('. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company. Mr. Harry Musgrove is in receipt of advice ftom Berlin stating that his brother. Mr. George Musgrove. who has recently been engaging a number of artists in Ger- | many, will arrive in Melbourne early iieU month. He will then complete his arrangements for opening there with grand opera on March 30. '1 he Sydney season is to commence at the Theatie Roval on Mav 25.

The new member? of .Mr. .1. C. Williamson's, Royal Comic Opera Company include Miss Clara Clifton, a natural comedienne. i She has a charming and winsome manner, | with a delightful personality. Miss Clifton came to Australia, three years ago with Mr. George Edwardes' London Gaiety Com-, pany. Other members are Miss Alma, Barber, tin- possessor of a beautiful contralto voice and a clever actress. Miss Connie Milne is a charming and volatile singing soubrette. The old favourites include Mr. George kauri, the comedian, who, so far as operatic woik is concerned, is one of the biggest favourites who have appeared in the colonies of recent years. "Colossal" is the word which best describes the production of " Parsifal" at Her Majesty's Theatre, says Sydney Mail. Apart altogether from the interest of the romantic- mystery-drama and it must, be recognised by all who witness the performance that the Rev. T. Ilillhouse Taylor has accomplished his task well -and apart, too, from the line acting of Miss Tit-tell Bruno. Mr. Kingston. Mr. Mervalc, and tiie otheis, the production is notable for I he wonderful stage mechanism employed and the niagniiiceiit spectacular results for which it is responsible, and which so admirably supply the requisite atmosphere for the drama. Tie scenery provided by Mr. Gordon and Mr. Coleman is very beautiful, and it is not surprising to learn that a vast deal of time was taken up in experimenting with all possible combinations of electric lights so as to secure the full effects of tone and composition of light- and shade generally. The lighting, indeed, is a. triumph in itself. As for the earthquake effect, probably nothing quite so good has ever been done in Sydney. This piece has enabled Miss Brune to come out in the rede of a singer, and she has proved herself the possessor of -a very pleasing voice. "Mizpah,'' the poetical play founded on the Hebraic narrative of Esther, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Luscoiubc. Scarclle, shortly to be produced in London, has appealed very strongly to the Jewish community in America. Congregations at tie' synagogues have been urged from the pulpit to witness the play, which they were assured was almost the only drama produced on the English-speaking stage which portrayed the true dignity of the race, instead of holding it up to scorn and ridicule. At the first performance of the drama in New York, at' the close of a speech where Moidecai invokes Jehovah's aid to succour I his persecuted race, a tall, distinguished-] looking Jew rose from the stalls and thun- I dered out, "Send that message to Pus-j sia."

During the visit of the "Squaw Man" Company "The Virginian" will be produced. In tins drama it will be found that the incidents connected with the cowboys' dance and the changing of the babies "so that tin- womenfolk drive away in the darkness of the night with the wrong children will give an almost farcical opening to a play which thereafter assumes an aspect of serious sentiment. Mr. Charles Waldron's part as the Virginian was ori-'inailv played by Dustin Farnham, an actor whose personality so adapted him to the role that lie made an immense hit in it. Owen Wister collaborated with Kirke la Shelle for his drama, in which the part of the heroine was originally assigned to Miss Ola Humphrey for the preliminary trial tour and the subsequent run at the Manhattan Theatre. At the time Miss Humphrey was making a success as Glory Quayle in 'I'll,. Christian" under Messrs. Liebler and Go's influential management, and after considerable trouble she contrived to remain with them, and in this way avoided the doubtful experiment of the untried piece. " The Virginian" was a. great success in Australia, and lias repeatcd its success in th.c. South. MUjSiCU-DfiAilA'XlCL'sJ,,