MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13414, 16 February 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC

BOOKINGS,

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. * January 25 to February 16-Boyai Opera Co. „ .„i.. Sauaw Man' February 18 to March £-~£!" -g u< \ V iniamand " The Virginian (Mr. J- °- son's Co.). , „ ~ „ n A finnn Co. March 12 to March 16- M ?y n and Band. . March £5 to 30-Besses o tb Barn Dramatic April 1 onward-William Anderson ut* July°22 to August 10-£ rand „ Opera WilliamAugust 12 to August 24-Mr. d- O. » son. OPERA HOUSE. Nightly-Fuller's Vaudeville 0*

CHORAL HALL. February 16-Blanche Arral Recital

Madame Bla»S> Abbai. conclude la Auckland— at the Choral Hall this evening, much to the regret of those who have had the privilege of hearing her. During their New Zealand season the Royal Comic Opera Company are enjoying a holiday from the arduous work of rehear sals, the preparation of their next attiaction being postponed until they return to Sydney. They conclude their Auckland season at His Majesty's this evening. On Monday evening, at His Majes > Theatre. Mr. J. C. Williamson Will introduce "The Squaw Man., a piece of which a good deal has been heard. The company which is headed by Mr. Charles. aidton nd Miss Ola Humphrey, » mainly com posed of artists who will make their fast appearance here. Mr. Waldtor.and Mi« Humnhrev have won golden opinions in AusSlia y for their clover performa = and the remainder of the company also me yell accredited. The .scope of action °* the piece and its surroundings are said to be entire different from anything in the shape o drama yet produced in Auckland. An in teresthur feature is the playing by Haul Eland of the Indian chief Tabywanaas he speaks entirely in the native language, and his is translated to the person to whom "is conversing, by a half-bred jntergeler. who was specially brought out to Austral asia, by Mr. Williamson. The piece wll be staged in a lavish manner and as the ' action If the play lends Use to elaborate scenery and effects, tins will, no doubt, be a feature of the production. Fuller's Empire Entertainers are greeted by crowded audiences nightly at the Opera House. The bill is both varied and extendi?" "and completely meets the popular taste. Further changes, however, Will be made, this evening and next week. The Musgrove opera season commences in Melbourne on Mhrch 20. The repertoire, will probably include " lannliauwr, i/>hengrin,' "The Valkyrie," ' lhe Hying Dutchman." "La oh erne" "Carmen, " Romeo and Juliet." and perhaps * aust. Harrv Hunter, the famous founder of the Mohawk Minstrels, who died on October If left an estate of which the gross valuers £11,196 56 7d. Probate of the will has been granted to his widow, Mrs Elizabeth Jennings, of Hollowav Road. By the way Mr John Fuller, of this city, was a member of the Mohawks, and used to warble the pretty little ballads that were in such favour with burnt cork artists in the long ago. . Mr George Wirth writes me from hketahuna that his circus animals have been up to their tricks again. Baby elephant Jumbo was run into by a tram at Featherston and knocked about 20yds away. He looked like a huge football going skywards. Beyond a good shaking, he escaped unhurt. He started trumpeting, which was the signal for a chorus from the whole herd, 'and the noise," says George, ".is not likely to be effaced from the memories of the *eatherston people." At Eketahuna, Edie, the camel, started the same game with the express train, but the driver saw her coming towards him, and, after four or five shrill whistles, pulled up suddenly, the effect being to scare the passengers dreadfully, the I circus is working northwards all the time, | and will be warmly welcomed on its return to Auckland. The many iriends of Mdlle. Dolores will be glad to hear that it is her intention to return to Australia and New Zealand m 18 months' time. Edison's popular pictures, under the management of Messrs. Bailey and Andrews, will pay a return visit to Auckland next month/opening at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday, the 11th prox. An entirely new series of pictures will be 6hown. A new attraction to the company is Miss Bessie Sutton, who is said to be a wonderfully clever child entertainer. The death is announced at Home of Mr. J. T. Sheridan, who was well known in the colonies, he having been associated with some of Mr. J. C. Williamson's companies. The production of a. new play is always fraught with more or less anxiety to the management, but the Macmahon Bros, liave certainly every reason to bo satisfied with the response from the Christchurch public at th*-Theatre Royal on Saturday last, when a drama entitled "The Yellow Peril,'' was produced for the iir*t time. The play is from the pen of Mr. Albert Newcombe, who has had many vears' experience in the East, and who is thoroughly acquainted with Chinese customs and 'methods. Naturally enough there is plenty of scope in the brilliant colour of the Far Hast for the making of a sensational and interesting drama. " The Yellow Peril" established itself as an instant success, and met with the warmest approval at the hands of an audience which tilled the theatre to overflowing. The Andrew Mack Company will leave San Francisco on the 28th hist, for Melbourne. When Mr. J. C. Williamson wa-s asked if young Australians were showing any extraordinary predilection for the stage, he replied that more talent was discovered among ladies than gentlemen. There were lots of clever girls, but many made the mistake of going away to London, where the competition was terribly keen. He recruited his opera companies 'very largely from the ranks of Australians. All the members of the Repertoire Comic Opera Company, except one, were Australians. As to the class of theatres in New Zealand, said Mr. Williamson, the reports from his managers were very good. They had shown some advancement during the last few years. He commended the action of municipal authorities in building theatres, which were not only profitable to the proprietors, but helpful to theatrical enterprise. " I have never had reason to complain," he added, in responding to queries about prii vate theatres. " 1 shall make it my business to thoroughly look over the principal theatres through New Zealand, particularly the ones in the cities which my companies I visit." "Peter Pan," which Mr. J. C. WilliamI son will stage in Australia in the latter part I of this year, has not only had the distinction of 'being revived for* the third time in London with an exceptionally powerful cast, but it is Mrs. Charles Frohman's intention to take it and the company over to Paris and produce the original English version there, an event that is almost unique in the history of the French stage. Miss Nellie Stewart was to leave London at the beginning of the new year for America to-fulfil a 12 months' engagement with Messrs. Ivlaw and Erlanger. She is not long back from a visit to Germany, and in an interview the Australian artiste spoke enthusiastically of her theatrical and musical impressions "of "the Fatherland." Except that his orchestra and his chorus will be numerically weaker, she thinks Mr. George Musgrove will give as perfect a performance of Wagner's operas in Australia as can be seen at (he Opera House in Berlin. Miss Stewart concluded the interview with this message to Australia:-"All the faithful love and loyalty of a grateful heart I send as greeting this Christmastide to all in my dear homeland, Australia." Musico Drahaticcs.