MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Jane 10 to June 15-Mr. Edwin Geach's " Human Hearts" Co. ■ ■ June 17 to June 23-" Kelly Gang Pictures,

J. and N. Tait. , „,,./« June 24 to Julv 13— Julius Knight Dramatic Co. {Mr. J. C. Williamson). July 15 to July 20— Frederick Shipman. July 22 to August 10-Grana Opera Co.Aujrusf. 12 to August 24—Mr. J. 0. William-

September 16 to October 5-Maud Hildyard Dramatic Co. (Mr. Allan Hamilton). October 7 to October 26—MacMahon Bros.

Dramatic Co. . ~ ~ «j_i„ November 4 to November 16— Edwin Geach. __ OPEKA HOUSE. Nitrntlv—Fuller's Vaudeville Co. ■ July 9to July 12—St. Patrick Operatic Society, " Maritana."

! CHOEAL HALL. July 4 to July 6—Andrew Black and Leopold Premyslaf, Violinist.

The MacMahon Dramatic Company having j disbanded, the brothers MacMahon have struck out a new line in the shape of "O'Neill's Buckjumpers," which were so successful during the Exhibition season. They will start >n an extensive tour of the colony at an early date. - The Fuller Proprietary are doing excellent business at the Opera House. The Stagpooles are back again in an excruciatingly funny .turn, "Getting a Dinner;" Slade Murray" and the Melbourne, Meister singers reappear this evening. The Lewis Sisters; Beck, the lightning sketch artist ; Lucy Lavinia, the dainty soubrette, all help to fill up a grand bill. Why is oratorio so popular in England? This, is a question which has often been raised during past years, and the answer probably lies in the "fact that the oratorio, not only from its musical point of view but from its religious setting, is deeply impressed upon the general British character, and many people attend each recurring performance of the "Messiah" purely from a religious standpoint. There is something to be said about the libretto or text of the " Messiah" in this sense, for the three part's are perfectly distinct, and deal in the clearest possible way with the life and ministry, so to speak, of the Redeemer. The peculiar attraction of the music wedded to those words probably accounts for its long-continued and seemingly never-failing hold upon the British mind. Mr. Harry Rickards is sending what he considers his strongest vaudeville combination to New Zealand. The tour, which commences at Dunedin on June 4, will last three months, and terminate at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on August 25. The combination will include Charlene and Charlene, King and Benson; Fred. Russell, the famous ventriloquist, and his friend, "Coster Joe," Miss Uassie Walmer, the "Dusky Princess," and a host of others. Mr. 'Allan Hamilton will be in charge. From accounts to hand of the recent

great London success, " When Knights Were Bold," New Zealanders have a tare treat in store in this surprisingly clever play, when the popular comedian, Mr. Frank Thornton, will make his reappearance here under the direction of Mr. Edwin Geach. Sir. Thornton, so well known in past years for his delightful productions of such plays as '• Charley's Aunt," The Private Secretary," " Sweet Lavender," and many others, I lias secured the Australian rights of this latest laughing success, and will star it jthrough his forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand. Allan Hamilton has arranged with Meynell and Gunn for a New Zealand tour of the famous English dramatic actress, Miss Maud Hildvard, who will open at His Majesty's here early in September. The repertoire will include " The Great Awakening" and "A Beautiful Fiend," two plays in which Miss Hildyard has made a great name throughout England. Mr. Reynolds Denniston, a nephew of Mr. Justice Denniston, is a. member of Mr. Julius Knight's Company, which is visiting this colony shortly. Mr. H. W. Varna, who, it may be remembered, has toured New Zealand several times in partnership with Meynell and Gunn, notably with Knight-Jeffries and ("Little Stranger" Companies, and who before his Australasian -work was for years stage manager for Mr. Tree at His Majesty's Theatre, London has just produced " Olivia," the late Sir Henry living's play, at the Palace, Sydney, and which has obtained glowing praise from the press of that city for its beauty and charm. Mr. Varna, was to have produced for the Maud Hildyard Company, but having—as all producers should—been an all-round actor before taking up management exclusively, has elected to go through Queensland with Mr. Flemming, playing the late Robert Brough's parts in the repertoire, in addition to the work of producer and stage manager. Miss. Marie Hall, .the eminent violinist, will give her first concert in the Melbourne Town Hall to-day. This is an event to which all music lovers are eagerly looking forward. The concert, for which Messrs. J. and N. Tait have secured the services of the Marshall Hall orchestra, with the assistance of the professor himself at the conductor's desk, will be a notable one. Either the Max Brusch or the Tschsikbwski concerto will be played, and, in addition, Miss Hall "will be heard in solo work.

The Waldron - Humphries (" Squaw Man") Company open in Melbourne this evening. Mr. J. C. Williamson, with his wife and family, go on an extended trip to Europe and America, undertaken not only as a holiday, but also for the purpose of keeping in touch with theatrical developments on the other side of the world, a policy which Mr. Williamson has always followed. Mr. John Fuller, jun., who is travelling in Europe,' writes me a long and chatty letter from Florence. Young John" has been very busy, and judging by his movements, rushing through picture galleries and cathedrals. He has "done" St. Peter's in Rome, " soliloquised," as he puts it, on the Castle of St. Angelo, in the Colosseum, and at Pompeii. Mr. Fuller saw all he could of places of entertainment in Port Said, Naples, Rome, and Florence. He found that smoking and drinking were freely permitted in the " halls" devoted to vaudeville, and that the Italians were morally none the worse for this practice " I have only seen one drunken man in Italy, so far," writes Mr. Fuller, and lie had then covered a great deal of ground and visited three of the largest and most populous cities. The large number of attendants in livery in the halls, the prodigality of electric light, and the usually large and capable orchestras impressed Mr. Fuller, but he was not so enamoured of the quality of the various shows. There were innumerable cinematograph shows in Naples, which may be seen for 2d in the best part of the house. The performances last half an hour, and from half-past nine to midnight. "The Italians are not very enthusiastic as audiences," writes Mr. "Fuller, "but they are most orderly, whistling being unknown ; but the goose club has a fair membership," by which it may be inferred that Italian audiences are not slow to express disapproval in hisses. Mr. Fuller saw it great many vaudeville turns, which were, he says, inferior to anything put on by the Fuller Proprietary in New Zealand; but he was delighted with Figolle, whom he saw at the Florence Teatro Nazionale. "He is a real marvel. His business is a la Ugo Biondi, but much better. He plays " Faust," in brief and quick" changes to most of the characters, the rest of the cast being represented by ventriloquial figures, Figolle being a good ventriloquist. He kept the audience highly entertained for 2£ hours. He had an orchestra of 40. I interviewed Figolle's manager, but found that the artist was well booked up. He's the best one-man show I've ever seen."

Miss Tittell Brune opens in 'Parsifal" at Adelaide this evening. Miss Rosiua Buckman and Mr. James Crab'tree have been specially engaged to sing the principal parts in "Maritana," to be produced by St. Patrick's Operatic [Society. The society is sparing no expense to make this production a memorable one in the history of opera in Auckland. There is to be a full chorus of 60 picked voices, and an orchestra of 30, led by Mr. Colin Muston. The first production will be on July 9. 1 •,•-• WU§ICO-DE,AJM4JJCPS.