MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13583, 12 September 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

September 9 to 29—Bland Holt Dramatic Co. September . 30 to October 16—" The Little Breadwinner" Company. October 19 to November 7—J. 0. Williamson. (" Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.") November 9 to Maakeyline and. Devine. Isovember 30 to December 19— J. C. Williamson ("Peter Pan"). December 26 to January 16— C. Williamson.

OPERA HOUSE. Nightly— Vaudeville Co.

The warm welcome accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Bland Holt by Auckland theatregoers on Wednesday nightand, indeed, on each night since thenspeaks volumes for the cordial feelings existing towards the popular actor-manager and his wife. The years that have elapsed since they were last here ihavo left that cordiality undimmed. Incidentally, " The Great Millionaire," in which the long-looked-for re-appearance of the twain took place, is a good piece of its class, and lends itself well to spectacular effects. The play in question is to be withdrawn after to-night. It will bo succeeded on Monday by "The Breaking of the Drought," an Australian drama, containing, amongst other sensations, a realistic bushfire scene. Hall Caino's own dramatisation of his "The Bondsman," will be the company's third production.

Fuller's Vaudeville Companv continues to draw good houses nightly. The customary change of bill goes on at the Opera. House to-night.

" Mrs. Wigge of the Cabbage Patch " is to be the next J. C. Williamson attraction at His Majesty's, commencing on October 19. It is a dramatisation and a ouaintly told storv of American country life. The first production in the Dominion by Mr. Williamson of the famous " Peter Pan " is fixed for November 30, also at Auckland. This piece will reintroduce Miss Tittcl Bruno.

Mr. Clyde Meynoll, at present in London, has secured for his firm, from Mr. Robert Conrtreidcre the Australian rights of "Tom Jones." The music is by Edward German, and the piece was an enormous success in England, where Carrie Moore appeared in it and made a big hit. It will bo added to the repertoire of Meynell and Gunn's Comic Opera Company.

There was great competition among the officers of the battleships of the American fleet as to who should first have the honour of entertaining Miss Margaret Anglin. It began in Sydney, but the famous American actress was only there a few hours after the fleet arrived, at'd " there was nothing doing." But Melbourne was different, and therefore a grand effort was made. The Louisiana won, for the officers sent over an advance guard (in the shape of one of the American pressmen) bv train, and their invitation to lunch on hoard on the Sunday was given and accepted nearly 24 hours before the fleet anchored in Hobson's Bay. •

Congratulations to Miss Jennie Pollock upon her successful interpretation of the leading role in " The Great Millionaire." It was no light task thai, fell to tho ex-Auck-land girl to face her old " townies" in a part with which she was practically unacquainted. Mies Harrie Ireland's nonappearance, through indisposition, on Wednesday night, was naturally a disappointment to the audience, whose sympathy, of course, went out to that lady. However, it gave Miss Pollock a chance, and, sudden as it was, she availed herself of it to impress those in front with the fact that she is now rapidly climbing the ladder of success. !

Miss Meredith Meredre has been engaged in London for Meynell and Gunn's Christmas pantomime of " Cinderella." Miss Meredre, who is described as of extremely handsome appearance, and the possessor of a fine voice, took Miss Queenie Lcighton's part of principal boy in the Drury Lane pantomime last year. Mr. Arthur Collins, who speaks very highly of her, has "lent" her to Meynell and Gunn for this production only, and on its conclusion she will return to London, as she is to b> principal boy in the next pantomime at Drury Lane. This version of "Cinderella," by the wav, when produced at the Shakespero Theatre, Liverpool, last Christmas, put up a record for England. In ten weeks alone, it is said to have drawn over £20,000.

The Otago Daily Times, referring to the opening performance of the " Scarlet Troubadours," says: "The impression created by the " Scarlet Troubadours" on its first appearance in Dunedin, must have exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. The unstinted outbursts of delighted appreciation clearly indicated the unstinted approbation of the large audience. These eight musicians form a company of talented artists, whose superior as a combination has not before been heard in Dunedin."

Messrs. MacMahon and Carroll's living picture reproduction of the last BurnsSquires fight, commenced a New Zealand tour at Wellington last Thursday night. The "battle" film is over half-a-milc long, and occupies upwards of an hour in display. The tour is under the direction of Mr. Edwin Geach.

Tho Bach Society's concert, at St. Andrew's Hall next Wednesday, should prove attractive to music-lovers. The song cycle, " On Jhelum River" (Amv Wood fordo "Finden), to be sung by Miss Phyllis Dean, outmost promising soprano, and Mr. Arthur Ballance, a Wellington baritone, is distinctly worth hearing. "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" (Sir Hubert Parry's setting) is also to be given for the hist time in Auckland.

Greetings reach mc from Fred Graham and Nellie Dent, who were at Teneriffe at the time of tho despatch of their message.

Miss Harrie Ireland's enforced abstention from acting with the Bland Holt Company this week is due to an affection of the throat. Miss Ireland was anything but well on the trip from Sydney, and, shortly after arriving in Auckland, ehe lost her voice. It is hoped that Miss Ireland may be able to appear in " The Breaking of the Drought" on Monday.

Herr Benno Scherek, who has accepted a permanent engagement in connection with Mr. J. C. Williamson's enterprises as musical director, will leave Chnstchurch ' next week for Adelaide.

Wm. Anderson's Wonderland was reopened at fleet time in Sydney, and attracted very large crowds. Many of the Americans visited the gigantic play-ground, and remarked that it compared very favourably with their own Coney Island.

W. S. Percy has taken over Fred Leslie's part in "The Merry Widow, tit Adelaide.

Receptions in honour of Madame Ada Crossley were arranged to take place in Perth and Adelaide as the Orient liner Orontes touched those ports on her voyage outwards, while birr preparations are being made for her welcome in Sydney when she starts her tour. The Orontes reached Fremantle on Thursday last. It is understood that the engagements now being made by Mr. Clyde Meyncll in London include some of the best-known people on the English stage. "It is 6imp'y remarkable the great number of young people there are who want to go on the stage," says Mr. Chas. A. Wonman, stage director of Meynell and Gunn's " Miss Hook of Holland Company, which has entered upon its seventh week at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney. "My experience has been the same in Sydney as in Melbourne. Scarcely a day passes that I do not receive numbers of applications for positions in the company, mostly from young ladies. What surprises mo more, however, ie the 'considerable amount of talent there is available here for the stage. There is enough material to equip a number, of companies. The Australian girl seems to be naturally gifted for a stage career, and learns readily." -*» ' ' MuSICa-DRAMATICUS,