MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14103, 3 July 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.* July 9 to July 24—Chung Ling Soo Co. July 26 to August 23— J. C. Williamson (Nellie Stewart Co.). . July 10 to 24— Allan Hamilton's Dramatic Co. September Bto September 28— J. C. .William-, ;; son. OPERA HOUSE.; ■'.[ June 21 to July £4—Edwin Geach's Dramatic Co. ROYAL ALBERT HALL. . In Season-tPathc Pictures. * VOL! THEATRE. , ' In Season—TiToli Picture*. Chung Ling Soo, the marvellous Chinese conjurer, chines wit', meteoric radiance. , fcnwng the artitts : who have; b-cn appear- j ing before overflow houses at E is Majesty 6 | theatre; since Monday. In consequence-of the phenomenal business the season has | been extended ■ for live nights. - The only ;| matinee will be given this afternoon. ■ ' - '<" 'The Woman Pays" has I*M the boards ! at the Opera. House throughout the week, and the appreciative tone of its . reception at the hands of-devotees of such, startling ! phases of melodrama as, it emlodies, must t have pleased the management. ! The GeachMarlow Company will, give (heir, secondchange t on/ Monday'; night, 7 with,; ' lho s Broken Home." The season terminates on | I July 24. 1 > With the object of enabling a" further i development of the wonderful 1 powers of Mister -Havdn Beck, the iWanganui: child violinist, under, the greatest masters available in Europe, concerts are to be given in the' Choral Hall, Auckland.-.on the 19th and 22nd inst. ; Kubelik, the famous violinist,' after hearing the ear-old prodigy play Be Beriofs " Seventh'; Concerto - I during* the fornterV recent, visits to New ! Zealand, : ; declared that the child was " a I -wonder," and expressed a hops that they I would meet again in Europe. . He passed i the opinion that the ? child should be there as eoon as possible. ! Marie Hull, the celehrated : lady violinist, : and the talented Cliernniavskvs have also predicted a brilI liant future for the boy. Concerts have alI ready been given in Wellington, Dunedm, and'Wanganui by Master Ee*:k, and the press on these occasions referred in glowing terms to his , exceptional talent. Several local artists have offered their ; .services; for the Auckland concerts, : including Mr. Abel Rowe's Unique Quartet, Madame Wielaert, and Messrs. Poore (flautist), and T. E. Midgley (pianist). « After an absence. of about three years Miss Nellie Stewart is reappearing at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. The company is booked for a season at His Majesty's, I Auckland, for July 26 to August 23. The i Sydney season was opened with David I Belasco's picturesque play, "{weet, Kittv ! Bellahs," ; and Miss Stewart was accorded j the heartiest of welcomes; As early as two ! o'clock in the afternoon women! were, standing outside the. theatre to make sure of obtaining seats in; the unreserved parts of the building, and long before the doors opened there "was a great crowd of men and | women, young and old. in waiting. .: Hun- i dreds of people 'were disappointed, for the | reserved section had £ been extended considerably! to meet -the, demand, and - every, seat available * had:' been! aged- The I gathering : : presented a brilliant sight, and included : the. Governor-Genernl and Lady Dudley and scores of people prominent in the social world. ; The great" <rowd roared out its welcome to their favourite in a manner that obviously' affected her; but all efforts, then "and at the close of the evening, to induce her to make a .speech were m vain. The floral offerings we« particularly beautiful; -and when!!; the! curtain finally fell there. could be no doubt of the success of " Sweet Kitty Rcllairs." * Mr. J Bert Royle, who is at present! in Dunediri' representing -''The Merry Widow": Company, has booked another New Zealand tour for one of - Mr. J. C. ' Williamsonscompanies; : The new company is the re-, centfy-organised Musical : Comei ly Company, at present playing the latest London success, "The King of Cadoria," in Melbourne. ■;-■■•• The , New >- Zealand ; tour of this company commences; in Dunedm in November 26, and extends to December 8; Invercargill will bo visited on December 9 and 10; ' thence OamariL - member' 11 ; Christchurch, December 13 to VA ; Wellington, December 26 ,to',! January 15; overland, to Auckland, where a season ill be played from January 31 to February 29. The tour ends in Auckland, and the members of the, company return thence to Sydney. Apropos of the foregoing it is interesting, to k"ow that' the "King of ddonia" Company will include'several English artists who will be making :their.-.fin appearance in Maorilaiid., Amongst others, -Mr.! Frank Greene, Miss Lottie v Sargeant,! and ■ Miss Dorothy Court." Mr. Herbert Clayton (who ■was through New Zealand with that bright show "The Merry-makers") and Mr. Victor Prince, a eon* of Mr. Howard Vernon, is also with the company. I? the mantle - of 'Howard Vernon has fallen on his son. Victor Prince will be worth while. Old favourites with the company are Miss Olive Godwin and Miss Ivy Scott. Allan Hamilton, the well-known theatrical manager: "Within -the next fix * monthV I shall present to New Zealand audiences the Hugh G. Ward London Comedy Company, which includes Miss Grace Palotta, Mies Celia Ghiloni, Miss Rose Mu6grove, and other favourites. Then then- will be another strong combination, under Mr. Harry Rickards' banner, introducing a, sensational novelty, which I am not at liberty to disclose at the' moment. These • will be followed by a tour of Irish dram?, by a new comedian, Mr. Andrew Doorse., of the Andrew >Mack stamp. So that, you see, 1 have still faith in New Zealand." Cinquevalli, the incomparable juggler, is appearing with Mr. Harry Rickards' company of star performers in Sydney. Mr. G. S. Titheradge, whcee recent illness in New Zealand has kept him under the doctor's orders ever since, is gradually recovering his old strength nd spirits at Sydney, and hopes to be able to appear on the stage again shortly. Mr, W. J. Wilson, the well -known scene painter, whose association with the Australian stage dates back to half a century ago, died at his home in Sydney, the other day from bronchitis. ," S "The Flag Lieutenant," which is to be J.! C. : Williamson's -next dramatic attraction, has just celebrated its 400 th performance at The Playhouse, London. ; : Mr. Andrew Higginson, who plays Prince Danilo in 5 the !, " Merry Widow" with the Royal Comic Opera Company, and recently; visited Auckland, intended for the navy, but at 17 joined '" the" profession. Mr. Higginson has played in quite a number of plays well known to New Zealand opera-lovers" La - Poupee," " Cisino Girl," " San Toy," and "Florodora." He was afterwards engaged by George ; Edwardes, and later went to America under Charles Frohman. In New York Mr. Higginson played in " The Little Cherub," and went back to London to take Seymour! Hick's part in "The' Beauty of Bath." During that season a man went up to him and said, "Would you like to go to Australia and play in'; 'The Merry Widow '('■" Mr. Higginson said, " Yes. What's your name The man was Mr. J. C. Williamson, and so Mr. Higginson was engaged for the tour. At the Queen's Hall; Empire Day concert in London on Monday, ••. May 24, in aid of "Lord/Roberts' boys" fund, New Zealand was represented :by Mr. Magnus Laiug (Chrietchurch), eon of Mr. and Mrs. Laing-Meason, who has been studying the piano on that side of the world for some considerable time. ! ' , The artists in the Empire Day concert at the Albert Hall, London, included Miss Catherine Aulsebrook, an Auckland contralto. ' '/"!;' ! --.!■!!!;! /!.' ; ;.: Mrs. J. A. Stirling has returned to the stage (the Herald's London correspondent writes), arid though she mad'; her first appearance as a." show girl in the musical comedy, "Our Miss Gibbs" tit the Gaiety Theatre, it is riot probable that many of the audience recognised her. -, !;!';■! ''■,'-Musko-Dkamaticus,'