MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15375, 9 August 1913, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS .:':.^V;:-'-." ; HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. In /Mason, toi August 16—Hamilton-Plimmer ' rjo'-' "■•'■' -'"^■'■ .^'"r r ■ ''' :,: > : ' : -' : '''. " " ".■""'' ' : August 18 to September 6—George Marlow's September to September 29— J. C. WilliamSeptember 30 to October 4—Alf. Linley'a Co. October 6to Octofcer 16— J. C. Williamson. October 17 to 21—McEwen. Hypnotist, - October 27 to November B—Julius Jtnignt Co, December 15 to '20— J. C. Williamson. _ • December 22 to January 7—Qumlan Grand v. Opera Co. ; '';.>.:';•'' TOWN HALL. '. „ ■ "• August 9. 16, and 23—Municipal Organ Becitals. _ , August 12—Choral Society's Concert.;August 30 and September 2—Wielaert's Opera Concert (Verdi's "II Trovatore' ). v - September 6, 18, and 27— Municipal ■ Organ Recitals. ■>■'■■ .„>. , >,"'"" , September 11—Orchestral Society's Concert. September 17, 20, and Madame Nordic*. October Liedertafel Concert. _' - x November 6—Orchestral Society s Concert. , November 11—Choral Society's Concert. TOWN HALL ; CONCERT CHAMBER. „. In season to September £-The I Dandies, ;f September &—Harmonic' Orchestral, Society. Sep tern her Thomas : Hams' Dickens Re • Sepfouiocr 13—Auckland Rowing Club's ConNovember 24 to 28—Auckland Competitions' .: Society. .. ; ~ ,

The life of" the' late ; Mr. J., C. Williamson in his own words has been published, as an illustrated booldet by his partners in the firm. It gives the late Mr. Williamson's views /on ; - acting, -• "authorship,i. and management, and both to the young actor and author the advice offered ;is excellent. There are .valedictory notices ' by - men long associated with him, - such as Messrs. George Tallis, 0 Henry Bracy, - George Titheradge, and others. The late Mr. Williamson's will directs that during >their minority his daughters, Margery and Aimee, are to live with his brother and sister in America.

\ Amongst new music to hand is a wait* named "Memories," composed by L. Alfred Eady, and published locally by Messrs. A. Eady and (Jo. The composition is bright and tuneful, and lends itself admirably to the purposes of the dancing hall. Its refrain is melodious, and the waltz should prove : popular, v Paterson and Sons," of Edinburgh, forward an in memoriam solo and chorus, "Sleep Beloved," words and music by Stewart Borwick. The little work is dedicated to H.R.H. Princess Henry of Battenberg/ and the subject .is artistically handled. V

A new departure is announced by the Marlow firm. The intention is to have three companies going the ' whole year round; each putting four months of the 12 in Sydney, and four months in Melbourne, the remaining four months being given up to Brisbane, Adelaide, Western Australia and New Zealand. New artists will be imported from time to time. Australian talent, however, is not to be overlooked. It will be encouraged, in every reasonable way,, The companies will be so formed as to be, as far as possible, of uni form merit. »Th& management do not believe in deleting one company to strengthen another, and thus, having one company distinctly in advance of the others. ■.,■■■ .■'■■■■.■■.:.

For some time the J. C. Williamson" management have felt the need of a theatre in Melbourne suitable for the production of comedy, those at ; present held by the firm being too large tor the purpose. :. It has therefore been decided to build.- such a theatre on a site,opposite Her, Majesty's, in Exhibition : Street, and the work:, of erection will commence almost immediately. The new theatre, which is to cost £45,000/ will be dedicated to the memory ;of the lato J. C. Williamson, and called the Willisimson Theatre. ;;: ■ ; .--V 1 ;',

The revival of "Othello'- by Mr. ForbesRobertson during his - farewell season at Dniry Lane recalls the story of th« wellknown actor-manager who put on the play with himself in the title-role. - A friend who attended the performance on the first night was greatly struck by a most realistic struggle the actor-manager had in the last act with the actor: who: played iago. •After the performance■ he .went! round to his friend's dressing-room to compliment him on his performance, 'That waa a most realistic fight' you i had with " lagb in the laufc act," ;he said. ''It looked as if you wore really going to choke the life out of him. You seemed very much in earnest." "In earnest,' echoed . the actor-manager. "I should just think I was! Why, didn't you notice that the follow was trying to push mo out of the limelight." : :

In r- : . London recently an interesting violoncello was submitted for sale :by i the direction of the executors of } the late Mr. Van Biene, the wel l-k"nown. actor-musician. This instrument, nade by Giovanni Grancino, was used throughout the long run. of the ''Broken Melody," and Van Biene had just laid it down when his tragically sudden death occurred. The 'cello, ones the property of Piatti f ; was sold i or £85. ■ ■

The last appearance in Melbourne of Mile. Genee and the ;; Imperial ; Russian Ballet, is fixed for August 31. The whole performance in its entirety will be tranalerred to the Theatre Royal, Adelaide, opening for a season of a few nights only On, Saturday, August 3.

One of the now plays to be put on by the Marlow- Company is '"The Princess of Patches," an American melodrama. -

Replying to a letter addressed to him by tho Critics' Circle of the Institute of Journalists, Sir J. Forbes-Robertson has oxpressed the hope that circumstances will enable him to give one final performance in London after- bis tours in Canada and America. ':'• - ' '

The American comedian, Fred Niblo, will appear at the ' Theatre ; Royal, ;- Melbourne, on Saturday next, in '"The For tune Hunter,", described as "the play of 1000 laughs— not a blush." The title role will be enacted by Mr. Niblo, and associated with him will be Robert Greig, Beatrice Holloway, Enid Bennett, H. H. Wallace, Ray Royce (the American old man actor who will make his first appear anoo in Melbourne), Edwin Lester, E. Pirio Bush, Fred. Canbourne, and Cyril French. "The Fortune Hunter" has been running for many months in America, and is one of the most successful comedies in years.

Mile. Fernado Diamant, said to be the most beautiful woman in Paris, has been appearing in the French revue, "J"Adore Gal" in London, in a series of dances.

The repertoire of the Quinlan Grand Opera Company which will be in Auckland at Christmas time, and which opens its Australian season in Melbourne on Saturday next, includes "The Meister Singers,' "Lohengrin," "Tannhauser," "Tristan and Isolde," "The Flying Dutchman," "Manon Lescaut," "Madame Butterfly," "La Tosca," "La Boheme," "The Girl of the Golden West," "Aida," "La- Traviata,' "Rigoletto," "II Trovatore," "Samson and Delilah," "Tho Ring of the Nibelung," comprising "The Rheingold," "The Valkyrie," "Siegfried," and "The Twilight of the Gods." The remainder of the reper toire includes "The Marriage of Figaro," "Louisa," "Mamon," and "Tales of Hoff man." •■..':.•

Julius Knight, supported by Irene Browne, and a strong company, appears in Auckland next October. He is at present in Melbourne at Her Majesty's Theatre in "Bella Donna," the enthralling play baaed on the famous novel by Robert Hichens. The cast' includes Julius Knight, Martin Lewis. Leonard Willey. A. E. Greenaway, Robert Whyte, junr., Leslie Victor, J. Plumpton Wilson, Victor Tatnall, Ronald Macleod, Grace Armitage Noble, Dorothy Gumming, and Irene Browne. According to a correspondent in the "Monthly Musical Record," it has been left to an American writer to discover that the piano, as the special instrument of the gentler sex, is a foe to matrimony. "The shape of the piano," says our American friend, "discourages propinquity, unless the lover is able to assist in a four-handed arrangement of a symphony. If he wishes to gaze into her eyes, he must take his position at the other side of the instrument. If he sits by her side, she seems roundshouldered. " If he places himself behind her. he is reminded of a calisthenic exercise." Musico-DBAMATict;g.