MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16020, 11 September 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS. HIS - MAJESTY'S J THEATRE. * September 27 to October 9—J. C- "Willianuon. October 11 to 23— and N. T*itNovember 1 to 20—Dickenson's Co. Siovember 29 to December 4— C. 'Williamsou. . i ■ > • December 26 onwards—J. C. Williamson. The Belgian Band,, introduced to Australia by Messrs. J. and N._ Tait, recently made its first appearance in Melbourne. In commenting on the band a Melbourne paper says "it fully justified every promise. The performance was- bright, artistic, and inspiriting and, whilst never being commonplace, was well down to the understandings of the masses. The programme included Grieg's "Peer Gynt" suite, selections from " Madame Butterfly" (Puccini), Overture William Tell" (Rossini), and " Dance of the Hours" (Ponchielli), " Ballet Egyptienne" (Luigui), with no end of select modern morsels, better-class ragtime selections, valses, etc. On the opening night double, and even treble, encores were the order of the evening. The band is under the control of a most original and capable violin-conductor, Mons. Phillipe Meney. whose methods are full of interest, and not altogether devoid of humour. The soloists include Mons. Al- : bert Goossens, 'a dramatic baritone of most excellent vocal attainment Mdlle. Alice , Viceroy, a charming and sweetvoiced soprano ; Mons. Florent Hoogstoel, a fine violinist of the tender, 'emotional school; Mons. Henri Perm, a brilliant and resourceful pianist, who . buttressed the orchestra in every number with most interesting result, in addition to playing solos delightfully; and Mons. • Arthur Barden, a 'celloist with a bow of rich, fluent tone.

Mr. Frederick Villiers, the well-known war artist, who has been at the front in France, has arranged to visit Australia at the end of the winter campaign. His tour will be under the management of the Celebrities Direction, who ■ recently managed the . tours of Mj*. Leonard Borwick and Sir Douglas Mawson. The same management is endeavouring to arrange for a lecturing tour by Captain C. E. W. Bean, the official war correspondent with the Australian forces at the Dardanelles.

It is stated that Germany is not excluding the works of her enemy composers from grand opera. On the operatic stages of nearly all the important cities " Carmen," "Mignon," -"Faust," "The Jewess,"- "Fra Diavolo," Mehul's "Joseph- in Egypt" are stated by a neutral correspondent of a Southern paper to be given as usual, and nowhere is there any sign of a demonstration on the part of the public. On the contrary, these old favourites are listened to with the same reverence as in times of peace. At the beginning of the season the managements of the various German opera houses tried limiting their repertoire to German operas only; but the public soon demanded their old favourites, regardless of nationality. Berlioz. Lalo. Debussy, Cesar Franck, Tieuxtemps— had numerous hearings, and their compositions were received- by the public with the same respect and interest as usual. . On no occasion was there any hissing or demonstration of any kind. *

; Mr. Oscar Asche next season in London will produce a new spectacular play entitled "The Spanish Main," which he describes as " suggestive of a Robert Louis Stevenson story. It opens in the picturesque setting of a Spanish wine shop, passing to the deck "of a seventeenth i century f < buccaneer in mid-ocean, and reaching . its. climax < on a; lonely treasure island." ■•*■•- , ~ :-,-.'

IviT^ 6 -^* 1 p- Williamson firm has secured i Sprite " Mother Goose" pantomime a captrotting principal boy in the person of Miss Lilian De Venny.,who has appeared m several London productions as well as in the provinces. Miss De Venney is said to have a charming stage presence and an unusually good voice for a principal boy, vocal attainments generally not being considered a necessity in this role- ' " The neatest figure in pantomime" is how the London Era recently described her.

On the safety curtains at several theatres in Edinburgh there ; appeared recently the following ; announcement:— This is the safety curtain of» this theatre. The men of Britain; are the safety curtain that shields our country from ruin and our women and children from death. Are you part of that khaki safety curtain! If not, supports those who are fighting your battles, and join the new battalion of the 4th Royal Scots, Queen's Edinburgh."

Messrs. George'Stephenson and Frank Hawthorne have joined forces for a tour of >ew Zealand, which commences early in September at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, in the musical farce, "Fun on the Bristol." The late John F. Sheridan created the Widow O'Brien in these parts, and played it over 6000 times. Frank Hawthorne will play the "Widow" on the forthcoming tour. He has been playing.the part for some vears and has gained much success- in the character The. company supporting Mr. Hawthorne will comrise Fred. Hughes, as Count Mennagia; Courtney Ford, as Captain Cranberry; Ernest Delavale. as Tommy Cranberry; Arthur Sharpies, as Richard Sparks s, Will Gilbert, as Jerrv Thompson ; Miss Bertha. Busch. a's BellaTMisses Annie Berrill and Ivy Davis as "Nora and Dora, the widow's daughters.

Mr. E. J. Carroll, who Sent to NewZealand "Bunty Pulls the Strings The.Rosary,' Leroy, Talma, and Bosco (magicians), and " A Scrape o" the Pen " returns to Sydney from America on September 21, and it is hoped that his new attractions will visit New Zealand His present representative here is Mr. Harold Bowden. He is at present arranging a New Zealand tour for next rear. There is one play Mr. Carroll secured that has not vet been produced. -The Blindness of Virtue, ' an £ Mr. Bowden is hoping that Mr. Carroll may yet be induced to send this through. The play is an adaptation of Cosmo "Hamilton's well-known book, and is a strong moral plav.

«n If- Bhe ,£ 0 J land ' now appearing in Our Miss Gibbs" at Melbourne Her Majesty first came to Australia as leading juvenile in "The Brass Bottle " a fantastic farce-comedy that failed to meet j with popular appreciation. Since then Mr. Holland has been appearing in musical comedy, with which he was associated for years in England. Mr. Holland is another of the imported artists who finds Australia entirely congenial. With the exception of » visit to South Africa under tne J. C Williamson management, he has remained in Australia since he first came out. and intends to remain. He has not only established his home there, but has acquired considerable business interests in Sydney. The number of male actors in Great Britain, including variety artists,, enumer- *&£ afc the cen sus of 1911 was between 8000 and 9000. The number of actors who have enlisted in Kitchener's armv up to date is at the least 1000. TT- Mr J Lewis Waller intends presenting at Wyndham s Theatre. London, in conjunction with Mr Gerald Du Maurier, a new play, r Gamblers All." from the pen of Mrs. Martmdale. Miss Madge Titheradge is to have a place in the cast. ~ Madame Sarah Bernhardt for vears had a curious business custom. She "insists on being paid not. as is usual, at the end of each w*ck, but after each performance. The cast of "Ma Mie Rosette" at. -Melbourne Her Majesty's on Saturday night next will include Reginald RobertsEthel Cadman. Phil Smith, Derek Hudson, Thelma Raye, and Ethel Morrison. A certain artist some time ago was singing to some miners in one of the northern towns of England, "I Want to See the Daar Old Home Again." Ere the song was finished one of the miners in a tone of disgust shouted "How much is your fare, giiv'nor!" Musico-Dbakahcus,- i