Amusements.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 387, 12 July 1879, Page 17

Amusements.

ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY. ITAIUTANA. Vincent Wallace's ever-popular work was produced at the Theatre Royal last night by the English Opera Company with great success, and considering the inclemency of the weather, to an enthusiastic and crowded audience. Both pit and stalls were fairly filled, and the dress-circle nearly so.

Perhaps there is no opera that has so won an English audience as " Marifcana." The brave rollicking soldier of fortune, with his mad-brained pranks, seems to claim our sympathy at the outset. Even the defiance of the King's edict, paradoxical as it may appear to a law-abiding people, carries with it a dash of fun and frolicsome humor that especially commands our admiration. Don Caesar is a gentleman, although in rags, as is proved by his chivalrous protection of the poor boy, at the expense of his own life. The role" of Maritana was undertaken by Madame Le Couteur, who sang with vivacity and a thorough appreciation of her part. Her best efforts were in the recitative and song, "Scenes that are brightest," and in the duet, " Oh, Maritana," with Don Cse3ar, for both of which she received an encore. The page, Lazarillo, was taken by Miss Maud Walton (Mrs. Florence), and her singing was remarkably good, especially in the air, " Alas, those chimes," in which she displayed her deep chest notes to great advantage, as also in the trio, " Turn on, old time," and the duet, " Sainted Mother," in both of which the rich tones of her voice were particularly noticeable. She possesses a very sweet contralto, which with care and study cannot fail to prove a great acquisition to her. In Don Czesar we recognised an old friend, who played the part when the Simonsens were here about three years ago. Mr. Florence has an exceptionally good tenor voice, and his singing of the bravura air, " Let me like a soldier fall," ending on the upper C, proved his claim to have an organ of more than ordinary range. His sinking in the beautiful ballad " There is a flower that bloornetb " was excellent, but we could have wished he had infused a little more pathos find feeling into an air that was so capable of great expression and tender feeling. Mr. Florence was rapturously applauded in almost everything he sang. Don Jose brought to the front Mr. Browning, a baritone of considerable merit, whose sinking of the air " No, my courage" elicited great applause, but we think it a pity that the cavatina " This heart by woe o'ertaken," immediately preceding it, was omitted, as we feel confident he would have done justice to it. In the song "In happy moments " he would have achieved a

greater success had he descended the scale at the finale instead of ascending. Mr. Cary as the King was very felicitous in his duet with Don Ccesar, and deserves very great commendation at our hands for catering so excellently for the public taste. The orchestra and chorus were very good, and we use the phrase in its literal sense and by no means of a facon de •parlcz. The whole entertainment, given at million prices, is well worth the attention of the music-loving public, and we counsel our friends to go, see, hear, and judge for themselves. This evening "Maritana" will be repeated. LA SONNAMBULA.

It would not be an easy matter to say which of the best known English operas find the greatest favor with the musically-disposed people of this or any other city. We were not at all surjDrised, therefore, to find that "La Sonnambula," the second opera produced by the present company, drew together such a large audience on Wednesday evening. The airs, like those which sparkle in "Maritana" and "Martha," are as familiar to those who have an ear for music as " household words." Mr. Charles Florence, in the character of Elvino, had a grand opportunity for displaying his fine, rich voice, and amply proved the correctness of those who pinned their faith to him when he came amongst us, with the Simonsen Opera Company, some three years back. Since then, however, his voice has become better and of a much richer quality, and it now remains with himself to take a high position on the operatic stage, and as years go by he will, by study and cultivation, be able to take a place near that other " colonial boy " (as he is familiarly termed in Melbourne) —we refer to Mr. Armes Beaumont. Mr. Florence's singing of " All is lost," and "Still so gently o'er me stealing," created quite an enthusiasm amongst the audience, and for the last solo sn unmistakable encore was demanded. The task was a difficult one, without making an extra demand, but there was no help for it. The encore could not be denied, and Mr. Florence proved himself quite capable for the extra demand made upon him. Still we could wish that the audience would have a little more consideration for those who have, like the leading operatic singers, to throw such a great amount of energy into their parts. Mr. Florence not alone proved himself to be a good singer, but also a thoroughly capable actor —in proof of which his interview with Amina, after she has been discovered in the chamber of Count Rudolpho, might be mentioned. Mdme. Le Couteur, who took the part of Amina, is steadily gaining in favor with her Wellington audiences. We have had some singers amongst us whom we have liked better than that lady, but we have had few, it any at all, who have taken greater pains than she does. Her singing and clear intonation of the recitatives, " Dearest companions and friends," and " To thee, my mother, tenderest of parents," were given with a pathos that would do no discredit to the dramatic stage, if spoken with the same power with which they were musically rendered. Her singing of the solos and duets which fell to her part —and she had a large share —were all spiritedly given, and both she and Mr. Florence were called before the curtain at the end of each act. Mr. Browning was quite at home in the character of Count Rudolpho, and looked the part every inch of the bluff, honest gentleman which he was supposed to represent, whilst his fine voice contributed in no small degree to the Bucce3s of the opera. Mrs. Charles Florence, as Lisa, did not have so much to do as in the part of Lazarillo, in " Maritana," but what fell to her was well done, and her singing of " Sounds so joyful" was given with considerable effect. Miss Alice Johns, albeit a little too youthful for the part of Dame Teresa, sang and acted very nicely; whilst Mr. H. Simmons, as Allessio, proved himself to be a comiG actor of no mean order, and several timerf produced roars of laughter amongst the audience. The opening chorus of " Viva, viva Amina," and " Here we'll rest in those sweet shady bowers," were given with splendid effect by the company. It is no small credit to Wellington that it has been able to supply the great bulk of the instrumentalists who go to constitute the band under the leadership of Professor Hughes, R.A.M. In consequence of the great success of " La Sonnambula" last night, it will be repeated again this evening—we are assured, positively for the last time. fjg" PROFESSOR, BALDWIN'S ENT ERT AINMENT. In describing the very interesting entertainment given by Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin on Saturday evening in St. George's Hall, we shall not attempt to give a full and detailed account of what took place. The first tricks were well and neatly done ; the most clever of the lot was the handcuff-trick, which was not explained, and the unfastening of a rope which was passed between his arms behind a secure fastening round both wrists. This trick was clearly explained and was greatly applauded. The cabinet seances were very similar t& most others which we have witnessed, and if Mr. Baldwin depended upon these, though they are cleverly and neatly done, his fame would be nothing out of the common. The house was crowded to excess at 7.45, the back seats were full, and at eight o'clock the front seats were all occupied, and there was not room for another man. The hall has been well done up and furnished, and is wall suited for the purpose. A very good committee, consisting of the Rev. Mr. De Castro, Captain Holt, Mr. Seager, and Inspector James were appointed to do the tying-up business and to see fair play and no humbug, and though they tried hard to tie everyone secure their efforts were in vain, and ropes, tapes, bolts, and bars were useless. The clairvoyance sittings were, without exception, the most marvellous revelations which we have ever witnessed. There are incidents iu connection with Saturday night's performance which we believe will be engraved upon

the memories of every one of the audience for life, and we will endeavor to relate two or three of the most striking instances. About half "an hour before the interval of fifteen minutes allowed in the middle of the evening, Mr. Baldwin announced that his wife would try to answer certain questions which had never been seen by her. SlipS of paper were then handed round the audience, who were requested to write a plain question, fold the paper, and retaiu it in their possession. Aeoon as the audience were re-assembled after the interval, Mr. Baldwin appeared on the stage with his wife blindfolded, and in a mesmeric trance. He asked her what she saw, and chiefly from memory we propose to relate what took place in some of the more striking instances. Omitting for the sake of brevity the questions put by Mr. Baldwin, such as, wha.t do you see now, see clearer, go on, &c, Mrs. Baldwin said :—" I see ■< young and in-tellectual-looking young ma;: : deep thought; he is thinking how he v ... get rich, and whether he will succeed. I see ''u wealthy —rich beyond his most sanguine i.. .notations, very rich. (Pause.) I see him on board a ship in a fearful storm. Oh, it is terrible ! I see the sailors getting out the life boats. The man seems ill, I see him lying in his berth looking sick. The sailors have launched a boat, they have left him all alone. The storm is abating, I see him crawling on the deck, he is looking for water —water—oh, he cannot find any. Oh, he is starving, starving." In reply to a question, what year it was, she said 1897.

The question was handed up—Shall I grow rich, from a Mr. Anstead (?) —Another story, less tragic. " I see a young and beautiful lady; I see her being led up to the altar. I see her surrounded by children, they are her children. She is happy with the man of her choice." The question was said to be " shall I remain single?" and after seine hesitation a young lady, in the front seat, admitted she had asked the question. Again she said in reply to a question, I see a man. He is young, when he is in the company of ladies he ia fair, he is conceited and vain. (That's me, said Professor Baldwin.) "I am asked what his age is ;it is 32." Dr. Gillou had written the question—How old are you? The most startling vision was this—" I see a ship, a long way off, I see a young man on it, I cannot see his face, his back is towards me. I see three men go on board the ship apparently visitors. The ship's name is the General Palmer. Oh, they have murdered the man (and the seer shuddered and cowered visibly). Being commanded to go on, she said, " They are cutting him up into pieces and putting him into a pork barrel. It is dreadful. The murderer's name was Wood—he was hanged, as he deserved to be, on Mount Cook a long time ago, in 1850." Mr. Barber produced the question it was— What was the fate of the young man Green ? A question in Maori about affairs in Taranaki was answered, although the gentleman had only thought the question, and had not written it ; and the Government were told that they had acted wisely, and that there would be no war. In reply to a secret question about the Ministry, the audience were told that a new one would soon come in, and that one of the Ministers would die within a year. The Kelly gang were seen assuming various very clever disguises and making their way to San Francisco, and taking a vessel from thence to Texas, where there were plenty of men like them. A Mr. Allen was assured that he would marry a widow with nine children, on the 25th day of next July. In reply to a hidden question—" What time will the natives arrive here ?" —she said, "I see a ship ; it is called the Hinemoa. She has a number of Maori prisoners on board. The sea is rough ; she is coming here." In reply to " What is the question ?" she said " I am asked when she will arrive. The spirits say the waves are uncertain. I think she will come about 11 o'clock." A Mr. W. C. Smith was told he would live twenty-three and a half years longer. A lady rashly asked a question about her sweetheart, and was 'told that he would not marry her. Mrs. Baldwin declined to publish the lady's name, because she would be very angry. When pressed she said it would not be fair ; the lady only asked for a piece ef fun.

It should be remembered that most of the questions which we have enumerated were given in by gentlemen who are well known and of unimpeachable reputation. Among others, we may mention that Messrs. Seager, De Castre, and Inspector James received answers to their questions. The exhibition was a very wonderful one, and yesterday at 11 o'clock the wharf was crowded with persons to see the Hinemoa arrive, but she had reached port at 4 o'clock, and landed her prisoners at 7 ; in this instance the prediction was scarcely fulfilled, but it was given very doubtfully. The Katie King Mystery fell rather flat after the extraordinary disclosures which we have narrated, chiefly from memory and without any pretension to a verbal accuracy, although given in a form as closely allied to the original as possible. Mr. Baldwin's own dialogue is racy, and full of genuine American humor. No one can say how much is truth and how much banter ; his chaff is very like a page out of one of Sam Slick's or Mark Twain's novels, and is almost as good as a play. The wit is pointed and his allusions are fresh. At the beginning of the evening some of the audience said he had rather too much talk, but wh->n a man talks well and knows it, he is strongly tempted to talk much. We need not recommend our readers to go and hear and see for themselves, because they are sure to go whether we .recommend them or not.

At Mr. Baldwin's performance on Thursday there was a very good attendance, and a new selection of clever tricks was performed as usual with very good effect. Messrs. Hope, Mace, Captain Holt, and a well-known clergyman officiated as a committee, and, as usual, tried hard to secure the performers, but without success. When the clairvoyance scene was opened intense excitement prevailed, and this was greatly enhanced when a

Mr. Murphy brought a sealed envelope, the contents of which he affirmed were absolutely unknown to Mr. or Mrs. Baldwin, and asked Mr. Baldwin if he was prepared bo answer tins question contained in it. The visitor said that he would decline to let go of the envelope until it had been answered. Professor Baldwin asked to be allowed to take the envelope with the lights turned up to press it to ins wife's forehead in order to provoke a feeling of sympathy between the medium ami the letter. Mr. Murphy declined to let the envelope leave his possession in any way, but held it up in sight of the audience. The professor agreed to attempt to but was uncertain of success. After several other hidden questions had been asked aud solved, Mr. Murphy's question came before the clairvoyante. It ultimately appeared that the envelope contained a double question as follows!; " When did Captain Cook laud in IS e.w Zealand ? and when did he take possession ?" Both these questious were, we believe, correctly answered. Mrs. Baldwin began by describing all the incidents iu connection with the landing, and explained how the boat-, were driven back, and had to make a second attempt. She then, in reply .to que*tions, said that Captain Cook landed in New Zealand on Thursday, the sth of October, 1768, and took possession on vVednesday, the 15th of November, 1769. A desire was expressed by some of the audience to know who Mr. Murphy was. It was explained that he was a gentleman who had been iu business with Mr. Plumuoer, aud was well known in Wellington. A gentleman in the audience also got up and certified that Mr. Murphy was a gentleman who*e character was unimpeachable, and the affair created a great sensation,and the result was greeted with enthusiastic applause. The effort required from Mrs. Baldwin was so great that she nearly fainted after giving the replies alluded to.