Amusements.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 16

Amusements.

4- The Tlieatre.

"On Friday afternoon the Premier, at the request of Mr McMahon delivered the following speech to the phonograph: **lt' ; is now about eighteen years since I witnessed a phonograph, then in its first stage of development, and to be thought of as a scientific toy. It remained for Mr Edison to bring the instrument to its present state of perfection, and to excite the hopes of the civilised world that it may take its place among the useful arts, and contribute to the happiness of mankind. In the fine arts its place is already fixed. What photography has done for. preserving and popularising the expressions of the human face, the phonograph is destined to do for the human voice, and I can imagine the time is nob far distant when it will be equally popular and universal, and that when we see the face of the orator, the preacher, or the musician we shall want to know, through the phonograph, iu what manner he gave expression to his thoughts and arts, in order to enable us to form a complete idea of his personality and power. Mr Edison, in enlarging the possibility of human instruction and enjoyment, has made civilisation itself his debtor, and for this, though poor in thanks, I .thank him.— John Ballance, 20th March.” Mr J. Morgan, advance agent for the London Bellringers and Faust Family, a combination which has been on tour in the Colony for abontfour .months, and is at present on the West Coast of the South Island, arrived in Wellington on Sunday for the purpose of making arrangements for the Company’s approaching season at the Opera House, which commences on Monday next. The Faust Family were here six years ago with Charini’s Circus, and their olever performances will doubtless be fresh in the memories of the citizens of Wellington, who will be sare to extend them a warm welcome on their return. The Bellringers are under the leadership of Herr Von Mehden, and the press of the various towns they have visited has been very enthusiastic in their praise. ____ THEATRICAL NOTES. The Phonograph finished one of the most successful seasons ever held in the Opera House on Saturday last. The receipts averaged over £IOO a night. During the week the Phonograph has visited Palmer, eton, Feilding and Marton, and proceeded to-day to Nelson, opening there on Easter Monday for three nights, thence to Blenheim for two nights, and thence to Greytown and Masterton. going on to Greymouth and other west coast towns the following week, and thence overland to Christchurch, finishing the New Zealand tour at Invercargill on May 31st. Thamachine goes to Tasmania for a fortnight, and then proceeds direct to Brisbane for a thorough tour, ot that colony. No exhibition has ever hit public taste in this city like the Phonograph;;,* A machine of wonder, its very existence created cariosity, and that curiously filled the Opera House night after night.' Next to its marvellous powers, were the bright, intelligent lectures of Professor D. Archibald. 'Full of pointed expression, most lucidly delivered, and tinctured at times wth flashes of mild sarcasm, heightened with delicious humour no wonder the entire ‘show’ was most attractive, especially when it was considered that the comfort of the patrons was well looked after by Mr MaoMahon in person. The success of the season was increased by the grand way in which the * outdoor ’ work was managed by the genial Mr W. A. Jinkins. The city was splendidly * billed,’ and not a stone left unturned to let the people know that the Phonograph was ‘all there.’ Mr Jinkins is to bo complimented upon the thorough success of his management. The Wellington Aipateurs are working hard at ‘lolantbe,’ and judging from the

progress made, their representation bids fair to eclipse all previous efforts. ‘ lolanthe ’ will be produced at the Opera House on May 19th. The Faust family and London Bellringers open a season at the Opera House on Monday next. They were here with Charini’s Circus some years ago, and created quite a furore by their excellent performance. They have now been four months on their present trip in this country, and have done splendid business everywhere. Theatrical managers on tour inNew Zealand do not always find their pathways strewn with roses. Last week Mr W. A. Jinkins, a man of weight—in sporting parlance, rising

fourteen stone—got mixed up with a train in the Manawatn railway, which for some particular reason of its own left the rails, and according to a most veracious eye witness attempted to do a bit of cross country steeplechasiug. The aforesaid W.A.J., who is one of the most cool and collected customers who ever exchanged confidences with susceptible critics, managed to escape without: damage. It speaks well for his constitution that while the train got badly broke up, he walked out as spio and span as though he had just emerged from a convivial oyster supper. Mr Morgan, the good man ‘in front’ of the Faast family, got a nasty knock near Kumars, on the wild West Coast lately. He carefully crossed the New River Bridge, and probably while thinking over the wonderful business liis company had done under his management, elevated his head a little higher than usual. It is a way proud men have at times', and his receptacle for knowledge came into contact with one of the cross pieces of the bridge. The bridge was not damaged, but Mr Morgan’s head was, and what he terms ‘a beauty ’ spot, now ornaments his massive brow.

The Vivians have been in the Auckland distriot for some time, and last week were given a send off with a ‘ beg-a-bit,’ as theatrical benefits are not unaptly termed. A man of mystery, with a truly eastern name, has reached Dunedin, and proposes to visit Wellington in good time. He is known as Abdel Ahmund, and is said to be sn India juggler of rare skiil. He introduces a specimen of the trick known as flower or plant raising, after the fashion of the fakirs, who in India plant a mango seed in an ordinary flower pot—not on a stage surrounded with mysterious boxes, taoles, and cunning traps—but on your ‘ compound,’ as grass lawns are termed, and then with a few waves of his snowy white linen girdle and some strange sounding jargon, produces a mango tree with ripe fruit hanging to its branches. Abdel Ahmund does not give the mango growth, bat manages something like it with a geranium Diant. Mr J. W. Foley, who has been rusticating in Napier for the past twelve months, is nowsetting forth on a tour of tha Colony. He has a new entertainment, and as "Johnnie’ is a very clever little man, full of broad comedy, he shon'd do well. Owing to the non.arrival of the boat in time, Miss Jennie Lee could not open in * Jo ’ in Dunedin until Wednesday last, when she appeared before a large and enthusiastic audience. Theatregoers in all parts of the world, where the British language is spoken, know Miss Lee and her ‘Jo.’ Time has mellowed her performance, and to-day sho is as ever the only true * Jo’ of the stage. Miss Lee has with her her sister. Miss Ada Lee, the Misses May Hill, Ellen Gordon, M. Terry and A. Norris, and Messrs Edwin Lester, D. C. Smith, G. P. Carey, Barry Marsohell, C. Hill, G. Williams and P. Millor. They visit Wellington next month, opening at the Opera House on April 17th, their season lasting until May the Bth. The Hugo Minstrels are preparing for another descent upon this Colony. Their advance agent is Mr T. W. Twist, of the Oriental Boating Club,'and a late member of the New Zealand Times reporting staff. Sometime during this coming winter, we shall be favoured with an excellent taste of English opera by the Montague-Turner Company. Very shortly the Messrs MacMahon will send through New Zealand a ■ capital burlesque and variety company, which have been playing to crowded houses for many weeks past at the Melbourne Opera House. The company, an unusually clover one, contains Mr G. H. Snazelle (whose voice we heard in the Phonograph, in the song ‘ The heart bowed down ’ with interruptions), John Gourlay, John Forde, Henry Hodson, Mißses Aggie Kelton, Lena Salinger, Fanny Liddiard, Florence Esdaile and others. Their latest success is ‘ Skipped by the light of the Moon,’ an eccentrio and intensely funny musical oomedv, written by G. R. Sims. This piece abounds in drolleries and witticisms, and is actually funnier than the ‘Widow O’Brien,’ which is saying a great deal. All the members of the company are experts in the own particular line of business, and they produce one of the most amusing entertainments at present in the colonies. They will without doubt do a good business in New Zealand. George Darrell intends to pay a visit to Wellington during the winter, with sensational dramas, supported by a strong company. George has done good * biz ’ in this city, and can do so again if he will bring good stuff with him. He promises on this trip to eclipse all his former efforts. If he does so he will have no reason to complain of want of support. A comedy company with all the latest novelties is on its way hero from Australia, but up to the time of writing names and dates are not procurable, but I believe something really good is coming. ’• Theatrical managers on ‘ the other side’ have learned during the past twelve montbß or so, that such man as Warner, Toole, Sheridan, Santley, and last, but not least, the Phonograph, are paying experiments for Maoriland. These entertainments were the best of their class, and in consequence they made money. Managers know now that theatregoers in thi3 Colony will patronise liberally aDy really good show, but ‘ average people ’ and ‘ duffers ’ had far better stay in the back blocks of Bananaland, where showß are few and far between, and where mediocre mumming may mean money, but here means misery to the company and the public. The Wellington Orchestral Sooiety give lone of their concerts at the Opera House on

April 6tb, and the Harmonic Society on April 9bh. Mr George Rlgnold has booked the Opera Honse for a season commencing February 22nd, and endiug March 12tb, 1892. The Dobson-Kennedy Company opened in ‘ The Colleen Buwn ’ at Greymouth, on St. Patrick’s night, to a house crammed in every part, following with * Current Cash,’ ‘The Ticket of Leave Man.’ It is strongly rumoured that Myra Kemble and her ‘Dr Bill’ Company will visit Wellington sometime during the coming winter. The piece has been very popular wherever played, and would draw well in this Colony. Madame Theresa Liebe, the violinist, is about to appear in Melbourne. She is the only lady artist whom Madame Norman Neruda ever seriously regarded as a competitor, and is a most perfect musician. She comes on the termination of a short visit to India, where she has a sister married to a District Judge. She will not be able to visit New Zealand.

A couple of very talented lady singers open a season in Sydney shortly. Their names are Miss Julia and Miss Rose A!bu. Both have a first-class London reputation. One of the papers there declaring that Miss Julia is a second Jenny Lind. Mr Charles Warner was, when the last mail left London, engaged to play at the Avenue theatre in ‘Monte Cristo’ with Miss Jessie Millward. The success of * The Dancing Girl,’ the new play by H. A. Jones, at the Faymarket, Loudon, is something phenomenal. It is a play of the class described by a very worthy lady as ‘ Freuohy.’ Its plot, working out situations and dialogue not always acceptable to the usually staid straight-laced British matron. It is a trifle ‘ naughty,’ and like other similar plays draws the British public in shoals. Madame Sarah Bernhardt expects to oorre back from her next American tour what she has never yet been, despite the golden harvest she has reaped namely, a millionaire. Her engagement is for two years, and is to embraoe the two Americas. She is to get £4O for hotel expenses and £l2O for each representation—plus the third of what may be taken at the doors. Being fond of going to and fro, she may perhaps return to France vi& Australia and India. Mrs Gaston Murray, the well-known actress, died at her house, Trent Road, Brixton Hill, on January 16th. For many years this excellent artist has been an ornament to her profession. She formed one of Mr and Mrs Kendal’s company during their tenancy of the St. James’s Theatre, and more recently appeared at the Haymarket in ‘A Village Priest.’ Mrs Gaston Murray was a sister-in-law of Leigh Murray, the finest * stage lover ’ of this century. Mr Augustas Harris, the popular lessee of Drary Lane Theatre and Sheriff of London, has also turned newspaper proprietor, having purchased from Miss Cornwell the Sunday Times, which, of oourse, will in future contain tha best and most reliable critiques of everything produced at Drury Lane. Mr Samson Fox, who gave £45,090 for the building of the new Royal College of Music, the first stone of which was last year laid by the Prince of Wales, has, it is stated, resolved ‘to increase his already generous donation, in order that the entrance hall may be decorated with marble, and thus be mori worthy of that which promises to be a remarkably handsome edifice. Ijibeb.