Amusements.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1014, 7 August 1891, Page 16

Amusements.

The Theatre. 4 MISS TREHAIR-OSBORNE'S CONCERT. A crowded downstairs house and a fairly good one upstairs, patronised Miss TrehairOsborne’s fifth annual pupils’ concert, which took place at the Opera House on Friday. The performance was an excellent one, and the firstpart of the programme wasmade most attractive, owing to its being composed of old English songs and choruses, those taking part being attired in old English costumes with the scenery in keeping. The chorus was a strong and well balanced one, and under the conductorship of Mr McGlsshan opened the conoert with Bishop’s “ The chough and crow.” This time-honoured glee was well given, in spite of a slight slip, which perhaps few noticed, Caldicott’s “ Where are you going to, my pretty maid,” Baumer’s “ Bells of Oberwesel,” and Oliver King’s “ Soldier, Rest ” were also capitally rendered by the choruß. There were five songs with choruses given in the first portion of the programme, which proved quite innovations in the concert line, as dancing was introduced during the singing of the choruses. This had a really pretty effect, the quaint but picturesque oostumes making a most attractive picture. The numbers referred to were “Begone Dull Care” (17th century), the soloist being Mr George Parsons ; “ To the Maypole Haste Away,” soloist Mr Simm; “The Lass of Richmond Hill,” soloist Master Perkins; “Away to the Mountain’s Brow,” soloist Miss Mouatt; and “The Breaking of the Day,” soloist Mr George Parsons. All the soloists in these numbers acquitted themselves well and were well backed up by the choruses, the audience loudly applauding and demanding encores, which were generously given. Miss Curtice sang with great clearness “Came ye from Newcastle ” (16th century), and, receiving a recall, bowed her acknowledgments. Miss TrehairOaborne sang Sterne’s “ With Lowly Suit ’ and “The Farewell” (Cooke), both of which she gave with artistic skill. She was loudly applauded, and presented with several bouquets. The second portion of the programme we are precluded from criticising fuliy, owing to pressure on our space, so wilt confine ourselves to mentioning those taking part. Miss Johnson sang Bishop’s “ Tell Me, My Heart,” and Miss Samuels gave Matteis’ “Dear Heart.” Both these ladies sang with taste, and had to respond to recalls. The duet, “The Venetian Boat Song” (Blumenthal) was given by Misses Johnson and Parsons. Mr J. Kilner sang “The Wolf” (Shield) and the “ Song of the Toreador,” from Bizet’s “Carmen,” both being redemanded. Blumenthal’s “My Queen” was given by Mr C. Wilson, and Mr G. Parsons sang “ The Diver” (Loder). Mr Puschel pleased everybody with his rendering of “ Come into the Carden, Maud,” and had to respond to an emphatic encore. Miss Gardiner, who

played the aceampaniments, also took part la a duet (violin and piano) with Mr MoClashan. The piece was one of Kuokena’, and was artistically rendered by both instrumentalists. The concert was a success, and Miss Trehair.Osborne i 3 to be congratulated thereon. The whole c.f the lady performers were pupils of Miss Osborne.

DR CANARIS AT THE OPERA HOUSE. Dr Canaris is by far the best exponent of legerdemain we have yet seen in Wellington, considering that we have been visited by such shiniug lights in the profession as Heller, Haseimeyer, Lynn, Anderson and others. The doctor ignores the use of apparatus and the usual mystifying mechanical tricks. He reliee solely upon the wonderful dexterity of his hands, and certainly his sleight of hand is something marvellous. He is remarkably quick at “ palming,” and makes his “ changes ” with a neatness and rapidity that is almost impossible for the keenest eyes to follow. With a foreign accent, which intensifies his “ patter,” full of humour, and an irresistable flow of language, he keeps the audience in a simmer of laughter from first to last. With a few handkerchiefs, gloves, watches and other impedimenta, ho produces tricks without end, working them up into most surprising finales, and generally in a manner new to most professionals. The second part of the programme consisted of some new variations of the rope-tying trick. With a cabinet composed of green baize curtains, supported by four brass rods, seated on a chair to vvhioh he was firmly bound by some of the audience with stout Manilla cords, he released himself from his bondage within a few seconds. With one of his committee, a young man well known to the andisnee, he played rare pranks in the cabinet, taking off, apparently much against the young man’s will, the coat and vest he was wearing, and thoroughly mystifying and bewildering him. Miss Beaumont, a young lady who possesses the rare gift of a bright, clear soprano voice, and at will a pronounced light baritone voice, sang several charming songs with such success that the audience, fully recognising the merit thereof, loudly rodemanded each separate item. As a conjuror pure and simple ho is the best that has ever visited this city, and his whole entertainment is not only interesting by ••eason of his cleverness, but highly amusing by his running fire of V, it and humour. Considering the other attractions going on on Saturday evening to ere was a large audience to witness the opening of the Doctor’s season.

THEATRICAL NOTES. Loin- writes me to say that the Juvenile Opera company have ‘ caught on ’ down South. The youngsters are well trained and splendidly dressed. Some of them display real talent in their parts, and are a decided improvement upon any juvenile troupe hitherto sent through this Colony. From September to the end of February we •hall have a regular succession of theatrical companies, and some of the principal successes of the theatrical world will be presented to us. The Dobson-Kennedv Company are in Auckland, doing excellent business. They will be working South again before long. Mr Kennedy is anxious to produce * Little Lord Fauntleroy’ before a Wellington audience. ‘ Queen of the Tawny Front ’ is the profession’s pet name for Sara Bernhardt ; the fancy dub F. P. Slavin ‘ King of the Iron Arm.’ A London paper says that Amy Sherwin wa3 born in a Tasmanian mud hut. She is all right now. She has had afternoon tea at Marlborough, and the Prince of Wales has complimented her. By the way, the charming Amy speaks German with a splendid accent, thanks to her husband’s constant tuition. The thought crops up—the Prince is very fond of the German twang. He uses it himself, and anyone speaking German is sure to be a favourite of his. Amy is a smart woman. f A certain actor was once playing in a melo-drama the role of a brigand confined in prison, who files off his fetters with a tool supplied him by an accomplice, climbs to the top of a wall, gets one leg over, and is then shot by three soldiers, who rush in just as his escape seems certain. The actor brought the business up to the usual climax, when the guns all missed fire. The soldiers were supplied with fresh weapons at the wings, but, as the property man had forgotten to load them, naturally enough no explosion followed. The brigand, in a state of disgust, at once fell heavily from the wall, and, paying no attention to the soldiers, rolled forward to the footlights, gasped a little and exclaimed, ‘ Good heavens ! I have swallowed the file 1 gave several kicks and expired. Miss Lucia Harwood, who was not so long ago at the Opera House in this city, has been specially engaged by Miss Morreys in London, to play Mrs Lindou, in 1 A Doll’s House.’

I mentioned last week that Mr C. Warner had a new nautical drama, ‘The Sailor’s Knot,’ which he intended bringing to the colonies. I learn now, however, that probably he won’t, for Bland Holt claims to have all the Colonial rights. It appears that the drama was written by Henry Pettitt, who is sendind out to Bland Holt the M. 5.8., models, &c., and that the aforesaid Bland Holt ini ends to produce the play in Adelaide about Easter next. This time Mr C. Warner is forestalled.

The ‘ anonymous ’ author of the extravaganza, ‘ Ibsen’s Ghost; or, Toole up to Date,’ produced at Toole’s Theatre, is said to be Mr J. M. Barrie.

Mr R. S. Smytbe, the well-known manager, has engaged M. Padersuski, the eminent Russian pianist, for an Australian tour. ‘ The success of ‘ L’Enfant Prodigue ’ has for the time being set the fashion in playß iu London. The Alhambra now boasts a ‘ play without words,’ which would formerly have been called a comic pantomime. Under any name, however, the sketch which is given by Mr Charles Lauri and a company of clowns and acrobats would be entertaining, and as a ‘ play without words ’ it may be said to stand in the same relation to ‘ L’Enfant Prodigue 1

as an extravagant farce does to a pathetic drama. ‘On the Roofs,’ at 11.0, reminds one Btrongly of the pantomimic business popularised some ten years ago by the HanlonLees. A company of acrobatic clowns are set down upon the roofs of houses from an overhead railway, and proceed to carry out the drollest practical jokes at the expense of the occupants of the attics and of a solitary policeman who endeavours to capture them. Two incidents in particular evoke peals of laughter and applause, The first is a set of ombres chiuoises on the attic window blinds representing the inmates in the performance of their toilette (Ze unit. In tb.e second instance the policeman is blown to pieces by dynamite, _ but is afterwards put together with so much success that he comes to life, a clever optical illusion, of course, taking place. Another novelty introduced into the Alhambra programme at 10.20, consists in remarkable feats in jumping by Mr G. W. Rowdon (champion jumper of the world, who has ‘ beaten the record of 6ft 5 3-Bth in). Using a man’s back as a spring-board, Mr Rowdon clears a bar 9ft high. He also takes remarkably long jumps, and perforins some clever tricks, such as placing an apple on the point of a sword held at the height of sft, and cutting the apple by the pressure of his foot as he jumps over it. The chief item in the bill continues to be the ballet of * The Sleeping Beauty, at 9.25, into which some new and striking pantomimieclowningis introduced by Mr Charles Lauri, in the congenial character of a demon. °

Gerald and Duff have arranged to open in Wellington on January 18th, for twelve nights, with ‘ The English Rose,’ His Natural Life,’ and other plays. Myra, Kemble, with her ‘Drßili’company, is, through Lohr, arranging dates for a tour in September or October. Her agent, St. Clair, is now on his way here to get matters fixed. ~ Manning will be through here shortly, making preparations for an English Combination Company, which have lately arrived from London. The London correspondent of the ArgU3 says:—-A melancholy party of friends gathered at Tilbury this morning to wish bon voyage to Mr Amory Sullivan, who has started for home by the Orient. With him on board are Miss Laura Villiers, Mr and Mrs Clifton-Anderson, and the members of the company whom Mr Sullivan has engaged for ‘The Dancing Girl,’ with which, as already announced, the new management of the Royal will open at the end of July. In connection with this play Mr Beerbolim Tree calculates upon a clear profit of £30,000 for the Australian season.

As an illustration of one of Barnum’s ingenious methods of attracting attention to his museum may be mentioned the incident of the ‘ brick man.’ One day a man applied for alms to Barnum, who was sitting in bis ticket office. To the inquiry as to why ho did not go to work, the mendicant replied that ho would gladly do so at a dollar a day if he could find employment. Barnum gave him twenty-five cents to get his breakfast, and told him to return and he would give him a dollar and a half a day and easy work. When the man returned Barnum gave him live bricks, and told him to place one in front of the museum, another on the corner of Yesey-street,a third at the corner of Fulton—on the St. Paul’s Church side—and the fourth on the east corner of Fulton. Returning then to the museum, ho was to take up the first brick and replace it with the fifth, and then continue his rounds, putting down one briok and taking up the other each time. He was enjoined to answer no questions, and to seem not to hear, and that at the end of each threequarters of an hour he was to pass into the museum, look around at the curiosities for fifteen minutes, and then resume his rounds with his bricks. Barnum says that the man played his part to perfection, and his eccentric conduct caused a great crowd to gather about the museum. Many of these, of course, went into the museum to seek some explanation as to the purpose of the ‘ brick man.’ This was kept up for several days, until the police requested his withdrawal, because such crowds lingered about the museum that traffic was interrupted. , ; Imbek. ;