PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 28

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

" Here como tho actors, Buz, Buz." ' Flamlrt The theatrical editor of the New Zealand Mail will bo happy to reaeive and print route dates and any othor information concerning the movements of companies. A post card giving " route dates " for the week is rocommended. Address all communications for this column to "Lorgnette," New Zealand Mail office, Lambton quay, Wellington. "jf-The United Hunt Club's conceit will be given in the Opera House on Thursday, Juno 21. A feature of the entertainment will be a grand realistic hunting scone on the stage, when several members will appear in full hunting costume, mounted on wellknown hunters, with a full pack of hounds. An excellent programme will be submitted, the concert being under the patronage of His Excellency tho Governor and suite, who are expected to be present The Thornton-Arnold Company opened their Christchurch season in tho Theatre Royal with " Charley's Aunt," on Saturday night. • • • • The Kcnnedy-Deering Company staged the ever-green "Arrah-na Pogue" in the City Hall, Dunedin, on Saturday night. "Sinbad the Sailor" was drawing good houses at Dunedin Princess last week. Miss Bessie Doyle gave a farewell performance in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, on Monday night. Madame Melba says that it is not so difficult to act and sing as is generally supposed. " You see the conductor follows you, and the orchestra follows tho conductor. They play with yon, you do not sing with them." The Bulletin says that Monday, 28th May, was tho anniversary of Tom Moore's natal day, and was also the wedding day of actor Jack Cosgrove to Miss Flo. Dillon, also of the Princess Theatre Dramatic Co. Brian England was best man, and Harrie Ireland the bridesmaid, Tho bride, whose nom dc theatre is Dillon, is the daughter of Dr Belcher of the Dunedin High School. Maggie Moore was to open in Brisbane on June 11th, with " Struck Oil," to be followed by the *' Circus Queen." It is stated that Mr Irving's plans for 1804-95 will include extensive wanderings in Canada, Vancouver's Island, San Francisco, Mexico, New Orleans, and Massachusetts. On Saturday, says the Bulletin, tho Mon-tague-Turner Opera Co. opens here under Garnerian management. They start upon the oft-told tale of " Maritana," and hope to exeite the populace with rapid changes of programme. Also, charges of admission have been re-constructed to suit the times, and dress circle tickets to see Don Cajsar brandish his top note*at a soldier's doom are now obtainable for three shillings. The 500th performance of u Charley's Aunt" was celebrated-at London Globe recently. From latest Melbourne files, wo learn that Bland Holt was still drawing big houses at the Princess, with " A Life of Pleasure-" The Bulletin is rather hard on C. Holloway's production, " The Shamrock and the Rose," which was to have been staged in the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, on May 20th, after a successful run in Sydney. Here is what our Sydney contemporary says:— " Charles Holloway aggravates the impossibility of * The Shamrock and the Rose' by playing the chief Irishman. The festivity of Charles is even sadder than his brogue, and his brogue is a grievous ma iter anyway. Miss Alice Deorwyn caricature-; si'-.-.pliciiy in the part of a deserted colleen, u hiUt Mi.ss Williamson now appears as the Saxuii spinster, with pleasing results. The comic process-server falls to the lot of Sweeney, and the tine old fruity voice of Harry Daniels is humorously cast for the character of a desperado armed with a gun and a tin medal stamped with the words ,k No Mercy." Many other people are more or less satisfactory, including the villain, whose strong point is a certain masterful manner of falling down when assaulted. The " King of Crime," which has had a very successful run at Her Majecty's, Sydney, wasreplneed l>y Boueicault's drama, "Flying Scud." The latter was staged in an unprecedented ly elaborate manner. • * • • Harry Rickards has been breaking all previous records at the Tivoli, Sydney, in the wa}- of audiences. Fillis' Circus, at latest accounts, was in North Sydney, where crowded audiences were the rule,

Mdle. Calve, the well-known American singer, who is engaged to M. Cain, a Parisian painter, is said to employ the phonograph in corresponding with her betrothed. She takes the instrument everywhere with her, and speaks all she has to say at the time. Phonograms are exchanged between the lovers once a week.

The Do Verc Sapio and Camilla Urso Company, who shortly visits New Zealand, have just concluded what has been perhaps the most artistic of musical seasons ever given in Melbourne. Their concert on the Queen's Birthnight was a notable one, says the correspondent of a Southern paper, Maiamc Urso repeated Mendelssohn's violin concerto. She had played it at the opening concert, but this second performance was the better, and a complete artistic triumph. Probably this was due to further rehearsal with the orchestra. It would be hard to imagine a more superb interpretation of the great work, the beauties and genius of which Madame Urso evidently appreciates perfectly. Madame De Verc Sapio sang magnificently, particularly in " Only Thyself," in English. Most sopranos leave an impression of thinness. Madame dc Vcre Sapio has a voice which ranges almost contralto, and is full and round all through, and she revels in florid passages, producing her notes with a bell-like intonation which is remarkably pleasing. For the first time on any stage the violinist and vocalist gave an arrangement of the " Carnival of Venice," which teems with florid passages, in which both artistes revelled. Naturally there was great enthusiasm. Again, at their closing concert, there was a great pcene, and such a profusion of bouquets and floral devices has never been exceeded at a Melbourne concert.

"Lady Windermere's Fan" does not seem to have " caught on * in Sydney. The Referee says :—" This comedy, although it was proceeded by a lively English reputation, has not excited altogether as much interest here as was expected. The fault did not lie with the ever-popular Brough and Boucicault Company, in whose hands any play, particularly any comedy, would bo sure of receiving capable treatment. The fact that " Lady Windermere's Fan" was not, comparatively, among the successful plays of the prosent Brough and Boucicault season, can be attributed more to the erratic nature of Australian tastes which local managers confess are more unreliable than in any other part of the world. We are fastidious play-goers in Sydney, and have a standard of criticism peculiarly our own. The revival of "The Second (V'rs Tanqueray," which takes place to night at tho Lyceum, can, however, be safely predicted a big success. This comedy is amongst the most remarkable and remarked of the modern drama, and its removal from the Brough and Boucicault bill some weeks back when at the very zenith of success was undoubtedly inopportune. The revival, for three nights only, will afford a good many disappointed theatre-lovers an opportunity of seeing a drama which is much too good to be missed."

A Dunedin correspondent informs us that quite a sensational success was achieved by Miss Bessio Doylo at her first concert in that city. Her playing excited unbounded enthusiasm.

Tho following is the cast for the opera " Mikado," to be performod by tho Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society:— Katisha, Miss Newton; Pitti-Sing, Miss Curtice; Peep-80, Miss Hand; Mikado, Mr W. Ross; Pooh-Bah, Mr G. Parsons ; Ko-Ko, Mr W. D. Lyon; Nanki-Poo, Mr G. 11. Munt; Pish-Tush, Mr A. E. Mabin. Tho lady chosen for " Yum-Yum " is not yet certain that she can find the necessary time, but tho part is to bo definitely fixed before Saturday.

Tho Royal Variety Company gave a capital entertainment at tho Opera House on Monday in the presenco of a large audience. The performance was opened by Mr Lazern, who performed a number of sleight-of-hand tricks in a clever manner. Some of his tricks were quite ont of tho ordinary run, and the audience were completely mystified. Mr Thornhill followed with a descriptive scene, entitled " The Convict's Return," which was encored. Then Mr E. Road gave a negro sketch, which was followed by Messrs Keenan and Paull in a song and dance, " The Darkie Mashers," their clog dancing being both neat and clever. Mr F. Jones brought the first part to a conclusion with a juggling act. The second part opened with an act by the Leonard Bros., three very good acrobats. They were particularly good in their somersaults and carpettumbling, showing much dexterity. Messrs Thornhill, Allison, Read and Keenan and Paul also contributed to this part of the entertainment, nearly all their songs being encored. A good evening's amusement concluded with a comic medley and tableau, " Britannia."

The "veather spoilt the attendance at Saturday night's popular concert at the Opera House, but a very good programme was submitted, and was much appreciated by those present. The feature of the evening was the violin solos of Mr Mac Duff Boyd, who played "Fantaisie Brillante," from " La Sonnainbula," and later De Beriot's " Fifth Air." Both were given in a most artistic manner, and for each he was loudly applauded. Mr Geo. Parsons' first song was " The Flying Dutchman," and in response to an encore, he sang " Oh, Come to Me, My Love," in which he was heard to much greater advantage. In the second part, he did full justice to Roeckel's ballad, " The Charmed Cup." Miss Coltman sang in a very pleasing manner the song from " The Gondoliers'' " Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," repeating the last verso when encored. Miss Marianne Melville was loudly recalled for her singing of Balfe's " I'm but a Simple Peasant Maid." In reply, she sang two verses of "Robin Adair." Her other contribution was " See How it Sparkles," from " Girofle Girofla." It was loudly redemanded, and in response she sang with very good effect " Remember Me

No More." Mr G. B. Nicholls has considerably improved in style since his last appearance at these concerts, and was well received in his song "Soldier Jim," for which he substituted, in reply to an encore, "If this bo Vanity." Mr J. M. Nairn sang "With Such a Dainty Dame" and "Aye Waukin' 0 !" with very good effect, and Mr J. E. Read gave two recitations," The Fireman's Love " and " The Last Hymn," both of which were encored. Miss Madge Spiller played two pianoforte solos with good technique, and also: rendered really good service, as accompanist.