PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1515, 14 March 1901, Page 31

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

" The actors are come hither, my lord. Buz, Buz - ! ” | —Hamlet.

NOTES BY “LORGNETTE.”

Mr Dix’s general manager—Mr Fred Duval —passed through the Empire Oiiy this week, en route to Auckland. In a chat I had with him he told me that great preparations were being made to celebrate the completion of Mr Dix s two vears' occupancy of the City Mall, Auckland, on the Ist proximo. Certainly what at the time was considered a hold- move, on Mr Dix’s part has pioved wonderfully successful, and marks an era m the annals; of popular amusements. The bill at the City Hall,- on the' first of April, will be wortliy of the#ccasion. Among the performers appear such wellknown names as Harry Gray, Australian Little Tich, Jarvis, a coming Paul Cinquevalli, Prof. Almond, and a host ox talent too; long to. recapitulate. Mr P. H. Dix is one of the most successful managers of the day, and to the enterprise of a man of his proved capacity it is impossible to set the limits.

It is with disappointment that the Pollard’s repertoire for their Tasmanian tour is scanned in search of the promised novelties. Absolutely nothing new apparently is to be staged in “the tight little island.” Thel prospect is not a cheerful one for us, and difficult to reconcile with certain statements appealing in a recently published interview. An Australian paper is my authority for the following:—The Pollard Opera Company is going to Hobart to play “The Belle of New York/ 5 “The Geisha,” “La Poupee ” “The Gondoliers, 5 / and “The French Maid, 55 during a 10 weeks’ season there, to be followed by one at Launceston, and then to Brisbane for Easter. After that, a North Queensland tour, and a • return to New Zealand in August. Mr Pollard’s company is a cleverer combination than it appeared in as has been shown since in * Dorn Djm. In the .first place no elbow room was allowed the artists.

In reply to a correspondent.—The correct designation of the Opera House, in Manners street, is the “Te Aro Theatre and Opera House,” as may he seen from an examination of the frieze.

The “Garrick relics,” which were sold in London recently, realised the sum vi £253 2s 6d. They included a series of thirteen MVS. diaries recording the various pidces produced at Drury Lane Theatre under Garrick's management', 1747 to 1776, £6O; Garrick’s own copies of “Old Plays,” £3O; the original M.S. play entitled “The Fairy Knight," £2o; M.S. diary for 1769 in the autograph of Eva Maria Garrick, £2O. * * * * *

The long Melbourne run of “Flerodora’ (which has been extended to 11 weeks) is to be followed by “The Casino Girl, an American musical farce-comedy ot the “Belle of New York” type, which has just finished a successful run at the London Shaftesbury. Miss Carrie Moore will enact the “girl,” Mi- Laun is cast for a German lunatic, something like the one in “The Belle,” Mr Hugh Ward and Mr William Wollf (late of “Australis ) e have parts. Miss Irene Franklin will sing in the second part. There is no part for Mr Brownlow. * * * • • ft * ■. i v Miss Ada Colley, the soprano whom . Australians did not appreciate at her true worth, is now:in receipt'of a salary of £l5O a week. Since she left this continent Miss Colley has toured Europe and America extensivelyi :r : / • * ■ * ' , * • , One of the M.L. swaddies began lecturing on his experiences as soon as he -returned. His ; • posters represented him in the act of } ;saving r a comrade under,, heavy fire. / As’became on ;C the stage his orchestra struck up “See the Conquering Hero Comes]’'- fi A : brave 3»a»'j 9 that l Also*; bravery runs inwall sores cf shapes.— 13uLMadame Albani, lt .is repQ?f®dpis> cori ~ sidering anp^* r HW^ ( rM^ all |:? • hr * »i£,7r<-zid& jio Ran jo Paterson started, five

months ago ; and, although he followed Macdonald, he lias made more, than i o or R. S. Snathe expected. He is still in Queensland, and has not yet touched Victoria or Westralia.

* * * * . * Paderewski s future, tours will be directed, it is announced in a New York paper, by Madame Paderewski, who will act as his secretary and business manager. . „ •

Miss Hilda Spong has just made another big success in America in “Lady Huntworth’-s Experiment * * # # *

Twenty-two of the best singers in Melbourne were heard at the Barker Memorial Concert last week, ar.d the best of the 22—i.e., the singer whose voice gave most pleasure by its full, sweet quality and the way in Avhich the artist produced it—was old Amies Beaumont. The top notes have gone, of course, bu,t the main body of Beaumont’s warble is still beautiful on occasion.—“ Bulletin."

It is definitely decided that Miss Clara Butt, the celebrated English contralto, will not come to Australia this year.

Adelina Patti, it is stated, has parted with her beautiful home, Craig-y-Nos, where the famous singer has lived for the past 20 years. It is understood that Sir George Newnes, the London publish er, is the purchaser.

It appears that a Dutch artisan named Winekel was the real inventor of the metronome and not Maelziel as is commonly supposed. Maelziel learned of Winckel’s double pendulum motion in 1815, and offered to purchase it ; but, being refused, the wily one stole it, and rushed off to Paris (where the invention had not been secured) and patented it in his own name. The’ Dutch Academy of Science have formally decreed IVinckel the inventor.

Sydney will be well provided witn amusements at Easter, especially as regards pieices in which scenic display and light and tuneful music are the principal attractions. The list of attractions ’’s too long to reproduce.

* I quoted in my notes the other day some scathing criticisms of Mine. Blanche Marchesi’s (Mdme. Marchesi’s daughter) vocalism, reprinted from the “Bulletin. 55 That there is something to be said on the other side, the following affords undeniable proof: “Mme. Blanche Marehesi, fresh from her dramatic triumph at Prague, is the vocalist of the day. Her success as Bunnhilde in the ‘Valkyrie 5 appears to have been colossal. Hie director, Neumann, regards the new Brunnhilde as outdistancing all her predecessors—great praise coming from _ a conductor who has witnessed all the chief impersonations.”—(London correspondent).

Mr Charles Fanning, who recently appeared Avith Fuller’s Bijou Companies in this colony, is xloav in Perth (W.A).

The conductor of the Garrison Band (Mr Herd) has been asked to undertake the duties of judge at the Ballarat band contest, to be held in October. The prizes to be given, amount to £2OO.

“Russet,'’ in the “Tasmanian Mail'’ (March 2) says:—“Talking of music reminds me that Launcestonians are all very sorry indeed to lose Mr Alex F. Lithgow. He has for a number of years held the position of bandmaster and conductor of the St. Joseph’s Band, and has made himself decidedly popular. Being of a very retiring disposition, he has always been inclined to keep well in the background, but upon occasions when he could be prevailed upon to give a cornet solo, he was always received with much appreciation for the masterly way in which he played the instrument. However, it is all for his own advancement that he is leaving for New Zealand, where hd has been offered an important musical engagement, and one and all wish him continued prosperity and success.'’ Mr Lithgow is a native of Invercargill. He will he remembered by many readers as the ond-time champion cornet player of New Zealand. I understand he has been appointed conductor of the Woolston Brass Band, Christchurch.

Another O’Neil story, from the “Adelaide Critic.” Nance was encountered by a small N.Z. Johnnie ambitious to shine on the stage and eager for an engagement. “I ,have had a great deal of experience with amateurs, and, after seeing you, Miss O’Neil, I shall never ue satisfied until I have played Romeo to your Juliet.” Nance looked down upon the slim and diminutive aspirant and said, slowly: “You are mistaken, aren’t you? I would not mind giving you an engagement if. you would play Juliet' to my Romeo.”

Every now and then some stupid person revives the cry that American players and plays are not popular in AustraOne only has to look back over the filds to reject the hypothesis. To pick a few-r-The great Jefferson, Maggie Moore, Emelie Melville, Edwin Adams (a magnificent Hamlet), W. E. Sheridan (great as Lear; Richelieu and Louis XII.), Jo-seph-Emmett, J. F. Shekidan, Grattan /Riggs, .Mrs Brown-r Potter, Reuben Fax, Edith Crane, N. O- Goodwin, Genevieve /Ward, Nance O’Neil.—“Adelaide Critic.” * •*, w , * . * V^Che,'Broughs return to Sydney in a V, few mofiths, and will open at the Thea- ? tre; Royal there in July for a twelve

weeks 5 , season. _ They have met with splendid receptions everywhere; during their Indian tour so far. * * * * ■* Mr Richard (otherwise Isaac) Allan, a son of Mr Isaac Allan, a well-known resident of Christchurch, is a member ot Mr Bland Holt’s Company. He promises well in the profession. lie is in the) cast of “The Great Ruby.” * . * * * * Fitzgerald Bros/s circus has commenced its New Zealand tour successfully. At Dunedin the performances are being witnessed by large crowds, andi judging by the attendances the verdict of thel public has been one of unqualified approval. Dnx’s Gaiety Companies in Wellington, Auckland, DSnedin and Christchurch—particularly in the Empire City —have been well patronised during the past week. * » » q a Fuller’s Bijou Companies in Wellington and Christchurch have also been attracting crowded houses. * * * * The Loudon correspondent of a Maor:land paper thinks that . '‘Regina Nagel ;has a voice of finer quality than Ada Cressley’s, but will never be tile' 'artist that the latter is. Miss Nagel comes, ou the stage like a somnambulist and sings without any trace of feeling, as ii she wore repeating a lesson in a trance Sue gives one the impression of being halfhearted.” But this is the criticism of one who doesn’t know the absurdly timid Regina of five years ago. Since then she has gained some confidence and* slvle, and the chances are that she will begin to feel at home on the platform preseaitly. As for her singing without fee<a,g, the complaint can. only apply to her lack of platform manner. The feeling is there. Xt was horn in her Amice, and if the singer herself seems cold <it is because she is painfully nervous at present. Nothing in human nature is more misunderstood than timidity or shyness. The effects are ascribed to stupidity, Avant of heart, or natural hauteur as the case may be. Anything but the truly artistic lack of self-assurance. —'‘Bulletin.” * « * * « I see (says a London correspondent) that the death is announced of a celebrity whose birthplace was Dunedin, Neiv Zealand, namely, William E. Jackson, better known as “Major Mite/ 5 He was twenty-four yelars of age, 2ft. 9in in height, and weighed only 261 b. I understand that his parents and the rest of his family were of the usual size. “Major Mite,” who once had the honour of appearing before the Prince of Wales, died in a New York hospital on New Year’s Eve. Miss Maggie Moore is going to Western Australia. * * * * * The folloAving particulars, culled from „thje “Bulletin,” of Madame Marchesi’s methods and charges will be read with interest by some of “Lorgnette’s” readers. She, it appears, usually teaches in classes, ox txvo hours’ duration, containing from eight to ten pupils, who, most of them, attend three times a Aveelk. They have, therefore, from 12 to 15 minutes practical tuition at each lesson, or, nt the outside, three-quarters of an .hour per week. Of course, they are supposed to profit by the efforts of their fellow-students, and, equally of course, they do; not. Fo rail this care bestoxved they pay 350 fr. (£l4) per month, and 60fr. per month for the accompanist. There are, besides, “extras” —music, lelssons in French, and what she is pleased to term “diction.” A pupil must spend at least £2O a. month on lessons alone. Should the pupil he an unmarried girl, without proper chaperon, she must live at a pension, which wll cost from 200 to 250 fr. per month. Altogether the “system 5 ’ must cost.a March eisi pupil, exclusive of expenditure for dress, not less than £350 per annum.