AUCKLAND THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 32

AUCKLAND THEATRICAL NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent?) The Steele-Payne Bellringers are at present doing the “smalls” in the Auckland district, prior to a tour of the Hast Coast. Business is reported as particularly good all along the line. Some fifty of Auckland 5 ® most prominent citizens are acting a,s . guarantors of the expenses in connection with the forthcoming production of Mr Alfred Hill's new opera, and a call has been made for the preliminary outlay. Meanwhile the chorus is in active rehearsal, and Mr Hill is more than pleased with the aggregation of talent thus placed at his disposal. The concerted numbers will undoubtedly constitute no inconsiderable feature of the new opera. “From Scotland Yard" is proving a strong trump card for the MacMalionDarrell management, and is drawing the largest houses of the season at Hi® Majesty’s. For the closing nights w& are promised a revival of “The Su? to he folloived b ,T . “Hast Lynne” and “The Sorrows of Satan. ” The advent of Auguste Van Biene in '‘The Broken Melody” at His Majesty's Theatre will serve to introduce to Maori-

land playgoers a remarkable player m a remarkable play. “The Broken Melody'* has been played by Van Bieno oyer 4000 times, 2500 performances alone being given at the Princess's Theatre, London, while it has brought in <£7ooo in royalties in ten years. Associated with Mr Van Biene are Misses Lena Burnleigh (who has been his leading lady since 1893). Marie Rignold (niece of George of that ilk), Avis Graham, Ida Chapman, Mrs Morton, and Messrs John Benton. Horace Lingard, Henry Ludlow, Ernest Laceby, Arthur Lewis, and other artists from London. “The Broken Melody” may be termed a “’musical comedy-melo-drama,” for in it are contained all the elements which constitute the successful play, the ripjjling vein of humour running through it just leavening the more sentimental and dramatic situations. The late Clement Scott wrote of the piece: “There are two things worth living for—to hear Adelina Patti sing, and Van Biene play the 'cello.” Such praise from such a critic should go far to send tho

play along to a successful run. The box plan at Messrs Wildman and Arey’.s has presented an animated appearance during the past few days and the success of the Auckland season is assured. My impressions of “The Broken Melody” will be embodied in my next notes. The Wellington season will commence at the Opera House on the 12tli April and will last for six nights only, as Van Biene is due to leave Australia for England on August sth, after completing his tour of the colonies. The ever-popular “Pete” Hughes is at present in Auckland managing Mr George Musgrove's interests in connection with “The Broken Melody.” “Pete,'” just returned from a world's tour, is looking remarkably “fit” for his peregrination of this colony, and reports splendid business from “the other side.” Mr Harry Skinner, late manager for George Adams's Sydney Palace, will represent Mr Harry Rickards when that manager's company arrives in this country. The New Zealand tour begins at Auckland after the Van Biene season, and the company will be an exceptionally strong one. Rowley's Waxworks are doing good business at the Federal Hall, Wellesley street, and each session is crowded.