PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2210, 19 May 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Aliss Bessie Doyle and her Australian Concert Party give two concerts at the Opera House, Alonday and Tuesday next being the dates. Miss Doyle brings excellent credentials from Australia, and is admitted by all who have heard her to be one of the finest violinists we have had in this Colony. I hope her concerts will be well patronised. The Wednesday “ Pops." at the Skating Rink are well patronised, the one given last week being a special success. Aliss Jeanne Ramsay, who had been well advertised and from whom much was expected, proved to be a most capable artiste, and made an excellent impression. The Mail goes to press too early to allow of this week’s concert being noticed. The Saturday “ Pops." are also “ catching on " well, and Air R. P. Johnson, most energetic of mortals, is doing his best to provide good talent. I dropped into the Theatre Royal last Saturday, and found it well filled and with a most appreciative audience. Airs Greenwood sang well and Air Prouse, the most unassuming yet most excellent of local singers, received a great ovation. Air R. P. Johnson’s “ Zummerzet " dialect ditty, was capital in its way, and those of the audience who hail from the “ west countree " must have specially enjoyed it. Aliss AloKeegan made a very creditable effort, but she would be wise to select a more purely secular item the next time she appears. This young lady has a fine voice, and only wants a little more training under a first-class mastei to be a really fine singer. Mr W. D. Lyon’s funnyisms were much appreciated, but some of them were a little forced, and I thought he was hardly up to his usual form. But he is really so very funny at times that it is almost hypercritical to pick holes in his contributions to the evening’s amusement. Mr Johnson and his ushers look well after the comfort of patrons, and these concerts will, I trust, continue to be well patronised, as indeed they deserve to be. The St. John Burlesque and Pantomime Company go South this week after a very fairly successful season here.

Miss Katharine Hardy, who is wellknown in Wellington, has, I notice, been making quite a hit in Perth, Western Australia, where she is playing leading parts in Alanning’s Grand Opera Company. The West Australian, a copy of which has been sent to me, says very nice things indeed of Aliss Hardy’s performance of Giraffe in Leeooq’s well-known opera. Tho West AusPralian says, “ Her charming piquant appearance at once captivated the audience, and the conquest was rendered the more complete by her acting and singing. She is beyond all doubt one of the most attractive performers in light operas we have yet seen in this city, and possesses a light, welltrained soprano voice, which is exactly calculated to give effect to such music as Lecooq’a." A number of Giraffe's items were most enthusiastically encored, and altogether the ex-Wellingtonian seems to have made a very great hit. I feel sure that Aliss Hardy will have the good wishes of a large number of Wellingtonians for her future and continued success in the profession which she has adopted. With reference to the Brough and Boucieault production of “ The Second Mrs Tanqueray" at Sydney, that very outspoken writer Alias Sappho Smith writes as follows in the Bulletin :—“ I must confess to being surprised at “ The Second Mrs Tanqueray" at Sydney Lyceum the other evening, by the number of damsels in their tender teens who were brought to sample and inwardly digest undoubtedly the naughtiest play of the season. I don’t believe a bit in malting life a mystery-play to the young, but still my views don’t run to taking school-girls to an up-to-date tragedy that wasn’t meant for their ignorant eyes and ears, and which can only pique them into a desire to comprehend it as their elders do. On Saturday evening I saw a lady herding up three lamb like typical bread-and-butter misses in short white frocks and each clasping a guileless wrap of nun’s veiling edged with swansdown as they marched into their seats —in the same order, I felt sure, that they filed into their pew on Sundays. What these green budlets were expected to bring away from a seance with Airs Tanqueray goodness only knows. “ The Bauble Shop," by Air H. A. Jones, author of the “ Silver King," succeeds “ Tanqueray." It deals a good deal with English parliamentary life, and was only a succes d'estime when produced in London.

The Howe-Spong Company have done fairly at Auckland, and leave for Sydney shortly. I am afraid that Messrs Howe and Spong have not exactly made ten thousand out of the trip.

It is to be hoped that the new London Gaiety combination which Messrs Williamson and Musgrove are to bring out next year may visit New Zealand, for it is a strong company. Haydn Coffin, a very handsome and popular tenor, Harry Monkhouse, one of the most merry of comic mummers, Miss Phyllis Broughton, shapely and clever, and Miss Decima Moore, one of the most arch and delicately pretty of comediennes, are in the company.

The Kennedy-Deering Company are, I hear, coming North again shortly. The Kennedys 'work very hard and the company is, I am told, much stronger than it used to be. The Dunedin season at popular prices was fairly successful. I hear that the projected visit to New Zealand of Fitzgerald’s Circus is postponed until next spring. The management are acting wisely, if this be true, for to take a big tent show through this Colony in the winter is an expensive and very risky undertaking. Heller’s Bonanza Coterie are reported to be in the South Canterbury district, and will be hoard of in the North Island again shortly. This little company has been travelling the Colony for a long time now and appears to have done very well.

Madame Bello Cole, the English contralto has, I see, made an excellent impression by her first concert in Adelaide. Madame Cole is a fine singer who sensibly eschews the awful example of the unspeakable Sterling creature, and is not devoted to the expounding of temperance, social, purity and other fads. She sticks to her concerts and leaves the moral regeneration of Australia to other people. She is well supported, the tenor, Philip Newbury, an ex-New Zealander, being specially well spoken of. Charles Holloway and his company have been appearing at Sydney Boyal in “Judge Not" and “The Land of the Living." The Bulletin thus goes for Charles :—“ Mr Charles Holloway, whom the Bulletin once held in esteem as a very tolerable comedian, makes a dire and ghastly failure as the hero. Ho tackles all the pathetic situations, including the one where his long-vanished wife rises from the dead, in a brassy tone of voice—the same unimpassioned tone that anybody else would qsk for the mustard with; and his attitudes are mostly suggestive of the letter ‘ Z ’ when it has been opt all night in the rain, The rest of the company hold the show together, however, and the hero of ‘ Judge Not ’ doesn’t matter much anyhow.” But my Sydney contemporary says very kind things of Mrs Charles Holloway (Miss Alice Deorwyn) stating “ She has the only unadulterated comedy character in the drama and is a trifle more excellent still and a vision of loveliness to boot.” Melbourne Shows ;—Princess, Bland Holt in “ The Prodigal Daughter "; Bijou, Arthur . Gamer’s Company (including Edith Blande) in “ The Morals of Mayfair";' Theatre Boyal, Maggie Moore in everlasting “ Struck Qil,'! to give way immediately to new piece, (* A Circus Queen Alexandra Theatre, Dan Barry and Co. in Pettitt’s “ Queen's Evidence." Sydney Shows: —“A King of Crime," (George Eignold), at Her Majesty’s ; A Bauble Shop ” (B. and B. and Co.), at the Lyceum; and Fillis’ Circus (shortly to leave). Extract from a rfecont Detroit Free Press :—Henry Irving will be home at the end of this month. Ho walks somewhat unsteadily, because his pockets are budged full of American dollars.

A cable message from Sydney recently announces the death of Mr J. B. Greville, the well-known comedian, who was one of the oldest actors on the colonial stage. He was born in Dublin in 1834, and made his first appearance on the Victorian stage in 1852, at the old Queen’s Theatre' in Melbourne. During his career ha acted with G. V. Brooke, Joseph Jefferson (to whose “ Asa Trenchard " he played Dundreary), Sir William Don, Julia Matthews, Hattie Shepherd, and other celebrities. Mr Greville last visited Christchurch in 1891 as manager of Mr J. 0. Williamson’s Juvenile Comic Opera Company. Our old New Zealand acquaintance the veteran Georgia Smithson, was, I notice, advertised to go into the lions’ cage at Fillis’ Circus the other nigtjt. Georgia's anjpla proportions must have made the lions feel “peckiahly" inclined. I hope, for Georgia’s sake, they had Had a good dinner that day. Mr L°hr, who is advance agent of Thornton and Arnold's Charleyja Aunt" Company, writes to say that his principals opened the Tasmanian' tour at Launceston, where immense business was done. The Hobart seasonwas to commence on the 7tb and the company

are due at Dunedin on the 15th inst. “ Charley’s Aunt" has been the most successful modern comedy every played in Australia, and big houses are expected throughout the New Zealand tour. Slade Murray, the energetic little comic singer, who was here with a variety company some months ago, has gone into management on his own account at Brisbane.

Signora Majeroni, once well-known in New Zealand, was to have returned to the stage in a dramatic season at Brisbane, but she has contracted so bad a cold as to render her reappearance impossible for the present. “It is probable," says a Sydney exchange, that ‘ The Rebel Flag,’ a new melodrama by Mr Mario Alajeroni, will shortly be produced in Sydney. The work was written while Air Alajeroni was on tour with Aliss Myra Kemble."

“ Pa-quin " in tho Otago Witness states that news has been received of the death in London of Mrs Pierpoint, formerly well known in Dunedin. Her daughter showed such ability that on HerrScberek’s advice she proceeded to Loudon and passed her examinations at the Royal Academy with much success. She then studied elocution and took to the stage, accepting an engagement in South Africa. The separation from her daughter is believed to have hastened Mrs Peirpoint’s death.

From the fact that marked copies of Alelbourne papers containing notices of Air Dan Darry’s productions at the Alexandra Theatre ace reaching me by every mail, I infer that this gentleman will shortly bring his show to New Zealand. Air Duncan Maccalluiu, the cheery lil tie Scot who was last here with the Montagu-Tunier Gompany is in front of the Barry show, 1 shall be glad to see the little man’s jolly face once more, Mr Harry Jewett, formerly of Now Zealand, is doing well in America, and so is Arthur Lawrence, that capital character actor whose admirable Baron Stein in .Wybert Reeve’s production of “ Diplo macy," made such a hit some years ago in this colony. Mr Lawrence had bad luck for some time, but finally made a great success as Pastor Alanders in Ibsen’s repu'sive, but powerful play “ Ghosts."

Our old friend Air William Elton has been appearing as Alosa Jewel, the comic Jew, in a revival of Paul Meritt’s “ The World," at the London Princess. The lato Harry Jackson (himself a Jew) was tho creator of this part, in which Mr Bland Holt is so favourably known to colonial playgoers. Air Elton will shortly return to Australia to take a leading part in the production of “Morocco Bound," the burlesque bought by Air AlaeMahon, Air W. H. Vernon, who was leading man with Miss Genevieve Ward, when that fine actress made her tour of the colonies, is a member of Mr Cumyn Carr's Comedy Company, playing the English provincial cities. Sydney Sunday Times says that Signora Alajeroni will shortly open a dramatic season at the Brisbane Opera House. Her company is lo include Messrs N. Douglas, G. and M. Majeroni, A'. G. P.iulton, and the Misses Virgio Vivienne, Theo. Drew, and Christine Tennyson. They open in a new play by Signora Majeroni, entitled “The Rebel Flag" A sensational incident is reported to have taken place during the performance of “ Woman’s Revenge" by the Bland Holt Co. at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne recently. In the second act, Alisa Henrietta Watson, in throwing herself upon a sofa, accidentally overturned a large oil lamp. The oil at once ignited, and set fire to a largo woollen mat. The flames were rapidly extinguished by Air Oostrove, who rushed on the stage and smothered the fire with his coat. The incident is said to have passed so rapidly that littlo alarm was caused among the audience.

It is said that Marie Tempest, once a groat London favourite in comic opera and recently very popular in America, will during August commence a tour of tiie world, which will take one and a half years to complete. She should bo in Australia early next year. Madame Frances Saville (Miss Simonsen), has . rejoined the Carl Rosa Com pany, and at the latest was taking such parts as Marguerite and Juliette at the Liverpool Court Theatre. Charles Ryley leaves Williamson and Muss rove shortly and returns to England. Mr Wallace Brownlow takes his place. Joe St. Clair is back again in Sydney, vowing, says Sunday Times, never to again run a variety company. Mdme. Belle Cole has disclosed her plans for the future to the Adelaide press, from which it appears that the famous contralto has “no dates filled in England" until next November. The voyage here by the Ormuz was singularly calm, “ like sailing on a summer’s day," so that all the members of the concert party arrived in fine health and spirits.' “We are, in fact," remarked Mdme. Cole, “ quite eager for the fray," The plan of the Australian tour of 40 concerts will bring the party to Melbourne May 2 to 12 ; Sydney, 16 to 20; Brisbane, May 29 to June 3 ; Sydney, return season, June 6 to 15 ; Melbourne, 19 to 23 ; and Adelaide, 25 to 30. Mdme. Cole will then tour New Zealand, returning to England by America in response to handsome offers from that side. Should those negotiations fall through, however-, Mdme. Colo will return to England on the 20th September by the , vessel in which she arrived. During their stay in Australia the new concert party will sing in the various capi’al cities in the “Messiah,” “Elijah," “Stabat Mater,” “ Golden Legend," and “ Hymn of Praise," At the first concert in Adelaide Mdme! Cole sang an Italian aria and Bovan’s “The Flight of Ages," and the programme included the “ Kreutzer Sonata," with Miss Murkons as violinist.

Dr Yon Bulow has left his little fortune to his throe daughters by Madame Coaima Wagner. Although divorced from her, and despite the fact that she was afterwards married to Richard Wagner, Yon Bulow always kept her in tender memory, and when some years ago she was supposed to be dying at Lucerne ha visited her bedside.

Signor Manuel Garcia, the nonagenarian professor of the Royal Academy of Music, made his operatic debut 69 years ago, when Beeihoven and Schubert were still living, Mendelssohn and Schumann were almost unknown, and such operatic giants as Yerdi, Gounod, and Wagner were still at school. Jenny Lind and Catherine Hayes, so well known in Australia, were his pupils. His father was the original Almaviva in “ Ilßarbiere."

Florence Young, the admirable Casilda in “The Gondoliers," with thp Royal Comic Opera Company, is off to London shortly. The Bulletin, I notice, takes just the same view of Arthur Roberts as I did a fortnight ago. The Sydney paper says: “ Arthur Roberts comes with the Gaiety troupe to \Yilliamson and M. All Lonnen’s plod cannot bring him to the level of Leslie and Roberta, who may fairly be bracketed with departed Fred, Roberts is more even than Leslie in being a born mprovisatore, whereas Leslie had to con every effect, like a schoolboy, or fancied ho must do so. He was afraid of being spontaneous. Roberts has a kaleidoscopic revelry in the scene." The same paper thinks that Walter Bentley, who has been engaged by Gamer for the new Bijou spec, would have made a big hit as the murderer in “ A Woman's Revenge." Despite the drought Ooolgardieis going ahead. It has now got a paper of its own, the Coolgardie Miner, and Jennie Lee is going to give a dramatic seasqn there, playing in a tent I Np.tjpng is sacred to the Yankee reporter, not even the great Paderewski. Road what a Western paper says anent a new pianist who has recently appeared on the field, or, to be accurate, the keyboard :—“ A fellow-countryman of Paderewski is surpassing that individual in the East as a pianist. His hair is not so long as Paddy’s—that is the new pet name for 'Rewiki-but hie fingers are a little longer, and he sweeps the keyboard like a tidal wave, or a Missouri cyclone " George Darrell has been unburdening himself to a Melbourne Sportsman reporter ra his recent American trip. He says, inter alia :—“Speaking of myself, I did not visit the States with the in’eution of acting, but I received two offers to open the autumn season in New York with one of my dramas. I declined, mainly because I am booked to fi'l a long deferred engagement in London in 1895, and I prefer my plays, if successful, to reach the American public from England. Every manager in Australia knows what a financial diff-.renoe that means. I purchased the Australian rights of six of the best plays I witnessed, and these works, with two new manuscripts from my own pen, will in due course be staged throughout the Auatraiias. I have had a splendid time; I saw everything worth seeing; yet, withal, I arq glad once more (cs be back in the sunny fjouth," Mr Darrell heap! the rauoh-.talked-of Melba in New York, and thinks, much of the quondam Melbourne amateur, and he says:—“The most successful operatic artiste in America during my visit was Madame Melba. ' 1 heard her aiqg un several occasion, and her performances in 'Semiramide,’ ‘Rigoletto,’ and ‘Faust’ were vocally wonderful and histrionically far beyond mediocrity. Considering that she played in, oast? of undoubted exoel-

lence, surrounded by sucb artists as Schalchi, Eames, Nordica, Arnoldson, Lassalle, and Jean and Edouard de Healed her success is the tuore emphatic. Her voice has gained in depth and quality ; her execution is almost faultless; her phrasing and intonation as near perfection as need be. She has an admirable presence ; she feeds the eye mid gratifies the senses; and she is, in my opinion, the Patti of the present day. Now be it remembered, that some few years back Melba, with her company, sang to beggarly audiences in the smaller Australian towns, and, most assuredly, had she been foolish enough to remain in the colonies, she would have still been unhonoured and comparatively unknown. How the then unappreciative would flock to hear her now.,,

The L.V. Mirror (London) critic writes;—“Not long since, when poor Fred Leslie was alive and at the height of his success, we noted the preponderance of men theatres in Loudon ; that is, theatres where the actor was the principal attraction. Things have changed a bit since then, and now without doubt the majority of our best theatres depend on the talent of the leading actress. For instance, there is Mrs Patrick Campbell at the St. James’, Miss Olga Nethersolo at the Court, Miss Winnifred Emery at the Comedy, Mias Ada Rehan to be followed by Signora Duse at Daly's, Miss Letty L'nd at the Trafalgar, and Miss May Yohe at the Lyric. Just at present the star actor is out of it, and looks like so remaining." Florrie Leybourne, daughter of the only George, so well-known on the English variety stage, has cut the nuptial knot that bound her to Mr Clay on. There was no defence, and the beautiful and bewitching Flo walked over the course. All of which goes to show—but no matter ! Mr Armstrong, solicitorgeneral to the variety profession, acted for the fair and injured plaintiff. London L. V. Mirror says : is a fine figure of a man. His hands have been pretty full lately. First Peggy Pryde, then Florrie Leybourne"—next, please 1 —“ Lorgnette" in N.Z. Mail.

GOSSIP FROM LONDON STAGE. LAND.

From Our Own Correspondent. London, March 24.

The new “ up-to-date ” ballet at the Alhambra will be called “ The Revolt of the Daughters,” and is (after the manner of the modern divertissement) in several scenes. By way of rivalling the “ Living Pictures ” which have scored such big hits at the Empire and Palace, the Alhambra has also arranged for ah entertainment written by Clement Scott, and entitled “The New Victoria Cross.” This is to consist of five popular pictures of “England’s Heroes Toiling Day by Day," illustrated by tableaux vivanfs copied from original drawings by W. H. Pike. Mr Sidney Valentino will recite the stories, and Mr Ryan, the popular scenic artist, has painted and arranged the tabl-aux. Almost simultaneously the Moore and Burgess Minstrels have announced a series of “ illustrated recitations ” of the same sort, Geo R. Sims being responsible for their arrangement. Lady Violet Greville’s version of “ Le Gcndro da M. Poirier," which has been rather cleverly christened “An Aristocratic Alliance,” will be produced at the Criterion to morrow (Saturday)- evening. Miss Emily Fowler, who some 15 or 16 years ago was one of the most chic and “ fetching" beauties on the stage, returns after a protracted “ rest” to play h medicaval dowager in this piece, Charles Wyndham and Mary Moore, of course, lead, and Mr Charles Groves has been specially engaged for the hero’s dreadful father in-law, Firkin Potter. The play upon which George Moore and Mrs Craigie, better known as “ John Oliver Hobbs," are engaged is a five act comedy called “ A Fool’s Hour " It first act will be publithed in Elkin Matthews' new quarterly, “ The Yellow Book," and later the collaborateurs will try it at a matinee. The Joachim—-Pi atti Jubilee, The creme de la crime of musical London assembled at the Grafton Galleries on Thursday evening to celebrate the jubilee of those two renowned instrumentalists, Signor Piatti and Dr Joseph Joqohini. It was an extraordinary gathering, Not even at the memorable Liszt reception, eight years ago at the Grosvener, was there such a crowd of persons eminent and distinguished in every branch of art, literature, and science. Sir George Grove made the inevitable presentations, and read suitable adressus. Bqt these cap be passed over. The replies of tfie two musicians were the features of the even, ing-

Signor Piatti told of his early ups and downs, “ more downs than ups " he said, gently. Before ho started on hia travels hia master, who believed in the young violincelliat, wanted Bussini to hear him play. The composer consented, ‘'Ah !" he said, when Piatti concluded, ‘‘not so bad," and then went on to urge him to hear a great German 'cellist who was 1 coming to the city. It would give him an idea of “ really good style." Piatti and his master took Rossini's advice, but the former was bitterly disappointed. The German had wonderful mastery of the technique of his instrument, but be played rubbishy music, and his style was grotesquely affected. “ Good gracious," whispered Piatti to the maestro, “ that’s not difficult. Why did you bring me here?” He answered, “To show jyou to avoid " Piatti had a hard fight to get a hearing in London, but it came at last, and then he found himself in smooth water. In 1844 Piatti was at a concert, when a little fat boy, with chubby cheeks and a short jacket stepped on to the platform and played Beethoven’s violin concerto with such of style everybody marvelled. •* It was ray good fortune.” went on the old man, “ to be afterwards much associated wifh that little boy. His name, ladies and gentlemen, was—Joseph Joachim !" Joachim's career has—he admitted—been one of unexampled prosperity. Brought over here as a boy by Mendelssohn, and recognised at once as a ,rare genius, a phenomenon of. technique and purity of style, the great violinist’s .life has been one long artistic triumph. Many say Dr Joachim would have been a finer player had he been loss fortunate. His performances lack the subtle tenderness of Sarasate. Joachim is hard, and nearly all his pupils are hard too. ; lu his speech D,r Joaohpn referred to, tiie rapid advance of German chamber music in popular favour. \Yith bated breath he told of a philistinp Philharmonic Society in (ho Provinces who, when ho proppsecj to play B? et boven’s Romance a,t their concert, objected that it was too classical, and would not be understood or appreciated. That was twenty years ago. Things wore very different now. There was to-day a keen appreciation of instrumental music so keen that every new work by men like, Brahms was expected by a public of thousands and thousands.

Monday was the last night of the season of the Popular Concerts at St. James’s Hall. Thereat Joachim, accompanied by Madame Fanny Davies, gave •‘The Hungarian Dances," which are his masterpiece, no living violinist being able to even approximately equal his rendering of them. The huge audience rose at him, and-therq wa:j i|uile a Paderewski soenq.