THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6149, 24 October 1881, Page 3

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES,

By Puck. Lyons' Tourists did very indifforcnt business at kelson. ~, , One of the Christchurch papers is responsible for ,he statement that Mr Delias lias asked £150 a week rom the Ponieroy company for bis theatre at Auck*l am indebted to the Canterbury Times for tho 'ollow'mg items :—" The company now playing at the Pheatrc Eoyal will break up at tho expiration ot ihe three months for which engagements were made jv the management. Mr Holloway opens the Balarat theatre on his own account in December, and ho s now rapidly filling up the ranks of his intended ■ompany. Of those now playing at the Hoyal, Mosars loskins, Jewett, and O'Brien will follow the fortunes if Mr Holloway, and in addition wo understand that ho last-named gentleman has also engaged ilrs J. iooper (Miss Bessie Vivian) and Mr J. J. Kennedy. ,he latter as first comedian. In all cases the enTigements are for 12 months. Mr Holloway opens his heatre on Boxing night. At the expiration of her hreo months' engagement with tho Pomeroy Com>anv Miss Grey will join Mr Fred. Marshall's comlany at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, for tho Miitomime season. The reconstruction of the Pomeroy Company will take placo in the latter end of Novem>er, and new artists are to be brought over from Aimralia for the purpose. Either Mr Hamilton or Mr Villis purposes leaving for Melbourne shortly to make he necessary engagements, tho Intention being to acurfl the best available talent, so that Miss Pomeroy, n tho return trip through the Colony, may be as fficiently, if not better supported than now. At lobart Miss Pomeroy's engagement with Messrs lamilton and Willis will terminate, but may perhaps 0 renewed for a further term. Mr E T Gillon was in Dunedin last week, and as lew Zealand representative of Mr and Mrs J. C. Villiamson, engaged the Princess for them. The Villiamsona will open there on Boxing night in 1 Struck Oil," and will bring down a very strong coni"jusa Loaf had a benefit at Wellington on October lth. She appeared as Josephine in "Pinafore," and .•as supported by Mr Porter, who made a very tolerble First Lord. There was an excellent attendKUt Cary has boon getting into hot water in Wellingrm As a windup of his season there he produced 'The Sorcerer," and he appears to have repeated his hinedin mistake of attempting to play a piece alter nadceiuate rehearsal. The Wellington critics, however, a not deal so lightly with him as did some of their .rethren of the quill in Dunedin. Tho Post felt called nto Z that it was "unfortunate for the sake of he eputation of what is really a very good company, that Ir Cary should have put the Sorcerer on It ran evident that little time had been given to its .reparation, and the consequence was that the nafority ol the performers ma net even know their .arts and the performance was considerably below he level o! the amateur representations of the opera hat have been given here. We ought to except from bPL-oneral corVuuro Miss Leaf, who, if, as Aline, she lid not come up to the standard of her other imperrmiltinnn at aiiv rate played and sang with caro. iignor Carmin?Morley 'was not so well acquainted Ah his part as he should have been, but sang some rf the numbers with effect, notably the added song, 'It Is not' l"vo" which elicited almost the only ■•emiine round 6i jppl&uso during the evening. Mr iVcntworth, who appeared aa tho Vicar had not the remotest conception of tho pirt, both his acting and nal-p ii) leadiii" 'one father to suppose that lie was renresenting an habitual criminal disguised in clerical tCfor larcenous purposes. At any rate, no one i'm,V hire taken him for tho grave and dignified *i» oft, quiet country village. Mr Lissant, who took hepart of Siratorffiaduke Polntdextre, hepinkol o dtashioned courtesy,' stood on the stage for the greater portion of the time in the atSSu#e of a comic country, man. Mr Barry O'Neill, who came yn ao Mr J. W. Wells, sang the Sorcerer's song-or at least as pmci is he could remember-us if it were a mus-.e-hall ditty of the 'motto' order Madame Morley avneared as Lady Sangazuro, Miss Amy Johns as Mra Partlctt and Miss Lena Wjatt as Constance. There was t well-filled house, and it was a pity bo good an iudiencfl had not something better put before then, ' The Tlmo9 sail equally outspoken. It said that the opera fell flat; it U.OVM elicited a single encore ; even toe beautiful quintette */as marred by the baritone nnt knowing hi 3 part. ~ ■ The opera was more Kkc "n ciegant drawing-room entertainment than a public performance-so fur us four of tho principal performers were concerned. But when wo come to Mr Earn- O'Neill as Wells, what shall we sny ? He neither Lev nor appreciated his part, which should have been cottte, without vulganty-in other words, lie should have pl&ye/l the commercal traveller pure and simple: tho man who, while he has a keen ojo to business in disposing of his wares, is not necessarily a buffoon. ... The chorus were pornctimcs good hut other times unsteady. The whole piece betrayed a want of caro in its production that was very unfavourable to Mr Cary." The following night (the uJone of tho season) tbo bill was the first acto "Tho t-im.es," the first act o( "Les Cloches, and "The Sorcerer."' The latter appears to have gone .somewhat better, ej*l praise is given to Lena 1 Robinson, who, on very short notice, filled the cart that had been entrusted pp j!jS9 Munelle, whoso absence was duo to "an unforiußat* apcident."j- When tho curtain foil on "The Viraies,1 Kr Gary came to the footlights to MOTr the press criticisms. Ho is reported to have thanked the audience for their attendance that evening, m spite oi ihe unfavourable .criticism of "The Sorcerer." He had lost £80 during his sjay ill Wellington. He considered 'that tor a first performance, the previous evening b representation was a good 6ns. Down South the papers had alwayß given him fair criticism, and were most enthusiastic in their praises of tho operas produced. He considered that the critics were to blame for tho Bmallnesa of the audience-a, very poor one - that night. It was well known that ;he gentleman who wrote for tho morning paper had been intimately connected with the amateur performance o! "The Sorcerer" that had been given in Wellington; and that circumstance readily accounted for the adverse criticism he had given. The Post, in its reply, recalled to Mr CaryV recollection the manner in which two or t'no Dunedin dailies wrote of his first performance of Les Cloches, and dismissed the subject by telling him that " no newspaper, having any regard for its duty to the public, could have &Uowcd Wednesday evening's fiasco to pass uncondemned ; ?.nd Mr Cary would have been far wiser had he accepted a well-merited rebuke in tho friendly spirit in which it was offered." The company are now at Napier. Signor Giammona was fined £6, with BOTsn-guincas costs, for assaulting Mr Alfred Moule. Mdle. Charbonnet has fettled in Sydney. The Melbourne news is unimportant. At tho Opera House " Narcissc" was played up to the 11th inst. to good audiences. Mr Harkins at the Royal, and the children at the Bijou, arc also drawing well. Maccabc opor.o at tho Town Hall on tho 24th inst. A Sydney telegram to the Argus says:—The Gaiety Theatre WC3 reopened on Saturday, tho Bth, when Mr Dainpier re-appeared after tho lap3C of some considerable time. The piece chosen for the occasion was a comedy by G. 11. Sims, entitled .'.' Tho Mother-in-law." Tho pie-:o was fairly successful, and Mr Dampier was accorded a good reception. Ho was supported by Miss Annie Adeare, and a mode ately good house.—There was a good house at the Queen's Theatre on Saturday night, when the Irish dr.inia, " Ould'Erin," written by Mr Walter Reynolds, was successfully producod. Th-j author appeared in the Wdinfr part, and was several tunes recalled before he curtain.-" La Fllle dv Tambom- Major" was revived at the Theatre Royal before a crowded house.— Mr M-ccabe's firet matineo at the School of Arts on Preiot Sydney ho put together lssO out of a total franuus, ij '-, » , r j[ ]o Bargv, who : ! W on'ihe '■: r-t prize" a° th- Conservatoire after only on. mmmm sjVacciuerio's drama of ■■•Jeau.Bauilry. The hoy"" -'lexpeutationa of tho theatrical world were iuiij E realised. His performance yms a ßrf,T Worms was considered mm:h superior to that of M. Worms, who playe<l tho role when the piece was tot acted at L tho eamo house. M- Le Bargy has eomothing.or v m. - voice and manners of jf. Delammy, but he does not . copy that accomplished artist, and haa a Btyle o nis . own. Ho was called «n after the acts, and U. Got

led him la amid tho enthusiastic applauße of h audience Tho Era reports tho arrival of Moiton Tavares i London. - . Trinity College, Dublin, made Henry Irving a LL.D. on hia recent viait to that city. It ia stated that Madame Patti lias arranged wls: Mr Herman Franks to take the part of Elsa in thre special performances of " Lohengrin " during tho Gei man opera season at Drury Lane next year. Lo Meuestrel contradicts the latest report as to th retirement of Herr Hubinstein in consequence of hi failing: Bijrht. But the great virtuoso will pass som months in quiet at St. Petersburg, devoting himsul meanwhile to composition. The Haymarket Theatre, London, suddenly closec on August 20th. Tho now piece, "Gibraltar," hai completely failed, and on Thursday a new version cv down to two acts and re-christened 4I Madame Rose was produced. Tho revised version ran oxactly tw nights. " The Lights of London " ia tho title of ft new melc drama, written by Jlr G. R. bims for tho Princess1 London. It is stated that Mrs Sotliern'e shave in her late hus band's property amounts to only £6000. A genune theatrical sensation ia in prospect in Par's Permission ii said to have been granted by tho Pic fecture of Police to the Director of tho Porto St Martin to exhibit real Uona in the last scene of " Bich rent about the outlay on tho mounting of the c.v travaganza. One scene alone ia estimated to cos £600. The 120 th performance in London of Messrs Sulli van and Gilbert's lesthutic opera "Patience" tool place on August 19th, aud nearly every reserved sea is said to be secured until tho run at the Open Comique Theatre comes to an end. At Miohaelnia the piece will be removed to Mr U'Oyley Carte's nev theatre in Beaufort Buildings. The receipts of tin "Patience" exceed those of any previous opora b; Messrs Sullivan and Gilbert given in Lo d n. The French custom of operatic artists and niusica people before making a public appearance loaving the principal newspapers is being followed to a limitei extent in London. The highest salary paid by tho French opera i £4800 l year to 11. Lasscolle ; Maurel gets £4000 Villaret. £2400; Sellier, £ISOO ; Mdllo. Kraus, £3200 Millie. Kichard, £2400 ; and Mdllo. Pious, £800. A Burns musical festival took place at Kiltuaniocl on August 13th, under Mr W. 11. Dixon. A choir o 300 voices sang several of Burns' songs, aud it i: estimated that -25,000 people were preseut. Mr George conquest made his first appearance sinci his unlucky Americaiftrip at tho Surrey on Angus loth, as tho Jew Lazarol; in the " New Babylon." During Joo Jellersou's travels through Franco witl his family they chanced to visit a church in the provinces. The officiating priest had recently died and on the black drapery about the altar wero thi letters R.I.P. Jellcrson's youngest son saw tho in scription, and looking up to his father, he whispered " Why, papa, how did they know you were coming to day|'<" Madame Christine Nilsson,[it appears, was offered : most lucrative engagement for tho United States bj manager Maplcsou, who asked her to name her owi: terms—in fact, with any reasonable sum she might choose to be deposited with the Rothschilds. At already stated, manager Abbey has secured the Swedish diva, and, according to the London Figaro, he pays her .£20,000 for a hundred concerts, besides hotel aud travelling expenses for live people, and besides a half share in the nightly receipts over and above £600. These terms arc very similar to those paid to Madamo Nil.-son by tho Strakosh Brothers in 1869. Mr Brinloy Riuhirds has completely recovered. Madamo Sophie Mentor, the pianiste, goes to America for the whiter of ISS2-3 under engagement to Mr C. Colby . Miss Griswold, the young American primma donna, made her second appearance at the Paris Grand Opera House on August 10th, as Maguorite in "Faust"; and though she acquitted herself well, especially in the prison scene, where she carried all before her, the Parisians think tho part scarcely so well suited to her as Ophelia. Miss Anno Cars-, who had determined to abandon the lyric stage, has been urged to reconsider her determination by manager Mapleson, who oilers her engagement for his American aud London seasons. It is stated that at a competition at Cologne for a chorus for male voices 793 people competed. Mr William Farreu, Jan., will make his lirst appearance in New York as Prince Malleoti in " Forget-me-'"riio perennial "Lcs Cloches do Cornevillc "lias been revived at the [London Glolio, with Miss Fanny lleywocxl as Qt-rmaine, and Shiel Barry in his great part of the miser. The old "Poly," so dear to Londoners, has had to 2lose its doors, after 00 years' eiiateuco as an amusement hall. Fifteen years ago, and when Professor I'epper's "Ghost" took London by storm, it ,vas the most popular place in the world's metrololis O( late years this institution has lost its popuarity aud the directors, finding it necessary to either nalie a further call on the shareholders or to voluniarilv wind ud tho concern, havo chosen the latter and ; 1 t our-o Carl Kosa promises to produce dnring tho forth:oming season Balfe's " Pittoro c Duca," under tho itle of "The Painter of Antwerp." It was originally >roduced with scant success in Trieste a year before he " Roso of Castile." Mr W. A. Barrett will furnish ho libretto. Tho story is interesting, and deals with hat period when tho Spaniards wero masters of tho ow countrias. The Duke of Edinburgh is accused by some of the nusical journals of a piece of snobbishness. When at jeith opening the new docks there, a tender passed, nd the band on board played His Royal Highness' raltz, the "Galatea," whereupon tho Duke is said to lave remarked, " This is quite refreshing after those tieces we hear so olten." Tho amalgamation of the London opera forces proect through the medium of a juirit-utock company las been abandoned, a sullicient number of shares not ia>ing been subscribed " to ensure a quotation on the itockKxehange " Concerning Gilbert's new comedy of "Fofarty'a which he has purchased, manager Abbey told New York interviewer : " Gilbert purchased it from iothcni'B executors for 1500 guincaseash, releasing the iot eg (notes of hand for £1000 given by Sothern, to be ed'-cmed after he began to act in the piece) and giving he estate an interest in his share of tho profits of the ilay. I offered him 87500 for the righttodo *Fogarty's \iiry" in America, lint lio wouldnot listen to me at 11. So he has a certain percentage of the receipts, omo people who have read tho comedy s?.y it Is boused rot'; while o'.licrs think it is tho funniest thing liey ever saw." And manager Abbey consoles himelf with t lie reduction that the comedy will either lake or break him. There's to bo no half-way busiess about it. "StdL'Oinoor," by the brothers W. G. and F. Wills, roduced at Sadler's Wells on August 20th, is not ivourably criticised. The play deals with the Duke f Jlonmoutli's rebellion, the hero being a Somersethire squire, Sir Gilbert Evelyn, whoso wife in his absdc'c shelteis the rebel Duke. Sir Gilbert, however, ) seriously compromised by his wife's conduct, the lore particularly as Monmouth himself asserts that iilbert was actually his protector. In tho end, howvcr, Lady Gilbert proves the untrustworthiness of lonmoutli's evidence, and obtains a free pardon for er husband. But again complications arise, owing 0 the schemes of tho King's favourite, Catherine edley—a duel, a separation between Evelyn and his ,-ife, and eventually a second condemnation to death, .gain Evelyn is saved by the exertions of his wife ; ut although the first two acts, ending with the first ardon, go smoothly enough, the remainder of the lay hangs somewhat drearily, notwithstanding its eing fairly well acted all round. Miss Marriott is the Hone, Mr George VV'ardo the hero, and Mr IT. J. larrett Monmouth. "Figaro" writes thus of the ieue :—" Sedgcmoor" is not one, but three plays, and lie day for trilogies has passed. Tho first play ends bout "live minutes before the close of the second act, nd barring a good deal of superfluous matter introuced so as to hook it on to the second play, it is a troii" and ably constructed drama. The second play onsists of tho third act and the first sjeue of the Durth. The third play begins and end 3in Act IV, cone 3. This third i lay is fortunately suggested ather than worked out, for it is summarily cut short y the Revolution and the arrival of tho Prince of )rango. Mad the gallery been of the spirit which ninrated the Sadler's Wells gods in former days, the ntertainment would have been summarily cut short bout an hour previously by the arrival of " Orange " n another form; for two more tedious, confused, rivial, and irritating acts than the last two acts of 1 Sudi'cnioor " it is scarcely possible to imagine. As n his "Charles I," Mr Wills distorts history to make a cone. He represents the DukeofMomnouthasan arrant oward, prepared to do anything to save his head. 'Figaro" concludes by recommending the cutting■way of plays 2 and 3, and the development of play 1 in its merits.