THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1476, 28 February 1880, Page 23

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Miss Dar^on, the American tragedienne, was a paesenger by the Tararua to the Bluff on Monday. She will give Shakespearian and dramatio readings in most of the towna of the Colony. At Chriatchuroh on Saturday night an adaptation of " The Happy Land," from the pen of a local literator, was produced at the Tloyal. The Premier, the Treasurer, and the Minister for Lands were severally represented by Messrs Stark, Wilkinson, snd J. P. Hydes. Tho make-up of the last mentioned is Slid to have been excellent^ It ia ouiiou3 to note the difference of opinion as to tho rotrits of the adaptation entertairied by tha CirUtohurch dailies. The Lyttelton Times thiuka the adaptor has done his work admirably, and that ifc is a pungent satire en some of our public men ; whist the Press wonders why tuoh an ado about nothirg could have been made anywhere, as tho piece is very harmU s? and pointless. Tho dratnauc season Jia Auckland does uofc appear to have opened successfully. J. J. Wallace, who is described as "the Australian Actor," being supported by Messra Steele, O'Brien, Misseß Raymond and Marie Wilton, is thus criticised by the local Star:— "Mr Wallace, who takes the put of lauacsia, in 'Queen's Evidence,' introduces a novel feature — the aspirating of ha where they are not wanted, and the entire Buppreseing of them where they are. The phrase, ',I've a Leje like a heagle,' may bo in accordance with Mr Wallao^'a peculiar notions of Jewish p>rlance, but it ia more akin to that in vogue in Blackwall. Mies Marie Wilt o a, as Kate Medland, haa a keen perception of the blind woman, fend when • feelipg' her way, put ma in mind of a man suffering from delirium tremens. The other actors were much about the same, and the piece was very tamely flayed." Rather rough that on the Company. The opera season in Wellington was a finsccial failure. " Carmen" was the only opera that drew paying houses. On tbe evening of Sunday, February 22nd, the Company gave a saored concert in the theatre, the selections being principally from the Messiah and Stabat Mater. The Wellington season has been curtailed by a wetk, and tbe company proceed from Wellington to Melbourne via the Souih. Mr Musgrove declined to visit Napier or Auckland without a substantial guarantee, which was not forthcoming. Mr Gordon Gooch, R.A.M., has left the Caiandini Company, having be-n appointed music master to the Auikland Grammar

Mr Berry carried hia opposition to " The Happy Land" a stage further. His political opponents, anxious to witntsi a performance of the pifce as intendod to bo played if tho famous interdict; had i^otboju JBSUtd, hit oa the expedient off giving a picaic, to -which the members of the Academy of Mußio company ware invited, with, of courje, tbe intention, of giving a dreta representation. Mr Berry got vrirul o£ the prospect, and forthwith iutimatecl to the Academy's' Jesbea that if the prohibited play wero performed thoU-aaonf the house woull be cancelled. The throat wan enough for Mr Aarons, who decliielto allow hia company to go to tho picnic. But those who had cho mitter in baud were nob to be baulked of their purpose. They engaged frosh dramatis personce. chartered a ttearuer, and look a trip to Frankaton, on the shores of Hobaon's Bay, and there in a marquee had the piece periormed. The Argua bays that the whole of the arrangements were well carried out, and every budy waa delighted,

A correspondent of the Figaro teils a sad ttory oE an actor'a death. It occurred the other day at the fJatignolles, on the firsb night of the patriotic drarta "Hoche." One of the pirts, that of an old raise I*,1 *, was played by au aged actor called Luca\ Lucab his been long ill, and liv illneos had weakened hJin comsidoraily. Ho refused, however, to resign his part, and made his entry aa bpsb ho might, working liia way frcrn chair to oha)r, and staimuering his speeches rather than oaymg them. Jdo haa to feiga aldrm at the progre-6 of a riot by which he was threatened with tho losa of his money, and he waa applauded to the echo. Iv the next aci ta« Bastille cannon s>uad, and tho lnUer, daspairing of hia treiaures, haa to fill iuto the arms of somebody n:ar him. Luca.i fell, a3 hia cuo obliged him ; but hs iM to rlso no more. Five minutes af cerwarda he vtss dead.

Sigcor Majoroui lies very Ul in New York vi ith consumption, but his w.fe ia playingihere WiJliam Dalziel, tho husband of JDiokie Lingud, if) nub thoaglit anything of iv America as a plny-wnxhfc. TJio pipers afcyio hislat'.sb product ini," P^yaruaa," the most Btmelees taing imaginable.

bhnily Soldene's company it dUlnadul. Sho aud lier daughtT are ploying at the Gaiifcy, Glasgow, iv burle3^ue.

AcU Ward is at fcho head of a Pygmalum and G*lai;ea company, playing iv the south of England

Alice May sustained tho leading part in the burJeupe, whi.h preseded panfcoinitao ac the TheaiHO Rival, MAcrkealer.

JMsj-ia Erz- (Mrs Majjloaon) wm a fa'luro aa "Uinnen." The London Titi^a of Deo. lot s?.vb : -''Jn^Cajnieii' Mine Piozo assumed th'i put of tao hwoim) for the fiw — aud tvq should_ not bo very sorry to think for the hoit — timo iv England." Tho autograph, scoro of Hhiidvl's opera

•• Amadigl" was recently sold by auction in London for £35 10a; and that of Mozart's quintetto in D major for *4o 6>. f H Gustave Dore is at preaent engaged in Illustrating Shakespeare. He has already made a number of drawings (both large and Bmall) of various scenes, and in particular haa utilised some of the sketchea he made last year during hia tour in Scotland for his Uluatrationa of Macbeth. "The Pirates of Penzmce, or Love and Duty" is the title of Gilbert and Sullivan's latest production. It is a satire on the absurdities of domestic melodrama. '•H.M.S. Pinafore" has a'moßt turned the heada of the Americans. la a small country village the pastor of a congregation, in expressing regret for the Joss of one of his flock said, " We shall misß our dear brother in his favourite haunts." Thereupon a young lady replied, as if involuntarily, " And so will his sisters, and his cousins, and his aunts," to the great astonishment of the reverend gentleman, who was not aware hia late friend had so many relatives to mourn hiß losb. Tbe simple explanation was that the young lady had gone tho night before to Bee "H.M.S. Pinafore."

"Pinafore" (they dropped "H.M.S." to please our American cousins) has hit the taste of the New Yorkians Sullivan himself conduct 3, and on the first night Gilbert Was among the chorus so porfectly disguised that his most intimite friends coull not recognise him. The new "gaga " and the m w « business " received emphatic applause and elicited roars of laughter. The " gaga" coneist mainly of changes which are calculated to hit the fancy by surprise ia the nature of a " sell." When the anticipated reply " Hardly ever"' i 8 in the minds of the audience, they are surprised by tha substitution of "Very seldom. " And bo with " You're a ramavkably fat Bailor" for "You're a remarkably fine Biilor " and bo on. The most notable change is in the rendition of the "Did you hear him did yon hear him ? He is swearing, he Is swearing," ohoius. The American " Pinafore" companies invariably shouted this chorus »t the top of their lungs, under the impreaeion that loudness is most expressive of horrified amazement at the " Damme, it s too bad !" of the captain. Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan hava taught tlnoo, with far more artistic intuitiveness, to «ing this chorus m a whisper, as though Btruck almost speechless by the oaptain'a "ill-advised asperity," while Hebe's "He ia swearing " is distinctly heard above the combined yoioes of the others. The effect is very striking. All of the company were recalled and receded a moat gratifying welcome. When Mr Sullivan entered the orchestra and took the baton, he was greeted with Huch a storm of applause that he was compelled to respond by repeated bowß ere he was allowed to make a start. At the end of the evenirjg'a perfo.mance the vast audience remained, cheering; and calling loudly for the authors. Mr Gilbert did the speechifying, thanking the immense audience for their welcome. * ' Wo are here," he said, « ! aa two hard working Englishmen, whoso ambition it is to Bupply your stage and ours With work that is not altogether imbecile, and that shall merit jupt such praise as has greeted our ears <o nighs." The music of " Prinoess Toto," Gilbert's latest novelty, is by Frederick Olay. "Elijah " baa been performed in Home for the firat time. Her Majesty's and the Haymarket were the only two theatres in London that did not open their doorß on Boxing Night Sixteen of the houßes, mostly Westenders, do not alter their programmes. I append a Lst of the Metropolitan pantommes and their writers -.—Olympic, "The Hunchback back again, or peculiar Julia," F. O. Burnaud; the Alhambra, "Rotbmago or the Magic Watch "H. B. Farniejthe Surrey, Harlenuln. the Wicked Wizud, and tho Good Genii of the Ecchanted Cave," J. M'Ardle, music byS. Davis; New Saddled Wells "The FortyTbieves, or Abdallah's 'Any*,' libretto, Mr Westnnre, music, F. Stanislaus ; the Grecian, "Har'equinßokoko, the Rock Fiend, or Kingdoms Three, tin Toad, snd the Tree "by G. Conquest and H. Spry ; IrnveriaL "Little E?d R'ding Hood aud Little Br y Blue," Lionel Brougb, music by Mr Barnard; SangerV, •• Alarfdra ;' the Standard, ""Blue ßeard revived," imwe by W Corri, John DwglaFfl; Or.st.l Palaco. Jack the Giant Killer," R. ScuS.r; Covent Garden, "Sin^ad the Sailor." F. Green, music by W. O Levy; Drnry L»ne, "Blue Beard," the brothers Grinn, music by *. Walleratein ; G.wty. " Gulliver," H. J. Byron, mueic by M. Lu*z Achlldren'fl "Pinafore" G mpany is performiDg in London, and is an immense success. . . , r tt Something like a ccrjnror is M. Hermann, who is delighting the Parisians just now. One of the eleven st of his tricks is the following : Onasma'l iablo in the middle cf hia assembled epar-tators he places a cage, whioh ifl occupied by a canary, alive aod well. At a s : gn from his wand, their appeared a second canary b the o?ga; thm three oanariea were seen, all hopping about Inside the cage, which Hermann did rot even approach, contenting himself with directing his wand towards the enge. and tbo t umber of canaries constantly increadng, until there were bix of the pretty little fellow all apparently in the best of health ml spirit*. He then tock tbem out of the owr, wrapped them up in a sluet of paper, and gave the parcel mto the charge of on* of the spectators, requesting him to put the psree! pently into bis pocket, whiuVi the gontkinan appeared to do at once, ■with, no tno tr*pida'ior, fearing to hurt tho birds co uncerraoniously treated. A moment afterwards, on a Bigu from the cod] iror's wand, the dx bird< were Been hopping about iasule the cagp, and the gentleman to whoso ciru they hid bsen c >nsigned, taking hid pared from his pocket found the papr-r empty. M. HeTmann then produced » cuplo of silk handkerchiefs which ho turned into a bag. He waved his bag about* turned it inside out, and handed it about among the spectators, who all declared itto be perfectly empty. "You arermstaken ! cried the conjuror drawing forth an egg from the bag. ' This egg has not coim of itself" ho «Wed; '* where there is an egg, there muub &ho bo a hen." Giving y.u the bag to bold, you see something moving maideit "Put in vow hand aud draw out what is in tho bag' !" he continue?, aud to your amazement, you draw out a live hen. He takes the bag from your bands saying, »« It ia not yet empty," and ho draws out a

oook and then a duok. He takes the latter, holds it up in the sight of all present, tearß it in two aa though it was a sheet of paper, when lo ! he holds a pair of ducka, apparently alive— one in eaoh hand. This new rival of Robert Houdin executes the wellknown, but perfectly inexplicable, feat of the empty glass globe, in which he produces a score of gold fish, without approaching the globe ; but with this amazing addition, viz., that, after exhibiting this prodigy with four different globe*, one after the other, he takes up the laßt glob 3, throws it up into the air, and globe, water, and flshf s instants disapappear, no one butbims.elf knows whither. Puck.