THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1540, 14 May 1881, Page 20

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

By Puck. '- .

The business "done by the Gardens duriDg the week has only been fair. " Arrah-na-Ppgue, "The Lady of Lyonß,",and "Qlancarty" have been played. „ . ' I have been informed, on what I know to be excellent authority, that the Sydney gentlemen who piloted Henri Ketten through this Colonydropped just £2000 by the venture. , - ; Our genial friend R. S. Smythe will agent Mr Forbes through the Colonies. The famous war correspondent is due by the next Frisoo boat. V " , Herr Bandmann played to very poor houses during the latter part of his stay in Wellington. He is now at Napier, the Diorama having finished there last week. '.'*-„. '. The Juvenile Pinafores opened in Wellington on Saturday to a good honse. I was unpinformed about the Sallinger ohildren, who ,are still witK the troupe. . ■ ' - _= ' I hear that Mr R. W. Cary paid- Mr J; C. Williamson £500 for the right to run "The Pirates of Penzance '•* through Ne\y Zealand for eight months. Mr Gallon, as representative of Mr'Williamson, intends to keep a sharp lo ( ok. out for other pirates. ' , '. .- The difficulty about the' tenancy of the Christohuroh theatre has been settled to the" satisfaction of all the parties concerned. Mr Shepperson "waived his- claim; and Mr De Lias' " Dantes"Company entered into possession laßt Saturday. The pieoe was well received. Messrs Hamilton .and Grattan Biggs sustain their original characters, and are supported by Misses Arethusa May, Lily May, Vivian, Herriok • Messrs Kennedy, Stark, Ashton,*- Jewett/ Alexander, Jerrames, and Moury. They come 1 South dext week. k~ • ' v- - 1 ' _- r \ The Harts are playing in Lyfctelton. , ' '; j • 1 The following letter which appeared' in' a recent issue of the New Zealand Times, speaks for itself :— " I see by the Gariterb idry 'Times 'of t the 23rd April that Mr Reynolds claims to have had a profitable season in 'Wellington, and denies the rumour that it was a I' disastrous Failure. Several others, besides myself,, who were engaged by Mr Reynolds for- a month, are "very glad : to hear this, -as we havfc been -left in the lurch by Mr Reynolds; without salary or means of getting 'home again, in a strange town, and dependent upon the benevolence of the people of .Wellington. Will you kindly insert this letter in your paper, as we still hope that Mr Reynolds will have some consideration for our position and send us part of tbe profits that Mr De Lias, as he says, has paid him for the rest of the lease of the theatre, including time for which we were engaged.— One oe the Sdfjerebs " . ' I am indebted to my collaborator ' of the Canterbury Times for the following items :— "Mies Jenny Nye was one of : the 'fortunate ■few who, intending to take passage by tbe illfated s.s. Tararua, wreokad on the Ofcara reef, were prevented by " fortuitous "circumstance* from 1 doing so. Miss Nye had paoked her boxes, and made every preparation for proceeding to Melbourne by the Bteamer, when' she was induced by a telegram from Mr Shepperson to join' the Lydia Howarde Company to open at the Theatre Royal, Christohuroh; on Thursday last. The change of purpose was a most fortunate one.'— Messrs J. Hydes and D'Elmaine have become'members of the Lydia' Hdwarde Company.— Rumour is busy with' the particulars of another "eooentrioity" by Herr Bandmann. It is said that after separating himself from the Reynolds- Dunning management in Obristohurcb, Herr Bandmann, coming in contact with the business auent of.thelatter, relieved his mind a little. Legal' proceedings followed, but an apology- being subsequently acoepted from the offender^ with the -proviso that he should pay all expenses, the matteriwas considered at ah end. The' money did not, however, turn up as r quickly as the offended one < deemed necessary, and he telegraphed to Wellington threatening to issue a summons for it. This brought the cash, but with it a letter which in its way. was a perfect gem." The opera season at Auckland was closed on. Saturday night last, when "Pinafore" was .played to a crowded house. . ■ " .' . ' The telegram's state that Signor Riooardi has been in some trouble at Auokland. A oreditor drove him into the Bankruptcy Court, and then made a declaration' that he was about to leave the Colony without payinghis debts. Mr Riooardi evidently had little difficulty in convincing the magistrate that he had no such intention, as ' he was granted time to settle with his oreditors. But he appears to have got into an alteroation with the aforesaid creditor "immediately afterwards, and to have used some indefensible language, as another telegram adds that -' he was bound over to keep the "peace in sureties of £200 for six months, and to pay costs." ' ' ' ' - "■ The probability of the Royal, Wellington, being extensively altered at an early date is mentioned by the N Z Times; whioh says that these " alterations would include a oomplete reconstruction of the stage, dome, and dress circle, at an expense of about £7000. : The existing walls at the eastern end of the building being unsuitable for stage purposes, will be re-, placed by briok and conorete. ""It is a wellknown fact that tbe plans have been in preparation for some time past. If the directors can see their way towards proceeding with the work, they will, doubtless, carry it out with the least possible delay." " . . The Lydia- Hqwarde ' Company opened at Timaru on Tuesday, in " Ohilperio." New Plymouth is being visited by the'Simonsen Company and Haselmayer. The latter - opened on Saturday night to a good house ; and the opera company commenced a six bights' season on Monday. The Thornton Dot Troupe gavo a performance on April 26th, in aid of one of the Tauranga institutions. Taupd boaßts of a theatre. It is 60 x 40, exclusive of stage accommodation, and was built D 7 the Armed Constabulary stationed in; that district. The scenery was- painted with the differ^* ooloured days found in great abundance about the hot springs. - - - The Comedy and Burlesque Company have been auarr filing and washing their dirty linen in publio On Apfil-28ch "The Ticket of - Leave Man " was to have been produced at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Hokitika, but Miss Morgan, for son"»e reason unexplained, refused at the last moment to appear, and the audience —a large one— had to be dismissed. Messrs R. W Rede and R. Love .wrote a long letter of explanation to tbe West Coast Times, from which the following to an extraot :— Miss Morgan, the leading lady of the company, has been so injadioious for her own "interests and ours us to Treat us in a shameful manner, forgetting how often we haveoovared her indiscretions. Her idea, Mr Editor, » seiaeh. We shall explain that to you. In our tour of New Zealand, where the several members of the compar y were considered the greatest favourites,' a benefit was 'put tip' in bis or hex- name j tbe result of whioh added of course to the general

welfare of every member of this commonwealth. In Dunedin Messrs Love and Wilkinson took a benefit, in Inveroargill Mr Alexander, in Wanganui Mr Herbert, in Hokitika Mr Wilkinson, all of which were most satisfactory to 'the treasury, and in all' of 'whioh'Miss Morgan, as receiving the largest salary, wbb, of course, the most benefited. Miss Morgan has refused to allow her name to bepnt up, for jvhat reason? -Perhaps^ she has an idea that by breaking up the company she will gain the sympathy of .the outside publio, and reap a bumper house for herself. It is a most painful thing for us to write , in this strain/ more especially about a professional lady. But, Sir, there' is a limit to men's endurance. We need not, we think, offer any proof more than to state that on the night of our arrival in Eoss she 1 refused to play, and in Kumara, on the first night of the 'Sbaughrann,' to a orowded house, she left us^ in the middle of the first scene ; but,* thanks \x> Miss Lawrence, we were enabled to finish the piece without her. The reputation! we bear on the coast is, we think, a sufficient guarantee that the matter is of weight, and no' petty .spite of any* individual member oft the company. We have omitted to mention that the cause of this letter is Miss Morgan's refusal to play her par,t to-night in the • Ticket-of-Leave Man,' or to .give any reason for -her refusal, thereby obliging us to dismiss 'the audience and ' close the theatre." 'To which Mies Morgan replied, but I have unfortunately .mislaid. her letter.; : If my, memory serves; me rightly," the burden of her answer was that' she had given the company ample notice of her. in-tention-to withdraw ; and that in the face of that notice the' " Ticket- of Xeare Man" ought not to have been put up. < • "'. : Though her Hbkitika friends are about to tender- her. a complimentary benefit, public*, opinion is against Miss Morgan. . The Beef ton paper says the company have shown that they' draw there as good a house without as with her. Another paper makes' these observations, with whioh I' thoroughly agree : "Too much and. indiscriminate praise probably have had something to do with the. quarrel. Who is right orjwhQ js wrong in the squabble ia a matter of, very little interest to the publio. One thing) however, is certain : neither Miss Lizzie nor the company will do themselves any good over' the affair.,. We are sorry for Lizzie and the company alike." Miss Morgan'? place has been filled by Mrs Walter Hill, and Mr J. J. Wallace has. joined the company, which is now at Greymoutß, but returns to Hokitika at the end' of the month. <■ - ' ; • ' Theatrioal rows seem to be the order of the week. -■ At Napier, on the 29th ult.-, Thomas Martin Powell, better known as Lieut. Herman,, appeared in the Police Court to answer [two charges of assault. The first oharge' was laid by Mr George, proprietor of the American War Diorama. From the evidence of the complainant it appeared that -Herman.' as lecturer, drew a salary of £5 a week. Batohelder, H. B. Motrum, and George were proceeding in: the direction of. one of the newspaper: offices one evening when they were accosted by Herman.. An alteroation about aooounts ensued, during which Herman addressing George. said : "If I hang for it, I'll strangle you." Whilst Motrum went in search of the -police, Herman caught hold of George round the neok and banged his head against an iron fence.' Had it not been for the return of Batchelder he (George) believed that he would have been strangled. 1 The defence was that he (Herman) b.ad gone quietly, up to George, and asked for, his aooount, for whioh he had been waiting some time. George made evasive replies, whereupon he quietly, caught him by the coat collar and said, " Now, ' you give me that acocmnt." - George mada reply that he would give him the account, when it was ready; and that he (Herman) knew as much of the books as he. 'He was annoyed with, but did not strike George, though he admitted saying that he. would "go" for Motrum. V In i the second case, Motrum swore that Herman went into hisbedroom and caught him by the throat, saying, "I'll throttle you, you— r-.} I'll be hung for you." .When het commenced to scream Herman let him f?o. For. .the first assault Herman was fined; .22 and- coats"} for the second 5s and costs. ." ".The Boema concerts at Adelaide were notpatronised to the extent the merits of the company deserved. . The London Comedy. Company did fair busi ness with " The Turn of the Tide," whioh was well put on the stage. The management would' have done well to have produced it early in the season instead of at its close, when, people were oireful of their cash in view of announced novelties. • , The benefit tendered to Mr Fred. Thome by his brother professionals on the eve of. his departure from Australia was a genuine suooess. The bill provided was worthy of the large and fashionable audience that filled the Melbourne Opera house on April 25th. In the operetta of '• The Waterman," Mr Albert Brenner imper. sonated Tom Tug. Then followed a one-act drama, " Tears," which gave Mr IF. Mervin an opportunity of displaying his emotional powers. " The piece," writes the Argue, "is of too sombre a character ever to become popular with a mixed audience. . Mr Mervin was greatly applauded, and after the fall of the curtain he received a number of bouquets" and ..floral wreaths." The other leading personages were represented by Miss Myra Kemble, Mr F. Thome, and Mr Hans Phillips. The perform ance concluded with *,'The Critic" in .-which Messrs H. E. f Walton. H. R. Harwood, F. Thome, and Miss Myra Kemble, and Mrs Edouin Bryer. took part. In an interval Mr Thome, having been called before the curtain, made a speech, in which he thanked his Melbourne friends for the unvarying support they I had given him.,. He, said he had played 150 parts during his sojourn here. The object of his/visit to England, he mentioned,' was to improve himself in his art, and he hoped to return at no distant date, a remark which was loudly applauded.. a , • Mr Fred. Marshall is doing excellent business at the Melbourne Bijou in Bnraand's " Jeames," now produced for tbe first/time in that city. Oil the opening night " so completely did he merge his own identity in that of 'the superb footmanin a canary-coloured livery and powdered wig that he was not recognised for some time," but when he discovered himself 'he met with a rousing reception . He is principally supported by his brother Edward and Mi?s Jessie Grey.

On April 22ad, the .first hundredth aight of a piece that has ever taken place south of the Hue was witnessed at the Melbourne Operahouse. Of this, historic occurrence the Argus reports :— " The place was orowded beyond all previous experience, notwithstanding' that the reoenfc alterations in the lower part of the house provide for the accommodation of some hundreds more of visitors. The ladies who patronised the dress-circle, the stalls, and the upper or family oh do were presented on entering tbe theatre with cabinet- sized photographs, by Waddingfcon, of the leading performers in 'La Ifille dv Tambour Major,' by way # of a momento of the remarkable success aohieved. The performance of the work on this 100 th night was complete at all points, and was given with remarkable good Bpirit by all on the stage, as well as with mosb artistic finish by the excellent orchestra conducted by Mr Charles Van Ghele. Mies Liddle resaia.ed.her performance of the part of the Duchess de la Volfca, interrupted for the last two nights by throat indisposition, All the

performers were" called before the" burtain at the end of the'firat and second aots, ahd^were heartily applauded. > Miss LaVerhe, especially, was received with great, favour throughout the evening, and was frequently en cored,,, besides being presented with many beautiful bouquets. The final representation was given the following evening. After the performance on. the century, Mr G. Musgrove, the lessee,' entertained the leading artists of his obmpany and a numerous assemblage of friends and patrons of r ithe;jbpera at a ' commemoration supper,' .and regaled the subordinate members, of his foroes with a repast, set out on the stage of the theatre— there being in all some 200 guests. The ntmost good feeling prevailed, and the .toast of.' The future' tproi. perity of. the new'manager, Mr Gi'Mnsgroye/ was honoured with, an enthusiastic reoeption. Mr Musefrove's .star is deoidedly in the ascendant. Yet his uncle scouted the idea that he could collect an opera company that: would draw in Melbourne for. a month.- ■ • ■ '•; / The revival of "A Winters Tale" in -Melbourne has proved that Shakespeare., .will pay ' there nearly, as well as : modern, opera^-bouffe. Miss Pomeroy, in the dual characters of Perdita and Hermione is muoh liked by the critios, but she' is rather indifferently supported. The scenery from Mr r -Hehnings' brush is unquestionably. ,worthy.';6fl.him. . Bv^ery.'" scene, from opening to close is new. Instead of" making the first soene an antechamber in Leontes' palace, Mr Hetinings has -ohoien. to depict a publio. plaoe in. Syraouse,; showing the Doric Temple of Pallas.testored, withthe blue "sea in the distanoe. -The building risesiin grandeur tier upon tier, making a ( splendid architectural monument. As a.stage painting it is a work of aft that would gracel any theatre in the world. The trial soene waß .very.imposing.j. Seated at the foot ofthe throne'inthe great arena where all the important.publio trials were' conducted, and surrounded by her ladieß, the 'debilitated Queen, olad in a sombre cploured ; mantle, was the central and;mpst striking figure of the group, The representation of a largo r number of spectators seated in the successive tiers of the arena produced a very animated effeofc. ' ~ ~ Australian Callings :— Dewhurst, an Eriglish tragedian, contemplates a.visit to the Antipodes. — G.. P. Carey has rejoined the •BijontfMelbourne) as 1 ' first- oomedian.r- < ;T,he. f Pirateß of Penzance " .is in its seventh week aaftc t Sydney.Two alterations hav3 been made in the cast of " La Fille dv Tambour Major," nqw >; being performed at Adelaide. 'Miss Nelly Stewart takes-Misa :Jeßsie: JeBsie Grey's plaoe asjGriolet, and Edouin Bryer that of Mrs ; Woolridge as the Abbess.— The prinoiple soloiatßof the disbanded, Austrian band are performing J at the Agricultural Sooiety's Exhibition', Hyde Park, Sydney. —At a reoerit loono^rfc' ln- 'Sydney ,the c >"toy symphony" Was introduced, > and was voted a success.— Mr Musgrove, expeots.to.be back at the Melbourne Opera-house in October, with '! Madame, Favart."— The Montague'- Tamer Opera Company are a pronounced suooess at Gaiety, Sydney- " The.Bohemiah OntV held the "boards at last advices. - Mr Turner's Thaddeus is vastly liked.— The Hyperion Company, .assisted: by amateurs, have,;pro<|aoed "Pinafore" at Perth, W. A., with great success. —At Sydney, "Formosa*' depends almost entirely on' "the veteran Hoskina, ''Business moderate. : ' j " - -~ r '-:-»' • A letter reoeived from Mr .Barry Sullivan says :— " A report has appeared in some of the English papers, and may mislead Australian friends, that I have been seriously ill atK3f have cancelled all my 'engagements. ;i ',Tae report is not true. lam in capital health, and -hope not only to fulfil all : my engagements, but mean to enter into an antipodean one some day." The will, dated July 24th, 1869, of Mrs Ellen Kean, the widow of the' late % Chas. ' ;Kean, 'formerly Ellen Tree, who died on August 20th laafc.-waa proved on the Bth Maroh^'by Mrs Mary Marie Logic, the daughter andraofcing executrix, the personal estate being sworn under £3000.- . * =- , c ., : . v ..,..-> . - Schneider, of •':' Grand? Duchess '/.' fame, ia selling off her; possessions. Her hotel 'in' Paris realised £35,000. La GfanSe Duoheßse ia'abont to retire into the shades of private life.-' She ia arrowing old, and she looks old, even on the stage. There are rueful gaps in tbe sweet-toned voice that was once' so musioal and so merry. There are wrinkles around 'the blue eyes that have lost no inconsiderable share of their sunny sparkle. She .will carry into her seclusion* no inconsiderable share pf this world's goods. Her diamonds " alone are valued at: $60, 000, her necklace (the gift of a duke) , being { worth $20,000, and her earrings, whioh were>presont from the Prince of Wales, being estimated at $10,000 ■' Then her pictures, bronzes, knickknacks, &p., will bring fabulous -prices when sold . The funeral of- Mrs J.,L. Hail, at, Adelaide on April 26th wa3, largely attended;by,members of the profession. -rTae death is announced of Mr F. Coppin, brother of/ the well.know comedian.'- The 'deceased was 'leader ' of tbe Melbourne Royal orchestra. -^Miss -.-Blanche Stammers .has temporarily retired from the stage. . -. .... This is how" East. Lynne" was .'played at Tairo (Queensland) recently 1 by Mr Ogdeh and his wife, according to' a local paper. "The play was performed In 17 acts, the stage being only four feet deep, affording no': room for : changes of scenery. . The only scene was a, brilliant bnsh landscape, in 'which bananas.. and riDg. -barked eucalypti figured numerously. Lady Isabel ' carried' her child on the stage and laid him down to die at] the foot; of a gum tree. Later she herself died, under a clump, of bananas in distemper.': Everybody .said that the landscape was av ast improvement ~6h the unromantic bedroom scene, and sincerely hoped the actres3 did not find the floor damp." On the evening of the 23rd March; darinff the performance of "Lucia di Lammermoor ' atthe'Opera-houße,Nice, the gas. at the back of tbe stage suddenly exploded,- setting fire to' the scenery. The flamsß spread with alarming rapidity, and attacking theimefcer the honsewas soon plunged in darkness, thus adding to tbe confaßion airiobg* the' crowd,' who were Dressing madly towards the limitedmeans of exit. 'he audience was a large one, and the crash proportionately great. In the panic which prevailed hundreds were thrown down and trodden under foot, and those- who "endeavoured to- extricate the people, helplessly jammed in the doorways and passages describe the scene as something fearful. The shrieks of the wounded mingled with the cries of those in the upper- galleries,-' where every means ' of: esoape was - cut off* Madame Donadio, the prima donna, was aivedj but tbe tenor, base, and baritone, with a number of the chorus singers, are among the victims. During the night over 150 victims were extricated from the ruins. - A man who escaped from the upper gallery byi jumping over into the>pace below, declares that with perhaps a dozen exceptions, all those in that part of the house' must have been burnt to death. Some Bailors from the fleet and several English residents rendered signal service in saving life, " The sensation caused in the town ia indescribable. One lady, whose husband was burnr, committed suicide, and people were' to be met wandering about the "streets orying,-'wringiog their hands, and tearing their hair. The usual omplaintß are being made respecting alleged defective means of exit 'and inadequate water supply. Further accounts of this disastrous affair state that the loss' of life is greater than at first supposed. -Most of the persons who perished were Italian artisans living at Nice.