Music and the Drama.

Otago Witness, Issue 1559, 24 September 1881, Page 19

Music and the Drama.

For I am nothing, If not critical. The man that bath not music in himself, Let no such man be trusted. — SIUKKSPKARB.

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

[Contributions from the Profession chronicling their movements and doings are respectfully invited.]

The Dunedin Choral Society intend to give " Judas Maccabeus" at Christmas, and if any professional talent is available at the time, will endeavour to engage it. f It has been stated that Mr Scherek is about to take a concert company to Oamaru and Timaru. Mrs Walter Hill's benefit at Christchurch on Tuesday was a thorough success. It had been intended to have had the performance some days earlier, but there was some difficulty at first about the theatre. Eventually the Committee of Management and Mr Cary were ablo to come to terms, with the result that the " Pirates" vacated the Royal for an evening and made the acquaintance of the Lytteltonitcs. Tho Lyttelton Times Dramatic Club appeared in "Charity." There was a crowded house, and it is expected that those who have the affair in hand will be able to present Mrs Hill with a cheque* for £70 or £80. The Lyttelton Times' recent performances realised nearly £200. , Last week, in noticing the Kelsey concert, I inadvertently omitted to mention Mr Waud's name as the 'cellist on that occasion. The oversight would have been immediately apparent to most people who have beon in the habit of attending the concerts. Bont and Bachelder's minstrel troupe opened at Invercargill on Monday night to a capital house at Sloane's theatre. W. Horace and Charles Hugo are the corner-men ; Messrs Fredericks and Beaumont Read were received with the warmth due to old favourites ; and Miss Amy Rowe, " the lady with the double voice," as the bills term her, quickly established herself as a favourite. The brothers Hugo are capable dancers, but the " Pin-a-i " burlesque does not appear to have been either an even or very successful affair. The Minstrels appear in Dunedin next week. On dit that Mr DeLias means to let the Theatre Royal. Auckland, for a store, and go back to the old theatre, now known as Tonks' mart, and that for doing so he will receive a guarantee from the surrounding publicans. , . , , . , The Pollard Juveniles commenced a six nigntß season at Nelson last Monday. They did good business at Wellington. Mr DeLias has given the free use of the Theatre Royal, Auckland, on September 29th, to the local amateur club, who will play "On Guard in aid of the oppressed Jews of Southern Russia. " The Pirates " at Christchurch drew very good good houses until taken off. Its last representation was given for Miss Murielle's benefit. The local papers complained that during the last nights there was a tendency shown to somewhat burlesque the piece. Concerning the production of "Les Cloches" by the company, the Press speaks in terms of qualified praise, but admitting, as was pointed out elsewhere, that its success is due in a great measure to the really splendid manner in which it has been mounted and put on the stage, and the undeniable excellence and quality of the chorus. It thinks Miss Murielle unsuitable for the exacting part of Germaine, Miss Leaf lacking the dash and verve of Sepoletto, Signor Morlev's Grenicheux uneven, Mr Wentworth overweighted as Gaspard, and Mr Benham as the Bailie— well, all that can be Baid of him is that he is Mr Benham. The only real success appears to have been Mr Porter, who sang splendidly, and all through acquitted himself admirably." All I have to say is that Mr Porter must have Improved wonderfully since he left Dunedin.

The Pomoroy Season.

With the exception of Friday night, when lovers of sentimentalism of the eicklest type had bonne bouche in " Camille," the houses during the week have been capital. The attendance that evening was very moderate in all parts of the house. Even Boucicault's exciting drama "Led Astray," well mounted and capitally played though it was, failed to attract more than an average audience; but when Shakespeare was aottin presented, tho improvement was very marked. " Twelfth Night," on Saturday and Monday nights, was received with much favour by very large audiences. Miss Pomeroy's Viola may be fairly ranked with the best of her impersonations, and the excellent all-round support she received intensified the general pleasure of the performance. Mr Holloway wiva admirable as Malvolio ; Mr Hoskins the clown par excellence; Miss Grey a very satisfactory Olivia; Miss Douglas sufficiently pert and mischievous as Maria ; Mr Flemming dressed most becomingly as Sebastian, and played well what little action the character gives scope for ; Messrs Hamilton and Wallace, as the roystering knights, were rery amusing, though inclined somowhat to overdo their parts ; and Mr Jewett was the Duke. On Tuesday night there was a very full house, the occasion being the benefit of Mr Hoskins. The popularity of this gentleman was manifested by the reception he received on making hiß appearance as Sir Peter Teazle, Sheridan's comedy of " The School for Scandal" being played. The moment he came on the stage there went up a genuine cheer that might have been heard half-way down High street, and the hand-clapping and shouting were continued for some moments afterwards No wonder that the action of the play was stopped, and that Mr Hoskins, taken aback by the spontaneity and heartiness of the welcome, felt a strange sensation in his throat. His Sir Peter is so well known to Dunedinites that there is no occasion to_ say one word more than that it still is one of his best impersonations. Miss Pomeroy's Lady Teazle is somewhat disappointing, but nearly all the othercharacters were well cast. MrFlemming's Joseph was a surprise even to those who gave him credit for a capability to do better things than he has yet attempted here ; Mr Holloway was an excellent Charles, and received a special call; and Mr Wallace, as Sir Oliver, was similarly honou. ed. On Wednesday night " Retribution" was played ; " East Lynne" was repeated on Thursday ; Mias Pomeroy took a benefit on Friday, when " A Winter's Tale" was played for tho first time in New Zealand ; and the season was to close on Saturday with "Macbeth." Some grumbling was heard about repeating "East Lynne" this week and only giving " A Winter's Tale" once. I believe representations were made to both Miss Poraeroy and Messrs Hamilton and Willis that tho fixing of Miss Pomeroy's benefit for Friday would have the effect of preventing the attendance of a large number of persons who are invariably good patrons of tho drama. This fact is admitted, but unfortunately tho scenory used in "Cleopatra" had been sent on to Christchurch before it was known how matters stood. " A Winter's Tale" requires a great deal of rehearsing to ensuro its proper production, and to that end it became necessary to repeat ono of the pieces already played here : hence the selection of " East Lynne." Those who have been disappointed in nor. seeing Miss Pomeroy in the dual roles of Perdita and Horraionc will havo an opportunity of doing so before very long. The management have boon co gratified with the success of the Dunedin season that it has been arranged that Miss Pomeroy shall play a farewell Hcason here of ten nights on the return of the company from tho North. Then she goes to Melbourne ; rests there for a fortnight ; afterwards plays a farewell season of ten nights in Sydney, similar seasons in Melbourne and Adelaide, and then bids farewell to the colonies, and takes passage for England, where engagements effected by Mr Alf. Hayman await her. Miss Pomeroy opens in Christchurch on Tuesday in " Cvmbeliiie," to be followed by " Antony and Olcopatr*," which is expected to run for four nights. Tho season there will last four weeks. Air Iloskins' benefit on Tuesday night was a substantial one. Despite tho very short announcement, there was £115 in the. house. He will also have a benefit at Christchurch, and is sure of a bumper there.