Music and the Drama.

Otago Witness, Issue 1585, 8 April 1882, Page 19

Music and the Drama.

For I am nothing, if not critical. The man that hath not music in himself, Let no such man be trusted. ' , . — Shaksspkarh.

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL KOTBS.

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[Contributions from the Profession chronicling their movements and doings are respectfully invited.} Interprovincial. 'The new act drop painted by Mr J. Gordon, the well-known scenic artist of Melbourne and Sydney,, for the Christchurch Royal, is thus noticed by the Press : — " The subject chosen is Wind-or Castle viewed from the Thames, with Windsor old town in the background. It is quite refreshing to find an artist quitting 'he conventional Italian landscape, with the inevitable donkey, padre and group of peasants, and in' the work under notice Mr Gordon has imparteu to the' picture 'quite a d licious feeling of coolness by the artittic way in which he has treated the water. Old Father Thames occupies the foreground, with the massive towers of 'the castle rising Ifehind, purpled with the flush of sunset. On the left hand is the town of Windsor. A fishing and pleaaureboat on tho river, and I 'a ! few swans, impart variety 'to the scene. The picture itself, which is oval in shapo, is encjosed with white Batin drapery, with a heavy bullion fringe, relieved here and there by bouquets of flowers, beautifully painted. Outside of this, again', and on what may' be called the edge of the picture, is a heavy drapery of old gold, presenting a splendid foil to the lucidity and lightnoss of the centre picture. The drop, as a work'of art, is well worthy of the high reput«tion of Mr Gordon, and no doubt the patrons of the_ theatre will h»il with pleasure' the change from the dingy red curtain which for so long has done duty." '1 he drop was exhibited for the first time on Monday night. Mr Williamson informed the audience that Mr Gordon had painted and Bhipped the scene within three weeks from tho time he received his commission by cable. He also announced other intended improvements which, if carried out, would make the Royal "the most comtoi table and most elegant theatre in New Zealand."

On Saturday night the performance of " Patience " at Chrißtcnuruh was marked by a pleasant little incident. Some of the young lady's professional acquaintances having ascertained that it was Miss Hee»' birthday caused to be sent to her on the stage several bouquets ornamented with ribbon streamers, to which were attached illuminated cards, ana sho also receive i a lar^re basket of flowenj similarly ornamented. These complimtnt* came f torn tbe members of tho company, who thus to ik the opportunity afforded by the young prima donna's birthday to testify to her the regard with which she has inspired thoso who havo tho pleasure of knowing Inr. It need hardly be taid that the onlookers, though nut in the ►ecret, expressed hearty sympathy with Miss Rees on tho ncea ion. What is the matter with the Chi istchurch people? The " upper ten " are either reserving thems 1 lvos for ih'; Exhibition festivities or do not; uffect the tusthctic craze. "Patience "was somewhat chillingly received on tno opening mgtit, and the circle people have not taken kindly to the opera. Of the initial performance the Press wrote :—" The long-expected production of Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan's latest production took ; place before a most unsympathetic audience, so un-

sympathetic, as to but; feebly welcome alike old favourites" and new aspirants for puhlic favour. The production of the piece was on a scale which has not hitherto been seen here. The parts throughout, not alone the principals, but the accessory and subordinate ones, were filled in a manner deserving the utmost credit, and the piece was put upon tho stacre in a manner which would not have done discredit to a London theatre. Yet, as has been said, there was a giaciality about the audience which must have rendered the work of those engaged in the production of the piece very much more difficult than it would otherwise have been, owing to tbe utter unresponsiveness of the audience. . . . Every point -and this is a piece full of good things — was made with great effect, and everyone in their respective parts acquitted themselvas excellently, so much so as to cause the audience in parts to forget the frididity which seemed to envelop* them, and applaud most enthusiastically." All the principals were flatteringly received. Mr Riccardi is quite himself again. " Prompter," in the Press, is my authority for stating that Zulu Thompson's receipts during the six weeks he showed in Christchurch were £1975.

Mr Buchan-Hepburn will soon be on the road with a variety entertainment, in which, of course, Miss Horton will be the central character.

The residents of Waikiwi, without making any fuss, organised and carried out successfully an entertainment for the widow and chi dren of the late Fred. Clifton.

Young Morris, the tight-rope walkist, has been giving exhibitions at Invercargill, My Auckland correspondent wires :— " On Wednesday Mace finished his sparring exhibitions at the Theatre Royal, putting through a number of lecal amateurs who had boasted under -the verandah that he was played out and .could not teach thorn anything. They have been very silent since. He give.- an exhibition at the Olde Kngllßhe Fayre on Easter Monday.— Doran's Minstrels have been giving entertainments at the Albert Hall during the ween, and Dean's party, also burnt corkists, occupy tbe Lome stroet Hall on Monday —Mr DeLias has been negotiating for a visit by the Williamsons to appear in "Struck Oil," and for tho appearance at the Royal of Miss Ada Ward, but as ytit no result 'is ahnouncod.— The new Opera-hou*e is to be opened in May. Mr W. W. Robinson (the wellknown cricketer) will manage for Mr Abbott.— No novelties have come by the inward mail steamer. Mr DeLias was a passenger by the mail steamer outwards to Sydney.— lt is a fact that DeLias asked Williamson a rental of £100 a week for his theatre, but tho former says his reas >n for doing so was that, Williamson intends bringing his whole, company up, afterward to open the new Opera-house, and that ihe price was made intentionally prohibitory.— Carrie Godfrey takes a benefit on tho 14th inst."

' Mr J. C. Williamson, in a letter to a friend in Sydney, says that "the business of 'Patience' was uniformly good throughout the week. The third night was £20 better than the second, and the week will be considerably over £1000."

The Choral Society purpose giving a concert during the Governor's stay in Duntdin. 1 The Kohler Brothers are doing good business at Reefton ; they were to stay there during the first week of April, and then go to Westport. - My American correspondent writes :— " George Darrell earned kudos for his Joseph Surface in the 'School fcr Scandal,' but th* Boston critics wouldn't have his Armand in ' Camille ' at any price. He got vory much cut up, and Mi.->s Dickcnson engaged George Clark in Hew York to fill the part. George resented the disrating and has brought suit against Anna, claiming £500 damages.— H. B. Conwav, the handsome, who was imported from London, was a failure in this country, and has returned home. William Rignold was also a failure. The New Yorkers would not have either, which surprised me very much. They said that William equalled George in bad accing.— 'Patti has injured herself among the respectable people "by her flagrant immorality with Nicohni. He is not tolerated, and gets it from the Press all round. Not a paper has a kind word to cay for him. — The ' Lights of -London ' wouldn't be worth much but for the great scenic show it provides. It is a very iast-end piece ; hut it draws here like a plaster, and manager Palmer , is coining money with it. , ■ Australian. , At latest dates Mr and Mrs J. B. Howe were playing at the Royal, Hobart, to larg* and appreciative audi.ences. Mr Reynolds was to bring his season to a close about the end of thjg month. ; Jenny Lee (" Little Jo") and her husband have got to Melbourne, but no engagement has yet been announced. J Mr Reeve commenced his management of the Mel.brurne Opera-house with Pineiro's " Money Spinner. ' As tho Baron Mr Reeve has a most congenial part, 'which he makes the utmost of. Mrs Garner (Blanche Stammers) received a cordial welcome, and as Millicent Croc die fully sustained the reputation she has gained as an exponent of society drama. The other characters were thus cast : Kengussie, Hans Phillips ; Harold Boycott,,G. R. Ireland ; the Detective, .». J. Byrne; Dorinda Croodle, Jenny Bryer. Mr Ifarkins was to appear at this house in " The Colonel " on April Ist. ; The Drury Lane senoation, " Youth," was produced for the first time in Australia at tho Melbourne Royal on March 25th. As the hero, Mr Rignold received quite an ovation from a full house. Mrs Rignold (Miss Henderson) 'ho Argus votes to be a capable and pleasing actress. She filled the role of Willie Spratley, •a young officer. The piece (remarks the Arguß) depends largely for its success upon the scenery, which la in Mr Hennings' best manner. The view of Old Bcechley Church, with long stretches of English meadow land extending in the far distance, is very pretty. The painting of the Upper Tr ames is a characte'istic water piece, and the mountain scene in Afghanistan, which forms the concluding tableau, i« * charming, picture. The departure of the troopship is managed by a clever piece of mechanism by which !the vessel with its highly animated living freight is made to move bodily away in a manner which completely sustains the illusion intended. This portion of the spectacle was especially effective. Frank Darlington's rooms in London are represented with an unusual splendour of upholstery. * The Turners have inaugurated their season of English opera in Melbourne under favourable auspices. "The Bohemian Girl" was produced to a crowded house. The Arline of Mrs Turner, and the Thaddeusof her husband are greatly praised, whilst credit is given to Messrs Templeton and Farley for tho support they ga\e. Miss Deakin as the Queen "lacked appropriate dignity and vocal power," and I ran quite belieye that Mr Skinner was " a ridiculous Florenstein."

The Sydney Leidertafel, under the conductorehip of Mr J. A. Edwards (formerly of Wellington), gave their first concert on March 25th. They number about 40 performing members. Signor Giaminona was among the vocalists.

The be efit tendered by the musical fraternity of Melbourne to the Mendelssohn Quintette Club, took place iv the Town Hall on March 26th. The club were assisted by Madame Simonsuii, Miss Christian, Madame Tasca, Messrs EMsser, Guennett, Moul, Plumpton. Herz, and the Metropolitan Leidertafcl. Next evening the club performed before their mus-ical friends of the male sex, and at the close of the concert there was some merry-making and toast drinking. ' The Sydney Bulletin informs me that J. L. Hall and Garden have had a row in Brisbane, and Johnny got an injunction impelling Carden to play wit,h no one but him for eight weeks. " All this too after the loving manner in which they went away together, and the pretty programmes of their joint repertoires they issued in Brisbane."

Nothing* 1 new from Sydney. Pomeroy, Dampier, Bent'a Minstrels, and Hudson's Surprise Paity continue to satisfy the natives.

Home and Foreign.

Leslie Wallack will not go on the stage for less than a guarantee of £80 a performance, and yet ho complains that times are hard. The following arc tlio now pieces brought out at tho London theatres on Boxing JNight :— Drury Lane, " Robinson Crusoe" ; Covont Garden, " Litllc Bo Peep, Little Boy Hup, and Tho Little Od Woman who Lived in a Shoe"; Rojalty, " Pluto, or Little Orpheus and his Lute"; Greohn, "Harlequin Ilappy-go-Lueky, or Truelovo and Foigct-mc-Nofc," •• The Jewel fclvcs of tho Magic IHII, ami The Good LiMle Fairy Pastorelle"; Standard, "Sinbad tho sailor"; Saugei'd, 'Blue Bca'd"; P'lephanD and Castle, " Little Jack Homer"; Britannia, " Tho rnchanted Love 1 '; Pavilion, "Hick Whittington" ; Crvslal Palace, " The Children of the Wood."

Sims' " VJother-in-Law," which was a failure when first produced at the Park Theitro, New York, has Mosfomcd into n great succesa. and held possession of (ho hoaids of that theatre till T,o Ho Wallaek's appearance in "The CJoncl." It has been taken to Boston.

Who says that Frilz'j popularity is on the wane? Tlie end of January witucro-orl his appearance for t.lie iliird time in a month at a fn«h theatre, and the audiences at tho Windsor w ie a,s hrge and as demonstrative as evor.

Boucicault playa a four weeks' engagment in New York, commencing in tho first week of April, and returns to England. The papers do not speak well of tho piece Bronson Howard has written for Salebury Troubadourd. It is entitled "The Fawn of the Glen," and is intended to

be a satire on America's Indian policy. The News characterises the piece as "tawdry and tiresome. Massenet's " L'Heriodade" is to be produced at the Theatre dcs Nationß, Paris. . . . , A New York stenographer named Underbill has invented a device for sinking all the seats of a theatre into the floor. It is claimed that the operation can be performed by one man, and the entire auditorium transformed into a level floor, without an obstruction, in a few minutes. . „„„ . , . A 'Frisco impressario offered Patti £2500 for four concerts in that city, bnt she declined. Her terms were £3300. _. . . „ Davies, tbe ventriloquist, leaves the States in May for England. , . .. _. , Among astonishing scenic effects produced in • The Crook "at the Globe Theatre, Boston, is an interior, showing an enormous painting, most conspicuous in which is a one-legged, naked woman sitting on a cascade, and gazing blandly at two other tropicallyfiostumed females, who have no visible means of support except a red ribbon. , , Two burlesques of "Patience" have qmte taken the taste of the New Yorkers. The 'Frisco Minstrelß, with Berch and Backhus in tho foreground, gave it clad in burnt cork and obesity. At Tony Pastor's theatre Lillian Russell makos the prettiest Patience yet seen in New York. The piece is called " The Stage Struck Maidens." The original music is preserved, but the libretto is changed, and the entire piece is produced in one act. Kruger becomes " Ben Thome, a manager, and Mary Irwin " Jane Jermima." Wallack has secured the American right of Pinero's "The Squire." 1 Emma Stanley died on December lltb, at her residence at Bayswater, at the good old age of 63 years. By her own wish the funeral was strictly private. The chief mourner was Mr T. L. Harrison, who for nearly twenty years conducted her business arrangements, and in whose house she breathed her last. Her career is thus sketched in the era:— "While yet young Emma Stanley (who was born at Exeter) displayed a remarkable aptitude for the vocation her parents hadadopted, and at an early ago became a great provincial favourite, especially' at the Liverpool Theatre Royal, and at Glasgow and Edinburgh. On the occasion of her debut in the latter city she was led forward by the manager, Mr William Murray, at the conclusion of the p ay amidst the most demonstrative acclamations, thus receiving the marked honour. of being the, first actress ever called bs-foro an Edinburgh audience. Her fiwt appearance on tho London stage was at tho Lyceum Theatre as Catherine, in the play ,of 'The Exile,' August Ist, 1842. Her immediate success resulted in the prompt offer of an engagement for leading comedy business at the Princess Theatre, where she remained for neveral seasons, and played tbe principal part in 'The Devil's In lt,"The Angel of the Attic," Ernestine,' ' Ladies Beware,' and ' A Wife for an Hour,' when those pieces were originally produced. At the Adelphi Miss Emma Stanley was specially engaged for one season, making a decided hit in the late Charles Selby'H piece of ' Trie Moral Philosopher.' At the termination of Mr Maddox's Jesseeship of the Princess' Miss Emma Stanley commenced a provincial tour, and in Dublin had the honor of being chosen by the LordLieutenant of Ireland to be the leading artiste at the garrison performances for three consecutive years. Devoting herself to the study of music and languages, in which great proficiency was ultimately attained, Mias Emma Stanley gave. in 1850, at the Hanwersquaro Rooms an entertainment after the style of the celebrated John Parry, in which her instrumental talent was shown on six different instruments, and songs were rendered in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, and Russian. A much more successful experiment was made a few years later, when Mr E, L. Blanchard wrote for her the monologue entertainment called ' The Seven Ages of Woman,' introducing thirty-seven different changes of character and costume, and calling into requisition all her dramatic, lingual, and musical acquirements. This was fust produced at St. Martin's Hall, Long-acre, in December, 1855, and was at oncce recognised as a success to be identified with the most wonderful feminine achievements on record. With this entertainment Miss Emma Stanley went in the autumn of the succeeding year to America, and thence to Australia, India, JMew Zealand, and the Sandwich Islands ; returning four years afterwards to EnglaDd, and reappearing in London, with her famous ' Seven Ages of Woman ' at the Kgyptian Hall, October 22nd, IB6o'. A provincial tour followed ; but soon after the death of. her mother, who had been the companion of her adventurous travels through distant lands, Misa Emma Stanley retired from public life."

A meeting of dramatic critics in London have urgad the appointment of a Royal Committee to inquire into tbe state of the metropolitan theatres, &c, as regards the public safety ; aud then,' pending the appointment of such, the Lord Chamberlain and the municipal authorities should take action, imperatively called for,' in regard to several of the London theatres."

, The musical critic of the London World says that " there is another shadow casfc by a long-coming event, and which I kept pour la bonne louche. The reader knows that Arthur Sullivan left for Cairo. His ' Patience ' is filling the house nightly, and is expected to do so for another twelve monthe. En hommes prudents, however, Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan prepare the operetta to follow ' Patience ;' and while the former is writing the words, he sends them post by post to Egypt, so that by March or April, when Sullivan returns, what keeps the pot boiling will be provided for, and he will then use his time lor — hush —something else. Now you would like to know wbat that piece turns about, since the sailors in ' Pinafore, the pirates and policemen in ' Pen?ance,' the soldiers a"d pretty aesthetic girls have been shown in ' Patience. What will now the toilettes be ? Ah voila ! they will be fairies ! Twenty-five years befo-o the piece commences, a fairy has committed the indiscretion of marrytng a mortal. Tnis, by fairy law, is death ; but Ihe queen of the fairies commuted the sentence to banishment for life among the mortals, on condition that she leave her husband and never reveal herself t-o him again. Soon after a son is born unto her. This son is half fairy, half mortal, being fairy down to the waist — a real idol with feet of clay. He id educated as a mortal should be, and called to the Bar, where hi« progress proves so remarkable, owing to the cleverness and the exceptional integrity with which he conduces his profession, that in a few years he rises to the rank of Attorney-General. True to her promise, the mother, although she sees the father, never allows herself to be seen by him, until an incident, which shows that a mother's lov e to her child is stronger tbiin the love for her own life, makes her break her vow. She reveals herself to him, although the penalty for the act is death. The fact is, that father and sou love the same girl, and the father fancying his wife to be dead, contemplates marrying the girl. Then the mother, after having in vain tried in dibguiue to persuade the father to give in for the cake of his son, as a last resource unveils her face and tells him, • Behold, you cannot marry. I am your wife 1' The pkill and the distinguished taste with which the fairy, representing the noblest nentimont«, is led through the piece, with tosthetic grace, is only what could bo expected from the skilful and sue. essful pen that threw the inspiration on the paper. In order to bring the piece to the desired end, there comes a dens ex machina ; but that for the present remains nntold.

Mv and Mrs \V. H. Lingard star next, season under the management of \V. C. Mitchell. He won't travel jßasfc for a time. ; The Actor and the Elocutionist is the latest monthly putting forwaid claims to the support of theproies-' sion. It is conducted by Mr E. i»rew, late 0/ tho Polytechnic. The Chicago World has this cho' rful paragraph :— "Nearly all the American actor* who went to Australia are ' dead broke ' and unable to get away." Richard Brinsley Knowles, the only burviving son of KnowloH the dramatist, died in London recently, John M'Culloutrh has put his foot down and says that he will not Imy or try any more new plays His adventure with "The Bondsman" last autumn ivas sufficient to last, him a lifetime.

' Notwithstanding the snccens he gained while on tour with Mies Genovievo Wnid in tho i?tatef>, Mr W. Farrcn'a connection with thu " Foiyct-ine-Not " company had a rather HiidJen termination ccoiding to the New York L'lainatic News ho received his conge becauno of his r.ither outspoken comments on the'aution of the " star" in regard to another lady ot the company, to whom Farrcn had paid some attention. Farrcn and Leonard, another English actor, were walking homewards one evening, and discussed the merits of tho leading la'ly. Sad Parren, inter alia : " My dear fellow, you do noB know our Genevievc, bnt she is " &v. And Mhh AVard, who was walking behind the g< ntlcman, listened to Rome very uncomplimentary things concerning herself. Next morning Farren received a month's notice of tho termination of his engagement. The success of " The Colonn " in New York, partial though it i% is aiw ged to be duo wholly to Leslie Wallack's personul influence. Ho is tho Irving of New York, and his appearances aie not so frequent as his ail mireis de-ire

Osmund Tiarle returns to England at the end of the New York season.

Sadie Martinot accompanies Boucicault to England. The San FrtincWco mail bringu intelligence of the death, in a lunatic asylum at Paris, of M. Rouzeaud, the husband of Madame Nilsson. The recent Paris failures turned the poojr fellow's brain,