THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES Home and Foreign.

Otago Witness, Issue 1596, 24 June 1882, Page 24

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES

Home and Foreign.

By Pasquin.

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

Interprovincial. Mr and Mrs Burdetfc Howe and company opened at the Queen's Theatre on Saturday night last, with "The Shaughraun," a piece which seems always able to draw a fair attendance. I should not like to hazard the opinion that Mr Howe appears at his beat _ in such a character as Conn, but he nevertheless is a fair Irish comedian, and is an actor possessing plenty of vigour and experience, if not a startling degree of originality. Mrs Howe (Miss Julia Hay ward) is graceful and attractive on the stage, and produced a decidedly favourable impression as Moya. The remainder of the cast was as follows :-Harvey Dug, Mr H. Power ; Kinchella, Mr J. P. West ; Clare Ffolliott, Miss Lizzie Lawrence ; Father Doolan, Mr Fisher ; Captain Molyneux, Mr R. W. Rede ; Miss Jenny Nye, Miss Amy Johns, and Miss Riordan were also allotted minor parts. „ , On Monday night "The Shaughraun" gave place to a romantic drama of anonymous authorship, entitled " Lost in the Pacific," wherein Mr Burdett Howe is transformed from an uncouth and almost maniacal savage to a French General, the idol of the flck'e mob. There is so much that is amusing and audacious about the plot of this piece that if it is possible to follow it connectedly to the bitter end, I will do so. The prologue opens upon the shore of a desolate island on the Pacific where Geiievieve D'Astarte, a rich heiress, (Miss Lizzie Lawrence) and a small mob of godless mariners are driven ashore after a shipwreck. Here Bhe encounters Hero the Savage, who has likewise been washed ashore there in infancy, and appears to have brought himself up by hand very successfully. He is of course speechless, and his manners are not characterised by that graceful courtesy to which Genevieve has been accustomed. He nevertheless befriends her and shields her from insult at the hands of her ruffianly companions. A good deal of pistol practice takes place about her, the captain bringing down a large Union Jack with a revolver bullet in a manner that can only be described as marvellous. Eventually, however, Hero disposes of this ruffian and casts him somewhere— probably over a cliff-just as the party are rescued by a French frigate. Genevieve takes with her the skin clad savage, and during tho homeward voyage instructs him in the art of speech, with perhaps just a smattering of algebra and Greek roots. She is the more incited to this course by the fact that Bhe has discovered around his r»eck a chain of antique workmanship, and a medal, by the inscription on which Hero is ultimately identified as the true Count de Ville whom Genevieve is pledged to marry. la Paris Hero is brought into contact with the pretended Co nt and his uncle or father, the Baron deMerrlque, whose villany it is horrible to contemplate. The latter, it is unnecessary to say, has cast Hero when a child into the ocean, and but for the agency of Zillo the Faithful, a cork jacket, and the fateful necklace, he would probably have sunk, as it was one of the three preserved him, hence the drama Hero, who in the drawing room is little more civilised than he was on the island, is considerably enraged at the attention paid to his preserver by the false Count, and on his own love being rejected, dashes out into the cold world, enlists, and in two short years returns the famous General de la Croix. The great achievement of this officer's career, is, we are informed by the dialogue, having with only ten thousand men at his back, defeated and cut to pieces a whole Austrian regiment. After this gallant feat he returns in, time with Zillo's assistance, to unmask the titled villains, and to find himself beloved by Genevieve. A terrific and sanguinary combat of course ensues in a Parisian drawing room, to witnesß which four young lady visitors are summoned by the Couatfrom an adjoining room, by the martial cry, "Friends, gather round me " The General is then attacked by both noblemen at the same time, and the affair becomes somewhat mixed up. He, however, disarms one, and holding a sword in each hand impales the pair simultaneously. Curtain. As tho ex-savage, Mr Burdett Howe played vigorously and realistically enough, but the piece contains far too many absurdities to rivet the attention of any audience. Miss Lawrence looked charming as Genevieve D'Astarte, and although a little statuesque at times, acquitted herself on the whole very creditably. Mr J. P. West, as Zillo, clad himself in Mexican costume, and played carefully and well. It is impossible, however, to stifle the opinion that Zillo is a fraud. He looks and speaks at one moment with the acutenessof a New York detective, and oisplajsthe simplicity of childhood the next. The piece affords us an opportunity of Beeing Mr Harry Power ac;ain m Borne very amusing low comedy business, in which he was supported by Miss Jennie Nye, and went down well with the audience. In a farce, "The Clever Girl," which followed, Mrs Howe appeared in several character parts, and played very acceptably. The Mace-Miller Combination opened on Saturday last, at the Princess' Theatre, and have been drawing well during the week. The troupe includes, besides tho above-named celebrities; Mr Edmonds, who draws lightning caricatures very cleverly, boxes, and poses, with Professor Miller, in wrestling tableaux ; Miss Mace and Mr Barry O'Neill, both of whom troll out comic ditties when required. The entertainment proves on the whole pleasantly relaxing, by reason of itsnovelty. Mr Miller isa muscular hero whose prowess itwould be madness to impugn. He wields an enormous pair of Indian clubs as though they were walking canes, and raises above his head with straightened arm, a dumbbell weighing 180 lbs. No display of his actual wrestling powers is given, but he, with the assistance of Mr Kdmonds, figures in a scries of tableaux illustrating the locks, stops, and holds, practised in ancient and modern wrestling How far these are correct doth not appear. The GrrecoRoman statuary exhibition by Jem Mace always takes well with an audience, if managed with a judicious use of lime light, and the entertainment concludea with a scientific boxintr display. Apropos of this,— that one Slade of Timaru, who has already tried conclusions with Miller in the catch-who-can style, is to wrestle him for £50 a side on Saturday at the Princess. This, however, i$ not musical and dramatic. We hear that Mr Williamson haa engaged the farfamed opera boufie actress Miss Emily Melville, and tha"t she will bo the star of a company he intends bringing to New Zealand, after she has played in Melbourne and S> dney. Mr J. L. Hall and a comedy company comprising Messrs Boothman, John Hesford, Robert Peake, Harry Teece, Frank Simmonds, H. Sefton, and St. Clair Jones, Misses Ruth Gray, Amy Irving, Jessie Gray, Louise Crawford, and Maggie Ford, and Masters John Irving and Harry Hall, have arrived in New Zealand, and played for a few nights in We liogtou en route for Auckland. "Our Girls" was the piece produced, in which Mr Hall's amusing impersonation of " Captain Gingah" will always be well remembered by New Zealand playgoers. He purposes during the present season producing, besides this comedy, " Our lioys," " The Colonel," "Crutch and Toothpick," andotheis of a similar class of which he has secured the exclusive rights for this colony. After his Auckland engagement, he will return to Wellington for a longer season, and we shall then see him down south. Mr Beatty is effecting considerable improvements in the interior of the Theatre Royal, Chriatchurch. The seats of the dress circle havo been raised, and moreover, so altered in position that people instead of being immediately behind each other as heretofore, with the result that the head of the person in front was always in the way, will now be able to have a clear viuw between the occupants of the scat in front of them. This is an immenso advantage, and other managers would do well to take a wrinkle.

We may be expecting Mr Bland Holt and hi 3 company (numbering 25 aitists) in Dunedin by the next boat, to produce "The World" and "New Babylon," which have enjoyed long runs in the Australian colonies. Mr Holt is bringing with him nil the scenery and properties for both pieces, and they will receive all the care in mounting that is essential to the succor of such dramas, which depend, to speak the truth, principally on spectacular effcuttt. It may bo remembered that to Mr Clarence Holt, the father of our present visitor, New Zcalanders wero indebted for the introduction of Joe Jefferson, Miss Julia Mathews, and other celebrities. The erection of a new theatre in Timaru seems to have been definitely derided upon, ami it is probable thai the work will bo commenced immediately.

Australian.

El In Sydiiov Frod Marshall's company ivouowiMnlr.iwii " The timor f1"f 1 " in favoii) of " Crui.fl' iwP •'•ihuVi- " The piccj ia v/iKtui by Mv <V rgt* N. K'.-n?, tvnd win

first produced in London at the Royalty, in 1879. Like "The Colonel" it is founded on a French play. The piece is begun evidently with the object of exposing the folly of the present day, which permits so many young men to belong to the do-nothing school. The advantages of business habits and sticking to trade are ably set forth by Mr Marshall in the character of Alderman Jones, Lord Mayor elect. The shocking example is the Hon. Guy Devereux (Mr Titheradge) husband of the Alderman's daughter Dora. The model business young man is Jellicoe, an advertising tailor, who has used Mr Devereux's name instead of his own to increase the admiration of a pretty widow. The widow finds Devereux's name in the directory and writes to his house, where the letter is opened by the Alderman, shown to his wife, and made the basis of charges which end in the indignant young_ husband becoming a packman and working for his living, instead of luxuriating on his wife's means. The moral here, however, is partly lost by the greed of Mr Alderman Jones for the advantages of position, his anxiety to introduce his city friends to his son-in-law, the Honourable Guy, and his rage at finding the latter determined to work at a trade among the city men. In the end the business people cut so sorry a figure that the gentlemen get far the best of it, and the bluster about the dignity of labour goes off. It is not surprising to learn that the play has not apparently quite hit the ta9te of the Sydney public, and it was shortly to be replaced by " The Professor." The Colonel, with Mr Harkins, Mr Wybert Reeve, and Miss Blanche Stammers, in the principal paits, is drawing well at the Royal, Sydney. Herr Wilhelmj had by last advices reached Adelaide for a short farewell season. The Simonsen Opera Company have been performing "Norma" to good houses in Sydney ; the title role beiner sustained by Mdme. Simonsen, that of Adalgisa by Misß Martina Simonsen, that of the Druidical High Priest by Signor Luisetti, and that of Pollio by Signor Paladini. Our old friend Mr Hoskins, who has been supporting Miss Jennie Lee in Melbourne, has, like other actors in their old age, become a trifle crotchety, and many are the queer tales told by members of the profeision regarding his sayings and doings as a stage manager whilst conducting rehearsals. Hoskins intense admiration for the works of Shakespeare, rev' i era his wrath the more terrible, when he notices any member of a company he is connected with enacting a Shakespearian part in a slovenly manner. It is not at all unusual for an actor to be brought to a standstill in the middle of a long blank verse speech by hearing the irate stage manager tapping the boards with his stick, and exclaiming, "Shade of the immortal Billy ! come up and see your blank blank piece murdered !" or some adjuration equally terse and to the point. Speaking about Mr Hoskins, it is not generally known that when a comedian of recognised ability in London, he had for a pupil the now celebrated Henry Irving. We learn that a comic opera of N.S. Wales' growth is in course of composition in Sydney, Mr Thos. Moser. a well-known journalist furnishing the libretto, and Mr Hector Maclean the music. It is, of course, Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan who are to be thanked for directing colonial talent into this channel, and "Patience" appears to have been the direct source whence the idea has come. In this case, however, the satire is directed againßt the prevailing craze for Athletics, and not aesthetics. A chorus in the first act, which has been set to some very sparkling music, explains in a measure the drift of the piece— The erazs about aesthetics, Is altered for athletics ; And muscle is more popular than brain ; So whate'er our private passion, We'll ne er go out of fashion, Until we find it verging on the wane. A corps of athletic-worshipping damsels is introduced, who flutter round their muscular heroes, and get in some unaccountable way mixed up with a set of betting men. The latter explain their mission in chorus, We're the ring— we're the ring, And we'll bet on anything, The only source of troubles, Are the trebles and the doubles, To the ring, to the ring, to the ring. i The title of this operetta is to be "The Modern Hercules, or the Hero of an Hour," and there is really no reason why, if the gentlemen who have undertaken its composition, are in any way equal to the task, the piece should not enjoy at least local popularity. The subject of its satire will at all events be as well appreciated, in the colonies, as that of "Patience" has been at home. We cannot of course all be Gilberts or Sullivans, but if Sydney has a Moser and a Maclean who think they can assume their mantle,— which by the way, has not yet been relinquished,— by all means let them try It is stated that Mr Walter Reynolds, after the return of his partner Mr Bayless, from America, will bring a first-class company to New Zealand. Mr Grattan Riggs is announced to open in Adelaide next month. . , , It is so seldom that a story illustrative of such overwhelming vanity and shortsightedness ti met with, that I offer no apology for clipping the following from the Canterbury Times. It has reference to a local amateur resident aforetimes in the city of the plains: A Christchurch Amateur Dramatic Society some time ago played one of Byron's comedies, in which a member who took credit for beiDg an experienced and able performer, was allotted'the walking gentleman's part, of which, as expected, he made an awful mess. From this timo he bucanie the bult for innumerable practical jokes which, however, had not the slightest effect in curing him of the vanity and bombast tor which h e had become noted. The greatest joke perpetrated was leading him to believe that Hamlet had been selected as the next piece to be played by the Society, and that he had been cast for the name part. He swallowed the bait with avidity, purchased a copy of Shakespeare, borrowed properties, and for a week or two studied hard. He told everybody of his good luck, and boasted in a most delightful manner of the sensation he intended to make as the Prince of Denmark. The fun he afforded to those in the secret was immense. Of course when the time came for disclosing the name of the piece the society really intended, to play the murder was out. But such was the vanity of our friend that ho positively could not see how splendidly he had bean sold. He was impervious to all hints and even direct statements of the fact, choosing rather to believe that the Committee had changed the piece at the last moment. He complained that it was rough upon him after studying so hard to alter the piece, and altogether by his density robbed the sell of half its fun. A few months afterwards this brilliant character left for England, whence the following inimitable letter was received by % member of the Society above referred to by the last mail :— " Vaudeville Theatre, London, April 22. Dear After three months up and down, I arrived in London all right on Feb. 19. Have since been to Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, and South Wales. On my return to London I got an introduction to the company at the Vaudeville Theatre, who were going to play " School for Scandal" in a fortnight (March 12), andmuchtothe annoyance of older members, I was cast for, and have been playing to date, in the character of Charles Surface, under my old name of H. Neville. We close tomorrow week, when I join a Shakespearean company for a tour viaOape Town, Port Elizabeth, Natal, Aden, on to East Indies, and probably on through Australia and New Zealand. We sail on May 9, in the Grantully Castle, s.s. This is truly a jolly life. Plenty of it. Professional parts are not halt so troublesome to learn as amateur. (Hamlet excepted, of course). By-the-bye, have just beeu introduced to Maude Branscombe and Connie Gilchrist, the new EDglish comedy actress. J3ut must stop now (1.26 a.m.) as it is getting late and Kaiie is yawning, so good-bye for the present, with regards to all my old friends in the office and yourself — Yours faithfully, • ." It only remains to add in order to complete this mendacious story, that in a note enclosed for another member of the Society, the writer remarks " Katie is Miss Vaughan, the actress." The inference he intends to bo drawn from this is pretty clear. It is unnecessary, of course, to remark that Mr 11. Neville is an old London actor-manager, who has boen playing Charles Surface off and on for years. The Melbourne critics have received Miss Pomeroy, on her present appearance at the Theatre Royal, more effusively than ever, and speak inmost complimentary terms as to her recent improvement, and prospect of ultimate succoss on the London boards. The Leader says that to her efforts and influence, playgoers are indebted for the finest Shakespearean revivals sinco the visits of Montgomery and Jefferson. "Led Astray', was, as in Adelaide, helected for the opening piece, with Messrs W. J. llollovsay and Douglas, to support the otar. , , " Joe," lias at length, aftor a most successful run, />een withdrawn from she boards at the Vrincosi,', Melbourne, and Miss Jennio Luc, has appeared in "The Grasshopper," a romantic comedy which Air Burnett professes to have adapted from the French of MM. Meilach and lla'ovy'a "La Cigale." it is de(iribed as a most remarkable pi oductioi), in wildness and improbability ont-hcvodiiifj the most extravagant imaginings of Oilbon. md bom^ 1 composed of the plots of a thousand other plays, from ITtuulct to Mi<» Hi pat T/infomhnf. 'CUi: openim* is I totally irrelevant to n.l' tliatfoJlowd, and ihe finale has I nolMnp whatever toiio with auyl.ntijj.- that, haa preI iwJetl id. 'J'iic yVo'.'lflv Tmiua 'lOKQiib"s tho ohirJ actfirs as •■>, phantdumfti-'ovic collection oJ British nobls-

men, Scotch gillies, circus proprietors and performeifs, Highland lassies, English artists, and young ladies whose social positions are in no way defined, but who knock about Scottish hills and in and out of artists' studios in a most delightfully inconventional manner. " On the Jury," a comedy drama by the late Watts Phillips, has been produced at the Bijou, Melbourne. The cast includes Meßsrs Dewhurst, Arthur Eliott, and G P Carey. Fred. Marshall has appeared in Sydney in "The Professor," one of the newest American productions. It is described as a comedy which would be more properly designated a farce in four acts. Dr Simms the physiognomist, who will be remembered in Dunedin, is delivering a series of lectures in Sydney. The 32nd of the series given in that town was announced for the sth inst., the subject being "Earth," its past and present changes. A lengthy article upon " Eyes," by the doctor, has beeu published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. Dr Simms, it will be seen, is versatile.

There are a few items of interest to hand from Home. Mr Clayton has produced " The Parvenu" at the Court, and Mr Buchanan has had the command of two stages, those of the Olympic and the Imperial, for a couple of dramas, " Lucy Brandon," and " The Shadow of the Sword." With regard to the former piece, its name will at once suggest that it is an I adaptation of "Paul Clifford," one of Lord Lytton's so-called " criminal novels," and certainly the weakest ' one. It seems almost cruel, considering the sterling works that Lord Lytton afterwards produced, that the memory of early efforts like "Paul Clifford" should he revived. It belongs to a short-lived and I utterly condemned style of romanic literature. Mr Buchanan, howover, has thought otherwise, and has dished this new adaptation up for the delectation of country people and others who frequent afternoon performances at the Imperial. " Sinbad " at the Royalty, and " Babil and Bijou " lat the Alhambra, complete the list of novelties. At 1 the Haymarket, "She Stoops to Conquer" and "A Lesson " Btill form the programme, but there will soon be a change, Mr Bancroft being under engagement to M. Sandou to produce at an early date " Odette," for which Madame Modjoska has been specially engaged. The " Mascotte" can only be played for a short time longer at the Comedy Theatre, where 11 Boccaccio," in which Miss Kate Munroe will make a welcome reappearance, is already in rehearsal. This new opera proved highly successful at the Folies Dramatiques in Paris, and bids fair to equal popularity in London, Mr Henderson intending to do it the lullest justice in the manner of representation. Messr3 Gatti, at the Adelphi, rely with confidence on the attraction of the romantic melodrama, '' Taken from Life," which continues to draw great houses. Mrs Swanborough is still doing excellent business with " Manola" at the Strand. As much maybe said oJ Mr Hollingshead with his " Forty Thieves " at the Gaiety. "The Colonel" pursues his prosperous course at the Prince of Wales, but it is announced that " owing to previous arrangements the present run cannot be much further prolonged." At the Opera Comique " Mother-in-Law " and "Vulcan" afford a pleasant entertainment. The Globe reopens with the popular drama, " Mankind." " The School for Scandal " at the Vaudeville, " The Squire" at St. James 1 , "Fourteen Days" at the Criterion, "Patience "at the effulgent Savoy, "The Lights o'London" at the Princess', " Madame Favart" at the new and elegant Avenue, and "Auntie" at Mr Toole's theatre, will in all probability retain their places on the bills for some time to come. Before English musicians contribute to the Royal College of Music (observes Figaro), they are doubtless waiting to authoritatively learn the truth of the report that the post of principal has been offered to Herr Josef Joachim. The feeling is unanimous that for an English college, supported by English money, so honourable a position ought not to go to a German, however eminent he may be. So, with the exception of Mr Henry Leslie'B £52 10b, and Mr Barnby's £50, no English musician has yet contributed to the Royal College. Among foreigners resident in England, Sir Michael Costa, Herr Otto Goldschmidt, Sir Julius Benedict, Mr Halle, Herr Joachim, Mr Carl Rosa, Herr Ganz, Mr Randegger, and others have either given or promised. The death is announced of Signor Gardoni, the well-known operatic tenor, who was by some considered a not unworthy rival to Mario. Gardoni's voice was light in quality, and bis Btyle waß essentially refined. Towards the close of his career, however, the tendency to vibrato, which had always been more or less apparent, increased to a painful extent, and those who heard him only at this time could have formed no idea of the charm of his singing when in his prime. The director of La Renaissance Musicale is organising a subscription to place a monument over the remains of Berlioz at Montmartre. Hitherto the project ha 9 hung fire, not so much for the lack of names as for the trivial amounts subscribed. Signor Mario, the great tenor, whose death was cabled from London recently, was born in Turin in 1808. Although he received an excellent musical education, he did not at once single out music as his career, but entered the Sardinian army under his proper name— the Marchese de Candia. His first engagement was in Paris, where he is said to have received a salary of 1500 francs a month, his admirable voice having at once been recognised. After further study at the Conservatory he came out, in 1838, under the name of Mario, in the opera of " Robert le Diable," and from this time his career was a triumphant one. He took a principal part in all the great operas of the time, and became extremely popular in England as well as on the Continent. Signor Mario took his farewell of the London stage on July 19th, 1871, and it was soon afterwards announced that he would appear at Madrid in the spring of 1872 to sing in opera. Afterwards he had the misfortune to fall into distressed circumstances, and in May, 1878, a concert was givon at St. James' Hall for his benefit, thegross receipts of which amounted to .fit 150. He was the husband of the late Madame Grisi.

Madame Christina Millson has signed contracts for a six months' American tour, beginning in September next.

Herr Neumann has arrived in England, bringing with him the scenery and properties for " The NibeliDg's Bing," from Bayreuth. The properties include an engine which manufactures coloured steam for the more realistic effects of flames, and the charger ridden by the Crown Prince of Germany at the Battle of Worth.

The Era records that on March 11th Mr and Mrs Bancroft gave a supper to H.11.H. the Prince of Wales, Mrs Langtry being among the guests. Mrs Langtry also subsequently had a party, at which her former host and hostess and their royal guußt were present. Rose Coglan stateß that when Mr Tearle fails to gain applause for his efforts, he goes to his dressingroom and weeps. How can she possibly know ?