THEATRICAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 28

THEATRICAL.

.V-Hribntionn from the Profession chronicling their movement! ri doings are invited. All communication! to be addressed io - .»asquln," Otago WHneii Offioe.

NOTES BY PASQUIN.

A dramatic company with a mere infant as its " star " is a veritable novelty, yet it is such a company that commenced an eight nights' season in the Princess Theatre on the 15th inst. and two succeeding nights. The " star "ia a little girl of some seven summers, named " Baby " Ogden, who will probably be remembered as having appeared in Dunedin about 18 months ago in the Carrie Swain combination, on which occasion she caused a considerable amount of amused wonder by the naturalness of her acting. The piece with which the season was opened was a dramatisation of " Bleak House " — under the name, of course, of "Jo," with "Baby" Ogden in the title role. "Baby" Ogden's performance was on the whole a remarkable one, although during the inquest scene some of her lines were delivered in a rather mechanical way. There was a depth of pathos in. the repeated testimony to the departed—" He wos worry kind to me, 'c was. —that would have done credit to actors of experience, but all through "Baby "Ogden apoke with intelligent feeling. The real charm of her performance was, however, in her natural and effective acting. This requirei to be seen to be appreciated. She received capital support from an artistically strong company. Miss Helen Fergus (Mrs d'Orßay Ogden) doubled the parts of Lady Dedlock and Mdlle Hortense. She haß evidently mads rapid Btrides in her profession since she was last here, both characters being sustained with considerable dramatic power. Miss Ethel Parnwell satisfactorily impersonated Mrs Snagsby, and merrily "nagged" at the unfortunate law writer, her husband, whom Mr Joseph Smith represented with a good deal of success, although the delicate cough, which was well developed in the firßt and last acts, was apparently forgotten during the others. Mr Laurie Duncan was well cast as Inspector Bucket, and played particularly well in tho fourth act. Mr Barry Marshall gave a careful and correct impersonation of Tulkinghorne. tbe family solicitor of the Dedlooks ; but Mr Harry Power, one of the oldest favourites of the New Zealand stage, was out of his element as Ohadband, " the apostle of the truth." Mr Godfrey gave a quite colourless representation of Sir Leioester Dadlook, and minor parts were sustained by Misses Dawson and Melrose and Mr W. Poole. Following upon the representation of " Jo," a dramatisation of " Oliver, Twist " was presented on Saturday night before a good house. In this latter play Oliver Twist, the parochial orphan, is, of course, the central figure, and the characters that, after him, are most prominently brought under the notice of the audience, are Fagin and the members of his gang; Bill Sikes; the Artful Dodger; Charley Bates, and Nancy Sikes. The beadle and the workhouse keeper are also introduced, but not much is seen of them, and Mr Brownlow and Rose Maylie appear even less. It would be impossible for any dramatist to compress within the bounds of a four act play all the incidents that the novelist has related in the 53 ohapers of which the story of "Oliver Twist" is composed, and in the present case the dramatist has confined himself to ' reproducing some of the more salient features of the novel and connecting them in a fairly skilful way. Whether he has not even now attempted too much is open to question, for the play undoubtedly dragged during the latter part, and is capable of a good deal of judicious pruning. Oliver Twist is, whether on or off the etage, ia evidence throughout the whole performance. The character was impersonated by little Baby Ogden, who, by her capital acting, enhanced the favourable impression she created in the part of Jo. The part was not neatly such an exacting one as that of the unfortunate crossing sweeper, and the child actress had little difficulty in responding to the demands it made upon her. The simple ballad 11 Please give me a penny, sir ?" was sung in the course of the play by Baby Ogden, who has evidently acquired as profound a knowledge of vocalism as of acting. Every note in the song was taken clearly and correctly, and the little creature sang with an expressiveness that was exceedingly creditable. She was loudly applauded, but properly was • restrained from granting an encore. Mr D'Orsay Ogden assumed the part of Fagin, and made an excellent character sketch of it. The vicious qualities of the penurious old Jew were faithfully brought out, and in the final scene of all, where Fagin lies in the condemned cell, Mr Ogden's impersonation culminated in a powerful piece of acting. Mr Barry Marshall succeeded, by dint of his "make up" and histrionics, in rendering Bill Sikes the most repulsive personage in the drama, and Mr Harry Power found himself, as the Artful Dodger, in apart that was after his own heart. He made the most ot it and created » great deal of amusement. Miss Helen Fergus gave substantial evidence of her abilities aa an emotional actress by an effective representation of Nancy Sikes. Tbe remaining characters also satisfactorily filled the parts allotted to them. On Tuesday evening Baby Ogden .was given a rest, when a three-act comedy, "Mamma-in law," an adaption from the French by John Oxenford, was placed on the hoards. The comedy is written in a smart and piquant style, and contains two or three very amusing -situations. On Wednesday evening a complimentary benefit was tendered to Mies Helen Fergus and Baby Ogden, when Gough's temperance drama *' Lost and Won " was produced to a good house. Bland Holt's Dramatic Company will commence their season on Saturday night. Their opening piece, " The Union Jack," has had a long tun both in Sydney and Melbourne, and is at present being played at the Adelphi Theatre, London, where it has been running with success for some months past. Preparations have already been commenced on the stage of the Princess Theatre to make room for the large amount of scenery and effects which Mr Holt is bringing with him for his various productions. For "The Union Jack" Mr Holt brings all the scenery used at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and specially painted by Mr George Gordon, I learn that Mr William Hugo joins his brother James in Melbourne. The latter wag also formerly connected with tbe Buffalo Minstrels, having acted as business manager to the troup for some time. Ths company have played at Oamaru and Tiinaru since leaving Dunedin, aud by the time this appears in print they will be in Ohristohurob, Thence they tour tha colony and may possibly return to Dunedin from Auckland with fresh novelties. This reminds me of a rather good joke perpetrated by the small man of the company, whose sense of humour appears from the dance he has led some members of the company on different occasions to by no means commensurate with bis size. Mr Robinson's fondness for children ia proverbial. A visit to the Industrial School, where there are some hundreds of all ages and both sexes, therefore preejetad considerable attractions to the clever

little man. The pleasure proved mutual, for not only were the "kiddiea" delighted with their visitor, but he in turn had a good time of it, not alone with the children, but also with the genial master of the institution. While sitting disoußsing the amenities of stage life with bis host, and sipping nothing stronger than afternoon tea, a bright idea suddenly struck his dwarfahip. He would pay Charlie Hugo off in his own coin for the indignities placed upon him while on the stage. Placing a chair beneath the telephone he got connected with the theatre, and in the absence of her husband Mrs Hugo had such a tale of woe poured into her ear as made her voice ten times more metallic than even when correcting one of Charles' most exaggerated nigger stupidities. Tom Thumb detained at the Industrial School, and would not be able to appear at night unless rescued ! Find Mr Hugo immediately ! Get a cab at once ! Send for half a dozes policemen 1 &c, &o. And scene shifters, ! supers, and everyone available were quickly scattered over the town obeying the irate lady 8 behests. After some delay Charlie was unearthed from one of bis favourite haunts. He was quickly trundled into the cab, with a small army of assistants, and in due course reached the institution prepared to do or die. Here he waß ushered into a room, to be greeted with a laugh from the midget practical joker which would have done credit to a Certain Australian bird which shall bo nameless in this connection, but whose identity can be easily imagined, i The roar of Charlie's "Moo Cow" was not \ a circumstance to the polite invectives which proceeded from the popular minstrel's lips as he marched off his dwarfship by the ear to the waiting cab. The Choral Hall was moderately filled on Saturday afternoon when Miss Wilson and Mr Towsey, assisted by others, gave the fifth of the series of concerts inaugurated by them. The afternoon's performance was left in the hands of Misses Wilson, Gray, Messrs Towsey, Hunter, and Schacht, and these ladies and gentlemen did justice to the items allotted to them. Mr George Buller, manager for Maccabe, tho well-known entertainer, arrived in town on the 15th to make arrangements for a short season here. I learn by letter from Mr Cunard from Rockhampton, Queensland, that the Brough and Boucicault Comedy Company will open in Dunedin on Boxing night for a season of three weeks. " Sweet Lavender " and the ♦' Private Secretary " are two of the pieces in the company's repertoire. In a letter received in Christchurch from Mr Santley, he states that he is coming to New Zealand in February or March. \ Something approaching a small riot occurred at a concert given at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, the other night, under the condactorship of Mr Robert Parker. A young lady, who is very popular with Wellington audiences, sang a favourite English ballad, which was enthusiastically redemanded. Mr Parker's rule is not to permit encores, but the audience insisted, and a trial of endurance between the audience and the conductor followed. The young lady appeared and bowed her acknowledgments, but tbe audience still persisted. After about five minutes were spent in the contest Mr Parker appealed to the good taste and good manners of those present, but it was not until he threatened to bring the concert to a close that the performance was allowed to proceed. , Among the passengers by the mail steamer to San Francisco is Mr James Allison, the wellknown theatrical manager, formerly in connection with Mr G. Rignold. His object in visiting the States is to make arrangements with " Buffalo Bill " for the bringing out of his Wild West show to Australia. ' Mr Solomon, of Sydney, is associated with Mr Allison in his enterprise, and a big American firm have an interest in it. It is Mr Allison's intention to visit New Zealand with the show, but whether this colony will be " done " before proceediqg to | Australia or subsequently is not yet decided. I notice that Mr Lachlan M'Gowan is acting | as business manager for Mr Charles Warner, who is at present doing the Victorian provinces. Wellington people will be pleased to learn that, according to a Home paper, Lord Onslow brought out -with him the scenic effects and properties of his private theatre at Olandon, and that come brilliant dramatic entertainments will be given at Government House in the course of tbe season. The paper quoted from asserts that Lady Onslow is a capital actress, and asks for nothing better than to delight colonist society from behind the footlights; but it continued the awful question j arises, What would ba the feelings pf her Britannic Majesty if she beard that the wife of her representative was appearing upon the stage 1 Readers of this page will, I am sure, join with me in rejoicing over the convalescence of " Scalfax," who has ao far recovered as to be ' able to promise to reppnaa his Witness correspondence next week. Illness has certainly not damaged my friend's effervescing good humour, in proof of which I make tbe following extracts from a letter received by Tuesday's mail f — "I have had a very bad time, and last Wednesdays-seven daya ago^the doctors expected my friends would enjoy a first- class funeral; but I have disappointed them, and to day make my first appearance at the Opera House to meet my very old friend John F. Sheridan, of ' Fun on the Bristol ' fame, who arrives from Sydney by the express, I need hardly Bay I am not up to concert gitoh, b^t I am fortunately blessed with an irom constitution, and I shall soon pull up now. You may expect a resumption of the correspondence next week. I have not had any chance of getting original uews this week, as I am too late on the scene. " JamesjE. Moore (Mrs Williamson's brother) goes to New Zealand with a baseball team, I believe. He is a good 'pitcher.' There is a deep joke concealed in that last sentence, "By the Way, Jennie Lee was taken suddenly 111 yesterday, and her part in 'The Grasshopper ' at the Princess bad to be taken at a moment's notice by. Miss Florence Hastings. Mrs Burnett (J.L.) is so bad that hci." new piece for Saturday-^'Jaok in the Box' — is indefinitely postponed, and Charles Warner has been called upon to produce ' Captain Swift on Saturday without notice, j "We have a rare variety of shows in town jjust now, and I shall use up plenty of space next week, I shall be glad to be at work again, although my illness has shown me how many friend? I have, and I have been holding levees with much aplomb (whatever that is) and have been fed on the fat of the land, including seltzer and champagne — one friend was good enough to provide the real schnapps — free of charge. There are worse things than being ill — when you are getting better. That sounds pretty good. It is worthy of La Roche- i faucauld." Mr Haddon Chambers tells me (writes the Daily Times Home correspondent) that his new play is nearly ready. It is to be called the •• Bouquet," and will be a comedy-drams, in so far as it ends happily and contains plenty of comedy. But there are some very strong, even tragic scenes in it, so that there will be no lack of the stirring. He has read the first two acts ; to &fr Beerbobm Tree, who produced " Captain i

Swift," and that gentleman has expressed himself very well satisfied with them. Mr Tree prefers a one-part play, as is well known — witless " Wealth," now running at a loss at the Haymarket ; but Mr Chambers informs me that the " Bouquet " is by no means a one-part play — there are three very powerful men'B parts and one strong woman's part. It is, indeed, doubtful which part of the three Mr Tree would decide to play if he accepts the drama. Even if he does not, it is fairly certain that the " Bouquet " will be seen on the London stage about November. The Garrick would suit it very well. Mr Chambers has also arranged to write another play for production at the Madison Square Theatre in New York. The Gaiety company has arrived Home at last, after an absence of 15 months in Australia and America. __ One of the leading ladies, Miss Letty Lind, has beeu in due course interviewed, and expressed herself as highly delighted with her Melbourne experiences. " I can't tell you how we enjoyed ourselves at Melbourne, though for my own part I like Sydney better. At Melbourne I was not very well ; but at Sydney I had my usual health, and that perhaps accounts for my liking Sydney better. I think the Princess Theatre at Melbourne is the nicest I have ever baen in. We did splendidly there ; the house was full every night, and more people wanted to obtain admission than could possibly enter the house. They had never seen any burlesque like ours before, and it quite took the people by storm. I looked in one night at the Theatre Royal, where an English company was playing ♦ The Lights of London,' and they, too, were doing very good business. At Sydney it was just the same. We had a perfectly lovely time there. The people were most kind and hospitable. Every day we went off on picnics to one or other of the places on the harbour. Sydney people, you know, are very proud of their harbour, and always ask | visitors what they think of it." j An exciting scene was witnessed at the j Alhambra, London, on fche evening of June 27. Just as the ballet " Irene " began, the dress of Mdlle. Angelina Spotti, who took the chief part, | caught fire, and she rushed off the stage in flames in view of a crowded audience, and tho \ members of the ballet fled in panic from the stage. Many of the audience rose to their feet, [ and a rush to the doors seemed imminent, when I the band struck up a lively air and a panic was happily averted. Tho curtain was lowered, and after a short interval the manager appeared and announced that Mdlle. Spotti was only slightly injured. She was, however, too nervous to appear, and the ballet proceeded without her. Madame Melba follows Albani in taking her name from a town. Madame Gye took her firsfe start in Albany, U.S.A., and Melba's fame began in Melbourne. Her Majesty's Theatre, refurnished, redecorated, and in gome degrea reconstructed, opened in June with a brilliant performance of " The Barber of Seville," in which Mdlle Gargano proved herself the best Rosina of the day, next only to Madame Fatti ; who, however, may be looked upon, so far as the operatio stage of England is concerned, as already retired. The " Una Voce " at once revealed Mdlle Gargano as a consummate vocalist, endowed with a most agreeable voice ; while in the scene of the singing lesson her execution of Proch's .variations provoked the warmest j applause, and her singing of the "Shadow Song " from " Dinorah " (given as an encore piece) the wildest enthusiasm. It seems peculiar that although the whole of the English critics recognised in " Doris " a successful endeavour to imitate and adopt the genuine English style, the London correspondents of the French papers affect the belief that the music ia essentially French. They allege that Mr Cellier is a Frenchman. At any rate, he was bora in London, was educated in Britain, and has lived in that country praotically all his life. When a sooiitaire of the Oomedie Francaiee retires from the theatre after the reglementary 20 years that entitles him to withdraw with a pension, he has the right to a farewell benefit performance, In accordance with this custom, M. Coquelin appeared on May 14 for the last time on the stage where he has passed the whole of his long and uucceßßful career. There is no denying that the special public of the Franchise is dissatisfied with the ministerial decision that prevented an arrangement whereby M. Coquelin would return to this theatre after his American tour, and that strong influences are always at work to bring about this return, Do not be surprised, therefore, if within a year you hear that Ooquelin — and, perhaps, Sarah Bernhardt— again belong to the Comedie Francaise Company. Several beasts eeeaped from their cages while in a Western town recently, and wandered howling through the streets all night. Many of the older residents remarked that they wished the young men wouldn't be co hilarious getting home nights. The Printer Fiend Again J— Oae of the American Sunday magazines said recently : — 11 Pauline Hall will pass her vacation at the Oriental Hotel among the brokers " Of course it meant breakers. Madame Albani's reappearance in June at the Royal Italian Opera brought with it, as a matter of course, a crowded house. The opera of the evening was "La Traviata," in which no one now on the stage can sing the bright flerid music so perfectly as it is sung by Madame Albani. It is, above all, as a vocalist that the Canadian prima donna is unrivalled. But her acting in the final scene is singularly fathetJQ. The performances at the Royal talian Opera have been a series of triumphs. So far the greatest evjecesa of the season has been "Lohengrin," which filled the theatre even to overflowing. The Elsa was Madame Nordica, and the Ortrud Madame FurschMadi. It is again said that one of the novelties at the Birmingham Festival of 189 i will be an oratorio by Dr Mackenzie. But an oratorio was promised for Birmingham last year, though it never came off, Wallack's Theatre used to be a household word in dramatic circles, and even with the public at large. Messrs Sampson Low, Marston, and Co. have just published, in edition de luxe form, the 50 years' recollections of Leßter Wallack, the manager and actor. The volume includes notices of the other members of the Wallack family who were connected with the theatre. The illustrations to Mr Lester Wallack's book comprise portraits of many English dramatic celebrities, also facsimiles of letters from great actors, singers, and painters to Mr Wallack. In these the very aspect of the paper they are written on is imitated. The sucoess of Mdlle Melba aa Ophelia in Thomas' "Hamlet," at the Paris Opera, is undisputed ; it is certain that Bhe supplies a long-felt want at the principal theatre of the French capital, and it is to be hoped that MM. Ritt and Gailhard shall secure her definitely by offering her a decent salary. "Marah," a very serioua piece by Mr W. Sapte, jun., reoently produced in London, concerns a villainous Frenchman and his female victims, and illustrates the working of our marriage laws, as "Forget-me-not" does those of France. Tbe story is good aad is well told. At the Empire Theatre on 10th June a curtain on tbe stage caught fire, A ring of flame

was seen to spread rapidly, and some of the audience at the back of the pit took alarm, and amid cries of " Fire ! " made for the exits, Before the bulk of the audience could realise what had ocourred, however, the curtain was dropped bodily by the scene shifters, and with the utmost promptitude a hose turned on, aud the flames were almoßt instantaneously extinguished. The panic was only momentary, '• and the shouts of the more aelf-poaaessed of the pittites brought the few who had rushed to the doors back again. After a brief interval the performance was resumed amid the applause of the audience, which had quite regained its confidence. Barbera Marchisio, one of the Marchisio sisters, famed vocalists 30 years ago, has donated a priceless relic to the Naples Conservatory — the desk on which Rossini wrote his " Semiramida." Two inscriptions in Rossini's handwriting on tbo desk testify to its authenticity. Clever play though the late Sir I Charles ■Young's " Jim the Penman " is, few even of those who thought most highly of it on its produotion in 1886 would have expected to see it come out so well as it does on revival in 1889. On June 15 the ingenious romance of drawing room crime was witnessed at the Shaftesbury Theatre with enjoyment as keen, as fresh, and as demonstrative, as though far more than three years had elapsed since its prosperous run at the Haymarket. The vitality of the effective, if not wholly sympathetic, drama seems assured. Mr Willard himself, of course, reßumes the role of the gentlemanly swindler whose efforts of 'forgery have to [do 'not only with the signing of cheques but the writing of lovers' letters. Another member of the former cast whoße services have happily been secured is Lady Monckton, whose rendering has all its original power. If possible, the aspect of Oovent Garden increases in brilliancy as the opera season progresses. Last year flowers were to be sesn in profusion, but at the present moment displays of diamonds are the proper thing, and consequently Mrs Smith, who has noticed the scintillations from Mrs Jones' box, proceeds to her jeweller's next day aud secures tho loan of coruscated gems calculated to make Mrs Jones turn green with envy. After ail, thia sort of thing costs little, and as the general effect is pleasing, I don't think anyone need find fault. A Swedish architect has invented a now system of building theatres by which danger from fire can be greatly lessened ; his idea is to construct them in two separate parts, the stage to be fixed, and the entire auditorium to ba movable, and placed on wheels in such a manner that it can bo rolled away from the stage in the event of a fire occurring on the latter. A seventeen-year-old pianist named Hirsch, created an extraordinary sensation at a recent concert in the Salle Pleyer; he played from memory no Ibbs than 15 very difficult numbers, three of them with orchestra ; Bach, Chopin, Lißzt, Weber, Pfeiffar, Mathias, Saint-Saens, and others figured on the programme. The chorus at the approaching musical festival of the middle Rhine country at Mayence will contain 1000 voices. The orchestra will consist of 150 pieces. Soloißts from Berlin, Frankfort, Vienna, and Dresden will be present. Haydn's " The Seasons," the ninth symphony of Beethoven, and a new overture by Liszt will ba rendered.