THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1906, 21 August 1890, Page 32

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Contributions from the Profession chronicling their movoments »nd dolnga are Invited. AH communications to bo addressed to " ruquin," (Hugo Witness Office.

On dit, that a certain author aotor is about to take the St. Maur Company Home with the objeot of making his debut in the Old Country, I and of also producing some of hia own plays ; further, that the Dunedin season has been prolonged with the objeot of perfecting the members in the various characters in the com- ' pany's extensive repertory. " East. Lynne " was produoed at the Princess Theatre on Thursday and Friday nights to fair houses. The interest of the audience centred ohiefly, as a matter of course, around Mißs Florence Seymour's dual impersonation of Lady Isabel and Madame Vine. Some of the other characters which Miss Seymour has pourtrayed duriDg the present season have enabled her to proclaim her possession of high claims to be regarded as an emotional actress of great abUity, and these claims Bhe amply confirmed by her performance on this occasion. Shunning the temptation to rant— a temptation that has proved to be too strong for the resistance of many aotresaes who have essayed the dual part— she played with a reserved force and an intensity of power that was exceedingly effeotive. She departed from tho praotice that is generally adopted— and with some reason to support it— of giving a French accent to the conversation of Madame Vine. Her incidental aong, " When other lips," was rendered with fine expreseion, and scoured for her a wellmerited encore. The other characters call for no special comment. „..,„., On Saturday and Monday nights "Pink Dominoes" was produced. The main feature of the production was the debut of a well-known and popular Dunedin amateur— -Mr J. Thornton Stewart— as a professional. Mr Stewart appeared aB Sir Percy Wagstaff, a gentleman about town, with an easy code of morals, and obtained a cordial reception. He waß palpably nervous, but played in a quiet, effeotive way that encourageß the hope that he may yet make his mark. What may be termed the benefit season was inaugurated at the Princess Theatre on Monday evening, on which occasion Mr J. T. Stewart was the beneficiare. There was a very good house both above and below, and the sparkling comedy "Pink Dominoes" was repeated. On Tuesday night the member 3 of the company accorded Miss Florence Seymour, their premier aofcress, a well-deserved benefit, the play Btaged for the occasion being "Jim the Penman." The theatre-going public also showed their appreciation of Misß Seymour's abilities by attending in large number^ and on making her first appearance on the stage the benefioiaire was accorded a hearty welcome. The part of Mra Ralston was, as usual, sustained by Mibs Seymour, who fairly excelled herself— scoring a bigger success, if possible, than on her previous appearances in the character ; while Mr Saint Maur (Mr Ralston), Mr David Christie Murray (Baron Hardtfelt), and the other members of the company fully maintained their old standard of fcxcellence. The parts of Lady Dunscombe and Mrs ChapBtone were assumed by Miss Ro*a Oonroy and Miss Dadley respectively, for the first time in Dunedio, and both ladies did full justice to the parts. The staging was the samo as previously. During intervals Miss Seymour sang "The minstrel boy," " I dreamt that I dwelt," and " Best of all," and was most successful in each item. On Thursday night Mr D. Christie Murray's comedy-drama " Gratitude," whioh he has just completed, is to be placed on the boards for the firsfe time, when Mr Saint Maur will take a benefit. There was no performance on Widnesday night, in order to allow of preparations being completed for the production of this play. Mr Alexander, the business manager for Wirth Brothers, has returned from America by the mail steamer, after having organised a Wild Weßt 6how for the colonies It is on an extensive scale, and comprises 36 Indians, 8 cowboys, with Captain Sutcon, 2 Greasers, 20 Broncho horseß, and other attractions. The show comes by the next mail boat, and makes a short tour of the colony before goina to Australia. The passages alone cost £1000. .. In the French capital nearly every leading aotreßS iB an accomplished swordswoman, and is as devout in her attendance at the salle d'armes as at rehearsals. To pass from the gloomy ugliness of tbe Marylebone road to the tiny cottage near the parish church where Mrs Bernard-Boere lives, is almost like entering fairyland, It iB the very beau ideal of an artiste's home, with its pretty trelliß-coyered pathway, its canary drawing room, adorned with the autograph portraits of Tennyson, Browning, Salvini, S^rah Bernhardt, and many others of her intimate friends ; and its boudoir, the walls of which are decorated in Japanese red and gold, with black Batin furniture, and tho floor oovered with rich Persian carpets. Mrß Bernard Beore is tall and graceful ; of a spiritueUo type of beauty, with dreamy dark-grey eyeß, and auburn barr. Her father was a Norfolk artist, and William Makepeace Thackeray was her godfather, and Bbc is very proud of ft Chippendale cabinet, hiß ohristening gift. She has a large circle of literary acquaintances, " The late Robert Browning was one of her especial friends ; and bo is Lord Tennyson, in whose play, " The Promise of May," she took a leading part, A Japanese audience, when they wish to express disapproval of a bid play, do not hiss or hoot, or make any hideous and inconvenient noise ; they merely rise to ttrnir feot and turn their backs to the stage, upon whioh the curtain immediately descends, and the play is forthwith tabooed. Mrs Carl Rosa, on the anniversary of her husband's death, reoeived visits of sympathy from the officers, artists, and servants of the Carl Rosa Company, as well as from private friends. Mrs Rignold, the mother of William and George, the popular actors, played the parts of Romeo, Hamlet, and even Virginius in England, years ago. A strong syndicate, ho it is said, ib being formed in London with the object of testing at matinees a series of plays by unknown authors. The " figures " are believed fco show that even if but three good plays are found in every 50 staged the thing will pay, THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA. Notes bt Scalfax. Melbourne, August 12. Business xb looking up at the* various theatres, and spring, gentle spring, is looming on the far off horizon (T am willing to bet that the intelligent covnp. will set that up ai " booming. ' lam pure of it. He couldn't help doing bo if be tri"rt ) [Hand over the boodle, gentle Scßlfax Int. Comp.] Tho weather hau been protty generou*, and ft!l i* piece and pio. Your great svnd glorious country (fibiq is half ft "rown extra) has already had several opp-rlcmttioG of snoing Mv Goorge Darrell's new pay, "Thn Luoky Lot," and imy conjrrrtn!i f e ifccnlf that its troublo ia over. Mr i>vv;l! bf.p •••'ritton •* cmod mv.iy plft'H, w we u >. ,^>l o.ffa.!' Mid hr.i ft fey ran -q in h™ b^ that wa are not aware of. Since he became

stage manager at the Royal he has kept hia hand in by improving on Bouoioault and other dramatists in a manner which will lead him into unpleasantness Borne day if he keeps it up. Hiß line is melodrama, and his works are quite as good as, and 'cry often muoh bettor, than the bushelß of rubbish that are palmed off on us ; but at melodrama he stops. Hi« soul does not appear to aspire to higher things, and more is the pity. He is muoh the best of our colonial authors, and we would like to have a real good oomsdy from hie pen, something whioh depended mo'e upon itself and the aoting than on bank robb9ries, steeplechasing, and the unquenchable villain. You all know how "The Lucky Lot " is constructed, and to write up its plot again would be wearying you. The drama was magnificently mounted, and went without appreciable bitch from start to finish, the osoapo on horseback working the gallery up to 95 in the Bhade. Mr George Dirrell was the Guy, and looked and acted as if he were considerably worried, and possibly he was. It is quite enough to act a new part before a oritical audience without having also to look after everybody else behind the footlights. Mrs Darrell played the heroine in a fairly pleasing way, but at times we are reminded that she is young, and has a good deal to learn yet. Mr Clyndes was a desirable Savari, and Captain de Burgh was Saul Randall, with enough villainy conoealed about him to keep a few more acts going if required. Mr Gaorge Walton was Tommy Upright, and Miss Edith Blande, the humorous Sally. His Exoellency the Governor shed the light of his patronage on the drama last night, and sat in a beautiful box specially decorated for him. " The Lucky Lot " is expected to run for a few weeks at leaat, and that will be a consolation for many of us. "The Golden Ladder" kept a large audience out of the streets on Saturday, and looks like boine the ''boom" of the month. Mr George R Sims and Mr Wilson Barrett are the joint authors, and they have turned out a sensational drama whioh cannot be called weary in any pvt, while in others it rises much above the average of this class of play. It is refreshing, also, jfco have tho principal incidents happening v\ a country of which so little is known iw Madagascar. We are getting tired of India, Par's, the North Pole, and " side," so Tftmitave comes in as cool and refreshing as— well, what do you usually ' drink ? The hero is the Rev. Frank Thornhill, and he is the first novelty, for he is already married. His wife'e father gets into trouble, and the thoughtless young fellow gives up his i wife's fortune to help his pa-in-l&w and goes to Madagascar &3 a missionary. At Tamatave there ia troublo between iha English and the French, ho tbe Rsv,,to koop thing slively, mixes up in politioal intrigue and gets very nearly shot right under the British flag, which is a very serious place to be shot in, I may mention. Of course there is a British man of-war just handy, and the < expectant bullet oase gets resoued just in time. After this he is allowed to get his money back again, and everything gets beautifully squared up, tho band plays •' God save tho Queen," and the audienoe begins fco wonder what there will be for supper when it gets home. Mr J. A. Rosier was the Rev. .Frank Thornhill, and when he gets more animation into his Ryi-tom he will be better liked. One of theFr^nsh byiHotß, inserted whera it would do most good, might move him somewhat, ufr Bland Holt was Samuel Peckaby, a pastryoook who was to he found everywhere just when wanted ; and Mr Walter Howe, Peranza, whose n ime is Buffioient to show i what he baa to do in the four aotß. Miss Maggie Knight as Lillian Grant, the heroine, acted with her usual vigour; and the remainder of a very long oast; was well filled. The Bcenio and mechanical effeots were up to standard. I expect a genuine run for " The Golden Ladder." More of this next week. "Kerry "and "The Balloon" are atill enjoyed by the Bijou patrom On Saturday next Sydney Grundy's comedy " The Glass of Fashion" will bo revived. It has already been tried at the old Bjou, and was vary near to a failuro. It wa 1 ? a failure in London, and that failure was attributed to a real looking glass being used in the performance, a most unlucky thing accordinc to theatrical superstition, whioh requires all looking glasses used to be only imitations. The comedy, however, has nothing to do with that, " Tho Glass of Faßhion" boing a new eocioty paper round which the trouble bang's. "Frou Frou" displayed Mrs Brown-Potter jn a new light and several new dresßßß at the Princes on Saturday. The story of Moilhao and Halevy's comedy must be known to all theatregoers over seven, and may be sum marled as tho varies of a pretty but weak minded woman who neglects hnr husband and ohild for tho vanities of fashionable life, falls into guilty love with another man, and finally d ieß of | pneumonia. Mr b Brown Potter aoted with much more fooling and earnestness than usual, and was r o much tbe more appreciated. Kyrle Bellow was the much injurei bueband, De Sarlorys : and Mr Sas*, De Valreas the cuilty lover. ' Miss Jenny Watt-Tanner mado hf»r reappearance ou this ataga as Louise, and her reception showod that her long absence in England had not made her friends forget her. " Hold by the Enemy " will be played for the last time on Friday next at the Opera Houbo, and on Saturday Mr John F, Sheridan i and the new " Fun on the Bristol " will invittt comment and cash from a sensitive and open hearted people, I shall be there with any amount of comment to Rpend, but no caeb. I always leave tb«t at home. It saves "shouting " for people you don't like. Sir Charles and Lady Halle have been continuing their concerts at the Town Hall with thorough earnestness — they are due at an early date ia London, and cannot nfford to waste much time here— but with rather poor results, They were part of the faßbion when they appeared here first, and people went whether they cared particularly for mnsio or not. At the earliest concerts it was noticed that the audiences crowded in with much enthusiasm, and that they crowded out with more. It takes a special training to educate the average mind to waste muoh feeling over a Beethoven " Grand conc-rto in O minor," even if accompanied by the Viptorian orchestra. As an exhibition of meohanicl skill and memory such a performance has it use, as a training to develop the real musical taste I venture to think suob a failure. Melody is the soul of mußio, not pyrotechnical displays. I am not a betting man, but I would back "'Way down upon the S' wannee river" to raise more musio in the internal seotion of an average audienoe than 98 concertos. lam an enthusiast in mueio myself, but I want my music flavoured. I can, and do, put in evenings with a piano and some ragged opera scores ; and I have most of tbe works of tbe " old masters." I leave you tn guesti which are opened the moat frequently. On Saturday evening tbe Halle's gave thuir very lust concert in tbe Town Hall, ard yesterday they "scooted" for Adelaide. On Saturday aftornoon a daylight concert was also given, nnd then the distinguished pair wire invited to go to Broadwood's new pinno agency here and "name it." Of courne Sir Charles said Mint if there wore an 7 pianos j xmd% Broadwond made come, and he hopod [ that all musiciana would approve of the new

depot, and ought to buy their pianos, there if they wanted a real one. Sic Charles was also at the usual quarterly dinner of the Mayor of Melbourne, and Baid some mote nice things ! about the colonies. Hia full opinion is not for publication at present. I The "17. S. Minstrelß " are banging away 1 at the Victoria Hall, and alleging that they knock all other shows over the horn of the I orescent moon, whence they fail to come down. I The Oyolorama is still there. Military men [ aud their wives are now allowed in at the same I price, so the advertisement says. I don't quite understand this, but I expect it means that an unprotected military man will bo let in at half price. After months of waiting I gave the Aquarium my best wishes and shook its i dust off cay sandals for ever aad a day more. That was a fortnight a^o. Now I find that that Alligator came last week, that be is 6ft loag, hf\« a special tank, and came all the way from Siam, or thereabouts. This points out the advantage of perseverance. I shall never be able to feed that alligator now and earn his undying and open mouthed friendship. The hire of the infant lapsed before I knew of faia Siamese majosty's arrival. My usual luck ! Mr J. 0. Williamson is to sailfrom England for these shores early in this mouth. He has gathered a lot of novelties (he has the best head of the old triumvirate in that respeot) as you already know. One Jof his earliest specimens will be Mr Charles Rigby, a well-known baritone in English travelling companies ; and Mr Hubert O'Grftdy, an equally well-known delineator of Irish " charaoter." Sydney news is steady. "After Dark," whioh took suddenly the place of " Me* the Castaway" at Her Majesty's owing to Miss Maggie Moore's unexpected illness, is being kept on. Mies Janet Aohuroh is playing in 11 Frou Frou" at the Criterion, and I only wish we had her at the Bijou just now. Her performance of Nora in Ibsen's drama "A Doll's Houso " has raised quite an Ibsen party in the city of bulging mosquitos. "Paul Jones" is still popular at the Royal; and Harry Riokards is playing at the School of Arts. The new thsatre— unnamed— in Castleroagh street is to be a certainty ; and not before Sydney wanted it, either. The new organ at tbe Centennial Hall is to be opened at last, and the Rev. Chas. Clark is lecturing in the Oentonary Hall. Steady roadors may remember reading my aooount of tbe death of a well-known aotor and stage manager, Mr B N. Jones, last year. He was said to be one of tho best-known aotors in New Zealand, where hia wife was almost equally well known. Such as knew them will regret to hear that Mrs Jones died on the 2nd inßt. at Moore Park, Sydney, of paralysis. P wa3 only last week that I wrote about tha attempt to destroy tho Gaiety Hall, underneath our Bijou, by fire j and now, early this morning, it had another narrow escape. The Bijou, Gaiety, and Palace Hotel are all one huge block of buildings, and if ever a fire gets a real good hold there will be a conflagration worth remembering. A lady boarder in the hotel smelt fire this morning and gave the alarm. The owner, Mr Wilson, and others were soon on tbe scene, and the fire was put out before any serious damage was done. Tbe act-drop and propcaninm were burnt, jußt as on tbe previous occasion, while kerosene was found everywhere. Incendiarism was suspected on the first occasion, and now there can be no doubt about it. One of our evening papers works up tbe incendiary thus : — " He laid perdu untl he Baw his opportunity for his dastardly deed when the night watohman went upstairs. Then he proceeded to carry out bis diabolical plot." There has also been the usual person who dreamt of the fire last night, and found his droam came -true all right. Tho Herald has taken the trouble to hunt up the dates of the previous fires at thiß blook, and gives them aa follows :— Ootober 22, 1888; April 22, 1889 ; December 15, 1889 ; August 8, 1890 ; and that of to-day. The Palace Hotel doesn't look like being a safe plaoe to Bleep in on the top storey, The detective police are to be brought into use io hunt the kerosene men. [All Rights Reserved]