THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 36

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

OoattttatUu from th* Profonlon ohnifeUni tab flMT«a«ftti lid ttlmp art inYited. All mnuannlokUoßi to k» MtoWMd H "7uviis," OtjKo iritatn Otßcm.

The success attained by Mr Carl Hertz and iis entertaining variety company at the frincess Theatre was of a most pronounced :haractor. On Saturday evening there was a full dress circle— a singular occurrence for any jompany on the last day of the week,— and the pit and stalls were crowded, money being refused before the time for the performance to jommence. On Monday night at a quarter to 8 the dress circle was so full that lumbers had to be refused admittance to ihatpart of the house, while downstairs was well filled. The programme was the same as that on Saturday night, and that it met with liearty appreciation was abundantly evident from the applause which frequently arose throughout the evening. Mr Carl Hertz, of course, was the centre of attraction, but Miss Rose Dearing, who rendered " Ta-ra-ra-bootn-cle-ay," the London craze, Mr Fred Mason, who kept the audience in a continued state of merriment, and the " fairy four "also deserve to be specially 'mentioned. On Tuesday night bhe season was brought to a close, to an equally satisfactory house, the company leaving For Christchurch by the Manapouri on Wednesday morning.

The Ole Kentucky Minstrels, assisted by Miss Helen Fergus and the child actress, Baby Ogden, appeared at the Volunteer Hall, Mosgiel, on Saturday evening, before a large audience in scenes from "Jo," and a varied entertainment.

Sir Augustus Harris has contracted with Madame Melba to appear in Italian opera in London in June.

Mr M. Lewis, the New Zealand whistler, gave an exhibition of his powers at the Choral Hall last night, when he was assisted by several amateur vocalists.

Phil Kirby is in Melbourne disengaged. D'Orsay Ogden is in that city also with an undisclosed project in hand. The News is so pleased with Mr W. H. Judo's performance at Invercargill that it says it will not be surprised if Mr Jude "gains the whole ear of Southland." Before leaving Hobart Mr Jude was tendered a complimentary Farewell concert, which was described by the Local papers as a triumphant success. By 3 o'clock every part of the building — balcony, front and back seats — was crowded, md scores stood at the rear. The presence of Lady Hamilton and suite graced the evening, and added further tumour to the beneficiare. The concert was a unique one, as the various items contributed by the performers were Mr Jude's own compositions, while the beneficiare himself icted as accompanist. At the close Mr Jude was presented with a handsome laurel wreath bearing on one side an inscription with the place and date of presentation, and on the other the words, " Honour to whom honour is due." The spokesman in making the presentation said he took the wreath to mean that RTx Jude had won his laurels in Hobart. , Two lines of Ha ! has . head, and one concludes, an announcement in the Melbourne Age to the effect that Mr Pat Finn is now no longer connected with the U.S. entertainments. From the fact of my receiving a marked paper containing the advertisement, I presume that the gay Pat meditates a descent on Maoriland. Mr Bateman and O'Grady Company, at present performing at Broken Hill, return to Melbourne on the 21st inst. with the intention of visibing New Zealand. The company, which is a large one, includes Messrs Frank Bateman, W. B. O'Grady, W. I. Beresford, C. W. Meade, J. M'Clov, W. Cowern, George Forrest, and F. Goulding, Mesdames Christyne Tennyson, Nell Steward, Belle Russell, and little Ella Finlay,- all of whom are exceedingly popular. Mr Walter Bentley, assisted by Miss Lamont Kebbell, Mr Oodd, and Madame Goldenstedt, was announced to appear at the Exchange Hall, Wellington, in a dramatic and musical recital on Wednesday night. Mr Bentley's recitals were to be "Tarn O'Shanter," "Major Namby," "The Family Vault," and "The Dream of Eugene Aram." The Montagu-Turner Company are still at Auckland.

Melbourne Punch describes an old Dunedinite, Mr John Hesford, who has received an engagement at the hands of Johnnie Sheridan, of Widow O'Brien fame, as a careful, painstaking and always popular actor. Mr Hesford's family are all in Dunedin, and his sister, Mrs Angus, besides being one of our best lady vocalists, is an amateur actress of very considerable ability. Harry Rickards has just returned to Sydney, from his South African tour. After a season in Sydney he brings a company round to New Zealand.

Mr George Lee, who accompanied Mr J. L. Toole as business manager throughout his New Zealand tour, and who afterwards proceeded Home with the veteran comedian, has forwarded to me from Toole's Theatre a copy of The Players, a weekly "independent dramatic organ." The issue, which is that of March 22, is profusely illustrated with scenes from jihe new comic play, " Walker, London," which is now being produced at the snug theatre in King William street. " Walker, London," is a piquantly modern little idyll, a dramatisation by Mr J. M. Barrio of| his own novelette, "When a Man's Single," with the houseboat incident emphasised. .Mr Toole himself figures largely in the illustrations— with a straw hat perched jauntily on one side of his head, and with an irresistibly comical expression on his face— and, of the members of his company who visited Dunedin, Miss Eliza Johnstone, Miss Irene Vanbrugh, Miss Effie Liston, Mr George Shelton, and Mr C. M. Lowne have also been included by the artist. The same paper contains, as the "familiar face for the week," a large-sized portrait of John Laurence Toole, dressed for his character in "Walker, London." From the letterpress accompanying it the following is extracted :— " Mr Toole has himself made his name a household word, not only in the British Isles, but in the great English-speaking countries of America and Australia ; and though brought into contact with innumerable strange people, has never yet made an acquaintance who has not instantly become his friend. He holds his calling in as much reverente as a priest does his religion, and on the stage and off it valiantly defends it against those who would assail it. Shrewd of judgment, his kindly counsel is for every man's asking, and his intimates account him one of the wisest as well as one of the drollest of men ; but like many others who have greatly contributed to the brightening of our lives, the folios of his own private life history record more than man's average share of sorrows bravely borne. Like the great Dr Johngon, he has found a Boswell."

Miss Myra Kemble (writes " Musico Dramaticus" in the Auckland News) tells several very funny stories concerning her recent tour through Queensland. At Charters Towers, which is described as being " so prosperous,

you can almost pick up money in the streets," the stage was erected at one end of a great Skating rink, and playgoers were expected to bring their own chairs with them. Accordingly, between 7 and 8 o'clock a longprocession of family detachments filed in with chairs on their heads, and the appearance of the main street suggested a general exodus of the population with all their goods and chattels. At Armidale, while enjoying the balmy twilight air on the balcony of her hotel, Miss Kemble, for the first time in her life, heard her fame proclaimed by the town crier. Seated on a sorry nag, the crier rang his clangorous bell and yelled out, " To-night ! to-night ! to-night ! Roll up, roll up, roll up, all of yez. Miss Maria Campbell, acknowledged the bow idol of her perfeshun, will produce *Dr Bill ' with all the original limelight effects, and 14 stock artists at the back of her ! Also, to-morrow afternoon, 100 prime wethers and 100 bullocks rolling fat, 5 pigs, &c, &c, &c." Miss Kemble relates the story inimitably* The Wellington Mail gives the particular s of Me Walter Bentley's proposals with regard to the Wellington Opera House. He sayst —"Here you have an opera house admirably constructed and nicely furnished, and yet no permanent tenant for it. That is a mistake. The people of Wellington are most apt and willing to support anything of merit in the theatrical or musical line, and one should therefore be emboldened to show a little enterprise in catering for their amusement. Ido not think there is much risk about it. I feel sure that the scheme I have to propose would result in a very handsome addition to the dividends of the Opera House Company if the matter were properly gone into. Of course, the directors lack the requisite knowledge to go into it and work it properly, but as I am now a shareholder and their interests are mine, I have the knowledge and the experience that they need. My idea is to form a good stock dramatic company, which would keep the Opera House ,ppen all the year round, and enable the public to have a constant succession of novelties instead of experiencing an alternation of famines and feasts. It will be the means also of securing for New Zealand visits from stars of the first magnitude who might otherwise not come here at all. At present such people are deterred from touring the colony by reason of the expense entailed in bringing a company and the necessary scenery and equipments with them. But all this will be obviated if we can assure them of a company here which will meet them at Auckland or Dunedin and support them through the colony. This in brief is my scheme, and lam prepared to back it up with facts and figures which I think should not fail in convincing the Opera House shareholders that from every point of view it will prove most successful." The Auckland Star hears that Mr Bentley received LBOO for his tour through New Zealand, and that he will probably revisit New Zealand about Christmas time with a company to play high-class comedies. Miss Fanny Robina, who is not unknown in New Zealand has left for a South African tour under engagement to Mr J. L. Goodman, of the Globe Theatre, Johannesburg. Miss Emily Soldene, now playing the Grand Duchesse at" the Orpheum, San Francisco, would seem to have fallen on evil times. Music and the Drama say that she is entirely out of place in the character, and only creates a wish that she had been seen in it 20 years earlier.

Miss Peggy Pryde, an English variety actress at present starring in the States was presented at Chicago the other day with a pair of diamond earrings worth 1500dol. Mr Austin Brereton has severed his connection with the Grattan Riggs Company, and left this colony for Sydney ._ He returns to England shortly with his wife, Miss Edith Blande. Charles Hawtrey made LBO,OOO clear out of the " Private Secretary," every penny of which he lost on the turf.

The Bulletin describes Signor Foli, basso, as a tall, dark, long-haired man of the Warwick Gainor type, and very much of the same stamp of figure ; broad-shouldered and deep-chested, indicating the possession joi lungs like blacksmith's bellows.

Haddon Chambers was named after the celebrated Spurgeon. Since the failure of " The Honourable Herbert " at the Vaudeville, Chambers is lying low. He is at work on a new play, which he expects will eclipse anything he has hitherto turned out. ' ' The Idler " is doing very well in the provinces, where Charles Cartwright is playing the part of Blank Cross.

A young actress played a mischievous game on a number of fair and fat females in the Auckland swimming baths on a recent ladies' day. The young person in question (says a contemporary) has a small talent for ventriloquism, and whilst a large assortment of undraped ladies were flopping round and having a 'comfortable time, she simulated' a man's voice, and throwing it into a handy recess, yelled : " Great Scott ! Jack, here's a circus ! Come and have a look." Then a great cry went up to heaven from a score of female throats. Some flustering creatures had complex hysterics on the spot, others plunged into deep water and were nearly drowned before they could be fished out again, and the rest just made a mad scramble for the bunks, and fell over each other, and squirmed, and screamed, and had a small damp Sheol of a time amongst themselves. The actress was so scared at the result of her trick after she had helped to resuscitate one waterlogged lady that she swore off all practical jokes for ever and a day. The great whistler of the fashionable worlds of Paris and Vienna is now Count John Zamoisky, a Polish nobleman, who some years ago married the daughter of Marshall Pelissier. His whistled notes, it is said, are of great richness, flexibility, and of wonderful range. He can whistle' the most intricate and brilliant compositions, and imitate a canary, a nightingale,- or thrush. Miss Skelton Waud, who has just made her first appearance in London as Fantine in " The Great {Metropolis," was born r ,in Australia, her father having,, been police magistrate of Melbourne for more than 20 years. Her mother (a very gifted woman) was a daughter of the late M. J. .Whitty ; the well-known proprietor and editor of The Liverpool Daily Post. Mr W. F. Hulley, the leading musical professor of Swansea, has just received from Madame Patti gold pins set with pearls and diamonds for the gentlemen, and gold brooches set with rubies for the ladies, for presentation to the members of his orchestra and amateur operatic company for their services rendered on the occasion of the opening of her theatre at Craig-y-Nos Castle and as souvenirs of the event.

Verdi has had to stop in the composition of his opera of " Falstaff," owing to an attack of influenza. He is close on 80 years of age. Mr Parkinson, the London County Councillor whose ultra-vigilant eye led him to see indecency in a marionette performance at the Royal Aquarium, which, as a matter of fact, was perfectly harmless, must have strong reason to congratulate himself on his astuteness. The Court of Appeal has decided against him, and he is now in the enviable position of having to pay L 250 and the costs of both actions. Before visiting any fresh entertainments, MrParkiubou would do well to provide himself with

opera-glasses better suited to his sight. His lights were too strong for him at the Aquarium. Forty-eight new operas were produced in Italy last year, but of these 31 were only operettas. The numbers are below the average, and the theatres devoted to Italian opera outside the peninsula have decreased from 29 in 1885 to 19 at the present time. " Walker, London," is the singular title at length adopted for Mr J. M. Barries new and original comic play with which Mr Toole reopened his theatre. It is a difficult matter to hit upon a title that has not been used before. - We have had several instances of this lately. Mr Barries "Houseboat" had to be renamed "Walker, London," ' because somebody else had copyrighted the first title. For the same reason Mr Fred Homer has had to rechristen " The Last Straw" (an adaptation of Ferrier's "L' Article 231"), which is henceforth to be known as " Happy Returns." "Fayette," a Queensland opera, the music by Mr G. B. Allan, and libretto by Mr Brunton Stephens, was produced at Brisbane recently at a benefit concert to the composer. The Queenslander says that both music and libretto are a credit to the composer and author, arid that the music on the whole is sparkling and attractive ; that the scenes pourtrayed are purely Australian. The critic concludes : — " A comic opera performance without the accompaniments of attractive setting, both in humour and colour, lacks an element essential to full enjoyment ; but it is more than probable that " Fayette," having been successful so far, will appear in the guise in which we all should like to see it ere long." The well-known Terry family are in mourning for the death of their dearly-loved mother, which took place in the beginning of March. The sad event necessitated the temporary absence from their respective theatres of Miss Ellen Terry, Miss Marion Terry, and Mr Fred Terry. It is said that Mr Rubinstein when he visits America will be paid at the rate of LSOO per nigut. Madame Patti gets LBOO per night. "Under the circumstances," says a wicked, waggish writer in the Musical Courier, " Patti may be likened to the virtuous woman in the Proverbs, in that 'her price is far above Rubi's.' "

Does anyone recollect (asks the Melbourne Referee) Little Nell, the California Diamond, a buxom damsel who came here 16 years ago ? As Helen Dauvray, she has just made her first appearance in London with fair success in "A Scrap of Paper," playing the part of Suzanne.

The Carl Rosa Company have declined entirely to rely upon foreign operas during their coming London season, and have commissioned Mr Hamish M'Cunn to compose for them a new grand opera, thelibretto by Mr Joseph Bennett. This work will be produced in the provinces in the course of the Beason which will commence in August next. Mr Harriss of Montreal has engaged the eminent English tenor, Mr Lloyd, for a series of eight Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon recitals during the spring. Mr Lloyd is, it is said, to receive L2OOO for the series. The composer Siboni died in March last at Copenhagen at the age of 63. He was the son of an Italian tenor who had settled in Denmark, and composed two operas, besides other smaller, works, which it is said show the influence of Mendelssohn and Schumann. He was one of the early teachers of the Princess of Wales. Theatrical advertisements are often amusing reading, but here is one of a tragi-comical nature. It has been inserted in a London contemporary by a clever young actor, and reads thus:— "Mr concluded 10 weeks' highly successful engagement at the T. R. London Hospital, as leading man in the exciting drama entitled 'Typhoid; or the Theatre Drains, 1 preceded by the laughable farce ' Seven Weeks on Milk ; or Succi Outdone.'" This light-hearted mode of celebrating one's recovery from a serious illness is quite remarkable, and yet there is a grim irony underlying the jest. There died in Viennj, on February 20, at the age of 58, Frau Rosa Czillag, who will be remembered as one of the most celebrated opera singers in Europe of the past generation. She was regarded as the best Fyders in Meyerbeer's "Prophe"te," the best Linda of " Chamounix," and the best Lucrezia in the days of her prime. Her phenomenal mezzosoprano voice had been heard in all the greatest opera houses in Europe, in Covent Garden as well as the Scala at Milan, the Grand Opera at Paris and Madrid as well as in the Vienna Opera House, where for years she was permanently engaged. It is a shocking reflection, says the Vienna correspondent of the Standard, that this talented artiste, at whose feet half of Europe at one time lay, will be buried as a pauper, unless the profession of Vienna provide her remains with a decent funeral. It has come out that for tho last two years she has been living in great distress. She is a helpless cripple, and her last days she spent suffering from hunger. She lost her voice 18 years ago, and was dismissed from the Vienna Opera and forgotten. She gave lessons in singing for some years, but she soon ceased to attract pupils." In her last years she was reduced to such poverty that for want of decent clothing she could not leave her lodging. When quite young she was married to the late conjuror, Professor Hermann, but after a short time she was divorced from him. No case of such extraordinary vicissitude of fortune is remembered in the world of art in Vienna for many years. [The late singer was buried at the expense of some of her admirers.]