WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 37

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Musical people in England were somewhat surprised to read that Madame Patey had definitely made up her mind to retire, and, at any rate, had authorised her agent, Mr Vert, to cancel contracts after the Patti concert in July. Madame Fatey is still in almost full possession of her magnificent vocal powers, and the reasons for her retirement have not yet been disclosed. It is, however, well known that she has amassed a considerable fortune during her professional career of nearly 30 years, during at least 20 of which she was, without contradiction, our leading English contralto. More recently also she has returned from a highly-successful tour in the Australian

colonies. Madame Patey, who was born in London, within a few doors of her great predecessor, Madame Sainton Dolby, is of Scotchdescent, and although she made her dikit as a juvenile prodigy at the Town Hall, Birmingham, her real career dates from the evening when Madame Sainton disappointed at one of Henry Leslie's concerts, and Janet Monarch Whitock was called by Mt Henry Leslie from the ranks of the choir to take her place. In 1866, the year of her marriage with Mr J. G. Patey, she sang for the first time at the Worcester Festival, and since 1870 she has held a leading position. Every music lover is acquainted with the majestic voice which delighted the Americans in 1871, and four years later, at th*e revival by Mr Lamoureux, of the " Messiah," fairly overcame the antipathy of the French' for British vocalists. ■tjiPollard's Liliputian Opera Company are having a very successful season in Christchurch. The local papers speak very highly of Miss Marian Mitchell. The Press goe3 so far as to sa y ;_«• There is no doubt that this young lady has a most brilliant future before her, and there is scarcely a position on the lyric stage to which she may not attain with study and perseverance. Her voice is full of sweetness and freshness, and she has a very good knowledge of stage business." Mr Walter Bentley was confined to his bed recently in Toowoomba, Queensland, suffering from a bad attack of asthma with a touch of of fever and ague, the effects of a ducking in the Indooroopilly river, which he and his company had to cross in a whaleboat in order to join the train for Toowoomba, and of a railway journey in his wet clothej. Last week he was playing at Rockhampton; Townsville was to follow ; and next week he is to be in Charters Towers. He has other Queensland dates in view. "A Woman of No Importance," Mr Oscar Wilde's new four-act comedy-drama, was produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London, recently. It is said to contain but one really dramatic situation. Lord Illingworth has dared to insult a pretty American girl of Puritanical tendencies, by forcibly kissing her in a garden. He is called to account by his youthful secretary, Gerald Arbuthnot (Mr Fred Terry), who is on the point of laying violent hands upon him when the exclamation, "Hold, Gerald ! he is your father ! " stays his uplifted arm. The voice which thus arrests Gerald's stern purpose is that of his own mother (Mrs Bernard-Beere), the secret which she has hitherto guarded from her son being thus for the first time revealed to him. This scene briogs to a close the third act. Mr Wilde's them 9is that of the hollowness of the conventional morality which treats the profligate seducer with infinitely more indulgence than the victim of his arts. Even the son, who is plajed with spirit by Mr Fred Terry, though he clings to his mother after the revelation of her secret with manly steadfastness, is a little infected with the cant of his associates ; for he deems it a duty to insist upon Lord Illingworth making what he calls "reparation," by marrying his mother, who is known to the world as Mrs Arbuthnot. The lady, however, has a higher sense of personal dignity, and refuses to bind herself for life to a worthless husband. Miss Julia Neilson plays the American Puritan girl, who finally persuades Mrs Arbuthnot to leave this corrupt state of society for the more congenial atmosphere of the new world. It will interest the many admirers of the Rignold family in Australia to learn that the one "hit" in the condemned piece, "Jane Annie, or the Good Conduct Prize," was made by Master Harry Rignold as the page boy Caddie. This young gentleman is nightly received with applause, and has clearly a good future before him in the profession. During his first visit to America last year Paderewski gave 107 concerts, the receipts from which were £21,600. On his second visit this, this year, he gave 67 concerts, the receipts from which were £36,200. Our London correspondent, writing on May 26, says :— " Miss Lottie Collins, of • Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay' fame, sprained her ankle the other evening, and, strange to say, the doctor present, who was called on to attend to her, was from New Zealand— Dr G. W. Shaynan, of Onehunga. Miss Collins was at the time giving a new dance at the end of the song ' Queen of gay Paris.' It is described as a mad, riotous, high-kicking, low-bending, hair-waving, elbowjerking dance, in which she covers the whole stage. Just at the very climax as she was making her wildest, highest kick, her ankle slipped in an over-large shoe and she came down on her back on the stage with a terrible blow, and was carried off insensible. She was found to be suffering only from a severely sprained ankle, which will confine her to her room for a fortnight." Mr Pdderewski has returned to England from the United States with £32,000 and a smattering of English. For the one he will have to* pay income-tax on his British investments, while as to the other, he will be a godsend to the interviewer innocent of French. A Chinese theatre has lately been opened in j New York by a celestial, who is so far remarkable, that he " speaks good English and wears a tailor-made suit," which your average celestial does not. Thirty mummers have been imported from theland of pig-toils, but whether they play comedy or tragedy no man knowetb, for when the mail left New York on Sunday week the play was not finished, though the manager was hopeful that they might work through it by the following>Saturday night. For you are to understand that it contains 35 afets, 'and every several act is divided inta about 13 scenes. The performance commences at' seven every week-day eve, and leaves off promptly at 11.30, no matter where the actors may have got to. The orchestra consists of a large drum and a huge pair of cymbals, which are banged unceasingly all the evening. Monotony, I may remark, is the prevailing note of Chinese music. In Paris on Good Friday the majority of the theatres close their doors, so that almost the entire dramatic profession get a holiday, for which they must be very thankful, considering they usually play seven nights a week. Signorina Eleanora Duse, the Italian tragedienne, was to arrive in London from New York towards the end of April, and to appear at the Lyric Theatre on May 11. Like Ristori and Salvini before her, Signorina Duse has a company of her own, consisting of about 25 members. Her pieces are chiefly the plays identified with the name of Saia Bernhardt. The Japanese show their appreciation for an actor's playing in a more substantial manner than by freely applauding. They throw various portions of their dress on the stage, and at the end of the performance the favoured person claims the money that the donors repurchase them witti, the prices for the various articles being at fixed rates. This is the exact copy of a playbill issued from a theatre in 1742 :—": — " At the Bear Garden, in Hockley-in-thr-Hole, near Clerkenwell Green. These are to give notice to all gentlemen, gamesters and others, that on this present Monday (being the 27th of April 1702) a great match is to be fought by a bald-faced dog (of Middlesex) with a fellow dog of Cow Cross, for a guinea each dog, five let-goes out of hand, which goes fairest and furthest in wins .all ; being a general day of sport by all (the Old Gamesters), and a great mad bull to be turned loose in the game-place,

with fireworks all over him, and two or three cats ty|d to his tail, and dogs after them. Also other variety of bull-baiting and bear-baiting. Beginning at two of the clock." 1

' July 8. Deab Pasquin,—Madame Sterling and her concert company appeared here on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings. The Wellington Orchestral Society had purchased an interest in the season, and the programmes were greatly improved by the help of their orchestra. As the steamer did not sail on the day fixed for her departure, the opportunity was taken of giviDg on extra performance. -Madame when off the platform went about the city doing good, and was so much employed that at the extra concert, after responding to an encore, she pleaded "tiredness," and was excused. On Thursday evening the Collet-Dobson Dramatic Company opened in the Opera House for a season of six weeks. The weather during the week has been simply wretched, but " Con the Shaughraun" drew good houses. Miss Idrene Thornton, Mr Collet-Dobson, and Mr J. P. O'Neill make an attractive trio, and we are promised plenty of changes, running the gamut of the emotions — From % rave to gay, From lively to severe. To-night "Snared" was put on, after which, during next week, "Our Boys," "Colleen Bawn," and " Queen's Evidence " will follow. Mr J. E. Petherick is directing the season. Professor Richard, medical electrician, begins his season in the Exchange Hall on Monday. He is doing plenty of advertising, having a fivecolumn advertisement in this morning's Times. It seems to me, from the curiosity abroad, that Truth's determined exposure will do the man more good than harm in this city. Amy Vaughan's Amazon Company has held the boards of the Bijou Theatre during the week. The comic operetta "Trial by Jury" was staged by the Pahiatua Orchestral Society during the week. This clacs of entertainment is rather a novelty in the bush. Pahiatua has some rather advanced musicians. Mr Gould, who has some skill in music, founded the Orchestral Society, and some time ago played the leading male part in the " Trial by Jury.'J whilst Miss Wood, who has litely joined the Pollard Liliputian Opera Company, played the" plaintiff. Miss Wood was resident in Pahiatua for some time. Mr M. Manthel, well known in our musical circles, left by the Aorangi this week for England—not to enlarge his experience as a musician^ but as an engineer. Miss Randell, the. well-known soprano vocalist, has been engaged by the Palmer Concert Company for a short season on the West Coast of the South Island, and leaves for that part of the colony by the first steamer. " Lorgcette," in the Mail, is responsible for this item:—"'Tommy' Driver, an Onehunga young man who toured the colony a couple of years ago as •Monsieur Leon Driver, the eminent pianist and pupil of the Abbe Liszt,' is now professor of music at San Jose University, California. Needless to say, Driver was never a pupil of Abbe Liszt, and his "piano ' thumping ' was of the crudest character. He might send along to New Zealand some of his ' professional' fees to square a few printers' bills, but I expect he has forgotten all about them long ago. Such is the way of the giddy ' pro.' when he makes a rise." The Wednesday pops at the Skating Rink have gone into new management, Messrs Lough and M'Guiness selling out at a good price to Messrs Cimins and Haybittle. The original promoters are going to open at Napier. The following par is going the rounds:— "The latest enterprise of Messrs Williamson and Musgrove, the well-known theatrical managers, is the purchase of the Australian rights of Mascagai's famous opara " Cavalleria Rusticana," and Leon Cavallo's "Pagliacci," an opera which has just been produced with great success at Covent Garden Theatre, and in which Madame Melba appeared; also the engagement of an Italian opera company, including Signora' del Torre Fiorella, Madame Giraud, and 10 well-known dancers of the Italian school. The company starts from Home in July. Mr Musgrove, who personally made the engagement, speaks of the singers as being young and fresh, and all with better voices than have yet been heard in Italian opera in Australia. AUSTRALIAN GOSSIP. Deae Pasquin,—Since I wrote you last a huge theatrical bubble has been blowing about in the air. The principals are Mr Pat Finn (now in Melbourne), Kyrle Bellew (now in America), and T. V. Twinning (now in London). Finn proceeds shortly to Am9rica, Twinning to India, and Bellew to London. The first "crack" will be Miss Fortescue, of Garmoyle-Fortescue fame, who goes to India, thence to Australia. Mrs Brown-Potter and Bellew will follow on in India, at the finish of the Potter-Bellew season at the Corinthian Theatre, Calcutta, "A KiDg of Shadows and Dreams," with the originators of the three principal parts in Australia. "Dot" Carey, Nellie Finlay, and W. G. Carey (Miles Hesford) will be despatched from Melbourne, under engagement to T. V. Twinning, to replace P. and 8., who then tour Australia. Eloisc Juno will also probably go. After a brief sojourn in America, Pat Finn returns and takes control of the Australian connection with a firm that is said to have no end of money at the back of it. Four clever Australian child actresses—the Misses "Dot" Carey ("a marvellous study"), Mabel Russell, Nellie Finlay, and Dolly Hesford—will appear in "the big show" at Melbourne Alexandria on July 4, " for this night only." Bland Holt and company are on tour. His company includes Messrs Charles Brown (through Maoriland with the Brough-Boucictult Burlesque Compmy in 1888), Harry Norman, the two Walters (Howe and Baker), E C. Corlesse (through with the Frank Thornton "Sweet Lavender" Company in 1889 90), Albert Lucas and wife (Miss Lilla Wilde), Miss Harriet Ireland, Miss Annie Taylor (toured Maoriland with the Royal Comedy Company in 1887 and " Sweet Lavender " in 1889-90), Miss Tripper Musgrove, and Mrs Bland Holt. The company opened at Melbourne Princess on July 8 in "A Million of Money." The latest arrival from 'Ome is Miss G. A. - Nobel, under engagement to Brough and Boucicault. Miss Grace Armytage Nobel, who is a daughter of the well-known English actress, Miss Grace Armytage (r,ie Campbell Bradley), made her first appearance in the child's part of Adriennein " Love and Honour " in 1888. After remaining in the H. B. ConwayKate Vaugban English Company for three years, she played tho part of Sybil in Van Biene's first production of " The Dancing Girl" • in the provinces. Miss Nobel has also taken part in "Moths," "The Arabian Nights," "Confusion," "The Idler," and other plays. Although young, Miss Nobel has had considerable experience, and she possesses many qualities which should create for her a success in "The Amazons," in which she made her

Australian dibut at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday, July 1. , Charles Hugo (of Buffalo Ministrels fame) has joined Heller's Odds and Ends Coterie, now touring Tasmania. The London Gaiety season at tho Melbourne Princess closed on July 7. Mr Scott Inglis (through Maoriland with Grattan Riggs in 1892) and Miss Flora Hasting* have joined the Gourlay, Walton, and Shin© Combination. Billy Emerson is at Frank Clark's Melbourne* Alhambra Palace of Varieties. Brough and Boucicault commence their Maoriland tour at Dunedin on December 20, Their list of pieces will include "Niobe,' r "Sophia," "The Village Priest," "Dandy Dick," "Turned Up," "The Solicitor," " The Pickpocket," and " The Amazons." Fitzgerald's Circus finished its seventh week on Saturday, July 8. "Biz" great. Tred Faust (of the family who does the marvellous Risley set), F. M. Jones (who does a most sensational dive over 30 fixed bayonets, the rifles being fired as the fearless. .acrobat passes over), and the veteran Signor Bartolo (in his evergreen contortion act) are members of Fife's party* It is probable Snazelle will "fall on " South Africa shortly. Bill Speed, of Melbourne Gaiety, is " on the road" with a variety show, which includes Amy Roire, Wally Edwards, Ted Herberte, Hoffman, Sam Keenan, &c. — mostly et ceteras. At the Lyceum Theatre Edward Terry (who cleared over £2o,ooo with "Sweet Lavender") is " drawing " like a mustard plaster. A well known actor, who had been driven to his theatre in a haneom, paid only his legal fare. Jehu, looking gloomily at the money, said: "Are you the gent wot plays Shy lock, the Jew, at" that 'ere theaytre ? " " Yes', I am," came the reply. "Ah, I thought so," retorted the cabby, "and you does it first-rate ; its quite natural to you." George W. Antfon (who toured Maoriland with the Royal Comedy Company in 1887) is now showing at London " Troc irado." Variety entertainments in Sydney and Melbourne are on the boom. Dan Tracey recently opened, Sydney Opera House, and has had the notice board " Standing room only " up outside every night since. The show numbers amongst its members some of the best variety artists in the colonies — viz., W. Sulton, the always popular Horace Bent, Wall Rockley (whose "cook" turn, with song and dance, •_' A style I call my own " iri "Pinafore," as played by the Mohawke Comedy and Burlesque Company in 1888, Wellington theatre-goers will remember), Tom Sadler, Harry Carlton (on the corners), Walter Carle (interlocutor), J. S. Witworth and Edward Toussard. Jack Evans (dancer-), Sylvo (toured Maoriland with Frank Clark's All Star Minstrels in 1886-7), Provo, J. R. Wadley, and Miss Mina Nimtno (through with Will's Surprise Party), Miss Florence Schuler, Miss "Ethel Clifford, and the Australian comedian " Billy " Warner (through with the Selbon Troupe) are also with the show, besides the Leopold family of aorobats. A certain popular vocalist was recently advertised to sing at a concert in Sydney, and he was announced on the programme as the " celebrated bass." Unfortunately the printer .left out the " b." The Gaiety Burlesque and Comedy Company made its first appearance at the Sydney Gaiety Theatre last week; Gilbert Smith, manager. The ehbw includes Mr Harry Marshall (of Captain Ginger fame), Mr Alfred Plumpton, Mr George Dean, Mr John L. Hall, and Mr Julius Ctesar (I would advise the last named gentleman to add Snooks to his "name, which would perhaps stop people from throwing things at him), Misses E. A. Lambert (toured Maoriland with the Montague-Turner Opera Company; whose singing kept the burlesque from falling down and getting kicked), Gertrude Esdaille, Claire Delmar, Marie Dunoon, Kate Howarde, and Bella- Adair. The one-act comedy "Mr Joffin's Latchkey," in which Mr Harry Marshall, as a drunken husband, was very amusing, and the burlesque " Black-eyed Susan " made up the programme. When Johnny Collins, of the Lynch Family Bellringers,.is railway travelling, he lightens the journey by shamming madness when a passenger wants to get into his compartment, and it is always Irish Home Rale which is supposed to turn his brain. Johnny gets there every time. Percy Abbott (manager ,for Hellers) and Travers Vale (manager for Steen) are paper fighting in Melbourne Hawke. Lillie Warren, Amy Rowe, Stella Tudor, the Bovis brothers, Sam Keenan, and Will Stevens are in Mebourne. Sydney bills, for week ending July 8:— Lyceum, "Sweet Lavender," Edward Terry as Dick Phenyl ; Her Majesty's, Rignold's Company, in " Right's Right " ; Criterion,; " The" Amazons." by Brough-Boucicault Conjpany; Tivoli, Harry Rickards's Variety Tjroupe; Opera House, Dan Tracey's Vaudeville Company ; Alhambra, Delohrey,* Crayder, and Holland's Variety Troupe; Theatre Jtoyal, Dampier Company, in "The Ticket-of/Leave Man." Harry Barrington (for 10 years interlocutor at the late Frank Smith's Albapbra -Music Hall, Sydney), Charlie Fanning (tprough Maoriland with Moore* and Ashton's Mammoth Minstrels), and Harry Hastings (through with the Buffalo Minstrels) are touring New! South Wales country towns with their original Alhambra Specialty Company.! There £re 10 people in the show, all 15 carat artists — viz., Wallace King (the sweet tenor who toured Maoriland with Hicks- Sawyers koloured'koons), M'Kirson, and Kearns (an exceedingly .clever acrobatic song and dance team), the Gorman Brothers, dancers ; Miss 'Violet Kmgsley (through Maoriland with,' the Mammoth show) ; and Bliss Ida, Taucherfc, and the three above-named artists. Mr Henry Barrington possesses a powerful baritone voice, which he uses to the best advantage. Hastings was a good descriptive singer when Charlie Hugo first brought him out, but through trying the "coster" biz he is a failure at both, although he is an all right cornerman. Then comes Charlie Fanning — who is Wall Cottier, Johnny Gilmore, Harry Cowan, Chas.' Hugo, • Will Wallace, and Billy Akarm an rolled into one. Fanning is original. In one night's performance he gave parodies on "A hundred fathoms deep," " O'or the bridge," " That is love," "Good news from homo," and others. No matter what Eong comes out, Charlie has a parody. In his imitation of "Gee-6rge" Rignold and " The Push," Fanning was immen&e. Although the country is suffering from the depression the company is meeting with good houses right through. Miss Taucheit, -whose appearance goes a long way, is a very pleasing vocalist. ' ' That clever Maoriland family, Ihe Greenwoods, opened in Melbourne Bijou on Saturday, July 1, with the talenttd Maribel as "Leah, the Forsaken" (said to be' unequalled in the titU role) ; lessee, Mrs Marie Grer nsvood ; business manager, Mr R. E. Greenwood. Mr Temple Harrison, highly spoken of by Adelaide papers, also appears with the "family.'! A "Mr Stubbs" looks after the front of thehouse. — Yours truly, ■ B. S. 1 Poverty Point, Sydney, July 1.