THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 37

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

GoatribnU«M ttom th« Prtfouion ohronlollng ikefr omtmbsbU **d <*Ibci v* lnrlted. All oonuauaiOkUoni to tea *Mrw— d U "Fuqnla," OUfO ▼itmwa O&M.

The Brisbane Gaiety Company brought a successful season to an end on Saturday night With a monster programme at popular prices. There was a large and enthusiastic audience. A feature in the performance was the reappearance of Mr G'aas. Hugo, who met with a capital reception. On Sunday evening a " rational" concert programme was gone through by a number of the company, the attendance being fairly large. The Kennedy Deering Company have continued to do good business at the City Hall at their intermittent appearances. On Saturday night, when they produced the drama " Under the Gaslight," or " Life and Love," by Augustin Daly the hall was packed to the doors. The story of the play, which is of four acts, centres about the fortunes of a young girl, who, through the machinations of designing persons, sufferß many vicissitudes, until at length justice and virtue triumph and she is restored to the circle of her friends and family. The play is a capital one, abounding in incident, while a vein of humour permeating the whole affords pleasing relief from the succession of dramatic situations. The staging of the piece especially deserves high commendation, and the manner in which certain " sets " were Btaged was the cause of astonishment to those present, considering the fact that the efforts of the Btage manager must necessarily have been hampered by the limited room at his disposal. The scene where a country station is depicted was exceptionally effective. The night express is observed approaching in the distance, and finally parses the station with a roar, just as the heroine rescues a faithful friend from a fearful death, his eaemiea having secured him to the tails. The various other scenes were also presented^ in an equally complete and satisfactory style, while the costames were in keeping with the general mounting of the piece. The different characters were sustained in a creditable manner, and the production of the piece was marked by great evenness, although one or two Blight hitches incidental to a first performance may have been noticeable. The principal parts were taken by Miss Linda Raymond (whose acting especially deserves praise), Little Ruby Kennedy, Miss Lily Hill, Miss Grace Balfour, Mr J. J. Kennedy, Mr Qlly Deering, Mr Harry Saville, Mr Frank Norton. Some idea of the size of the caste may be gathered when it is mentioned that nine other characters were represented. During the evening the audience were most emphatic in their demonstrations of approval, and at times the applause was quite enthusiastic. The principals at the termination- of the acts were called before the.curtain, and on one of these occaskns Miss Raymond was the recipient of a handsome floral tribute. " Under the Gaslight " will be produced again on Thursday night. The company will afterwards visit Mosgiel and Port Chalmers.

The Hellers have, I am informed on good authority, cleared £2000 during the past two months. Good work this, considering the bad times, and enough to make the mouths of the exponents of the legitimate drama water.

A talented company of blind vocalists and musicians have arranged to commence a season in Dunedin on Saturday evening next by giving a people's concert in the Garrison Hall at popular prices. The company consists of the following artistes : — Miss Wotton, age 18 years, born blind ; Miss Mulvogue, age 23 years, blind from infancy ; Mr Irwin, age 23 years, blind from infancy ; Mr Bland, age 26 years, blind from infancy ; Master Baitlett, age ,19 years, blind from accident at six years old. They are all from the Ormond Hall of Music, of Melbourne. On 9 .can just distinguish light from darkness, but the others are totally blind. Attached to the pompany are two accompanists gifted with sight — Miss A. Bartletfc and Mr J Kearsley, — but the students play each other's accompaniments admirably. To witness such skill under Bo grievous an infliction is quite' phenomenal, and calculated to impress Itself indelibly upon all who witness the performance of the students. But they do other thiDgs equally as well that would ge*>m to be well-nigh impossible. They read 3 Bible punctured on the Braille system as easily and readily as a person with eyesight would read ; they read ordinary pla , , i rM» by touch, and write to dictation iroti ;o audience ; they also dp sums ia priti _etic, and *he youug ladies make wool-

work. They go through a mosb comprehensive programme of high-class music, but their repertoire contains many programmes', including solo 1 ?, duets, trios, and cjuarfcefcs. They are all; thoroughly trained musicians, and do not play by ear, as might be supposed, but from memory, which has been cultivated to a most marvellous extent. The company and platform arrangements are all under the personal supervision of Mr Reg. George Webb, manager. The production of Vincent Wallace's everwelcome opera, "Maritana," at the Princess Theatre, by the combination of ladies and gentlemen who are to be known in future as the Dunedin Operatic Club, under the direction of Mr Albert Richardson (a gentleman who was formerly one of the leading members of the famous Lyster Opera Company in Australia), promises to be a noteworthy event. A double cast of principals and a large and powerful chorus have been rehearsing with much assiduity, and an excellent representation of the opera Jmay be confidently anticipated. An efficient orchestra, under the leadership of Mr E. Parker, has been secured, and the new wardrobe, specially made for the occasion, will be handsome and elegant. All the usual stage access jries have been provided, and, as popular prices will be charged, the patronage of the mufical public may be anticipated. A number of tickets for the opera have been already sold, and the success of the undertaking thus assured. The opening night was 'go be on Wednesday night, too lato for notice in this paga. We- may shortly have an opportunity of witnessing the marvellous natatorial feats of the Beaumont troupe, who have recently been appearing with great success in Sydney (where the Morning Herald referred to their performance as " tha reigning topic of Sydney"), Melbourne, and Adelaide. Professor Beaumont, it is 6aid, remains for the space of 4£ minutes under water in a huge glass tank which is erected on the stage, and while there smokes a cigar, plays cards, and performs other feats which will only be credited when they are seen.

Alfred Dampier, the popular theatrical manager, was the other day granted an unconditional certificate of discharge in the Melbourne Insolvency Court. His affidavit stated that while at the Alexandra Theatre he paid away in rent and other expenses over £91,000, and on his arrival in New Zealaud with a company he found nearly 40 companies treading on each other's heels, and was forced to disband his company,

The inhabitants of Henley and surrounding districts turned out en masse last Friday evening, the attraction being a visit from Dunedin of a party of ladies and gentlemen styling themselves the Dunedin Surprise Party. The entertainment took the form of a variety show, and as such was unanimously declared to be superior to anything of the kind yet seen in the district. Punctually at the appointed time Mr Harold G. Douglas, late of the Lyons Burlesque Company, set the ball rolling with a selection from «'The Caliph of Bagdad," which was very nicely executed, and deserved the round of applause meted out. Miss Nelly Stevenson met with a splendid reception for her songs, the best of which were "The lighthouse by the sea" and •• Good-bye Mavourneen," and stie was vociferously recalled for both. Mr Charlie Brown, late of the Lyons Company, made the hit of the evening in bis Dutch and Irish specialties', and he was encored again and again. He received a flattering ovation for his concluding item, "Silence and fun," and the audience seemed loth to part with him. Mr J. D. Stoyle, also late of the Lyons Company, received encores for his two humorous items, " Waltzing" and '« Anniebody's Rooney." Mr Charles Hill, of the Kennedy-Deeriug Company, appeared to advantage in his song " Spare the old mud cabin," and had to submit to an imperative encore. Later on in the evening he gave two recitations in good style. After the concert the ball was cleared for dancing, which was entered into with great zest by the ladies and gentlemen present. Mr Charles Hill officiated as M.C., and Mr Douglas supplied the dance music. The company intend paying another visit to Henley in a week's time, when they will have the assistance of Miss Addie Towers.

The members of the Dunedin Liedertaf el.under the conductorship of Signor Squarise, met on Tuesday evening at the Grand Hotel to welcome their old conductor, Herr Benno Scherek, who is at present on a visit to this city with the Sapio-Urso Company. About 40 members were present. The chairman (Mr F. L. Jones), in a happy speech, proposed the health of their guest, and on behalf, of the members and lovers of music generally welcomed his return to Dunedin. Hen Benno Scherek responded iDJfeeling terms. The members of the society rendered a number of part songs during the evening, and a number of brief speeches were made by those present, including Signor Sapio and MrLeurin. The late Mr Edward Sales pointed out in his reminiscences that the Australian rights alone of a successful London play nowadffys yield more than double the sum a dramatist formerly received altogether. Ejuckstone received £70 for a three-act drama, and £10 for the provincial rights for 12 months. Compare that fjgure wjth the earning power of a modern melodrama with a London reputation. A playwright referred to by Mr Yates— George R. Sims qne would be safe in guessing — told him that for one piece alone he had drawn within £150 of £10,000, and the fees were still rolling in at the rate of £100 a week. "In this return," says the deceased journalist, "America, really unknown in the early days as a money-producer for the English dramatist, figures for £80Q mpre than London ; the provinces, valued by Buckstone at ' a £10 note, yield nearly £10.000; while Australia, at that time chiefly known as a receptacle for convicts, yields more than double the amount originally paid by my father for tho whole acting copyright." This is certainly no exaggeration ; indeed, it is well under the mark. We (Melbourne Herald) believe we are correct in stating that Messrs Thornton and Arnold gave £1200 for the Australian lease for seven years of "Charley's Aunt." The price Mr Bland Holt would pay for the Australian rights of plays such as he is now producing at the Princess Theatre would range up to about £700 or £800 each. This, be it understood, is the fee paid to the author merely for the acting right.

Miss Katie Seymour i 3 undoubtedly a charmiri g little actres?, but she will find it hard to live up to this description of her personal appearance, written by an enthusiastic interviewer : — " Her eyes are beautiful ; the large iris has a soft tobacco colour, and is set in a ' white ' that is suffused with pale blue, giving it the tone of the inside of a mussel-shell. The nose is bold and well-shaped, and her strong white teeth are framed by prettily cut, full red lips.' Her hair, which has the texture of unreeled silk, is of a pale chestnut tint." It is said that M. Constant Coquelin is one pf the richest actors in France. He is believed to have a fortune of 4,000,000fr. Besides his income r paying investment?, he has nearly 1,000,000fr invested in famous pictures at his splendid home facing the Arc de Triomphe in Pa-is.

America is a veritable Land of Qphir to tbo Successful European actor, singer, or musician, Every leading actor or actress bag at

some time courted the patronage of our Yankee cousins, and never, or scarcely ever, in vain. Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry have found thair transatlantic path bestrewn with gold, even though the ordinary American citizen finds it difficult to make both ends meet. M. Paderewski's experiences have been similar. Madame Patti'n long series of American successes need not be referred to — the diva is the same on all continents. And now M. Jean d' 3 Reszke and his opera company succeeded in netting £110,000 in the States during their recent tour.

A funny incident arising out of a slight error has occurred, says The Stage. It will be remembered that in the first act of "Caste" George D'Alroy gives Eccles " half a soy." The actors at the Garrick have always used . a bright farthing for the necessary coin, and this Mr Forbes Robertson, as D'Alroy, takes out of his sovereign purse. On Monday night Mr Robertson pulled two coins out of his purse and tgave, as he thought, Mr G. W. Anson, as Ecclee, ho usual farthing. So far so good. The next diy Mr W. L. Abiogdon and Mr Anson went to the Stereoscopic Company's Studio to be photographed. In the act of changing their attire they discovered on the floor a real half-sovereign. Being unable to determine the owner of the welcome guest, the "two settled the matter by spending the coin over a littlo dinner. On arrival at the theatre they found out the true state of affairs — Mr Robertson, of course, had given Mr Auson the real half sovereign in error. But the funniest part of the incident is that the same day Mr Robertson had tendered the sham half sovereign in a Bond street shop, arid had he not had hi 3 card ca;e with him would, perhaps, have been " run in " for doing a " smash." As it was he explained matters, and the incident so far ended in a good laugh.