THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 36

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Coatrlhntltii from tht Prcfuiioa ohronlollng tktlr n»T«m«iU tad d«lni» %n lnritcd. AU oemmamioaUoni to b< tUnutd t» "ruqnlß," OUjto WitatM OOtt.

Dr Talmage, according to an announcement in this issue, will visit Dunedin from Auckland, taking Christchurch and Wellington last. Mr Carlyle Smythe has been in town during the week completing the arrangements for tbe famous orator's series of three lectures in Duledin, commencing this (Thursday), evening. As Dr Talmige is to visit India to deliver four sermons, on his way back, he is making New Zealand his first place of call at the Antipodes. In Auckland the Opera House has been packed for the five evenings when he delivered his humorous lectures, and on Sunday, when he preached in the City Hall on behalf of the V.M.C.A., it was estimated thousands were unable to gain admission. The sermon was a most eloquent and impressive one, and was frequently interrupted by involuntary applause. Although Dr Talmage has Btopped at New Zealand first, his arrival in Australia is being eagerly prepared for. The Right Ray. the Moderator and the heads of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales have intimated their intention of according the famous minister of Brooklyn Tabernacle an official welcome, and a similar reception is to be extended to him in Melbourne. What with lecturing, preaching, and receptions Dr Tal'mage will find hia time pretty well filled during his eight weeks' stay in Australia and New Zealand.

" The Bright Side of Things" is the title of tbe lecturo which Dr Talmage has chosen for his first appearance in Dunedin. Tbe Auckland press seem to be unauimous in praising the distinguished lecturer. The Herald says : "Two hours of Dr Talmage is much too littlo " ; and the Auckland Star, reviewing his opening lecture, writes; "He kept the house in a continual uproar." Soaially also, the famous orator of Brooklyn Tabernacle had what his compatriots call "a real good time" ; all sects honouring him— the Bishop of Auckland and the Ministers' Association taking the lead. After a week thus pleasantly spent. Although Dr Talmage will be unable to visit any other town in Obago except Dunedin, his many admirers throughout the province will have special facilities provided whereby they may. still be able to hear " The Talmage Lectures for the Times." The Railway Commissioners, on the recommendation of Mr Grant, have decided to isaue special return tickets during Dr Talmage's season from Oamaru and all interveniug towns on the one Bide and Invercargill and all intervening towns on the otbe . Mr Whitwell-Butler ia niakini? arrangements for holding a concert on tho 18th of July, tha proceeds of which are to be devoted to au effort now being made to promote the linen industry in the south of Ireland. He intends to promote similar concerts in other parts of . the colony. The date of tbe complimentary bsnefit tendered to Mr Charles Hugo has been fixed for Monday next at tLo City Hall. A good programme has been prepa-ed, in which Mr Hugo will be assisted by 35 others. There was a sensational incident at the Opera Comique, London, on May 11, on tho occasion of tbe second production of the play " The Society Butterfly " After the fall of tue curtain, Mr Buchanan, one of the author* of the play, came to the footlights and proceeded to read an extract from Clement Scott's criticism, in which Mr Scott said tha play was a failure and that tbe audience left the theatre before the play was ended. Mr Buchanan, in an excited manner, branded Mr Scott's words as entirely false. The whole audience, he declared, had waited till the end of the performance, but an unexampled and unseemly demonstration had occurred in the galley, where a cabal had insulted and endeavoured to terrify a helpleFs woman, Mrs Langtry. This was not the firßt time that Mr Scott had endeavoured to do him personal injury. " I wish from this stage," Mr Buchanan went on, " to state publicly that he is a man without veracity, conscience, or honour, an egotistical and spiteful creature, who guys his friends and insults his foes, and is generally a disgrace to journalism. He totally ignores the cowardly attack made last night on a defenceless lady, and posnibly sympathised ! with thoßO who macta it, for he himself is fond of attacking defenceless wornon who have fallen out of his good graces " Ths audience vociferously cheered Mr Buchanan. When ho had finished, the joint author of the play (Mr

Murray) came forward and said he entirely concurred in hia colleague's remarks. In response to loud calls from the audience, Mrs Langtry then appeared hand in hand with Mr Buchanan, and there was a renewed outburst of cheering.

The appearance of an Indian princess as a prima donna has creattd a diversion at Home lately. A London paper by the last mail says : " Princess Ahmadse sang at the Albert Institute here with the Mtittpr Glee Singers, whose part music is superb ; but the Priuces-s was the attrac ion. She is not dusky — that is the charm -she has dark hair, and wonderfully dark eyes, but her complexion has a sort of ivory fairnc s, with only a warm enough tinge of colour to give it life. She is thoroughly Oriental, and her dress of rich Indian glittering fabrics carries out the effect ; but her singing of English songs is almost without a trace of foreign accent, and she has an agreeable wellcultivated voice, and greab expression. I was quite captivated with her, and if it be true tint she is a bonajide Delhian royalty, who gave up everything to embrace Christianity, she ought to be the rage in England • for she certainly has considerable musical gifts and abilities." The Christchurch Press remarks that on Thursday there occurred what is perhaps the reccrd event in any city in New Zealand, orindeed Australnsi i. There were three violinists of high repute playing that night at concerts in. a city of not more than 35,000 population. The artists referred to were Madame Camilla Urso, Miss Bessie Doyle, imd Mr Wallace. Little Hubermann, tho child violinist, will have a dangerous rival in the person of Miss Maud M'Carthy, a small maiden of 10 years, who plays the violin in a manner that is marvellous.

■ I spoke last week, says a writer in a Home paper, of the early hour at which pittites began to assemble at the Lyceum on the first occasion of " Faust," but it was earlier thun I imagined, some taking their places before 9 in the morning. They brought camp stools, books, and papers, together with refreshments. Much consternation, fol' owed by laughter, was caused by the announcement that Mi* Irving was too unwell to appear, but that his place as Mephisto would be taken by Mr J. L. Toole. At 3in tho afternoon, when tho passage was choked with people, tea was served, according to instructions received by Mr BiMm Stoker.

Some colonial favourites at Homo arc thus spoken of by a London paper : — l< What a curiously interesting company tho Gnttis have a scmblcd for tho revival of tho ' Two Orphans.' If one could procure an .authentic record of their -greenroom gossip, \vh *t a delightful volume of theatrical memories it would make. Curiously enough, Mr Charles Cartwright, Mr William Rigno'd, and Miss Do'crcs Drummond have each spent an important part of their careers in Australia. Miss Lingard made her earlier successes in America. Mr Ernest Leicester on his part is a no 1 able recruit from the East End ; while Miss Marion Terry has been associated with the best London theatres during 20 years.

" Mr William .Rignold comes of a family of actors and act.re'-ses ; but he was 'designed' for a musician, and still bas an elegant proficiency on tbe violin. In 1856 Mr Rignold was leader of the band at Limerick, where a performance of ' Rob Roy ' was contemplalated, with that strange creature Sir William Don as the Baillie. The heavy gentleman lost tho train, so Mr Rigno'd, in this emergency, played Rashleigh, and his success as an actor suggested to him the pursuit of the stage as a px % ofession.

" Miss Dolores Drummond is the granddaughter of a distinguisbel artis^, the late Samuel Drummond, A.R.A., and adopted his career She made her first appearance on the s age at the Theatre Roy il, Melbourne, playing Desdemooa to the Othollo of Mr G. V. Brook. For a long time she was leading lady of the Melbourne Theatre. She returned to Eng'ancl in 1874, Hortense in 'Jo,' and La-Iy Isabel in ' East Lynne ' being among her early successes oa the London stage. More recen'ly she has appeared with. Miss Hawthorne in ' Theodora,' and in a revival of 'Sweet Lavender*" at Terry's. " Miss Lingai'd has been lost sight of somewhat since she created t the gin and-milky heroine of 'Sister Mary.' '• She is tbe wife of Mr Horace Lingard, the comic opera entrepreneur, and although ~vf English birfch, was a popular favourite in America before she was known on the London stage, 'Frou Frou,' 'M. Alphonse,' ' Camille,' and ' Divorgons ' being constituents of her repertory. She was remarkably successful in 'Called Back,' and eventually found her way into Sir Augustus Harris's company at Drury Lane."

From a Homep^per. — "Loo Fredrick" writes : " Dear Editor, You will excuse ma wrightiog To you on such a question but I have no one else could Tell me what I want To know. I want to go on the stage and I do nob bow To secure a engagement:. To stand In a groop would do for me at first as I cauld see a bette posston after. You know of managers In London To witch I could send my Likeness. My age is 17 yeara I am not to old to go on the Stage. I could of got an engagement at the local panfcotnine I think bat; Ifc wouH be but too short a Time and I should Loose my present situation. Let me know as soon as possible." — Unlike most atage aspirants, " Leo Fredrick.' in saying that he would ba content to " stand in a groop," is modest} ; but if, as he states, he already has asitnation -of any kind whatever — we advise him to make tbe beßt of it.