THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 39

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Br Pasquin, Tuesday, April 27. * . ' Two entertainments were given by Mr Carl Hertz at the Princess Theatre on Saturday, each oE wbiph was largely attended. At the matinee, which was for the benefit of sufferers by the Hawke's Bay floods, the theatre w*s crowded, and the entertainment passed off very successfully. The programme in the evening was one of the best that Mr Her! z has put forward during the season, and was immensely enjoyed by the audience. The feats of prestidigitation performed by Mr Hertz were executed with the utmost cleanness, and their complete success 6tt those who were present an interesting puzzle to work out aa they wended their respective ways homeward at the conclusion of the performance. A new featuva of this part of the programme was the illusion entitled " Stroubaika," which, though not novel, - was produced for the first lime in the season, and by its cleverness excited considerable amazement. The cinematographic views, oi which a new set was shown, were, on the whole, the object of general admiration. Distinctly tte best of them was a genuinely life-like representation of "Charing Cross," in which every detail was produced with perfect fidelity. An additional virtue in connection with this view 13 the absence of the glitter which is almost inevitably aasoci&led with cinematographic pictures. Another capital view was that depicting the entry ot the Czar into Paris. In this picture the autocrat of Ail the lius3tas is attended by au extensive retinue, mounted on horses and riding in carriages, and one realiEes, on looking at the view, that it is at a pratty stiff trot that the cortrye is entering the I'rench capita). These two, wit 1 } a representation of a bathing ecor.e at Boulogne, in which the curl of the inrolling waveß is excellently reproduced, may be taken as the most artistic of a fine set of views. ■ . ' The popular entertainments given id the Garrison Hall under the direction of Mr John Fuller have most unmistakably " caught on,' and the large aud'ences — the extent of the attendance being well maintained on Saturday night— would almost indicate that these entertainments, at which decidedly good value is given for the prices of adnvssion that are charged, supply a much-needed want. The illustrated lecture ou Saturday night bad for its subject «• A Trip Through the South Island of New Zealand " — the audience being conducted by the "guide" to the Lakes district, the sounds, and along the overland routes to the West Coast. The views were simply admirable and produced superlatively well, and many- of them elicited enthusiastic applause. The concert part of the programme was also enjoyable. • . '. iThere.was a fair attendance at the City Hall on Saturday night on the occasion of the production of " Oliver Twist " by Col. D'Orsay Ogden's Dramatic Company. The piece was well staged, and also performed in a manner which gained for those taking part in it the hearty approval of the audience. Miss Nellie Oakdeoe appeared in the title role, and acquitted herself very creditably, being frequently applauded during the progress of the play, besides securing an encora for her rendering of " Please, give me a penny." Col, D'Orsay Ogden's Fngin, although not exactly the character that Dickens portrayed, was the prominent and interesting figure in the play, and afforded the audience the greatest amount of pleasure. On Monday night " East Ljnno" was produced. • . • Tbe Pollard Opera Company, now appesrmg with great success in Chrißtchurch, will commence a farewell season of biz nights at the Princess Theatre on Thursday next. The opening production will bu Chaasaignb's celebrated conv'c opera " l?alk»," which will be placed on tbe stage in Mr Pollard's usual style. The whole of the dresses, scenery, and effects b*ve been specially prepared for thfs opera. The season being limited, " Falka " can only be played two nights. " Boccaccio " will follow. Of the opening piece a Wellington paper says : — " It is a favourite operatic gem in a brilliant setting : a piece which eminently suits the company, because its success largely depends upon the infusion of life into the picturrsque scenes with which it is studded. Thiß is just what suits the young people, who are able to give full pKy to their natural spirit;, and who romp through the three acts with a breezy vigour and lightheartednes3 which communicates itself to the audience.' The dresses in "Falka" and •' Boccaccio" are said to excel anything yet seen on the stage in New Zealand, and have coat Mr Pollard over £500. 1 . • Miss JaJiefc Wray, of Melbourne, wa* recently married to Dr Sharmac, of Auckland, New Zealand, and will leave'the stage shortly. • . • Miss Colbourne Baber (Mrs Harrison White) will henceforth be known professionally as Madame Lilja Harrison. She and her husband are grea.t successes in London. This lady is certainly putting up a record for names. While in DunediD she changed her Dame from Miss Webb to Mrs Baber ; in Sydney she becance Miss Colbourne Baber, changing again to Mrs White, then back to Colbourne Baber, and now ehe becomes Madame Lilla Harrison. It is to be hoped she has reached the haven of content by the last change. • • One of the great features of Carl Hertz's entertainment last week was a new and marvellous illusion entitled " Noah's Ark, or After the Flood." A miniature aik was eesn standing on tressels some few feet above the stage. The ark was taken to pieces and shown to be apparently perfectly empty. It was then put together again, and bucket after bucket of water poured into it. There then suddenly emerged from the windows ducks, rabbits, pigeons, fowls, cats, and a good sized pig. The ark w&s again taken to pieces, when the water had entirely digappetred, and Mdle. D' Alton, charmingly attired, was seen lying within it. How she got there or where the animals came from previously is a mystery ; and ths audience were completely amazsd by the illusion. • . • There is a probability that Mr Grattan Rigg3, the well-known comedian, will play 11 Handy Andy " on the last night of the Pollard Beaton at Christcaurch. • . • Mdlie. Antoinette Trebslli has made a great success in S&n Fraccisca. The French soprano appeared at the Californian Theatre, assisted by Gustav Hinrich's symphony orchestra, and opened with "Bel Rtggio," a. judicious selection, as the great singer excels in t She also sang "Lo ! Hear the gentle lark," Salome" air from " Herudiade," »nd the air of Solvei* from Grieg's Betting of Ibsen's " Peer

Gynt." Messrs Fernando Vert aud Martin Haurwitz are conducting the season on ;; great scale, as the theatre co»ts 170dol a week and the orchestra 500d8l, and the prices of admission are accordingly -6<, 4-s, and 2i. Mdlie. Trebelli will tour east towards New York aud Canada, and will then probably rest in Paris. I , ' Mr 3 Bland Holb ga.v.e a children's party recently at " Pine Grove," Richmond, the residence of the Hon. George and Mrs Coppin. Upwards of 80 guests were present, with several grown-up friends to help ia the work of amusiog them. The summer weather allowed the little ones the chance of having a miniature garden party in the extensive ground?, where all sorbs of fixtures! dear to the heart of childhood held sway. • „ • Private accounts come of the success of Mr Luscr.mbe Searelle's Moody - Manners operatic combination in South Aftica. Miss Fanny Moody, being a Cornishwoman, had a rather pleasant i-xperienee on arriving, for a crowd of Cornish miners met her at the railway station at Johannesburg and pretested her with &n illuminated address. Later on tho miners themselves dtew hsr carriage to the hotel, and Madinie sang " Home, sweet home " from the balcony, a throng of paople filling the street be'ow. j • . • lam rf minded, says tne theatrical writer in Melbourne Puccb, by the receipt of a letter from Mrs Williamson (Mise Maggie Mcore) that the world is a very small place, aud That persons move about it very quickly. I only received tho letter at the beginning of this month, and it tells me thab the writer would leave San Francisco for Melbourne by the Mariposa on the Ist of this month, yel> at the time tte popular actresH wrote sha was in " Gay Paree." It is addressed from " Rmdwicli," Parc.Ciroli, Paris. The peculiarity of the " Randwick' 1 is explained by the facb that Mrs Williamsou was the aucst or Mr mid Mrs Francis Foy, formerly of Sj'dney (Mark Foy'e). "Tney ha.ye a beautiful plsc3 nere," wiites Mrs Williamson. "It is but a short distance from Paris by train. It is a lovely borne aud tbe garden in a perfect dream, even for Pari*< He has called the place Rindwick in memory of the Sydney suburb. They Lave four fitie boys here nb school and three girls ai the convent, and I suppo:e I ueed not tell you that they all speak French like rmt ws." It will interest readers to hear thit Mrs Williamsoa bad offers to appear iv Londoo, and also an olfer to play the principal " boy " in the paobommie at Manchester next Caristmas. The offers were good enough, but her trip this time has been one of pleasure, with an eye to future bueiu*ss, and the did not care to df part from her original intention. She says that Pattie Browne is one of the greatest of favourites in London. " Everjoae seems to like her. and I doubt if there is ano'her actress on the stage here more popular." My informant doubts whether Hilda Spotg hsß startled London. There is no doubt whatever that Ada Crossley has. " I went to htar her sing ab an afternoon concert. She looked lovely aud, oh, what a glorious voice she has now. She simply raided the roof, and when fchp (inithed the br&vos and applausa would have done you good to hear. They really worship her here, and I don't wonder at ifc. I am uot acquainted with the lady personally, but ehe came from Australia and I was proud of her" Of other one-time Melbourufl folks -—Bella Perraan and her brothers are doins- splendidly in the Manchester Pantomime, Alfred Plumpton is conductor at tho Palace Varieties in London, Alfred Moul is business manager at the Alhtmbra, and Nellie Stewait is" resting " in London. • . Max O'Rell's faro:cal comedy, "On the Continong," is now booked in the leadisg theatres of all the principal towns in Great Britain, and will start ou tour early in May. Max O'Rell haa engaged a company of selected arli tee, and will play the principal pwt himself. • . ■ Jean de Reszke conaiders Melba's "B aiubildc" a aplerdid performance, and moet succebsful. During the American engagement which the great Australian singer has ]usb had to forego she was receiving 60 per canfc. more salary than during her first season in the States, aud her name appears at the head of the salary list. • . • Melb* snys that Wagner's music ruing the voice. Nordica. adds that " Wagner's music h£S no effect on the voices of those who know how to siDg it." . I have received a little brochure of prees opinions on the different characters portrayed by that sterling actress Miss Florence Seymour dur'mg her residence in the colonies. Miss Seymour in private life is Mrs Erskine Scott, and her splendid performance of Mrs Ralston in " Jiaa the Penman'" introduced her M a prime favourite to co'omal audiences. Since then the has played many parts, with uniformly good results. Sydney papers speak in glowing terms of her two ifcmt performances — Mrs Ailenby in "A Woman of No lmportar.ee," and Leah d'Acosts* iv "A Woman's Rsason."