THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 39

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquin.

Tuesday, September 21.

*..* The Ptincess Theatre will be reopened on Saturday next, the 25th intt., by the most popular of theatrical managers Mr Bland Holt. The Mason will be inaugurated by the presentation of the latest Adelphi Theatre success, "One of* the Best." The title is, as far as judgment assisted by the criticisms of the English and Australian papers can decide, a siDgularly happy one, for the piece has been proclaimed one of the best of the legion -of dramatic writing*. The authorship is virtually hew blood, and Messrs Seymour, Hicks, and George Edwardes have struck on entirely sew lines. Though military incidents predominate fresh ground has been prospected, and the -glowing accounts given .of it* Huglich and Australian receptions conclusively demonetrate the fact that true metal has come to tho surface. Mr Holt will, utilise the whole of. his established and favourite combination, undoubtedly, the best of its kind in all Australasia. The members of the Company are -arriving ia detachments. Mr Harry Norman and some of the w«rking bands rea«hed Dunedin by the Tarawera on Sunday, several of the principals are pascengers by the Talune from Sydney, and, Mr and Mrs Holt themselves have arrived by the Monowai from Melbourne. Mr John Bruutoa j and Mr Spoog are responsible f»r Vke scenic j details, which are pl<ttu;esque, novel, aud massive.

. • . • Preparations for the opening performanca are now in full swing. The mechanical departments ar» fully occupied with their particular and important branches of the production, supernumeraries and extras are being initiated into their duties, acd all the este^tial preHmiaaries are being well pushed forw*rd. Mr Holt's wonderful success oa the Australian »ido hat been a subjeciof interesting comment for some tinse past, and it is a fair certainty that hit Now Zoaland friend* will not ba far behind their Australian cousins in giving evidences of their hearty appreciation. " . • A performance wa» given by the Boscius Amateur Dramatic Society in tho Princess Theatre o* Friday night ia aid of ibe fund for the proposed free public library for Duuedin. The piece produced, " Fate* Dectte," is a drama of a highly sensational, though by no m*»ns original, oh».ract*r. It i« » story of love and crine, of misdirected sunpiaio* and groundless doubt. The members of tka Rosciu* Awateur Dramatic S»ci*>ty had g*ne to a good deal of trouble ia preparing for the r6p«e?cata.tioil of this play, and the performance was fully up to the average of anutmr entertainments. The c»»t included Misses Rose and Kittyy Blauey, Miss Laura Hvulou, and Bfewra B.P. Wilcocfes, W. H. Irviue, R. H. Dat>i»l«, J. SvraD, D. Campbell, Braithwaice, and A: 9. Crawford, and an c-ffieienfc orchentra was provided by Mr F. Robe'rtshaw. At~th» close oi tb»,flrifc ack the m&mVar* of the' comptay were called before the curUin, and th» audience was attotttivo an^r without being very domonatrßtiv». apparently well satisfied with the performBUC- •. • There was a fairly numerous attendance on Saturday eight when the piece wasrepe.vted. The piece was staged in a very complete manner, Riid wm fwrly tree from the blemi»hea which mark most amateur productions. Of tb^ladies who took part, Misa Kitty Blaney certainly ditplayod tke greatssi amount of histrionic ability. The part allotted her did not afford her a great deal of scope, but her movements all throagk aud the delivery < f her lines wore characterised by a naturalness and spontaneity that ,c*nt* somewhat as a surprise to many present. Mise Resa Blaney and Miss Hanlou were awarded frequ«nk applauFe. The male caaraeW'* were also fairly eveuly sustained. Me James Swan was markedly successful in the representation of hi* part, and his efforts contributed greatly to the success of the piece. Messrs Irvine, Willcocks, and Daniels met with more or less success in the characters allotfcsd then.

* . * There was a capital attendance at the City H»ll on Saturday night, when the Albert Lucas Company revived the evergrann drama " The Colteen B*wn,"

' . ' Sarah Beruhardfc, who has always had a morbid dread of fire, is attempting to have all her stage dresses made of fire-proof material.

■ . ■ Yvette Guilbert — or, as one should say, Madame Schiller— sineeher recent marriage with a wealthy American - chemist has earned more than lfooo,ooofcl f ooo,ooofc ia her' professional career. But, over and above this asm, she h»s made Konaethiyg like another million on the Stock Exchange, thanks to the late 'Barney Barnato. During one cf his eojoni-f>a in Paris the late millio»aire presented Madame Guilbert with a haadf «l of. ia a certain mine. The gold fever had net then set in in France, aB(l Barney insisted upon secrecy as to the possibilities of the shares in question. Of course, mademoiselle gave the "good thing" away, and up went the nharas, so that Yrette netted another" 1.000.000fr, as she had the good sense to £eU I out when the paper was at a premium. She is | now a rich woman ; her salary is never kss than £5000 a year, and, what is more, she is a happy wife. When she , lost her father, a»d had to set about making her own living, she obtained a position at Worth's., the great dressmaker's, as a lay figure. Tall v , slight, and elegant, she looked extremely well decked out ,Jn fine clothes for customers to admire and purchase. But she found that by coatinously standing she became very much fatigued , and she therefore left Worth's for the music hall stage, and created the roles by whioh she has made her immense fortune.