THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 47

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

— i — By Pasquin.

Toksdat, December 21.

•.* The very .enjoyable season in Dunedin of the Paulton-Btanley Comedy Company was concluded with the production at the Princess Theatre on the 15bh of " Niobe." There was a, , special reason which made this performance one of exceptional interest. "Nicbe" has bten admir»bly played here on several occasions by Another comedy company of acknowledged excellence, and an opportunity was thus afforded of a comparison between the two representations. More than that, this production was noteworthy in* asmuch as Mr Harry Paulton is a joint author of the comedy ; ' and not only so, bat he appeared in the character which he originally interpreted in London — th»t of Peter Amos Dunn. As the event proved, it was most difficult to compare his impersonation of the character created by hiraselt with that which has in Dunedin Come to be accepted as the standard impersonation of the character, each being a distinct impersonation, admirable in itself. Mr Paulton played the part in that inimitable style of his which, while most serious, is at the fame time exceedingly droll, depending largely upon his great power of facial change for the points that he makes. It was an intensely amusing performance, and one that created roars of laughter. Miss Alma Stanley made what miy ba regarded as an ideal Niobe, looking the part to perfection, and giving an exceedingly artistic »nd enjoyable representation of the revivified statue. The support that was given to the principals was of a thoroughly satisfactory character, Miss Minna Phillips being particularly effective in her part. The piece was received with abundant marks of favour from a large house.

* . * There was a fairly numerous audiqnee at the City H*ll on Saturday night, when the Albert Lucas Company presented another change of programme. the Mountebank," a piece that has not been produced here for some years, was staged, and the manner in which it was enacted was fully iv accordance with the reputation this company has earned for itstlf during its lengthy season in Dunedio.

• . • The Albert Lucas Dramatic Company open at Invercargill on January 4 with " The Sixth • Command mßnr|^ a pieoa which was certainly one of the -most' successful of the company* prod notions in Dunedin. The other plays intended to be produced on tour are •' Queen's Evidence," " Snowball," " A Regular Fix," and " The Bells." The company should have a Buccess r ul trip if fairly well managed, as its performances are undoubtedly worthy of the support of our country friends. The dates of the tour appear nbave.

* . *Mr B*rrie Marschel and a dramatic company, which inclndes amongtt its members Miss Irene Carlyon, Miss Nellie Jarvif, Messrs Fred Btrkett, A. W. Morris, Wilton Power, W. Phillips, Eugene King, and other*, begin a Christmas season at the Agricultural Hall oa Boxing Night with the fii'it production on any stage of a New Zealand play in four acts f torn the pen of Mr Marschel entitled " Humarire Taniwha (The Beautiful Devil) ; or, The Greenstone God." Mr Barry Jaggers has been engaged for some time pist upon the large stock of scenery which will form a special feature of the production, and includes views of Dunedin (illuminated) on Jubilee Night, the TriaDgle; the Sawyers' B*y railway bridge, a train sensation, and Forbury racecourse on Cup Day, with a view of the race for the Cup. The season will be at popular prices. * . * After an absence of three years the Hellers have begun another tour through New Zealand, commencing fn the Wairarapa district on the 17th icsfc. They are booked to appear at the Theatre Royal, Napier, on Bjxing Night, und will come south in the new year. MiGeorge T. Callender is still in advance. •.'Tha luman Dramatic Company open at Cbristchurch on B ixing .Nighb in "A Yorkshire Lass." Mr Cecil Sorrell is in advance.

• . • The Auckland Herald is responsible for the following :—": — " When the Paulton-Stanley Company was leaving the Wangauui railway station one of the members of the company, fascinated by a snull M«ori maiden, who had delighted them with her quaint mannerisms and vocalisation, took a valuable diamond ring from her fiugerand pressed it upon the child." * . * Mr Williamson has reconsidered his Christmas campaign, and decided that the fftnlomiiaft "B»bes ia the Wood" elull be

i'l*y«d in Sydney, Mr Wilson Barrett's Australian debut being fixed for Melbourne. Mr Barrett brings with him a company of 22 players, and a lot of scenery. The repertoire includes W. G. Willis's poetic play " Claudian," jn which he will open at Melbourne.; the dramatisations of Hall Caine's two storie*, " Ben-My-Chree " and " The Manxman"; and among others "Virginius." "Hamlet," "Othello'," and pfrhaps "Tho Sign of the Croo«" and " Thf Silver Kmsr."

'. • Ms dame Fanny Moody and her bnsbaud, Mr Charles Manners, intend off ei ing a prize of £100, with a royalty of 5 per cent, of net receipts of performance, for the best opera composed by a British subject, and a similar piize for a like work open to all nationalities.

Bliss Eileen O'Moore, better known aB Bessie Doylo, a talented violinist, will visit Duaedin shortly with a concert company.

'. • In San Francisco theatres, when alady enters wearing a matinee hat, she is carefully spotted by a door attendant. As soon as she is seated, an usher walks up to her with a printed card of request for removal of the hat obviously and ostentatiously displayed on a silver salver. If it be net removed inside a minute qr two, a second usher repeats the performance, and soon, if necesßary, even unto 70 times st/reo. The theatre wins every time, for 110 woman born of woman could ever stand public ridicule.

• . • Mr Tom Pollard says that " Djin Djiu" . will be his trump card for his New Zealand tour, and will far eclipse anything that his company has .ever attempted. ..

• . ' Mrs Bernard Beere is of opinion that ifc is best for actresses not to shed real tears when upon the stage, ho matter how affecting the part.

* . " During one period of its career there were, no fewer than 25 companies running " Charley's Annt" in different parts of the world. These included the London company, several in the provinces, three in America, two iv Australia, two in India, two at the Cape, and about a, dozen in different countries on tbe Continent, including Norway, the home of Ib3on. This wonderfully successful piece has brought in no less than close on £300,000 to the lucky individuals concerned in it-i exploitation. It is "still running." It is impossible to eonj-cture as t» the extent to wh : ch it will prove a money-produc->r before the public tire of its attraction?.

• . • Here are the ages of distinguished London actors who still .play young men and lover* : Charles Wjrndham, "72; WiUon Barrett, 53 ; Forbes "Robertson, 45 ; Beerbohm Tree, 44 ; George Alexander, 37 ; Fred Terry, 34. As to the leading actresses who play youthful parts — well, Heaven alone knows their BgfS !

• . ' A feature of theatrical successes is that the public do not concern them»?lveß with the cost of an entertainment which pleases them. " Trilby," for instance, when ru<i by Mr Tree at the Haymarket, was not a third so expensive as " Hypatia " to put on the btsge, bub it secured the patronage of audiences three times more numerous. " Oar Fl«t," "Niobe," " The Private Secretary," " The Lights o' London," "The Silver King," and many other popular pieces will readily occur to mo^t playgoers, and every one of these pieces secured a return of several thousand per cent, on the money spent on their production to the fortuuate investors. Many pieces like "The G/*iety Girl" enjoy perennial prosperity. This opera has been toured ever stuoe ita London production by Mis* Cissy G-rahame, a young actress who wai compelled to relinquish the stage through failing health, and turned her knowledge of theatrical business to such excellent account that she has long since amassed of no mean proportions by her exertions. Her first success was achieved by running a touring compiuy with "A Pantomime' Rehearsal." Now she has earned for herself *uch a position that she is building a. new theatre of magnificent proportions at Deptford, which will be opened in the spring.

•.• "List Call" sends me the following American notes : —

Two of the plays which JuMa Arthur has secured are " InfedelV a comedy-drama by the Ifci'ian dramatist Roberb Braeeo, adapted by C. H. Meltsyerand J. I. C. Clarke, and anew version of " Canaille," by the same writers.

Nat C. Goodwin, Maxine Elliott, and the supporting company appear to bs doing exceedingly well on tour. Latest advices are from Baltimore Opera House.

Rudyard Kipling is writing a play dealing with life in India. Madame de Navarre (Mary Anderson) is studying singing in Paris, with the intention, it is said, of eventually appearing as a professional vocalist. Thi*, however, she denies, though she admits intending to appear in aid of charities, &o.

Marie Tempest denies her reported engagement to Cosmo Stuart.

By the burning of the Detroit Opera House block 1,000,000d0l damage, was done. Ju'ia Arthur's properties for "A Lady of Q lality," which cost her 25,000d01, were all lo3t. They were insured for 10,000dol. She immediately wired to New, York an order for the entire duplication of dresses and properties. The advance sale for Julia Arthur's appearance a!: WallackV Theatre, Ntw York, h*s exceed-ed any previous bookings at thia theatre. This looks like a good New York debut for Scot Luglis. Anthony Hope's readings in New York have provbd a good draw, among other subjects being " Tbe Prisoner of Zanda."

Henry Lee returned from Europe to New York recently, and was married there to a flliss Mary Cresson, x belle of Germantown, near Philadelphia. The wedding was a qaiet ouo, and they left for Europe on October 16.

Lillian Nordica hss commenced a concert tour of the Slates.

Morisy Rosenthal, the European pianist, h&s been prevented by ill-health from returning to America this season. Toe fellow ferae ia the southern gfoto of

America caused Lits's company, of which Miss Yda Hamilton (Mrs Scot Inglig) is a member, to postpone its visit. Henoa Mrs Inglis was with her husbaud in New York when the mail left; but as the quarantine had just been removt d was about to continue the tour. The Julia Arthur Compfiny were all on half salary during their enforced rent owing to the Detroit fire. They signified their appreciation of this managerial- courtesy by-a public testimonial to Misb Arthur and her brother, Mr Lewis. Henry Jewett received a good notice for his Charles VII of France in Fanny Davenport's new play, " A Soldier of France." Nat Goodwin seems to be thick iv legal battles with playwrights. Emilio Melville is appearing as lead in a play entitled "Light on the Point." Juliette Nesviile, one of (the Gaiety g'trla, has returned to England. G. W. Anson is in "La Poup3«" at the Lyric, N.Y.