PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS AT HOME AND IN THE COLONIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 39

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS AT HOME AND IN THE COLONIES.

INTERVIEW WITH MR R. S. SMYTHE. Taking advantage of the presence in Dunedin of Mr R. S. Smythe, the "much travelled," who is awaiting the arrival by the Moana o£ Mr Durward Lely, our representative had au in-teresting«-chat at the Grand Hotel with the popular Australian manager, who has just returned from a trip to Europe, where he has been searching for new stars. M. PADF.EEWSKI. " Before looking about for a novelty," iaid Mr Smythe, "I had to arrange the terms on which I would be willing to cancel my contract ' "vith M. Paderewski, for I felb that I wa3 bound 'in honour to consent to that. The simple ex- | planatioa is that the agreement was made when things were booming in the three principal Australian capitals, and when people would have readily paid a guinea to hear the great pianist. They would not do that; now, in sa£Bcient null, b <rs ; and the famous pupil of Leschtitzky could make more money in Europe and America. Yet Paderewski is not laeresuary. When 1 was in London last August he was composing an opera ; and that he might not be interrupted in his work, he refused offers of English engagements worth £12,000. Yet his opera may not hit the public taste ; and even if it should, his percentage of the receipts would be a small sum compared with what he makes with a ftw recitals. But you cannot reason with great musicians." THE ENTEItTAINitfENT INDUSTET. "Now, about your search for new talent, Mr Smythe. In thess days, with cable communication and a weekly mail, is it necessary for you to go to England to seoure a novelty, or do you go for pleasure ? " - " It is always a pleasure to revi&it Europe," replied the much-travelled one; "and nowadays the competition for t&tent is so keen that unless & manager is -on the spot to complete engagements he cannot possibly keep up to date, and might as well give up business. Twenty years ago it was different." " How is that ?" "For really eminent lecturers, not necessarily men who* would attract large audiences in the colonies', there is alw*ys a demand by three influential organisations that work together — viz , the London Institution, the Edinburgh Philosophical Institute, and the Birmingham Midland Institute. Besides these old-establiihed bodies there ia the Lecture Agency in London, with a long list of attractions ; and in nearly all tbe large provincial centres aud in most of ths suburbs of Londcm there, are syndicates or committees that organise courses of lec'.ures. Max O'Rell and the Rev. Charles Clark are fully employed in this way during the winter. Besides the Britiah lecture agencies, the Australian manager has to compete with the great American bureaux, one of "which thid peason engaged Nansen as a lecturer, and the other Anthony Hope — whern I had the pleasure of m-jeting — as a reader of hie own books." THE LOXG VOYAGE. . "Do you - ever come across a celebrity who, for some patriotic, sentimental, or other reason, would prefer to take a trip, if not to Australia, to New Zeaknd, a favourite field for tourists ? " "Hardly ever. The great obstacle is the long voyage to the Antipodes, the loss of time, and therefore money, and the monotony oi: the whole thing. Coming from America to the Antipodes tbe voyage can be broken at Honolulu, and with the idea of seeing whether on the voyage by way of Suez a similar ba'f-w&y stopping plac* could be roade at Caylou — one of the most Beautiful countries io the wirld — I 'ipent a few days there oa my last trip Home in - the China. Tbe number of Europeans there, however, is very small. The opaning up ct Western Australia may have the effecb of making it worth while for companies to slip ab Albany, or better still, Fremantle. The North [ German Lloyds have made the latter tbeir j stopping place, and 1 have no doubt that other i large shipping companies will follow their example, so that a new star would rises ia the j west instead of the east." CONCERTS AT HOME AND ABROAD. "I suppose we have as good concerts in the colonies as they have at Home ?" " No ; because the companies that visit Australia are either one-man or one-woman showp. Charles Santley, was supported by local talent. The last star, Albaui, had done wonderful business, but the company suppoitiug her are not to be compared with the one I heard at her concerts shortly before she sailed for Australia. A colonial manager cannot afford to engage the company supporting the artist at Home, because the members of the company ask such salaries for going to the other side of the world that, were they given, the manager would be unable 'to give the star the terms demanded. Api'opos of Albani, when I heard her in Londou aud Edinburgh she was assisted by the gified child Maud Macearchy, a daughter of Dr Maccarthy, of Sydney, -and a splendid violinist, who divided the honours equally with the prima donna at a matinee in the Music Hall, Edinburgh. It is likely that Miss Maccarthy will shortly visit the colonies with a company of her own." The conversation then drifted to the remarkable success achieved by Madame Albani. " Though she is no longer in her prime," said Mr Smyths, « she is still au artist of the first

rank,/ Her name 13 known over the world, anijj the message from the Queen doubtless hai some effect. The great mass of people, who oi course are not musical, would think that * singer whom the Queen was pleased to honouf was the greatest singer of the day, whereas the Queen knew Albani when she was in the zenith of her powers, and her Majesty is noted for always keeping her friendships in repair*" THE AUSTRALIAN PRIMA DONNA. "I believe that when in England you met Madame Melba ? " , " I not only met her," replied the enterprising impresario, " but ehe was good enough to invite me to go down with her to Brighton, where she gave her last concert in England before starting next day for New York. It was in the magnificent Dome, which was thronged by a very tasbionable audience. The diva was well supported, the assisting artists including Ada Grossley, Bea Daviea, and John Kruae ; but interest centred in Melba, and after her last song (Tosti's 'Good-bye') numbers left the j theatre." I "Do you think the Australian prim* donna i T?ill ever visit hsr native country ? " j "Well, lam afraid that Albani's reception will not improve the chances of the colonies being yisited by Melba, because the terms that ehe will now demand will be much higher than they would have been six months since. Albani's husband is an old manager, and she came out just in time ; ahe could not follow the reigning diva. To pay Helb&'s present terms it. would be necessary to charge double the prices of admission at the Albani concerts. However, Madame Melba assured me most positively that she would be in AusI tralia about' August ; bat she has doubtless re- ! ceived some splendid offer and has probably been advised by Australian friends that "she wiii i lose nothing by delaying her departure for n*r or.n country." HOME AND COLONIAL TASTE. "In the matter of entertainments, are tbe tastes of colonial and English audiences identical ? " "Not exactly. It is unfortuoate, but toraetimes really eminent artists who hold promipositions a.t Home have failed to draw in. the colonies. The moat striking instance is the lady of whom .we have just been speakingBetore Mrs Armstrong- (which is Melba's proper name) went to Europe she was engaged to support John Kruse, who was making a concert tour under the management of Mr J. C. Wili liamson. The audiences were small both in j Melbourne and Sydney ; and there is no doubt that nobody (even in the so-called musical world) ever had au idea that Mrs Armstrong would no quickly risa to her present proud pre-eminence, which she is likely to occupy for a long time yet — the despair and envy of all other prima donnas. Other instances of eminent artistes not meeting with financial success in the colonies ' are Wilhelmji (the violinist) and Signor Foli ; but some case?, no doubt, are to be attributed .to bad management;. The moot popular enterj tainments ace naturally those which appeal Co all ciasses." " Did ycu meet m&ny remarkable men in London this time ? " " Several ; but at present I will only refer to one, IAN MACLABBN, j v?ho the uievrous winter had besn received' with tha greatest enthusiasm in- both theUnited States and Canada. He created a furore. He did not .lecture, but gave readings' from his popular books, a clas'n of entertainment which I have always hesitated to intro-' duce into these colonies. In. America, they are • always t seeking after gome new European | celebrity, and this lasb winter Anthony Hope I made a reading tour. I was so fortunate as to I itear Dr Watson lecture. His subject was j ' Scotch Humour and Others.' The audience ! had a delightful two hours, and after the entertainment I was introduced to the lecturer. He I is a very busy man, having pastoral, pulpit, ! literary, and lecturing work to attend to, and i he told me hu would be lully occupied until the i winter of ISOO. I have seldom been more im- | pressed by a msa. Have you ever read his j book ' The Mind of the Master •" ? No ? Then, j I advise -you to do so. After reading it I j thought of something I,onee heard the good i Dean Stanley say in a speech he delivered at / an anniverGay or the* old Green Coat School at . Westminster. He said that on his return from America 'his clerical brethren asked him who ware the best American preachers, and how h© . liked their sermons. He replied that he did 1 not recollect the names of the New England I preachers, but the sermon was always by Ralph j Waldo Emerson. So, after reading ' The [ Mind of the Master,' I felt that for gome time ; I not oaly in Presbyterian churches, but ia. • churches of all denominations, the sermon | would be by lan SJacl&ren. And now I thinli 1 must ask you to excuse me." ! " But your nexs, attraction ? " ! "Thank you. I should have forgotten that. My next attraction will ba Mr Durward Lely, the famous Scotch tenor, of whom mention has already been made in the Times columrß. Hs haa a great reputation, and his entertainmentsconsist chiefly of Scottish song and 1 humour, in ! which he is ably assisted by his wife as pianist.' !He arrives in Auckland by the Moana. I heard i him in the City Hall, Perth, and I am sure j that he will be received with great enthusiasm J all over the colonies. He is the first eminent j artist who will commence his colonial tour (in Dunedin. The opening entertainment will bs given in ths Garrison Hall on Monday, the 18th, not on the 19th as vva» at first i announced." : "If you o.&n sp.vre a moment, Mr Smythe, tbere is one other question 1 would like to ask- | Do you believe, with Clement Scott, that the theatre does not make for righteousness ? " " Oh, really, that is such a very large question that for the answer I muat ask you to waifc for a more convenient season. I am awfully j obliged to you for calling. Do you smoke ? ! No? Wei!, good raoming."

' During 18S7 the totalisator was at work in I New Zealand on 250 days in tfee ye^r. The | .-evenue received by the G-overumenb was £12,079, representing, at 1£ per cent;., tbe Government t°,x. Ovee £800,000 passed , through the machine. I Serious fires have occurred in the Masterton district; since Friday. At Weraite and Rangitumau Hr C. B. Danielle's mills were in great danger, and _ wera saved with difficulty, toe j firemen from' Mastecfcon going to the assistance |of the mill hand 3. The settlers in the neighi bourhood left tbek houaes. The extent of the ! damage is not known yet, but Mr Danielle'* j loss so far must be about £1000. At Fernridga another fire caught a large heap of firewood belonging to A. Slempa, and spread to his slaughtei house, stables, &<\, totally destroying them. A rcan named Pete? Jorgensen traa very seriously injured in fighting the fire. " Soilence in the coort !" the bobby cried. And I really thought I should have died "With ths coughing here and the sniffing there, Till the judge, enraged, said : " I declare I will this row no longer endure ; Just send {or Woods' s Great Peppemiat. » " Cure-? 1