THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 47

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Bt Pasquiw.

TUESDAY, December 12.

Ijaughing eyes gushed \/ith tears at the Opera House, Auckland, -when Miss Maud Beat.y, the principal " boy " of the Pollard Opera Company met to bid the members, with whom she has been associated for the * past eight years, a sad farewell. Mies Beacty .was beloved by every member of the company, ' and the "parting after such a long association ■ was keenly felt. "Pasquin" extends his hand across the foam with sincere and heart-

felt wishes to the "only" Maud for success and happiness in her married life. Miss Beanie Galletly, the charming and dainty whirlwind danseuse of the Bland Holt Company, informs me that Misses Edia and Marie Lingard, now playing in Auckland with P. R. Dixs Gaiety Specialty Company, at the conclusion of their engagement go out to' India, China, and Japan with Ihe valdares, the famous trick riders who have been playing at Melbourne Bijou with great success. The Yaldares made their final appearance at the Bijou on November 30, appearing at the Sydney Palace for a short

season prior to sailing for the East.

Hero is a gem by t: Crotchet " in the Ta3rnanian Mail. Dunedin playgoers will appreciate it to the full : — " A singular accident occurred during the Bland Holt season in Dunedin while playing 'How London Lives.' The fank of water used in the production burst one night* during the progress of the play, and the theatre being built on a hill, the water (hundreds of thousands of gallons) rushed down tha street, sweeping everythiag beforeit, and swamping several shops btfore spreading out and becoming harmless." ** Crochet," I'm sorry. " Take more water with it ! The fact is simply this : After the curtain dropped on the scene in which the^ tank was used the water was let away, but* the pipes being so small did not allow the water to escape, quickly enough-, causing it to come back on itself — hence the flood.

Tha' mother of two well-known and 1 popular members of the Pollard Opera Company is at the seat o>f war in the- Transvaal, on an «rrand .of mercy, nursing the aick and wounded. An esteemed correspondent in the Bland Holt Company write 3me from. Wellington under date Decomber 5: — "We are doing lovely business with 'The White Heather,' the diving scene proving a great? attraction. I think it is gointj tetter here than at anyp lace we have played it yet. We .play ' Woman and Wine' next, opening in Auckland on Boxing Night with ' Sporting Life.' We are looking forward with pleasure to our return visit to your city — no place like Dunedin. Regards from the company. No more pictures — ' Rule* Britannia.' — Yours sincerely, B." Concerning the recent assault case in Pitt street, Sydney, when a. half-brother of Miss Maud McCarthy, the violinist, brutally assailed the musical critic of a Sydney paper, ■whose criticism of his half-sister young M'Carthy did not approve of, I say such an act' on his part was cowardly in the extreme, and a poor way, indeed, of giving the lie direct to the criticism, and of proving the iriolinist's musical abilities. Ou Monday k3t at the Princess Mr Northcote and his popular little company of entertainers brought a most successful season to a close. Thero was a very large attendance, the principal attraction being the new series of animated pictures dealing with incidents connected with the Boer war. These pictures are very interesting and are quite up to date, some of them, being mo?t realistic and sensational. All are good, and, as before stated in these columns, Mr Northcote's kinematograpii is the best "we 'have yet seen, the pictures being large, clear, and devoid of flicker. Tho business department of the show is "in - the capable hands, of Mr Harry Abbott," who . is well known throughout New Zealand and Australia. The company proceed to Welling- . ton to play a short season, thence to West Coast, opening at Nelson on Boxing Night. -I wish them every success and bon voyage.

Tho Melbourne bnllerina3, who came over to New Zealand under engagement to Mr Tom Pollard for the prediction of "The Belle of New York" ai,d "Forty Thieves;" finished their eng:i<rement at Auckland, and have gone hack to Sydney in lima to rehearse for the Christmas pantomime Tho " Trip to Chinatown " Company, of which we have heard so much, have arrived at last, and opened their New Zealand tour at the Opera House, Auckland, last evening. The two plays to be produced during the tour will be "A Trip to Chinatown" and "A Stranger in New York." Dunedin thea-tre-goers will have an opportunity of witnessing these two pieces — the success of which has been marvellous in the States and Australia — in February next. All the members of the company (save for one exception — Mr Wallace Brownlow, the favourite baritone, whose Henri of Navarre in the Nellie Stewart production of "Ma Mie Rosette " is still treasured in the sacred halls of memory by New Zealand playgoers) are making their first appearance in this colony. The lady ' members aTe worthy specimens of AmericaH

beauty. Mi« 6 Allene Crater, the leading ar- •• tiste, hails from New V ork, where she was principal soubrette in the Frances Wilson Opera Company. Miss Helen Merrill, the mezzo-soprano, come 3 from the Tfvoli The- . atre, Sun Francisco. Other lady members in the company, are Miss Marie Adams, Miss Bernard, 'Miss Emma Siegel. Miss Minnie M'Evoy, and the Misses Nellie and Lillie M'Coy, principal dancers, who are recognised as s_tar3 m their particular branch of the profession. .The male members consist of Hugh

"Ward, the leading character actor, Arthur Pacie, a well-known American tenor, Sam Marion, comedian and dancer, Harry Cash-

man, Will Bernard, juvenile lead,, and one whose acquaintance from the front we all deeire to renew, Wallace Brownlow. Mr Harold Ashlon is in advance of the company; Mr £}. Cook, as the American reDresenlativo of

Messrs 'Hoyt and M'Kee, also makes the •"trip," while Mr Pete Hughes and Mr R. Stewart represent Messrs Williamson and Musgrove.

Mr John Prouso and his daughter, who have been touring Australia with Madamo Trebelli (last week a passenger for San Jb'rancitco by the Mariposa) have returned to Well-, ington.

" The Christian," in which Miss Henrietta Watson, sister of " our " Elizabeth, sustains the- role of Glory Quayle, will not be produced in Melbourne for some time, as the company are to open the reconstructed Theatre Royal with a new drama. "The Christian" will probably be produced in this colony at the back end of next year.

Among the leadingattractions in "The T^ip -to Chinatown" are Harry Conor'p song "The Bowery,"- which is being .vhistle-hummed all over Australia; the Quaker duet; "Reuben and Cynthia," by Miss Allene Crater and Mr Harry Conor ; the pretty ballad "Nancy, ' by tenor-vocalist Arthur Pacie, and che whistling solos of Mr Tom Brown, who whistles airs in two different lwys at/ one time. Mr Frank Sceats, who played Dodor in the Dunedin production of ''Trilby," with P.euben Fax as Sverigali and Miss Edith Crane as Trilby, has, after a three-years' tour of the world, returned to bis native city, Auckland, where he will probpbly remain for % moiith or 30.

■ Lightning-change Artist Biondi, who created such a furore when through Dunedin 1-^st December with Harry Rickards's Company, was "paralysing" the Boers at the Empire, 'Johannesburg, prior to the outbreak of ihe war. He has probably lightning-changed to Capetown before this. -Sir Charles Arnold, better, known to New Zealand " playgoers as " Hans-the-Boatman " Arnold, will make a- tour of Australia early next- year under the pilotage of Mr L. J. Lohr. Mr Arnold hae been playing "What Happened to Jones" with great success in the Transvaal, bu; owing to hostilities breaking out, and the Boer not wanting to know "What Happened to Jones," Mr Arnold has decided on coming to Australia. Messrs Holloway and Anderson have established themselves "a power and a glory" with their new drama at the Theatre Royal. Melbourne. "The Power and the Glory" has "used up" two wee**, and is starting on a third. The house is packed nightly with enthusiastic audierces who prefer melodrama to any other form of dramatic entertainment, and who revel in a hand-to-hand contest between Virtue and Vice, with the ultimate triumph of the former. Harry Rickards's Tivoli Company in the Bijou, Melbourne, is still booming. The Valdares, the clever trick riders, have made their last appearance in Melbourne, and sail for the East at an early date. Paul Pelham made bis farewell on Monday, 2nd inst., going to Perth to fulfil an engagement, thence to London, where all members of the profession go, sooner or later. Virlo and little Irene also made their exit on the 2nd inst. from the Bijou, and with Paul Pelham leave for Perth, thence to. London. The vacancies have been filled by the first of Mr Rickards's importations,- the Maccarte Sisters, who make their first appearance in Australia at the Bijou, and not Sydney, as originally intended. Of the Sisters Mr Rickards says that their performance it one of the most remarkable he has ever witnessed. They are gymnasts, musicians, and wire-walkers. Two of them, bang from companion trapszes, ' and along a .wire which they hold between their teeth the third sister performs several daring feats. Mr J. C. Williamson will produce "The Babes in the Wood" for Christmas pantomime season. Carrie Moore, it is understood, will be principal "boy." The Royal Comics will disband in Sydney about the 17th inst. Mr Paull's intention is to return to London and Mr Kenningham will probably sail for America. Williamson and Musgrove's Dramatic Company have been producing "The Christian," "Secret Service." and "The King's Musketeer" at the Theatre Royal, Adelaide, during their season — a highly successful one. A young Dunedinite, Mr E. R. Sincock, under the norn-de-theatre of E. Roland-Stavely, ia a member of the company.

Mr Wilron Barrett has filled the gap caused by the failure of his new play "Man foi Man" at the London Lyceum by a revival of that good standby "The Sign of the Cross."

Gerard Coventry, who stage-managed "The Belle of New X"ork" in Australia, has just been appointed stage-manager at the New sTork Theatre, the biggest burlesque house in New York, and brings out a new musical play al the end of this month.

The Cragg Family, out in Australia some time since under engagement to Harry Rickards, and Carl Hertz were at latest touring; the States.

Mr Joseph Came, the actor who- fills Mr Titheradge's place in th,e Brough Comedy Company, has been receiving high praise for his portrayal of Dr Lewin Carey in "The Physician." "Melbourne Punch says: "Thepart is a difficult one, for it runs through rcany and varied emotione, from illicit passion to pure and self-denying love, from the weakness af self to the heroism of duty, and over all is the calm but impenetrable atmosphere that surrounds a physician. Mr Came must have studied the character closely, for each varying mood is ehown by him with great art. He was at all times forcible, yet quiet, and never tame. It is the best thing he has done in Melbourne, and will greatly enhancer his reputation as an actor."

Concerning the presentation of "Tho Gay Lord Quex" at the Princess, says Melbourne Punch, thecz is much to be said in praise, especially- with regard to the acting of the two chief characters, Lord Quex and Sophy Fullgiirney. Mr Brough has evidently given conbiderable study to the part of the reformed man of the world. There is a finish about hie rendering that makes the picture highly artistic. He has all the repose of a cynical man of the world, nothing surprises him, particularly where the sex of which he has had so much experience is concerned, but when he is confronted with the possibility of losing the iruits of the one pure passion of his wasted life, the veneer of self-control and cynicism peels off under the heat of his passion, and the strong and mnslerfuJ nature becomes visible. Mrs Brough appears also to have devoted much attention to the study of the character of the meddlesome manicurist. She never forgets — oi allows the audience to forget — that Sophy . Fullgarnev is not an educated lady. However well-intentioned her schemes to entrap Lord Quex and prevent his marriage with Muriel Eden, Sophy, the fostersister, is what in the slang of the day is called a "messer." Her methods are coarse and undignified.

Mrrf Potter has just refused a good offer for a New York season. .She is quite settled in Londoa — that L;, as regards her social po&ition and residence, but her profesfcional position is just as unsettled as ever. Since her "Musketeers" success she has made a eeriea of failures, her last one — in "The Ghetto"— being, perhaps, the worst and most complete of all. During the final rehearsals for that play., in which Kyrle Bellew also appeared,

some very lively scenes were interpolated into the author's work by the star, who quarrelled with all tho players and her managers, and just raised Cain generally. Perhaps she saw she was in another sure non-success, and felt bad over it.

The rage of the London Alhambra recently has been a French artist known by the stage name of La Tortajada. • She is described as a woman of intense beauty — that clara of beauty which is guaranteed at all times to bring the whole of mankind to her feet. She sings and dances with vivacity. Her dancing particularly i 3 said to be the acme of grace and fascination. The advertised last niglit of -her appearance at the Alhambra previous to ' her going to America, waere she is engaged to' appear, ■was a scene of ' great enthusiasm. She sang ■ and danced herself into what must have been a state- of exhaustion. First the roses fell out of her hair, then the hairpins, so that her long, beautiful locks hung over her shoulders in charming disorder. Quit-e a dozen times she was forced to come back; the kisses which she sent to differentparts of the crowded house served to stimulate her numberless admirers to further efforts. Her success was so unbounded that she was persuaded by the management to stay in London juet one week longer.

When "Drink" was at the height of its success at London Princess's, under the management of Walter Gooch, a boy who was on in the scene with Coupeau, and only had to stand still and let the drunkard act round him, went to Mr Gooch one morning and said, "Please, eir, can I have an order for this evening?" Business at this time was big, and the manager ohook his head deprecatingly. "What do you want an order for?" Jfre asked. "For mother, sir: I do s want her to see me and Charley Warner play our big scene." ' The boy got the order. The new rector of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, the Rev. E. H. Mosse, has taken up a cordial and sensible attitude towards the theatrical people who abound. In a pastoral letter he writes : "Some of you are connected with one or other of the theatres* in the neighbourhood, and may only be staying here while your company is in town. I hope that you will allow Mrs Mosse and myself to call upon you, or that you will come and see us at the rectory, where you will always be welcome. We trust you will not bo tempted to think that persons in your profession and ours have nothing in common. We should like to be able to show you that this ie not so."

In an interview with a representative of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, Mr Williamson was asked whether he had heard anything about Air Musgrove and Mr George Edwardes joining in Australian management. "Yes," he replied, "I have heard the rumour, but in the lace of my late ommunications with Mr Edwardes the statement is absurd. I have a letter, which you can see, from Mr Edwardes, stating that if he sends any company to Australia it will be to me. In fac, as you see by the letter, he contemplates sending the original Gaiety Company to AuFtralia, with 1 three or four of the latest and most suc-cessful-pieces, and speaks about coming out himself. Then, in a cable, which I received a few days ago, he says he has^ade proposals to nobody about Australia but myself." . Mr Austin Brereton (the husband of Miss Edith Blande, so popular in this city when leading lady of the Bland Holt Company) is to correct the proofs of Mr Clement Scott's two volumes of reminiscences which Messrs Macfhillan will publish at an early date. The title of the work is "The Drama of Yesterday and To-day." It will take the reader back to the early forties, when the old Haymarket Theatre was still lighted by oil and candles, and when^ Malhews, Vestris, Mr 3 Glover, the Keeleys. Buckstone, Macready, and Phelps were still flourishing. No man has more reason (says a London paper) to congratulate himself on his success than "Gus" Kerker, the composer of "The Bells of New York." Hi 3 success here has been enormous. He tickled the ear of New York at the Casino, but London has beaten New York in its enthusiasm. Every street organ asks : "When we are married, ah, what will jou do?" and suburbia has added to its list of obstinate questioning. Yes, Gus Kerker has "arrived" with' a vengeance.-' About the average height, middle-aged, stoutish, wearing pince-nez, and always full of irrepre3tible good humour, Kerber's most noticeable feature is his entire absence of affectation or pose. When you congratulate him, hit face exhibits the simple delight of t» schoolboy' who has worked out a sum and "proved" it. There Li no "side" about the man. He is genuinely flattered by his conquest of us Londoners, and he doesn't wave the thing away as if it were a trifle. Kerker has written cleverer — I mean far more scientific — music than he gives us at the Shaftesbury. But, as Fifi Fricot says, he "just bubbles" with melody, and his new piece —"The Whirl of the Town"— is just as lull of "champagne" as "The Belle." Mr J. C. Williamson, *vho is betaking himself to Sydney theatres, was one of the most versatile actors of his day, impersonating at close intervals negroes, Indians, Scotchmen, Irishmen, Germans, Welshmen, Cockneys, Frenchmen, Yankees, and even Australians, while his talents ran along the whole gamut from melodrama to burlesque. with Miss Maggie Moore (the first Mrs Williamson), he travelled 35,000 miles in his first tour, touching on five different continents and acting for 605 nights in three yeare. Mr Williamson is resigning the chairmanship of the Australian Theatrical Benefit Fund owing to his removal from Melbourne. His retirement is to be the signal for a big beiHsSfc at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on the 16tK hist., the last night of the "Firm's" tenancy. All the companies in Melbourne will assist, including Mewsrs Brough, Rickards, and Holloway. Mr Williamson wilL appear in his once familiar fjart o f Kerry (in which ho has not appeared since 1879) and the dramatic company will come from Adelaide and play an act of "The Christian."

Although Mi Pinero, says a London exchange, is known to be one of the kindest men in the world, and most considerate and helpful to actors and actresses, he is none the lees a strict disciplinarian. He likes to dror> in quietly and unexpectedly on one of his pieces and see for himself exactly how the mice play when the cat's away. Next day a rehearsal is called, and all the weak places are made good. Of course, this does not refer to such artists as Hare and other principals, but merely to minor members of the caet — and extra rehearsals, as every actor knows, are the bete noir of theatrical life. At the Globe Theatre gome of the younger members of "The Gay Lord Quex" Company have hit upon a now idea. A sharp look-out is kept for Pincro's well-known keen face with bushy eyebiows, which is as liable to be seen in the gallery or the pit as in the box. Once it is spotted, not a word is paid, but a sign is promptly hung up "behind" bearing the simple legend, "Wolf!"

Mr George Musgrove gave a supper behind the scenes and indulged in all sorts of celebrations on the 600 th night of "The Belle of NewYork," which has made his fortune at the London Shaftesbury. By the way, Mr Ger-

ard Coventry, who originally staged "The Belle" at the Casino. New York, the London Shaftesbury, and here, -has been telling tho New York papers that while there is no chorus in the world like the American, the Australians are far better than the British. He says our theatres are equipped like first-clasc New York houses, and considers that the six weeks' seasons playable in Melbourne or Sydney are remarka-ble, as towns of the same size in the States, like St. Louis, would be only one week stands.

A writer in the London Speaker moralises ill this strain: — "Many a man with a small gift of humour or whimsicality has made a comfortable living ou*- of casual intermittent work. * Little Tich,' for nightly falling oyer his own toes in big boots, drew a larger salary than -the most eminent jpreacher in Great Britain. A few years ago he was fooling" to the tune of about half a guinea a minute — three short turns a night producing no less than £12Q a week;" Many an earnest young curate, who is slaving his life away in the slums of our great cities in the endeavour to improve his fellow men, has to work for two years to earn the amount that an Arthur Roberts receives for a wee.c of six performances — £100. Corney Grain used to ask — and get— as much for an afternoon's entertainment as has often been paid for the sole rights of seme great treatise that has taken years to produce; while George Grossmith used to be, and probably still is, liable to pay a larger income tax than the most learned judge on the bench."