THEATKICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 50

THEATKICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqtttk.

TUESDAY, January 30,

The Broixgh Comedy Company brought their Dunedin season to a close last evening 'with a revival of the ever -popular "Niobe." It is exceedingly gratifying to learn that the season jußt concluded ilia* been the most successful one ever played by the popular Broughs in this city. Harold Ashton, touring manager with the Hoyt and M'Kee Company, is endeavouringto arrange for the presentation of the great military tableau, "Britannia and Columbia," at the theatre on Friday evening. This " living picture " formed a striking feature in connection with their " contingent " nights in Wellington and Christchurch. The members of the Brongh Comedy Company left Dunedin this afternoon by the Web'uralia en route for Napier, where they open on Saturday next. In bidding goodbye to this popular combination and wishing them sticcess and prosperity for all time I only voice public sentiment when I say "come back soon."

Mr Martyn Hagan and Miss Lucy Fraser, the two clever sketch artists who have been performing with such great success during the past six weeks in connection with Fuller's "Vaudeville Company, " farewelled " on Saturday night. Their places have been taken by the Leslie Bros., .musical variety artists, who made their first appearance with the Alhambra Vaudeville Company last evening, and fulir justified all the kind things which had been said of them by the northern critics. I congratulate Mr Fuller on the latest additions to his already talented company.

Mr Richard Stewart, business manager with " A Trip to Chinatown," is a brother of Miss Nellie Stewart, our old time operatic favourite, and who has been scoring such a success in London pantomime recently. Miss Annie May Abbott (the Georgia Magnet) whose Dunedin season opens at the Princess ~on February 9, is at present touring the goldfields. An exchange says of the mysterious little lady's performance: " One must see the feats to realise how astounding they are. No such phenomenal power has ever been exhibited as that possessed by our American visitor. The opportunity should not be missed by any one of an inquiring and intelligent mind. It is the chance of a lifetime."

Mr Tom Browne, the siffleur with the Hoyt and M'Kee Company, is said to be the most remarkable and brilliant whistler in the world. His Tdcaible-note whistling is simply extraordinary, causing the greatest astonishment. The following will be the complete list of cities and towns played by Mr Harry Conor and Hoyt and M'Kee's Company during their present six months' Australasian tour, which finishes at Timaru on the 13th :— Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Adelaide, Broken Hill, Perth, Fremantle, Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, Boulder City, Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmcrston North, Hastings, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru. With the exception of Mr Wallace Brownlow, .all the members of Hoyt — M'Kee Company are Americans, and are making their first visit to New Zealand.

Miss Edith Crane (of bare-foot "Trilby" fame) a New Zealand favourite, made her reappearance in Australia on Saturday, 13th inst., after an absence of three years, sustaining the name part in the Australian production of " Tess of the D'Ubervilles," at Sydney Royal. Miss Crane's appearance before the footlights was the signal for an outburst of genuine enthusiasm, and she was made the recipient of many floral tributes. Of her acting of Tess- an exchange to hand says: " It may safely be said that such art and expressive facility as Miss Edith Crane's have never been seen in this historic playhouse since Bernhardt graced it. To act effectively is to convincingly assume moods, and this the actress does. The change from the eweet-voiced, buxom dairy girl, who kisses her lover with ardent affectionateness, to the wan and horror-stricken woman whose new husband discards her when he tardily hears her story — though he had just confessed to her that he himself had been, off the narrow path of morality — is made as nearly perfectly as could humanly be wished for." AJUtewJfeofli "A Trjp^ to Qhiss^ssak " tbat

in some town* fails to get a laugh. A telegram is brought in, and the receiver reads: '"Dear Friend,— You will probably see me before this message reaches yoti, as I am sending it by telegraph." A choice satire on the alacrity with which messages by wire are delivered.

There is hardly a London music hall that hasn't an actress well known in Australia doing a "turn." Miss Ada Reevo, M'.ss Ada Willoughby (the two Julie Bonbons in the Australian production of "The Gay Pnrisienne), and Bert Gilbert are all favourites at the "halls."

Bany Conor says that a reward is offered for the plot of " A Trip to Chinatown."

Rather an odd thing for an eccentric comedian to lie composer of a ma&p, surely. Mr Harry Conor, however, composed one, and it was rendered in Sydney. As he pays no one hi.-sed, so lie presumed it got through alright.

Howard "Vernon was at latent at the head of an opera company doing good business throughout the New South Wales provinces. One of the principals of the company is Miss Maud Hewson (a Dunedin young lady), late of the Pollard Opera Company.

" If you come expecting to witness a grand opera, a sublime tragedy, a heartrending melodrama, or a problem play, you will be sorely dis-appointed. But if you come expecting to latigh longer and louder than you have ever dove before, then your expectations will be giatined." Such is what the management declare about "A Trir> to Chinatown."

Mr Hugh J. Ward, second comedian with Mr Harry' Conor, was a newspaper man, and is at present sending special letters on Australia to a syndicate of six American papers. He is also an ardent snap-shottist, taking photos wherever he visit=.

According to the Sunday Times, Mr J. C. Williamson received a letter from Mr D'Oylev Carte by the last mail stating that "The Rose of Persia," Sir Arthur Sullivan's new opera at the London Savoy, was " a success far beyond anticipations." The houses were packed every night, and the booking ahead was very heavy. Mr Williamson, in reply, cabled an offer for its purchase, while he also mode a bid for the rights in all the old Gilbert and Sullivan operas from January 1 last. During the present week he expects that his London representative will secure " Florodora," which has been such a big hit at the Lyric.

" Trilby " is likely to be revived in Australia during the present dramatic season at Sydney Royal, and for that purpose Mr Williamson ha?i secured the rights from Mr Paul Potter. Miss Edith Crane will be the Trilby, while Mr Tyrone Power, a leading American actor, will replace Reuben Fax as Svengali.

Australian critics are saying nice things of the first production in Australia of " Te^s of the D'Ubervilles.'' which took place in the Theatre Royal. Sydney, on Saturday 13th inst. Sydney Referee says: "A finer play has probably never been seen here ; certain it is no piece haw ever had a more, demonstrative reception. Though the ' subject ' may not at times be altogether elevating, there was not a situation which was not intensely dramatic. Consequently there were peveial recalls at the end of eoch act, while after the final one the curtain had to be raised five times in response to the long-sustained enthusiasm. If the impression of the ' first nighters,' "therefore, were r>ot erroneoup — and there is not the slightest reason to fear that it was — the new piece should have a remarkably successful run."

Mitts Patlie Browne was one of those who assisted Mr? Lang try in making the collection at the London Garrick on souvenir night. Mr Robert Lygon, who was wounded at Behnont, is half-brother to Lord Beauchainp, Governor of New South Wales. He is an amateur actor, and took a very creditable part in a recent performance of " A Fool's Paradise."

Mrs Brown-Potter's " The Concert," in aid of the American -Hospital Ship, was a most pronounced succew, and nearly a dozen royalties, together with all the smart people oi London, were at Claridge's for the occasion. The programme was a most attractive one. At the Prince of Wales's table, Mrs Potter, the Dueller of Marlborough, and Mrs Arthur Paget had tea, the waitress in attendance being Mis* Edna May. It was expected that £2000 would be realised by the concert. That wpek Airs Potter was the attraction at the Umpire,- whore in the dress of a Red Cross m>rse the beautiful American was to be found nightly inciting a patriotic ode, " Ordered to the Front," specially written for her by Mr Henry Hamilton.

" A Trip to Chinatown," with Harry Conor in the learling part, was played for no less than 760 consecutive nig-hts on its original production in New York.

Miss Nellie Stewart, the Australian and Drury Lime's "principal boy," collected the largest amount individually at the chantant recently organised by Mrs Brown Potter. Her sale of cigarettes realised £76. and she was in consequence awarded the pearl necklet offered by an anonymous donor to be handed to the lady who should head the poll as saleswoman.

Sir Thomas Lipton's recent invasion of America is nothing to that of Mr Clement' Scott. In a recent ffumber of the New York Journal he was welcomed by "Alan Dale" in an amusing letter, beginning with the words, "Dear, kind, helpful boy, at last, at last you have come!" Then "A">an Dale" quotes the words of an interview which Mr Scott granted in London, and continues : "You come here to study a young, vigorous, and healthy art. Really? How nice! I hope that you will find it, and I'll do all I can to help you. You come from London, where, of late, you have been inveighing against 'the degenerate type of play now current in England.' You come to study a young, vigorous, and healthy art here._ Possibly you will discover fresh charms in the acting, but don't you know, chappie, that here we get the London plays six months after they have been done in London^? You can 'trot out your old criticisms, ' label them 'Them's my sentiments,' and make them do duty for the young, vigorous, and healthy art here." — Sunday Sun.

Notwithstanding the great army of people in all parts who look upon war as being too serious a subject to form the foundation^ of a public entertainment, "The Bugle Call" would appear to have made a big hit at tha London Haymarket. All the critics speak most highly of it. The Daily Mail, for instance, in its opening notice, is exceptionally eulogistic. It says:

"Such a strong, simple, and touching littlo play, full of the thoughts that are stirring us, of the sorrow that fills our country, of the pity of parting, the hope of the coming back, of the tears in the eyes of women and the sadness in the hearts of men. Mr Louis Parker and Mr Addison Bright have caught the sentiment of the moment and sent it, quivering", over the footlights.

" There are no heroics in ' The Bugle Call.^ Yet, said someone last night, it would draw tears from the eyes of even a littlo Englander."

The play which could produce the last* iJiattJtifined effect must be very much out. of

flic common, and fully deserves all the success it may attain. _ _ The first production of the new patriotic play, "The Absent-minded Beggar," took place at the London Princess' recently. A leading critic says "that for those who are not quite too superior the play should be absolutely enjoyable, with its Maxim guns, its armoured train, its fighting and its flamboyant patriotism. It has no consecutive plot but it is crowded with exciting incidents, into which is woven the love story of the English hero and heroine and the Boer villain." , „. Here is a story concerning the late Saignor Foli, who was a great practical joker. He was a married man, and Rosita Foley was exceedingly jealous. Foley was fond of a pretty face. His friends knew this, and returned his practical jokes sometimes with interest by slipping the portraits of any handsome women they could find into the basso s pockets. It was Rosita's business to go carefully through her husband's pockets while. he slept, and when he woke she demanded explanations that he was aiot able to make. One morning Foley was confronted with the photograph of a good-looking lady, on which had" been scribbled in a feminine hand, Jiver thine." Mrs Fol^v consulted her solicitor, who pointed out that the photograph was that of Princess Maud of Wales.