THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 50

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqtjtn. TUESDAY, February 6. The American musical comedy, "A Trip to Chinatown," by the Hoyt-M'Kee New Yoik Madison square Theatre Company, i 9 still running to good houses at the Princess. The favourable impression created by Mr Harry Conor and his associates shows no sign, of abating. Mr Wallace Brownlow has been singing "The absent-minded beggar" to the pleasant rattle of much silver and gold nightly. On Friday night over £7 was thrown on the stage for the "beggar" by the Jingo audience. Last night being a contingent night at the theatre, the sum of £12 10s was showered on the gentleman in khaki. This evening sees the last of the musical comedy "A Trip to Chinatown," "The Trip" being., replaced on Wednesday night by "A' Stranger in New York," which in turn will hold the boards for j^wo nights, when the season closes. Miss Emma Siegel, of "The Trip to Chinatown Company, makes a very charming boy in "Chinatown," and although the part does not offer much scope, she does all she has to do in an exceedingly graceful manner. Miss AJlene Crater, the leading lady of "The Trip to Chinatown"' Company, is, a most vivacious and magnetic actress, infusing a great amount of dash and go into ail her work. Iv America, Miss Crater has appeared in burlesque and opera with equal success. During the great world's fair in Chicago, U.K.A.. in % 1894-, Miss Craier was at the head of JJavid Henderson's Spectacular Company at the Chicago Opera Hou<se. Miss Viola Gillette, of the HoytM'Kee " Trip to Chinatown" Company, whose portrait appears in this issue of the Witness, has played exclusively in Optra in America, she being for the past two years the contralto of the Castle Square Opera Company, a promiiient and permanent organisation occupying the American Theatre, Kew York City. Miss Gillette was xecontly permitted by the Hoyt-M'Kee management to create one of the principal roles in Mr J. O. Williamson's production of "Robin Hood," a. comic opera by Reginald De Sloven. So successful was Miss Gillelte, Mr Williamson offered her a year's contract after the erst performance. The Misaes Nellie and Lizzie M'Coy and Mr Warn Marion, whose portraits appear in this issue of the Witness, are the cle\eresb exponents of "negro eccentricities" that have ever visited New Zealand. Their dancing is clean and graceful, and the trio are nightly received with enthusiasm. A capital portrait of Miss Annie May Abbot (the little Georgia Magnet) appears in this issue. Miss Abbot occupies the boards of the j-'rincess immediately on the conclusion, of "The Trip to Chinatown" Company. Mr Tom Browne, the gifted siffleur with "The Trip to Chinatown 1 ' Company, at the conclusion of the present tour of "Chinatown ' sails for Sydney, where he joins Harry Riokards's Company at the Tivoli, opening there on March 3. Browne has whistled his way into the graces of New Zealand audiences rightdown the line, and has made a host of friends, who wish him every success on the "other side." Mr Hugh Ward, the character comedian of "The Trip to Chinatown" Company, at the conclusion of the present tour of "The Trip"goes to Sydney, joining the dramatic company under Mr Williamson. Fuller's Vaudeville Company, like the weather, are still with vs — only more so. Notwithstanding ihe many strong- counter attractions of the past week, the Alhambra Theatre has been crowded to the doors. Certainly the ■«ax "figgers" give the hall a more crowded appearance than it really represents, but so great is the standing room taxed at times that the audience are compelled to mingle with the "figgers." The secret of the long-continued success of this company is the more than excellent value given for the price charged for admission, and the fact that every few weeks constant changes in the personnel of the company take place. The artists in this combination are not allowed to outstay themselves — that is. they are never allowed time to meet themselves coming back in popular favour. Of the new members of l''uller's Vaudeville Company, the Leslie Brothers are ahead of anything yet seen at the Alhambra, and they have already made themselves very popular with Dunedin audience?. One of the hardestworking and cleverest members of this ' company is Mr Bentley, at one time (prior s to his joining the Fuller Vaudeville. Co.) assistant stage manager to Gerard Coventry during the production of " The Belle of New York " in Melbourne. A very esteemed correspondent in the Henry Dramatic Company drops me a line from Feilding to the effect that the Henry Company are doing very fair business in the North Island, notwithstanding the immense amount being given to the Patriotic Fund. The company struck Palmerston North (the worst show town in New Zealand, Oamaru. not excepte'd), wltere business was moderate. The company are due in Masterton during show week, and Dannevirke at race time. Mr Brandon Cremer, who has for some little time past been actively engaged in "coaching" the Roscius Dramatic Society in this city, has started elocution elapses, and already a large number of pupils are on the roll. Heller's Mahatma Company, with Geo. Callender in advance, are working their way up from the south to this city. Splendid business was done in Invercargill last Monday and Tuesday. I» Orepuki so great was the success of ihe show that money had to be turned away. The company were to have opened in Tupanui last night, and to-night (February 6) hi Clinton, Balcluthi 7th, Kaitanqata Bth, Milton 9th, Lawrence, Mosgiel, and Outram following in that order. Percy St. John (" call me Sinjin") round here some few years ago with a fairly good burlesque company, which included besides others Will Stevens (now of Fuller's Vaudeville Company, Chrislchurch) , Ada Lempriere (at present touring the country districts of Otago with St. George's Hajjpx Hours Com*

pany), Bel Ponsonby (a clever and hard-work-ing little artiste, who, I am Sorry to heal 1 , has been laid aside for some time with serious injuries to her hip, the result, probably, of co much dancing), has been appearing to good business in the Opera House, Brisbane. The season closed on January 12, owing no doubt, to the invasion of the rival coons;— Hogan's American Minstrels (who opened in the Theatre Koyal, Brisbane, on Saturday, January 13) and M'Adoo's Georgia Minstrels (whose season in Brisbane commenced on the same date as that of the other coons — January 13). "'Sinjin " has been driven "out back." Dear Pasquin, — I am a regular reader of the Dramatic Notes in the Witness*, ajid in the issue of the 25th inst. notice that, it is stated Watson and Co. have all the bill hoardings in Palmers ton North, and as this statement is lively to do my business great injury, beg to contradict it. I have the majority of the hoardings in this town, and am the recognised bill poster of 25 years' standing, and am still at the old game. I shall always be glad to welcome my old friends — the theatrical companies and their agents — and by inserting a notice to that effect in your next week's noles you will oblige. — Yours faithfully, J. L. WILTSHIRE. Palmerston North, January 31. By the last mail additional particulars were received of the first interview in Paris between Miss A-mj-- Castles and Madame Marchesi, the famous teacher." Madame Marchesi explained that she had already had private advices concerning the young - Victorian singer, but her, correspondent had expressed the fear that Miss Ciastles's 'voice had lost some of its purity and freshness. On hearing Miss Castles "sing, however, Madame Marchepi expressed the opinion that -the voice had not n flaw, it was "magnifique etparfaite" (magnificent and perfect). She added that in from sixteen months- to two years Miss Castles. ought to be sufficiently advanced in her studies to make her public appearance. Having been prevented by his English engagements from including New Zealand in his last antipodean tour, the Rev. Charles Clark •will make a special m farewell tour tiiis year. Mr R. S. Smythe has received a cablegram stating that the popular lecturer left England by the Oroya. On his arrival in Sydney Mr Clark will lake the first steamer to Auckland, where he began his public lecturing career just a quarter of a century ago. The most interesting "turn" that we have yet seen under Mr Rickards's rnauagernent is that of the Newsky Family (pays Sydney Mail). This is a- family which has gained j fame throughout Europe for the interpretation of Russian national songs and dances in national costume — five handsome ladies, two men, and a boy, all most richly dressed in the most gorgeous of national costumes. They sing quaint Russian folk songs with much action, sometimes accompanied, sometimes not. These are punctuated by expressive little shrugs of the shoulders and gestures which supply something of the meaning. They dance measures which in the case of the ladies j are as graceful and as' pretty as the minuet, ■ and in the case of the men, are full of acro-^ batism, and something of contortion. These men dancers jump surprising heights, and are able to turn round two or three times in the air before alighting. Altogether it is something which we have never seen before in these colonies, and which is well worth, seeing. -It is like an excerpt from Tolstoi. Charlie Fanning has been engaged for a season in Perth by Messrs Jones and Lawrence. He was due to open there on Januaiy 26. The Messrs Graupner (senior and junior) are leaving this month for Germany, for the purpose of escorting back to Melbourne Mass Flora Graupner. Florrie Graupner has been confined in a private hospital in Germany for some time, but she is now recovering. Miss Lili Sharp is to accompany them, London being her destination. Ada ITerrar, who is now resting at Strat-ford-on-Avon, is a favourite in the English provinces as a leading lady in Shakespearian and serious plays. She was winning her first honours when her parents died, leaving her younger sisters, Beatrice and Jessie, on her hands. The charge was bravely undertaken. Beatrice was 12, and Jessie still younger, when they went to travel with their mother-si&ter, | Ada, then with Benson's Shakespearian Company. As soon as the girls 'were big enough, they were given small parts, and gradually thoroughly trained for their work. Jessie Perrar is now playing in "The Lady of Ostend," at Terry's. Beatrice ITerrar, whoso impersonation of a Cocknejr music hall ar- I tiele is the delight of the patrons of "Hearts and Trumps" at Drury Lane, is a slender, vivacious little body, with a simple, straightforward manner. She has thick red hair of a particularly sunny shade, big blue eyes, a small mouth, and a goodish nose. She is pretty by virtue of her youth and her delicate, brilliant complexion. A painter once said to her that she reminded him of "wild roses blown across white heather." She is a willing artist, and as the bad child in "The Manoeuvres of Jane " she completely disfigured herself in order to look the part. Mr J. C. Williamson has purchased the Australian rights of a new comic opera, " The Rose of Persia," which has just been produced with immense success at the London Savoy. This success is especially welcome, says Melbourne Punch, as the new piece is to a great extent a renaissance of the popular Gilbert and Sullivan style of production. Sir Arthur Sullivan, the composer of the piece, Las not the advantage of having his old collaboratetir. but it is stated by the English press that his new partner, Capt. Basil Hood, the next be&t man for the work, has been secured. Certainly so far as the plot of the "book" is concerned, Capt. Hood seems to be a worthy successor — it would be too much to say a rival — to W. S. Gilbert in the way of amusing-topsy-turveydom. Of course the music, coming from Sullivan, could scarcely be anything but first-class, but it seems that the veteran has in this composition rivalled his own high reputation " for graceful, engaging melody, for taste, delicacy, and feeling and pleasing and appropriate instrumentation." The final performances by Valdares' Circus "Variety Company were given on Saturday. In the afternoon the matinee was well attended, and in the evening, despite the wet lyeather, there was al&o a very good attendance. The entertainment given by the company on both occasions attordetl those present a great deal of pleasure. Most of the performers were heartily encored for the items contributed by them, while the olever bicycle trick riding of the Valdares especially found favour with the audience. The company left for Oamaru by the north express on Monday. The agents of Fitzgerald Bro.s'. circrut arrived at the Bluff on Monday to make arrangements for the opening of the New Zealand tour.