MELBOURNE NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 55

MELBOURNE NOTES.

(By Onlooker.) MELBOURNE, November 16. Dear Pasquin, — Since my last epistle reached you things in the amusement line have been fast and furious. Added to grand opera, at the Princess, comic opera at Her Majesty's, Rickards at the Bijou, Fitzgerald Bros. Circus on the Exhibition oval, we got Bland Holt's '•Absent-minded Beggar" Co., and Wirth Bros', Circus, both shows opening on our Derby night, 3rd inst. Even with the six affairs going,, thousands were turned away from the various places during Cup week, as there happened tb.be a reord crowd in town for the carnival season, so theatrical and circus managers were rewarded for their pluck in- running against each other at stich a time. Yet it seemed unforttpate that Fitzgerald Bros', and Wirth Bros..' circuses should clash at such a time, far better had one show come here about Xmas time. Well, I predicted we were to get a lot of variety fare, and we got it, without a doubt. I sent you circus, " Rose of Persia," and Bland Holt .programmes by last mail, and now forward you programmes of grand operas ■'Loghengrm' and "The Bohemian Girl," both of which have been running for the past fortnight with " Carmen," aud the order nightly is "houses packed and hundreds turned away.'' •"Lohengrin" is undoubtedly Wagner's greatest achievement, consequently this noble and great work could not fail tc draw an immense audience, and an audience, the majority of which were lovers of the grandest of grand opera. The tenoi (Mr Louis Arens) seemed to come quite out of his shell as Lohengrin, for he suited the part admirably, and his pure voice was a treat to listen to ; so also were Messrs Charles Tilbury and Mons. Eugene, as Henry and Frederick Telramund respectively; whose glorious voices sounded out like big organs, and quite j paralysed the listeners. Herr Slapoffski was in his element with the baton,' conducting such an opera, for he is indeed a trae enthusiast, and makes the music go as it should do. Some people don't like to sit "Lohengrin" out, as it takes nearly four hours to get through without a break, and there is no pause to allow of an encore, either. Still, it is very popular, and it will see the season (which we all regret to ! learn terminates on 24th inst.) out, running alternate nights with "Carmen" and "Lohen- , grin." I went to hear ' The Bohemian Girl" j first night last night, and oh, what a house! j One could not have got a seat at 8 o'clock for fove or money, had he not reserved one. 'I always liked Balfe's sweet and sparkling music, so do a big portion of the public, so it was not surprising to see a big gathering rally rcund Mr Musgrove last night. The cast of characters was splendidly allotted, and the opera went without a hitch. Never has the character- of Count Arnheim been played with greater sucess than by Mr Lawrence Mooney, who has a. beautiful installment, and is just born for the part. His rendering of "The heart bowed down" was a truly grand piece of work. Signor Salvi, as Thaddeus, was note-perfect, and has evidently made a big study of this part, and perfoimed it many times. His "When other lips" was beautifully ren-~ dered, and brough forth a treble encore. But the "prize" goes to Madam Janson for her ; Queen of the Gipsies, for her acting and singing of this part were superb, and she is just at home in one character as another, and is an artist with a marvellous facial expression, and uses her eye 3in a wondrous manner ; but hei lovely voice iust melts her audience to tears, in Agnes Janson, G. M. has an aitist

of sterling value, who will always draw a large crowd to hear her only, no matter what she plays or sings. "Bohemian Girl" is to be one of the favourite operas of the repertoire, and will be repeated three times before the end of the season. Do you wonder that one is delighted to know that George Musgrove has been so largely supported in his endeavour to feed vis on the very best of musical died ? His brother (Mr Harry Musgrove) is heart and soul with him in seeing that everything is up-to-data and up to the knockei. At Her Majesty's " The Rose of Persia" is doing big business, and the old favourites are just as popular as ever. Mr Geo. Tallis was highly pleased at the way the blocks of "Tess." and "' The Only Way " appeared in the Witness of the 24th October.I am delighted to learn that the Crane-Power Company is having such a good time in New. Zealand, but is it extraordinary with such a fine company and such artists as Miss Edith Crane, Tyrone Power, and Cecil Ward? Bland Holt got a tremendous reception with " The Absent-minded Beggar " at the Royal on 3rd inst., and since, then that -theatre has been, the scene of packed audiences night after night. You have heard such a lot of " The Absentminded Beggar," and know so well how Bland stages his pieces, that I need not attempt to write about it in extenso, but I will say I think he caps all his previous staging of plays with this, for as one man said the scene is as real as if one saw the actual thing going on in 1 South Africa. Eickards cannot complain for want" of support at the Bijou, and with Billie Barlow as the " draw," 119 has got an excellent programme. Now to give you a little about circuses. Let me tell you that I went to see both shows, and it is impossible ifor me to say that 'one was really a. better show than the other. Of course I Fitz. Bros, have a great string of artists to amuse you, and -never fail to do a good season in Melbourne. Their present season opened on October 27, and has run to big audiences ever since, and we are to get the last performance to-morrow night. The show then goes to Tasmania. Wirth Bros., who have not been in Melbourne for eight years, pitched their tent here on 3rd inst., and had- an excellent season, striking camp after last night's performance. Every turn is new at the show, and amongst the very special features let me mention .the two boxing ponies (Corbett and Pitzsimmons), the I trained bears ; Cook, the wonderful bounding jockey, and the wonderfully well-trained, horse and elephant. Also a greyhound which jumps a hurdle just on lift high. This is indeed an up-to-date circus, and "as you have not seen the Wirths in Maoriland for nearly 10 years, I am sure they will score a big success there. I had a chat with Mr George Wirth and Mr J. A. Martin (treasurer) yesterday, and got the dates for the New Zealand tour of the circus, which are as follows: — Ai riving at the Bluff on 11th December, play at Invercargill 12th and 13th December ; Gore, 14th and 15th ; Clinton, 17th ; Balclutha, 18th ; Milton, 19th; Mosgiel, 20th; Dunedin, 22nd, when they stop for 10 days. Mr Middletoii," the genial advance manager, has gone before the show, which shipped per s.s. Pateena to Tasmania today to play a fortnight's season there prior to going to Maoriland. Mr Middfeton should reach Dunedin about December 10th, and as I have predicted, a record season in New Zealand for the Wirth Bros., I hope I shall not prove a false prophet. I am sorry to hear that Mr Christie Simonsens, ot Bland Holt Company, has injured his leg, and is walking about with 'the aid of sticks. Johnnie "Wallace — an old and popular -stage manager in. Australia — is to be stage manager for " The Scarlet Feather," which is Mr Musgrove's next production, at the Princess on 26th inst. Johnnie and I have arranged a long interview on London theatrical matters, and his late experiences there should give me some 'good copy. Will report next mail, but let me say that Wallace is a true " white man," and one whom Mr Musgrove recognises as a valuable servant. Mr Harry Musgrove tells rue to-day that there is nothing definitely decided yet about the Maoriland visit of the grand opera company ; but I shall make it a matter of prayer that you get G. M.'s Company in " Pakehaland." land." "The Old Guard" is to hold the boards at Her Majesty's next Saturday, 24th, so " J. C. W." is going to please comic opera lovers. This letter will go to Sydney per express, and thence to New Zealand per Westralia, and as the mail closes in five minutes, I must " get," or I'll get it for forgetting to " get." Farewell, and lria-ora!