THEARICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 54

THEARICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

B\ JASQTIV

TUKSDAY, April 9.

Mr Pci'j Di\'^ Company a1"a 1 " the Pnncesa Tivauc, alO a. iiii'.ieulaily iirppy, and at r'._ jnccLiit uirt bUo^g, eonibmation^in iaci. it is tile .>■ 101-^1 -c vih eh tJ at cnter-pii-nir; ir.."i -ifv n.ib jei given ii>. Right o-i top 01 tin' ml I—on1 — on t .0 h.ghe-t bougli of the thy lineal iroc — ire peic'.cd the three ifaytofs ilvlie, Arthur, and Frank), gro-te-que comedians, so ieire.=h:iig that one does not feel thir-ty during t"ie interval, and the uun wuh the <}(,£ i~, while the Hay tors oicup> t:ie r^nrds, neqloctcd. Next on tlie tree, sumo 1 01 =.d<»rab!.' 1 i u:i\'ier cf feet below, aie the Tjlero m their famous "Risley" ai f , which 15 feet balancing of such a high order that Tyler senior must meet himself coming down from the height which he has attained m this branch of human conjuring. It is one of the most interesting items of a show bristling with clever things.

Tvlolly Bentley has all the boys, old men, and children at her two feet already, and the botiquets (predicted 111 an earlier issue) are finding their way through the stage door from hosts of her admirei". Her rendering nf "John Bull, jun.," is not perhaps so much the voice — wlnc'i is sweetness itself — but it is the nice way she sings it. The rest of the Dix Gaiety Company, who have had sentence passed on them se\eral tim<=, which vms concur.-Piitly and will piobably last their term, hulu up their end of a very big log, none of them seeming to want to cry, "Hold ! enough." Tins show should run in the Princes Theatre (not the Alhambra) during the term of office of the Hayror trio, the Tylers, and Mi*<s Mnlly BenUey.

"See Venice and die !"' S»e the pantomimic wonders, the Tiuee Haytor-s (Edie, Arthur, and Frank) in their Jdc-sphtting absurdity, "She "Would Sing," anct dit — laughing. These clever fun-makors are Mr Peicy Dixs latest importation from Sydney, where they ha\e just concluded a lengthy season nndti Mr Harry Jiio'cards ( c econd engagement). The Hay tors are absolutely "out of fig "t" cf any fat' Sis in Ibr funmukmg b)7. \> ho lime ever minted cur 3hoies. It >\ojlri be 1 s'jicss ior :r.e to r.t tempt to describe v.'n\t Ed >->. .Arthur, and Frank Haytor rivlly do to make the tears run down one's b?ck — "but they do it — whether they (^o 't Ox- do it— bey do it." Go, wherelaughter await<- y>-u, and the early goer catvheth the Ka'.

Mr V. C. Bui", eldest son of Mr C. F. B T7., the well known musician of Christouvircli. and ,'/r nearly five years leader of Pollard's Opera Company's orchestra, has left for Sydney. <-n iaute for England and the Continent, where he purposes to enter upon a thoiongh course of study in violin playing, ai-d in musical practice and theory yr'ieiall- 11 .

Arthur Jiaytor, one of the clever Ilaytors, extent) ie cliiiepis and pantorr.imi.3ts, now v.hlit ( r.ga^emcnt to Mr IJ.1 J . R. Dix, 15 a brcther of Percy Delcvin", who was through this inland w.th the Mat«a Company doing; .in act under the norn de theatre of the .Three De]pvin" c .

Tbo Wiii'prlon Sitter.-; worked in conjunction M'uli the Delr-unc*. Mips Geitic Juiie I.siin-}/oii Campion was one of the W interim S-ters

Mr Fran): Hay tor (the shadowgraph) lela;es a funny incident which happened on boaid the Atlantic lmcr Etruria when the llaytor Trio were going to Ameiica. There a <ii«tjnguished pai ty of actors, actresses, nn 1 nnuie hall artists on board, and ona rioji ing it was decided to give a concert. The- ■\oyogo had been splendid, scarcely a, rippie on the water, till the evening of the conceit. Baby waves only played round the ship in their own baby fashion. Half way through the concert programme a lady sang "A sailor's gva\e." '"That made us remember," soid Mr Haytor, "that we were on the ocean." Then ?. gentleman followed with a recitation, "The Lifeboat." That made us think of things wh:ch might happen. Another vocalist, was already on his feet to gi\ c us "The Storm Fiend,"' when a. storm really did burst over the bhip. The thunder rolled, lightning flashed, the ship trailed like a wounded cluek — every aitist ci th.c concert programme sought the side, and finally bunked it. That was the grand fina^ to the ocean concert.

There is ju-t a pro.-pect that Xelhe Sccwai t, sister of popvlar "DieV Stewart, Ihiouqh heie recently with tlie Crane-Power Company, will pay New Zealand a visit before %cry long. Scribe was pri\i!es;ed to see a letter from the best possible authority —there is only one — bearing on the tour. It will be a =et bac'v to Maouland playgoers if the tiip suggested cannot be earned outThere l- no more popular ait;-t in the Avs-tiala-mn eolonie- than Mi-- Nellie Stewart. Come — and --oon, is the cry ol New Zealinders.

Mr-^ Brown Potter lecently stated that f'io did not again intend htmimy to AustraLa, .llthongh slip had iec"i\ed handsome offers from both Mr Williamson and Mr Musgioie. Thi> was all '"pea serpent,"' as the talented society actress DID negotiate with Mr Mutcrrine foi mother tour of Atwraha. V/itu fickleness whiih belongs to thf -°\ Mi- B -P. at the twelfth hour changed her mind, lea\mr Mr Musgroio in a fix. "'Ti-e co-t and meomeinenec caused by Mr* Pritoi'- rhai a;e of p^iii."' lemnik- Mi lhi-snni\ "(.in be> better unpuiru'd than do-ci.lxd. T'ue costumes fci ".Snoot NcU of O'd Diu.\ " l\r^ already been 'i-ijew ] pr'.i.abh - .ne i ..- f>a£>f ni^iit^ wah ait.-t- have a'n.iuy 1c a lnaile, ,md n> .iiiv < i~t> M' Tv.ih I Ri'l'' 11!.*1 !.* v, A i- belies ill, on Uie Victoiui." This s.liip

left Brindisi on March 3, and- a day or two later, in response to a direct inquiry, London agent cabled that Madame Ella Kussell, Mr Lempriere Pringle, and Mr Bollew were on board. It may be added that the situation is a curious one, and unprecedented in the course of Mr Mu&grove'e long experience as a threatical manager. As it is impossible to secure any leading lady in London of sufficient eminence to join Mr Bellew in the proposed repertoire, it is probable that the entire scheme will have to be Mr George Stephenson, the well-known entrepreneur, has arranged for a visit of Mr Oliiford Walker, a society entertainer of the •'Coraey Grain" stamp. Mr Walker has been doing good business up north v ith hitdrawing room entertainments. I wish him every success here. Miss Nance O'Neil, Mr M'Kee Rankin's talented American tragedienne, opened a •hort season at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, on Easter Saturday, in "La losca." Writing of this opening performance of "Tosca" in Melbourne, it is curious that almost simultaneously ooine« the news that Mrs Brown-Potter, the best-known La Tosca in Australasia, has abandoned her proposed visit. Lion Comiqae Jimmy Bain wires to me from Greymouth, under date April 3 : — "Business good all along. Opened here last night to record house of trip — £102. Will Beo you end May. Regards. — Bain." Which reads that the popular young Queenplander is having a good time on the Coal Const, and that he contemplates a swoop on Dunedin next month. All serene and welcome, J. B. Contemplated visit means another shake of your clean hand. Never mind the office mat — trip over it as soon as you arrive. Artist-painter and good fellow, keeping eeleet little publichouse 20 miles outside Dunedin, was. while on a visit to Paris a few years back, commissioned by a leading merchant of Dunediu to interview Madame Marchesi and ascertain terms for "discovering" a New Zealand Melba. Madame is now the one and only teacher in the world who can tell at a glarce whether a pupil will be a Melba or only an Amy Castles. Yet a few short years ago the name of Marchesi was Uttie heard of. Artist of whom I write sought Madame through all " the" highways and byways of the Parisian music world. Manager after manager of the letading theatres and concert halls was interviewed in vain for the woman who is now known in two hemispheres. One manager on being asked for the address of Marehesi said: "Morchesi! Marchesi! Never heard of him. What does he do?" After several weeks of hunting through Paris for Madame Marchesi my artist friend ran the now celebrated teacher to earth in a charming villa outside the city. One afternoon he called upon a manager whose intelligence was slightly above the average, and, while he pleaded ignorance of the existence of any person named Marchesi in musical circles, took up a book at his hand, and said, "Perhaps this will help you." It was a diTectory of the music teachers of Paris, a volume similar to that of Stone's Directory, containing the names of all the teachers of singing and music in and around Paris. A hasty glance down the "Mar" columns of thi directory — there in black type: "Marchesi, Madame, teacher of singing, Rue • , Paris." Pasqu in's artist friend called on Madame Marchesi, and found her a charming woman. Told her of the trouble he had in finding her, and was greeted thusly: "Ze manager ees wat you eail zee fool. My address ees ■well known." Remembering his Dunedin commission, knight of the brush explained to Madame Marchesi his business. Ten minutes later he left the residence of the now famous teacher, having in his pocket a letter from Madame herself, giving full particulars for one year's study. Letter was borne to his merchant friend in Dunedin some months later. It was written in Madame's beat French longhand, and so badly that it was difficult to tell whether 8750fr meant per lesson or per annum. Th^ lady on whose behalf all the inquiry was made interpreted it 8750fr per lesson. Ro did her father. Result : No business. Marchesi missed a New Zealand Melba, and the New Zealand Melba missed a trip to Paris and Marchesi. Madame Marchesi usually teaches in classes, of two hours' duration, containing from eight to 10 pupils, who. most of them, attend three times a week They ha\e. therefore, from 12 to 15 minutes practical tuition at each lesson, or, at the outside, three-quarters of an hour per week. Of course, they are supposed to profit by the efforts of their fellow-students, and, equally of course, they do not. For all this care bostowed they pay 350fr (£l4) per month, and 60fr ppr month for the accompanist. There are, besides, "extras" — music, lessons in French, and what she is pleased to term "f'i'rtion." A pupil must spend at least £20 a month on lessons alone. Should the r»upil be an unmarried girl, without proper chaperon, ehe must live at a pension, which will cost from 200fr to 250fr per month. Al.together the "system" must cost a Mar.ch.esi pupil, exclusive of expenditure for dres«. not less than £350 per annum. It was quite on the cards before the Nance O'Neil Company left New Zealand that Mr ' Thomas Kingston would take the part of Macbeth from Mr M'Kee Rankin on the other sidp. Mr M'Keo Rankin played Macbeth in Sydney only, but during the present Melbourne season Shakespeare's well-known rbaraoter will be interpreted by the young English actor, Mr Thomas Kingston.

Hugo Fischer, the wpli-kmown theatrical agent, who committed suicide in Colae,..Melbourne, a couple of weeks ago, wae, at tjie time the deed was executed, in the employ of Glen arid Co., music sellers. Non-suc-cess in business was t.He cause assigned for Mr Fischer's rash act. Mr Fischer appeared before the public on many occasions as a concert singer. His last venture was to open a shop for Glen and Co.. at Colac. Mr Hugo Fischer was 50 years of age, and a widower with a grown-up family.

England apparently does not turn out trick atlJ.etes for the music halls. They come from America, Austria, and Japan. So certain (lays a London exchange) are tho performers tnat no good thing can come out of this country, that most strong men of tho halls, if they have the fortune to be born Englishmen, take a foreign stage name, and begin again. The newest American men, Delmore and Lee, make an elaborate business of the progressed trapeze in their turn at the Alhambra. The two men are in limelight, while the rest of the stage is in darkness. They swing round on a shining nickel ladder, which .<-eems to be flying in space, for the stay-ropes cannot be seen. They throw the most weird shadow-pictures on to a back screen as they hang head downwards from the ladder, which collapses with a bang when they have had enough of the giddy whirl, and want to get down to the stage again. It is a very effective and clever bit of mechanism.

Misa Lottie Collins, who is now in Adelaide, has been telling an interviewer what ghe thinks of Australian audiences. "They are more demonstrative than English audiences, and I could not help noticing that they are quick to pick out points worthy of "approval in young and inexperienced artist*. I can recall quite a number of artists who, having made a name in Australia have travelled to London, and on the ftrength of their Australian reputation, established themselves in the front rank. In London it is so different. A beginner, striving to make a name, has so many hundreds of others to climb over that unless extraordinary merit or good luck accompanies him or her, \ery little chance for achieving distinction is afforded."

The Northcote- Kinematograph Company concluded a very successful season at the Garrison Hall on Mc#day last, and are at present "resting'" — waiting the arri\al of a new set of films, among which will be a series illustrating" the funeral of our late Queen.