THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2505, 26 March 1902, Page 56

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqcin TUESDAY. March 25

Mi- P. R. Dix, who has been in town during the week just past, looking after his interests in Dunedin Princess and Alhambia Theatres, left for Christi-hurch on Monday morning As the line wa-, blocked owing to tho floods, the p.\pie«s did not get through, and Mr Di\ had perforce- to return to Oamaru, proceeding to his destination ne\t clay.

The cabled intelligence of the total destruction by fire of Her Majesty's Theatre. Sydney, during ..the inn of "Ben Hur" comes as a -shock to tlio.-e who linvo been following the fortunes nnd misfortunes of Mr J C. Williamson in hi-, great spectacular drama, admittedly the finest spectacle :ver seen upon the Australian stag*-. It will be remembered that Hfr Majc-ty'i Theatre was ( losed up a few week-* back by the Sydney Board of Health authorities for fumigating purposes, and "Ben Hur," in the height of an enormous siucp--, with ith powerful cast and 200 stage-trained auxiliaries had to be withdrawn, iim urring a loss of hundreds of pounds. Fire ha-> now completed the disaster, and made a wholesale sweep of all the magnificent scenery, stage properties, and machinery of the ment expensively staged play ever placed before an Australian public, besides the lo«s of the theatre to Mr J. C. Williamson and the throwing out of employment for the time being of 400 person". The fire was discovered by the caretaker shortly after 6 o'clock un Sunday morning. The flames had a good hold, and by the tune tho bngadc armed the interior was all ablaze, and fed by a vast nu-s of -.ccnoi-y ai.d ->ldge properties, swept from end to cud of the building m no time. The »\hole of the theatic vva- gutted, and only the bare walls left standing. It was a strange coincidence, that the destruction of Her Majesty's Theatre and "Ben Hur" -l.ould ha\e occurred on Palm Sunday, and the last scene in the play depicts the Mount of Oln c on Palm .Sunday. The co^t of staging "Ben Hur" was £6000, and as Mr William-son wan uninsured he is a hea\y loser. The season, a* far a = Australia is concerned, is thus tragically terminated. It will take a year to replat e> all the properties, many of which had to be imported.

Th" effects in "Ben Hur" and the machinery ii-od in it- ch-play, whnli wore all destroyed by tin fiie, were simply marvelloin. TUu-, in the great thaiiot liicc '■(.ene, tlio mechanism con-ist~ of great cradle-, 20ft in length and 14ft wide, which aic movable ba< k and fiont on railway- <-upported by a budge "tructuro capable of supporting 20 toiis. llits toi)a of tiie uadles, are 2m

below the stage level. Each cradle bears four horses and a chariot. On each are four treadmill*, covered with rubber, 12ft long and 2ift wide, and on these the horses are 'ecuied by invisible steel cable traces, which serve to hold the animals in their place As the horse gallops the treadmill revolve under his feet, thereby eliminating the forward piessure created by the impact of his hoofs, which would force him ahead on on immovable surface. Meanwhile, the wheels of the chariot are worked by rubber -oilers, operated upon by electrical motors. To give the chariots the appearance of bumping and jolting, as they naturally would in an a'lual race, they are equipped with uneven wheels, while the impression that they are progressing at a great speed is conveyed liv the presence of a panoramic background, 35ft high, representing the walls of the arena, with thousauds of spectators seated in their places. This is made to revolve rapidly in a direction opposite to that in which the chariots are hurrying.

This, however, is only one of the many marvellous effects introduced, says the Leader. Another of a scarcely less sensational nature reveals the interior of a Roman war galley, with its unhappy occupants chained to their beats and tugging desperately at the oars. Presently the galley is attacked by a horde of pirates, and, after a fierce encounter between the contending forces, begins to sink rapidly. Quickly the picture changes to that of a vast extent of tumbling water, upon which floats a frail raft, containing the- hero and his friend. But it is upon the concluding "scene that the most strenuous efforts have been lavished. This shows the Mount of Olives, and in the oction some 250 persons take part. The multitude, bearing palm branches, come to greet the Nazarene, whose presence is suggested by a shaft of wond&rously brilliant sight. A great band of choristers sing Hosannas, and the miracle of the cleansing of the leprous mother and daughter is performed. Then, as the curtain falls, a song of thanksgiving swells out from the hillsides in all directions.

Phil Bracy. son of Henry of that ilk, passed through Dunedin the other day en route to Melbourne. He has left Pollard's Opera Company, which ho joined during that company's recent Queensland tour, and intends returning to his old occupation of wool-classing My latest advice concerning young Bracy was by private letter, which stated that he had dropped into a good position as a traveller, but a recent Melbourne exchange says theft he has joined the Hay.--troy Comedy Company. Young Bracy w< * never fond of the stags, and his chief longing, while travelling with the Pollard Company in New Zealand, was to settle on a big ■heep station.

The English lecturer Mr E. H. Stevenson gives his first picture entertainment in tho Garrison Hall on Thursday evening next.

Edmund Montgomery's Biograph and his company of variety entertainers open in the Princess Theatre for a short season, commencing on Kaster Monday night.

The nights and days of the present company at the Alhambra are numbered, and! after Friday we shall know them no more for some time. This is not such a regrettable circumstance as would appear at first; sight, for the places of the dear departed are to be filled by others of the same standing — and more. More in the ease of Pope and Sayles, who will occupy the chairs to be vacated by Marion and Wharton. These genuinely-coloured comedians will be somewhat refreshing after the usual burnt-cork artist, and will be welcome accordingly. Lennon. Hyman, and Lennon, who are by no means strangers to the Alhambra, left a pleasant recollection of a former visit behind them. The other members of the new company have done nothing in the past that they need be ashamed of, so that on Easter Saturday night everj'one starU good friends with each other. It rests with the new company to say how long that friendship will last with this journal.

Several 6tars from the World's Entertainers have been offered to P. R. Dix for a New Zealand season xinder his management, but several again — the Lottos, £60 T>er week ; Casinc Trio, £50; and Buwth and Kudd, £40 — are too s-everc even for the enterprising "P. R. D." Much higher salaries have been paid by the New Zealand theatrical caterer, but they have been paid^ for star " turns " which showed a reasonable chance of a return for the great risk Not that tho Lottos, Casino Trio, and Bunth and Rudct are not star turne, but they are not start* enough to warrant P. R. D. paying the salaries asked. Probably they will come through New Zealand later on under the salaries originally asked. Edgar G-ranville, the English artist, who is at present on the top of a strong bill at the Alhambra, finishes up his contract w iMi P. R. Dix on Friday. All those who vviish to s=ee one of the beut entertainers who have yet come in the Alhambra direction -lioul'l drop in at thft cosy Dowling street theatre ere it is too late.

Frank Clark, -Toe Covvam, and Connie Deverpux. who ha\e been on tour with " Muldoon's Picnic," have rejoined P. R. Di\'b Auckland Gaiety Company, and pro- < peeled worth la=t week to Auckland. "Muldoon's Picnic- " Company has been disbanded. Miss Lilian Coomber, recently through Diinpclm with Mnegrove's Grand Opera Company, is touring the Knghoh provinces with thp Carl Rosa Company. Miss Jessie Ramsay, of Pollard's Opera, Company, is at present in town staying witl* her sister Mi=» Ramsay is to te married to Will Percy, of the Pollard Compr«y, during that company's Dunedin season in May. Mr Charles Arnold has undertaken to have a monument erected over the graves of the two friends. Miss Salhe Booth and Mic* Ada Lee, who died in Sydney from plague. It will be f-ent from Auckland, and will coiihif-t of a piece of Italian marble, 9ft 6m high, suitably inscribed Mi«s Booth had always cxpre-sed a wish that she should "die in harne-o," and in recognition of this wish, Mr Arnold, who i» at present in Auckland, has arranged that tins epitaph shall mark her grave :— " Blow wind, come wrack, at least we'll die with harness on our back.'*

Miss Maud Boatty (Mr? Milburn) and her hu»band parsed through Dunedin last week en route tc Melbourne. Miss Beatty intends proceeding Home m time for the Coronation, after which gaiety she purposes seckm an 3ngagement as principal boy in companies touring the English provinces. Maud will succeed where a handsome face and a lianrKomc figure are the principal requirements What more is wanted in .a principal boy. Mi-e Alice Layton, thp talented sopraiu ; wlio rejomfe P "R. Divs Auckland Company on the 26th inst., is i si=tor of Mies Jule Layton, of Home Mission fame. Tho siatera did not clay tpeaiia for many %

heartbreaking day owing to the deep gulf which separated church from sta-ge. One day (it was Sietei Alice's birthday) a message flashed alceig the wires o'er moor and fen: — "Many, many happy returns on this your birthday. — From your 3o\ing sister, Jule." That was all, but it was a loving message; the chasm was bridged, the barrier •broken down, and the two sisters who followed such widely different callings were happily reunited.

Miss O'Brien, of Lyttelton (Canterbury), who joined the Pollard Opera Company about 18 months ago, has left that combination owing to ill-health. She is at present in Dunedin -on a holiday tour.

Young Dunedin vocalist. Miss Maud Hewson, played Eve in the production of "The Two Worlds," written by the Rev. James Duff, when it was produced in Western Australia gome 18 months bark. It has been recently revived in Adelaide by the Wilson Forbes Dramatic Company The piece requiics the blue pencil to co deep through some of the 40 scenes and five acts which it at present posses-ses. and sornclbody with a va?fc amount of stage experience and several thousand pounds at the back of the said exrorienoe to give it nerve is required to make "The Two Worlds" something that the- Rev. Duff may be proud of.

Mr Chae. Blake, who passed through Dunediu on Thursday with the Anderson Dramatic Company, which company opens in Wellington on Easter Saturday, is a Wanganni native, having been born in that picturesqne town some 29 years ago.- Mr Blake is the' leading man of the Anderson Dramatic Company, of which he i_« afco a valued member. He has plav»d leactimr roles with Geo Rignold, Walter "Bentley. Cl>a«. Hollov/txy, and Anderson. This young lead is possessed of a fine stage presence and with a voice to match. He has been particularly successful in' all he has undertaken, and is one of the most envied young actors on the Australian etage. Blake is proud of the fact that h» is a New Zealander, and thinks there ia no colony likp it.

Fred Bluett was at latvst in Adelaide with RickHrda's Tivoli Company. Bluett aoplied reoently for mi engagement under P. R Dix'e management, to take place after his R^ckarde's contract, but the salary asked was too much like what Mr D ; x pay? for come of his star turns, and Bluett, although improved beyond rc-cognitica of his cnee New Zealand self, is not vet a star

The exeitinar experience of <»hipwrP(K on th" 5 - coast of Chili w»<; uiKlvrgonp iby Miot; Lena Flcjvv erdevv, a New Zea'antl lodv. when r iie was travelling to South America. One fine Sunday morning the steamer struck on a rock, cod the pafseng-er- wrre obliged to lake to the open boats. After being in peril for four 1-ours and a-haJf. they managed at la^t to reach l.md in ?afptj\ though even rfien tlipv '.vp;c» 35 miles from the nearest town. Mi=s Flowerdew who («av-< the F.ra) hss recently been n'.aving in " The Lady From Texas." was born in Otago. New Zea-la-nd. and cam? arisr<->elly to England to study music at the Royal Academy. Here she was* lucky e.c.ouc'i to win four medalf, one being for elocution.

Mr (ieorge H Smith Hie popular business manaaor for Mi Wilboi 1-Javri tt. accompanied by Mr.» Smith (not- Gertrude Roswell), were passengers for Sydney by t 7i e Waihora last Satuiday er. route for Durban, where Mr Barrett will couimcnce his South African tour Before thp ptpamer sailed Smith was made the- leci'pient of a l.cidsomp siher flask (say '• Lorenette ' \ from Mis'- Lillah M'Carthy. bearimr the folli-ne ihsonnf ion • — "To G." H. Smith, from Lillah MTarthy. liO^ " Mr mci Mr«« Smith have maelp ho^tp nf friends (luuiig their stay in Wellington, and were acporded a hearty send-off.

Referring to Miss May Boattv'= appear ancp in "The Runaway Girl" at Her Majesty's Tlipntre. Melbourne Table Talk remarks: -" Mi-« Beatty fails to he quite oc«vinoiiig in ihis part, though h^r pcrfor mance- lihp considerable merit. Carmenita if a dtfnV-ulfc part, perhaps Hip most difficult r>art in the piece. To be vigorous without being forced and to ai:pear vulgar without beintj so is not an easy task : indeed, a high nuthoritv rayp f-hat for etioh a part it is almost imrio-si-blp to find a successor to <\mnie lvHss=. Mrt> Beattv fortunately ha=; ' i'«>ut. and it is this talent that carries her ' 'roiifrh a part that doe« not ouite fit her. V-.'hen =he sp«-u"cs a part that does suit her t •{. ilwmld be a dis-t'oct < -ucpe««." Siraii^wnentr; have bppn complete I for the jiii*i"nranc» i« London ne\t autumn of MiiW N'.iiico O'Xeil. the vonns American tragedienne who plavpd in Punclin Pi incest tome timp b.u-U, row touicia the world with her own pomp'iiiv. Having appeared in Ampnc-a and Australia,, she is v isitimr South Afnca, v hence f-he troe^ to Cairo. Alexandra. Malta. Algiers, and Gibraltar, playing " Ma<tda." "La To.-ca." " Mapb«th," " Fedora. ' " Camille." and other pieces. A lea«e of the Lyceum Theatre has been 6Pcured. where tlie youne traqpclicnoe during her London season will be L-upported by a. specially se locted company When the Charles Arnold Company were played in Johannesburg, just before the war. I (s;ivs a writer in an Adelaide exchange) was in the wine- one night chatting with Miss Sallie Booth, who rotcitly foil a victim tn the plague in Sydnrv " Dop= it not di---illusioniee one to watch a play from this point?" 1 -aid. "Yes" she replied; "but talking of illusions, did I evPr tell you how mv childish illusions respecting the leading lady in a Danto. wer* 1 dispelled? No? Well, it was this wav T had often— l was 8 thp-n --"bestged mv mother to take me to see the leading lady in hei drp'.sinq-room. It was the height of my ambition. I thought that such a plonous creatuie coul'l »iot live on anything leas than chamnaKne. After my turn wa^ over my mother took me down. The leading lady wa* eating whelke out ol a soap-dish with a hairpin and drinking fceer out of a bottle! She was only a woman after all." "Will Mr William Anderson take a kindly Uint relative to romiiaiiies under bis jnanafTemenf' Hpavdy fine any member, man or woman, sruilty of vulgarity: cut out all 'cuss' »-or('s. and 01-o all indelicate allusions. He wil! find that Midi a course will pay, and improve drp?» circle nro^nectsconsiderablv.' 1 ,va- written by ''Jacques." of Weekly Counpr. aftp-r vvitnps-inR the Anderson Dramatic Company in Tasmania. As the same company inaugurate* its New Zealand tour at Wellington on EastPi Saturday. I hopo for their own and for the sake of their paeron« they will take tho hint so gently chopped. As far as Duuedin is concerned. i.f the <omnanv resort to vulgarity and russ words, the hint will uot have the same suaar coatpd appearance. \\ c are uot accu--tomc'l tc- that sort of language li«ing tetvc-<l up with oui drama in Duuedui. and wh«u is moie we do not «»i?h to be. There will always be a certain »e< ti'»n of an audience who wdl );iui<h at an uick'licate »1liuion, a clu>3 word, or a hiddeu meaning, kut they are such a smallj pitiable seeuoiu

and withal such an undesirable section, that the management would be much better without their patronage. True, their shilling posseses the same value as that of anyone else, but if the management cater for that class of people, to whom a vulgar line is a huee joke, many would-be patrons of stalls and drcs- circle will show their disapproval by their absencee. I have heard it argued that the boy in the gallery occupying the back seat of a row reeking with the smell of lemonade and oranges is a« much entitled to be played to as the patron of the circle. Quite right ; but the boy in the gallery should not be allowed to run the show.

Mr A. H. Canby, the American manager, under whose direction Jean Gerard}' makes his second Australian tour, write? to a frienci in Dunedui under date Montreal, February- 13. From the letter, which has been kindly placed at my disposal. I learn that seldom has a season in the United States presented such a remarkable list of musical artists as the present one. Among the great instrumentalists playing there aie Paderewski, Gerardy. Josef Hoffman, and Kubehk. Gerardy seem? to have exceeded even his former triumphs, and he and Paclerewaki, combining for one concert in Boston, are said to have attracted the largest audience ever assembled in that city for a concert ; over 3000 persons, it was estimated, having been unable to secure entrance into the biggest hall in the city, already packed with 5600 patrons. Gerardy's American tour will close in Aprtl, and after a quick trip to his home in Belgium, he will return to the United States and sail from San Francisco for Australia in the Oceanic Company's steamship Sierra on June 12.

Mr A. H Canby also writes that he has been fortunate m securing Aime Lachaume, the French pianist, to accompany Gerardy as soloist on his tour here. This admirable artist has been winning high praises on the Continent and in America. He is, a Parisian, educated at the Paris Conservatory, and the winner of the first prize in 1890. He studied composition with. Delibes. harmony with Dubois, and ensemble music with B. Ciodard. He has made tours with Ysaye, Gerardy, Marteau, E. Sauret, and Petschnikoff. As a composer he has attained much sneces- in writing ballet scores. His last (omposition was the incidental music to Hauptman's celebrated romantic play "The Sunken Bell." soon to be played in Londin. Gerardy and Lachqrtime. Mr Canby thinks, are an exceptionally strong combination of ability for our music patrons.

An anecdote of Madame Meiba. which is probably nor true, i« told by a French pape^. At ;>. diplomatic dinner giien in Liondoii. Lorcl Wol&eley happened to be -eat<?d between his hostess and Melba. The prima donna, of course, knew Lord Wol--pl'-y's nime and fan.o. bttt the genera!, who iv not musical, had np\or heard of Melba. Mo lie- askc-d his lio.-te^s too audibly who was thp claiming lady nil his other side. "Madame Melba," wa= the answer. The mere name pom eyed no information to his lord--hip. so h-- had t^> be told that she was tht» groat Au-tiaiiaii singer. "Oh. imirecV he rrm.irktd. "I have never heard the name before." He then turned his attention *o the prima donna, who I'acl heard etrry word of the pomersation. "You come from Australia, I believe? A most interesting country. I know it very well. Perhaps you have met my brother, who live<3 th^rc-"' "Very nn'sibly. ar'-worpcl Madame Melbn. "What is his name" "The •■a mo "^ :mne, ' 'aid hi« lordship. "And what i-> your"''" she asked, with a sweet i-mj!f. "f am Lord Wolseley ' '"Ah, inf'»«l !" fnid Madame Melba, ehakino: her head: "*T ne\er heard the name before !"'

Mrt Brown-Potter resigned the part of Calypso in the production of "Ulysses" at Her Majesty's on February 1 ("-ays an exiha litre), Mr Stephen Phillip* bavintr told her at rehear-al that her rendering of th-e role «a^. not in accordance with his idea of thf goddess, who has a love scene which lasts 22 minute*. Mrs Potter intended to play it with passion and emotion, but the author wanted clear enunciation and elocution only. ai;d told Mrs Potter that her voice could not be heard beyond the stalls. Mr Tree wrote to Mr-- Putter a* follows: — "Her Majesty's: Theatre. February 21, 19G2 My dear Mr^ I'ottei - I am extieinelv =orrv for the situation that 1 a> ariMMi. and I 3hall always feel grateful to you fur the frank and (renei on* attituci" mhi ha\o takon up. and deeply ac I ii'jnot that ( i ii(.um-tati< < ci "liould render it nt" i ~*nr> , I fool tliat the be>t course in tli<"'S<- (iniiiu-t.iHe- i* to accept jour lesiicn.ition in i in -tnir- spirit in which you hn\f" tendered r. The situation i-, one winch causes me more loss than anyone else. I am extremely sorry that we are not de-t,ned in thio caso to profit artistically arid socially a^ we did in The Musketeers.' when your present-* wa-, always a delight in the theatre. " Miss Nancy Price has beeu engaged to play Calypso.

Mi&b I'ortia Knisfht, thp beauteous and bountiful American actress, who pursued the Duke of Mancl:c"-tf>r to England in order to bring him to hook for a prnmi«p of marriage, broken intn a thousand and one pieces by t'ifr youthful poor's espousal of the fair heiress, Mi>; Zimmprniaii, ha« pome rather uell out of her tribulation. Shp has lost her duke, «ay>- tho Dairy Telegiaph. but her bank balance ha^. it is said, been i-uellrd by the sum of £2000, paid by the faithless young man's frienda to pre\ent the c-abe c-omms; to tiial. Mis.s Knight.* claim ira> for £5000. and possibly she might ha\e got j -verdict for that amount But a-, the dulce is an undi«<<hargrd bankrupt, and Papa Zimmer man declined to ha\e auytluug to do with his son-in law's financial affairs, the lady was well advised to take the s um offered in 'atisfaotion for her broken hpart and blighted duchess prospects. Ca3h down and costs is understood to have been the stipulation in the s-ettlement Miss Knight is now appearing in "My Artful Talet" at Terry's Theatre.

Mdme Carnille Ur=o died at New York on January 20 after a brief llL.c&s. The gifted \iohnistp for the last year oi tv. o had appeared at the variety houses,, a co-.ir-e which must Ua\e be&n dista-teful to such a refined mu-ieian Her paying \va 9 marked by much pinity and feeling, and in her con cert programmes she always maintained an excellent standard. It is a 1< -.lg time since phe first appeared before a Sydn-fv public — 22 years — when she was already fain'har to Parisian and American audieutt'b. H<.r per fonnances ga\e much plean-irc-, and -.lie paid us another \i>it in 1694. wlipu hhe had the valuable artistic- oupporr of H.grioi aiitl Sig nora De Vere Sapio. Be~ule= Australia the company went t<, Xew Zealand, but the tour was not a financial sik <■*--!. although artistically it wa« delightful Mdme I'r^o wa« a plnld pro<'icv (^ayt- Svdi <\\ Mai!!. »n'l appealed in public as early a- i-e\pn icai< of age, making an immediate hit, 'ihieh led bor father (a Sicilian, and an organist and flauUjt of ineritj to jplace her a jjear later

at the Puns Conservatoire, she being the farst girl student. Here the musical atmosphere was all to the little violinist's taste, and she slaxed at her instrument, practising 10 hours a day. After two years' study at the renowned institution Mdlle Urso successfully appeared at many important concert,". At 11 years of age slie went to America, and remained there vntually for good. In San Francioco m 1870 Mdrne Ur^n organised a three^days' musical festival in aid of the Mercantile Library, with such MieceJS that about £+000 was netted The French violiniste (who was born at Nantes in 1842) had the misfortune to have her right arm broken some years ago m Berlin, owing to a careless cyclist riding o^ er her. The unfortunate occurrence happened , immediately in front of her Berlin debut, which had to be adefinitely postponed in oonsequenop The arm was well set. but despite that Mdme T'rso always suffered ulightly from it, and was so careful than on her last visit to Australia she offered the left instead of the right hand in salutation. The artiste's hobby « as stamp-collecting and she was proud of her big book of stamps, ■« bic-h accompanied h-er round the world. She also was always accompanied by her two beautiful violins, which she kept wrapped up in silk handkerchiefs in their cases when nr»t using. The better violin was a Joseph Guarneriii3 del .lesu, Cremona, dated 1727, the second instrument being a Johann Baptista Guadagrini, Turin, made in 1721. S&e u-:ed three Tourte bows and one (over 100 years old) made by Dodds. When Madame Urso was dying she raised her hands as if playing, but dropped them back soon, murmuring, "No strength, no strength. Madame Adelina Patti and Madame Urso made their American first appearances at the same age, time, and plaC'2 (Niblo's Gardens, in New York), and the two became lifelong friends, a belated New Year's greeting arriving at Mr Frederick Luero's (the husband of the violiniste) residence after the death from Madame Patti Madame Urso was very popular with her numerous pupils, and there is some talk of erecting a monument to her in New York. Dunedin, March 19. Dear Pasquin. — Just a line to let you know that the members of William Anderson's Dramatic Company are on boird the Monowai, bound >for Wellington, where they commence a season on Saturday, March 20, opening with " The Ladder of Life" ; " The Night Birds of London," " A Lordon Arab," *' The 'J1.30 Down Express "to foKow The members of the company include Misses Fitzmauriee G'U. Hilda Fraser, Helen Fergus, Gladys Hughes, Frank Hawthorne, Charles Blacke, Frank HaTCOurt, Godfrey Cass, Lawrence Bunbar, Miss Kathleen Dug^an, and others. After Wellington the company comes direct to Dunedm, opening on the 19th April —Yours truly Fred. Hekkisohw, Bus. Mgi.