THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqdin.

j TUESDAY, January 25, 1910. New Zealand playgoers will bo delighted to hear that an old favourite in the person of Miss Edith Bland, well remembered with the Bland Holt Company of other* ; years and other seasons, is about to again j visit Australia New Zealand. Miss | Bland leave® London for Australia in April j under engagement to Mr George Marlow j for a tour of the Commonwealth and Maori- ' land. j The successful Dutch comic opera, “Hook of Holland,” the New Zealand rights of I which have been secured by Mr A. Moss for | Pollard’s Opera Company, is to be staged by the Pollards at Master-ton on February | 7, So Maeterton, not Invercargill, is to ! have the honour of the premier of “Hook” | by the Pollard Company in New Zealand. After the Dutch opera has been' “tried on ! the dog”—which, by the way, will not be hard on the dog,—it will be produced in all the inland towns of the, North - Island; thence Christchurch at Easter and Dunedin in ApriL Meanwhile one must congratulate the management on its enterprise, and wish the company success in its latest venture. i Patrons of His Majesty’s Theatre'during the _ Pollard season Were somewhat astonished and not a little impressed at the gorgeously-attired commissidhaire; who gave an “atmosphere” to the front of the house, : ! which was strikingly effective. It is claimed that Pollards is the . first company to travel its own .commissionaire in New | Zealand. Well, that is something to boast about—not that all the .gold-laded ; commissionaires in the world would- attract playgoers if there was no merit in the show, — but the commissionaire suggests wealth, luxuriance Opera d'Paris and-many other things of vivid imagination. The eight nights’ season of William Anderson’s Melo-dramatic Co. commences at His Majesty’s on Wednesday evening with “The Great World of London.” The title suggests infinite possibilities in melodrama, and—well, this class of play has no limitations., so the public is well "served. Probably the.piost successful Season ever exper.ien.o9d in Dunedin by Pollard’s Opera Company was that which closed, with “Black Cloaks” last evening. During the nine nights three operas—or, more correctly, two operas and on© musical comedy-—were produced to distinctly appreciative audiences. We could listen with,.. .something of rapture to the musio of operas of the “Olivette” and “Black Cloaks” type, but the jingle of musical comedy* is far from satisfy- . mg. Unfortunately, the majority prefer jingle to music; hence these tears. vDear Pasquin,” Just a line to advise you that I shall arrive in Dunedin on or about the 29th inst. by the Manuka from . .Sydney to pave the way for Mr Rickards’s next company, opening in your city on Saturday, February 5. Included in- tile

I company are Franco Piper, a brilliant j banjo player apd juggler, the three sisters i Trapped, a magnificent acrobatic act, after i the style of the Klcs Sisters, Fred Bluett, i an Jf? an d Sirs Robert Fitzsimmons, who I will appear in an original sketch. , Ihe former will also lecture on the pictures of the Fitzsimmons-Lang fight, which will form a portion of the entertainment. With regard to the first two turns I can only say they are absolutely the best of their kind •ever seen in Australia, and together with Fitzsimmons, who, I believe, is a native of the Dominion, we should do good business. —Yours sincerely, M. Maecus. .The advent of George Hacke.nschmidt and hi® team of strong men is announced by •George Portus, business manager of the show, who advises that “Hack.” and Co. will commence a short season in the Garrison Hall about February 17. The'“Russian Dion” will be supported by Gunner Moir and Herman, together with a speciallyselected company of entertainers. Mr Geoffrey Nye will return fo New Zealand to represent and manage West’s Pictures interests. He has been on their managerial staff for some considerable time, ; but by arrangement has been piloting Mr Huigh J. Ward’s Company through New Zealand, Brisbane, and Sydney. Mr G. H. (George Hoinan) Barnes, who .is at present in Christchurch booming tho Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, advises that, he will arrive ini Dunedin on Thursday . week on a similar mission. The famous band iS due to give a series of performances in the Garrison Hall at the latter. end of February. . r ’ ; • lb is interesting to know that the successful “Babes in the Wood” pantomime, of which jyiiss Lillian Lea is pripoipat boy, is to visit New' Zealand sWrtly, possibly opening in Dunedin. In addition to

its many special attractions the dressing of the pantomime is very fine. Tlie march, illustrating a study in porcelain, in which Wedge wood, Derby, Royal Worobester, Dresden, Sims, Copeland, and the Willow pattern are show, is excellent. In the floral procession the girls represent roses, pinks, wattles, cosmos, wistaria, poppies, sunflowers, margarites, iris-in, and daisies. In the seaside scene the latest Parisian frocks are worn. The big hat ! brigade -arrive with hats “throe yards across j or more.” “The Babes in the Wood” has ; been, a pronounced success in Melbourne, ■ where it is now being staged. The announcement of the return of the famous “Besses o’ th’ Barn” Band came as a pleasing surprise to New Zealand theatregoers, and- more especially as it is the intention of the directors —Messrs J. and N. Tai-t —to inaugurate the Australasian tour in Christchurch on February 8. The band made thousands of friends in Maoriland, and those wEo recollect their wonderful playing will hail with more than ordinary enthusiasm the near approach of this renowned combination. The “Besses” ! have just concluded a remarkably euceeasI ful tour of South Africa, and are now on their way from Capetown in- the Suevic. The bam! will re-embark at Adelaide, railing overland to Melbourne and catching the steamer, via the Bluff, to same. Much, enthusiasm is already being evinced in the southern towns through which the hand will pass by rail on their way to Christchurch, 1 end great preparations are being made to ; formally welcome the “Besses.” Mr Alex- . ander Owen is again %ith the combination ' as conductor, which is in itself a guarantee j of excellence.

I Dear “Pasquin,”—Just a line or two. . I am back in New Zealand once more, and j going great guns. I am doing my h&nd- ' cuffi act, also the milk can act and wireless telegraphy. I have lost my wife {May Dagmar) since I toured through Fullers' circuit five years ago. 1 I enclose circular. We are doing enormous business. Wishing you every success for the Ivew Year, —Yours sincerely, Pkof. Pahkeb. _ There are probably very few indeed in New Zealand who have not at some time or another had the privilege of hearing the sweet melody of tihe Fisk Jubilee Singers. Nearly all who have done so, rarely miss an opportunity of renewing their acquaintance. After a somewhat lengthened absence than usual they; purpose shortly revisiting New Zealand, and another tour will open at the Town Hall, Wellington, On February 19..■ Southland and Otago will 'follow the Wellington season, commencing at Invercargill. In addition to several old favourites there are a number of new members in the present organisation. Bach of the latter is said ;to be a talented' soloist. The Fisk Jubilees may be sure of a hearty welcome everywhere. The late Lionel Brough used to tell a good story of John Rydter, Charles Kean’s famous stage manager. “The Tempest’' was in rehearsal, and a new method of producing thunder was being tested. It consisted in rolling heavy balls down certain tubes. Ryder was on the stage directing the men high above at the flies. “Br-r-r!” went the thunder. “Br-r-r I | Br-r-r!” “Won’t do at all, boys!” said Ryder. “Try it again, boys; try it again.’' “ Br-r-r !” again went the thunder —louder and louder. “Br-r-r”—“Not a bit like it, boys ! Try it again, boys !”—A storm had been rising outside, and a flash of JightnI mg was followed by a crashing peal. | “What are you doing now?” said the exI asperated manager. “What are you at, j boys?” “Whoy, Mister Ryder,” cried a i voice from above, “that was a real clap | o’ thunder!” “Not so bad,” said Ryder; I “but it won ; t do for me. Try it again, i boys; try it again !” ■R T . .1 1 1 _ • _ _ • 1

Madame Emma Calve, who is at present giving concerts in London under the direction of Messrs J. and N.'Tait, it to make her first apnea ranee in Australia under the laegus of the same management at Easter week. Madame Cafve mad© her . debut in Brussels, in Gounod’s “Faust,’ - | and the impression she created is said to j have indu.ced M. Carvalho to engage her ; for a long period. From Brussels she j went tc Italy, where her , talents were • further developed, and she won remarkable ' popularity. It was at Florence, in Italy, ! that she created Mascagni’s “Cavalieria ! Rusticana.” j Widespread regret will be felt among 1 members of the theatrical profession i throughout England at the death from j pneumonia and heart failure of Mr Wil- j liam Forbes, the “ballet girls’' evange- { list.” His death at the age .of 77 j occurred at the commencement of his busi- I Cet season. Every-year ho travelled round ; the country from December to February holding tea meetings and services for the ballet girls engaged in the provincial pantomimes, and he wlas to have left for , Manchester and Scotland last Saturday. Although he had been engaged in theatrical mission work for 30. years he only once saw a play from “the ‘ front,” and then '

j only for a few minutes. His last act was j to give instructions about sending money j to a girl in want. He always gave 1 —“ to | lend money is to lose a friend” waa ono of his mottoes, j The origin of most of our popular panto- : mime stories is shrouded in mystery. “Cinderella,” for instance l , i 3 to be fourio in the language of every European oountr; . and cian be traced back to an old Hindu legend. _ “Aladdin” is from the “Arabian Nights,” but it is said to have been borrowed from a Buddhist story. About “Blue Beard,” we are a little more certain, for it is probably -founded on the crimes of the Marquis de Laval, a maresdhal of balance, who was a distinguished soldier in- the reigns of Charles VI, and VII. He indulged in every possible excess, practiced sorcery, and killed young persons for the sake of their blood, which wag necessary for his incantations, and waa for his crimes burnt alive in 1440. “Beauty and the Beast” comes from -a Norwegian folk tale, “The House that Jack Built” haa its pro- , to typo in a sacred hymn in the Jewish Talmud, Little Bed Biding Hood 1 ” an old Hindu tale, while the story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” is not only found in Asiaatic literature, but la similar legena is known amongst the Zulus and the inhabitants of Fiji. Even “Dick Whittington appears to be of foreign origin, and is said to have originated in Tusaany in the 15th century with the story of a Genoese merchant who presented two cats to tiie king to rid. his palace of vatai,. an*d was rewarded with rich presents. The only pantomime that we can claim to be of English origin besides “Bob in:-.on Lrasoe, 1S the “Babea in the Woods which was r-egitterod in the hooka of btationer s Hall as a ballad- as far back as 1595.

A surprise ■visit was paid, Dunedin on baturday by Mr Charles and Mr Jos. MacMahon, the well-known theatrical managerwho arc arranging for a Now Zealand tour of MacMahon s Pictures with the eminently successful film, “The Term of His Natural Liife. The Marcus Clark story per cinematograph should be refreshingly., novel and command much attention from the picture-loving public. By the way, Messrs an <] J. MacMahon are not connected with the circus of : that name at present on the Oval. . The Newcastle coal strike may be said to ne the indirect ■ cause of some changes in the arrangement of the Australasian appearances by the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. Under ordinary circumstanoes the band would have arrived in JVXelbourno prepara•tory to embarking for New Zealand on the 26th January next, but owing to their steamer, the Suevic, being obliged to call m at Durban for coal, they will' not reach Melbourne until four or five days later. This unavoidable disturbance of their plans will now necessitate the band leaving Melbourne for New Zealand on February 2, so that they may make their first appearance in Christ,church not later than February 8. Previously it, was notified; that they would depart from Melbourne in time to be in Christchurch on February 1, so that it wil l thus be seen that their reappearance in that city has only been postponed by about a week. Fortunately, the delay will'not interfere with their route through the Dominion of IV-ew Zealand. As formerly decided upon they will proceed to Invercargill, and Dunedin after leaving Christchurch, and later on will travel north through the land tOWnS ** Wellin S' ton and AuckAn Australian girl writing from, Chicago tells of the play. “A Fool There Was ” You remember Kipling’s verses on BurneJones s painting, ‘The Vampire”:— A feel there was, and be made his prayer—(Even as you and I). , bone and a kank of hair— U e called her the woman who did not care. But the fool, he called her his lady fair (Even as you and I). The drama is founded on the .'erses, and the rag and the bone and the hank of hair lady is played by Miss Elbert Orton late of the Julius Knight Company. ‘'You would never know her to be the same woman, writes the Australian. “She always looked superb, but now she a,ot 9 superbly, and the part is so difficult. It is snaky, sinuous, and seductive, and eh© invests it with all three qualities to perfection Hilda .Spong opens here next week i? A Little Brother to the Rich,’ and Aim© Crawford started her. season last night as Lady Effington, a neurotic drugtaker in These. Are My People,’ a sequel to ‘The Squaw Man, so Australia is well represented. _ John M'Cormack, the -Irish tenor, is here, and Chicago has gone mad over his' voice.” 0 The Miss Crawford mentioned aboyie was in New Zealand with Miss Nance O’Neil. ; ... . The Belle Crome Company of Bellringers had a narrow escape fronj serious accident en route to Wairoa. When the coach was ascending the Tango io

Hill the pa/rtyi got out and. . walked. It was . fortunate for them that they did so, as when, near the top the king bolt 3roke and the coach went over a cliff 60ft, and was badly smashed. The driver escaped uninjured. WILLIAM ANDERSON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY. To-night (Wednesday), at His Majesty's Theatre. Mr William Anderson's famous dramatic organisation will inaugurate an. eight-night season, when will be presented Walter Melville's powerful four-act drama "The Great World of London." The following is a brief resume of the plot:—The heroine is being compelled by her father to marry the villain of the play against her wish, when her husband, who is supposed to be dead, turned up, and through, the instramentality of the comedy people (Tom and Sally Bates) the husband and wife are united. The villain then, with the aid of a gang of thieves, plans to ruin the hero. Getting him into their clutches, they compel him to travel on a train, amongst the passengers of which are the gang and a rich banker. Whilst the train is at full speed two of the gang climb through the carriage window of the bank manager's compartment, murder him, and make back to their own carriage with the spoil. The hero is falsely accused of the murder, and is tried and sentenced to. death. But Tom and Sally Bates have to be reckoned with. They kept the wife and child in their distress, and Tom, who is a regular Sherlock Holmes in embryo, discovers certain information which proves the hero's innocence and the villain's guilt. The villain then disguises himself arid flies to the Salvation Army Home for shelter, where he is arrested, and the wife and child are restored to the poor persecuted hero. Elaborate scenery and mechanical ellects are employed to give adequately forceful representation to the various sensational situations, and a etronic company, including- the following artists will interpret the various characters : —Messrs Vivian Edwards, Herbert Linden. Charles Throoby, Jobr De lacey, Stewart Garner,. Crosbie Ward. Frank Reis, Edwin Campbell, Onslow Edgeworth. Alf Holland, Frank Rossinorc. Edwin Green, Hugh Power, and the Misses | Kate Gail-, Dulcio Hall, May Granville, Barry Lane, Nellie M'Donalcl, and others. The orchestra will bo under the direction of Mr S. Crinino. During the season "The Female Swindler," ''Mail to Man,"., and "A- Life's;Revenge" will be presented.