THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 69

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

BwPakqcix. TUESDAY, March 29, 1910. The Pollard Opera Company, whicl is at present producing "Miss Hook of Holland" in Christchurch, will play a short E«asjn ;tt His Majesty's in this city early in April. The company is said to have* >cored a. great' success with the Dutch conic f.peia. The Fis.k Jubilee Singers will visit the towns as they come along en route to the North Island. Mr Ivan James has gone ahead of the company. Mr Harold Ashton has returned to Now Zealand after an absence extending over 12 months, during which he visited America, in the interests of the firm of J. C. Williamson and Co. Several of the attractions Mr Ashton secured in America will bo seen in New Zealand next year. Meanwhile they are being staged in Australia. Some doubts "appear still to exist concerning the proposed visit'to New Zealand of the English Grand Opera Company. Tho matter, however, is definitely settled, and the company, provided nothing arises in the meantime, will commence a New Zealand tour at Wellington in May. "Madame Butterfly" and "La Boheme" are the principal works to be treated. The operas will bo sung in Eng'nsh. Mr Stanley Granc, business manager for Marlow's Dramatic Cov,ipany, advises from Auckland that the confoany will play

a short season in Dunedin *in May. Amongst other pieces to be produced, will be "Married to the Wrong'Man," "That Woman from France," and "The Midnight Chimes."

The principal attractions opening in New Zealand at Easter were, "Peter Pan" at Wellington, Pollard's Opera Company in "Hook of ..Holland" at. Christchurch, and Marlow's Dramatic Cb. with "Married to the Wrong Man" .at Auckland. Miss Amy. Murphy, who has returned to New Zealand after several-months spent in Sydney, will give the first of a series of concerts in the Dominion, at 'the Garrison Hall on April 5 and 6. Miss Murp'**, will be assisted by several of the best ox our local vocalists.

Maoriland friends of our own Miss May Beatty will be pleased to hear of her continued success in England. At latest Miss Beatty was the principal boy in the "Dick Whittington" nantomime at the Britannia Theatre, London. From-the outset Miss Beatty is said to have been a distinct suc-cess,-and, together with another favourite (Mr Edward Lauri). shares the principal honours of the pantomime. A card- from "Teddy" Lauri confirms this appreciation. Miss Alice Pollard a little while ago received an offer from an Australian trical entrepreneur to play leading roles in Australia, but George Edwardes would not release her from her engagement.. The result has been that she has been cast for one of the leading parts in "The Green Butterfly." one of Edwardes's forthcoming productions in London. A striking feature of Madame Calve's concert tour, which is to be inaugurated in Melbourne on April 16, is that the songstress will be seen in whole acts from grand opera, which, by special arrangement, are to be sum? and acted in character. The operas which have been chosen for these particular appearances are "Mefistofele" (Boito), "Faust" (Gounod). "Carmen" (Bizet). "II Trovatore" (Verdi), and "Cavalleria Rusticana" (Mascagni); and wherever the exigencies of the opera demand that the singer shall have assistance —as in the second act from "Carmen," for example—Madame Calve will be supported bv the distinguished 1 young Italian tenor, Signor Galileo Gasparri, who has been engaged to sing with the diva during her Commonwealth season.

When Mis 9 Amy Castles visited the city of Boulder during her recent Westralian tour she, perhaps, realised! for the fi'rst time what it really means to be famous and popular. By order of the Boulder City Council, the streets were illuminated in her honour, and the Boulder Liedertafel assembled in full strength and serenaded her in the presence of about 5000 people. Likewise, at the conclusion of the one concert that she was enabled to give in the goldfields city, the Liedertafel appeared ence more and sang her a song of farewell as she left the local Town Hall in her motor car. Moreover, the same evenine she was the principal guest at a brilliant "At home," and at the request of the Mayor of Boulder left a very interesting memento of her visit. This was her much tattered copy of the song "The Perfect Way," on which she and every person present, including two or three- eminent divines, wrote their autographs in memory of a unique occasion.

Two exceedingly brilliant artiste are M. Jacaues Pintel and Signer Galileo Gasoarri, who have been engaged to suoport Madame Emma Calve during her forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand. M. Pintel, who has been described bv La Gil Bias (Paris) as "ont of our youngvirtuoso's who henceforth will have (o.bo reckoned with.." is a Russian pianist of exceptional distinction, and is declared by some to be second only to* the famous Paderewski himself. He has played with gratifying success in London, Paris, and other Continental capitals, and first attracted the attention, of the musica! world when he won the much-coveted Premier Prix at the Paris Conservatoire. Signer Gasparri, a young Italian tenor of striking appearance, is one of the two or three really great singers that his country possesses at the present time. For some vears he has been a well-known artist at La Scala, Milan, and has appeared in many cities throughout Italy in such opera* as "Cavalleria Rusticana," "La Tosca," and "La Boheme." He is bound to secure the heartiest recognition, for he is a vocalist of the type of Carlo Da.ni. who was such a popular figure in the Italian Opera Company that toured the Commonwealth some years ago. ..-■•■'

Miss Katherine Grey, who during b°r short sojourn in Australia has already established herself high in popular favour with the playgoing public, and is at present delighting Melbourne audiences at Her Majesty's Theatre with her charming impersonation of Shirley Rossmore in " The Lion and the Mouse," is a Californian bv birth, and keeps a very warm corner in her heart for her native place. Her first public appearance in a theatrical role was

with Augustin Daly's Company, and after a season with that organisation she joined one of Mi Charles Frohman's companies, in which she supported Maud Adams: She has since that period travelled all over .the United States, and although for the most part she has. played in modern drama, she also includes in her repertory many poetfcal and classical plays. She appeared in the first American presentation of Bernard Shaw's " Arms and the M an >" includes " Candida," another Shaw piece, in her list of plays. Her latest American engagement was under Charles Frohman in " The Thief," she playing Marise to the Richard of Mr Kyrle Bellew. Miss Grey will have an opportunity to appear in drama ouj; here shortly, when with a specially organised company it is proposed' to present "Henri of Navarre."

Mdlle Bel Sorel inherits her musical ability from her mother, who was well known in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark as a concert singer, and with whom little Bel, then only five years of age, travelled as a solo pianist. At a later stage the daughter developed a voice which gave promise of great possibilities, and she was sent to Bulow, the renowned teacher, to have it cultivated. So apt and intelligent a pupil did she prove that it was decided to have her trained for an operatic career, and with this end in view she visited Paris and Milan. At the latter city she met Edouarde Sonzogno, who was so pleased with her singing that he engaged her at Once for the part of Mimi in Leoncavallo's " Boheme," a great compliment, considering her youth and comparative inexperience. However, she quite justified the faith reposed in her, and was rewarded by being re-engaged for Mignon, Nozze di Figare, and Manon de Pagliacci, in all of which works she appeared at the Lyrio Theatre, Milan; Then followed a season in Trieste,., in Manon and Massenet's " The composer of the last-named opera was so delighted with her work that he sent her a photograph of himself with these words .written thereon : " Gloire a vous, divine et charmante ' Cendrillon.' " Seasons in Rome, and Turin'were then undertaken successfully, and thereafter Mdlle Sorel was-invited to appear at the Imperial Theatre, in. Warsaw, one of the most famous opera houses in Europe. Daring- this season she was associated with Caruso, playing Mimi to his Rudolph in Puccini's " La Boheme." She also appeared as Violetta to Caruso's Alfred, and Carmen to his San Jose. She has visited professionally nearly all the principal centres of Europe, and in Madrid, in particular, she scored- a triumph with her presentation of Carmen, which was spoken of as inimitable." full of fascination and dramatic power. That Mdlle Sorel is highly thought, of by Puccini, the composer of "Madame Butterfly," is proved by the fact that when the latter heard that she was coming out to Australia to take the name part in his work, lie wrote to her expressing his pleasure that his beloved "Butterfly" was to be introduced to music lovers here by so brilliant an artist. It is devoutly to be wished for Miss Nellie Stewart's peace of mind that her performance of Maggie Wylie in " What Every Woman Knows " at the Melbourne Princess Theatre, at Easter time, will not result in a similar display of appreciation as was shown to Hilda Trevelyan when she appeared in the same role in the Glasgow production of the Barrie comedy. She entered her dressing room one evening, and found to ' her consternation that her first- ■ act dress (the plainest and least expensivef of the lot) had disappeared. A search was made, but with no result, and the only conclusion that could be arrived at was that the drefes had been purloined by an ardent admirer of the actress who wished to have it as a souvenir. Dr Charles Harriss is completing his arrangements in connection with the Sheffield Choir's " Empire" tour of the_ Overseas Dominions in 1911. The Canadian impresario's programme includes visits to Canada-, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and South Africa. Dr Harriss proposes to spend some 50 days in Australia and New Zealand, during which time the choir will give 36 performances, and assist in a special festival week at Sydney. Mr Osoar Asche has a unique method of stage lighting, one of the features of which is in the use of the limelights. No limelight is thrown on Mr Asche, Miss Brayton. or any other of the characters unless there is a reasonable opportunity of doing so. Thus, if Mr Asche, say, passes n doorway or window in a night scene, he will be given the limelight, which will be given the semblance of '->oonli<?ht streaming through the window. Or. if he stands bv a candelabra, this will allow' of a ra-" of limelight being directed upon him to bring him into greater prominence, for it can naturally be concluded that the light from the candles is illumining him. As an expert in stasro lighting. Oscar Asche has long been held in London to occupy a foremost position on th" English stage. The combat of the two Hunni'-h kni"-V----in Sir W. S. Gilbert's " Fallen Fairies," at the Savoy, London, is among the most

realistic swqrd-fights ever presented on the stage (says " Era"). The weapons used are specially wrought Sheffield steel blades. 42in long and nearly i-in in thickness, and the force of the blows delivered : may be gauged by the fact that after three--weeks' lighting the edges of each sword -are cut and dented like a saw. The men-who handle these weapons are well able to wield them. Mr Claude Flemming, : ' an Australian, whose early life was spent in rounding up cattle and stock on his father's 50,000-acre holding on the Darling River, stands 6ft 3in, with a 48in chest, and ? 'weighs, , with bis tiger skins and armour upoh him, nearly 18st. His opponent, Mr Led Sheffield, is well over 6ft, weighs nearly 15st,' and has a chest measurement of 42in.

Sir Herbert Tree (says Cassells). wßi once prevailed upon in his kindness of hep-;; to engage a servant-girl put of the wov • house. She was desperately untidy, an . after various attempts to .teach her rnethoc. Lady Tree told her husband that it was no use, thjß girl must really:" |p.' " Oh, try he;.• a little, longer," urged Sir Herbert. And she was granted a respite. However, it was •"all in vain, and to Sir Herbert Tree, as h" had engaged the girl, fell the task >f getting rid of her. Heboid her that if i'i« did not mend her ways she ; must return '•> the workhouse. '• Oh, ..noti-I shan't," she snapped out rudely, "I'll get another situation:'' "But I cannot give you a-charac-ter," returned the actor, and,, you will find it very difficult to get another situation without a character." " Perhaps!" .was the r - tort. "At all events,, if the worst should come to the worst, I can* always go on the stage!" •' ■ Last month Messrs John Shearer, Zenas Law, Christian Thomson, and John A. Hunter, expert oarnenters and joiners, m the employ of the Andrew Kerr Proprirtary, Ltd.. Franklin street, Melbourne. challenged Houdini, who wifs appearing '■>."-• Rickards's. New Opera House, to nil"'them"'to construct a and stro.tr" ■ packing-case of lin timber, and, make v■> of 2£in nails and screws (flat-heared' p I unprepared), into which they would r.j\. . screw, and rope the slippery one, "so t'-sfc it would be impossible for him to make his escape." The test; came off, and this \fOf* what the Melbourne Argus bad to say ahoin it: "One-inch timber, -AUn nails, . flatheaded screws, stout ropey "and.all. Houdini defied imprisonment, A cc-mpany of expert carpenters and joiners-had prepared apparently the most secure of r packing-case£. and challenged Houdini to escape. He accepted the challenge, and a large audience attended to see him face the' task. The carpenters and joiners nailed, -screwed, and roped un the box after Houdini, in evening dress, had entered it. There was jnst rco-.. for him to huddle up. Three holes y\ ooposite sides of the box ; gave him air. Then a screen was ptatfed' round the Ivor. When he had been at work 25 minute?. Houdini, ooatless, his shirt-sjeeves torn. anu his face beaded in nerspira'tion, flu.ng back the screen. To the casual observer the case presented the appearance of never having been tampered with." . Last the Mavor of Waipawa (Hawke's Bay), on behalf of the Borough Council, opened a municipal theatre, seaK in"- 800, to which is attached a concert hall seating 350, a kitchen, library, and borouffh offices. The building and land cost £3OOO.