THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquin.

TUESDAY, April 26, 1910. The foreshadowing of Peter Pan." Mr George Portus, the latest interesting person to join the staff of The Firm, at present in Auckland, arrives in town in the course of a few days to herald tho earning of Pan. Since the departure of Miss Mab Paul, Miss Violet Paget, Miss Amy Willa,rd, and other members of "The Night of the Party" Company, His Maje6ty's Theatre has been as silent as the tomb. The present gloom will not be lifted until the arrival of "Peter Pan"—Petar, who is joy, youth, and most otbe.r things that are worth while. Peter Pan. then, eomes, 'like Wendy, " with the spring," and the spring comes with Pefo»r Pan on May 12, or thereabouts. One has only to see Petar Pan to rejoice and weep alternately, and to again rejoice. By the latest marl to hand oomes information to the effect that the grand opera tour of New Zealand is definitely decided \ipon. The members of tha Grand Opera Company, to the . number of 100 or more, leave immediately after the preasmt season in Sydney for New Zealand, opominjj in Wellington, .on May 19, the s>a*son extending to. June. 2j, when the overland tour of "ohe-.night"! stands will be made to Auckland,..'.. ' (jrand opera seldom finds its, way out ..of.the 'centres, so that iA\« &r-. rangements for the present Grand Opera Coirtpanjr will be vastly appreciated. At the termination of the AucMand season the opara company "jump" to Dunedtn, opening here on July 6. It is interesting to know that throe operas will be produced—- " Madam Butterfly," " La Boheme," and "Carmen," and that the Japanese theme

will be the opening opera. From a responsible person I have been favoured with a copy of the oast for "Madam Butterfly which will be followed out on the New Zealand tour. Madam Butterfly .... • • f my Castles Cho-Cho-San (a Geisha) .. / Eily Bamato Suzuki .. Rosina-Buckmann (Cho-Cbo-San's servant) Kate Pinkerton Fanny Bauer F. B. Pinkerton .. f .. .. John Zerga (Lieut, in U.S. Navy) \ Frederick Blarney Sharpless f Antonio Zanflli (TJ.'S. Consul at Nagasaki) \ Arthur Crane Gore (a Marriage Broker) .. Edward Wynn Prince Yiamadori .. .. Rufus Ferguson The Bonze Orme Darvall (Cho-Cho-San's uncle) The Imperial Commissioner Clifford O'Keefe The Official Registrar .. John. M'Gowan Cbo-Cho-Sian's Mother .. Lillian Barrington Her Aunt .. Lizzie Jamieson Her Cousin Florence Quinn Trouble ..... Valerie Mason (Cho-Cbo-San'3 child) He of various memories—Harold Ashtpn,—in a letter prior to his departure for England and the Continent in company with Mr J. C. Williamson, advises the success of "The Third Degree," which received its premiere at Adelaide a few evenings ago. The latest play was the crowning triumph of the Knight-Grey season in Adelaide, where "The Lion and the Mouse" and " Arms and the Man" had l prepared patrons for something out of the ordinary. It is interesting to know,,.tod that "The Third Degree" will be staged in New Zealand early next year by the Knight-Grey Company, when will also be produced Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the- Man" and "The Lion and the Mouse." Mr Richard ("Dick") Stewart, who is at present "out West" with the Royal Comio Opera Company, returns to New Zealand next month as business manager for the Grand Opera Campany. The cabled announcement that Mr J. C. Williamson has made arrangements for the visit to New Zealand of Miss Amy Castles with the Grand Opera Company is gratifying: to a degree. Previously -we had heard Miss Castles on the concert platform only --now we are to have the pleasure of. seeing and hearing her in opera, for which she has, since- her visit to New Zealand some years ago, been studying in England and the Continent. Among the passengers by the Moeraki, which sailed for Melbourne on Sunday, was Mr A. Moss, of this city, one time manager of the recently-disbanded Pollard's Opera Company, but now ; joint manager with Herr Renno Sohereck in the Australasiah tour of Madame Oarreno, the 'brilliant pianist. Mr Moss takes up the work of management of the Carreno tour immediately on his arrival. Prior to his departure he informed me that he had arranged for 50 recitals in Australia and New Zealand, extending over 16 weeks. The opening recital is set down for May 26, in the Melbourne Town Hall, after which New Zealand will be visited, the Maorilaind tour commencing at Invercargill on June 13. Four recitals are to b& given in Dunedin, commencing on June 15. thence Wellington, Christchureh, and Auckland in that orderIt has been decided by the management to make'the prices of admission 6s, 4s, and 2s, which, considering the reputation of the artiste, is. to" say the least, reasonable. Madame Carreno "should have a successful tour through this country. Cabled information was received this week that Mr Arthur Isaacs, son of Mr A. L. Isaacs, of St. Clair, has gained the coveted Sterndalt Bennett scholarship or £35 per annum, tenable for two years, at the Royal Academy of Music, London, for praetioal work in music. Two years ago, when Mr Arthur Isaacs, then a lad of 17, had studied for six months only at the Royal Academy, he was runner-up for this same scholarship. His success at the present time is necessarily gratifying to his relatives in the Dominion. It may also be reasonably said to redound to the credit of his teachers in New Zealand. Mr Stanley Grant, advance manager of the Marlow Dramatic Comoany. advises that the Dunedin dates are May 21 to June 4-. taking in winter show week. The companv has recently concluded a most successful season in Auckland, and opens in Wellington on Wednesday, April 27, extending to . May 18; thence Dunedin and Ohristchurch. It is also proposed to play InvwoargiO, Oamaru, Tiroaru. and probablv A'shburton and Gore. A return tour of the island with new plays is foreshadowed, and another tour is being arranged for next year, \ • : •■.,-,■ That genial little soul with the rolling eye (by the, wav, ,what a" touring manager h* would,make for Rostand's "Chantecler"). Charles/Barkelev to wit. advises in one of his eharacteristio letters that he antichwr-es Jeavinof Svdney on Saturday next. April 30, for Wellineton. to arrange Preliminaries for the opening of the New Zealand tour of thi* Grand O#orn. Company in that oity. At this writing Chas. B. is in. Brisbane with the Knight (Julius)-Grey (Katharine)

Company, . producing "The Lion and the Mouse," "The. Third Degree," and the Shaw drama, "Arms and the Man." Chas. Berkeley will be welcome not alone for his foreshadowing of" grand opera, but for the cheery soul of him. Someonie has written: "In the midst of white men we sometimes find one." This is to introduce the statement that the legion of friends in New Zealand of Mr Harold Aehton may communicate with that gentleman while he is on another tour of England and the Continent by forwarding letters "Care of Mr J. A. E. Malone, Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London." The J. C." Williamson management has apparently "cornered" all the best Australian vocal talent for the grand opera venture.- The success of Amy Castles, the Victorian soprano, as Madam • Butterfly ■■ has been ably seconded by the- New Zealand soprano, Rosina Buckmann, as Susuki; Mr Arthur Crane, the Australian baritone, as the Consul, Sharpless; and cow Miss Mabel Batchelor will be brought forward as Musetta in "La Boheme" in one of the caste.. "La Boheme" is in rehearsal at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. For this production the J. C. Williamson management has held a prima donna in reserve. This is Signorina Maria Pampari, a young Italian artist, who is said to both look and sing Mimi. Before she was 20 she made a successful appearance at La Soala, Milan. "Her voice has power, while temperamental warmth infuses into her vooalism rare feeling," wrote a Viennese critic on her appearance as the heroine of "La Boheme" in the Austrian capital. Strangely enough, the tenor of that occasion was John Zarga, who will play Rudolf in Sydney in the firstnight cast. The joint efforts of Mr Gerard Coventry and Miss. Minnie Hooper wrought wonderful results in the juvenile performance of "Flprodora" at Sydney Her Majesty's on Monday and Tuesday afternoons,' April 11 and 12. The children, wh< for the most part were members of the "Aladdin" Pantomime Co., were trained to the business of musical comedy like old stagers, and everybody was delighted with their cleverness. Mrs J. C. Williamson, who - defrayed the expenses of the production (in the region of £200), will have the pleasure of handing over to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children and the Hospice for the Dying, Darlinghurst—two deserving Sydney charities—very substantial amounts in the gross proceeds. Miss Genevieve Ward, the celebrated actress, who visited Australia some 25 years ago (says the London correspondent of the Age), has just reached her seventy-second birthday. She is still playing the tragedy queens of Shakespeare. Her hair is white, but her dark eyes have the burning fires of enthusiasm in them still, and her powerful face is modelled on the lines of the tragic Muse, and is as expressive and vivacious as when, more than half a century ago, she sang as Lucrezi.a Borgia at Soak . in Milan. Like Ellen Terry, Dr Furnival, Lord Roberts, and other young people who put to shame the weary old mon' and maids of 21 and thereabouts, she holds the secret of perpetual youth. One part_ of the secret is mental activity and continual interest in life. "I never have time to think ,of aches and pains and wrinkles and old age," said Miss Ward. "Tt is people who think of. those things who grow old soonest." Another part of the secret is physical aotivitv. "I do my four-mile walk a day," said this, young lady of 72, "and always do physical exercise before breakfast." Amongst Auckland's older theatregoers mention, of H. R. Jewett will call ur> agreeable reoolleatioms of an agreeablv wellfavoured, admirably-presenced youth, with a melting and persuasive voice of richest quality. A Dunedin boy by birth, he was once up here (remarks an Auckland writer) in a representative football team, before he went on the stage, and a few may perhaps recollect the dinner at which he recited "TChren on the Rhine." He afterwards pl%yed "Spider" here. A most capab..-> and-pleasing actor. Jewett has sot on well in America, and is now playing the Duke in "The Man from Home" at the Park Theatre in Boston. He appeared in tha.t city and in Ne-w York as John Storm with Miss Viola Allen in "The Christian," and later ae .Laomtes to her H'armione in "A Winter's Ta!»." and Malvolio to her Viola in 'Twelfth Nifht." On several toui*? be plaved Romeo. Benedick, and other Shakespearean leading roles with Miss Julia Marlowe. He -was leading man one season with Miss Ada Reha.n, and later for two years was leading man with Miw Virginia Harnod in Pinero's "Iris." It-is said that the character of the Grand Duke has been so elaborated by Mr Jewat.t that it stands out as a striking feature of ''The Man from Home." To moke up for it in th- face alone occupies ■an hour. Owv critic in New York comnared his work with that of Mr Lester Wallack and Mr Charles Coghlan. "And." soys Mr Jewett. "he

could not hove paid me a greater comp' merit."

Elsewhere I have made mention of the eaccess of "The Third Degree." which was first produced at Adelaide a few eveninga ago. As New Zealanders are to have the privilege of peeing this play shortly, I may be pardoned for quoting an appreciation from the critic of the Adelaide Register, Who says: ' 'The present dramatic treason will -be referred to in years to corns. That would have been eo if only the productions of ' The Lion and the Mouse' and 'Arms and the Man' had to be considered, but the great crowning success of the season was achieved with 'The Third Degree,' presented for the first time in Australia on Saturday evening. The house was crowded, the play was strong, tense, and full of human interest, the production was great, and the audienoe were thrilled through and through. Time and again, the whole house rose at Miss Kafherine Grey, the little lady whose extraordinary real and convincing impersonation as the heroine was in a great measure responsible for the remarkable sue. cess of the production. Mr Julius Knight, who produced the piece, left nothing undone to bring about satisfactory results, but in liis most optimistic moments he could never Lave dreamed that such a. signal and striking success was awaiting the first production of 'The Third Degree.' It is a long while since there were so many curtail calls at the conclusion of each act, and suoh deafening applause and wild shouts of 'Bravo-' rang round the auditorium." And a great deal more. Mr W. S. Peroy, who is now delighting playgoers as one of the principal comedians in the new Comio Opera Company, is an example of what young Australians can do if they only concentrate their minds and energies on a particular object. About 20 years ago, when he was still only a boy, Mr Percy used to be a pretty frequent occupant of the gallery ac different theatrical performances, and' one night, while watching the progress of a play in the building: which is now known as Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne (the soene of his biggest successes, by the way), Mr Percy declared to his friends that he intended to go on the stage. Of course, as is generally the case with such announcements, he was laughed to scorn, but he persisted in his assertion, and finally wound up by remarking that he intended to "make good" at that very theatre. He followed up his decision by calling upon Mr Williamson, who there and then engaged him for a juvenile opera company. It was at that time his voice that gained him the engagement, but aftev some experience and plenty of hard work he finally rose to the position of principal comedian of the company, which was engaged touring through the length and breadth of Australasia. His last cSays with the juvenile troupe were spent in South Africa, in " Djin-Djin." When he came bock to Australia after his trip he was engaged by J. C Williamson for the Count in "The Orchid." and later on, when the late George Lauri broke down in health during a tour of New Zealand, Mr Percy stepped into his shoes, and since then has rapidly risen in popular favour. Mr Percy speaks in the ' highest terras of his predecessor's goodness to him, and considers that he owes George Lauri all his gratitude for his real friendship and the help that he.gave him. He was, according to Mr Percy, a most unselfish man, always trying to give other people a push upwards. M. Edmond Rostand, whose play " Chantecler" has created such a sensation, when chosen as one of the famous 40 " Immortals" who form the French Academy, _ gave a small dinner to a few of his intimates to celebrate the occasion. Sarah Bernhardt . sa<t in the olace of honour at the poet-dramatist's right hand. Half way through the dinner she rose, lifted . a champagne bottle, and dramatically poured the contents over heir heae 1 . exclaiming: "Thus, in the fashion of the ancients, do I pour libation to our misrhty poet!" The d«ppin,g wine naturally ruined her shimmering and costly dross. Her friends, including Rostand, pointed this out. "Thank you," she answered ca.lmlv; " I meant it to be spoilt. I wore it for the occasion." A few minutes afterwards the poet's sons, boys of six and eight, were discovered oouirincr soda water over their own heads, and! thereby ruining their new lace collars. The poet promptly packed them off to bod. Bernhardt smiled, and, turning to Rostand, remarked: " Permit me to congratulate myself, my dear sir, that you are not my father, too!":-' " : ' For-the year just closed the Paltrierstbn North Municipal Opeca House, .after ? irigf repairs and providine for maintenance, mode a profit of £55 18s.-"' Tho sinking fund, which may also be regarded as "a profit, has been augmented by 595. so that really the return of profits was ' £5150 18s. Miss Tittell Bruns has scorai such a, success in London that prominent are now endeavouring to secure the option of her services fox a term of years.