THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 64

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqdin.

Tuesday, June 6. Artistically a success, the season of "Lea Cioches de Conieville" at his Majesty's during Winter Show Week cannot be termed a, financial triumph. Truth to tell, the performances of the charming opera were not nearly so well attended as one expected they would, and certainly deserved to be. To me the strange thing is that the city people were not more liberal in their patronage; but that the country people held off is not so surprising. I am a great believer m a good and attractive title, one which is expressive and easily pronounced. " Les Cloches de Corneville '' suffered, to my reasoning, with the visitors from the country in its title. Difficult to pronounce and "sounding foreign," it conveyed nothing to the person who was ignorant of its charms; rather was the title forbidding, and I have no hesitation in saying that the very people it was hoped to attract were frightened off. Contrast " Les Cloches de Corneville" as a title with "A Country Girl," and compare the two as a Winter Show Week attraction. Musically, of course, the opera soars above the musical comedy; but on title alone " A Country Girl " will win out with our show visitors, and as an attraction for our carnival week the musical comedy scores ail along the line. Yes, J think, despite the charms of the opera, the title did not help the season. At the conclusion of the final performance of the comic opera "Les Cloches do Corneville " at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday nigLi, the principals and the chorus met on the stage to present Mr Tom Pollard (director of the opera) with a suit case. The presentation was made by Mr J. M'Connell, who referred to the happy relations that had existed during the preparation of the opera, and also to the great benefit the performers had received from Mr Pollard's instructions. Mr Pollard, in replying, said that everything had worked harmoniously, and he had been very pleased with the whole performance, which had been remarkable for its evenness. He spoke in eulogistic terms of Mr Wolf's work, and expressed the opinion that as a director of orchestral and chorus work he (Mr Wolf) was unsurpassed in Australasia. Paul Dufault is more than satisfied with his New Zealand tour, and with his reception in Dunedin he was specially delighted. Ho gave his final concert in His Majesty's on Tuesday evening, and on Wednesday and Thursday will give two farewell concerts m Christchurch. From thence he noes to Wellington for a week, and then to Auckland, where the New Zealand tour concludes at the end of the month. The Canadian tenor commences his Australian tour in Sydney on July 1, and at its conclusion proposes visiting England and returning to New Zealand in about two years. So far on the present tour Paul Dufault has found South Island audiences more demonstrative than the North Island. Usually it is the other way; but the South Island ever appreciated the best in music and literature, though, as Paul Dufault_ says, it is absurd to say that- one centre is not musical and another iv On Saturday next, Juno 10, the members of Fullers' Vaudeville Company, now appearing at the Princess, will remove all their goods and chattels to His Majesty's, where the first vaudeville performance will be given at a matinee in the afternoon. The Vaudeville Company will remain in temporary occupation of His Majesty's during the time occupied in making the proposed extensivo alterations and improvements to the Prircess, anticipated at a matter of six weeks. Tho decorators are already at work on tho High street theatre, and tho contract will bo pushed throng!) with all possible despatch. The policy of quick changes and infinite variety has proved the high road to success in vaudeville, and, adhering to it rigidly, Messrs F idler and Sons announce several now star acta to open at His Majesty's on Monday next, included amongst others Madame Marvelle and her team of trained cockatoos, which are said to bo the last

word in bird-training. The birds walk a rolling ball, play see-saw, man a coach, aiul enact a typical firo scene w.th reel, escape, and fire engine, and rescue several alarmed occupants of the burning building. The Canine Circus, another b.jj novelty to be introduced on Monday next, is a diverting performance by a number of well-trained dags, who jump, dance, stand oil their lore or hind legs, and. finally, one dog (masked as a miniature horse) trundles round the little ring', whilst canine jeekcys display their cquiiibristic powers in the saddle. Mr Ailen L'oone and his company, in chiding- Miss Edna Keeley, will commence another New Zealand tour on June 12 at GiVborne. The Wellington season will open on July 8 for 13 nights. Dunedin will follow tor one week, and then Chr.'stchureh. Ir September the company will visit Auckland, this, being their last city in the Dominion. During the tour some new plays wi'i be presented by Mr Doone, " O'Leary, V.C.," being the opening bill for New Zealand. This w.ll be followed by another piece new to playgoers, entitled '"The Bole Soger Boy " Both these plays have been written by Theo. Burt Sayre, author of ""The Wearing of the Green," the play which Mr Doone presented to New Zealand two years ago, and which proved such a success. Ci. John Fuller, jun., intends to leave Wellington at the end of this month to reside in Sydney, where he will take a more active part in the management of the Fuller vaudeville business. In New Zealand lie has been chiefly associated with the Fuller Theatre Proprietary interests, and ii".-'. connection with picture shows. As it is just possible that he may return in a few months' time, he does not intend to resign from the council, but will obtain extended leave of absence, believing that it is not desirable that the city should be put to the expense of a by-election at the present time. In municipal politics Cr Fuller has been an active and prominent figure. At the last election he wa3 returned at the head of the poll.

Jack Cosgrove, well known in Duncdin, who is now playing in Allan Wilkio's Shakespearean Company in Sydney, relates that when playing in "Richard ill" with George Miln many years ago, he had the line to Richard, which is the bane of Shakespearean actors: —"My lord, stand back and leo the coffin pass." There is a wellknown perversion of this line, which was so strongly fixed in Cosgrove's mind that he unconsciously spoke it, a perfect yell going u,-; from the house when he said, "My lord, stand back and let the parson cough." Among the forthcoming attractions of the George Marlow d:rection in Sydney is a burlescpio company from America, which was engaged by Mr I3en Fuller during his recent Visit to that country, and is due to arrive in Sydney on July 10. Meanwhile the Shakespearean season will be continued at the Adeiphi Theatre, the remaining plays of tile repertoire being '" Othello,'' '" Romeo and Juliet," "As \ou Like It," and '"Julius Ciesar " —though whether these will all be played now or upon a xirojected return visit ot the Allan Wiikie Company remains to be decided. A new engagement of this firm is that of Mr lan MacLaren, to head a dramatic company, which w.ll shortly open at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne. "'The Spoilers " will probably be the first production of this company. Mr George Marfow is bringing to Australia a complete Italian Grand Opera Company next montn. Known as tile Gonsaiez Opera Company, it is said to be a wellknown organisation in Italy, which, owing to the uiilieuity of securing a tour ol Europe just now, became available for a tour abroad. Mr Marlow states that he is bringing out 50 artists, including leading choristers and the 10 principal instrumentalists, with two musical directors. The repertoire of the new Grand Opera Company, says impressario George Marlow, will comprise several productions—notably " Ugomotti " and " Ebrea "which have not previously been seen in Australia. The company has its complete equipment of scenery (painted by leading Italian scenic artists), wardrobe, properties, and effects. En route to Australia tney have been playing in India, and have created a sensation there, being the first organisation of the kind which has ever ventured to the East. They arrive in Australia early this month, and will begin their tour at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on June 18. " There's nothing stand-offish about the Australian youth," commented Connie Ediss, the English Gaiety comedienne, who has spread a broad smile all over Melbourne by her quaint humour in "So Long, Letty." " Entering the lift at my hotel the other morning, 1 was greeted with the salute of- ' Hello, Connie,' from the youth who presided over, the rising and falling destinies of the elevator. My indignant expression of inquiry did not upset him in the least. ' Well, King Edward called you Connie,' he remarked in explanation of his familiarity. ' Besides, everyone calls you Connie. You know,' he added ingratiatingly, ' you look just the sort of a sport that one wants to call by their Christian name.' Well, after that, was there anything further I could say?" commented the comedienne.

"One of the most difficult things about the stage in England to-day is to get real experience of the theatre," said Madge Fabian, the star of "On Trial," to be seen in Now Zealand shortly. l- It is doubly difficult if you stay in London. There are people occupying prominent positions on the stage in London to-day who have been acting for years. They are still amateurs in every sense, but that they draw large salaries. How do I account for that? It is very simple. They get parts that fit them, and don't worry about learning their art, or business, or whatever you like to call it. A skilful director rehearses them, until they are 'set' in what they have to do—and there it ends. When a company is 'Selected to go on tour the producer picks people as near as possible, and has them absorb every movement, intonation, inflection, and gesture. When this has been done No. 2 company starts out, and they are mere imitators of the London cast. This system cannot produre actors and actresses. A few talented people succeed in spite of these conditions, but the average standard is far from what it should be."

A correspondent writes: "You will doubtless be interested to learn that the Tivoli Follies Pantomime Company is to visit Dunedin on August 19 to 25. This company, since it left New Zealand last year, has been playing continuously to packed business in_ the chief centres of Australia. Since visiting New Zealand, tho Follies have been greatly strengthened in several departments. Formerly the comedy depended almost entirely on Mr Cannot and tho specialties, but now there are four sound comedians in Jack Cannot, George Welch, Walter Weenis, and Billy Rego, Isabelle D'Armond hoe long since departed

for America, and in her place we have secured one of the daintiest and most charming soubrettes imaginable in Miss Thelma Rave. Miss Vera Pearce, as beautiful as ever, is now the acknowledged Queen of the Follies She merely made her title good by winning from among 150 competitors the prize for being the prettiest girl in Sydney. Then an artistic specialty will be the Belgian quartet, and M. Bof, the Belgian tenor, who render Elgar's beautiful musio to Cammaerts's poem " Carillon,'' which embodies ever so impressively the travail of Belgium. The ballet is bigger and better than ever, and the orchestra is still a feature of the show."