STAGE AND STUDY.

Observer, Volume xi, Issue 667, 10 October 1891, Page 17

STAGE AND STUDY.

Juvenilts Opera Company at the Opera House

Charles Wynbham has had Australian offers

The Payne Family will now work their way down South:

City Hall concerts next Saturday and Monday evenings. '

From Southern exchanges we find that Hugo is back in Dunedin.

Leon Driver has* been showing in the Taranaki district to rather poor ' biz.'

When last heard of, the ' American Minstrels ' were doing fairly well at Napier Gaiety Theatre.

Mb ft. G. Dix, recently here with Wirth Bros, circus, is coming across from Sydney to make a short stay in Auckland.

The McMahon Bros, have engaged Abbott's Opera House lor Christmas week ; they will probably open with ' Evangeline.' •

Miss Emilia Wood, who toured New Zealand with the Patey concert company as pianiste, is now back in Sydney teaching the pianoforte.

Charles Turner and Annis Montague bring an opera company through New Zealand shortly.

It is • anticipated that Max O'JEJell's approaching Australian tour will be a highly successful one.

Eose Deaeing sails for Australia sometime this month under engagement to J. C. Williamson. She opens in Sydney. •

We learn that Mr W. G. Carey is now playing in ' The Country Pair,' under engagement to Mr G. Ri^nold — last heard of at Adelaide.

Pete Hughes is now acting as agent for the comic opera company on the other side. He speaks of bringing them across to New Zealand soon

' La Mascotte ' will be followed at the Opera House by ' The Mikado,' for the performance of which the Juveniles have gained great Icudos down South.

Rumour hath it that one of our male amateurs is thinking of giving up business in town, and going to Australia to seek an engagement as an operatic artist.

Master Alf Stephens, of the juvenile Opera Company, is a phenomenally clever youngster, his comedy business being about the finest it has been our lot to see.

The Canterbury Times has been enlarged, and is now the same size as its rival, the Weekly Press and Referee. That smart little daily the Marton Mercury has also increased its size.

We believe it has now been decided that the Juvenile Opera Company will return to Australia after their Auckland season, instead of doing a return tour through New Zealand. When they reach the other side they will put into rehearsal ' The Gondoliers ' and ' The Old Guard.'

The Silbons, who created so much interest by their athletic feats throughout New Zealand and Australia last year, gob into financial difficulties in Chili. Mr Dash way, who will also be remembered in connection with the iilbons' Australian tour, came to the company's assistance with a loan of 800 dollard, which again placed them on their feet. At latest advices the Siibons had reached California, where they were showing to good business.

Miss Stephenson, an Auckland young lady, and formerly a member of the Jocal Choral riociety, is now figuring on the London operatic stage as Miss Marie Stefani, and her performance of the title role in ' Daisy ' is very highly spoken of by the London Press. London Star, which interviewed her, says she is a pretty girl, with fair hair and blue eyes, and has a clear delicate voice, of which more will be liquid yet.

Harry A. Gbiblen, Hugo's agent, was acquitted of the charge of embezzlement brought against him by C. Hugo, at Invereargill — the R.M. being- of opinion that the affairs of the Buffalo Minstrels were in a muddled stata. We fancy the fi.M. hit Uie right nail on the head, as we do not remember the time when Charlie could give a correct idea of how he (stood financially —partly dae to poor agents and partly due to his own carelessness.

On Saturday morning last, one of our representatives, at the request of Mr VV. Sullivan, property manager to the Juvenile Opera Company, dropped in at the Opera House and took a look through the scenery au<i stage accessories brought on by the company for their season here. It is undoubtedly some of the finest scenery we have had the pleasure of goiug through, and reflects great credit on the scenic artists, Messrs Little and Edmunds ; while the satisfactory state in which it has arrived speaks volumes for the careful manner in which it is looked after by Mr Sullivan.

Messrs. Dobjson and Kennedy wire us from Marton to say that our information to the effect that they had amalgamated with Paimer's 'My Sweetheart ' Company is erroneous, the true version being that they have engaged Mr Palmer. This sounds more healthy, and is no doubt a sign of their determination to have a firstclass staff. Their dates stand as follows : —New Plymouth, 15th October ; Wangauiu, 9th November ; Palmerston, 11th and 12th November, and then re- visit the West Coast of South Island, opening at' Reefton on the race days at Christmas; Greymouth to follow for New Tear's Day.

After playing-' Master and Man ' to record business for eight nights (writes a Dunedin correspondent) Hland Holt withdrew it in favour of ' London Day by Day,' another drama by Sims and Pettit This production made a great hit, and is, as its name suggests, representative of the several phases of life to be found in the great metropolis. Undoubtedly the authors have made good selections from the stock of material at hand to choose from, and have written a really strong play. Ample scope is given for scenic and mechanical effects, and Mr Holt, as usual, has made the most of the opportunity. As all know, friend Bland is one of the most popular men of his line, and deserving of public patronage, as he always brings a good company with him, and pays them the highest, wasres.

The following more complete account of the debut of the Wellington young- lady, Miss Marion Mitchell (who recently joined the Juveniles), as Mabel in ' The Pirates,' is to hand : — • Although naturally nervous before a public audience, she received her baptism of applause with a very pretty grace. With a handsome stage presence and a quiet lady-like manner, she mad« a charming Mabel, and her 'opening soio, 'Poor Wandering One,' demonstrated the fact that she had entered tier true profession. Alth ugh so young, some fourteen years or so, she has a most powerful, clear and musically distinct soprano voice, strong in the middle and lower noes, and training- and cttre will d.evelope the upper notes and pi-odnoe a most capable singer for iig-nt operatic work. Her song aroused the audience into an ecstacy of enthusiasm and a hearty recall and a shower of bouquets showed the full appreciaof her maiden effort.'

The title of Christie Murray's Australian play, recently produced at London Globe, has been altered from * Chums ' to ' Mates,' which is a more correct title than the old one.

Ttiß Much-' i ravelled E. S. Sniythe writes that he has liquored up with Irving-, at a side table, and asked the Great Henry's views respecting an Australian tour. Irving'a views were hazy and uncertain apparently.

Phil May, the clever caricaturist who was at one time on the Sydney Bulletin artistic staff, is now universally recognised as being in the top rank of the world's great black and white artists. His success in Europe has been phenomenal.

The Payne Family concluded a highly successful season of Auckland and suburbs by a benefit (tendered to the Helping Hand Mission) at the Opera House on Saturday evening last. Their style of concert seems to suit the Auckland public to a nicety.

Several inquiries have been made at this office regarding the present whereabouts of our old friend, comedian Tom Mackinini. We have taken every possible means to find him, but as yec with no success, though it is our opinion that he ia atill in Dunedin.

'Paddy' Bracken and his new work, 'Musings in Maqriland,' have already started to wage war with one or two unappreciative Wellington subscribers, and the R.M. Court has been called into requisition, wita the result that the irrepressible Bracken (plaintiff) got the best of it.