THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXX, Issue 40, 18 June 1910, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

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OOMING SHOWS June 20' to July 2— J. C. WUliameon'e Grand '< ' Opera Co. July 7 to Iβ—MacMabon'a Pictures mly 18 to 81—Hugh J. Ward August Bto 20— J. C. Williamson's 'Aladdin" pantomime. September 1 to 3—Auckland ißoxing Association. ■> - tion. Septembers to 24— J. G. Williamson's Nellie 'Stewart Co. September 26 to October 19—Allan Hamilton. October 20 to November 4—Fred Graham. THE Harry Roberts-Beatrice Day Company still holds the boards ab His Majesty's, and, as a matter of fact, there are many local .theatre-goers who wouldn't object il that talented organisation held v, lease in perpetuity of H.M. stage. ■'P«te" aas been drawing packed houses, and there is only one verdict, "and: that is that the piece was superbly acted. Not only Mr Roberts and Miss Day, but all the members of the company took iiheir parts well Such an evenly balanced and all-round excellent company has rarely been seen here, and a return vMt will'be looked forwerd to with tijeaeurable anticipation. Last night i Wednesday)—too late tor rotice in. this issue—Henry Arthur Jones's drama "The Hypocrites was'staged. With this play the season edoses on Saturday night.

At one time it was proverbial that local talent wasn't appreciated here, and that the public would have the imported article, or nothing. *or instance, the premature cJecesee • ol the Auckland Amateur Opera Company while cue, to a certain extent, to internal bickerings, was caused mainly -by the poor support accorded to it by th'J public. However, eigns are not wanting that tne people are beginning to recognise the fact that local talent in many oases is every whit as good as tne imported stuff. Testimony to tins rvaTaffordsd by the large audience, that assembled at the Choral Hall •last Friday night, the occisioi being the first recital, since their Return from an extended eojouru in the Old -World, of Miss Mary Cooper and Mr TGSyriJl . Towsey, both *>f whom are New Zealanders. . '• ■■-■ .-.•■. •« •'.•.• .

Miss Mary Cooped is # the possessor of a mezzo-soprano voice that is a pleasant combination of power and Sweetness, She has evidently had the benefit of expert tuition, the skilful utilisation of her vocal chords furnishing clear proof of this. Her programme was a sufficiently ambitious one, ranging from " Kathleen citative " 0 Mio Fernando" from Dw&tti's opera »-La Favorite » Her other items included " In Questa ' Tpmba" (Beethoven) ; three songs from Louie Stevenson's Child s Garden of Verses,' Bet to music by Ckaliam Peel ; ».Le > Nil ». (Xavier Leroux), for whioa the violin ob'ligato was tastefully played by Mr J sPalairot ; "Die * urige Ncrne (Schubert) ; the beautiiul " Mo.a /OoeuvS'Ouvre a ta Vouc" from ' Saint-Saen's " Samson et Dehla ; " The Pretty Creature,' , arranged by Truly a wide range of vocal items; TJhe reldering of each number was aooompHsned with facile felicity, and Miss Cooper was the deserving re- . cipiont of applause and encores galore. m m . ' ."' Mr Cyril Towsey, inder the cere of ' the*' ! bM& Available masters, has " bloßsdmed into a pianisl of technical -power"and artistio discernment. He : has of sympathy, for his i themo, without which no pianist.ett -. eudceed. His weakest item \ -WM the first: Beethoven's "Moon-

light Sonata." ' There was a palpable lack of self-confidence at the beginning, but Mr Toweay was soo.i in' touch with hoe audience, and of his next item, Chopin's Ballad in A flat, he presented a brilliant, and finished interpretation. The' item of SchubertALiszt, Adagio from Fanttsia in C(" The Wanderer") also receiTed oxeniplery'treatment,, and the concluding item, Chopin>s Scherzo in B flat minor stood out as Mr Towsey's finest rendition of the evening. He was freely 'encored, and nray oortainly congratulate hi-n----eelf upon having achieved an artistic success. v l ■ • • The Auckland Liede'rtafel rendered \aluable auxiliary services dui*ing the evening Un«ior the conductorship of Dr W. E. Thomas, Mus. Doo., they gave : " The Young Musicians , ' (Kucken), and "War Song" (De Rille) An encore number was the delightful "When Evening's Twilight."

, Plenty of varied entertainment is contained in the programme of pictares that is being presented nightly at the Opera House, and audiences are enthusiastically appreciative. The first item is one of the most interesting. It shows the strenuous ex Presidents •• Teddy " Roosevelt inserting lumps of lead into the wild animals of Africa, some particularly clear views being shown of the slaying of rhinoceroses and tiger-cats. " Shooting an Oil Well "is an industrial film of interest to Dominionites by reason of the recent developments in the New Zealand oil business. "The Third Degree" is an absorbing and ingeniously contrived picture, depicting the methods employed by American detectives to' wring confessions oat of prisoners. The picture entitled "Kogaes of the Turf, ,, in addition to unfolding a dramatic story, gives some exciting views of horee racing. Other pictures of a serious order include "The Final Settlement," "A Baby's Power," and "The Thread of Destiny." ',

Highly entertaining is " The Clown and His Doge, ,, in which some surprising feats are performed by the canine artists. " Foolehead on Skates " is one of the funniest of this series that has yet been exhibited, and ♦•My Maid is Too Slow," " Paul Pry," and " Wonderful Pills " are all of an exceedingly diverting nature. An exquisite panoramic series displays some superb views of the Swiss Alps, taken from a moving train. Matinees are given on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a new programme will be presented at next Saturday's matinee. Among the new pictures on Saturday will be " Paulhan's Flight from London to Manchester," " The Brighton Aquarium," "German Overhead Bailway," " Don Carlos," " The Enchanted Vases," etc. On Monday night next, an interesting picture will be shown depicting notable incidents of how the news of the King's death was received in London.

Monday evening next will see probably the moat complete'-and die? tingaiebed presentation of grand opera ever offered in Auckland. Judging by the eulogies bestowed upon the performances by Wellington contemporaries, J. C. Williamson'has evidently gone the whole animal. A company numbering 130, with an orchestra of 40, under the condnctorehip of no less than Signor Roberto Hazon, with Prima Donnas Bel Sorel, Amy Castles, and Maria Pampari, Tenors Frederick Blarney and Signor John Zerga, and Baritones Signor Antonio Zanelli and Arthur Crane, constitute, on the face, a fine operatic organisation truly.

No one who has lived in ever bo short an intimacy with Puccini's last and perhaps greatest work, " Madam Butterfly," will- ever again look upon the gaudy beauty of the little flitting insect soul, after which the opera is named, without feeling a grip at hie heart. Such is the feeling of no less an authority in musical circles thafn Professor Marshall Hall, on the merit of "Madam Butterfly," the first of Puccini's operas to be produced here by J. G. Williamson's Grand Opera in ' English Company on Monday next.

Bel Sorel, jthe prinaa donna, who will sing " Cho Cho San," the heroic little Butterfly, on ' the opening '" night, has a voice which- is described as being beautifully even, limpid, sympathetic, sweet, artistically produced, of great power and volume, and is admitted to be an artist in the fullest sense of the word. Amy Castles, who will be the Cho Cho San of Tuesday next, has proved v revelation in grand opera. Exactly euited in voice, figure, and temperament for the part of. the devoted little Japanese maiden, her presentation of the character is said to belittle short of amazing. ■ • • Mr Frederick Blarney, .the English tenor, comes with a reputation second to none as a fine singer. He has had much operatic experience, having sung the leading tenor roles all over Europe and America. He will appear as Pinkerton on the opening night in "Madam Butteifly." Signor John Zerga—also a tenor —is recognised as one of the finest lyric artists. An Italian, he speaks English fluently. Signor Zerga came to Australia at the express desire of the great Puccini to sing the tenor roles in his operas. The baritones are Signor Zanelli and Arthur Crane, the first an Italian artist of high standing, the latter an Australian with varied Continental experience. Miss Rosina Buckmann, a great favourite here, will sing the important role of Suzuki. " Madam Butterfly " will be played for the first five nights. The box plans will open at Wilduian and Arey's to-day (Thursday).

Patrons of His Majesty's Theatre owe much of their comfort to the industry and energy of the genial caretaker, Mr Bower, who keeps the house in a model condition of cleanliness. The efforts ot the caretaker are all too rarely acknowledged, and a word of sincere praise is certainly justified in this instance.

The public verdict is that " Pete " is the finest melodrama, and the RobertsDay combination the best company, that has appeared here eince the Daniel Frawley organisation toured the Dominion. It is gratifying to note that the Roberts-Day company is receiving excellent public patronage, which, unfortunately, was never extended to Frawley. Popular taste must at last be on the up grade.

Says "Frospero" in the Christchurch "Press," apropos of the weepful " East Lynne ":— *■' How it is that the mawkish sentiment and glaring improbabilities of this piece have retained such a hold on playgoers it is difficult to imagine. But the fact remains that it has proved the saviour of many a company who have appealed to the public in vain with other -pieces." This is true, and pity 'tis 'tis true.

The Fuller firm must be congratulated upon the very fine orchestra at the Opera House. The average picture show manager is satisfied with a piano, generally more or less out of tune, pounded mechanically by an individual who serves up, with maddening monotony, the same old tunes week after week, The Opera House orchestra is eight strong—all accomplished—and Mr E. J. Burke, the conductor, provides an entirely new programme of high-class'music every, week. In fact* the music alone, without the pictures, is more than worththe price of admission.