DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 44, 29 October 1892, Page 1070

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

MADAME BELLE COLE—not the Madame Cole lately singing with Foli—but the American singer who has for the last season or two been the favourite contralto vocalist in England, is now in America, and has mentioned to a Yankee interviewer that she intends soon to visit the British colonies. Madame, however, is booked to sing in London again in November, so it won’t be this year. When Foli gets back he will probably tell this popular singer that New Zealand is right so far as climate is concerned, bnt that cash attractions are none of the greatest. It is about five years since this magnificent singer first went to England. It took a couple of years before she received the recognition her voice and method deserved, and to-day she stands scarcely second to Madame Patey in oratorios ; indeed, she is looked upon asthe appropriate successor to that great vocalist. Madame Cole is the wife of a business man in New York, and her husband now resides permanently with her in London, looking after her interests, and as she says ‘ making her home happy.’ She is about thirty-two or three, has fine dark eyes and a sweet face. She is especially kind and helpful to rising talent, and is socially a great favourite.

Tom Pollard's juveniles—young Stevens, his clever little sister, and the other youngsters who were over here about a year ago—are now playing ‘ Gondoliers ’ in Melbourne. They are doing big business, and it is likely to be full six months before they reach this part of the world.

The amateurs of Gisborne, gayest and giddiest of all colonial towns, have very successfully produced • lolanthe,’ Mr Percy Dufaur, of Auckland, acting as conductor. The opera appears to have been really well done, and to have afforded unmixed satisfaction not only to the amateurs themselves, but what is considerably rarer, to the general public. Mr Kennedy, as Lord Chancellor, annexed the principal honours, his acting being extremely good. Mr E. Langford, as Lord Mountararat, achieved distinction, and Mrs Sunderland made much of the important part of Queen of the Fairies. Pnyliis was taken by Mrs W. Graham, who achieved a conspicuous success, her acting and singing being excellent. The rest of the cast being as follows : — Earl Tolloller, Mr T. Dalrymple ; Private Willis (Grenadier Guards), Mr C. B. Ward ; Strephon (an Arcadian Shepherd), Mr G. _ Grant ; lolanthe (a Fairy, Strephon’s mother), Miss Adair ; Celia, Leila, Fleta, (Fairies), Mrs E. M. Smith, Mrs 11. M. Porter, Mrs Parris. The peers and the fairies were gorgeous in raiment and sang valiantly. The mounting, staging, and dresses were all that could be expected or desired, and the whole production eminently creditable to all concerned. For the benefit of their friends all over the colony we give a list of the chorus, orchestra, etc. Many of the members aie well known in Wellington, Auckland, etc. Chorus of Peeis: Messrs Barnard, E. J. Chrisp, W. H. Chrisp, E. Chrisp. A. Foster, Fuller, Mitchell, Percival, L. Rees, Searle, Smith, and Watson. Chorus of Fairies : Mrs Palairet, Misses M. Adair, M. Campbell, V'. Crawford, G. Crawford, Dickson, Hyett, Michell, Parris, Palairet, Taylor, Townley, Tucker, M. Tucker, Watson, Wyllie. Leader of Orchestia : Mr T. Wildman. Pianiste : Miss Beere. Orchestra :Mr H.Oberlin Brown, and Messrs Beale, A. Beere, Collins, M. Foster, Harper, T. Morrison (sen.), T. Morrison, Ormond, C. Palairet, F. Palairet. Pierce, and Spurdie. Conductor: Mr Percy Dufaur. Stage Manager : Mr W. F. Crawford.

In connection with the production one must not forget the gentleman who wrote the account of a rehearsal which appeared in a Gisborne daily. Such a masterpiece of literature does not often find its way into print. The poetical way in which the writer gushed over the fairies was quite delightful. One scarcely knows which would be the best worth seeing such fairies as are desciibed or the talented ciitic who could enthuse in so impassioned a style on the merits of even Gislmme amateurs. So much fulsome flattery, such a lack of discrimination we have never seen out of an advertisement column in a Yankee paper.