Music and Drama.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XIV, 8 April 1899, Page 451

Music and Drama.

MAGGIE MOORE — H. R. ROBERTS COMPANY. On Saturday the Maggie Moore —H. R. Roberts Company, now playing in Auckland, staged ‘The Silence of Dean Maitland,’ a piece that has many strong elements of attraction. The drama was well staged and the leading roles capably filled. Mr Roberts was effective as Cyril Maitland, afterwards the Dean, and Miss Maggie Moore filled the part of Lillian Maitland with much erelit. Her sympathetic man ner quite won the audience. The character, as those who have read the novel must remember, is one of singular beauty, and in its pourtrayal on the stage there is wide scope for a finished actress. Miss Moore did not neglect her opportunities, but, on the contrary, made the very most of them. On Monday the famous burlesque of ‘Trilby,’ which was written expressly for Miss Moore and Mr H. R. Roberts, and which has been very successful in the South, was staged. The piece is an extravaganza in every sense of the term. It is the acme of absurdity. Some may reasonably object to see Du Maurier’s story so unmercifully travestied, but those who have no scruples of that sort and like lots of broad fun will find it in this burlesque, which has a strong touch of the variety stage about it. The interpolated songs are many and amusing, and the comic characterisation good. ‘Trilby’ was played last night (Tuesday), and this evening ‘A Prodigal Father’ will be staged.

Miss Elsie Hall has been giving pianoforte recitals in Christchurch.

The Pollards opened in Wellington on Monday last. It is stated that during the season ,a new burlesque, the joint work of Messrs Tom Pollard, H. J. Harrison and Bert Rqyle, will be produced.

Miss Lily Everett, whom playgoers will remember in the Pollard Opera Company, is now playing the part of Tommy, the Midshipman in ‘the Geisha.’

Among the rights secured by Mr Brough for hisi Australian tour is Pineroi’s ‘Trelawney, of the Wells.’ Mr Brough has also the refusal of the Australian rights of Haddon Chambers’ drlama. ‘The Tragedy of Tears.’ That go-ahead town, Dannevirke, will shortly have a theatre that would do credit to a much larger place. As a ‘show town’ (says the Sydney ‘Daily Telegraph’) no city in Australia can equal Sydney, not only for the number of places of amusement open at one time, but also for the consistent patronage which the public gives to theatres. George R. Sims and Leonard Merrick have written a new play, ‘The Elixir of Life,’ for production in London.

A recent contributor to the New York ‘Mirror,’ who explains that during the last two years business has taken him over ‘all the railways in Australia,’ and necessitated his visiting ‘more than 200 cities and towns,’ says:—‘The Australians are more English than the English. Their tastes are peculiar, and their prejudices adamant. The American style of acting is neither appreciated nor understood. The American play is far removed from the Australian staindards. The demand for entertainments of all kinds and at all prices is more than supplied by local or imported companies. which operate at less expense than is possible for American attractions. A manager taking a company through Australia must figure on travelling expenses greater than in traversing the Uniteci States, as fares are much higher for the sake of reaching a population less than that of Greater New York. Tn addition, two months’ time is consumed in going and coming; and while in Australia night's are frequently lost owing to the poor transportation facilities in visiting the smaller towns. Attractions whose expenses limit them to engagements in Mellx>um>u and Sydney hn.ve to travel 10,000 miles from New York, and lose five weeks each Way for n clientele no larger than that of Boston and Buffalo. These are the

unprejudiced conclusions of one who knows the field thoroughly, and I am confident that they will be confirmed by any American manager who has been through the mill.’ Harry Rickards’ most recent novelty winch he has introduced at the Tivoli, Sydney, isr Fanny Powers, a baby serio-comic, trained by Mr Harry Lesion.

The Gaiety Specialty and Comedy Company, which occupied the Auckland City Hall, on Saturday last, on the occasion of the reopening of the place, is a strong combination of its kind, and judging by the reception it on Saturday, h-ais a good chance of attracting I blic patronage.