Music And Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XVI, 14 October 1899, Page 676

Music And Drama

“DOROTHY.” AT THE DRESS REHEARSAL. A SUCCESS CERTAIN. This (Wednesday) evening' the Auckland Amateur Opera Club give the initial performance of “Dorothy,” which has been in preparation for several months. On Monday evening last a dress rehearsal took place, and though it would not perhaps be right to give an account of the production from that, one may be allowed to propliecj' on some of the main points which will secure a successful and even a brilliant season. It may be said safely and emphatically that no opera has been better staged by the club than “Dorothy.” The scenic sets are remarkably fine, and are a decided credit to llerr Vennermark, while whoever is responsible for the dressing is to be warmly congratulated. The music of “Dorothy” is extremely catching and pretty as everyone knows, and the soloists have been knows, and the chorus and soloists have been most admirably schooled by Herr Schmitt, so that, the vocal numbers go with both finish and swing from one end of the opera to the other.

Individual criticism would nt this stage be out of place, but. this much may be said, that all the older niem-

bers of the club are admirably cast, and bid fair to outshine their own previous successes, and the efforts of the new principals will in the main be found to exceed expectations. Unless we are much mistaken not the smallest honours of the season will be bestowed on Tom Juppit, whose acting and singing are most amazingly good, and on Phyllis. But of honours there will assuredly be no lack, for as has been said, “Dorothy” is going to be a big success. ® ® ® Air William Elton, one of the most popular comedians Australia has seen, lias been engaged for a New York season to play a “Penley” part in a “Little Ray of Sunshine.” Miss Maud MacCarthy, the talented young Sydney .violinist, of whom the London “Times" says: “The dignity and repose of her style are better suited in the best music,” has returned to Australia, and her wonderful execution will, no doubt, soon be heard on the concert platform.

A memorial pulpit is to be erected in Shakespeare’s Church, Stratford-on-Avon, in memory of the late Helen Faiicit (Lady Martin). Sir Theodore Martin has donated £lOOO for the object. Mr Harry Lynch, of Lynch’s Family Bellringers, now in London, has engaged Harry Liston for Australia. He is a clever character impersonator and singer.

The amateurs of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Natives’ Association will stage “Rip Van Winkle” on the 19th. The season will last six nights. Among special ' attraction's there will be a pas de fascination by Miss Julie Sandstein, and a ballet arranged by Mr Dundas Walker, and danced by a number of young ladies. Mr John Fuller is indeed getting famous. He is having the incidents of his past worked up into little stories, or what is the same thing, his name tacked to little stories worked up beforehand. The “Bulletin” has discovered that “in his semiamateur days he was in great demand as a elub singer in England. One corporation had him at many successive annual re-unions, and a favourite song was one from the forgotten opera “Matilda,” called “The Crown, the Sceptre, and the. Sway.” John got ashamed of it at last and introduced new stuff, but they want- - ed the old favourite, so one old gentleman got up to make the request public. He said, “Mr Fuller, I must beg, on behalf of the Company, for that old song we all liked so much, ‘The Clown, the Spectre; and the Shave.’ ”

The latest novelty with which Mr Dix, of the Auckland Gaiety Company, hopes to please his crowded houses is Mr Rayston and his wife, who is known on the stage by her maiden name, Miss Rayford. They are said to be among the cleverest sketch artists and contortionists who have visited the colonies. Mr Rayston was the first contortionist to introduce forward bending.

The Pollards commenced their Wellington season on the Monday before last, and on the occasion every seat in the Opera House was oeeupied to witness “The Belle of New York.”

Paderewski is expected in Australia next March. He will tour the colonies under Mr John Lemmone, the well-known flautist.

Mr M. B. Curtis, who piloted Dante through the colonies, speaks of establishing himself in New Zealand, probably in Auckland, as a centre, and catering for the amusement of us Maorilanders. His first venture will probably be the production of recent English and American plays by a special (company, which Mr Curtis intends to engage next year in New York.

Bland Holt appears to have taken Dunedin quite by storm with “Sporting Life.” It is described as the best Jlland Holtian drama that has been seen in this colony, the mounting and realistic effects being on a magnificent scale. The dancing of Miss Giillatley is a feature in the production.

The Georgia Magnet has left the Auckland district to tour the South. Miss Ada Delroy, who has been ill at Kimberley, is now able to resume work.

Captain Lorraine and his wife, after giving balloon ascents in Wellington and Christchurch, propose to leave for London.

The Auckland Liedertafel have fixed On the ,27th <sf this month, for'their third concert 1 6f the season.