Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XX, 11 November 1899, Page 877

Music and Drama

“THE BELLE OF NEW YORK

The Pollards quite justified the high expectations formed in Auckland of “The Belle of New York ’• when they presented the piece in the Opera House on Monday evening last. The bright musical comedy was received with every sign of keen appreciation by a large audience on the occasion of its first production in Auckland, and promises to hold the public favour in the North, as it has done in other parts of the colony and Australia. Beautifully staged, full of fun and frolic, and abounding in light catchy music and songs that every one feels on singing terms with after hearing the first verse—these are the features of “The Belle of New York”; and they are features that, never fail to charm a colonial audience. The piece is well cast, the members of the company being all suited with the parts best fitted to their capacities; the practice'too which they have had has made them at home in every line of the comedy, and contributed many improvements in the way of gags and business; and the result is a singularly smooth running, interesting and’ amusirig production. Mr Whelan takes rank as father of the hero, and perhaps the chief character in the comedy, and the actor on whom the piece is in a very large degree dependent for its success. He plays with a finish that one does not generally look for in musical comedy of this order, and enhances his histrionic powers by his-exceltent singing. Such a song as “Of. course you cannot be like me” is certain to take, as sung by Mr Whelan. Mr Charles Carter, who takes the part of hero, shows much better form than when he was last seen in Auckland. He has found a part that suits him, or he has made himself to suit it; whichever way it is he acquits himself well. One of his best songs, and he had many good ones, was “When wc are married.” Natn. rally one looks for humour and uproarious fun from that noble trio, Quealy, Percy and Stephens, and they did not disappoint the audience. Miss May Beatty as the lielie of New York takes captive the house from the outset, as she did her admirers in New York. Miss Maud Beatty also scores as do many of the other young ladies whose names are familiar to us. Indeed, as we have already said, all the parts are capably filled. The piece will be produced nightly until further notice. Miss Alice Simmons arrives in London from Sydney at the end of this month to fulfil an engagement of six months at the Palace Theatre.

Mr F. IV. Rowley, organist of St. ! honius Church, Wellington, has obtained the highest distinction yet gained by any musical student in the colony, viz., that of Associate of trinity College, London, at a recent examination for this diploma held in London. There were nearly one hundred candidates, of whom only nine succeeded in passing. On Saturday evening the Auckland Gaiety Company gave n monster double programme, the town and the touring company being joined together for the occasion, it speaks for the popularity of this entertainment that notwithstanding the presence of the Pollards in the Auckland Opera House the audiences in the Citv Hall are still large. '1 lie Auckland Liedertafel, under the conductorship of Mr Towsey, gave a concert at the Costiey Home in accordance with their usual annual cost ttme Christchurch has just witnessed an opeia 1)> a local . . i 1( „,.-.,r. Ljurne" is the work of Mr J. Pooley. ' Local critics do not speak highly either of his words or his music. Miss Amy Gourlay and her brother, now in Sydney, leave shortly for London. The Wellington Opera House will be occupied this (Wednesday) and tomorrow evenings by a dramatic company organised by Mr Charles Blake, which will produce “The Streets ot Landon.” The Georgia Magnet gave two performances at Palmerston North last week and handed over a fourth of the receipts to the Mayor for the Transvaal Fund.

Mr F. M. Wallace is expected to be back again in Christchurch in January next, having had a splendid time in the Old Country. The Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Natives’ Association are thinking of producing “Marjory.” The Canterbury “Weekly Press,’’’ in its second notice of the Association’s production of “Rip Van Winkle,” says that as the amateurs “extended an invitation to the representative of this journal to be present ‘for one night only’ one is unable'to say how performances subsequent to the first went.” Mr Bland Holt produced “The White Heather" in Christchurch last week. Mr Arthur Styan was seen for the first time on a New Zealand stage. When Bland appeared the house received 'him with “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Fuller’s Waxworks st® does good business in Christchurch in spite of counter attractions. On severing his connection with Mr Musgrove, Mr Williamson will make his headquarters in Sydney. At .Christmas time he intends to lease the Theatre Royal in the latter city, in addition to Iler Majesty’s.

The French Government has confiscated tlie films of a series of living pictures of the Dreyfus court martial intended for the Empire’ Theatre at South Shields. The pen pictures by the correspondents present, however, gave a good idea of what took place. .Miss May Pollard was at latest ir Maritzburg, with th e Liliputian Opera Company. Much of the success of “The Belle of New York" was due to her direction.

Our London correspondent writes: Madame Cecilia Staunton, who is now touring with the recognised Carl Rosa Company, made her debut as Carmen the other evening at Llandudno with gratifying results. Her histrionic and voca 1 interpretation of the exacting role met with the warmest appreciation of the audience and th e critics. Arthur Deane, who is attached to the company as one of the two leading baritones, and has made a considerable name for himself in the provinces already, was the Esealnillo on this occasion, and Frederick Hobbs “debuted" as Zunega witli considerable credit.

“The Belle of Nev- York” has pulled back all “the Firm's" losses in London, and left them several thousand pounds to the good. The profits of this class of piece may be gathered from the report of the Gaiety Company, Limited. The accounts show “The Runaway Girl” is still proving a success. The profits for the year amount to £16,696, and it is pmposed. to pay a final dividend of 3/ a share, making a total distribution for the year of 20 per cent. No fur ther addition is made to the reserve fund, but the large sum of £6,442. which would have sufficed to pay f much larger dividend, is carried for ward. A year ago the distribution was 15 per cent., and £1,774 only wai carried forward. The present pries of the £1 share is £1 12/6.