Music & Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XV, 14 April 1900, Page 685

Music & Drama

The Pollards commence their Auckland season in the Opera House on Saturday next, the 14th hist. The feature of the season will be the production of “’rhe Geisha” for the first time in Auckland. The retirement of the Misses Perry and Mr Paul has necessitated some change in th? allotment of parts. Miss May Beutt e takes Miss Florence Perry's part oft) Mimosa San, while Miss Wilmot Karktek will be seen as Molly Sea mot e. The following are the members of the Company with which Mr Walter Bentley is now touring the colony: — Miss Ada Woodhill (leading lady), Missy's Ethel Hu>nt, M. Brandon, Ivy Gorrick, and Lyn Lyndsad, Messrs Douglas Anselon, Johnson Weir, Orlando Daly. E. F. Gallagher, Ronald Starkey, W. Powell, S. Keany. and IF. Ilannell. The Company opened in Dunedin on Monday of last week. Fitzgerald Bros.' Circus had a threenights' season at Napier last week. Dhe ~iMl Amateur Minstrels’ firs»t ap|>earanee in public last week was such as to make the public glad to renew their acquaintance at any future date. A really excellent programme was gone through, and gone throui»h most capably. Seidom does one meet with such variety as was offered the public. There was the usual minstrel business, a remarkable exhibition of sharp-shooting by Mr Wyn-yard-.Joss. a military spectacle in which 25 men took part, and several humorous sketches which brought down the house. I'he entertainment was given on two nights. I'he second of the three concerts organised in Auckland under Ihe direction of Mr George Maurice took place in the Opera House on Monday last. I'he Rev. Chas. Clarke commenced his Wellington season on Monday of last week. ‘ ’l'he Valdans have been doing excellent busijuss in Auckland. Mr Tom Pollard, who was seriously ill in Christchurch, is now. we are glad to report, in much iN'tter health. Professor Auxh-rson. the c mjuror, only played one night in Auckland. I'tiller’s Waxworks and Vaudeville Company in Dunedin and Wellington are doing goad business. A Sydney paper sjiys: Mr Williamson's London agent is negotiating for the Australian rights of another new o|xu a which is to be product <1 in Ixmdon shortly. 'l'he agent describes it as one of the best lie has ever seen. It is not anticipated that Bland Holt will be in this colony within Ihe next two years. Mr ('has. Arnold’s Australian tour cominences immediately. A cablegram from New York says that excitement and satisfaction has been caused in New York owing to the collapse of the prosecuti >n of Olga. .Xethersole. the well-known actress, on a charge of taking part in an indecent production of “Sappho.” ’l'he jur\ acquitted Miss Net hersole. The complaint stated that her Sappho was a portrayal of the life of a dissolute woman in a wav offensive to public morals. When in Dunedin Mr Blnr.d Holt stibscriixd £5O as the nucleus of a fund to be devoted to assisting membcr< of the I'ourth Contingent who may be disabled. or in assisting those <h pendent on them. ’l'he Wellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society will produce Gilbert and Sullivan's o|H*ra “’l'he Grand Duke” on the 23rd of next month. Wr W. J. Payin', of the original family of bellringers, is now showing a particularly good waxwarks exhibition in Western Australia. The most successful of modern plays are honest plays (says a New York paper). Over half a million dollars have been paid Io see “The Old Homestead.” “’i’he Little Minister” is now in its third season with undiminished prosperity. “Barbara Frietehie” played to enormous business. “Ben Hur” is sold out months nhend. “Mis« Hobbs” has drawn crowded houses at the remote Lyceum. Popularity may be said to persistently dog Mr Dix's Gaiety Company which continues to do splendid business in Auckland.