THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue IX, 1 September 1900, Page 385

THE DRAMA.

The Auckland Choral Society will produce “J udas Maccabeus" on Tuesday next. The soloists are Madame Chambers, soprano; Miss May Harper, second soprano; Mr J. Ferriday, tenor; and Mr J. W. Ryan, bass.

We are now informed that it is definitely decided that Miss Nance O'Neil will visit New Zealand after all and play in the principal cities of the colony. Miss O’Neil is booked to open in Adelaide on Saturday night, Sept. 1, in “Magda.” Her season in the South Australian capital will extend over four weeks. A visit to Brisbane follows, and then a short farewell season in Sydney. Mr Donald MacDonald, the newspaper correspondent whose lectures on the Boer war have been well patronised in Australia, commences his NewZealand season in Auckland about Thursday, the 6th September. Writing me from Motuihi, where Mr Mac-Don-ald and he are in quarantine, Mr Geach, who is piloting the lecturer, speaks enthusiastically of the success of the Australian season. We give two interesting pictures of Mr MacDonald in this issue. One represents him as he appeared before the siege of Ladysmith, the other as he looked after the siege. The contrast speaks volumes. One of the best traits in Mr MacDonald's character (says an Australian exchange) is his unassumed modesty, which is as natural to the man as his gift of anecdote and keen sense of humour. A couple of years ago, at Lome, he courageously rescued a young lady from death from drowning while bathing in the surf. His power of enduring fatigue may be estimated from the fact that he ran, fully clothed (discarding portions of his raiment as he ran), a good 200 yards, then swam a considerable distance to the scene of the disaster, and rescued the young lady from the hungry sea just as she was being- swept away by’ the undertow. Then he returned unostentatiously to his hotel and the affair would have passed unnoted but for the action of his friends in reporting it. In South Africa, toe, he was slightly wounded, but he characteristically forbears any mention of it in his lectures.

A particularly entertaining and. for an amateur production, a very clever performance of the well-known pieces “Ici on Parle Francais” and “A Regular Fix” was given at Remuera. (Auckland) last week. The acting of Messrs Markham and Bruce was of exceptional merit, and the other roles were very' suitably sustained by’ the other ladies and gentlemen. The Pollards are now touring the West Coast. The season they’ concluded at Christchurch prior to leaving for the Coast was an exceptionally successful one. The American Biograph Company, now in Sydney, meditates a descent on these shioreis. The pictures of Hie South African war are described by the Sydney papers as excellent. Some were actually taken on the field of battle. Mr George Musgrove intends to produce “Faust” on an unusual scale of magnificence at tlie Princess Theatre. Melbourne. According to a certain London journal, an actor hard up for a new facial make up reproduced the features of the landlord of a well-known house of call. So pleased was he with the result that this aetor invited the original of the make-up to witness the performance and his counterfeit presentment. The landlord accepted the invitation, visited the theatre, fell ill, and two or three days afterwards died! The paper which published the anecdote called it “an odd incident.” Bland Holt’s production of “The Absent-Minded Beggar” at the Theatre Royal. Sydney, has entered on its seventh week. Mr Harry Rickards’ new Opera House in Melbourne, tenders for which were called last week, is to cost £.35,000, a

The Edith Crane-Tyrone Power Dramatic Company, at present appearing in Brisbane, will open at Iler Majesty’s Theatre. Melbourne, on Saturday night, September 1. in “Trilby.” During the season the company are to play “The Only Way,” “The Royal Divorce," “The Christian,” and other pieces.

The Walter Bentley-A-ncelon Company having concluded its New Zealand season, opened in Launceston last week. He advertises that the season is a farewell one “previous to his departure for the Australian Continent and the United States.”

Miss Maud Beatty' intends, according to “Call Boy,” in Dunedin, to rejoin the Pollards after the Wellington season. Readers will remember that Miss Beatty was married last year to Mr Milburn, who is ‘so seriously ill that he has been ordered to Queensland by' his medical adviser.

Among the novelties which Wirth’s Circus have brought to Australia this time are a pair of boxing ponies, advertised to give a faithful representation of the Fitzsimmons-Corbett fight; a baboon that turns somersaults on the bare back of a galloping steed, a family of pigmies from Darkest Africa, a sacred elephant from Java, a den of tigers, high-jumping deer, and animals from every clime. Miss Ada Reeve, who is playing in London in “Floradora," at a salary of .£ 120 a week, speaks of making a pleasure trip to Australia. Miss Jeanie Opic. late of the Pollards, is now with Mr J. C. Williamson’s Company in Sydney. She was engaged for a part in “The Rose of Persia.” Chas. Arnold’s success in Australia has eclipsed anything witnessed on the stage there for years back. “What Happened to Jones” has had a splendid run everywhere. In Melbourne it was played 53 times, and in Sydcny, where Mr Arnold opened last Friday, it seems likely to do as well. The London Gaiety Company' will visit Australia next year under contract with Mr Williamson. The company will bring all the latest attractions with them. In the matter of music and the drama, Dr. de Clive Lowe, of Auckland, is certainly one of the most talented men in the colony. His versatility is something truly amazing. As an actor, as a composer, and as a librettist Dr. Lowe is already' known up North, being the writer, composer and performer of a number of musical sketches and skits of the Grossmith and Corney Grain type. In this line, indeed, he has a reputation of which many a professional might well be proud. His last venture is more ambitious, being nothing less than an entire comic opera or musical farce of the light type, now so popular. Written, composed and scored entirely by- himself, it is christened "The Lady Typist,” and is of the character of “The Shop Girl," perhaps the most brilliantly successful of all the “girl" series of operas, but which, owing to a curious blunder, was never seen In this part of the world. Both the music and the lyrics are snappy, smart and sparkling. Had our local amateurs seen their way to perform the opera it would, if really adequately performed, have proved a huge success. But the cast is so long and the acting and singing called for of a class so far beyond the reach of the. ordinary run of amateurs that it is perhaps well the attempt was not made. One or two of the principals might have been east fairly satisfactorily. but a farce needing so much elever mummery would have shown the weakness of what cricketers would call “the tail", of any amateur combination, however good in conventional operas. The piece goes now to Sydney. Mr. Bert Hoyle, who has already' read the libretto and lyrics, and heard the music, thought so highly of ii that he secured “the first refusal" for Mr. J. Williamson. It would not be fair even to outline the plot, but it is full of fun, of amusing complexities, and capital situation. Should Mr. Williamson sot to work on it he will require a east of some length and quite unusual strength, but tlie result will justify' the outlay of capital and talent which must be devoted to it to secure justice to the author and composer. When an enterprise has gained an immense number of testimonials from eminent, men, and has been received with universal acclamation by tlie. press of all nations, criticism is clearly superfluous. Such is the happy stage now reached by the I‘clmnn School of

Memory Training, established at 70, Beruers-st reet. London. W. In adding a few words to the general chorus of praise we can only say that no one -—whether his or her memory is good or bad—can study the system without incalculable benefit. It robs examinations of all their terrors, it makes publie speaking a pleasurable pastime, even to those who are constitutionally nervous; while to the business man it is worth at least the services of an extra clerk. And, finally, as the system is taught as thoroughly by correspondence as by word of mouth, there is no one, however isolated, who need miss the opportunity of mastering its principles.