THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue X, 9 March 1901, Page 444

THE DRAMA.

Ou Monday evening Wirth Bros.’s Circus and Menagerie opened si short season of one week in Auckland. Some ■llHio witnessed the initial performance, and above that number were many who could not obtain admission to the crowded tent. The show is undoubtedly tire best of the kind that- has visited Auckland. There is infinite variety in it, and all the performers, whether man or beast, are masters in their own particular line. Marvellous exhibitions of horsemanship, alternated with displays of juggling and gymnastics, and the performances of highly trained horses, monkeys, dog's, bears, tigers, etc. There is never a dull moment from first to last, but excitement and amusement are most, liberally dispensed. To notice one feature of the performance is to take notice of a dozen, because there are so many good things, and among them it is hard to judge which is. best. One might dilate at great length on the boxing ponies, but then that would scarcely be fair to Ghuni Sah, the clever elephant, or C’ronje, the South African baboon, not to mention many others. No cautions individual would willingly give offence to any of these gentlemen. Fun and frolic, the sine qua non of every well regulated circus is present in plenty. The elowns among them have got the gift of laughter-raising, and they do not. spare themselves- In a horse-loving community like ours it is never necessary for a circus to beg the public patronage, but for those on entirely horse diet is a little tedious. Messrs Wirth have provided no end of amusement of another and not less interesting character.

Leaving New Zealandthis month, the Nance O'Neil Company opens in Brisbane on March 18th. A farewell, season w ill be played in Melbourne on the 6th of next month.

When the phenomenal run of “Floradora” in Melbourne closes, “The Casino Girl”’ will be played by Mr Williamson’s Comic Opera Company. “Floradora” will probably hot be seen in Sydney until Easter. In “The Casino Girl” Miss Irene Franklyn and Professor Godfrey with his performing animals will contribute "specialities.”

King Edward VII. ia an ardent playgoer. Last year, according to the "Stage,” he paid 46 visits to IjOndon theatres. Covent Garden, with its opera, is an easy first, the King attending 14 representations. The Haymarket comes next with three visits to ordinary performances—in faet, the King seldom missed a play at the Haymarket. The same may be said of the St. Janies’ and Her Majesty’s, only two plays were seen twice by the Prince, “San 1’oy” and “Miss Hobb c .” A couple of visits to the Hippodrome ami one to the Alhambra were the total of his patronage of the variety houses.

Mr W. F. Hawtrey, now in Sydney, recently received a letter from his brother Charles, in London, conveying the intelligence, under date January 18, that a "euininand” performance of “The Message from .Mars,” which so hugely delighted Sydney audiences, ha J been fixed for tin l 26th of that, month. Everything was done in the way of special preparation for a highly successful performance, which, owing to the death of Her Majesty, had to be abandoned.

After returning to Sydney the Charles Arnold Company will make a lengthy tour of Australia and Tasmania. returning to New Zealand with a new repertoire in about ten months’ time.

Before leaving for the other side Mr. Arnold intends to visit Waihi, in response to an invitation from the proprietor of the new hall there, offering him £soo.for a four nights’ season in the mining centre.

Cinqucvalli, the famous juggler, is returning to Australia, where his season will commence towards the end of July. Evidently the clever performer did well under the Southern Cross.

Mr. Tom Pollard, who recently returned lo New Zealand from Sydney, has told an interviewer that he has practically fixed to open iu Dunedin about the beginning of August, with an entirely new repertoire, and several new artists. He has made arrangements with Mr. Williamson for "Florodora,” "The Casino Girl,” with which he will open in New Zealand, and he has also secured the New Zealand rights of "San Toy,” “The Greek Slave,” "The , Runaway Girl,” etc. There have been great additions to the personnel of the company. Nance O'Neil opens in the Brisbane Opera House 1 on the 23rd inst, Mr. Harold Ashton, well known in New Zealand, is now lessee of the place.

The facts, says the Sydney “Daily Telegraph.” that three American companies are to be shortly shipped across the Atlantic for the delectation of English audiences next month for a simultaneous appearance in London, that two of Mr. Musgrove's new singers . are coining from the same country, and that Mr. Williamson is arranging for a complete American combination to visit Australia. provokes a question: “Why must the Britisher have his amusement made in America?” Mr. Musgrove. when asked the question, recently said: ‘'Because the Americans are quicker, cleverer and brighter. Another great thing, too, they work in teams. If there are three American comedians on the stage they are all in one corner working together. Three English comedians would be in different parts of the stage, eaeh trying to ‘queer’ the other.”

The Pollards are now in Tasmania. After a ten nights’ season in Hobart, during which "The Belle of New York,” "The Geisha,” "La I’oupee,” “The Gondoliers," “The French Maid” and other pieces will be played. Launceston will be visited. The Easter season will be put in at Brisbane, and other places in the north will enjoy the company of the Pollards' till the end of July, when they Hit to their own New Zealand once again.

Mr Musgrove's Grand Opera Conn pany opens again in Sydney in May, strengthened, and with a new repertoire. The new singers will be Baron Barronbarthold, Mr Lempriere Pringle (a Tasmanian) and Madame Ella Russell. The baron is an Austrian tenor, who will replace M. Arens, and is now appearing in America. Mr Pringle, who is also in America with a grand opera company, is a basso singer. The star of the triumvirale, however, is Madame Ella Russell, now in England, who holds a great reputation for her performance in “La Traviata-” Madame Russell is one of the most popular of prime donne ou the English

aud American o|>eratic stag**. .Miss Lilian Coouiber is to return to England. The new operas to be produced are Ambrose Thonuis’ ".Mignon,” Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Wagner's

"The Flying Dutchman" and "Rienzi,” both new to Australia.

The de Reszkes have signed an agreement with George Musgrove to appear in .Melbourne during the current year. Mr Musgrove has been so satisfied with the success of his opera venture that he is making extended arrangements for the next season, engaging first-class talent in Europe.

No one having ascertained what happened to Jones would be likely to rest content without gaining a knowledge of “Why Smith Left Home,” so the second of the comedies presented by Mr Charles Arnold to the Auckland public has drawn as large audiences to the Opera. House as its predecessor. As a literary production Smith is not more than Jones, and neither ean claim very special merit. As samples of stage, craft there is nothing very wonderful in either. Off the boards they would read tame enough. But there is no getting away from the plain faet that Mr Arnold makes them the medium for an amount of mirth compelling absurdity and comicality as to make any adverse criticism of them out of the question. Whether it is due to the plays themselves or to those who enact them, they are provocative of endless and innocent amusement. And so long as there are light hearts seeking recreation or heavy one that are infinitely the better for it, such production are certain to be popular, ami certain to do good. Monday saw the last of Smith, and to-night (Tuesday) a play of quite another kind will be presented. Of the genius of Mr Barrie most people have, had ample evidence in his novels. As a playwright he has scored almost as big a success as with his books, and the play, "The Professor's Love Story,” which Mr Arnold will present, is accounted, worthy of the best critics to stand alongside Mr Barrie's best work. The piece will run for. the remainder of the week, and on Monday and Tuesday, the last two nights of the season, "Captain Fritz’ will be staged.

During their tour of the world the Wirth Brothers played an unbroken season of 13 months in Southport, England, and had the honour of appearing before H.R.11. the Prince of Wales, who took a keen interest in this Australian circus. His Royal .Highness complimented the Wirths on the excellence of the show, and an illuminated address was presented to them by the people of Southport on the termination of their long season in that town.

The enterprise of the Fuller family is certainly wonderful. Now Mr Ben Fuller has taken a theatre in Sydney, the "Standard,” and intends to give the public of the New South Wales capital the benefit of first-class vaudeville. Let us wish all success to the venture. The theatre, which is to be re-named the Empire, will serve as a centre from which Mr Fuller can draw for fresh attractions for his New Zealand houses.

While Wirth's Circus was in course of erection at Pahiatua, a child named Gilford went near the leopard’s cage, when the animal caught hold of him through the bars and bit and scratched the child severely; (says the “Poverty Bay Herald”). As a result seven stitches had to be put in the child's face and head. A claim has been put in for £5O damages, but as the cireus was not open to the public when the accident happened the proprietors do not consider themselves liable, having warned persons to keep away. .J