Music and Drama.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIII, 28 September 1901, Page 609

Music and Drama.

Never has a more interesting or interested audience occupied the Auckland Opera House than that which filled the place to the doors last Saturday afternoon. The announcement made in the early part of the week that Miss Josephine Stanton, of the Opera Company, had generously decided to give a free performance to the children of Auckland on the occasion of her birthday, was the talk of? yo.ungsterdpm till- Saturday arrived, when from every quarter of the town the juveniles flocked into ttel-lesley-street. It goes without saying that"there were many very early arrivals. Indeed, it was absolutely necessary to be early as the poor disappointed ones found- who were’shutout. What a contrast did the faces of these present to-the smiling countenances within when the orchestra struck up. Still they sought to make the best of a bad by drinking in the mu-ic and allowing their fresh young imaginations to picture the delights their eyes could not behold. It is calculated that fully 2700 children found room, sitting or standing, within the four walls—certainly the largest audience that the Opera House ever held. ‘ The performance was “Said Pasha,” an opera which has plenty of rich Eastern colouring that delights children. Needless to say the youngsters were charmed, and many of them showed their appreciation of Miss Stanton’s kindness by presenting her with small gifts. In connection with this performance Miss Stanton writes: “Will you kindly allow me, through your columns, to convey my sincere thanks to the parents of Auckland for allowing such a large concourse of children to attend my birthday entertainment this (Saturday) afternoon, and to add my regrets that such a large number of the little ones were unable to obtain admission. Trusting at some future time to renew my acquaintance with the young folk of this city.”

On Wednesday of last week the Stanton Opera Company played “Maritnnn,” and on Thursday and Friday “Fra Diavolo,” that most tuneful and romantic of Auber’s operas, was st-aged. Saturday evening witnessed the revival of “Wang.” The piece, on its first production here, at the time of the company’s first visit to Auckland, did not- prove very' popular. notwithstanding that on its appearance iu New. York it ran for 300 consecutive nights, but on its repetition here on Saturday* it met with a most warm reception, the audience being apparently greatly' taken with it. On Monday “The Fencing Master" was staged, and on Tuesday “The Bohemian Girl." The former, which

is new to New Zealand, is a very tuneful three-act opera, with plenty of fun in it. Well mounted and well played, it met with a warm reception.

On Saturday next the Auckland Banjo, Guitar and Mandolin Club give their first grand concert of the present season in the Opera House. In addition to an excellent instrumental programme, the following wellknown artists will contribute: —Mrs Hamilton Hodges, Miss Ada Matheson, Miss Idly Barker, Mrs E. P.. Queree, Mr Arthur Ford, Mr F. Carter, Mr J. Lawrence, and Mr Alf. Bartley.- Music lovers are promised an exceptionally good entertainment- - The box plan is -now open at Messrs Wildman and Lyell’s. Last week Mr. P. B. Dix celebrated the anniversary of his opening in Dunedin. ; j

It has been suggested in Christchurch that the various City Councils of the leading New Zealand towns should subsidise first-class opera companies to spend four months, every vear in the coiouy. Excellent from a musical point of view no doubt, bnt whether the struggling municipalities could judiciously make this concession to art is another question.

The following is the opinion of the New Zealand “Times” on “Sappho,” the dramatised version of Daudet’s novel, which the Cosgrove Dramatic Company produced in the Empire Cityon the Saturday before last:—“The author seems to have taken a delight in depicting some of the most- objectionable phases of life in the French metropolis. For certain classes of audiences no doubt a play' like ‘Sappho’ will have its attractions, but by the saner sections of the community such a meretricious performance will not be countenanced, The play has probably never undergone censorship, or, if it has, the censor must have been masquerading’ in the capacity of Justice —• blindfold. It might be advisable for a representative of the City' Council to visit the Opera House this evening and see far himself what is possible of enactment in a building licensed for rhe public amusement and edification.” The company is now on its way north to Auckland.

We understand that the announcement that Mr Carter was to be married to Miss May Beatty in Oamaru was premature.

As Mr George Musgrove is terminating his connection with London, his object being to devote himself to Australia entirely, there is every prospect. of a big rivalry between him and Mr Williamson —a rivalry, we assume, that will all be for the benefit of theatregoers here as well as throughout the Commonwealth.

Every'one will regret sto-hear that Williamson’s Italian Opera Company will not visit this colony early next year, and it is questionable whether the organisation will come at all. Wilson Barrett’s Company* will take up the dates booked by the Opera Company.

Of “Sweet and Twenty,” Basil Hood's play, which the Broughs are going to produce in Sydney, a London critic writes:—“Another nail was knocked into the coffin of the gloomy’ problem play, which has been vitiating the theatrical atmosphere for some years past. There was no taint of sexual degradation in Basil Hood's ‘Sweet and Twenty,’ produced at the Vaudeville, and stamped with the unqualified approval of the whole house. Seldom has a prettier story been told in a more convincing way-, and seldom has pathos on the stage been more true to nature.” In order to advertise his new drama, “The Christian King," in Australia, Mr Wilson Barrett is offering cash prizes to the value of £4O to pupils of the Melbourne public schools for

the best essays on the life and times of King Alfred, on whose life the drama is founded. Half of this amount will be distributed amongst the primary, and half amongst the secondary schools. The head master of each school will select the six essays which he considers to be the best submitted, and these will be subsequently examined by jndges appointed to make a final selection.

Miss Peggy Pryde, one of the most successful London vaudeville performers Mr Rickards introduced to Australia, left London last week for Sydney again, under engagement to the Tivoli manager.

Mr F. Conway Tearle has been engaged for a year by Mr J. C. Williamson to play leading parts. Mr Tearle, who will be accompanied by his wife, wfill leave England for Melbourne early in December, and will create the part of Ben Hur in the first Australian production of the drama of that, name. Mr Tearle is a son of the well-known, provipcial tragedian, Mr Osmond Tearle. who has been before the British public .in that capacity for fhe last two decades.

“Fined £2 for flagrant disobedience of the stage manager’s directions,” was the notice posted in the Melbourne Royal green-room on a recent morning in connection with Mr Newfoundland Dog's refusal to take the water in the Yarra scene of Bland Holt’s “Hiding to Win.” \ w

The latest Bland Haitian feature is the bicycle race in the melodrama “Hiding to Win,” now running in Melbourne. The race (says* the Melbourne “Sportsman”) is cleverlyworked. Don Walker, Lou Barker, Finnigan, Stewart, O’Callaghan and Kett are mounted on racers, securely stayed, and on home trainers. An excellent panorama of the Exhibition track forms the background, and, revolving in one direction, and the riders, colours up, pedalling for all they' are worth in the opposite direction, accompanied by the bell for the last lap, gives such an air of reality that even the most critical is for the nonce convinced that'a race under natural circumstances is taking place before his eyes; and when the final struggle between the hero, who is impersonated by Stewart, and the heavy villain (Finnigan) takes place, and the position of the riders is varied by the home trainers, who are cleverly hidden, being drawn forward or backward by unseen means, the illusion is compjcte.

We take the following paragraph from the Sydney “Daily Telegraph”: “The son of Mr E. Harland, of this city, writes from New Zealand that Gerardy has found a phenomenal ’cello player in Wellington. ‘While he was here,' says the writer, ‘he discovered to ns a boy ’cellist of extraordinary ability. He has been playing with ns in the society for two years and we never dreamed of his power. His father very wisely kept him “dark.” only allowing him to play second ’eello. But on the visit of Gerardy he took counsel with that distinguished artist, and the result quite look our breath away. Gerardy * pronounced the lad—he is only 14—• to.be the making of one of.the world’s few 'cellists. He has backed bis opin- ■ ion by engaging to return In a short. - lime and take the boy to Europe with him. and bring him out as a “firstwater" artist. Yon can imagine Gerardy is right when T say the lad plays any of the pieces that the great ’cellist himself plays, and he played a long and difficult concerto from memory as a test for Gerardy, which quite satisfied him that he had got hold of a genius. The father of the lad is Mr Trowel!; he used to play in I.egatt's Band at the Art Gallery, Newcastlc- • on-Tyne, and at Tynemouth Aquarium.’ ’’