Music and Drama.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XIX, 9 May 1903, Page 1288

Music and Drama.

Tl?c Anderson Dramatic Company still finds no difficulty in filling Hi< Majesty’s Theatre. "Dangerous Women’’ is the latest piece they put on. Though not up to the standard of the previous plays the company has put on "Dangerous Women” i> well staged and acted, and it i* this fact which saves the situation. On May 7th "Two Little Drummer Boys,” which is very well spoken of. will replace the present piece. Judging from reports which have preceded it the new piece should have a good run.

One of the most notable events in the theatrical history of Auckland will come to pass at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday next, when Miss Nellie Stewart and Mr George Musgrove’s famous Comedy Company will make their first appearance in what is regarded as the most successful play of modern times, "Sweet Nell of Old Drury. *Tis now over eight years since Miss Stew art appeared in this city. Her portrayal of “Sweet Nell’’ is declared by all critics to be a revelation. Associated with Miss Stewart is an exceptionally strong company of England’s most notable artists, comprising Messrs Harcourt Beatty. Alfred Tapping, Sydney Stirling. Webster Lawson. Vernon Steele, John Bouchier. Claude Flemming. John eyinss, W. J. Beresford, etc. Misses Minnie Sadler, Alio' Farleigh. Emily Dwetez, Edith Stewart, etc. The scenery. etc., is said to lie magnificent, whilst the details of the period have been most strictly adhered to. The plans are announced to open at Messrs Wildman, L \ 1 and Arey’s on Wednesday. Referring to the play the Melbourne “Argus” says: "Paul Kaster, the author, has written a play that may well be called charming. A play that abounds in gaiety, sparkle, and bright colouring, tempered all the while by certain quaintness and slowness of movement. An historic pomp and all that i< associated with the courtly side of life three centuries ago. J. L. Toole, the famous comedian, celebrated his seventy-third birthday last month. The engagement is reported of Miss Alice I’ollard, daughter of popular Tom, of Pollard's Opera Company, to a wealthy Dum dinite.

Who would not be a lion comique? Pan Leno has been able to refuse an offer to appear in Johannesburg—for eight weeks at least—at £250 a week, with a snug £lOOO in addition as pocket money Indore starting, and for saloon return tickets, or, in all, a sum of £ 3300.

It is possible that the spectacular production. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’’ will lie played through New Zealand. It depends mainly on the success of the “Sweet Nell of Ohl Drury” Company.

M. Bouhy. of Paris, under whose tuition the Misses Amy and Dolly Castles, the young Victorian vocalists, are now pursuing their musical studies, has pronounced the voice of Miss Dolly Castled to be a dramatic soprano.

Miss May Beatty is in a Melbourne private hospital instead of going to South Africa with the Pollard’s Co. However, we learn she is progressing favourably, savs Adelaide “Critic.”

“No; J shall never play the part again, either in Australia or New Zealand. 1 am decided on that point. f only played the character in Australia to show that 1 was equal to it. That

class of play would not suit New Zealand. and 1 feel rare that New Zealand playgoers de not want pieees of the ’Zaza* type.’* This was the reply of Miss Nellie Stewart when interviewed in Dunedin as to the possibility of New Zealanders seeing this niueh-discussed play.

Sir Henry Irving has broken some«hat new ground in his production of ‘'Dante.” a play based on the life of the poet. Unusually for actors of the first rank, the great tragedian had secured Drury Lane for the production. That lie was right in his choice of a theatre is proved in V e fact that the play is (according to our cables) proving a triumphant success.

There seems to be no end to the musical members of the Castles. First of all Amy “went Home,” then Dolly “went Home.” and now a brother named George, who is said to possess a pure tenor, has followed ]>is twe sisters in search of instruction < If they do nothing more they could form a very profitable Castles’ Concert Company, with so much talent in the fainilv.

Mr M. St. Leon, tljp oldest circus proprietor in Australia, died very' suddenly <>n April 15 at Oakleigh, where he had been living for some time with a married daughter. He was a remarkably clever trainer of animals and only recently had been negotiating for an engagement with Messrs Wirth Brothers, with whose father he was associated in the circus business forty years ago.

Mr M. Marcus, the well-known “advance,” left Melbourne the other day for Dunedin, to make.’ arrangements for a new company under the banner of Mr Rickards to tour the colony. The principal star on this occasion will be Mons. Inaudi. whose forte is lighting calculation. There will also be a clever little American quintette of dramatic artists. New Zealanders will have an opportunity of renewing their pleasant acquaintance with Mr Wallace Brownlow, who toured with Miss Nellie Stewart, in “Ma Mie Rosette” and other operas.

The famous Edward Lloyd looks tall alongside of Benno Scherek, who, with others of the company, can hold his own in stature (says a Melbourne writer, summing up the famous tenor who New Zealanders will not hear after all, much to their disappointment). If Mr Lloyd does not strike you as- being under the medium height it is because of his magnificent Sandow-like. chest and breadth of shoulders. It must be owing to his superb physique that he keeps and looks so young. His voice is the voice of a tenor of 40, in its prime, you may say. remarkably pure and clear, and so strong and penetrating that at times it produces a ring in one’s ear. as Melba’s voice did in th« same Town Hall. None of the other singers in the company are forcible enough to produce this ring. Lloyd has plain, simple, business-like ways, and if you tell him you will have an encore, he yields gracefully. He is a star whom the audience at once takes to.

How they pass! A ragged and wretched looking woman arrested in Vienna a month or so back for picking pockets in a crowd claimed to-be Carols Berger, and inquiry substantiated her claim. When Carola was only twenty the world was talking about her, she was the most conspicuous figure in European Grand Opera. She was beautiful in face and figure, and had a voice that promised to rival the world’s best, and her income was the largest ever paid to a prhna donna. Then she suddenly disappeared, and was not heard of again till the Vienna police caught this miserable creature stealing pennies from the pocket of a workwoman. Calida Berger had been badly injured in a railway accident that marred her beauty, and so shattered her nerves that she could never sing again. The rest followed. Such a thing as putting by for a rainy day—or a railway accident—never enters into an artiste’s head.