Music and Drama.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XX, 16 May 1903, Page 1360

Music and Drama.

The success of “Sweet Noll of Old Drury” throughout New Zealand 1 been so prodigious and unvarying it is safe to predict that the first performance of the company in Auckland, which was to have taken place last evening, after we went to press, must have been another triumph. That the house was a record one is a matter of history, from the booking alone, and the sale of •lay tickets for the unreserved seats was in excess of anything previously experienced. Miss Nellie Stewart numbers her admirers by the thousand, by the tens of thousands, indeeed, but in no New Zealand city assuredly are they more devoted than in Auckland, ami the ovation accorded to “the people’s Nellie” last evening must have been something to remember. “Sweet Noll” is unquestionably one of the most remarkable successes of recent years, and t ho-e Aucklanders who neglect seeing it during the next few days will be making a very great mistake. It is a beautiful play in •‘very way— beautiful in mounting, beautiful in sentiment, and according to all the critics beautifully acted.

The Auckland Choral Society gave their second concert of the present season on Tuesday nxt at the Choral Hall. Taylor’s “Scenes from the Song of Hiawatha’’ i< the work chosen. The soloists will be Madame Chambers, soprano; Air Al. Hamilton Hodges, baritone; and Air W. B. liarkin, tenor.

The Auckland Liedertafcl give their opening concert for the season on Thursday. Al ay 28th. The society have decided upon this change of night, namely, from Friday to Thursday, to meet the convenience of a large number of musical people who are debarred through business and other reasons from attending on Friday. The JLicdertafel are making special efforts this season to augment their subscribers' list. They ere importing a large number of the most popular part-songs from England and America, so that their programmes saould maintain a high standard.

“The Greatest Scoundrel Living” is the m ine <>f a now blood-curdling melodrama.

Nance O’Neill’s father. George Lamson, is an old man of eighty-four. st Pl carrying on his business of auctioneer in San Francisco.

Julius Knight and Maud Jeffries will vi-it New Zealand at the head of an English combination, playing “The Eternal Ciiv” and “The Resurrection.”

J. C. Bain (of “Don’t you know Mrs Kelly?” fame) has got together a string <»f thirty artists and is now arranging for their appearance during the next few months at Hobart.

Wilson Barrett, it transpires, is 57. He was born in Essex, where his father had a farm, and where he was a farmer’s boy. He was an actor among farmers, and. some people say, he still remains a bucolic among mimes. One-time Pollard dancer Nellie Bort hwick is playing a small part in “The Messenger Boy” at Adelaide Royal, says “Pasquin.” where also hubby Fred. Leslie is the Captain Pott in (he production which claims Fred. Graham as “the messenger bov”; also Aggie Kelton as Mrs Bang. The news of the death at ‘Frisco of Air Wallace King, the coloured tenor, will be received with regret throughout New Zealand. It will be a long time before we shall hear “She Wore a Wreath « f Roses” and “Sally Horqcr” us he used to MU£ Ukuxu ** r *7 ■ •— —

It may not be generally known that Mr Ronald Keith, stage manager of the Hawtrey Comedy Company, is a first cousin to the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain.

Mr and Mrs John Prouse were passengers by the mail steamer to San Francisco. There will there join Mdlle. Antonia Dolores’ party, for Mr John Prottse has received an engagement from mademoiselle to sing at her concerts in the States. The present programme of Mdlle. Dolores includes a visit to British Columbia, and the party eventually make their way across to New York, whence mademoiselle goes across to Franee for a rest, reopening in Vienna.

Harry Gray, “the Australian nugget,” who recently arrived in Frigland, can boast a unique and rapid headway. He arrived in London without a date on Thursday—New Year’s Day—made an appearance at the London Pavilion on the Saturday, opened on the Mose Umpire tour the following Monday, and has been since playing starring engagement with this circuit, which has secured him for three years. He is booked at the leading balls, with very few vacancies, till the end of 1905, when he intends playing a return tour through India, ( liina, and Japan, in conjunction With Fred. Harcourt, the magician.

Mr Edward Lloyd and his ballad party found their - lines cast in pleasanter places in Sydney than in Melbourne. From the first concert the vast townhall in tiie former city was well filled with enthusiastic audiences, so that an extra farewell concert had to be given. Mr Lloyd returned to Melbourne for a second series of four concerts, beginning last Saturday. This series will he the great tenor’s last anpearanee in Australia.

Miss Kate Vaughan’s funeral, which took place at Braamfontein cemetery, South Africa, was attended by a large number of Miss Vaughan’s friends. The pall-bearers were Mr Edward Terry. Mr Leonard Rayne, Mr John Le Hay, and Mr Frank Celli. The funeral service was conducted by Father Rousseau. At the suggestion of Mr Edward Terry it has been decided to establish in South Africa a benevolent society for the theatrical profession on the lines of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund. A matinee for that purpose was arranged to take place. All stalls and private boxes were sold, the boxes going at fancy prices, and the stalls and dress circle fetching a guinea and 10/6, and the gallery 5/.

The Patti contract, which lias at length been signed, for an American tour is a remarkable document. By it an American impresario agrees to pay a singer, who admits being past sixty, V 1000 a night for two songs at a series of sixty concerts in America. Mme. Patti has deposited, in case of forfeit, •£4OOO. and the impresario .£BOOO, in a London bank; and Mme. Patti lias limited the choice of her selections to popu-

lar English and American ballads, and selections from “Traviata,” “Lucia,” and the “Barber.” Further, if the receipts exceed a. stipulated sum. the artist is to receive a certain percentage of the surplus. Jean Gerardy has lately been giving a series of orchestral concerts in London, which ho has not visited for several years. “When he first appeared here,” writes the London “Athenaeum,” “it was as a prodigy, and it is not uncommon for the promise of early years to remain unfulfilled. A few bars of the ’Cello Concerto in A Minor by Saint Sachs were, however, sufficient to convince his audience that he has steadily developed from a gifted youth into a mature and groat artist. Excellent technique, whether on the pianoforte, violin, or ’cello, is now such a common thing that it creates no surprise. M. Gerardy in this respect is amply equipped, and produces a pure, rich tone from his instrument, and, in addition, jiis playing shows strong feeling and consummate judgment. He now ■ ranks among the best ’cellists of the day.”