Music and Drama.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue II, 9 July 1904, Page 24

Music and Drama.

Their -till practically nothing to report—nothing new. that is—with regard 1o thrairhal matters in this colony. The Woods-Williamson Company have opened what seems likely to prove a very sii.-ci-.-fii| sea-on in Auckland with a play, "In Ohl Madrid,” founded on one of Marion C rawford’s’latest novels, “Jn the Palace of the King’.” Whether Miss William-on had the advice or assistance. • f the author of the book she has taken for the manufacture of "In Old Madrid,’’ deponent knows not. but she has certainly constructed a play which is verj far above the general run of drama* adapted on modern novels. The plot of the book, which need not be detailed here. is. as most readers will doubtless recollect, a capital one for dramatic purposes, and Miss William* has done the work of compression and bringing the striking situations together exceedingly well. "In Old Madrid’’ is. in brief, a very exciting and thoroughly artistic play, and it is in the main capitally acted. Mr W’oods. as Don John, is particularly happy, ami Miss Williamson is very convincing as Dolores. There is good work. too. in the Kin*' of Mr Douglas, while the mise <n s.-ciie is all that could be desired. It. should draw good, houses wherever produced by this company. Maggio Moore finished up in Westra)ia lasi, week, and left for England. Albert Whelan, the impersonator, of “Belle of New York” fame chiefly, is appearing at the Manchester Palace. Mr Edu in Geach intends enjoying a holiday at “Daddy” Lohnr’s pub. down holiday at “Daddy” Lohr's pub. down has disbanded. The "Sketch” publishes a photo, of a Miss Katherine Duggan, a promising contralto, described as ; i step daughter to Mr Haddon Chambers. Mr Alichael Joseph, who acted as manager of .Mr William Anderson’s Dramaiic Company which recently turned New Zealand, is at present attached to Mr Anderson’s M<dbourne Company. Three dramas at present bring produced in England "The Worst Woman in London,** “The Greatest Scoundrel Living.” and "The biggest Scamp on Earth.” ‘Day plays” arc tin* newest fashion in the drama. In addition t o "S.it u rd.-iy ti» Monday” al the St. James’ Theatre. London, and “Sunday’’ at the Comedy. London. Mr Compton has a play called “To-morrow.’’ During a recent illness of Mr Julius Knight in Melbourne. Mr Harry Plimmer. formerly of \\ riling; on. appeared as Wilfred Denver in “T ie silver King.” f.nd hi< performance was well spoken of by the critics. Pollards did a mouth of splendid InisiTiess at Broken Hill. Their original intent ii.n w is to play two weeks, but business pro\< d <<> good that they e.\-t.-r b-d their season first to three weeks and thru a month. \ <-trran G. 11. Snazcllc is to revisit New Zealand under the management of the Messrs. Macmalion. It is repented that t!;r well-known entertainer ?s to leave Loudon immediately direct for Wellington. wlit-re he will commoner his tour with an up 10-date entertainment of "PieInn Sung ami Storx.” Mr Watki’i Mills, 1 hr eminent b.isso, is coming to Ait-li.Hia in the zenith of liis powers. IL- is W cl! known all over England, and sings at most of Lie festivals with ( Java Huh ami Ada (. rosslev. Hi* knieric.tn tour Ims b*. n an artistic and. what is probably more to his point, limtiicial *.!••;•<•••*. lie just escaped from the great lue at Toronto, but his luggag wi- damng.-J. Mr Mills, from all accounts, is mo.-.l generous, singing as kt.’.ix ii■* 21 songs on three consecutive evenings in answer to (b in ind for mCoi i-s. prnliably a record, He opens in Sjcitu y on July 22 at the Town ilalL

The friends of Charley Holloway will regret Io hear that he is an inmate of Dr. Stirling's private hospital in Mellxmrne •—the company is doing well in Adelaide, and (’barley is doing well in Melbourne—so there is a good time coming for both. Miss Frances Ross, of the Bland Holt (‘ompany. is a native of Tasmania. Albeit her lint; in stage work is chiefly laid in melodrama. Miss Ross has had extensive experience in the Shakespearian drama. In London she played Bianca, Olivia, and Celia to the Katherine, Viola, and Rosalind of Ada Rehan. The com]dimentary farewell concert to Mr. Arthur Towsey was one of the most pronounced successes ever achieved in Auckland, ami bore ample testimony to the warm regard in which he is held in the Northern city. The house was a bumper one. ami the enthusiasm unbounded. A fuller report of the concert appears in another column. Despite the awful reports of some manager on South Africa as a show place, some companies appear to do well. Air. George Ethvardcs’ company, which is at present touring South Africa, has. for example, achieved such a remarkable success that it has been decided to prolong their stay in that country. The second Johannesburg season which has just finished has beaten all records. Some theatrical managers call Broken Hill a bad show town. Vet- Pollard’s Opera Co. Jias just completed a four weeks’ season in-that city. Co. played “The Gay PariMenne,” "The French Maid, "I he Grisha.” “Florodora.” “Djin Djin,” "In Town,” “The Casino Girl, and "I he Toreador.” On one previous occasion the co. stayed just on live weeks. AIT Beerbuhm Tree has written an important introduction to Air Austin 1 'eyres' forthcoming volume. "A Guide to the Stage.” He deals with the contro-» ver? y which has arisen over his ncwlyfoiiH led School of Acting, and replies pointedly to Air Wilson Barrett- amt other critics. The volume will shortly be published by .Messrs R. A. Everett ami Co. Supplementary articles have been contributed by .Miss Gertrud:* Kingston, .Mr Millie Clarkson and Mr Ben Nathan. Sir Henry Irving’s announcement at the M:.n •best er Arts Chib that in two scars hi* will retire from the stage, comes almost as a surprise to those •who have observed the wonderful health and vigour which Sir Henry retains after his long career of arduous energy and varied efforts (says the “Era.’ ). Much as he will be missed, there can be no doubt that he has taken llie wisest course in resolving, as Shakespeare did. to retire to wellearned repose while still able to. enjoy it. Mr Mel. P». Spurn's Wellington season has turned out a great artistic and financial success. Mr Spurr is without doubt one of the finc.-t monologue. elite: laincrs that has ns yet visited Now Zealand, and one wonders how it is that he was not. “discovered” years ago before Mr Flemming engaged him. says “Lorgnette.” .Mr Flemming is to lie congratulated in “finding” a veritable gold mine. (hie of the changing fashions of London (h<*at rival management is exemplified. says the “Frecmaifs Journal,” in Ihe fact that neither pit nor gallery seems to be mu<*||i in favour nowadays. The gallery already done away with atone West Fhid bouse is Io be abolished al the Avenue al-o when later on Aliss Marie ’l'empost oicnpic- the 1 heal re, while there is be no pit in any of tlx* three chief new theatres about to be built. Although, of course, there will be still an abundant supply of good cli<*np seats, the tendency’ of the future vdl evidently l;<* in (he direction of a higher minimum clung:* for admission, even it the average price be kept statioiuiiA by lowering the charge in some til the “circles.”

Paderewski awards the palm to (Germany as possessing the most musical women. That is because a love for music is traditional in Germany, and has become now a habit. As far as instinct for music is concerned. the German women are no better oft’ than the American, French, or English. He also finds Italian women very musical, but American women perhaps the most appreciative. Al me. Paderewski laughs at the idea of her being jealous because all the ladies adore her husband. She thinks it is beautiful; nay, more than beautiful— wonderful. It is homage given to his art.

Alessrs Meynell and Varna, who arc starting with the Beerbohm Company on a tour which includes New Zealand, will commence at Brisbane on the 27th inst. This is the company which has been producing “The Darling of the Gods.” The repertoire includes

“The Eternal City,” “Monsieur Be.aueaire,” “The Sign of the Cross,” “The Silver King,” and "A Royal Divorce.” Some of the English artists have gone Home, but these have been replaced, and it will interest New Zealanders to know that Air Harry Plimmer is a member of the company.

A floating theatre is the latest American dramatic device. On the Alississippiaudits tributaries, principally the Ohio and Illinois, a. boat travels that has been fitted up as a theatre, with boxes and a gallery. Seating capacity has been provided for 1000 p<*rsons, and,, in addition to the stage and dressing-rooms, living accommodation has been arranged on board for forty artists and assistants. The steamer starts from Pittsburg, and after visiting all the great industrial centres on the Alonongahcla. descends the Ohio as far its Cairo, mounts the Alississippi as far as St. Louis, and finally descends that river to New Orleans. At all the towns on those rivers the floating theatre is made fast alongside the wharf, and after duo announcement a performance is given lasting three hours. ’ Then the next place is visited. It is what is known as a "one-stand show,” and the reper-. toire at present consists of a dramatised version of Goethe’s poem, "Faust.” The campaign of the London Theatrical ATanagers’ Association against sketches in music halls is to be continued. 'This statement was made by Air Bodkin at the Lambeth Police Court in prosecuting the Empress Theatre of Varieties, Limited. Brixton, and Mr George Gray for performing “The Fighting Parson.’’ Air Hopkins said that the defendants were proceeded against by their ow n confreres because the latter’s pockets were touched. Speaking for himself, he look very little notice of a form of offence which the authorities of the country did not proceed against. He lined the company ami Mr Gray 40/ each. The summonses against the Alhambra and Empire Music Halls, taken out by Air George Gray, challenges the legality of the ballets. The long run of “A Chinese Honeymoon.” at the Strand 'Theatre. London, was terminated on Whit Momlay evening, when the piece reached its 1075th pci forma nee. It was produced at this house on October 4. l!)01, says the “Stage,” after a ]>relimimti’y trial in the provinces. The profits on the run in Lciulou have nearly reached .<ix figures, but the lucky owners of th? provincial and American rights are still receiving large cheques weekly. It is impossible to say exactly what has been macle by Mr Frank Curzon or by Mr George Dance, the author, or Air Howard Talbot, the composer, out of their venture, but. one fact is patent; Air Curzon, when the piece was produced in the autumn of 1901, was lessee of the Strand, lie is now the proprietor, and the property was lately estimated to be worth £54.000. To Mr George Musgrove, whose latest prodm*tion, “'rhe Prince of Pil-c*n,” at the Shaftesbury was at. latest dates meeting with much success, is ascribed the great credit of improving th* acting of the chorus in comic opera. The chorus and small parts have been filled with niiu-h more vim since the. days when "The Belle of New York” first showed London audiences how such brightening helps the general effect. This is called by the papers “the American method,” but it is only fair to Air Musgrove to put in a plea for “Australian met hods.” His choristers are perfectly drilled. A gentle in

given by some critics that Hie brisk’ bustle and self-assertion of Hie new style is not perhaps quite so suitable for an English chorus as their own “quiet repose.” Mr W. H. Savage, the American manager, from whom Mr Musgrove bought “The Prince .of Filsen,” is man of great originality. One of his rules is that when an understudy is playing a principal’s part any member of the audience may have his money returned if he wishes to leave at the. end of the first act.

Afrs Frances Hodgson Burnett told an interviewer recently that she had never seen a performance of “That Man and 1,” a dramatisation by the authoress herself, of certain incidents in her novel, "In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim.” When members of my family asked me if J were not going to see the play, 1 replied, “No, I’m not going to see a play by a fourth-rate dramatist. I'm going to see ‘Aferely Mary Ann.’” So I trotted off, and passed a thoroughly enjoyable evening instead of fretting* and stewing, as J should have done had I gone to the first performance of “That Alan and I.” I didn’t, want to dramatise my story, “In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim.” In fact, I refused half a dozen requests to make it into a play. 1 thought it. too sad for the stage. But at last I hit upon a plan to change, much.of its shadow into sunshine. Most human beings, - like flowers, love to turn their faces to sunlight, and I believe that theatre-goers, more than evsr before, want gladness instead of sadness on the stage. It used to be the other way, don’t you remember? Gloomy tragedies and heartbreaking dramas were what the public apparently craved. A woman, for instance. would go to the. theatre, use up two or three handkerchiefs, and come home exclaiming that the play was “perfectly beautiful.” 1 don’t know what had caused the change, but there has been a great change in the public taste in recent years. I believe it is due largely to the great intellectual advancement that has taken place in the List 50 years. Introspection and retrospection have taught most of us that we have troubles enough of our own, and that we don’t care to go to the theatre and pay 2dols for a lot more. Airs Burnett has just finished another play, founded on her novel, “The ATaking of a Alarchioness,” which deals entirely with English society life. 'This makes the fifth play that Airs Burnett has finished within a year.