MUSIC AND DRAMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 14, 7 October 1905, Page 22

MUSIC AND DRAMA.

On page two of this issue appears a picture of Miss Domenica Martinongo, the charuling contralto of the Breseians, who, with West ’s Piel tires, have done record business throughout the length and breadth of the colony. Miss Marlinmigo possesses a very rich and finely cultivated voice, and sings with rare taste and feeling. & <!* Mr. James B. Atbolwood. character actor, now with the. 'Tittell Brune Co., is an ex-tinsmith, and before In* quite got out of the habit of being a respectable tradesman, he was continually making unnecessary implements. Whenever a spectacular piece, was to be played. Atholwood tried to persuade the stage manager to let him make the battlescene armour. Failing this, he generally made his own armour—very successfully, too. “The *j.P.” introduced in the title role a new comedian to Australia—Mr. J. J. Dallas.' And 1 lie introduction was a happy one. The little man is « second Toole, and that represents success. He is a round, soft little joker, with most expressive hands, always at play, and a face redolent of character. Wlienever he was on the stage the show was full of interest and fun. And the Metropolis without any ado took the new comedian to its capacious heart. —“Critic.” & In Auckland. Mr Watkin Mills and his company met with a very hearty wek-ome. an exceedingly enthusiastic audience filling the theatre, and applauding practically every item. Mr Mills was in excellent, voice, and was heard to great advantage in “She Alone ('harmet.li My Sadness’’ and Mr Hill’s “Tangi.” in both of which numbers he ceria inly excelled himself. The members of the company likewise pleased 1 he audience. a specially cordial reception being extended to Mons. .Edouard Pai lovitz. who made so many friends on his last visit to the Northern capital. With reference to a paragraph we had in from t lie “Bulletin” a correspondent wriie-: “Re the Bulletin’s’ statement ‘that t he three handsomest actresses on tin* Australian stage are Americans’: It is a fact that all tin* great beauties of the stage hail from America Maud Fealy (who has been called the most beautiful woman in the world). Maud Jell Ties, Maxime Elliott. Gertrude Elliott. Edna Muy, Lilian Russell Mrs Brown Potter,. and. I b(*li'.*v<* Lillah McCarthy. There are scores of pretty women on the English stage*, mostly in musical comedy, hut few of 1 he great English actresses rank as beauties.” Mr. Brough has been discoursing to 1 he "Sydney Morning Herald’’ over 1 he fortunes of some of his old associate*. \\ lien in England he saw much of Mr. G. S. Tit heradge, who was cosily settled in a charming home* at Acton, and was st ill keenly interest eel in his flowers ami gardening, with the aided recreation of gedf. 'lliis favourite actor spends his time between London and America, but hopes some day to procure’ suitable plays with which to revisit Australia.

Alessrs. Percy Lyndal and Arthur Lawrence have found a congenial field in Hie United States. As regards G. A\ . Anson, that comedian tills an important position in the great provincial centres; Mis* Grace Noble has been touring in Quality-street, and Mr. W. T. Lovell has been keeping much in London with Mr. Terry. Air. T ree, and Mr. Weedon Grogsmith. dt Miss Violet Mount was given an enthusiastic farewell by the musical public of Sydney on September 20. She made herself very popular during the two years she has been in Sydney, and the names of all the best artists in the city figured on the programme. The “Herald.” speaking of the performance, says: “Miss \ iolet Mount rendered the “Bell Song” from Deli he’s Indian opera. “Lakine.” The soprano sang brilliantly throughout, acquitting herself especially well in the high staccato passages ending in a shake, which are so taxing to the voice. At the close there was a most cordial outburst of applause, and this was renewed when heaps of flowers, which took a dozen officials to carry, were handed up to the platform.” Miss Mount intends going Home*, but Im* fore she leaves the colonies we are to have an opportunity of hearing her again in New Zealand, as she has decided to give one concert in Wellington and one in Auckland before her final departure. L dt d« At Wesley Hall recently Miss Millie Peake’s pupils gave a recital before an audience which fully taxed the ’capacity of the hall. 'The programme comprised violin and piano solos and duets, and a violin trio (encored), the following pupils taking part: Misses Evelyn Ridgeley. S. Entwistle, Millie Muldoon, Rita Strong, Lydia Martyn. Gladys Boult on, D. Dean, Violet Lewis, Connie Finlay, Florrie Boulton, A. Williams, K. Smith, Mary Kent, F. Cadman, Lilian Edwards, Pansy Strong, and Messrs. J. McElwain, and F. Brew. These items gaVe evidence of careful tuition and of good progress on the part of the pupils, the performance in each rase being meritorious. An additional feature of the programme was two orchestral items by an orchestra. ably conducted by Miss Peake. ’The first ami second violins were pupils, the wind ami other string parts being taken by friends assisting. Valuable assistance was rendered by Miss Blanche Garland, whose rich contralto voice. was heard to advantage in “Out on the Rocks,” and in response to an encore the song "Listening.” Mr AV. Aspinall contributed “The Last Watch” in his usual pleasing style, ami for an encore gave “Tom Bowling.” 'The programme closed with a contribution by Miss Peake of the violin solo “Air Varie” (Vieuxtemps), which was artist ically played, the audience demanding an encore. On appearing on the platform to contribute her solo Miss Peake was presented with a handsome bouquet. and a hearty vole of thanks was proposed and carried enthusiastically. .Apropos of Mr Brough ami Jacobs’ “Beauty and th? Barge,” which we are to have shortly in New Zea land, the “Bulletin” says: “There arc three very good things about ‘Beauty ami the Barge,' at Sydney Criterion. Its mime is a triumph of artfulness,, ami almost alum* would hire an amli<*n(*e into a theatre, and into the belief that it was getting all that was due to it. Then t.her? an* the play’s scenir beauties, and finally its Bargee, who is Mr Brough. Judging from the rec<*ption Sydney lirs‘nighters gave the farce, it must either In* quite full of very good things or every Jack and Jill in the auditorium had won largely that day—the last day of the Spring races. 'This writer was never previously caught in such a gale of laughter in < very key. ’The kind of laughter that is like tin* clapping togot licr of two slates predominated, hut all the people in Sydney with a highly developed sense of farcical humour must have been present. ‘Beauty and the Barge* leaves a memory of a silly, art able old fekipper whose instinct of

love-making is as much port of-his makeup as is his rolling gait; a k horde* of harmless sailors who drain pint-pots in a bar-room, and always have pipes sticking out from their hairy countenancesf aml an amorous elderly housekeeper. 'The hive affairs of a young lady and a, gentleman who is a naval officer make the idyll of tin* piece. Aiiss Bessie Major is responsible, next to Mr Brough, for the fun. r Aliss Emma Temple as a yel-low-haired barmaid, with a huge buckle in the yellow, is immense. Miss AVinifred Fraser and Aiiss Gordon Lee play the two carefully brought-up. but skittish, maidens in a pretty’ little fashion that reminds one of mice at a game of hide-and-seek. Carter Pickford, as the naval man. does very little, hut does it in a gentlemanly way, and manages liis extraordinarily long and slender legs as gracefully as if he were a daddy-long-limbs. ‘Beauty and the Barge’ will sail together up the gloriously-painted Thames until further notice.”