MUSIC AND DRAMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2, 13 January 1906, Page 23

MUSIC AND DRAMA.

Quaint, dainty. delicate: ‘‘Quality Street” h'.s vastly pleased-all who have s?i a it in Ai’.i kiand., Its freslnvss and pp.rily. .its exquisite, ha'f tones < f pathos and humour.* and its beauty of what in literature v.\> e’.lV. ' style,” mark it as one of ihr most charming of Bailie’s producti< n-. It }H»?s?sse- all the qualities which have made the author the most s icc»essfid playwright of to day. and its i iicxpictation is entirely adequate. I’** will be played for the last time this (Wednesday), evening ar.d those who have not seen it should not miss the opportunity if they pri. e what may be tiuly termed a charming evening in the best meaning of that much misused w < rd. On Thursday and Friday “Niobc” is to be staged, anil as Mrs. Brough appears in her fa r.ous impersonation of Ni< be -:i’l smiles two vast audiences are sure to welcoii.e her. On Saturday aid the early nights of the fi Hewing weak “Little Mary*’ is to hr played, and for this the prr.-r.it writer predicts the record houses of the Brough or indeed any other season. Positively everyone s?ems l>ent on seeing the play, whicli has added a new euphemism to the Engli-di language. Mis< Olga N'dhcrsnle recently gave a special matinee ]»erformanc.* in Toronto in aid of the Queens fund for the unemployed. The mat in.r-uli-cd about £260. •< - Mr. Allred Dainpicr in the next few weeks wi.ll lie leaving cm a trip to the Ol«l Country for the benefit of his health, wlntfi ; during‘the p'n-t (XCclvc months has

been anything but satisfactory. There is no more highly esteemed gentleman connected with the profe—ion than the actormanager. and it would be a graceful and well-de?erved compliment if he were tendered a testimonial performance prior to hi* departure. Both the artists ami the public would tlm* have an opportunity of showing their appreciation of his many excellent qualities. Mr. Dampier will be awomp.inied on his trip by his wife. Mi*a Kom* Dan pier, and young Alfred. J* M.** Brune’s first act when she arrived in Mellwuirne on Christmas Day. after a long and arduous journey from Sydney, exemplified the strength of her predilection for swimming. Almost as soon as she was out of the train she and her companion hurried off to St. Kilda. where for mi hour they luxuriated in the refreshing waters of Hobson’s Bay. Then Miss Brune “returned to earth.” ami was ready for the many friends waiting to receive her. Having in view the enthusiastic reception avoided “The Girl From Kays” both in Melbourne and Sydney, there can be no doubt that had it first been done in Australia by the Royal Comic Opera Company instead of by Mr. George E<l- - Gaiety Company, it would have run for at least three months in each city, and possibly have created a new record in rivalry to “Florodora,” “Paul Jones” and the r< >t of the record makers. “Veronique” will succeed it at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Sydney, and for its first production there Mr. Coventry's latest iinpressi« n* from the London rendering of the piece will lx* utilised to the improvement of the acting generally. S < A valuable member of Mr. Williamson’s managerial staff has returned to duty in the ]>erson of Mis* Minnie Everett, who for many months past has been seriously ill. She ha* been as* gnetl to the Gilbert ami Sullivan Company to assist Mr. Henry Bracy in the production of “Utopia. Limited.” For Mis- Everett i* something more than the very capable arranger of dances in which capacity she is known to the play-going public. She is a born -tage manageress, and many a suggestion of hers regarding new or better way* of handling the chorus or of improving the principals’ business, has been gratefully accepted and utilised by the official stage manager at the time. Her influence on the production of “Utopia. Limited will doubtless have the same benefit. The year ju-t commencing bids fair to l»r a ver\ entertaining one from a th atrical |»oiiu <f view, judging solely on the promts of Mr. J. C. Williamson. to say nothing of dtvelopimnU whi«-h may be expected to take plac?. A busy tin.- is bef< re his various vo-n--panie*. e>|xHially with regard to the Royal Comic Opera Company. Mr. Williamson contemplate* the first production in Australia of “the Spring < itieken.” “The Duche— of 1).-ntz’g.” “The Michus,” "My Lady Madcap,’* and “Ti <- Blue Moon” for certain. w»tile it i* by no unlikely that one or more « I the othei attraction- in musical play*. th - right* of which have been acquired In Mr. Williamson, mav l»e added to the list. Mr. “Jerry” Coventry, who arrived by the India in the early part of the week. with a brain full of couple to his own exten-! will have the diivction of them for Mr. WiHi.im*oii. NH«* littell Brune's next new j»art will in all probability l*<- the L< i in of D i ‘h\ V< rnon, of Haddon Hall, a romantic drama based on Charles Major’s n< v. ’ of the same name, mrd lat< r in the year her rejn-rtoire is to be iticrea-ed by the addition of a few eth« r pie - -h-i-tcj for the express purp« — of Li ing : ng into prominence her high <

dian. With the Gilbert and Sullivan Company matters will apparently go on much as they are doing now—at any rate until the public show a decline in appreciation they now evince for their effort*. That event is *till manifestly distant, and with no les* tha.i eleven pieces in their repertoire the periodical tour* of the clever company *hcul«l for several months meet with good re*ult*. Mr. Williamson loses the Knight-Jeffries Company at Easter time, much to his own and every playgoer's regret, but their place is to lie tilled by a new combination from America. Other negotiations involving vi-its from player* with international reputations from the United States. England and Lurojw are also in active progre*s. -J* The open-air fete in aid of the Theatrical Charities' Fund, which wa* organised by the Royal Comic Opera Company and the Gilbert and Sullivan Company at Princes Court a fortnight ago. resulted in a most satisfactory financial return. The total >um contributed by the 16.000 people who thronged the report amounted to £1350. and of this over £306 was absorbed in payment* on agreed percentages to the Princes Court Proprietary, and to the various ,*ide show*. Of the £lOOO available for the fund, advertising, catering an<l other disbursement accounts for £2OO. leaving £BOO net profit, a sum quite sufficient to meet al! the monetary demand* on the fund for the next twelve months. Congratulations are due in generou* measure to Mr. George Lauri, who organi*ed the fete, and to the hundreds of zealous helpers who a**i*ted in the pronounced *ucce*s achieved. * Sir Squire Bancroft spoke eloquently for the drama at the Lyceum Club, where he and Lady Bancroft were among a distinguished circle of guests invited to lumheon by Mrs t>*ear Beringer, who occupied the chair. In the course of his remarks, the eminent actor, who was greeted with loud cheers, said there was a remarkable affinity between the words of Miakespeare and the pages of Holy Writ. The same inspiring truths so abounded in both of them as to prove plainly that the illustrious poet wa* a devout student of Scripture. There could be no firmer bond—no sweeter union—between the Church and the Stage; it must for all time be the strongest link that ever yet was forged, for both books were eternal. Sir T. P. OKl’onnor, M.P.. responded on behalf of politics, Mr Anthony Hope replied for literature. and Air Forbes Robertson wa* the mover of a vote of thanks to Mrs Beringer. Mrs Forbes Robertson was also among the company, which included the Bishop of L-inion, and others present were Mi-s Esme Beringer. Miss Vera Beringer. and Mr and Mrs IL V. Esnmml. Mr J<> n T.emmone. the llamist. so popular in Nt .. Za la nd. has earned for himself th • name of bush music missionary. for 1 • take* small v-«mert companies to mo* of tliv acr—iblc parts of New South Wales, and numbers one or two bundle I ; *ds list. Only his peculiarly perfect knowledge of the State and personal familiari:v with local magnates at each townlet enable him to make a financial success of a business ilia: i* likely before long to attract the cnterpri*ing American here. The travelling is wry rough and varied in method. Bullock-wagg ns and river boats help the peripatetic artist* at theii need. Such tours are not lacking in humour. Mr T-emnione i* rich in ant- dote. A conversation with him is tes of f Now a fascinating Patti picture—the bird-bright little woman, in younger day*, darling out of her dreeing-rooms, away from her maids, and pirouetting to the * uml of the Hute ■ « has l>een warming in the greenroom behind the

platform. The audience wait, growing impatient at the delay, but Madame mu*t finish her frolic ere returning to finish her toilette with her distracted dresser*. Through these reminiscences Melba moves—a of moods and caprice*, often splendidly generous. Mr Lemmoue played with her ere Fame crowned her. and recalls the occasion on which she sampled the acoustics of the then new Freemasons' Hall in Melbourne. which her father had built. The floors were not completed—the workmen still hovering to hear the greatest of sopranos sing “Dear Heart.” Sime then there have been many occasions on which his flute has mingled with her pure voice. One of these has a fairyish. unreal seeming. On a certain evening he went with her to a fine residence in Mansfield-street. An agent arranged fees and details. In a small drawing-room about eight people were casually seated, evidently after dinner • —the women in glittering evening dress, the men wearing orders. On an erected dais appeared one after another Melba, the famous Mdlle. Delna, Edward Lloyd. Victor Maurel. the basso. Sarasate, and the chief of harpists, John Thomas. That quiet little evening's music cost thousands of pounds. So the rich mildly amuse themselves in London. Next day it occurred to Mr Lemnione to wonder whVe house it was—for whom he had played—and he asked Melba. She shrugged her shoulders. “Don't know.”