Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 1, 4 January 1908, Page 30

Music and Drama

Auckland took very kindly to “ Bluebell in Fairyland,” tremendous audiences having been the rule ever since Boxing night, and there being at the time of writing no slackening off of the boom. It is, indeed, a very dainty and pretty play, suitable to the season, and sure of applause from “ children of a larger growth,” as well as those within the teens.” It is, moreover, charmingly mounted and tastefully dressed, and the acting is delightful in the case of the children. The trio with Peter the Cat, in the first is strikingly original and well carried out. The music throughout is light, and even frothy, but tickles the ear pleasantly and at once, which is the main thing in an entertainment of this sort. -On the other side of the ledger, I will only offer one suggestion—that the schoolboys, Blib and Blob, would be much funnier in the picture if arrayed in the conventional Eton suits and top hats (as in the original). It is the incongruity of costume that makes for merriment in musical plays of this type. Madame Clara Butt and her splendid concert company open their New Zealand tour in Auckland on January 13 at His Majesty’s. Everything that can be said (irr advance) of shis world-fanibus artist, has already appeared in “ The Graphic.’.’. The following from the “ Australian Star ” on the social side of Clara Butt, is, however, interesting. Says the writer: —“ There is no doubt that a large portion of the audience went to see Clara Butt as much as they went to hear her. Outside her professional prestige she commends herself to the general public as an ideal wife and mother, and also r.s one of the tallest of England’s fair daughters. She is also credited with being one of the best dressed women on the concert platform. Her bearing and carriage are full of grace and repose, and she has the art of managing the classical Gibson sweep of the dress, and the twist which furnishes the graceful lines. Floral offerings were showered upon her, but always among them is one specially choice, the gift of her husband. This little tribute of admiration Mr. Kennerley Rumford never neglects. "Madame Clara Butt’s uncommon dress last evening was of silver sequins in fish scale pattern, a la sirene, or mermaid, sheathlike -and svelte, en princesse, fitting closely to the figure, the train finished by a ilounce of rich cream-coloured point de Venise over satin; the perfectly fitting bodice, strapped with bands of silver sequins, and a touch of colour, afforded by a posy of pink provence roses. “ Her jewels were the Victoria Badge, presented by Queen Victoria, representing a classical woman’s figure girdled with diamonds; a gold crown brooch, presented by the Prince of Wales; a medal from the Society of Musicians to the most successful student, presented by the Prince of Wales; a large gold inedal of the Philharmonic Society, London, showing the head of Beethoven in high relief, and bangles and scale brooch with treble clef, studded with precious stories spelling “Dearest,” the gifts of her husband; a beautiful purple butterfly en-. cased in crystal; a brooch presented by the City of Bristol, with initials “ C. 8.” developed in diamonds; a pendant presented by King Edward, with a miniature of the King encircled in diamonds and rubies; unique Barraque earrings of pearls. s - >f . I.' ti ~‘. During a short conversation' bbth Madame Clara Bntt ahd her husband praised the acoustic piropertiep of the Bxhibitiou i -h-;: k L* " .

Hall and the nice arrangements for their reception. They greatly enjoyed their railway journey through the Downs and the Main Range, but naturally find Brisbane hot and somewhat oppressive. Interesting details are revealed in the financial returns of the Paris Opera published by the “Journal Oflficiel.” The year's profits of the Opera, which receives a subvention from the State, amount to £3 18/. The gross receipts were more than £ 127,000, but the salaries are heavy and numerous. Mlle. Breval earns £ 300 a month, and Mme. Heglon nearly £-2000 a year. M. Alvarez earns £320 a mouth, and salaries of £2OOO a year are many. Mlle. Breval sang forty-nine times in the year for her £3600, and seventeen artists have cost the management £4O or more every time they have officiated. Mr. Jerome K. Jerome has written a play, entitled “Sylvia of the Letters,” which is to be reproduced in America by Miss Grace George. Mr. Jerome’s chief successes in drama have been made in the United States, where his “Miss Hobbs” was a great hit; but an exception to the general rule was made in the case of “Miss Tommy,” with which Miss Annie Hughes has won many laurels on tour in the English suburbs and provinces. In the course of a recent performance of “Hedda Gabler” in New York the aud- ’ ience was treated to a bit of comedy for which Ibsen was not responsible. Mr. John Findlay, as said: “I believe 1 hear her c-lining now,” which should have been followed by the entrance of Hedda, who is greeted by Aunt Julia with “Good-morning my dear Hedda.” But alas! there was no Hedda, Mme. Nazitpova, who was appearing in that character,' was chatting with a friend from Russia, and she missed her cue. There was a fearful pause. Then Mr. Findlay and Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, as Aunt Julia, filled the gap as best they could. Mrs. Whiffen looked into the wings and said, “Why, Hedda’s not there,” whereupon Mr. Findlay replied, “She must be sleeping late this morning. .She went to bed late last night.” Mrs. Whiffen nearly succumbed to this last truism. An impression seized Mr. Findlay. and he. said: “Wait a moment, Aunt Julia; I’ll get her.” Rushing off the stage, he cried “Hedda, Hedda! Where are you?” The unusual words, spoken in a frenzied tone of voice, reached madame.’s ears, and she hurried down, trembling with apprehension that the scene had been completely spoiled. She was unable to laugh at the incident until the following day. Miss Ellaline Terriss. the original “Blue-bell” had a providential escape from serious injury while returning home to her residence at Merstham from the Aldwych Theatre in the early hours recently. She was riding in her husband’s motor-ear along the Kennington-road, when the vehicle collided violently with a lamp-post, and was wrecked. Miss Terriss was accompanied by Miss Barbara Deane,- who is also appearing in “Tho Gay- Gordons,” and a inaid, the latter being thrown heavily against the side of the car and sustaining a bad cut on the forehead. Miss Terriss and Miss Deane, though badly shaken, were uninjured, and as soon as assistance arrived they accompanied the maid to a neighbouring surgery. Both actresses were able to appear on Wednesday night. ■■ • . J* J* , The pending revival of “La Cigale,” in ths.original production of which 17 years ago Miss Ellis Jeffreys played a small part, calls attention, says the “Daily News,” to the,large, number of successful actresses who leave graduated from musical, pieces. , Miss Jeffreys, Miss Marie Tempest. Miss Ethel Irving, who in her earlier days played in farce, and Miss

Constance Collier, who was at the Gaiety, are in the very front rank of our leading ladies, and Miss Cecilia Loftus rose from the “halls” to the position of playing Margaret in Sir Henry Irving’s revival of "Faust” at the Lyceum. Miss Lettice Fairfax was a Gaiety dancer; Miss Edith Cole, well known as Josephine in “A Royal Divorce,” played in burv lesque, and others now playing in comedy who made their reputations in musical farce are Miss Adrienne Augarde, Miss Pauline Chase, and Miss Maudi Darrell. <3* J* Mr. George Titheradge and Miss Madge Titheradge recently appeared at Windsor in a command performance of “A Pair of Spectacles.” The great Australian contralto, Madam Ada Crossley, is meeting with unprecedented success in her tour through England. Writes a Melbourne critic: “Certainly Melba is the most complete artist Australia has produced. That is the opinion one carries away from her concert. We have turned out some very fine artists in every branch of art, music, drama, painting sculpture, poetry, fiction, but Melba is as yet our one perfect and wholly satisfying product. She is our first genius, and it is pleasing to find with how little of what the crowd calls ‘side’ she bears her blushing honours. No performer I have seen displays less of the suggestion of self-importance. True, Melba does not need ‘side,’ her art is sufficient. It is only the lesser light, with a reputation three sizes too big for him, or her, who must swell up and air a vast importance. Wherever I have seen Melba, she has struck me as the person least concerned of all about the necessity of making a show. Fame fits Madame like a familiar garment. She is wonderfullv at her ease in it.” " • Mr. Charles Manners has seized upon the failure of the County Council steamboats to advance the cause he loves so well. "The first day the fleet was inaugurated,” he says,’“l wrote to the Press,

prophesying (it was an easy prophecy) that it would be a failure, and that it >was a pity the money was not put to grand opera in English. We can now roughly estimate what good the advice, if taken, would have been. -A National Opera House in London, built for half a million, £IO,OOO a year in the funds for pensions, and the rest of the capital would have paid for a hundred people every night to see grand opera for nothing. In addition to this, there would have been £ 100,000 a year spent in the highest of all arts, although it -is still considered the lowest in this country.”