Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 11, 14 March 1908, Page 13

Music and Drama

“Carter” does not sound like a name to conjure with; but from the moment that Carter steps on the stage at His Majesty’s until the final curtain falls on the last of his miracles, everyone recognises that a master magician is present who has sounded the depths of mystical lore and is fully competent to expound the subject in a way that leaves his audience in a deeper fog than ever. In the “bouquet of mysteries,” with which he opens his performance, he gives in rapid succession a number of familiar tricks, some of them presented in new dress—the vanishing lady feat, with which the first part closes, being particularly striking. The central part of the programme is devoted to the mysterious manifestations given by Miss Abigail Price, and to two veiy clever versions of the “cabinet trick,” in which many of the phenomena attributed by devotees to spirit agency are reproduced. Miss Price displays a power of clairvoyance, of mind-reading, and of insight into the future that would probably make her a millionairess if she turned her attention to the commercial side of the fortune-telling art; while Carter, bound to a chair hand and foot in a closed cabinet, does things that are really bewildering, and have led to his being charged with being not a magician but a “medium” in masquerade. In the elosing section of the performance an exposition is given of Chinese "ways that are dark and tricks that are vain,” which sends inquirers away thoroughly mystified. Add to all this the fact that Carter keeps up a witty and amusing “patter” from start to finish, and it requires no ghost to tell us that the crowded house that greeted his first appearance in Auckland will be repeated nightly till the close of his short season. Mr. .1. C. Williamson, the well-known theatrical manager, was a passenger for the eastern States by the R.M.s. Asturias. In an interview, Mr. Williamson said that in nine months he had travelled almost all over England, half-way across America, and through Paris and Germany. He had seen pretty well everything in the musical and dramatic world likely to interest Australian audiences; and much that, in his opinion, would not be looked at in this country. People in London and New York seemed more easily pleased than Australian audiences. There seemed to be a dearth of good new plays, and no new authors were coming forward. During the tour he purchased the Australian rights of about twenty plays and sufficient musical pieces to last his companies two or three years. JX The first of the new attractions to be staged in Australia would be “Peter Pan.” It would be put on in Melbourne at Easter. Miss Tittell Brune will return to play the title role. The next attraction would be “The Merry Widow,” one of the most successful comie operas of recent years. It was played throughout the Continent, and had been ’running over a year in London. Miss Carrie Moore had betm engaged for the part of the widow. He had also engaged Mr. Reg. Higginson, a very clever light comedian, with a fine baritone voice and most attractive personality. Two or three new players would be in the cast, including Mr. George Castles, brother of Miss Amy Castles. He saw Miss Amy Castles in London, and she was looking remarkably well, and had a great number of engagements on the Continent. 'd» JX Following “The Merry Widow” there would be the first appearance in Australia of Miss Margaret Anglin, a leading American actress. She would open with a powerful drama, entitled “The Thiel,” written by Bernstein. The company would be supported by Mr. George Titheradge and jjtoMMa

Kingston. Miss Ada Crossley would be the next artist to appear under his direction. She would tour the various States with a strong concert company. Then would follow a new American company, opening with “mrs. Wiggs, of the Cabbage Patch.” The leading part would be taken by Miss Emily Melville, an old Australian favourite. In musical comedy “The Red Mill” will be produced. He has secured from Mr. Charles Frohman the rights of a German musical comedy entitled "The Waltz Dream.” JX Madame Sarah Bernhardt would commence a tour of Australia early in May of next year. She would give one hundred performances, and bring a company of 30 players and a repertoire of 12 of her - most powerful plays. She expressed much pleasure at the prospects of coming to Australia. When leaving for America he was still negotiating with her, and upon the return journey to England, whilst in mid-ocean, nearly 1,000 miles from land, received a marconigram accepting his offer. •yX J* Charles Waldron, who was seen here in “The Squaw Man,” and “The Virginian,” is appearing in “The Warrens of Virginia,” a new play produced at the Belasco Theatre, New York, recently, which scored a great success. Waldron’s acting as an heroic lieutenant is praised by the critics. Wellington said farewell to “Brewster’s Millions” in the name of New Zealand last week, and this evening (Saturday, February 22nd j Monty will explain his system of dissipating an inconvenient legacy to Hobart for the first time. A four nights’ season there will be followed by two nights in Launceston before the company crosses to the mainland. The whimsical comedy on C. Barr McCutcheon’s novel was exceptionally well received throughout the Dominion, not only in the large cities but also in the smaller provincial towns, where the audiences were consistently crowded, some of them, indeed, equalling those which gathered together to witness the play in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. JX jX Sir W. S. Gilbert, in returning thanks at the New Vagabond dinnei’ at the Hotel Cecil, when he and Lady Gilbert were the guests of the evening, said that in his capacity of magistrate he had frequently to deal with old vagabonds, and he had to confess to a certain sympathy with that class of culprit. He had found, he said, no little difficulty in reconciling himself to his new digifity. On his way to a Mansion House banquet in the evening of the day when his name appeared in the complimentary portion of the “Gazette,” he repeatedly reminded himself that he was no longer Mr. W. S. Gilbert, but Sir William. Yet when he gave his name to the usher it was Mr. W. S. Gilbert. “But the usher said to me, in an undertone of gentle reproof, ‘Sir William Gilbert, I think.' And 1 replied, “God bless my soul, yes, so I am.' ” JX JX Messrs. Meynell and Gunn have completed arrangements for the visit to Australia and New Zealand of the two wellknown artists, Mr. and Mr s. Albert Mallinson, who will give a series of song recitals, commencing at the Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday, 18th May. Mr. Albert Mallinson is probably the first English composer to give public recitals in Germany of his own song compositions. A leading eritie has descril*ed his songs as “creations which appear but once in an ago.” Mrs. Mnllinson was very well-known to New Zealanders as Madame Bahnson.

The immense sums earned by Kubelik may be guaged from the fact that he was able to pay £160.000 for the purchase ot Prince Hobenlohe's ancient feudal castle and estate at Kollin, in Silesia. A few years ago he was offered one hundred guineas to play at the reception of a we,.known nobleman in London, but he refused, remarking that just twice that sum should have been given him. And yet his father, who was of gipsy origin, had to toil as a market gardener.practically killing himself with overwork,in order to provide his son with a proper musical education! For his first concert Kubilik received £5, out of which he spent £4 10s. on a wreath for his father’s grave. J® Everybody knows what a favourite the handsome violinist is with the ladies. “The ladies! Ah! the ladies!” he says; “yes, they have always been very kind to me. They send flowers—flowers always —and rings, and pins, and diamonds, and oh! many presents And you must play again and again for the ladies.” But their attentions have decreased, surely, since his marriage? The violinist laughs merrily. “Oh, no; not at all. Since then they have been more courageous than ever before” It was not always so, however. At a very smart London party a lady gave a start on opening her programme. “Oh! Kubelik,” she exclaimed. “How delightful! I have heard so much of Kubelik. But what is it? Is it a new game? A kind of ping-pong, I suppose?” JX Already Mme. Tetrazzini is suffering from that penalty of fame which con demns celebrities to receive letters from all and sundry, containing requests ranging from the most ridiculous to the most impudent. Here is one of the latest samples, which the prima donna received from a chemist; “1 have, as a result of many years’ experiments, invented an elixir which will render any woman’s voice beautiful, almost divine, giving it strength and durability. I am a flute-player, and can accompany any singer. If I get no engagement here soon I am off to Japan. I want £lB to publish a book entitled ‘Tales and Sketches of Bristol.’ I have received orders from the King of England, King of Italy, and other Royalties, and all that stands between me and fame is £lB. Will you send it to me? (Postal orders preferred.) Herewith some pretty wrist-cuffs to keep you warm. They are made by me. Will you write to me explaining how you like them, telling me of their faults and_their good points, and, in fact, all you think of them? I have a guitar 200 years old. Would you buy it? You could easily learn, and accompany yourself on the stage with JX JX At length it is possible to make a definite anouncement regarding the Australian and New Zealand season of “Peter Pan.” that dainty and most whimsical of fairy stories by J. M. Barrie, to the Australian premiere of which playgoers on this side of th world have been so eagerly looking forward. That premiere will take place at the Princess’ Theatre, Melbourne, on April 18 (Easter Saturday), and an additional attraction will mark the occasion in that it will signalise the return of Miss Tittell Brune to the scene of so many former triumphs. After a season of eleven weeks and a total of 87 performances and an aggregate attendance amounting approximately to a quarter of a million people, “Humpty-Dumpty” is to be withdrawn from Her Majesty’s Theatre. Melbourne, The principal cause which induced the management to curtail the most consistently successful run of the pantomime has been the most manifest anxiety of theatregoei’S to renew a«x|uaintance with “Mother Goose.” Their affections for tlmt festive old dame have remained steady ever since tl>ey first laughed over her many e<eentricities over n year ago. and hundreds of requests were received literally Isigging lor a revival. Consequently Inst year’s record beater goes up once more to delight Australian audience's. Jt is certainly an experience quite out of the common for playgoers to have the enjoyment of two pantomimes

from the same company in the same year, and it is doubtful indeed if such a course has ever before been taken in any part of the world. From the look of things the cast available for the revival will be an exceptionally strong one. It will be headed, of course, by Mr. Harry Phydora, who made such an outstanding success of the “heroine” when first it was produced in Melbourne the Christmas before last, and succeeded in establishing his reputation immediately with his portrayal of the old lady who possessed the invaluable specimen of domestic poultry. Then there will be Mr. Harry Shine. Mr. Victor Loydall, Miss Pressy Preston and others in their old parts, while all the song successes, such as “Moon, Dear,” the "Swing Song.” “Waiting at the Church,” and so on, will he retained. After Melbourne, Adelaide will have the pleasure of a visit from "Humpty-Dumpty,” which, however, will only be a short one, as they are due to open in Sydney at Easter time.