Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 19, 6 May 1908, Page 16

Music and Drama

“The Prisoner of Zenda,’’ by far the best thing Mr Knight does, always saving and excepting “Beaucaire,” drew phenomenal audiences in Auckland, but was withdrawn on Saturday to make room for

“Claudian,” which was somewhat of a pity, for the latter play cannot hold a candle in point of interest or smartness to the dramatisation of Anthony Hope’s splendid novel. A description of some of the dresses worn in “Zenda" appears in our Auckland letter, and should be studied by lady readers. A? J® Miss Cathedinc Aulsebrook, the Auckland contralto who left New Zealand to study under Madame Blanche Marches!, appears to be doing well. That experienced teacher has obtained for her several good engagements, notably at Lady Brassey’s, at Park Lane, and a festival in Somerset. Speaking of a concert, at (Brighton, the local “Herald” says: — “The concert served to introduce to Brighton a contralto of high accomplishment in Miss Catherine Aulsebrook. Her wide-compassed voice has peculiarly satisfying qualities of openness and fulness, strong and decided in attack, firm and even, and yet not without warmth and sympathy. She sang -with, quiet, unforced dignity in Liddle’s “Abide With Me,” and was heard to even greater advantage in Handel’s stately, sonorous ‘Largo,’ -here given its more correct but less popular title, ‘Ombra mai fu.’ ” A» JX Enrico Caruso, who was so highly satisfied with the four years’ contract that he made with Henrich Conried, of the New York Metropolitan Opera House, is ' now trying to dodge his obligations. Under his contract with Conried, which has three years more to run, Caruso gets £360 this year for each appearance, £4OO next year and £5OO the following year. He is assured of eighty appearances every season. Lately he has had to refuse an offer of £7OO each for ten concerts in the States because of the contract. 'At At May Moore Duprez, of the accent and the clogs, is back again at the London halls after an extended holiday in Monte Carlo and Paris. A* At The “Peter Pan” production at the Melbourne Princess, according ijo the critics, has proved a great success. Miss Tittell Brune, it would appear, admirably sustains the title role in Barrie’s fanciful romance, and receives adequate support from the company. ■it JX The Royal Artillery Band of Newcastle left England on April 9th to make a tour of Australasia. The band’s reputation extends to almost every corner of Great Britain. A» At Meynell and Gunn’s first musical comedy production commenced its career at the Melbourne Royal a fortnight back. The piece was “Miss Hook of Holland,” from the London Prince of Wales. In th e English production G. P. Huntley is the Mr. Hook, and it is said that the Australian importation, Mr. Edwin Brett, is strongly reminiscent of the English comedian’s very distinctive style. I notice that Huntley has been out of the London cast owing to illhealth, and that that excellent comedian of pleasant memory, George Giddens, has been filling his shoes. At At Andrew Black is in Westralia. He gave a recital at the. Queen’s Hall, Perth, on Good Friday night. A» JX The Klos Sisters, who are in the Rickards’ touring variety show, are said to draw £lOO a week. Speaking of Rickards and drawing salaries, the “Referee,” after detailing some of the superstitions of that lucky manager, including a disinclination to sign contracts on Friday, expresses an opinion that no actor would allow himself to be

so far influenced by superstition as to refuse his pay on a Friday. At At

Talking of superstition—Bland Holt objects to an open umbrella on the stage, and in one play of his, in which there was a scene with the rain falling in torrents, two of the principals walked the stage with closed "gamps” under their arms! JX <st Percy Dix who, in conjunction with Baker, provides the people of the coal town of Newcastle with permanent variety entertainment, has at present artists appearing most of whom are known to patrons of vaudeville on this side —Victor the Great, Ward Lear, “Rescued from an Eagle’s Nest,” moving picture, the Levartos, Maggie Fraser, Lucy Lavinia, Olive Carr, Maxwell and Roberts, Amy Blackie, Dawson and Rhodesbury, Chas. Pope, and Geo. Pogden. <S» JX Roy Redgrave, who appeared here with Tittell Brune’s Co., is now leading man in the production of “Robbery Under Arms” at the Pavillion Theatre, London. A* JX Dolly Castles is a member of one of the George Edwardes’ touring companies at present producing “The Girls of Gottenberg.” A* <4t Fred. Graham and his wife (Nellie Dent), at present with Fuller’s company, will shortly leave on a trip to England and America. Al JX How great was the fall thereof* The Queen’s Theatre, down in Kensington, which for some years has catered for the intellectual interest more than any other London theatre, mainly with Bernard Shaw plays, has descended to a Courtneidge revival of “The Dairymaids.” Carrie Moore, who was a bright particular star in the original production, Would not be in the cast, having sailed for Australia to play the chief part in the Williamson production of “The Merry Widow.” But even Carrie Moore would not be so much missed in view of the fact that Phyllis Dare was to play the heroine. L At At Mr. William Hawtrey, with his own company, is fulfilling engagements in faroff California, being at the Orpheuin, in Oakland, not a great distance from San Francisco. • At JX A smart valet was recently caught after obtaining considerable amounts) from the well-known Paris actress, Mlle. Lolita, in an extraordinary way. He went daily to her residence with a bouquet, which he represented to be the admiring tribute to the actress from his master, the Grand Duke Peter Nicholtievitch of Servia. Each day the actress gave him a handsome tip, which, in fact, amounted to some two or three francs more than the price of the flowers. By obtaining the flowers himself Gaston added appreciably to his weekly wage by this fraud. But now the trick has been discovered, and he repines in gaol. JX JX That very clever and attractive actress, Janet Achurch has apparently fallen on bad times. She was sued recently by a firm of costumieres for £B2. During the course of her evidence, she stated that she had been engaged only for four weeks during the last two and a half years. J» 'JX “But you make £25 a week,” remarked Judge Edge. “That is very handsome.” A» JX “But only for four weeks in two and « half years,” Miss Achurch replied. ”1 am known chiefly for paying in Ibsen’s

plays, but they are rarely performed nowadays. I would gladly pay this if I could; and X promise you that whenever 1 am in work I will pay whatever I can.” JX JX Mr R. G. Knowles has included Australia and New Zealand in his itinerary for a second tour of the world. At At In England the number of actors and actresses playing upon the variety stage is steadily upon the increase. Among the latest names mentioned of tjiose who are about to try their fortunes in the halls are those of Ellen Terry, Laurence Irving, Fanny Brough, and Seymour Hicks.