Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 8, 24 February 1909, Page 16

Music and Drama

Mr Brandon Thomas, the author of •’Charley's Aunt,” has revived his famous comedy this Christmas at the Aldwych Theatre. The story of the play’s success is one of the most astonishing in theatrical history. It has not ceasea being played fur a single day, Sundays Bud holy days excepted, since its production in 1892. Close on 200,000 performances have been given, a figure never before attained by any theatrical production. It has been translated into French, German, Russian mid mocrern trreek. In 81l our colonies, in India, in China, in 'Japan, in the backwoods of America, into every civilised corner of the earth “Charley's Aunt” has penetrated. Companies have carried the piece into the mining camps of California and the Klondike, and to the cotton fields of Louisiana. As is often the case with phenomenal successes, several managers declined it at first, and Mr Thomas had to seek financial help in the City, much to the advantage of the City. Mr Thomas, who is a Liverpool man, tried jnany trades before becoming a dramatist. He lias been a timber merchant, a soldier, a shop designer, an actor, and a pamphleteer.

In all the scores of columns that were printed about the London pantomimes there is hardly a single reference to that long-suffering individual, the pantomime author. Even the king of the profession, Mr J. Hicskory-Wood, is politely ignored in most of the notices of the Drury Lane show, of which he is the librettist. Yet the success of most pantomimes is largely dependent on the autnor. who has a great deal to do with the constructional part of the work and with evolving opportunities for spectacular effects. Air Wood has written nearly 200 pantomimes during the last twelve years, and “Dies: Whittington” is the tenth that he Has done for Drury Lane. Mr Wood was formerly a clerk in a Manchester insurance office. His success in remodelling a local show was so great that lie abandoned insurance and came to London, where his first pantomime was produced at the Garrick in 1899. “I well remember bevr.g paid for my first provincial pantomime,” he says. “I won’t tell you the name for the manager —he would be fearfully annoyed if it became known that he had ever paid anybody. He paid me from the box-office receipts, and all in shillings, and I walked home with ten pounds in shillings Tn each of my trouser pockets.” The “J. Hickory’’ part of Mr Wood’s name is, of course, a pseudonym, and was invented by his wife. Another prolific pantomime author is Mr Frank Dix, who lias just produced his fiftieth pantomime. Curiously enough, both Mr Dix and Mr Wood were brought up in a strong anti-theatri-cal atmosphere. Mr Dix's father being a celebrated hymn-writer and evangelist, while Mr Wood’s parents were Scottish Presbyterians of the strictest type. JI The consistent and persistent success which has everywhere and so worthily followed the Cherniavski lads in their inimitable performances, was duly repeated in Auckland, where the three talented brothers made their appearance on Monday evening Truly they are a marvellous trio. Leo is not, of course, the greatest of violin players we have listened to, nor can he properly be classed with seniors such as Kubelik or Ct.mmila Urso, or even Musin, but he is a possible successor to the first named, while his plea-ant style and charm remind one strongly of the last. Leo Cherniavski is already a very fine player, and it is quite probable that those who hear him now will pleasantly remember the fact, when he has risen to the eminence of one of the greatest violinists of the day. He is young, he lias genius, and is obviously intensely in earnest and vastly ambitious, and not afraid of work. With these qualifications who shall say where he will stop. But at present it is the ease and gracefulness of his playing which most greatly charms. There is no theatrical posing, no posturing and no trickery. His performances are entirely satisfactory and satisfy nt once those who can appreciate technique and finish and those Who are merely pleased with a masterly performance without being very well able to explain why. Mischel OherniaVski has been claimed a- a coming mas-

ter of that most lovely of all stringed instruments, tne ’cello. He is without dcubt a singularly fine player and may achieve even the highest position. His .tone is exceedingly fine and rich, and his technique for one of his years exceptionally good. That he is destined to fill a high position in the art world, and that he is already one of the most enjoyable players New Zealanders have had an opportunity of listening to, is without question. Jan is a sympathetic pianist, he gets more sentiment out of the instrument than many pianists of note whom we have heard in the Dominion. No one who has a chance of hearing the Cherniavski recitals should miss the opportunity. They provide a musical and educative treat such as we can seldom enjoy and which will leave behind many pleasant memories. jt jl The plot motive of “ The Paradise of Mahomet,” the French operetta which the Shuberts are about to produce in the United States, is the problem of what a widow shall do in the hereafter when she meets two or more of her husbands. J* J* Madame Albani will probably not appear in opera or on the concert platform again, so satisfied is she with vaudeville. Jt Jl Going to the theatre one evening, a ibedragled, woebegone stranger bailed the late George Lauri up, begging for a few pence. The comedian gave a shilling. After the performance Lauri was confronted at the same place 'by the same man. “Why, I gave you a shilling before this evening,” said Lauri. “You must have spent it foolishly.” “Yes, sir,” sad the beggar; ‘T went to see you act.” ‘T gave him half a crown,” Lauri would say, finishing the story. “I suppose it was the only half-dollar the beggar ever earned.” jl jl Aleynell and Gunn have engaged Herbert J. Bentley, one of the most capable members of Julius Knight’s company, as leading man of their dramatic company, for the New Zealand tour of “Two Little Sailor Boys” and “A Miner’s Trust.” Announcement is made in America that Mrs; Brown Potter had signed for a 20 weeks’ engagement in vaudeville, to begin at the Lineoln-square Theatre in January for a salary-of £4OO per week. Jl Jl A “complete letter writer” could not achieve more directness and compact brevity than the following missive from a young actor: “Dear parents,—l am a great success. Send me a pound.” Jl Jl Margaret Anglin, who sailed from Melbourne on December 19 for Calcutta, proceeds to Egypt. .She will not appear in America again until next September, when she will produce “The Awakening of Helena Richie” at the Hollis-street Theatre, Boston. J never touch it unless I am training for a long swim.” Jl Jl Annette Kellermann, the expert swimmer in vaudeville, enters a dep tank of water on the stage and disrobes while swimming, appearing later in fleshings (says an American paper). “I never eat,” declares Miss Kellermann, “until noon, and then lightly. My best meal comes at six o’clock. I never eat meat. I mean Meynell and Gunn’s Comic Opera Company has added to its repertoire that fine musical play, “Sergeant Brue,” which ran for over twelve months in London. Willie Edouin, well-known in Australia, created the title role. J* Jl The Belfast “Evening Telegraph” thus pays tribute to kinematograph shows:— “Another eye-complaint has boon discovered, this time in the United States. The disease, it seems, is caused by watching kinematograph pictures, and the symptoms are headaches and nervous-

ness. The remedy of course, is to stay away from kinematograph pictures; but it may be added that headache and nervousness were known long before the days of such attractive displays." J* Jl Mr. Harry Lauder, the comedian, has, it is stated, been insured against accident for £13.300 by an American musio hall syndicate. The sum is to be paid if an accident prevents him appearing on the stage. There is sweating in other places than clothing factories remarks a writer in the “Bulletin.” A big Australian city owns a dramatic company addicted to plays of the hair-raising class whose supers rehearse once and sometimes twice a -day, play at night (in some cases having as many as three changes of clothes in a show!) and provide their own disguises—all for 12/ per week. Jl Discussing in the “Graphic” the causes of the many marriages between peers and actresses. Lady Violet Greville says the reasons are: —(1) The glamour of the footlights and the fact that the actress’s beauty is made the most of; (2) the enormous advertisement given by photographs and the press nowadays to young actresses; (3) the fact that the girls are clever enough to desire and insist on marriage; and, lastly, the want of attraction of girls in society. The latter do not try to please men as they used to; they are too engrossed in their own amusements and games to care, .and they associate so much “ en camarade” ■with their male friends that the glamour the mystery, the aloofness which are carefully cherished by the stage have disappeared. J* A fair proportion of the members of the Julius Knight Company have had to make themselves proficient in the art of falling naturally, for “The Breed of tho Treshams” bristles with hand to hand encounters and shooting episodes. For instance, during the progress of the play Mr. Knight shoots Mr. Rupert Julian in the vicinity of a staircase, and the latter plunges headlong down, while in another instance Mr. Denniston, after a scuffle with the “Rat,” falls down, dragging another member of the cast with him. Jl Jl The variety stage has now claimed Bob Fitzsimmons, of pugilistic fame. He opened at the Oxford in a sketch called “ A Alan’s a Man for a’ That.” Mrs. Fitzsimmons also takes part in the sketch. Jl Jl George Szell, the latest child prodigy, is a typical sturdy English schoolboy of 11, fair-haired and rosk-cheeked. Although he arrived in England only a few weeks ago, he is as British in manner and appearance as though he had never seen Budapest, his birthplace. George Szell has made a great impression in Vienna as pianist and composer. He has contrived to acquire a pianoforte technique simply marvellous, even m these days of “wunderkinder.” and also to deliver himself of some 300 compositions, comprising overtures, string quartets, instrumental pieces, songs, and even a comic opera, “Kleine Roland.” What is even more wonderful, this little modern Mozart scores with the greatest ease for the fullest and most up-to-date modern orchestra, and improvises with extraordinary versatility upon any theme given him. Jl The announcement of the illness of Air. George Titheradge, resulting in his inability to complete the Auckland season with Air J. C. Williamson’s Company, was> received with the most sincere regret by the threatre-going public, and the utmost sympathy is extended to him in his misfortune. Mr. Titheradge, I onderstand, is laid up with appendicitis, but it is hoped that he will have sufficently recovered to enable him to appear again in public after a brief spell under the doctor’s care. Jl Air. Harry Herbert, the well-known Aucklander, who left here about six months ago to commence a professional career in Australia, is now appearing with the Harry Roberts Co. in Hobart, where they opened last week to big busi-

ness. He is playing “old men” parts la “Struck Oil,” “Rebellious Susan,” and “The Prince Chap.” In writing to Mr. Alan Mcllwain, Mr. Herbert sends greetings to his many friends in this city. js JI Aiiss Loie Fuller, the famous American dancer, has a fund of stories of the late Mr P. T. Barnum. One of the best is that relating to the elephant which the great showman advertised all over the world as the sacred white elephant from Siam. Everybody flocked to see such a wonder, and Barnum netted 2,000,000 dollars. Then the elephant died. It could stand the daily whitewashing no longer!—“Woman’s Life.” J* JI Air. Walter Fuller, of the firm of John Fuller and Sons, writing from London on December 28th, says: —“I went to tho Adelphi Theatre and saw the first night of “Cinderella,” which went very smoothly. Here I saw the famous post-card beauty, Phylis Dare, and she was a very dainty performer. Miss Carrie ALoore was principal boy, but I have seen her to better advantage in other parts. There was some disturbance on the first night, through the claque (paid applaudits) making themselves too demonstrative, and which the rest of the audience vigorously resented. One of the comedians alluded to “Joe Chamberlain”; there was an outcry from the gallery of “No politics,” which caused another uproar. Altogether it was a fairly lively night.” Jl J* The Australasian rights of Bernard •Shaw’s comedy-dramas are in the possession of the J. C. Williamson Company, Mr. Julius Knight has been asked to make a selection of the following: “Arms and the Man,” “Man and Sportsman,”. “You Never Can Tell,” “Captain Brasshound’s Conversion,” and “John Bull’s Island.” Jl J 8 Harry Rickards's latest importations at the Sydney Tivoli included Amalia and Lenonora, two charming ladies from the Folies Bergeres, Paris, who are described as marvellous athletes and extraordinary ballancers. Ji Jl “The Duchess of Dantzic” is rivalling “The Merry Widow” in the appreciation of Sydney audiences, and the Royal Comic Opera Company have been gladdened by the sight of a constant succession of crowded houses at every performance. J® Jl Air. Allan Hamilton has just formed a new dramatic company- to tour Australasia. Air. George Cross will be leading man, and Miss Ada Guilford leading lady. Other prominent engagements will include Air. George P. Carey (stage manager), Air. John Hesford, Miss Alaud Chetwynd, Aiiss Alay Hesford, and Aiiss Rosemary Rees (a new actress from England). The first production (on April 3, at the Palace, Sydney) will be “Queen of the Night”—a melodrama which has been running successfully in the English provinces for the past three years. The Sydney season will last six weeks, after which New’ Zealand will be visited, opening at Wellington on Saturday, Alay 29. Air. Frank TEUgarde will have charge of the musical arrangements. Jl Jl In aid of the victims of the earthquake a remarkable concert took place at Genoa (Italy) recently. For the first time for sixty years Paganini's favourite violin,' which he left to the town, was allowed to be taken from the municipal museum. The honour of performing on the famous instrument fell to the Polish violinist, Al. Bronislav Hubermann, who was presented by the town council with a gold medal struck for the occasion. The concert was enormously successful. J* J* Air J. C. Williamson (says the “Australian Star”) is the presiding genius of theatrical Australasia. He has won that position by no mere expenditure of wealth in engagement of stars and purchase of successes. He ploughed through a sea of embarrassments and anxieties before he anchored safely at success. That he did not founder, not once, but a hundred times, is due to veritable genius, backed by unfailing gi*.