Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 130, 19 January 1893, Page 3

Music, Drama.

(By

Orpheus.)

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ? The Dampier Season. A good house on Monday evening witnessed the opening performance of the Dampier Company, and the new play “ Hearts and Homes ” was well received and scored a distinct success. Henry has treated in an original fashion the time-honoured idea of the wrong man being arrested and convicted for the villain’s crime. J In the first act the curtaiyi falls upon the desperate murder of Capain Seafield by Joseph Millbank under circumstances which implicate Paul Markham, but the presence of an eye-witness, Job Tatterag, who at once accuses Millbank, would seem to point at Markharh’s exculpation. Here, however, the touch of originality comes in, as in the next act it appears that Job’s evidence was not believed, and Markham was condemned to death, the sentence being subsequently commuted to transportation for life. The play is full of good writing and strong situations, but the construction is not faultless. Mr Alfred Dampier is the life and soul of the piece—first as the bibulous schoolmaster, Job Tatterag, whose ingenious pleas to all and sundry to “ stand a pint ” are only less amusing than his stage-struck rhapsodies, his realistic picture of the “jim-jams,” and his amatory advances to “ Peggy ” (Miss Katherine Russell). He is equally funny as Fitzrov Grosvenor, the crushed tragedian, who explains the derivation of his aristocratic pseudonym, and therefore “ acts on the (double) square.” Again, as Victor Mouchard, the elderly Frenchman, Mr Dampier was immense. His altercation with Peggy about tea and un (Euf and the latter’s bewilderment, capped by Victor’s roundabout interpretation, through Cock-a-doodle, Cock-a-doodle’s vife, Cock-a-doodle’s child, and what Cock-a-doodle’s child came from, i.e., an egg (!) caused shrieks of laughter. As Paul Markham Mr Edward Holloway’s fine presence, sonorous voice, finished acting, splendid enunciation, and combined power and pathos, made the character the picture of bluff honesty and nobility of soul, which doubtless the author intended. Of the two villains “ Septimus Swindledon ” was admirably played by Mr A. Rolfe, whom I shall carefully watch in other roles. Mr G. Rosier, although the part of Joseph Millbank was evidently not a congenial one, showed careful and conscientious study. Jonas Grimwood, the boatman, and John Solomon, the fisherman, found very capable exponents in Mr G. Buller and Mr Newing. Captain Seafield (Mr J. H. Ainslie) during his brief life was an exact picture of the typical master-mariner. As the heroine, Amy Castleton, Miss Rose Dampier made the most of a not particularly strong iole, and to the accompaniment of Mr Rosier sang Millard’s song “ Waiting ” with good execution and effect. Miss Julia Merton did well in the exacting and difficult role of Helen Markham, and Miss Katherine Russell proved herself to be a lively and attractive soubrette actress in the capital part of “ Peggy.” The other characters were

satisfactorily played, and the mounting and scenery were in every respect effective and complete. I must award a word of praise to Mr Eady’s orchestra, which played excellently throughout the evening, one selection, “La Mascotte,” in which Messrs. McComish and S. Jackson, cornet and clarionette, played superbly, being quite a feature. Last night “ Hearts and Homes ” was replaced by that charming idyll “ The Green Lanes of England,” in which Miss Lily Dampier reigns supreme. To-night (Thursday) the same piece will be staged, and should draw a crowded house.

Mr. Alfred F. Hill.

This young violinist and composer, who is a New Zealander trained at the Leipzic Conservatorium, gave a recital on Friday evening at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms. Mr Hill proved himself not only a master of technique on the king of instruments, but also a gifted musician, with a development of soul and' power rarely met with in so youthful a performer. His rendering of the exacting and difficult Concerto by Mendelssohn merits very high praise. Some slight lapses in intonation in the first movement were doubtless due to the moist atmosphere affecting the strings, but during the rest of the evening tune, tone, attack, neat- and precise execution, arpeggios, harmonics, doublestopping, delicacy, and taste were emphatically good. Mr Hill’s method is a sound and artistic one. His use of the closed shake and portamento is sparing, and he depends for effect upon the legitimate resources of a fine instrument (a Testori) without any artificial forcing. An “Albumblatt” aud a “Scotch Sonata,” from his own pen, displayed considerable originality as well as taste and knowledge of the instrument. The contropuntal work in the arrangement with the piano revealed masterly skill. The other contributions by Mr Hill were “ Danses Tziganes ” by Nachez, with a dainty introduction to some clever and original melodies and effects, Winiawski’s “ Legend,” admirably played, and a “ Concertstucke,'’ by Goiterman, for that fine instrument the viola, which is too rarely honoured with solo work. Mr Hill added more leaves to his composer’s laurel wreath by a humorous vocal setting of “ Three Blind Mice,” capitally given by the Messrs Queree and Carter to the composer’s accompaniment. Mr Hill is undoubtedly a gifted all-round musician with a brilliant future -before him. The other vocal selections were “To-night” and “For Music,” by Robert Franz, sung with great taste and finish by that rising young tenor Mr Carter; and Blumenthal’s great song, “ The Requital,” sung by Miss Rimmer. I have never heard this young lady sing so well. Her attack was crisp, the use of portamento and tremolo much better regulated, and the fine qualities of sympathy and expression, for which I have always praised her, lost nothing of their effect by the improvement in her method. In conclusion I must mention the skilful and artistic playing of Mrs Ernest Queree, to whose excellence on the pianoforte much of the evening’s success was due.

Madame Steinhauer Banhnson’s recent concert at the City Hall proved in every respect a brilliant success. All the singers were in splendid voice, and the instrumental numbers were well chosen and excellently rendered. Miss Clarice Brabazon, on a fairly good pianoforte, played Raff’s “ Polka de la Reine ” with such brilliant elan that a tumultuous encore greeted the last notes. I'he young lady bowed her acknowledgments. Mr Percy Dufaur, to Miss Harding’s faultless accompaniment, sang Arditi’s fine “ Let me love thee,” rendering both the cantabile and passionate phrases with such telling effect and taste a;s to compel an enthusiastic encore. Wallace’s fine song, “ A Father’s Love,” with which Mr Dufaur responded, proved equally successful. A duo for flute and clarionette, by Messrs. 8. Jackson and F. Innes, with Miss Harding at the pianoforte, covered all three with glory, the tone, tune and ensemble being admirable, and the performance winning loud applause. Mdme. Bahnson’s first selection, “ Righteous art Thou, O Lord ” (Stradella), is perhaps better suited to a more robust soprano, but was rendered with refined taste and was of course encored. In response Madame Bahnson gave Benedict’s vocal setting of “The Carnival de Venise,” in which the gifted lady displayed her neat and artistic vocalise to perfection. Mr T. M. Jackson followed with Pinsuti’s grand song, “The Last Watch,” accompanied by Miss Brabazon. I will at once say that the singer in many respects shows

remarkable improvement, more especially in phrasing, delicacy, taste, and finish. The voice, too, has developed in volume, but I feel sure that there is yet more behind. In response to an ovation, Mr Jackson sang with exquisite taste “ I seek for thee in every flower.” After the ininterval, Messrs. S. and J. Jackson played a duo from Bellini’s “ Somnambula” on clarionette and oboe. Ihe arrangement, an extremely clever one, afforded opportunities which were brilliantly seized by both gentlemen, whose tone, execution, and ensemble rendered the number one of the greatest treats of the evening. Madame Bahnson next sang “ Synnovis’ Song on the Mountains,” by Kjerulf, a quaint and characteristic melody full of plaintive grace. Quite a garden of flowers rewarded the fair singer’s triumph, and the encore song was “ La veritable Manola,” in which, added to magnificent vocalise, the management of breath was superbly artistic. Mr T. M. Jackson’s voice and style were splendidly suited by Pinsuti’s “ If,” the song being excellently phrased and effectively rendered. As an encore the singer gave “ Only once more,” by Frank Moir, an old favourite of his, which he rendered with greatly enhanced success. Miss Brabazon accompanied both songs, and re-appeared to play Chopin’s “ Fantasie Impromptu,” in which she surpassed herself, and won a tremendous encore, in response to which she played a “ Turkish March ” by Rubinstein. Messrs. T. M. Jacksoh and George Reid sang Braham’s duo, “ O Albion,” with vigour and accuracy, the voices blending perfectly. A persistent encore compelled a repetition of the entire number. Madame Bahnson ended a delightful concert by singing the Nightingale air from “ The Marriage of Jeannette,” by Victor Massi. The morceau suits the singer to perfection, and afforded full scope for passion, delicacy, trills, echoes, staccato, and tied vocalise, and florid tours de force, all of which the gifted singer revelled in.

Mr Walter Bentley wound up a brilliant season by repeating “ The Silver King ” to large audiences on Friday and Saturday evenings. His farewell speech was both eloquent and in good taste, and he made a special allusion to Mr Alfred Dampier, “ a friend of twenty-five years’ standing,” bespeaking the same > kind treatment for Mr Dampier which Auckland had awarded to himself.

The well-known trainer and jockey W. Demuth, died somewhat suddenly at Kumara, Westland, on the 9th inst., from inflammation of the lungs. He had been engaged with Langley the Devil and others of his horses at the Christmas and New Year meetings in Westland, and had won races at Reefton and Kumara. Demuth - I first remember as a boy with Bob Ray when that trainer had Danebury, Maritana, etc. Demuth was a capable horseman in those days, and so he was up to the time I last saw him. He trained several good hacks and up-country horses, but somehow was a man who, through no fault of his own, never had a first-class show given him.

The well-performed colt Meli dropped dead on the tan track at Caulfield on Dec. 29 while quietly cantering. According to the Sporting Standard it was at first thought that Meli had fallen through putting his foot in a hole, but the track was perfectly sound at this particular place 1 although rather dry, and in need of watering. A post mortem shewed, that Meli’s death was due to a stoppage of one of the valves of the heart. Meli was a beautifully bred colt, being by Newminster (son of the Marquis) out of Melos’ sister Melodious. He was foaled at St. Albans, Vic., and as a yearling was sold for 575 gs to the Caulfield trainer Ike Foulsham, who was acting for Mr J. Hersey. Meli’s first appearance was in the V.A.T.C. Foal Stakes, when he was next to Tiily and Trieste who ran a dead heat for first place After running unplaced in the Nursery Handicap at the same meeting he was laid by till the V.R.C. Spring, when he started favourite for the Maribymong Plate but could not get into a place. Foulsham then decided to give him a spell, and he was not seen out again till the V.A.T.C. Boxing Day meeting when he cantered in for the Juvenile Stakes, beating a first class field. The following week Meli started in the Normanby Stakes at Flemington and suffered defeat at the hands of The Captain and Azim. He next sported silk in the Oakleigh Handicap, 5J furlongs, but did not distinguish himself. He was unplaced with 9.4 in the Junior Handicap at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting, but shortly afterwards he beat Azim and others in the V.A.T.G Federal Stakes. At the Australian Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting he acted as runner up to Autonomy in the Champagne Stakes, and in the First Biennial Stakes he got home from Mascara, Autonomy, who was an odds-on chance, being third. With the big impost of 9.5 he was only just beaten out of a place in the Second NurseryHandicap, whinh closed his two-year-old career. He commenced as a three-year-old by running third to Autonomy and Azim in the Caulfield Guineas. Though starting at 10 to 1 for the V.R.C. Derby he made a great finish of it with Camoola, and was only beaten a length. On the third day of the meeting he started in the Royal Park Stakes, but it was evident that he had not recovered from his struggle in the Derby, and he ran unplaced. His last appearance was in the Foal Stakes, wherein he finished third to Azim and Trieste, both of whom were receiving weight < from him.