Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 168, 12 October 1893, Page 9

Music, Drama.

[By

"ORPHEUS"]

S-pectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ?

The Palmer —Beaumont Concert Company. Mr Philip Stuart, the manager of the Palmer —Beaumont Concert Company, arrived by the Monowai on csaturday’last to make the preliminary arrangements for the company’s Auckland season, which has been fixed to open at Abbott’s Opera House on Thursday, the 19th inst. The musical public may be assured that they will have something well worth hearing during the four concerts which will be given. The company includes such sterling vocalists as Mrs Palmer (better known perhaps through New Zealand as Miss Rosina Carandini), Miss Maggie Sterling (a mezzo-soprano vocalist, who has made her name on the Melbourne concert platform), Mr A. H. Gee (a popular and powerful Melbourne baritone), and Mr Armes Beaumont (who requiries no introduction, for this gifted tenor has been known throughout Australasia foryears). As regards instrumental music Mr Stuart has secured the services of Messrs Lemmone and Barker The former is a flautist, and his powers were demonstrated to New Zealand audiences when he travelled through the island with the Amy Sherwin Company. Mr Barker, the harpist, is an A.R.A.M., and by far the best player of that instrument that has ever visited Australia. In this gentleman’s playing lovers of music may expect a revelation. The four concerts will be given on the 19th, 20th, 21st, and 23rd instants. Thames will be visited on the 24th inst, after which the company goes South.

Mr George Darrell, the well-known actor, touched at Auckland on Saturday last on board the Monowai, en route for Chicago. The author of ‘The Sunny South ’ is off to America on the look out for dramatic novelties. The Wednesday Pops. At Onehunga Mr Fuller and his concert company drew a packed house. A capital programme was enthusiastically received. Mr Alec Cooke, accompanied by Miss Brabazon, played two violin solos with good taste and execution. Mr Worrall, the well-known basso, sang ‘Oh 1 hear the wild winds blow,’ and ‘To-morrow will be Friday.’ Mrs Kilgour was encored for ‘ Sing, Sweet Bird,’ and gave ‘ Love’s Request.’ Receiving a similar compliment for ‘Tell me my heart,’ she gave ‘The cows are in the corn.’ Mr Alex. Smith recited with his customary success, winning encores galore. Miss Brabazon accompanied with characteristic taste and discretion, and played three solos, ‘ Danse Ndgre,’ ‘The Brook’ (encore piece), and Kowalski’s ‘ Galop di Bravoura,’ for which an encore was declined. Miss Featon sang ‘ The beating of my own heart,’ and ‘ Fiddle and I,’ to Mr Cooke’s violin obbligato. Mr John Fuller took the Onehunga people by storm, singing ‘ Geraldine.’ ‘ We don’t know how we love them,’ two encore songs and two duets, viz., the ‘ Miserere,’ with Mrs Kilgour, and ‘ Excelsior’ with Mr Worrall. Encouraged by the great success of the venture Mr Fuller will give another concert at Onehunga on Friday next.

Last night Abbott’s Opera House was to be the arena for the ‘ pop.,’ as the City Hall is occupied. A good programme, including songs by Mr Percy Defaur, was to be performed. A Piratical Pop, This concert took place at the Choral Hall on Wednesday evening last, but the audience proved neither large nor enthusiastic. Herr Zimmermann’s violin playing was as usual one of the features of the programme. Miss Rimmer sang ‘ The Star of Bethlehem’ and • Don’t tell Mother,’ encored. Miss Webley recited with her wonted talent, and won an encore. The other performers were Miss Lorrigan and Messrs. A. L. Edwards, Tytherleigh and Horace Stebbing. Miss Ada Yates, besides accompanying with care and skill, played a piano solo ‘ Le Bearneis,’ and was recalled. As a whole the concert did not seem to go.

The Holloway Dramatic Company concluded their season on Saturday evening, when ‘A Woman’s Sacrifice’ was excellently staged and acted. Artistically, if not financially, the company have done well, since not an evening passed without the principal performers receiving enthusiastic calls before the curtain.

Ppofessor Cakrollo gives his annual musical and athletic carnival on Monday next at the Opera House.

The Misses Albu and Mr Plunkett left for America on Saturday last. The Taranaki season proved a profitable one. Crowded and enthusiastic houses greet ing the company both at New Plymouth and Hawera. The ladies and Mr Plunkett, after a tour in America, propose returning to New Zealand, when the marriage between Miss Julie and an eminent Dunedin barrister will be ‘ Solomonised I ’

On Sunday, at St. Benedict’s. Weber’s splendid Mass in G was well sung by the choir, Mr John Fuller taking the tenor solos. The accomplished singer also sang Dr. Egan’s ‘ Panis Angelicus,’ and took part in the quartette ‘ Quando Corpus,’ from Rossini’s ‘ Stabat Mater.’

The Auckland Choral Orchestra tender a benefit to Herr Carl Schmitt on the eighth of November.

The same band gives a concert on Thursday week, when a trio by Brahms, for cello, clarionet, and piano, never before heard in New Zealand, will be played by Messrs Paque, S. Jackson, and Miss Harding. Schubert’s ‘Trout’ quintette will also be performed.

Under the auspices and in aid of the Auckland Polo Club a pleasant dramatic and musical entertainment was given at Abbott’s Opera House on Monday and Tuesday evenings. As might be expected some of the performers suffered from ‘ stage fright’ on the first night, but • Written in Sand,’ nevertheless, greatly interested a large and fashionable audience. Mr J. A. Cooper, as the jovial and generous Tom Potts, acted with, ease and confidence, and made his points with effective aplomb Mr Mackie, as Frank Seaton, was well cast, and looked and acted his role very creditably. Mr Montague’s gentlemanlike villain, Fairfax Rendall, won much applause. Mrs Cooper made a bright and vivacious Kate Shirley. Miss Elsmore, as Sister Winifred, was too nervous to do herself justice. All the performers were called before the curtain at the conclusion of the piece. After a brief interval Mr Maclean, accompanied by Mr Towsey on the piano played (a) ‘ Pensee Fugive,’ an exquisite cantabile with some effective double-stopping, and as a contrast (b), a quaint and lively danse polonaise by Wieniswski. Tone, time, expression, and crisp execution, were all so admirable that the violinist was imperatively encored, and in compliance played a deliciously smooth and elegant morceau. After the interval, during which Mr Edy’s excellent orchestra, played a charming selection (following the Liedertafel’s double quartette contributions ‘ Maiden Listen,’ ‘ Health to the Fairest,’ and an encore which dealt with an ‘ owdacious’ amount of kissing) came the piece de resistance ‘o’Callaghan,’ which went with great spirit, each performer having a good conception of his part. Mr M. A. Phillips, as Dr. Banks, had not much to do, but made the most of his opportunities. Mr Alex. Walker’s impersonation of the stage old man Mr Rivers was one of the best things in the piece. Make up, voice, gestures, and emphasis were all first-rate. Mr L. St. J. Kekwick as Charles also acted extremely well, his assumed agonies on the sofa and constant bye-play being ingenious and effective. Mr Montague, in the title role, deserves very high praise for a really capital de lineation of the eccentric and versatile Felix. His make up was immense, and if his brogue was not quite irreprochable, in every other respect the talented amateur made a distinguished success. The men-servants John (Mr W. T. Cunningham) and Thomas (Mr F. E. N. Crombie) were capitally played. Thomas in make up, attitude, and speech being quite an ideal stage footman. Turning to the ladies, Miss Griffiths, who played Mrs Montaigne, has a graceful stage presence, and acts .and speaks with the aplomb and accuracy of accent only to be met with with in experienced performers. Her part could scarcely have been bettered. Miss Kerr Taylor’s Julia displayed similar qualities so far as the small part would permit. Her sister played the soubrette part of Betty with admirable chic and vivacity. Great credit is due to Mr Montague for the manner in which his apt pupils picked up their business. Every performer spoke his lines very slowly—in some cases almost too deliberatly—a rare feat with amateurs.

Dr. Arthur Purchas. in a neat little speech, thanked the audience for their patronage and Mr Montague and his musical and dramatic henchman for their kind services. The funds of the Auckland Polo Club should receive a substantial addition from the two nights’ takings.

The People’s Popular Concerts, under the personal direction of Mr John Fuller, the popular tenor, will in future be held in the City Hall, and we have no doubt they will speedily regain their popularity in their old home.

Miss Nellie Stewart, unsuccessful in making a ‘ hit ’ at Home, has returned to Melbourne.