Music and Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 229, 13 December 1894, Page 8

Music and Drama.

[BY

THE PROMPTER.]

Unfortunately for Auckland theatre-goers Messrs. Brough and Bouc.icault’s Qomedy Company will not favour Auckland with a “ turn ’ during their present New Zealand tour. Wellington is their finishing Northern point, and from there the company proceed to Hobart. The tour has been a financial success to the busy B’s and needless to say, an artistic treat for our Southern friends. A disagreement between the management and the Opera House proprietors re the terms to be charged forhis theatre has, it is said, been the cause of Auckland being omitted from the New Zealand programme. I understand Mes rs B. and B. wished to engage the theatre for a seven night season at Christmas, an arrangement that Mr. Abbott would not agree to as it could not be made to fit in with the booking of the bouse. Mr. Albert Norman, who has played leads with Bland Holt, has leased the Brisbane Opera House for six months. I trust the Bananalanders wilj treat him well for he is a good actor and merits success. Contrary to expectations, the Royal Comic Opera Company will nob leave Wellington out of their New Zealand programme.. , A dispute between “ The Firm ” and the Opera House directors threatened at one time to residt in the Empire City being passed by., but wiser councils prevailed,, and a satisfactory arrangement has been come to. Wellingtonians were aghast at

the idea of not being able to make acquaintance with those living pictures that have brought joy to the of Australian johnnies and indignation to the Y.M.C. A. and W.C.T.U. authorities, but with the company (and pictures) booked to appear at.the Opera Hous.e, salt has returned to the lives of lovers of artistic outlives. Aucklanders can rely upon receiving a soul satisfying treat when the Pictures come along this way.

A performance of Handel’s “Messiah” will .be .given on Christmas day at 8 p.rj. in the Choral Hall with Mr. A. H. Gee as principal soloist.

The engagement is announced of Madame Nordica, whose first husband (Mr Gowen) went up . in a balloon some ' years ago "and failed to return from his serial*' trip. The subject of Madame’s second choice is Mr Zoltan Dome, a gentleman who appeared as Parsifal in the late Wagnerian Festival, ifi which the wife of the mysteriously-ballooned one also t ok part. But in the absence of some proof of the death of the amateur balloonist, the relations between Nordica and .her new husband may some day be unpleasantly complicated. Tne famous Polish pianist, M. Paderewski, has had to postpone bis intended 1894 visit to America owing to .ill-health. His physician has warned him that it would be very imprudent, in the present state of his health, to venture on a long and laborious tour so far from home. The late autumn of 1895 may see him in the States. The pleasures of. a Royal command. —Mr. and Mrs. Beerboiim Tree and company were recently comphrnenied by Her Majesty commanding a performance of “The Ballad-Monger” and “The Red Lamp” at Balmoral. After the supper which followed the performance, the company had to hurry off by special coach and train and boat to Dublin, a distance of nearly 600 miles, in order that they might fulfil their next engagement. The wear and tear in nervous force—and money —which such an affair would entail makes the commahd night more of a compliment from the actor to the Queen than vice versa. The reward of virtue. —Guilbert Yvette, the warbler of French ditties of the warm and steep variety, has replied to the American offers of engagements that her terms are £l2O per day, or £3,600 per month. And be it understood that the £l2O per day comes into account not only when she is singing, but when she is travelling on board ship or in train in connection with her engagement. I have not heard whether Miss Yvette’s modest terms have been accepted. If her songs are as steep as her terms they must indeed be precipitous. A prominent London music-hall attraction is a “Specialist” who spins eleven tambourines at once. That does not seem a great feat, but the performer uses his toes, his knees, his hands, and head in its performance in a manner advertised as “ phenomenal, marvellous, astounding, bordering on the impossible.” And as theatrical advertisements never transgress the truth-line, this tambourine juggler must be a wonder. Miss Alice Leamar, who introduced Australians to that snare of the Evil One to tempt weak mortals to soul-destroying blasphemy (Ta-ra-ra-boom, etc.), has a niece on the London music-hall stage who informs the audience that “Master’s Got His Eye On Me,” to the tune of boundless applause. This latest infant prodigy will have to shake off the shyness which marred her Boom-de-ay aunt if she is to rise to distinction. Marion Crawford’s novel, “ The Cigarette Maker’s Romance,” is being adapted for the stage. The book is one of the most charming stories that its gifted author ever wrote, and if the adaptation be worthy of the work, it should make a charming play. Melbourne Punch writes that some of the London critics are rough On Haddon Chamber’s play, “ The Fatal Card.” The bathing scene is the one (writes the journal quoted) that makes the squeamish criticasters vituously indignant. In this scene the comic man disrobees with the intention of going for a swim in a river depicted in the scenery. He finishes undressing behind a convenient tree, throwing out his clothes as he strips to assure the audience there is no deception. At this stage appears his sweetheart, and then the risky funny business begins, The comic man, “mit noddings on,” from behind the old oak tree, making love to his girl. Rather near

the edge this, isn’t it ? but it tickles London audiences immensely, and Chambers and his collaborates feel that the end justifies the means—the end being lucre, and lots of it.