The Stage

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 486, 16 November 1899, Page 10

The Stage

[_Bv

Orpheus.]

Orpheils ” will be glad to hear from those managers of theatrical companies touring New Zealand, who desire that the public shall know the movements of the companies. Any information as to dates, etc., will be acknowledged in these columns, as well as any other items of Interest to the theatrical world. All letters should be addressed —Orpheus,” SPORTING AND DRAMATIC Review, Vulcan Lane. Auckland.

The Musical Matinee Society.—On Wednesday in last week, Burleigh Street Hall was again crowded, and the third matinee oi the series proved quite up to the high standard which the society has set up for itself. Mrs HamlinWhite opened the programme with two sweet songs by Mendelssohn —“On Wings of love” and “The First Violet.” Her pure and clear soprano voice, refined taste and careful attention to contrasts, won loud applause. Later on, in Goddard’s “Angels Guard Thee,” the same lady’s good phrasing, correct breathing, and crescendos and diminuendos, were marked features. Mrs Boult displayed a clear and elastic touch, and much power, in her pianoforte solos —“Mazurka” (Leschetitzky) and Chopin’s “Ballade in A Flat.” Mendelssohn’s familiar and favorite trio (“ Concerto in D Minor”) for piano (Miss M. Heywood), violin (Dr H. Cox), and ’cello (Mr G. A. Pague) received an excellent rendering and enthusiastic applause. A vocal duet, “ The Voice of the Waterfall” (Pineuti), by Mrs Petrie and Miss M. Purcbas, was only moderately successful —the timbre of the voices is dissimilar and marred their blending. Mr C. C. Bunz (leader of Pollard’s orchestra) vigorously attacked Sarasate’s difficult violin brilliant, “ Ligeunerweieen,” with facile execution, but a somewhat hard tone. In the muted cantabile he displayed true sensibility, and in the rapid featherings, double stops, pizzicatos, and harmonies, which occur in the finale, displayed a great command of technique. Mr G. A. Pague’s ’cello solos were quite a feature in an excellent programme. “ Walther’s Lead” (from Wagner’s “ Meistersinger”) was a perfect gem, the ’cellist’s exquisitely pure, round, and full tone —absolutely innocent of the pernicious vibrato—sang the lovely cantabile with thrilling effect. “ Koi Nidree,” with its striking introduction and florid embellishments, gave Mr Pague opportunity to display his brilliant execution. Mr Pague’s ’cello should be heard oftener in our concerts. It is impossible to over-praise Miss Alice Batger’s to both violin and ’cello morceaux. I feel sure that the soloists feel perfectly confident

and happy with such artistic support. But for the veto against encores several numbers would have received a “ bis ” The next of these most satisfactory matinees is fixed for Wednesday, the 13th December. Of the society one may say “ Vires acquirit eundo.

The band contest at Bathurst is over, and the Wellington Garrison badly beaten. But what are we to make of this statement: “ Nine points were deducted from Wellington because nine men were unshaved !” Does that mean not cleanshaved on the day, or is it a blemish for a bandsman to wear a torpedo beard, side-boards, or a moustache ? If such questions affect musical issues, surely the winning band must have played selections from “ The Barber of Seville.” In any case one would think that the judges’ decision must have been based upon hollow grounds! Other reflections are born of the eccentric ruling. How many points would be deducted for a cast in the eye, a pimple on the chin, a mole on the eye-brow, or a wart on the nose ? Would bandy legs be mulct in a penalty, and would Katisha’s “ tooth which stands alone” absolutely disqualify ? Those questions, like federation, want more light thrown on them. In the solo competitions the Wellingtonians appear to have won a large share of prizes. Happy thought! They mnst have found time to patronise a Bathurst barber. Joking apart, it seems that the nine points were deducted in the marching contest, in which Wellington tied with Code’s band (the winners) for music, but were defeated on the hollow grounds above stated. But why unshaven men should be passed over musically, and penalised when maaching, is a thing which “ no fellah can understand.” The Championship of Australia was won by the Hillgrove Band with 306 points, Code’s Melbourne Band (298 points) second, the Newton Band (297) third. The Wellington Band came sixth with 281 points. In the solo competitions three Wellingtonians won gold medals for firsts, viz G. G. Buckley, E flat soprano cornet, with the maximum points; H. Cummings, E flat slide-trombone, 58 points out of a possible 60 points; and O. Davey, B flat bass, 58 out of a possible 60 points. In the trombone contest, A. Somerville tied for third place with 56 points. Those instrumental victories carry with them championships of Australia, so the Wellington men win high distinction after all, and uphold the honor of New Zealand. For the benefit of the Bathurst judges, I cannot resist quoting from Rosalind’s epilogue to “As You Like It” “If I were a woman I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased me, complexions that liked me, and breaths that I defied not.”

The Hellers.—Mr Callender, the energetic avant-courier of this talented combination, is in Auckland just now. Mr Heller’s clever illusions, feats of legerdemain, comic songs, etc., e'c., and Madame Heller’s inscrutable psychomancy, to-

gether with other attractive features, form an interesting and enjoyable entertainment which is always welcome. Mr Heller brings novelties galore, of which more anon.

At the Volunteer Camp.—Hunter’s Band is playing a lively tune. Two young ladies approach and are met by a youthful warrior. Y.W. (loquitur) : “ Glad you’ve come to see us!” Y.L.: “ Oh, we’ve only come to hear the band and see the tents 1” Y.W. (disgusted) : “ The tents I What about the contents ?” Y.L.: “Oh, malcontents don’t trouble us 1