The STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 529, 7 February 1901, Page 9

The STAGE

“Paul Pry” will be glad to bear from those manager of theatrical companies touring New Zealand who desire that the public shall know the movements of the oompanies. • Any information as to dates, etowill be acknowledged in these columns, as well as any other Items of interest to the theatrical world. AH letters should be addressed—“ Paul Pry,” Sporting and Dbamatic Bkview, Vu can Lane, Auckland.

Giuseppe, Verdi who died on Jan. 25, was the son of an innkeeper, born at Rancola, in. the duchy of Parma, October 9, 1814. He received his first lessons from an organist in Milan, where he resided from 1933 till 1836; studied diligently under Lavinga, and in 1839 published his earliest work, a musical drama entitled “ Oberto di San Bonifazio.” His principal compositions are serious operas, and the “ Lombardi,” one of his first productions, made a strong impression throughout Italy, and laid the foundation of his fame. His best known operas are “ Nabucodonosor,” “ Ernani ” (founded on Victor Hugo’s tragedy), the “Due Fcscari,” “Attila,” “ Macbeth,” the “ Masnadieri ” (founded on the Bobbers ” of Schiller), “ Louisa Miller,” “Rigoletto,” the “Trovatore,” “La Traviata,” « Un Ballo in Maechera ” (performed in London in 1861), and “ Don Carlos” (performed at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, in 1867). The “Masnadieri,” written for Her Majesty’s Theatre, and produced in 1847, with Jennie Lind as heroine, proved a failure in London, though it has since been successful in Italy. The “ Trovatore ” and “ La Traviata ” have had Keat success, not only in Italy, but in. Germany, rance and England. Signer Verdi’s moe recent operas are “ Giovanno d’Arco ” in 1868, *' La Forzo del Destino ” in 1869, and ‘ Aida ” performed at the Scala, Milan, in 1872. His celebrated “ Requiem Mass,” composed in honour of his great countryman Mazoni, was first performed in the Church of San Marco at Milan, May 23, 1874. He completed in 1878 a new opera in five acts entitled “ Montezuma,” hich was given for the first time at La Scala Milan. This was followed in 1886 by “ Qtello,” which was re-produced at the Lyceum in London in 1889. In 1883 “ Falstaff,” a new opera, was produced at Milan, and received with great enthusiasm. At its re-production in Paris in 1894 Verdi himself was present. On his r eturn from Paris to his native country in April, 1880, he received the order of the Crown of Italy.

Miss Ada Ferrar, who played Flavia in “ The Prisoner of Zenda,” and Mercia in “ The Sign of the Cross,” very successfully in Australasia two years ago, has been playing a season in New York with Mr John Hare and Miss Irene Vanbrugh.

A programme of exceptional merit has been presented at the Agricultural Hall during the week. A new endman in the person of Mr Geo. Williamson has made a successful 1 appearance, his coon songs creating a good impression. Miss Lottie Lorne and Messrs Sylvain and Watkins continue to make things merry with good comic

business, whilst Miss Lena Young and Mr John Fuller are as usual well received in their ballads, the uuet “ In the Dusk of the Twilight ” contributed by these two artists being vociferously applaude' 3 . Miss Trixie Le Mar and Aubrey Douglas also assist with good items.

The British Biograph Company have started another short season at the Opera House. So excellent was the entertainment provided on the previous visit that success is assured, more especially as a large number of splendid new films have been added. A most enjoyable evening can be spent in witnessing the magnificent views presented. Ferry, the human frog, has finished his season at the City Hall. His performance has been witnessed by so many and praised again and again that it is needless to enlarge on the success this wonderful equilibrist has achieved. Frank Clark is still to the front. His fund of humour and new business seems unlimited, some of his skits being really clever, with the result that the clever comedian is recalled repeatedly. Needless to say, Miss Eileen Boyd is again a great favourite. Her voice has gained in volume, and her dancing leaves little to be desired. Mr Dix has a strong band at present,’ and with an elaborate first part setting continues to draw good audiences. The Patterson Bros, truly wonderful bar performers, have arrived to augment Mr Dix’s Company. Some of their feats are most unique, and require to be seen to be believed. Another great addition to the ranks is Mr John Coleman, who created a sensation here on a previous visit with his original “scarecrow” dance. The new arrivals received a great reception on their first appearance. New Plymouth playgoers were afforded an opportunity of witnessing a first-class comedy on Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 29 and 30), when the Charles Arnold English Comedy Company played “ What Happened to Jones” and “ Why Smith Left Home ” respectively. On the first night there assembled what must be considered a record house for the town, and the “ happenings ” to Jones left the large audience thoroughly amused and entertained. Mr Arnold as “Jones” was, of course the central figure of the comedy, but the other members of the company have plenty to do in sustaining their parts, and thereby adding to t he fun and zest of the evening. The “ house ” totalled about £l2O, which, I understand, so far con - stitutes a record for the cornpan, outside of the cities. The company were also favored with a large house to hear the reasons “ Why Smith Left Home,” and again the company gave a capital performance, that not only entertained, but made the audience forget dull care for a few hours. Mr J.' L. Lohr, who is touring the company, should be near reaching Auckland by the time these lines appear in print. This is Mr Lohr’s twenty-first tour through New Zealand, and the veteran, despite the wear and tear entailed in travelling, never locked better in his life.—(Taranaki correspondent.) Mr Williamson is rot confining his attention to Italian opera, He has made arrangements for the production of several new London Gaiety Company pieces, which are to be performed in Melbourne and Sydney by the present “ Florodora” Company, strengthened by some new, artists from London. The rights of “ San Toy,’ “ The Messenger Boy,” “ The Circus Girl,” and “ The Runaway Girl” have been purchased, and

it is Mr Williamson’s intention ti add “ lhe Casino Girl” to the list. The enterprising manager says that “ a complete organisation is coming to him from the United States,” and he adds mysteriously that ‘ i:e has other combinations and plays, the dates of which are fixed too far ahead for him to give details just now.” Edwin Geach sends me the Perth “ Morning Herald ” containing the account of Donald Macdonald’s entertainment by the Pe th journalists. The Westralians gave the returned war correspondent a warm welcome, and after an enjoyable trip on the water the party sat down to luncheon at the Osborne Hotel, where full justice was done to the following menu :—Soup, ox tail a la Buller; fish, boiled Tugela schnapper and pompom sauce; entrees, Salmi wild duck (commandeered), giblet pie (quarter ration), Ladysmith curry (110 in the shade); joints, roast sirloin of horse and muleradish, roast tinned ham and Maxim sauce, roast loin Victorian pork and Argus ” sauce; poultry, roast Lombard’s Kop chicken and Long Tom Ham; sweets, Natal plum pudding, George White sauce ; 4 7 jellies, mulberry pie—a veldt want; fruit in Macdonald season, peaches, geaches, almonds, and raisins.

That fine romantic play “ The Only Way ” gave the Crane-Power Company an opportunity second only to that afforded by “ The King’s Musketeer,” and full advantage was taken of it. “The Only Way” was staged on Wednesday and Thursday in last week, and on both occasions a good house appreciated the thoroughly good work. Mr Freeman Wills’ dramatisation of Charles Dickens’ immortal story “ The Tale of Two Cities ” is excellent all through, and the interpretation by the various artists engaged was distinctly good. The Lucie Mamette of Miss Edith Crane was a pretty picture of a simple, loving and loveable young girl. There is hardly scope enough for Miss Crane in the character, but her acting was always graceful and oft times pathetic. Sidney Carton gives an actor a great chance. Mr Tyrone Power’s portrait of Carton was a capital one. The scene in his chambers with Defarge was well done, and his work in the Tribunal Scene was i-trong and convincing. Mr Cecil Ward also made a big hit as Defarge, while the Lorry of Mr Arthur Lissant, the Dr Manette of Mr W. F. Grant, the Charles Damay of Mr Cyril Keightley, and the Stryver of Mr Oily Deering were all played with care and cleverness. Miss Rose Musgrove made the faithful Mimi, just the splendid character she is in the book. All the minor parts were in good hands. A word of praise must be spoken of the scenery, Dr Manette’s Garden being an especially pretty set.

“Cinderella” has been going stronger than ever at the Melbourne Princess.’ 1 he gallery occupants have averaged to now twelve hundred at every performance, and the stalls and circle are crowded nightly. Next to the scenery and dresses the most wonderful thing in the show is, of course, Miss Nellie Stewart’s ’‘boy.” A lady in the front row of the circle one night paid the popular star the highest compliment she could. “Why,” she said, turning to a friend, “she looks just like a boy.” And that’s it. Miss Stewart has knocked out once and for all the old-style burlesque .hoy with his or her twenty-inch waist and

great hips. She builds up her figure to look like a boy, and sacrifices her waist line to the general effect, and the effect, mark you' is excellent, says the Melbourne Punch.

“ Trilby ” was given by the Crane-Power organisation on Friday. In the name part Miss Edith Crane was excellent. The Svengali of Mr Power was a good performance. His makeup in the third act was rather too ridiculous, and certainly spoilt an otherwise capital representation. Zou Zou, Taffy, and The Laird, in the. respective hands of Mr Cecil Ward, Mr Cyril Keightley, and Mr W. F. Grant, were good, but the Little Billee of Mr Dougall, and the Gecko of Mr Carden Wilson were hardly strong enough. Miss Hettie Muret was amusing as Madame Vinard, and Mr Oily Deering raised some laughter as the Rev Thomas Bagot. The Crane-Power Company brought their visit to New Zealand to a close on Monday night, when a new drama, “ Nadjezda,” was played for the first in Australasia. The play is from the pen of Mr Maurice Barrymore, and is clever in construction, powerful in plot, and it has much clever dialogue. I have not the space in this issue to do full justice to the play, so will defer any remarks until next week. That the return season of the British Biograph Co. would be warmly welcomed was a foregone conclusion, and the large attendance on Tuesday evening showed that the excellence of the former exhibition was not forgotten. Since the last visit several important films have have been added to the highly-interesting collection of pictures shown by the biograph. One of the best of the new ones is perhaps the picture of H.M.s. Viper, the new torpedo-boat destroyer, steaming at the rate of 36 knots an hour. Another very popular scene was that of the Shamrock and Columbia, rounding a buoy during the late America Cup contest. Another sea picture very highly appreciated was the big battleship Odin, with all her guns in action. Fire brigade pictures are always pleasing to the public, and the views exhibited of the Kansas City Brigade at work at the Paris Exhibition were received with much enthusiasm. The other “ living pictures,” both old and new, were viewed with great interest, and the managers may, I think, rest assured that their exhibition will be well patronised during the remaining nights of th© season.