AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3185, 6 May 1873, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

queen’s theatre.

The announcement that Miss M. E. Aitken, the celebrated Scotch tragedienne, would make her reappearance at the Queen’s Theatre, drew a large number of people to that place of amusement last evening. The stalls and pit were crowded, and the upper portion of the house was also well filled. It is now nearly seven years ago since Miss Aitken appeared before a Dunedin audience, and that she has lost none of those qualities which caused her at that time to be a great favorite, was testified to by the hearty manner in which she was greeted when she made her re-appearance, and during the performance. The principal piece selected last evening was Boucicault’s three-act drama entitled “Jessie Brown ; or, The Relief, of Lucknow.” Much credit is due to the mauagpijaent for the excellent manner in which the piece was put on the stage. Mr Perriman, the sepuip arfcjst, exerted hia skill with mucb success, and at the J#st act narrowly escaped being called on to tim stage* Miss Aitken, as Jessie Brown, was eminently successful. She played the part carefully and with much feeling, and well sustained her reputation for being an able delineator of Scotch character. She sang several appropriate Scotch songs, which were well received. During the performance she was frequently applauded, and at the conclusion of the second act she was called before the curtain. Miss Flora Anstead, as Mrs Campbell, an officer’s widow, also deserves a meed of praise. Randall M'Gregor, an officer in the 22nd Regiment, was represented by Mr Thorpe, and Geordie M‘Gregor, by Mr Hooper. Both of these gentlemen played well. Mr Jas. South, as the Rev, D. Blount, chaplain of the regiment —a gentleman whose “ moral convictions ” were frequently upset —caused much amusement by the excellent manner in which he depicted that worthy. The parts of Swgjeney and Cassidy, private soldiers, were admirably played by Mr J. P. Hydes and Mr 0. O'Brien respectively. Mr Aveling’s rendering of the cruel tyrant, Nana Sahib, is worthy of commendation, more especially as we understand he was suffering from some indisposition. The various subordinate characters were fully up to the mark. The concluding piece was a farce entitled “The Winning Hazard,” in which Miss Flora Anstead sustained the character of Aurora Blythe, and Miss Raymond that of Coralie Blythe, The same programme will be presented this : evening, and on Wednesday “The Colleen Bawn ’’ will be produced, THE ooncbrts. The third of these delightful concerts was given at the Masonic Hall, last evening. We; should be glad, for the sake of the taste of: the people of Dunedin, to believe that the reason why the room was not crowded was : because the evening was somewhat unpleasant. There might be something in that, j Probably there may be also a doubt whether so small a number of persons can maintain the interest of an audience throughout an evening. We wUI leavejthe people of Dunedin

o judge of that when we toll of what took dace last i 6veiling, and although the room vas not Crowded* we are gW to say thal he concert was fairly attended by ai l audience well able to judge of the. merits of ►he performance. It commenced by ; M Alfred Anderson playing a grand fantasia m the pianoforte. Now, Mr Anderson’s playing is not common-place touching the keys and producing the correct chords : it b something by itself; at least such play inihaft never before been heard in Dunedin. We do opt wonder that the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh made him their frequent guest ; but we do wonder why he left Great Britain, where ho was appreciated, to come to Dunedin, where we have not learnt to appreciate his talent. At any rate he was encored and delighted his hearers as much with the piece played in answer to the recall, as he did in the fantasia from “ L«sHuguenots.” As there were but three performers, wo will depart from the usual routine of reporting, and finish the story of each by itself. Mr Anderson played four solos, and was encored each time. After a brilliant rendering of a fantasia, arranged by himself from “ Faust,” in compliance with a special request by some ladies, he gave two of Mendelssohn’s “Songs without words.” It is not often that these beautiful compositions are played ; for they require perfect execution to render them generally pleasing. The two chosen were of opposite characters. In the first there is a weird plaintiveness that seizes upon the feelings, and holds the mind in wrapt attention. Its effect on the audience was felt in the dead silence with which it was listened to. The second requires peculiar dexterity in execution. It is quaint and queer in its harmonies, and eminently calculated to display the talent of the player. We have heard them played by some of the first pianists of the age, but never so effectively a a last evening. A fantasia from “ Norma,” arranged by Thalberg, was the last piano solo announced. Thalberg’s pieces are not by any means easy for ordinary sized hands, and they require genius equal to Thalberg’s to play them properly. We doubt whether Thalberg himself ever played that composition of his so well as it was played last night by Mr Anderson ; but what followed was most extraordinary. When recalled, he placed his right hand upon his knee, and, with his left hand only, played a fantasia so sweetly, with the melody so well brought out, and the harmony so well sustained, that any one blindfold would hare imagined that a very good two-handed pianist was playing on the instrument. Mr Anderson’s labors were not confined to the four solos, but throughout the evening he accompanied the vocalists in most exquisite style and taste. In fact, we cannot conceive more perfect accompaninr nts than were played last evening. Of Miss Carrie Emanuel’s singing we might say much. She was warmly applauded in “Kobert, toi que j’a'iue,” and, in fact, instead of complying with a pressing recall, begged a respite by (lowing her acknowledgments, Bub the audience were not satisfied tFith this.. After her singing Verdi’s “Nabuco,” she was compelled to return, and gave the beautiful ballad “ The harp that once through Tara’s Halls” with fine expression and pathos. Bellini’s “ Casta Diva” gained a donation of flowers and an enthusiastic encore, when she substituted a cavatina—the name of which we do not remember—that pleased equally well, 'he also took part in two duets with Mr Winter, which were admirably sung and we'l received, especially “ Ah, non credea,” from Bellini’s opera “La Sonnarabula.” Mr Winter sang the “ Pilgrim# of love,” in our opinion, somewhat too evenly. A little variety of intonation would have rendered it more expressive. It was, hj -wever, well received, and he was encored in “Come into the garden, Maud,” when he substituted, “ Yes, let me like a soldier fall.” In the second part “Macgregor’s Gathering” was sung with spirit, and he was obliged to repeat the “Muleteer.” Wo regret that M. bTeury, in consequence or an unexpected engagement, took no part in the concert. His talent would have added to the variety, but the thorough excellent of the whole performance left nothing to be desired. The next concert will be on Wednesday evening.