ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 78, 31 August 1874, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

— z - “ All the world’s a stage,” —As You Like It. The San Francisco Minstrels have concluded a short, and I fancy a rather unprofitable 'season,' and have departed Northwards. As I pointed out last week, I think the great mistake was charging higher prices than the ordinary tariff, which, considering the calibre of the company, excepting Messrs Sutton, Kelly, and Rockefeller, was not warranted by any excess of talent. The Smith .Combination also, after drawing more money in Lytteltdri than any troupe has yet done, have, sought fresh fields and pastures new. They open in the Princess’ Theatre, Dunedin, to-night, and should do a big business there. It is on the cards, I believe, that we may have another visit from this clever troupe before they finally leave New Zealand, and I know if they do, that full houses will be a certainty. After a chequered career of gymnasts, minstrels, &c, our local theatre has again resumed its position, as the home of the legitimate —Messrs Steele and Keogh having inaugurated a dramatic season on Saturday evening. The company comprises names familiar to Christchurch play-goers as household words, and some new faces, and, on this account alone if not otherwise they are welcome. Amongst the former I note Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Marion Willis, Messrs Steele, Keogh, Hooper, and Musgrave ; while the new aspirants for popular aspirants for popular favor are Miss Bessie Vivian, and Miss Ettie Martineau. I cannot but help thinking that even as a measure of expediency, the production of a piece such as “ The Lady of Lyons,” was a mistake. The company is essentially. a„comedy one, and except Mrs Hill and Mr Steele were :un* mistakably uncomfortable and ill at ease in their parts. When we consider that first, impressions have a great deal to do with the success of a season, I incline to the belief that it would have been a gain in the end to have waited until to-night, and then opened in aline of business within the capacity of the company, and which would have given greater satisfaction to the public. In saying this, however, I would not wish, to be understood as condemning the performance on Saturday evening wholly. Mrs Hill’s Pauline was good from first to last. The points of the character were all made—i and effectively too—without any exaggera? tions or over-acting, and when all the surroundings are taken into consideration it was a matter of wonder to me how she managed so well. But those who have seen Mrs Hill in comedy will I know agree with me that her- success would have been far more pronounced had she made her reappearance in that line. Mr Steele’s rendering of Claude Melnotte is a peculiar one ; full of contradictions if I may so term it. In some parts he gives the language with a thorough appreciation of the conception of the author, but in the declamatory passages he is apt to be toodemoustrative. However on Saturday night he played the part with care and spirit; indeed, I think I can say I have not seen him play better. It was somewhat unfortunate that the exigencies of management should have compelied Miss Bessie Vivian to make her debut is a part so thoroughly unsuited to her as Madame Deschappelles, because from the manner in which she got over the difficulties of a part quite out of her line, showed that there was talent in her. In comedy I should say she will be a decided the company ; she has a good voice, the advantage of personal attractions and a fair knowledge of stage business, and given * parts suited to her, will I think make herself a favorite. . ■ - 1 'L\i§

Miss Willis wisely walked through Widow Melnotte ; had she attempted to play the character, the incongruity of her taking the role of old women would have been more apparent. I hope to see her to-night in a part more calculated to display her powers. The remaining characters in the piece do not call for much comment save to remark that Mr Hooper might have taken the trouble to have worn a wig, or failing that, used some other device to add somewhat to his age. This may seem a very little matter, but it is attention to these details, which go.es..so far to .make the- impersonations of •some of our best actors a success. Mr Keogh played Bcauseant, and the only fault I have to find with him is that his conception of the character scarcely agrees with the author, in that he infused into his rendering a strong

flavor of the melo-dramatic. As I have said,

I regret that the first appearance of the com-, pany should have been made under such unjfavorable ' auspices, and hope to night that they will appear to greater advantage. Between the play and the farce Miss Ettie Martiueau made her first appearance as a danseuse.' i I cannot say that I am an ardent admirer of the Highland Fling, but certainlyr Miss Martineau’s sprightly and graceful dancing of that somewhat exhausting dance went far to reconcile me to it. In the Sailor’s Hornpipe which followed on an ,ei*cote,'this;little: lady was even' more successful, and as this line of business is highly populaj-witb, tbe .audience,; Miss Martineau achieved a decided triumph. A farce followed, in ■ which Miss Bessie Vivian showed much vivacity and talent, and

was weir supported by Miss Willis, Messrs Hooper and Musgrave, I hope, however, on . future occasions that the mianagement will f -cdatiiVe to let. the curtain'come down somewhat earlier than midnight. I am glad to note bur old friend Mr Leech in his accustomed seat in the orchestra. Under his regime , the audiences, instead of having the same trashy set of quadrilles drummed into their ears' every night, will hear some of the best music well played, and instead of being; a pain to remain in the Theatre during an intermission, it will be quite the reverse. ; ; 1 ; . 1 Of outside shows, I hear from Wellington that the Loyal troupe of gymnasts have been doing well and have now gone to Wanganui, prior to coming on here, , As I before noted, the “ Grif ’’ company broke up in Wellington and Messrs Hydes. Glover, and others, opened a season at the .Oddfellows’ Hall, under the cognomen of the “Grif” company, Mr Towers and partly playipg under the same name ip the country, so that there were two Rich-' mond’a ,ip . the. .field. Business, however, as might ! be'Anticipated from the names, was anything but good, and matters have, I see, 'cnlininated in ah ■ action brought by Frank Towers against Messrs Hydes and Glover to recoymU;££o.damages; for unlawfully using the appellation “ Grif Company.” The report of the case in,; th? .Wellington' papers is very amusing.‘ Judgment was reserved. The Opera- Company have,; I -learn, had great success'' at 'the Thames ‘ during their season r of, six nights, tbg theatre not being • larg'e - er/ough’ ; to ’ hold-all vtho desired to be to be present. On their return, from the Thames, to Auckland', the • company gave a concert in conjunction with the choral society, and Miss Alice May appears to have charmed the Auckland folks as much by her , render in g ;of the Simple ballad as' the more 1 tlorid ' operatic music. Respecting the presentation to Mjisa- May- the- Southern Cross says ; At this stage of ' the concert, Mr J. Browne, on behpjf of .some personal friend 3 and admirers or Miss Mky, combined with

some of the members of the Choral Society,’

presented that lady with a magnificent gold necklace and locket, set with diamonds. Id presenting it, Mr Brbwhe took occasion to compliment Miss May both on her rare talent as an artist?, aqd her, pefspfjalj worth and at-j tractions as a lady, saying that amongst bril-. liant constellations of the Southern hemis-j

phere she was one of the highest. The pre-| mentation was followed by -a perfect storm of ‘applause, the audience emphatically eudors-. ing the opinion of ;! Mr Browne and the ad-1 mirers of Miss;! AUce/fM&y'. l‘/In a few well-; chosen words, Miss May thanked Mr Browne for the handsome gift he had presented toi her, and said it would be a lasting memento; qf her/ \ r x ( c ' ’Mr’Allen also I notice has been the reci-l pient of a .testimonial .from- ifip band and; chorus. Thd same jdurhal notes the fact as; follows

“ The members of the orchestra and chorus! of the Royal English Opera Company whoj have accompanied Mr and Mrs G. 13. Allen during their tour of the . Australian cplonies /Zealand, 1 took f the 1 opportunity of | presenting Mr Allen with a very handsome baton as ai mark of the estimation in which -they heldi him. The baton is a very handsome specimen of workmanship, being composed of silver, and mounted with colonial gold, a wreath of the metal running round the length of the staff and ornamented with deligita filagree work; > The butt bf the staff is ornamented with a piece of Thames goldbearing quartz. The baton was manufactured by Mr Isidore Alexander, jeweller, Queen-street, and bears the following inscription : —“ Presented to Mr G, B. Allen by the members of the orchestra and chorus of the Royal -English Opera Company. Auckland, August, 187;4.’ ’’ V; The presentation was made by Mr Stoneham in a few eulogistic remarks, and .Mr Allen replied thanking those connected with him for their services during the tour. The company are now at Napier and doing good business, A regular exodus of show took place from Auckland the other day to Sydney. Amongst others I note Miss Hattie Shepparde, Miss Docey Mainwaring, Mr and Mrs George Collier, Mr Douglas, and the equestrian portion of the Siamese circus. 7

Going further afield, I note that Madame Arabella Goddard has again got into hot water. From what is stated in the telegram subjoined it seems that Madame Goddard shares the too prevalent, but erroneous belief current amongst professionals, that colonials are'simply one remove from savages, and that anything will do for them. The insult to the people of Australia contained in her letter will, I think, render it unadvisable for her to give a concert in Melbourne. The Argus telegram says — 11 Madame Arabella Goddard, after arranging for three concerts at the Victoria Theatre, advertised her intention to proceed to Orange, but afterwards left her hotel suddenly about noon, leaving a most uncomplimentary letter reflecting on native talent, and stating her intention not to appear to-night. Her piano is in Mr Bennett’s possession, and her luggage was placed on board the Melbourne steamer Dandenoug, by which steamer Madame Goddard, accompanied hy Miss Christian, sailed in the afternoon fbr Melbourne. When the curtain rose at the Victoria Theatre to-night, Mr Bennett

read a letter from Madame Goddard,',in which she states that letters had been sent to her, warning her that she would have an unfavorable reception, because native talent had not been engaged. Madame Goddard went on to say in her letter that she was not previously aware that the natives of Australia had any taste for music. The affair has created great indignation, and is the subject of general comment, not favorable to Madame Goddard dr her advisers.” Of two artistes well known here I have an item of news from Queensland. The Brisbane journal, speaking 6f tkh pTod-notfon of “ Th'o Duke’s MofM” says ‘f Ui ihc dieting it may be said that Mr Tavares excelled himself. *ln the double parts of Largadere and iEsop he had ample scope for his especial powers, and fully sustained the dramatic necessities of the two characters; indeed, there are-few. parts in wh.ibh 'Mr TaVares has appealed to greater advkhtagQ.V Mies-Surtees as Blanche de Nevers, was graceful and natural as is her wont, which is the most she could be in so poor a part. In Melbourne the Opera Bonffe Company had brought out “ Chilpcric” with great success. Their season, however, WSB drawing to-a close as the Italians werfe. returning. I may say that it is on the cards that the former may pay New Zealand a visit at no distant date, PROPS.