ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 84, 7 September 1874, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

! * “ All the world’s a stage.” — As You Like It, \ Owing to bad weather and a dire mistake on the part of the management in putting on . a piece totally and entirely unfit, the opening week of the Steele-Keogh regime cannot be regarded as a success, either pecuniarily or ' artistically speaking. Even leaving aside the indifferent morality of the comedy of “ Owing and Paid,” it has not one solitary recommendation to the favorable notice of either the audience or the performers themselves. There is not one good part in it, the situations, such as they are, being forced and unnatural. What possible charm it could have in the eyes of the management I am, therefore, quite at a loss to know, and still further astonished that they should have deemed it advisable to set public opinion at defiance and repeat it. I may say that on ( the evening of its first representation there was but one feeling prevalent in the dresscircle, and that was pain at having to witness such utter rubbish, I am told—“ Oh, [ it went splendidly in Dunedin ; we got good notices in the papers, &c.” If this be a fact, then I can only wonder at the taste of our Southern neighbors. But while I say this, I \ do not acquit the audience of blame. So long , as they are content to pay their money and sit quietly to see such stuff as this, so long will managers be found to put it on the stage. Respecting this, I extract from the last number of “ London Society” a few remarks on this point, which fully bear out what I have said, and which I know are just as applicable to the great majority of colonial theatricals as they appear to be at home. The article, written by one of the best dramatic critics of the day, says—“ I have seen plays and burlesques entrusted to those who are as unable to understand the lines which they acquire by rote, like parrots, as they would be to read their parts, or write their own names. I have heard songs sung by women with no voices ; lines spoken by women of no intelligence ; dances executed by women of no agility ; choruses entrusted to women with no ear, Entertainment and amusement have been out of the question. It has been merely a silly show of legs and spangles ; and yet the audience has uttered not one syllable of reproach. Poor silly things have toddled on in their tight boots and faultless fleshings; have gaped, and stared, and looked inexpressibly idiotic ; and have then toddled off again to the photographer to be arranged on an easy couch as one of the 1 popular actresses of the day,’ Grammar has been sacrificed, the aspirate has been outraged, tune has been crushed, sense has been mangled ; but the audience has done no more than stare aghast at the astounding impertinence of the exhibition. Art has been degraded, decency taunted, and common respect defied, and yet an English audience has not signified its displeasure by a movement. In the old days I verily believe that such unwarrantable insults as are now constantly permitted to go unpunished would not have been tolerated. An audience at that time, without being snappish, sour, or cruel, upheld the dignity of its judicial position ; and if anyone dared to overstep the limits of decency and respect, it was pretty certain that that rash person would hear of it again.” How true these words are, as applied to many of our colonial companies, playgoers know too well. However, I hope the error in judgment committed by the management will not be repeated. A comedy of average merit, “ Behind the Curtain,” has occupied the boards for two evenings, and was fairly sustained. Mrs Hill’s Grace Dangerfield was quietly played, and the various points in the character—which by the way are not numerous—were all made with effect. The part is one which if played in the melo-dramatio heroine style would simply become absurd and Mrs Hill, to my mind, takes the proper conception of it when she represents it as an ordinary dame lie societe, forced, however, by a train of circumstances into the companionship of one or two questionable characters. I incline to the belief that Polly Seott is too much for Miss Lilly May. She has wonderfully improved since I last saw her, but she is not yet equal to parts of this character. The other ladies simply fill up the cast, and in no way influence the action of the plot, or the piece, hence they will not accuse me of discourtesy for not noticing them at length. Of the male characters, Mr Musgrave’s rendering of the clown Jemmy Scott was

far and away the best. The scene with his daughter which closes the third act is to my mind—though of the very simplestone of the most effective and pathetic situations I have seen for many a day. Mr Steele played Bob Olive very carefully, but the other characters were only very mildly represented. The company have essayed burlesque, but either the selection was bad or their talents do not lie in this direction, for a more miserable attempt I have never seen. The singing with one exception, that of Miss Ettie Martineau, was not even passable. This little lady is very clever, but still has a great deal yet to learn. If she would speak a little slower when she is acting a “ speaking” part she would be more successful; as it s she has a tendency to “ gabble” which spoils her. Kotzebue’s melancholy play of “The Stranger” formed the bill on Friday night, and with the exception of the principal cha 1 racters filled by Mrs Hill and Mr Steele was somewhat of an infliction. The subordinate charecters appeared quite out of their element, as indeed was only natural. Mrs Hill in the very difficult part of Mrs Haller somewhat surprised me ; there was an intensity of feeling and dramatic force thrown into some of the scenes fully equal to some of the best exponents of this character whom I have seen. Mrs Hill reminded me forcibily of Mrs Heir, only that she infused more pathos and tenderness into the part, Mr Steele’s Stranger, like most of his characters, was unequal. He looked well, and played carefully, but in the more emotional passages of the play, his voice got away from him somewhat, and there was just the slightest disposition to “split the ears of the groundlings.” If he could only manage to modulate his voice somewhat, instead of keeping it at one uniform pitch it would be far more agreeable to the aurditory and easier to himself. There is one point which I hope the management will seriously consider with a view to alteration, and that is the late hour at which the performances concludes. On Friday night the bill included a five act play, a hornpipe, and a moderately lengthy farce. The result was that it was close on midnight before the curtain finally dropped, and the occupants of the dress-circle began to grow small by degrees and beautifully less until hardly one remained to the end. It is far too much to expect any sane person to sit in an uncomfortable draughty theatre for four hours on a stretch ; and it is a mistake, because the audience would be just as well pleased if the entertainment provided for them be got through smartly so as to allow them to reach home at a reasonable hour. The Smith Combination Troupe never exceeded half-past ten o’clock, and everyone was satisfied. That good old Saturday night piece, “ The Octoroon,” completed the week’s business, and of this I can only say that I never saw it played worse, except as regards Mrs Hill’s Zoe, and Mr Musgrave—who is always good—as Squire Sunnyside. Mrs Hill—wretchedly supported as she was —played the Octoroon well. How she contrived to do so with the George Peyton of the evening is a mystery. As Salem Scudder Mr Steele was quite out of his element. One or two of the best situations in the piece in the scenes with McClosky were spoilt by his voice being raised almost to a shout, where the point is made by a calm, cool, but yet sufficiently resolute bearing to overawe McClosky. Mr Keogh made Jacob McClosky even more repulsive than the author has done, and Mr Hooper’s “ make up” for the Indian was the most peculiar garb I have seen for a long time. The rest of the characters do not call for any comment, indeed the whole piece seemed either as if it had been put on at a moment’s notice, or that the corps dramatique were quite unable to represent the parts they had undertaken, To-night we are to have a local industry, in the shape of a play, “ The Great World of London,” written by Mr Utting, of the Guardian, Dunedin, and I really hope to be able to speak more favorably of its production. At the Music Hall, on Saturday evening, Mr W. A. Chapman, assisted by Miss Ida Bonnifon, gave a very good entertainment, comprising magic, second sight, &c. Mr Chapman does his tricks with great dexterity, and I have only one fault to find with him, that is, the length of time which elapses from-the commencement of the trick until its consummation. This might advantageously be curtailed by at least one-half. However, a couple of hours can be spent with Mr Chapman very well. The secondsight by Miss Ida Bonnifon is very clever —indeed remarkably so ; and, taken throughout, the entertainment is well worth visiting. Of outside shows I may note that the Smith Combination Troupe is doing an immense business in Dunedin, the theatre being crowded to excess every night, whilst the papers speak in glowing terms of the merits of the various artistes. In Wellington the Californian minstrels have succeeded in pleasing the public taste thoroughly, and the result is that business is good ; so much so that the New Zealand limes of a late date says:—“The only difficulty with the company is how to find room for those who crowd to see their excellent performance.” This is a difficulty which our friends Rockefeller, Sutton, and Kelly will be delighted to see continue for an undefinite period. Respecting the Towers-cum-Hydes’ disputes as to the title *' Grif Company,” said to have been improperly used by the defendant, judgment was given for the plaintiff in the Resident Magistrate’s Court recently. His Worship held that the plaintiff retained his right to the title after the dissolution with his partner in the company, Mr Burford. As it was understood that the action was simply brought to test the question of right, a verdict was given for Is, and costs. Evidently Mr Towers does not agree with Shakspeare’s comments on this question. He believes that there is something in a name ; I don’t, for if the company called themselves the “ Rousby Company,” I don’t think it would draw an extra shilling, at least not the second time, I see, from Wellington papers, that Mr Burford is endeavouring to organise a new company. If he can give us new faces, with a moderate amount of talent, be will supply a want ; but otherwise he had “ better bide a wee.” Of the opera company I hear from Napier. Business was remarkably good ; the subscription list filling up very rapidly. The opening opera of the season was “ The Rose of Castile,” a circumstance which I note only because it is the first time during the tour that any other than “ Maritana” has been played to open with. They commence their second season in Wellington on the 14th instant, and are hard at work rehearsing the novelties for production during their forthcoming visit to the South. The air

of Auckland must contain some component part provocative of mutual admiration, for 1 find that yet another presentation has been made by the orchestra and chorus of the opera company. The recipient in this instance was Mr Stoneham and the form the expression of goodwill assumed, was that of a baton. The material was of whalebone, handsomely mounted with gold, and lipped at each end with greenstone. An inscription on the staff recorded the fact that it was presented to Mr Stoneham by Mr H. Mitchell, on behalf of a few friends and members of the English Opera Company. A baton to Mr Stoneham seems somewhat a white elephant, unless, like Mr .i.lun, he can manage to conduct and play at the same time. However, the company seem to have enjoyed themselves thoroughly in Auckland. The flood of “shows” with which Auckland was visited some short time back has subsided ; the Vivian Comique Troupe, which comprises amongst its members Mr L. Booth and Mdlle. Blanche, both well known to Christchurch playgoers, being left like the last rose “ blooming alone.” Business appears to be good, but just now Auckland. like Christchurch, is suffering from a periodical attack of popular entertainments, which affect professional business somewhat. PROPS,