ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 96, 21 September 1874, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

“ All the world’s a stage,” —As You Lihe It. During the week the Steele-Keogh Company have given, as variety in the matter of pieces, one or two of which were new to Christchurch’, notably “ Azael, the Prodigal, ’ and the drama of “ Lucrezia Borgia.” The former was one of the best pieces the company have yet put on, all the parts being well filled, and, through it ran two nights, we could have done with it for another evening. It was withdrawn to make way for “ Behind the Curtain,” which I incline to believe was a mistake, as the scenery and acting in “ Azael ” was exceedingly good. ,l Under the Gaslight,” redivivus was not a success, though Mrs Hill played Laura Courtland as she does all her parts, naturally and effectively, The piece is one in which the dramatic action —at least to a great extent —is made subservient to the sensational effect as exemplified in the railway train, just missing the unfortunate man bound to the rails, but, in this case, so far from being sensational the effect was ludicrous. Looking to this fact, therefore, it is hardly to be wondered that the parts are of the shadowist description, and that the interest in the dramatis person as is not overwhelming. Miss Willis was the Pearl Courtland, and as the part does not call for anything beyond looking pretty, she succeeded to that extent admirably. Why Mr Musgrave should have been selected to play the part of Byke, the villain of the piece, I don’t know, evidently Mr Keogh, who was cast for Snorkey, seemed to consider it as an innovation upon his rights and privileges, for hitherto the latter gentleman has enjoyed the monopoly of representing the heavy villains, and though, perhaps, it is somewhat of a negative compliment,there can be nodoubt that this is his line of business. He seems thoroughly to revel in these parts, and has such a excellent conception of the penny plain, and twopence colored style of heroes that when he is playing any other character, one cannot help listening for the well known chords which as everybody knows always heralds the approach of the hero in “ Rinaldo the Remorseless, or the Red Ruffian of the Rocky Ridges,” or some other equally thrilling and alliterative melodrama of the good old school. Mr Musgrave did his best to be appropriately ruffianly in the part, but it was no use ; the genial unctuous chuckle we all know would come out; indeed he was one of the most jovial villains I have seen for many a day, and it was with a feeling of regret rather than pleasure that I saw virtue triumphant, as usual. Mr Keogh’s impersonation of the one-armed messenger however, seemed highly appreciated by some of the audience, indeed so much so that his efforts at the close of one of the acts was rewarded by a floral tribute, which must have been exceedingly gratifying to him, I still incline to the belief that it is a great mistake to put Miss Lilly May into such parts as Peachblossom, which is what is technically called a “ character part.” This young lady has talents but she has yet a great deal to learn, and prematurely forcing it in this way is likely in after years to be very detrimental to her chance of taking a high position in her profession. There was no attempt to “ play ” the part, if I may so express myself ; the words were there right enough, but there was wanting that indescribable something, that concption and rendering to the audience of the salient points, without which, any

character is merely so many words committed to memory and recited. Miss Bessie Vivian was Bermudas,;but parts of this character are not in her line. One never forgot that it was a lady who was playing the part, besides which it was by far too tame and too quiet for a young gentleman moving in that sphere in which the hopeful vendor of the popular lyrics of his country might reasonably be expected to found. But while I say this, let me not be misunderstood ; I do not for one moment care to see these parts played b- 'h" ladies of the company, but when the exigencies of colsnial management require it, one can only express an opinion as to what the part should be like. Mr Hooper played Judas, but the one great fault about this gentleman’s impersonation is his inability to sink his identity in the character he is playing. Throughout the piece he is Mr Hooper—the only difference being the various dresses in which he appears. “Lucrezia Borgia” was one of the best —if not the best—pieces put on by the company during the season. Mrs Hill’s rendering of the character of the infamous Duchess of Ferrara was a splendid piece of acting throughout, and the tragic power which she infused into her rendering was certainly deserving of the recognition it received at the hands of the audience. The scenes with Gennaro and the Duke in which great scope is given for histrionic display, Mrs Hill made all the points excellently. Mr Steele’s Gennaro was good, the part being one suited to him, and he ably supported Mrs Hill. Maffio Osinio should I think, have been in the hands of Miss Willis, who would have done more with it than the gentleman who attempted to play it. The rest of the characters were well filled, and the piece as a whole was both mounted and acted better than any the company has yet produced. Of Stirling Coyne’s “ Woman in Red ” I need say little, as I certainly cannot speak favorably of its production. Mrs Hill, as Rudiga, played carefully, but the part hardly seems suited to her, and the rest of characters, with one or two exceptions, were but indifferently filled. I observe that the Loyals, who arrived the other day from the North, have joined their forces to the dramatic company, and show to night in conjunction with them Of these more anon, as there are one or two fresh faces amongst them. Amongst the recent arrivals from Melbourne I notice Miss Rosina Carandini, who has, I believe, come amongst us as a permanent resident. The high musical talents of this lady will render her a great acquisition to our community, and I trust at no distant date to hear her once more. On dit, that it is likely she will give an entertainment shortly. Our amateurs have hit upon a new expedient for raising the funds in connection with parish entertainments, and have given us the trial of Bardell v. Pickwick, cn costume. I am not going to criticise the performance, or say one word about it; the only reason I mention it is to express my opinion that it is not fair for amateurs to enter into competition in the “ show ” business with professionals, whose sole source of living it is. Unfortunately, recently, we have been suffering from any amount of this. For sixpence or a shilling an entertainment has been provided worth at least five, and the assistance of our best musical and other amateurs has been secured, thus forming a very formidable opponent of the regular professsonals. Mr Chapman and Miss Ida Bonifon have been, to say the least, exceedingly unfortunate, and their remembrances of Canterbury will, I think, not be of a very pleasant character. They were at Lyttelton on Friday last, but, I hear, the attendance was by far more select than numerous. Playgoers in Christchurch will regret to hear that Mrs Sam Howard, an actress of some ability, who appeared here in connec tion with the Howard-Fleury management, died recently in Wellington, from rheumatic fever. Of outside shows, I hear that Miss Clara Stephenson, Miss Jessie Raymond, Messrs Burford and Hydes, and ten others of a company, are now performing at Hokitika ; and that our old friend Smith, with his clever Combination Troupe, is doing capital business in Dunedin. Every night crowded houses seems to indicate that J.W. has struck a patch, and that his trip to New Zealand will be alike remunerative and pleasant. When I mention that one week’s business reached close on £4OO, and that on Saturday night there were 765 persons in the pit, besides a crowded circle and stalls, I think I have said enough to show that our Dunedin friends can appreciate a good thing when they see it and—pay for it. The Opera Company are just concluding a a successful season in Napier—indeed, considering the size of the place, a really wonderful season, and will shortly pitch their tent in the Empire City, opening there this evening at 4s, 3s, and 2s, which ought to ensure crowded houses. They open here in November, and if prices are moderate they may look for a brilliant run. New works are promised, but the promises of managers and impresarios strongly resemble the proverbial pie crust ; however, I hope for the best. The California Minstrels, after doing good business in Wellington, have migrated to Auckland, where, I believe, they are having a good show, the town, after having been fairly worried by pros, now being comparatively clear of opposition. Going still further afield, I note that the affaire Goddard has become what Americans would call slightly mixed. The great pianiste has made a statutory declaration in Melbourne that she never wrote the obnoxious letter, referred to by me in a recent issue, in which surprise was expressed that the Australians had any taste for music, stating that it was an impudent forgery ; and also in a letter explains that the reason she did not fulfil her engagement to go to Bathurst was that Mrs Hilton, nee Miss M. A. Liddle—who will he recollected by theatre-goers in Christchurch —had been engaged to sing with her as a fill up in the programme. She also denies leaving Sydney under an assumed name. Against that Mr John Bennett, the lessee of the Theatre, writes to the Sydney Morning Herald, and says ; —“ Against these assertions are the facts that Madame Goddard’s name does not appear in the published list of passengers per Dandenong. See Friday’s Herald. Miss Christian’s name does, and that lady told me, on last Friday morning, that she allowed Madame Goddard to use it. If the letter is a forgery, how was it that Mr Smythe, Madame’s agent, handed it to me, stating that he had received it from Madame Goddard ? Nay, more, he has since ti 11 me that he had received a telegram from Mr Williams, stating that the publication of the letter would ruin their arrangements, and

implored me to give it back. This I decline to do.—l am, sir, yours obediently, JOHN BENNETT.” It is a very pretty quarrel as it stands, and when the great pianistc lias concluded the grand tour. I should think “ The Vicissitudes of an Artiste in the Colonics” would make a very taking bonk. Christchurch playgoers will regret to hear that the trans-continental trips of Mr and Mrs Hoskins has not been by any means a bed of roses. In San Francisco business was bad, but, from late advices, I learn that it was worse in Chicago. In Porkopolis, as it is called, Mr and Mrs Hoskins entered into an engagement with the management of the Academy of Music, to play a week’s business of old comedies. When they arrived, they found a very poor company to support them, and after three night’s struggle to pull through, gave it up. They have since gone on to New York, where is to be hoped they will be more successful. I expect that ere long they will return to the colonies, and I know all lovers of the drama will be prepared to give them a hearty welcome. Though perhaps somewhat outside the range of my line, I can’t help noticing the recent half-yearly meeting of the Press Dramatic Club, in Dunedin, because it shows how much can be done for good objects by a few determined spirits banding together, and also with the hope that we in Christchurch, where we have an abundance of talent, may be induced to take some steps towards having a similar institution here. From the report submitted I learn that the total amount received from the five performances was £302 Is fid, from this sum £ll3 10s had been deducted to defray expenses (altogether irrespective of the cost of wardrobes and other expenses incurred and paid by the members of the club'), leaving £llß 11s fid as the total amount, which the club has been enabled to hand over to various objects during the halfyear. This amount being all for charitable purposes, speaks well for the popularity of my confreres of the quill, and I am glad so substantial a result has attended their exertions. In Melbourne, Mr .and Mrs Williamson (nee Maggie Moore) have achieved one of the greatest successes ever made on the Australian stage. The piece in which they first appeared, “ Struck Oil,” the principal characters being an old Dutchman and his sister, has had a run of six consecutive weeks, and the theatre at last advices was crowded every night. A recent Melbourne paper says that this lucky couple are receiving £4OO per week as their share. It seems to me that they have “ struck ile ” with a vengeance. The Italian Opera Company, after a short season of twelve nights, have gone on to Adelaide, after which they sail for Dunedin, opening there about the first of the year. PPOPS,