ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 142, 17 November 1874, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

“All the world’s a stage.” —As Yon- LiliC It. The counter attractions of races, bucolic gatherings, flower shows, and last, but not least, the opera, has left me but little scope to have my accustomed gossip with your readers on show business. Moreover, the lyric drama now reigns supreme, and as this is another department of the field of art I have had to wait until I could accumulate a few items of news from various quarters respecting old Canterbury favorites.

First, a few words as to the opera. I may say that I did not consider “ 11 Trovatnre” an unmixed success ; indeed, far from it. The choruses, and indeed music generally, is by far too dramatic for the company, who have in English opera been used to sing in simple unison only—still it was very creditable, and I hope we shall hear it again, but it requires rehearsal, Many of the characters last evening Avcre very imperfect in the text, and more than once Miss May saved a “ stick ” by the timely interposition of the cue, given pianissimo. Of her rendering of the character of Leonora there can be but one opinion—viz, that it Avas very fine, both in singing and acting. What I like about Miss May in her various parts is, the fervour and abandon with which she throws herself into the character; from first to last her heart is

thoroughly in. her work, and she deservedly receives praise. Last night added another to her list of successes, Miss Lambert is totally uusuited, alike in voice and physique, to sing the grand music of Azucena. The character is essentially a bold masculine one, of marked dramatic power and effect, and Miss Lambert, though struggling gallantly under the burthen, failed to my mind to reproduce the Gipsy mother brooding over her dark schemes of vengeance, illumined by the lurid gleams of the lire of insanity. Still, while saying this, there were portions of the opera in which Miss Lambert’s voice came out with good effect, but generally, the part was too much for her. Messrs Hallam and Templeton deserve very great credit for their singing throughout the opera; the former gentleman struck me as being somewhat stiff in his acting, far more so than in any part I have seen him essay this season. Mr Templeton’s acting, on the contrary, was easy and graceful, and at the same time fully in keeping with the part. Mr Levison, a painstaking, careful actor of ordinary merit, sang the music of Fernando fairly, but he was laboring under severe indisposition, and therefore it is not fair to say more. The opera was magnificently mounted, the dresses and appointments being really splendid. Before leaving the opera, let me take this opportunity of correcting a slight error that my confrere “ Prompter” of the Dunedin Evening Star has fallen into. He says, in a recent issue, “The Allen Company reopened here (Christchurch) with ‘ Satanella’; the cast was weak.” Now, I think all who were present on the occasion of the opera being performed, will agree with me that this was not the case ; on the contrary, the music of Arimanes, which was the only change in the cast from its former performance was infinitely better sung by Mr Templeton, than by Mr Rainford, and certainly it was more pleasing to see the part “ acted” by Mr Templeton. I trust my friend “Prompter” will be careful as to his sources of information in future, the more so as he is generally so well informed on matters theatrical.

Of course, during the carnival week we have had all sorts and conditions of entertainments, and I may generally dismiss them by saying that all were well patronised, and I believe none had any reason to complain of want of support. In Dunedin the Steele-Keogh troupe have received an accession in the shape of Mr and Mrs F. M. Bates, who come accredited very highly from Australia. Of their performances the Dunedin papers speak highly, particularly of Mrs Bates’ rendering of Queen Elizabeth in the historical play of ‘ ‘ Elizabeth.” lam glad to note the success made by these artistes, and also that their advent has been the means of inducing the management to consign to a well deserved limbo the “blood and thunder ” style of pieces with which, during their visit here, we were dosed ad nauseam. I hope Mr and Mrs Bates—as I believe they will —at the termination of their Dunedin engagement will pay us a visit. With a decently talented company and fresh faces their success is certain, and no one will more heartily welcome them than your humble servant. The Smith Combination Troupe have again split up. MrYalYose and Mr Saunders are at Timaru giving a capital show and doing well. The remainder are en route to Dunedin from Southland, Mr Smith himself having returned to Melbourne. This fragment of the company is I see advertised to be coming northward, but after the whole and entire show I don’t think they will go down here. In Wellington the Stephensou-Burford troupe are doing what might be called a “mixed” business ; one night good, the next empty. Of course there is powerful attraction against them Fin the shape of Madame Goddard whose concerts have been crowded to excess. The round of pieces familiar to us here some time, have been given with varying success, and the changes have been rung on “Medea,” “Ixion,” &c. Recently a rather funny amalgamation has been made, the Theatre Company and Bachelder’s panorama of “Paradise Lost,” having coalesced, with Mr Charles Massey as lecturer. I fancy I should like to see this entertainment, Mr Rainford, I notice, takes a benefit in conjunction with the Burford-Stephenson troupe, when the opera of “The Daughter of the Regiment” will be given. I should think this also would be what Mr de la Pluche would call a “ reshershay” performance. Musical people, and for the matter of that non-musical people, are on the tip-toe of expectation for Madame Goddard’s arrival. It is a commentary on the age of progress in which we live, when one of England’s greatest musical celebrities can be heard by the residents in a country, which but a few years back was looked rrpon as a land of cannibals. In musical Christchurch I know Madame Goddard will receive a hearty and genuine welcome. The other members of the company are Mrs Smythe, who has accompanied Madame Goddard through her travels, and who comes with a high reputation ; Herr Doehler, a violinist of repute ,* and Mr R. L. Skinner, a tenor. Mr Rainford, it is said, is engaged as basso, but of this there is at present no confirmation. From Sydney I hear of the genuine success of little Rosa Towers. The Sydney papers speak in the highest possible terms of her, and predict a bright future for this clever little lady. Her greatest success has been in “The Waif of the Streets,” and as the public have endorsed the verdict of the papers by crowding the house every night, there can be no doubt of the genuineness of her triumph. I rejoice that in a larger sphere Miss Rosa has had so successful a debut.

Our old friends, the Asiatic Circus, are now in the interior of New South Wales, where a gushing critic expends nearly a column and a half of space in laudation of their performances. The Kennedy’s are still in Melbourne, doing very good business, as also are our friends the Carandiui’s, who appear to have taken a fresh lease of public favour. I regret to learn from a Melbourne paper that our hopes of an Italian opera season are without foundation. From this authority I gather that after a short season up-country in Victoria, the company will break up, the prirrcipal artistes going back to Europe. This announcement, if true, will, I am sure, be received with great regret by a large number of persons. In Brisbane I see that “The School for Scandal” was recently played, with Mr Tavares as Sir Peter, and Mrs Tavares as Lady Teazle' 1 ! Bather an odd cast I should think. On dit that Mr and Mrs Hoskins are en route for New Zealind, and also that early in the year we shall have a visit from Miss Christian and her clever troupe. PROPS.