ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 153, 30 November 1874, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

“ All the world’s a stage.” —As You Like It, Miss Alice May and the sweet singers who compose the English Opera Company have migrated to the surf-beaten shores of Timaru, and for this evening, as regards amusement, Christchurch is a howling wilderness. Habitues of the circle, to whom “ Still so gently,” “The gendarme duet,” and other morceaux are familiar as household words, will be obliged to content themselves, at least for the present, with “ the memory of the past.” However, justice to the South prevails, and though Christchurch is a loser yet, we may console ourselves with the reflection that —(at the modest figure of 10s 6d) —the Timaruites may revel in the sweet sounds which for many anight have charmed us here. During the past week Mr Allen has given us a diversity of music, ranging from the weird strains of Weber to the gay and festive music of Offenbach, reminding one of the champagne of sunny France, all sparkle and froth. The two most enjoyable performances to my mind were ‘ ‘ The Hose of Castile,” and “La Sonnambula.” I have before said what 1 think of the first of these, but I may, perhaps, be pardoned if I reiterate that in the part of Elvira I like Miss Alice May infinitely tetter than anything she does. Her Amina too is excellent, but I cannot help thinking that she is a trifle over-strained in her acting of the part. I entirely enjoy her impersonation of Boulotte in that absurd of musical absurdities, “Blue Beard.” So thoroughly does she enter into the mischief of the part and so piquante is her acting that when she leaves the stage, the opera seems to have lost its interest. Her Agatha too, though a totally different rule is noticeable because it exhibits most markedly the versatility of Miss May in being able successfully to assume characters so directly opposite _ to each other, both in a dramatic and musical point of view. Though the season has been lengthy, I regret that ere long, we shall have to say farewell to this lady—one of the most talented, as she is pleasing, lyric actresses we have ever had on our boards. Of the other members of the company let me say that Mr Hallam, during the week has surpassed himself. I think his rendering of “ Still so gently ” in “ Sonnambula ” was about the best I ever heard of this popular air. In the various parts which he has assumed too, he has achieved very great success, and I feel certain that if he will only study, he will some day take a high position on the lyric stage. Mr Templeton who has been playing the parts filled by Mr Bain ford last season, also deserves special commendation. I look upon the part of Kaspar in “ Der Freischutz ” as a very fair test of his ability, and the way he sang the difficult music of the part at once convinced me that there was any amount of latent talent in him. Unfortunately Mr Templeton, unlike the majority of his professional brethren, is of a modest, retiring disposition, hence some of his best efforts, if he is essaying a new character, are to a great extent marred by nervousness. However, I am glad to note that this is to a great extent wearing off, and I think 1m is to be congratulated on the really genuine success achieved by him in the parts he has sustained during the season. Before I forget it let me note his really excellent acting in that most amusing trifle “ Cox and Box,’’the other night. It was something immense, and he was most ably seconded by Mr Vernon, whose sense of the humourous is very keen. 1 don’t know when I have seen an entire audience so thoroughly and completely amused as on that night, and I hope, before the company leave, that we shall have another opportunity of enjoying this exquisite piece of fooling.

1 don’t know why it is, but certainly during the week the chorus, who ordinarily appear to take pains to render their portion of the opera correctly, have not been up to the mark. On several occasions I have observed that serious differences of opinion as to time and tune have occurred between them and the orchestra, and as neither party appeared willing to give way, the result has been hardly a “ concourse of sweet sounds,” but rather the reverse. On Saturday evening particularly this was noticeable, some of the choruses being positive discord, strongly resembling a feline parliament when a more than usually interesting question of order is under discussion, and several members rise to speak at once. Without wishing to infringe upon the territory of my friend “ Crotchet,” give me leave to say a word concerning the worldrenowned lady who, to-morrow evening gives us the first of a series of concerts. Madame Arabella Goddard’s reputation and position as queen of pianistes renders any remarks of mine quite unnecessary, so far as criticism or recommendation to the Christchurch public goes, but still I should like to say how much I rejoice at the opportunity which will thus be afforded to our amateur musicians of hearing the grandest compositions of the masters of the divine art, interpreted in a manner worthy of their genius. To those who can fully appreciate and enter into the performance, I can conceive no higher enjoyment than listening to Madame Goddard’s exquisite playing of Beethoven’s sonata in A, the Moonlight Sonata, or any of those glorious pieces which her genius has brought prominently before the musical world. For myself, and I know a large number of my readers, I look forward to hearing “The Last Rose of Summer,” “Home, Sweet Home,” and those transcriptions of the simple home melodies of the people which go to the heart'and make one feel —well, that there is a magical power in music of this kind difficult to analyse—difficult to describe ; but potent as magicians’ wand over the hearers. I look upon Madame Goddard’s triumphs of this kind : her rendering of the simple songs in such a way as to remind many a one of the old country far away, of perhaps a loving mother now sleeping in the little village churchyard, whose sweet voice * used to soothe them with the melody they listen to now under, alas, such changed circumstances, as being quite as bright, aye, even more so, than her artistic triumphs with the sonatas of Beethoven or Mozart. ■ But, pshaw ! what has a theatrical chronicler ’ to do with sentiment; let us to business. ' Madame Goddard will be assisted by Mrs 1 Smythe, a lady who, under her maiden name of Miss Amelia Bailey, will be reI collected by Victorians as the leading solo r vocalist at the Philharmonic Society’s concerts in Melbourne. Since her engagement with Madame Goddard she has visited India 1 and the East, and has been received most favorably everywhere. Herr Doehler, the violinist, has also achieved success in Australia ; and Mr Skinner, the tenor, also seems to please his audiences. I have left Mr Rainford to the last, not that he is by any means the least talented, but because he is an old friend, while the other assistants of i Madame Goddard have not as yet made s their appearance in Christchurch. From Dunedin I learn that Mr Rainford has exceedingly successful, his singing being greatly admired. We, in Christchurch, i know his talent and are therefore prepared • to accord him a most favorable reception. Judging from the large number of seats ; already taken up Madame Goddard’s concert will be the most numerously attended of any entertainment yet given here—a result which of course was to be expected, considering the reputation of the lady. Judging from the telegrams from Melbourne and the paragraphs I see in the Argus and other papers, I shall shortly have the pleasure of welcoming the Rev Charles Clark, said to be the most eloquent preacher in Melbourne, and noticing his lectures—or entertainments —for opinions are divided upon the subject. Mr Clark is said to be as effective as a lecturer as he is in the pulpit, which is saying a great deal, but it is principally in his character as a humorist and public entertainer that he will more specially claim my attention, as being within my scope. In any case, however, whether as preacher, orator, or humorist, I think I may promise the rev gentleman a cordial welcome from Christchurch folk, to whom eminent talent in any department of literature and art is always welcome. Whether therefore from the Rev Mr Clark we learn ‘ ‘ How charming is divine philosophy, Hot harsh and crabbed as dull fools suppose, But musical as is Apollo’s lute or whether, in range “ from grave to gay, from lively to severe,” he paints for us the word-pictures of Cnarles Dickens, or gentle Oliver Goldsmith, I expect to see large attendances at his lectures; and, judging from Australia, those who do go will come away delighted. The Nezv Zealand Christian llecord is very hard upon my confreres “Call-Boy” and “Prompter,” because they style him an actor. I don’t want to quote that trite and hackneyed remark of the divine William’s relative to a name, but it seems to me that oratory, whether pulpit or otherwise, to be effective, must, to a certain extent at least, be “ acting,” and I look upon this quality as a powerful adjunct to the work of the preacher. 1 hope, therefore, that my friend of the Record will not object to the word being used. I understand that Mr Clark visits New Zealand for his health, and I hope our genial climate will have a beneficial effect. In Dunedin Mr and Mrs Bates were still doing a fair “biz” at the date of last advices. “The Streets of New York.” a sensational play of the most pronounced type, appears - to have been a success, though this seems rather to have been the result of Fire Brigade, en masse, being on the stage during one scene. Mr Vose after a trip to Timaru with his show, which appears to have been a success, has returned to Dunedin where he intends opening during the Christmas week. A Miss Payne and Mr Saunders were his assistants during his Timaru trip. I see also that the remnant of Mr Smith’s combination, including Airec, Mdlle. Montebello, Messrs Vincent, Turner, and Veretti, are giving performances at the Queen’s Theatre, where they have been joined by an artiste rejoicing in the name of Zelinda, with the Arabian box mystery, which, by the way, seems to be pretty common. In Wellington, the Stephenson-Burford troupe continue with about the same amount of success. The sensational drama of “ Cigarette” has been withdrawn, and despite the evident attempts to bolster it up, does not seem to have been a success.

In Auckland, the amusements comprise a circus, under the management of Mr T. Bird, who will be remembered many years ago in connection with Foley’s circus. Business there seems to be lively ; indeed, from what I know of Aucklanders, I should say that horse riding and circus business is about their form. The California Minstrels are on the West Coast, and probably will come this way en route for Dunedin. Some short time back I quoted from a Melbourne paper a paragraph stating that the Italians would not visit New Zealand, but the Otago Guardian says ; —“ Mr Alfred Anderson, R.A.M., has been offered, and will probably accept, the post of conductor, n connection with the Opera Company expected to visit New Zealand shortly. Signore Coy, Tournierie, and Palmieri, and Signor Dondi, it is understood, will be members of the troupe.” Judging from this it is likely we shall have an Italian Opera season after all. Miss Rosa Towers has concluded a most successful engagement in Sydney, where Mr and Mrs Hoskins are playing a star engagement ; after which they will, in conjunction with Mr and Mrs Darrell, pay us a visit. The new theatre project is progressing, and I hope at no distant date to be called upon to chronicle the opening night, which will certainly be an era in theatrical matters in Christchurch. PROPS.