DRAMATIC NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2497, 8 April 1882, Page 3

DRAMATIC NOTES.

[By “ Prompter.”! "Patience ” still retains the boards at the Theatre Royal, though up to the presant, to use the words of the author, the audiences have not been “jolly utter ” but rather "too too all but.” For the last two or three nights the attendance has been much better than at first, but still there is great room for improvement in this respect. The piece is becoming better known, hence the points are folly appreciated and the audience take them up readily. Me Vernon’s Bunthorne is, without exception, the very best piece of character acting ever seen on our stage. He is the character, and would be very hard to beat anywhere in it. Mies Rees has won golden opinions by her clear, fresh vocalisation, and Mdlle. Navaro’s Lady Jano is well worthy to take rank alongside of Mr Vernon’s Bunthorne. Indeed, it would be difficult to find a better cr more equal match as regards tun and thorough appreciation of the humor of the opera than the present ropresosentatives of Lady Jano and Bunthorne. The small parts of the Ladies Angela, Ella, and Sapbir do not afford the Misses Bldred, Ford, and Royal tha opportunity of displaying their powers to any large degree, but still they are hoard to great advantage in the concerted music. Signor Bicoardi’s Colonel is, though of a totally different stamp, worthy to rank with his Sir Joseph Porter, and ho sings the music allotted to him capitally. Mr Beaumont, as the Duke, and Mr Forde, as the Major, are also both good. Signor Verdi is in better voice on this visit than when he was last here, and hie Archibald Grosvenor is a good performance. The orchestra, under the baton of Signor Giorzi, [works well, the chorus is full and efficient, and the opera is put upon the stage with an attention to detail and completeness such as we rarely have the pleasure of seeing here. The new drop curtain was exhibited for the first time on Monday evening last, and fully bears out the wisdom of the selection by Mr Williamson of Mr Gordon to point it. The subject is a view of Windsor Castle from the River Thames, and it is most artistically treated. The only drawback to its perfect display is the fact that, at present, all the light is concentrated on the foot of the picture, the sky effects being entirely lost. This will, however, be remedied when Mr Beatty receives the new chandelier which has been ordered. On Good Friday, by special license from the City Council, a sacred concert was given. It is probable that “ Patience ” will be kept on the greater part of next week, so as to enable visitors to the Exhibition to see this latest sarcasm on the prevailing cruzo of the day. A ftcr a very prosperous career in the marine village of Lyttelton, Zulu Thompson has left us for fresh fields and pastures new. He take with him an appreciable amonnt of specie, and the heartfelt gratitude of hundreds of households made happy by pianos, suites of furniture, As. He was escorted to the Wanaka by a deputation of ladies, to whom, during his stay in Lyttelton, he had been generous in the matter of liqueur frames, &o. The band ought to have been present, bnt were not, and the matrons contented them* selves by singing pianissimo, “ Oh, Willie, we shall miss you.” Thompson on the bridge with his hat off, ana a beaming smile irradiating his noble countenance, was a sight to see. When ha was seen in the pale moonlight nursing the Zulu princess, there was not a mother in the band who did not register a mental vow to take a half-dozen tickets when the Zulu chieftain visits us as he promises to do ere long. Ho unpacks his show and the lecture in Wellington, where ho has a clear field and no opposition. What a time he will have in the Empire City. Harry Power, with Mdlle Lolo do Glorian and the remainder of the “ too utterly utter ” party, reached town on Tuesday night. They play at the Gaiety to-night. The piece was written by a brother of the quill, and, therefore, ought to be the quintessence of funs Harry is a warrior, and all.who know him will wish him good luok in the present venture. Mr Woodyear, of the circus, is also in town, but as yet has mado no sign of an opening ad. Till this important ceremony is gone through I am unable to say when the show will open, or where it is to be located. Rumour has it that Admiral John Coker, whose exploits at the battle of the Nile live in immortal verse, has secured tho show for his back yard, but this requires confirmation, While on the subject of rumours let me just tell a tale which has reached me of the sporting exploits of two well known pros, who wont duck-shooting. Tho party comprised W n and V i, with an intelligent driver. They left on Saturday night, after the show, for the Lake, but about six hours out turned up at the back of Papanui, or some other spot equally remote from the Lake, whore ducks wore to be t hot. After undergoing the most terrible privations, even to W n smoking his last cigar and V i emptying the flask of Scotch cordial with which they had provided themtelvos, what they thought was the lake was reached, and, Oh, joy ! the quacking of ducks was heard in the distance; guns were hastily loaded, and the two pros, went on the war trail. Just as they were both about to pull trigger, V——i had a suspicion that tho ducks looked too white for wild fowl, and altogether too largs. Hastily repressing the sportsmanlike ardour of W n, the manly baritone crept close up, and, sntto voce, sang, “Oh, willow waly” to the ducks. That settled it. Not a feather moved, and he became aware of the fact that by the merest chance they had escaped sending a volley into a flock of tame ducks belonging to a neighboring farmer. After a brief orison and a drink they left. At length the Lake was reached, and tho weary sportsmen sank into slumber oblivious of ducks. Tho fusilade of tha battalion from town awakened them after a brief rest, and presently two ducks I assod over, one of which fell to tho invincible gun of V—-i, and the other was bagged by the impresario. This constituted the bag with which they returned to town, and though envious persons say that they were purchased from tikiffins, this is a calumny which should at once be refuted. To go home with one bird each was no use, so the arbitration of skying the ooia was resorted to, and W n, who V i declares travels with a tossing penny like that used in “ Oox and Box,” was the victor. V iis now waiting for another trip with some one who knows the way.

From Auckland 1 learn of the dopartura of tho Misses Maggie Knight and Ethel Aciello with Mr and Mrs Elliott for Sydney, Thither also has gone Mr De Lias in search of novelties.

The “ Sydney Bulletin” thus discourses re Mins Louise Pomeroy’s season :—Miss Louise Pomeroy, there can be no doubt whatever, is extremely versatile, And there oan be little question also, now that wo have seen her as Pauline, that she is an actress of groat power in certain phases of the drama, which she is unable or unwilling to develop in others. Miss Pomeroy’s physique is extremely suited to the role of MadomeDesohappellea’ “sold” young offspring, and the “doing” she vouchsafed hor unfortunate husband after tho wedding, gave us, as well as (we suppose) many others, serious food for reflection. There is one great charm in la belle Louise’s acting. It is seldom artificial, and her by-play is always carefully studied and well conceived. She has faults, of course (who in any branch of life has not ?), but hers have the advantage of being for the most upon tho surface. In the “ Lady of Lyons” (produced on Saturday) Miss P. drew the biggest house of the season. Business, indeed, has been improving steadily from the commencement, when the comical appearance of the “ game” brought home to the cave by Mr Jerdan in “ Oymbeline” gave it a nasty jar for the commencement. The Olaude of tho evening was Mr Herbert Flemming, who, besides possessing tho stage appearance necessary far tho part, was careful in all his scenes, and effective in a great many. This is decidedly the most ambitions effort Mr Fleming has made here in the “ legitimate,” and while we do not oaro to hazard the statement that Herbert could travel on his Olaude and make millions, we are most certainly of opinion that the standard ho has shown in Bulwer’s play will not only suffice to keep the wolf from tho door, but even prevent it from barking in the meadow. Mr Jordan’s Beauseant was just respectable ; Mr Musgrave’s Damas was but little short of a first-rate performance. Harry Leston played his part in a manner which Glavis considerable satisfaction, and Mr Hasker as the father interpreted the role very much in tho same manner as he did that of Oymbeline j consequently, a* the feeble father ho was a success. As Madame Desohappalles Miss Merton made up and acted capitally ; but it is shameful for the management to cause poor little Lena Ellis to make a spider’s web of her face in endeavoring to pourtray the widow. The other characters were satisfactorily filled. On Monday and Tuesday “East Lynne" was played at the Royal, but we never notice “Bast Lynne.”

The same paper says, respecting the new •p-ra company;— “By the way, we hear

from 'Frisco that an Italian Opora Company, consisting of Signor Rosnati, Monto Grill), Parolini, Signoras Gamma Fiozzo, Bellini, Miss Coursen, and others will shortly appear in Sydney.” Prom “ Town and Country ” I clip the following itemsAt the Opera House the clover troupe of minstrels with black faces under the direction of Messrs Bent and Baohelder have been doing excellent business. The singing is very fine, and the comic business quite too utterly too side-splitting. Pollard’s Juvenile Opera Company commences a short season at Wilson’s Opera House on the Bth proximo, opening in “ Los Cloches de Oorneville. ” Mr Prod. Marshall’s comedy season will be inaugurated about the end of next month, Mr Charles Packer intends producing, at the Opera House, his oratorio “The Crown of Thorns,” on Good Friday night. Miss Jennie Leo (said to bo the original "Jo”) arrived by the ’Frisco mail on Tuesday, and will probably open at the Gaiety Theatre. Mr Joseph L. Goodman leaves for Adelaide shortly, whither ho proceeds to fill the post of treasurer daring the run of “ Sinbad the Sailer,” which is to be produced there about Easter, under Mr Jus, Allison’s management. Miss Emma Wangsnheim has made another bit at Adelaide as Madame Pavart.

In Melbourne, at tho Boyal, Messrs W. J. and O. Holloway have been ploying the two Antipholi, and Messrs W. Hoskins and J. J. Kennedy the two Dromioa, in the “Comedy of Errors.” Speaking of the production, the “Melbourne Leader” says:— “ The performance of the ‘ Comedy of Errors ’ at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night proved an agreeable surprise no less than a refreshing and intellectual treat to the large audience that filled all parts of thehouse. It was a surprise, inasmuch as few could have anticipated the artistic success achieved by the company, and as a real Shakespearian treat it equalled anything witnessed on the boards in Melbourne for many a day. Tha piece, however admirable and capable of drawingjs seldom played, owing to the difficulty of securing two sets of twins with any approach to similarity in appearance, speech, and manner, and without those essentials failure is inevitable, A happy combination of circumstances, however, enabled tho management to overcome this obstacle, and what with new and appropriate scenery, suitable dresses and accessories, the venture proved all that could be desired. The remarkable personal resemblance of the brothers W. J. and Charles Holloway served all tho purposes of the two noble youths of Ephesus and Syracuse respectively, while as the two Dromios the striking likeness existing between Mr Hoskins and Mr J. J. Kennedy so far satisfied the exigencies of the situations that but for a little huskiness of voice on the part of the former their actual identity would scarcely have been distinguishable.” Miss Annie Mayer made a hit as Adrienne, Miss Flora Anstead appearing as the Abbess, and Mr OMy Deering as Egeon. Tho Shakspearien revival was followed by Mr George Bignold with the new comedy of “Youth.” The east included Mr and Mrs George Bignold, Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Docy Stewart, Mies P. Anetead, and Messrs H. M. Douglas, B. N. Jones and Oily Deering. The opening of tho Montague - Turner Company seems to have been a success. At the Opera House Mr Wybert Reeve was at last dates playing Pinero’s comedydrama of “The Money Spinner,” and “The Colonel ” was underlined for this evening. At Hobart Irish drama was in the ascendant, Mr B. Howe, with Mr Walter Eeynrld’s Company, playing the “ Bhaughran.” Tho prospectus of the proposed new theatre in Hobart will shortly be issued- The building it is roughly estimated will ooet some £30,000. The theatre building will also, it is proposed, include a new Ship Hotel, affording large and excellent accommodation, and also an assembly-room to seat about 700 persons, the theatre proper being capable of containing some 1400 spectators. The theatre would bo fitted with every requisite to comfort, such as cloak and retiring rooms, restaurant, and a first-class billiard-room.

On Thursday, the 29th of December, _ a “ new and original ” play called “ The Squire,” and written by Mr A. W. Pinero, was produced at the St. James’s Theatre, London. It opened admirably, with a novel and picturesque scene and some very striking characters ; but before much progress had been made, the spectators, or at least a very considerable proportion of them, believed that they had discovered the source of the author’s inspiration. All who had read Mr Hardy’s delightful novel, “ Far from the Madding Crowd,” traced a close resemblance between novel and play, and after the first aot, the general question asked when friends met was, “ Have you read the book ?”—“ The Squire ” and “Far from the Madding Crowd" being so much alike that “ the book ” was understood without any sort of explanation, to mean that novel. Comments were made on the elevation of the characters in the social soolo. Kate Verity was more of a lady than Bathsbeba. Gabriel Oak was a bailiff in tha play instead of a shepherd, and Sergeant Troy had been provided with a commission and appeared as Lieutenant Thorndyke. There was a gipsy who did not figure in the novel; but otherwise it was on all hands understood that an adaptation of “ Far from the Madding Crowd” was being played. During the evening things fell out very much as had been anticipated. Little Felicity Gunnion’a fate wag not so sad as that of her prototype in the novel, and changes of construction were apparent in various pieces. The audience left, however, with a firm conviction that they had seen a dramatic version of Mr Hardy’s story. A couple of criticisms were published next morning, and those, like the great majority of those which followed, traced the play to its supposed source—Mr Hardy’s Far frpm the Madding Crowd.” On Saturday evening an ugly rumour about tho piece was afloat, and this was confirmed on Monday by letters published in the “ Times.” Mr Thomas Hardy, a novelist who has no living superior, and probably, with one exception, no equal, and Mr Comyns Oarr, the well-known author aud journalist, wrote to the editor on the subject, the former stating that ho hod dramatised his book and offered it to Messrs Hare and Kendal, and the latter corroborating Mr Hardy’s statement. The “ Sporting and Dramatic News," from whioh I oull the above, proceeds as follows ; Messrs Hare and Kendal emphatically; deny that Messrs Hardy and Carr’s play was ever accepted by “them.” No one asserts it; but only that it was practically accepted by Mr Hare, one of “them.” The managers furthermore explain bow they asked Mr Pinero questions as to the originality of his work- but why, having tho acknowledged adaptation of Mr Hardy’s novel in the theatre (or having had it before them so very recently), did they not use their own judgment ?' So far as Mr Oarr is concerned, if his play had not been in existence (the managers continue) “ The Squire ” would be now playing line for lino, situation for situation, &o. Possibly; but would this be so if Mr Hardy’s novel (leaving Mr Hardy’s play out of the question) had never been in existence? It should ha remarked that we ore following the “Times" correspondence. Other letters, mostly going over the same ground, have been published elsewhere. The question when Mr Pinero first read Mr Hardy’s novel is net, however, clearly answered. Messrs Hare and Kendal admit that there are “ strange coincidences ” in all this, and so truly there are. 1. It is strange that the story of a novel whioh has been before the world for several years should have found its way on to tho stage just after the author of the novel had himself adapted his book for tho stage. 2, It is strange that, of all tho theatres in London, tho particular theatre to whioh the author of the novel sent his play should be that in which a plav so very closely resembling it is produced. 3. It is strange that while the main incidents of the two stories are so nearly identical, similarities should bo traceable in minor characters. 4. It is strange that while in his adaptation of his own novel Mr Hardy turned his sergeant into a lieutenant, the man who is to a great extent the counterpart of the sergeant in the play should be a lieutenant also. B. It is strange —extremely strange—that Mr Hardy should have introduced a gipsy, who does not figure in the novel, into his adaptation, and t hat there should be a gipsy in the “ Pquire." 6 It is strange that if Mr Pinero knew nothing, either through the medium of his eyes or ears, of Mr Hardy’s adaptation, the likeness between “ Far from the Madding Crowd ” and tha “ Bquire ” should have struck, net two or three or half a dozen, but hundreds of persons, including Messrs Hare and KendsL So much is “ Far from the Madding Crowd ” like tho “ Squire, ” that a London manager, who intended to produce a version of the novel, bos written to Messrs Hardy, and Oarr to say that after the production of the “ Squire,” it would be folly to put tho adaptation of Mr Hardy’s work on the stage. Most happily such “ strange oo- ‘ incidences " as the above are rare.