THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqciv. TUESDAY, February 11, 1903. Miss Rosina Buckmann. the talented New Zealand soprano, has been engaged by the Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society to play the name-part in the forthcoming production of " Erminie." It is also interesting to know that Miss Buckmann has been engaged by Mr George Musgrove for a season of comic opera in Australia. Johnny Fuller, jun., manager of the Princess Theatre, complains that during the concert season of Madame Clara "^Jutt at His Majesty's the bookings of the 6d gallery showed a marked falling off ! The proposed alterations and improvements to the Prinroes Theatre, Dunedin, which are to include, among other things, the erection of two dress circle boxes, will be' commenced during the month ot March. It is quite on the carda that one of the syndicate financially interested in the f^ollard Juvenile Opera Company ivill shortly leave for America and Great Britain on a mission to acquire attractions which axe most likely to prove palatable to theatrical goers ir> the Dominion. Wedding bells will soon be ringing in c. Ti'ieetion with Mr J" A. MacDonaW, one limn representative of. the well-kno^.i tlflck Family of Musicians. I have received a .kindly invitation to be present at the interesting ceremony, which is <o take place at Auckland on February 26. Though accepting the cordial invitation, ii is impossible for me to be present, but I take this opportunity of extending -hearty congratulations. Mr A. Moss, of this city, who is one of tb" syndicate interested in Pollard's Juvenile Opera Company, returned from Wellington by the Monowai on Thursday last, and is *£ 'ii<iin. tg Au^trsdia by. the

Moeraki on Sunday. In conversation ■with Mr Moss, that gentleman informed me that all was well with Pollard's Opera Ccmpany, and the business was keeping up to a high standard. Asked as to the future movements and poiey of the company, Mr Moss said: "After the New Zealand tour, which ends in Invercargill in June next, the company sot out on a tour of Tasmania and Australia. The tour will extend over six months. I am leaving for Australia on Sunday to map out the trip, and will be absent some weeks. The company is meanwhile playing in the North Island, and will visit Dunedin in winter show week, in June. Invercargill will then be played, and a departure taken for Tasmania, where 6-easons will be played prior tc eomimencing a tour of the Common- I wealth. A week or 10 days will be spent in Melbourne before setting out on the Australian tour to permit of the children paying a short visit to their parent*. At the conclusion of the Australian tour the company will return to New Zealand with some additional attractions to the repertoire." A sacred song, entitled " O heavenly j Father," worda and music by the promising composer, Raymond Hope (M 1 * James Brown), has been dedicafed to Madame Clara Butt, who has thought the composition, -worthy of acceptance. The compliment from an artist like Madame Clara Butt sets forth a graceful appreciation of the work. Just before the commencement of the performance in Wirt.h's Circus an attendant passes round among the audience carrying a basket, in which are three pretty, blinking, little lion cubs, which ladie<* and children fondle, often remarking: "I can say I have held a. lion in mv lap." The cube are about eight -weeks old, and were born on board the s.s. Nineveh, which carried j Hagenbaek's wild an,imal group that has recently joined the circus, and is a big feature in the programme. Harry Rickards told a. Sydney writer the other oiiy that the best, engagements — from the point of view of drawing power — he ever made were Cinquevalli. Little Tich, Biondi, Sandow, Ada Reeve, Peggy Pryde. Of the latest lot be considered the Klos Sisters would be the biggest draw. Paul Cinquevalli arrives at the end of the year, and will make a. starring tour of Australia under Ha.rry Rickarcls's management, commencin'fr at Perth. Ta&mania and New Zealand will also be visited. The tour will last fer 36 weeks, and on jts completion Ihe great jugger will retire from -stage life. During the recent heat-wave in Viotoria Ada Delrov's Company," which was due to open at Walhalla, had an exciting experience. A larse coach, drawn by five horses^ containing the luggasre and effects of the company, came to grief through the tyre, which had become loosened by *-he heat, coming off the hind wheel at the foot of the steep cutting leading into Coppermine. Two members of the company on the eCach were thrown out, but fortunately escaped with minor injuries. The luggage j and effects sustained considerable damage, j The company were unable to play that night owing to a. relief coach not arriving until 10 o'clock. j The decoration of the new theatre, Ohrifrfcchuroh, which is of a most artistic | character, has now been completed, and the building is now in the hands of the furnishers, who are busily engaged with their portion of the work. All the furnishings were specially selected in England, and are both Tich and artistic in colourings. Everything will be ready by February 26. on which date Mr J. C. I Wiliamson's "Blue Moon" Company will give the inaugural performance in the new building. A cable message states that a remarkable theatrical engagement has just been concluded between Mr J. C. Williamson and Madame Sarah Bernhardt. Mr Williamson, who has been on an exended visit to Europe, had practically concluded arrangements with Madame Bemhardt for a tour of Australasia. The contract, however, was not actually concluded when Mr Williamson left for New York by the Cunard steamer Lusitania. On the voyage he sent Madame Bernhardt a Marconigram intimating that he 'had decided to go on with the contract. The arrangement entered into is for a tour of Australia and New Zealand in the midsummer of 1909. The great aotras3 will give .performances, at a fee of 500,000fr (£20,000). Madame SaTah Bernhardt first visited Australia in 1891, and opened at the Princess's Theatre on May 27 of that year. She appeared in "Camille," "La Tosca." "Fedora," "Frou Frou," "Joan of Arc," "Theodora," and "Adrienne Lecouvreur." Arrived by the Warrimoo from Australia on Monday Mr Welby Cook, the wellknown bare-back rider, who some five years ago created a sensation when he toured with Wirth's Circus in New Zealand. Mr Cook has been out in India and the East with Harmston's Circus, and has arrived in Dunedin to rejoin Wirths Circus for the New Zealand tou,r. Mr Cook will probably- make his appearance on Thursday evening. Mr Philip Wirth, of Wirth Bros.' Circus, at present in Dunedin, forwards from Port Said a picture post-card setting- forth his movements and doings. Mr Wirth is on a tour of the Continent engaging attractions for the biff show. The balance sheet of the company which brought out the German Opera Company has been published. Afer absorbing the whole of the oaDital. Mr Musgrove wa6 left with a loss of £298. What, profits had been made in Adelaide and Melbourne were absorbed by losses in New Zealand, Tasmania, and the second season in Melibourne-. At Auckland the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company are in the middle of a most successful season, which will last until the 15th inst. A few days will be spent in the smaller towns of the North Isand, and on the 26th the compary will have the honour of opening the new theatre at Christchuirch. On Thursday of last week the very successful tour oi " Brewster's Millions " began it« final 6tage in Wellington. With an unshaken confidence in the company's ability to undertake long sea trips — inspired by the amount of practice it has had in the yacht seene — the management are transferring the members from Wellington to Hobart by way of Sydney. They open in the latter city on the 22nd inst. How wide a field is covered by the operations of the J. C Williamson management may be guessed by a review of the attractions running at the end of the year in the London West Enid theatres. Out of 27 entertainments advertised in the London Daily Telegraph a very respectable portion j are owned, as fai as Australia i« Wpl-

cerned, by J. C. Williamson. Running down the list there were four pantomimes, a Shakespearean revival, and six new pieces, the ultimate success of which is still in the balance. This leaves 16 *' assured successes," to use the current expression, and no lees than half of these are the property of J. C. Williamson. Taking them in order, "Brewster's Millions." "The Girls of Gottenberg," and "The Merry Widow" have been running for eight, seven, and six months respectively, and were still going strong. "The Scarlet Pimpernel " and "Robin Hood" were being revived, much to the appreciation of playgoers, at the New and the Lyric Theatres respectively. "Peter Pan" had been staged for the fourth consecutive Christmas at the Duke of York's. " The Christian " was at the Shaftesbury, and " Tne Thief " had settled j down to a consistently popular run at St. James's Theatre. Moreover, one of the principal suburban theatres had the famous Hickery Weed version of "Mother Goose" as its bill. Mr Edward Shcrras, who is to make his first appearance before an Australian audience with the Royal Comic Opera Company as Dorlis in "The Lady Dandies," began. his career some 12 or 13 years ago, when he appeared at Daly's Theatre in "An Artist's Model." The first engagement was subsequently renewed, and for three years altogether he was connected with the came theatre, playing in " The Geisha," "The Greek Slave," and other pieces. A protracted tour as Harry Bronson in "The Belle of New York" followed, and thereafter "San Toy" claimed him — as it appears to have claimed every representative of the English lyric stage who has visited Australia within the past five years. He was also a, member of the same 1 company as Miss Maude Thorne in "My Lady Molly," and was again associated with the present Princess Aurora and also with Miss Daisie Wallace and Messrs Couriet and Clifton in the London Gaiety Company which visited South Africa in 1906. Writing under date December 25, Mr Dudley Clinton, the well-known actor, thusly : "Two years ago to-day I sailed from Sydney with George Musgrove and Nelke Stewart for America, and I now commence my journey back again, via London and Suez, under contract to J. C Williamson. Since the tour of ' Sweet Nell ' I have fulfilled a very long engagement with America's greatest actress, Mrs Fiske, playing the Rev. Mathew Phillimore | in Langdon Mitchell's comedy of divorce, ■ The New_ York Idea.' I leave England by the Orient line steamer Ophir, and, all being well, shall arrive in Australia about the middle of February, 1908. During my brief stay in the Land of the Stare and j Stripes I have traversed the continent from 'Frisco to New York, professionally, three limes. Have played in the Golden Gate City before and after the earthquake (you will perhaps have learned that ' Sweet Neil ' Company left that ill-fated city only four days before the calamity. I have visited 35 States of the Union, as far south as Florida ; have picked cotton in Alabama, have seen Niagara Falls in midsummer and in the depth of winter, and have performed in the most northerly city in Canada — viz., Edmonton. I have 'done' a three months' season on Broadway with Mrs Fiske, and am now completing my voyage round the world. You will see that I have not been idle. I am most anxious to renew my" acquaintance with the Australian audiences, whose generous and kind appreciation of mv humble work as Dr Juttner in ' Old Heidelberg ' I have never for one moment forgotten." The attention of country readers is drawn to the following tour of Wirth Bros.' Circus : — Palmerston, February 17 ; Oamaru, February 18 : Waixnate, February 19 ; Timaru, February 20 ; Temuka, February 21 ; Ashburton, February 22 ; Christchurch, February 24. In a recent number of the Era is published an appeal from Marie Spurr, wife of Mel. B. Spurr, who died at St. Kilda on September 23, 1904. She says her husband made money in touring, but through many difficulties and distresses and "the length of time it has taken to get a little of it " she and her daughter are almost reduced to throwing themselves "upon the parish." "If some of the members (of the profession) who knew my husband, would," she continues, "come to our aid and assist us to a benefit, it would raise us out of what otherwise must be disastrous. I am very ill with the constant strain of it all." The letter is dated December 15, 1907. The popular Borrie Marechel Comedy Company achieved a decided artistic and financial success at Naseby where the combination appeared on race nights to crowded houses. The finished singing of Miss Irene Carr-Lyon and Mr William Hayles's fine baritone voice created a very favourable impression. To theatrical managers in Melbourne the heat was disastrous, and the receipts fell to probably less than 40 per cent, of what they would have been under fair conditions. Many of the actors and actresses suffered se\erely as a result of having to go through arduous work in the heated atmosphere. Mr Herbert. Flemminp; was unable to take his place in " Olivia " a-t the Princess Theatre, and Mr J. F. Forde, his understudy, had to play the part at short notice. Similarly, Miss Florence Young felt the heat so much that she decided not to risk a breakdown by appearing in her part in the pantomime, " Humpty Dumpty," and Miss Mabelle Morgan took her place. The performances at the Princess's Theatre were discontinued for several evenings owing to the unprecedented heat. The Theatres and Music Halls Committee of the London County Council has decided to recommend that smoking be allowed in the 11 theatres licensed by the council (4-5 theatres obtain their licenses from the Lord Chamberlain). The committee states in its report that it feels that the request is reasonable, as there is no more danger attached to smoking in the auditorium, of a theatre than in that of a music hall. It is hardly likely, however, that even if they are given "privilege" it will be taken advantage of by all the managers. Mr Beerbohm Tree expresses the opinion that it would be only fair to theatrical managers to give them the option of allowing smoking or prohibiting it as they thought fit; Mr Seymour Hioks is quite indifferent on the matter ; Mr Oscar Asche says he sees no objection to smoking in theatres; Mr Cyril Maude and Mr Lewis Waller declare they would not allow smoking in their theatres; and Mr John Gatti is strongly opposed to the recommendation. If it were proposed to introduce this innovation here we imagine a very strong protest would be forthcoming from the nwmbgrg 9l the fair ggjti whQ are go largely.

responsible for the financial success ot failure of looal productions.

The -death is announced by cable of the celebrated violinist, Ayfruste Wilhelmi, in his sixty-third year. Unlike hie great compeer, Joaohim, Wilhelmi did not maintain his concert appearances until the end. For some years past Wilhelmi has devoted his attention to teaohinsr in Germany, and latterly h-e had complained of a stiffening of the finger joints, which made playing impossible. There are many, however, throughout Australasia who still treasure recollections of the great violinist's playing — recollections perhaps undimmed by the subsequent performances of Camilla Urso, of Remenyi, of Lady Halle, Ovide Musin, and Marie Hall. Wilhelmi was a wanderer since 1862, when, as a youth of 17, he sprang into distinction, and his journeyings led him all over the world. In .his time he was second to no artist in technique and ton© production, his favourite authors being Bach and Paganini. The young players of to-day, who have found in the method of Sevcik a royal road to overcoming technical difficulties, may in their turn go further ; but the name of Wilhelmj will always be associated with what was best and highest in vjolin-playing during the latter half of the nineteenth century. A new violinist, Miss Kathleen Parlow, a Canadian Rirl, only 17 yeare old, who is said to be even more brilliant than Knbelik or Mice Marie Hall, will probably astonish London in _ March. The story of her discovery is interesting. A short time ago Dr Grosz, a Berlin concert aegnt, waa told by an English friend that he had heard, while passing a house in a London street, a violinist playing with extraordinary skill and feeling. He listened for some time, and became convinced of the genius of the musician. All he could tell Dr Grosz, however, was that he thought the mysterious violinist was probably a pupil of Professor Aver. Dr Grosz at once offered a detective £50 if he could find the musician, and in three days he succeeded. Miss Parlow played to Dr Grosz, end foe was 60 impressed that he offered to bring her out as a solo violinist. Miss Parlow was glad to agree, as her father ia dead, and she had been livin" with her mother in London on very slender means. She has already made several thousands of pounds in Berlin and Copenhagen, where she played before 3000 people, and she is engaged to rjlay at 120 concert in North and South America at £200 a night. The Wheelers, trick cyclists, at the Tivoli — one of whom was formerly known as Roy Murphy, who, when 13 years old, rode from Adelaide to Melbourne — have appeared in Manila, Hongkong. Shanghai, Singapore. Saigon, Siam, India Java, I Straits Settlements, China (as far as Pekin), and other places in the ■" silken, East." They completed a two years' engagement with Harmston's Circus in Siam last November. The natives, said one of the Wheelers, in the course of a chat -with, a Sydney Referee writer, are great amusement seekers. At Solo, in Java, on _ one occasion, the Sultan came to the circus with 60 of his wives, who were accommodated in a special pavilion. They ar« particularly fond of clowns and acrobats, but dislike women performers.