TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 206, 4 June 1887, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The debut of the American elocutionist, Mrs Brown Potter, at the Haymarket Theatre last week, was a very great occasion indeed. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who had already spent a long morning at one of the lady's rehearsals, was present with a brilliant suite (but without the Princess), and amongst the observed of all observers were Lady Colin Campbell, Mr Geo. Lewis, Caroline, Duchess of Montrose (" Mr Man ton"), Mr Arthur Dacre and his wife (Amy Roselle), and social, literary and artistic notorieties innumerable. " Man and Wife " is a deadly dull play, which owed its success at the old Prince of Wales's Theatre entirely to the- strength of a cast which included Hare, Coghlan, Dewar, the Bancrofts and Lydia Foote— at that time perhaps the most powerful of living actresses in a pathetic part like Anne Silvester. Mrs Brown Potter in the very antithesis of Lydia Foote. She has not an atom of repose about her. The unfortunate heroine in her hands becomes a wriggling, jumpy, screechy and most tiresome- porson. No doubt Mrs Potter was over nervous. Certainly she had every right to be. The audience (curious evidently, rather than friendly) proved cold as a stone, even the complimentary greeting usual on a debutante's entrance being omitted.

Nor, as the play progressed, did the applause increase. Mrs Brown Potter, in point of fact, was a failure, and the revival would have been ivrepressibly damned but for the superb acting of Mr E. S, Willard as the brutal athlete Geoffrey Dclamayne. Since Mr Willard created that unique and splendid scoundrel " The Spider" in "The Silver Kin^ " he has had no such chance as this, and he avails himself of his opportunities to the full. In the great scene of the last act, where the spoiled bully is struck by paralysis in the very midst of his bullying, Willard's acting was very fine indeed, and held the house spell-bound. The curtain fell amidst deafening applause, to which Mrs Brown Potter seemed at first inclined to respond. Fortunately she didn't. Willard, however, gracefully led her forward when acknowledging his own "call" and handed along a large wreath of flowers over which the departing " gods " waxed somewhat derisive. Altogether Mrs Brown Potter pulled through a difficult ordeal fairly luckily, considering her limited powers. To call her the "American Mrs Langtry "is simply nonsence. She has not a tithe of either the beauty or the talent of that lady.

Easter Novelties. Whenever a change of programme is necessary at the Savoy it will take the form of a revival of " H.M.S. Pinafore." Mr Gilette's American " war " play " Held by the Enemy " was successfully produced at a matinee at the Prince&ses Theatre on Saturday, and will forthwith replace Mr Jones's luckless " Noble Vagabond " in the evening bill. The run of " Faust " at the Lyceum is to be followed by a revival of " The Bells," as Ellen Terry needs a prolonged holiday and Irving is busy studying Lord Byron's " Werner for the Westland Marston benefit. Kate Vaughan's Old Comedy Company have passed from '* The School for Scandal " to " Masks and Faces," in which the fair Kate attempts the role of " Peg Woffington," made famous years back by Mrs Sterling and more latterly by Mrs Bancroft and Mrs Bernard Beere. It is a foolish experiment. Miss Vaughan's "Kate Hardcastlo " I liked, and many worse actresses have Wfjrn powder as " Lady Teazle," but her JW is a sadly depressing performance. She hasn't the animal spirits for the part. Possibly, though, recollections of Mrs Bancroft's inimitable •• Mistress Woffington " make one hypercritical.

Song by tlie Princess BeatriceA new song set to Herne's well-known lines, commencing " In the sunny month of May," by the Princess Beatrice, has just been published by Boosey & Co. It is a simple not unattractive melody, with a par- \ ticularly easy accompaniment, and in this j year of Queen-worship will probably be popular. Both Her Majesty and the Princess are indefatigable musicians, playing duets either together or with one of the Maids of Honour for an hour or two every day. It is an absolute sine qua non now that all young ladies receiving Court appointments must be accomplished pianists. Moreover, the nearest way to the Queen's heart is said to be through the late lamented Prince Consort's classic compositions. His defunct Highness left books full of symphonies and sonatas, which are generally considered crude and dreary,and most uninteresting works, but which the Queen naturally thinks perfection. On one occasion years ago, wishing to obtain an unbiassed criticism, Her Majesty sent a volume of her Royal spouse's music anonymously to Sir Michael Costa, representing the composer as a young German Kapellmeister. " Dull trash !" was the great man's succinct yet unpromising verdict, and the Queen never forgave it. To this day, nothing of Costa's is ever allowed either in the Court band, concerts, or chapel programmes.

Popular Songs. We are all tired to death of "Queen of my Heart" and "Mine To-day," which, within the last few months, have becomeas detestably popular as "In the Gloam>ing," "Once Again," and "Golden Love," were each in their day. If by any chance, however, the former should not have travelled your way, get it. The refrain is delicious till it grows " hackneyed." Cowen's " Wee Wifee " I think I mentioned favourably some mails back*.