ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 148, 24 November 1874, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

“ All the world’s a stage.” —As You Like It Considering that the excitement of the carnival week has now passed off, and that people generally have relapsed to their work-a-day routine of business, the opera season has been exceedingly successful. It is true that one or two operas, which might reasonably have been expected to produce full houses, have not dene so, but generally the business done has been good, and if Mr Allen can give us a fortnight at popular prices, I can safely predict full houses every night. Of the various productions of the week, I may say that, with one exception, they have been excellent. One feels a difficulty in referring to Miss May’s performances, not as regards her success in each of them, but because she is so worthy of praise, and is such a host in herself, that I hardly know how to say enough of her. “ From grave to gay, from lively to severe.” From Leonora in “II Trovatore” to Drogan in that most absurd of musical absurdities, “ Genevieve de Brabant,” she runs the whole scale of musical parts, and is equally good in all. In fact, I don’t know which I prefer her in, the grief-stricken Leonora or the merry antics of Drogan; both in their way, though differing widely in character, are capital impersonations, and exhibit unitedly the versatility of this talented lady. If I might select the role which pleased me most during the past week I should say Elvira, in that most charming of operas “ The Rose of Castile.” Whether enjoying the freedom from restraint and etiquette as the peasant girl, or queening it rarely amongst the nobles of her court, Miss Alice May entered most thorougly and effectively into the part. Her arch rendering of that quaint aria “ I’m but a simple peasant maid,” brimful of mischief and suppressed fun at duping the stately and solemn Dons, was worth anything to hear. Her Agatha last night, too, in Weber’s “ Der Freischutz” was a fine piece of acting and singing, and the way she sang “ Softly fall the shades of evening,” with all the difficult changes of melody and style with which it abounds deserved even more recognition than it received. Miss Lambert during the week has appeared to great advantage, the parts in which she has sung being more suited to her voice than some she before essayed. Mr Templeton, I am glad to say, has conclusively established his success in the difficult roles he has played during the week, His Arimauesin “ Satanella” was a great improvement on his first attempt, and exhibited marks of careful study and attention. Last night too as Kaspar, a most difficult character both for singing and acting, Mr Templeton’s capital rendering shews that with study he has a bright future before him in his profession. There is great temptation in the part of Kaspar to over-act, to exagerate, but Mr Templeton avoided this, and I look upon upon Kaspar as one of his best parts. 1 am glad to notice also that the public appreciate his efforts, he having become a very great favorite.

Mr Hallam’s Manuel, in “The Rose of Castile,” surprised me somewhat—that is, agreeably—because, although there is a marked improvement in his voice, I certainly did not expect to hear the part done so thoroughly well. I do not like his Cocorico in “Genevieve,” though he sings the music excellently, perhaps it is because one is so used to see him in the “ gushing ” line of business which falls to the lot of the primo tenore. He sang the music of Max last night capitally, and deserves high commendation for it, as also for his Manrico, in “ Trovatore,” which was excellent. Of the other members of the company, I may say that Mr Yernon has not had much chance for displaying his abilities during the week, but the parts he has had have been done well. Mr Levison has rendered good service in the various operas, and a word of commendation is due to Mr Lester for his Don Florio, in the “ Rose of Castile,” which was a .capital bit of acting. In Mr Newton the company has received a decided acquisition. As Golo and Zamiel his previous dramatic experience stood him in good stead, and his rendering of the former would have delighted the heart of Mr Keogh or any other devoted admirer of the heavy melo-dramatic. The ingenious property-master, Mr Briggs, also deserves a word for the capital way in which the incantation scene was put on last night, wonderfully so considering the difficulties under which it was done.

Now having fairly praised all that deserve it, let me say a word on the other side. I must say that I was astonished at the w<v in which “ Genevieve” was played o R Saturday evening. The choruses were simply dreadful to listen to, and had n °t been for Miss May’s singing and acting, and the gendarmes, the opera would have been a

failure. There was a want of that attention to business which is so necessary, and in some cases the “ foolishments ” of some of the characters went beyond the fun which M. Offenbach has provided so liberally in the opera itself From Dunedin I hear that Mr and Mrs Bates are doing good business, though the local critics do not appear to have thought much of the new play of “Rosedale,” and this opinion seems to be shared by the public, for I note that on its repetition the attendance is described as being limited. It has been withdrawn, and “The Octoroon” and “ Camille ” substituted. Madame Goddard has created quite as great a furore in Dunedin amongst our staid Scottish neighbors as she did in Wellington. Seats for her cincerts have been at a premium, and generally great enthusiasm has been evoked. Mr Smythe, the agent, arrived today by the Taranaki, and will make arrangements for Madame Goddard’s appearance here. I feel certain that in Christchurch, as elsewhere, the public will only be too ready to pay that tribute of recognition to which Madame Goddard’s high talents, no less than her exalted position in the musical world, so justly entitle her. As I have before intimated Mrs Smythe, Herr Doehler, and Messrs Skinner and Kainford accompany Madame Goddard. The Wellington people, according to the Daily Times correspondent, seem to feel aggrieved because Mdme Goddard gave them principally fantasias on popular airs because she had been told that the New Zealand people were not likely to appreciate classical music. However this may be, I think Madame’s informant was wrong, and if classical pieces are played here, the audiences will appreciate and enjoy them, though, of course, I do not for a moment wish to see a programme of all classical pieces. Far from it, I hope to hear “ The last rose of summer,” and “ Home, sweet home,” two fantasias with Mhich Madame Goddard’s name is inseparably connected in the minds of English people. In Wellington, the Stophenson-Burford troupe do not appear to be prospering. The latest novelty produced has been “ Cigarette,” a dramatic adaptation by Mr C. F. Searle, of Ouida’s novel of “ Under two flags." The papers speak well of the adaptation, but guardedly of the acting of the parts. As however they have the place to themselves now, business may improve. The Miltonian tableau does not appear to have found favor with the ladies of some of the inland towns of Wellington province, as they held a meeting and resolved not to attend. Their influence of course was very great, and I am not surprised that the proprietors “ moved on ” to more genial climes. In Auckland “show" business is not; that is regular show business ; the amateur entertainments having it all their own way there. Before noting one or two items of news relative to old favorites, let me express my satisfaction at the move which has been made towards getting a new theatre. It has had the rest the result of stirring up the present lessess of our local temple of the drama to an alarming extent, no less than a new spick and span theatre being contemplated. Meanwhile, I wish the projected company every success, because it will remove what has long been a disgrace to Christchurch; the fact that we do not possess a theatre to which one can go with any degree of comfort. In Sydney, Rosa Towers is still drawing crowded houses, and Mr and Mrs Hoskins have taken a short star engagement in that city, with the ultimate intention of visiting New Zealand. In Melbourne, the most noticeable item is the expected retnrn of Mrs Steele to the metropolitan stage, which has so long been occupied by opera bouffe. Mr Kennedy and his clever family concluded their season on the 7th, and announce their intention of taking one more tour through the colonies prior to returning to Scotland. The Carandinis have been doing splendid business, and Mr Cotterrell receives any amount of kudos for his clever performance. The Italians are at Ballarat, nearly all hors de combat with colds. At present there is no mention of a New Zealand tour. Mrs Steele and Miss Anstead have gained golden opinions for their performances in the new colonial play “ For £60,000,” written by a Melbourne lady, which has been a great success. Miss Christian, I believe, is making up a concert party to come to New Zealand, and expects to leave Melbourne about the end of next month. PROPS.