DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 4, 28 July 1900, Page 17

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

MONTGOMERY'S Kinematograph and Concert Company has "struck oil" to some purpose at the Opera House. Crowded houses have been the rule from night to night, and, when we dropped in for an hour on Wednesday evening, we -were^obliged to stand, for.the sufficient reason" that there was not an empty seat anywhere. The show is one of the best of the kind that has ever travelled the colony. It is a capital livingpicture exhibition, the subjects being chiefly events of burning interest, while the element of pleasing variety is introduced by means of "a short concert programme, which introduces a clever comedian in Harry Hall and an excellent baritone vocalist in Mr P. James. The lecture accompanying the pictures is terse and pointed, and is entertaining and instructive without being in any way wearisome. * • • Necessarily, the pictures most interesting to, and popular with the audience, were those relating to the South African war. These depicted the departure of the troops, and stirring scenes of actual war, and included some portraits of the military celebrities of the hour. Other thrilling pictures showed great fires in progress in New York and London, and the fire brigades of those cities* actually, engaged fighting the flames. Yet another entertaining series of pictures were those illustrating a Spanish bull - fight. We have read many descriptions of what the Spaniards call this royal sport, and have seen magazine and other pictures of them, but to obtain an adequate and reliable idea of the cruelty of bull-fighting, it is sufficient to see these moving pictures in progress. They are first-class. These are only a few of the attractive features of the show, which complete provides a splendid evening's amusement. # * * Nominal prices and first-class variety programmes are making the fortune of John Fuller and Sons. It is quite a sight to see the crowd around the Choral Hall any evening a quarter of an hour before the doors are opened. There is a crowded house every night, the show itself is a first-class one, and the verdict of the public is best exemplified by the fact that they come again and again. Of the eleven people in the circle, there is not one dummy, every individual contributing acceptably to the programme.- The -Leslies are still as great a draw as ever, with their musical whimsicalities and eftervescing comicalities, and otherwise the standard of excellence is fully maintained. Miss Lily De Vere, the new attraction, has a mezzo-soprano voice of pleasing quality, and besides singing a ballad acceptably, she is very good in a semi-comic turn. Further novelities are in contemplation. • • • Dixs Gaiety Company fully maintains its popularity at the Exchange Hall. On Saturday night, the building was packed from floor to ceiling, and business has been booming throughout the present week. The new first part is a charming and highly effective piece of stage setting. The rising curtain reveals a chamber in an Oriental palace, the colouring being gorgeus and harmonious, and the whole design artistic. The boom of cannon is heard, and two gauzily-attired and dark-eyed houris are revealed to view. "Boom," again, and we have two others more beautiful than the last. " Boom," once more, and two gaily-attired girls pirouette on to the stage, and execute a graceful dance. Then the corner men make their appearance in a turn, followed at intervals by the other artistes, until the stage is filled with bright faces, lovely forms, and brilliant costumes. It is altogether an attractive arrangement. * # * James C. Bain, the comedian who draws exactly the salary that Premier Seddon wants, is the new attraction. There are comedians of many kinds, from the individual with the cracked voice — who relies upon acrobatic exploits for his humour — to the artist whose wit depends upon the drollness of his make-up, but Mr Bain belongs to none of these schools. There is comedy in his eye, in his voice, and in his nature. He is a born comedian — one who can provoke a laugh without opening his lips, and prolong that laugh

for .half-an-hour if he'chooses without an effort. "At the Seaside," a racy running narrative of song and story, was one of m the most intensely funny sketches we have seen for many a day. And how the audience enjoyed it, laughing till their sides ached, and the tears literally ran down their cheeks. Little Ethel, in her bending feats, is a veritable wonder, the Little Downwards are cleverer than nineteen out of twenty adult artistes, and Charlie Hugo again is as funny as of yore. Here, again, is another true comedian. His humour is natural and without effort. The programme throughout is a first-class one. * • • The " Pollards " have left very little of this colony unexploited. They have played in Wellington 270 times; Christchurch, 264 ; Auckland, 252 ; Dunedin, 130 ; and the rest of the towns make a grand total for New Zealand of 1482 performances. This does Jiftt Jnclude matinees and Sunday" concerts. * As the fares for each performance given average £9 10b, it will be seen that the management has paid to steamers and trains no less a sum than £13,699. The company have. actually played in this colony 247 weeks, and have rested while rehearsing 14, making a total of 261 weeks. The average for board and lodging is £54 weekly, so it will be seep that hotelkeepers, etc., have had distributed among them no less a sum than £14,094. The rents of theatres total £9233. An item that most playgoers never think of is royalties, and it will come as a surprise to them, to know that . for New Zealand alone the arrangement have paid to the holders of the copyrights of operas, comedies, etc.", the undreamt of sum of £20,748. r The salaried of the company ran from £180 per week in 1891 to £380 per week last Christmas,' and, including local orchestra, stage hands, supers, doortenders, etc., the total for this colony reaches a little over 1 £65,000. lS * * • * Owing to a "slight accident which befel Mr W. J. Coulter, while on his way from the Opera House to his hotel, the genial actor will be unable to show with the Henry Company for a week or so. We wish the blustering Spettigue a speedy recovery, and at the same time mention that Mr Brandon Cremer has been prevailed upon to nil the .parts of the injured one during his indisposition. In Mr Cremer's temporary absence from Wellington, Mr John Goodall will have the sole guidance of that firm's elocution classes, etc. * * • In another column will be found an* announcement of a Browning recital, under the distinguished patronage and in the presence of the Countess of Banfurly and suite, to be given on the occasion of Mrs Hannibal A. Williams' re-appearance in Wellington. The gpeat draw, "The Blot on the 'Scutcheon" will be given at St. Paul's School-room on Thursday after? noon, August 2nd, at 3.30 o'clock. Mrs Williams' versatility as an interpreter of Shakespeare was evidenced in her recital .of the comedy ( of "_As Y.qxi Like It," and her performance of Browning's masterpiece is regarded as one of her greatest efforts.

Shades of the people's William ! Her© is an item from our Patent's Office list of patents applied for : — No 1271,8.— 22 nd June, 1900.— William Bwart Gladstone, of Invercargffl, New Zealand, lithographic artist, and William Taylor, of Invercaigill, aforesaid, miner. Improvements in gold-saving appliances. # * * Christchurch publicans have declined to contribute a brass farthing to the Cathedral Completion Fund. "Why," argues the hotel-keeper, " should I help a man who plumps for prohibition every time ?" Very unreasonable, for the Bishop has not always held his present coldwater opinions. Haven't we read, somewhere, that his lordship, once upon a time, " saw no harm in a man indulging in his pipe and glass— in moderation?" We fancy so. But then Bishops are just as much entitled to change their views as butchers, or bakers, or butlers. * * • Remarkable how a clergyman receives a " call " from on high in any opening that means a larger congregation and increasing emoluments. But down South they are talking about two notable exceptions to the rule in the cases of Eevs. Pairmaid and Spence, two Presbyterian ministers, both of whom have gone to smaller livings at what they conceived to be the call of duty. And we needn't go from Wellington for another instance —that of the Rev. Mr Evans— who gave up a regular Congregational charge to take up philanthropic work and independent religious teaching in this city with no regular stipend. Probably he knows more about the poor of Wellington to-day and their struggles and difficulties than any other three men in the city, and wherever he calls he is welcomed for his shrewd common sense and ready advice.