Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 7, 18 August 1900, Page 12

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

WONDEEFUL business is still being done at Dixs Gaiety, full houses being the invariable rule, and the audiences showing unvarying appreciation. Last Saturday evening there was another change of programme, the gems of which necessarily were the comedy turns of Mr J. C. Bain, which were excruciatingly funny. Olive Lenton, a clever comedienne, and Jack Steele, the renowned whistling comedian, are the latest draws, and are both exceedingly good, while Miss Lulu Zesch fully justifies her reputation. Charlie Hugo, Johnny Collins, the Downards, Bob Hall, Charles Howard, Little Ethel, and the Staunton Sisters all contribute materially and acceptably to a most excellent programme. Other specialties from Sydney are expected. # # * A first-class programme, contributed by clever up-to-date artists, continues to draw big crowds to Fuller and Sons' Waxworks show at the Choral Hall. The Leslies are as popular as ever, and Messrs Will Stevens and John Tudor are towers of strength, while the special engagement of Miss Lillie Smith and Mr Sheldon Kindly is announced. Thorne and Dell, who have been a steady attraction for weeks past, have just farewelled. Mr John Fuller, jun., has again taken over the management of the Choral Hall; his father having transferred to the Auckland show. Since leaving here Mr John Fuller, jun., has been most successful, having run a travelling waxworks in Southland, in which he played a " record season " of five weeks in the Theatre Eoyal, Invercargill. After that he was transferred to Auckland, where he established a permanent waxworks in the Agricultural Hall, in which the opening week was a " record." Seeing that he has just turned twenty-one years of age, and is the youngest theatrical manager in the colony, he must be complimented on his capability. # * * Eev. Charles Clarks lectures in Melbourne were a bit of a frost. A funny yarn is told of a back-blocks man, down in Melbourne for a holiday, who went to hear the "greatest orator-humourist" — see daybills. As the crowd filed out, the voice of this patron was heard as follows, " Funny ? 'Strewth, he's about as funny as a funeral. You should 'a 'card 'im in the silk stockings days. Then he was orl right." The disgusted one had mistaken the Eev. Charles for Frank Clarke, the outrageous nigger comedian. # * • Claudian Marcus Superbus Wilson Barrett was enacting the part of John Storm in " The Christian," at the Eoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, early in May. A later dramatic sensation, entitled " Quo Vadis," was announced for early production by the Barrett company.

Mr Clifford Walker, who gave a draw-ing-room entertainment . in the Sydneystreet Schoolroom on Monday evening last, possesses much versatility and histrionic power. He had a large and appreciative audience. Mr Walker engages the attention of his hearers at the beginning, and continues to interest them to the finish. His first item was a humourous musical sketch entitled " After Dinner," introducing a Scottish song, " Geordie Macintosh," a coster song, "The Four 'Oss Sharrabang," a very amusing mock serenade, "Pepita," and a topical song, " What a Fool you would be." His next item was a song in sadder vein, " The Little Crossing Sweeper," and Mr Walker's pourtrayal of the hoarsevoiced little sweeper was very real. A humourous piece, entitled "A Lawntennisonian Idyll," which described the visit of an unsophisticated young gentleman to a game of tennis, of which he did not understand the terms, was really very funny. In an Irish song, "Hooligan's Fancy Dress Ball," Mr Walker again displayed his wonderful powers of mimicry. He apparently can mimic anything, changing his voice in a moment from the hoarsest whisper to a note in the highest pitch. * * * In a character sketch entitled " The Three Parsons," Mr Walker especially excelled. He spoke for nearly half an hour without cessation. This piece, which brought into full play his wonderful recitative ability, was in some parts most pathetic, then directly after followed the most ludicrous passages, but Mr Walker was quite equal to the occasion, and his lightning changes of manner and facial expression were marvellous. One of the gems of the evening was " The Vicar's Concert," when Mr Walker faithfully pourtrayed a rather nervous but very proud father of daughters with great literary and vocal talents. Other items were a song, "The World went very well then," a recitation, " Trouble in the Amen Corner," an amusing satirical song, " No," and a monologue, " TheGame of Life." As the programme waslonger than was anticipated Mr Walker substituted a short piece, " The Little Widow " for the last item. Mr Walker announced that he would, in conjunction with Mr Morris Fox, give another performance of a different character next Monday evening. :,: * V The Flying Jordans (aeriel gymnasts) r the Haytors (comedians and eccentric dancers), and Nipper Harry Grey (billed as the Australian " Little Tich") are theprincipal attractions at Bickards' Bijou Theatre, Melbourne. Alf. Lawton ("whar thar"), Gus Franks, E. Brinkman, and buxom Belle Solomon — recently at Exchange Hall with Mr Harry Hooper — arealso members of the variety combination at present performing at the Bijou, in the Victorian capital. * • • Brown, Newland and Leclerq, a popular English team noted for their clean, up-to-date variety turns are now at the Empire Theatre, Edinburgh. Big Ben Brown (put up your thumb) and his agile partner Newland, were big favourites with the New Zealand public when they toured this colony in the early eighties as members of the Mammoth Minstrels. The Mammoths were a really excellent minstrel combination, and the mere mention of them revives most pleasing recollections. The Sakers, well known in Australia, are also at the Edinbro' Empire.

I noticed President-Mayor Kirk, of the Petone team, using his lungs to encourage his fledglings, but unfortunately for him it was all in vain, and it was not his fault they didn't win. Better luck next time. Petone ! The selectors of the junior representative team (Messrs Mayer, Fraser and Anderson) have chosen the following to iepresent the Junior Association against Fielding on Saturday, 25th August : Goal, Fitzgerald (Bed Cross) ; Full-backs, Roberts (Diamond), B. Martin (Queen's Park) ; Halves, Churchward (Swifts), Clark (Queen's Park), Will (Red Cioss) ; Centre forward, Gibbs (Eed Cross) ; Right wings, Ellis (Swifts), McLeod (Red Cioss) ; Left wings, Hale (Swifts), P. Martin (Diamond;. Mr B. Martin will captain the team. The selectors have the thanks of the Junior Association for their unenviable task, and the selection as above ought to give general satisfaction. The two pivots of the team are Gibbs (centre foiward) and Clark (centre half), and both can be relied upon to do justice to the places to which they have been chosen. " Nigger "at centre is a regular Trojan, whilst Clark is the right man in the back division. But where is Gamble ? I suppose too much " Rugger," and couldn't •catch the selectors' eyes.