Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 14, 6 October 1900, Page 4

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

POLLARD'S Opera Company has always met with a hearty welcome from the musical and amusement lovers of Wellington, but perhaps the enthusiastic audience that assembled at our Opera House- on Monday evening last eclipsed all previous evidences of appreciation. This talented combination, or most of it, was bred and born in New Zealand, and almost from infancy have been trained to its high standard of the profession by its present manager and instructor, Mr Tom Pollard, upon whom it reflects no small amount of credit. The company is a wonderfully good one, remarkable individually and collectively for exceptional talent and versatility. The present season is to be our last opportunity, for some years at least, of hearing those familiar voices and watching those graceful figures, for Mr Pollard now tells us of his intention to make an extended tour of the Australian colonies with his talented company.

the virago, Chopinette. Miss Nellie Wilson displayed true Spanish charm and grace as Malaguena, while the other ladies in the cast did their work in a most satisfactory manner, a special word being due to the ballet. • • • As Euffino, Mr Charles Carter sang and acted in a manner that did him much credit, and no one could help remarking what .rapid strides this young tenor is making in his profession. Mr W. S. Percy kept the audience in constant merriment from the time he "appeared as Don Trocadero until he made his exit, but less, buffoonry would make his portrayal of the eccentric old Spaniard more effective. The fussy and grandiloquent Bicoquet of Mr E. Nable was clever, and undoubtedly one of his best characters, while the inimitable Bouillabaise of Mr Alf. Stephens and Master C. Albert's Petit Pierre ("the insect") elicited rounds of applause. Mr George Young and Mr C. Vaughan (as Kit Kestral and Captain Octrai respectively) did- very well with their parts. • • # Mr Arthur King and his really good orchestra came in for a large amount of well-earned praise, and the choristers also did their work well. • • • On Wednesday evening " The Geisha " kept up the order of full houses, and with such a cast of characters the company was shown at its full strength. The decidedly quaint music of this fascinating opera is appreciated more and more as the audience becomes better acquainted with it, while each and every member of

the company is to be congratulated on the artistic and confident manner in which he or she filled his or her parts. The mounting, dressing, etc., were done in first-class style. * • # The season promises to be a highly successful one. * * • " Our Garden Party" is a very attractive and nicely arranged fashion of carrying out the first part of a lengthy and wellchosen programme at Diis Gaiety. Mr Percy James presides, and was most successful in his vocal efforts as well as proving himself a capable conversationalist with Harry Leggett and F. Driscoll (bones), and Frank Yorke and Moreton Prior The programme for each evening is fixed at no less than nineteen items, but this is more than doubled before the farce is reached, so it is superfluous to say how well each item is rendered. Harry Leggett made a rattling good- impression on his first appearance on Saturday night, and his Irish character sketches were very nicely managed. Miss Trixie Le Mar

made her re-appearance, and her reception was a hearty one. If Miss Ethel Clifford (who appears in character as a London. street arab) keeps up her stock of pathetic morceaux, such as she has been rendering this week, her work will win her special mention in the future. Of course, Frank Yorke is prominent as usual throughout, and a farce written by him (" You'll Find Out ") brings a good night's entertainment to a conclusion. • • * Fuller's Bijou Company has been going on as merrily as ever during the week, the last programme handed out being full of good things. ' ' When George Dean made his reappearance he received a most flattering ovation, and he was compelled to double his " turns " in order to pacify his numerous admirers. Lennor, Hyman, and Lennon served up a very clever sketch, entitled "In Darkest Africa," and in it they displayed some new antics in the way of high-kicking, bending, back flips, etc., which completely astonished their auditors. Will Stevens, Dave Caston, Sheldon Kindley, Eose Belmont, Lillie Smith, and Lena Harvey all scored heavily as usual, and there can be no denying the fact that habitues of the Choral Hall demand as much as they can get for their money before they allow themselves to be sent home. On Saturday evening the Federal Minstrel and Comedy Company were received by a bumper house at their pretty little theatre in Manners-street, and though the comfort of a large, number had been provided for by the management, unfortunately they omitted to arrange for the treatment of the hoodlum class, which was in evidence long before the first item on the programme was announced. Some half-dozen or so of these |arrikins, revelled in their riotous conduct tb such an extent that it was with the greatest difficulty the entertainment was carried on jit all, and, as usual, the " gentleman in blue " was nowhere to be seen. Of course, the enjoyment of those who attended the opening night at the Federal was completely spoiled before Mr Hooper gained a, fair hearing for his company, but that does not alter the fact that the artists are a capable combination. The Federal programme this week was a very good one, comprising a minstrel show (under the title of " Our Social Gathering ") as a first part, and a most lndicrous musical comedy for the second half of the bill. Miss Millicent Mowbray possesses a very sweet • and powerful, mezzo - soprano voice, and showed much ability both as a , serio-comic and ballad singer. This young lady has a voice much too good for comic ditties, and deserves extra praise for the manner in which she fills the interlocutor's chair. Another balladist above the ordinary is Mr Charles Marson, whose robust tenor voice was heard to advantage in .". The Skipper," "Marguerite," etc. Both these artists received double encores, while Miss Madge Lucas (serio-comic and skirt dancer), Frank May, Joe Watts, and the rest of the company, were each called upon for another turn. A complete change is announced for Saturday's programme.

Messrs Harcourt and Co. notify by advertisement elsewhere an auction sale on 26th October, of 103 sections at South Kilbirnie. There is abundance of crystal water on the property, and the vendor has the right to connect with the city drainage. A ferry service is now in course of arrangement, and there is every likelihood of the electric tramway passing through the township. Plans and particulars may be obtained from the auctioneers on application. Members of the Empire City Athletic and Cycling Club are reminded that nominations for the cross-country race and 100 yard's handicap close on Wednesday 10th October, at Mr Neil Austin's, Lambton Quay.

11 Paul Jones," Plariquette's ever-popu-lar and amusing work, was produced on Monday and Tuesday, with Miss Maud Beatty in the title role, and evoked the same wholesome applause that it has aroused in the past. Miss Maud Beatty has only rejoined the company lately, and her acting and singing throughout carried her as triumphantly as ever through her undertaking. She has a magnificent stage presence, a robust voice, and a natural gift for " boy " parts, and if she put a little more spirit into some of the lines in Paul's speeches, her impersonation of that character would be very hard to beat. For instance, when Paul's epaulettes ard ornaments are stripped off him by Euffino de Martinez, it seems rather too mild a surrender on the part of such a brave and dashing officer as Paul, who would hardly part with such laurels in such a matter-of-fact style. Miss May Beatty filled the part of Yvonne, and shone brightly as ever as the loyal and beautiful heroine, her singing and acting throughout meriting the highest praise. Miss Wilmot Karkeek was immense as