Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 17, 27 October 1900, Page 12

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

THE fourth ard last week of Pollard's most successful season was commenced with " Djin Djin," and good business was done during the four nights it ran. There is very little difference between the gorgeous extravaganza as it was presented this week, and the glittering "Djin Djin" that we were acquainted with before, unless it be that the mounting, dressing, etc., had been burnished to greater brilliancy. The fairytale is told by the same people, the earthquake was as realistic as of yore, the avenue of storks a thenie of admiration, and the other appendages helped to build up a very picturesque spectacle. Miss Maud Beatty made a remarkably finelooking Prince Eucalyptus, and her patriotic songs, combined with a very creditable bit of acting, won her a large share of the applause that broke out during the progress of the three acts ; and, in a military tableau which has been tacked on to the extravaganza, Miss Maud deserves an extra word of praise for her representation of a British officer in full uniform, who puts a number of diminutive soldiers through their facings prior to a surprise by the Boers ; a very effective scene which is supposed to have taken place during the present campaign in South Africa. * • • Miss Agnes Smith sang " What Might Have Been " in her usual finished style, and the applause that rewarded her effort was not more than she deserved, considering it was one of the gems of the piece. Miss Lillie Stephens also made a lot of new friends, and her Princess Iris was a most captivating performance. Mr Fitts shows to great advantage in the

title role, which is one of his very best characters, and his fine robust voice was well suited to the songs he introduced. All the other characters were well sustained, though, of course, Queal y and Percy were in most demand. Seeral very nice songs were added to the old score, and Mr Percy was very sensible to " plane down " that ditty which he tried to "ring in " on Monday night, for it was neither funny nor edifying, and would certainly not help to keep up his reputation. Orchestra, chorus and ballet did the work allotted to them in first-class style. On Friday night " Maritana "is to be staged by request, and the company make its last appearance at a rnatmee on Saturday afternoon. • # * The McAdoo Jubilee Singers open for a short season on Saturday night at the Opera House. Everybody who knows what high-class music is will appreciate the advent of this talented combination, which has won golden opinions from the press in Australia and in the North Island. In addition to a splendid selection of concert items, there will be a kinematograph representation of the famous Ober-Ammergau Passion Play, which has created a profound impression wherever it has been shown, so that Mr McAdoo has a most refined and intellectual entertainment to offer us. m * * The nightly additions to Dixs Gaiety Company makes one wonder about how long a procession Percy's various combinations would make. Well, the easiest way to solve' such a problem is to calculate the distance from Sydney around New Zealand (via Auckland) to Melbourne, and then you may be able to form an idea, for no sooner does one batch of artists appear than they have to depart to make room for a fresh lot. Since Saturday no less than nine artists — some new, others that we have met before — have arrived at the Exchange, and a long list of those to come contain such names as "Walter Rivers, Ferry (the Human Frog), the De Le Vales, Irene Franklin, Ivy Scott, and the Royal Marionettes, etc. Tom Leonard is a fitting substitute for departed Frank Yorke. in fact more versatile than his big-voiced predecessor ; his comic songs and medlies have an original flavour, which deserve all the hearty applause they gain. James Driscoll does some

marvellous work on a slack wire, while his brother takes a chair among the end men. Bert Halligan whistles like a bird, the variations to some of the airs he warbles making the theatre like an aviary ; Rexo juggles with the skill of a practised hand ; the Staunton Sisters are wellknown soubrettes and dancers ; Collins and Brown have added fresh business to their Irish and Dutch sketches, and the other members of the company present themselves in some different guise. Each " turn " is encored, but none more heartily and well merited than charming little Eileen Boyds, whose singing, dancing, and whistling causes many admirers to endow their applause with silver pieces. Mr Hahn's " Yeoman's Wedding," " Sons of Australia," etc., are ballads that may be ranked with the best efforts of this high-class vocalist, whose splendid bass voice will be greatly missed when he departs next week. • # » There was not a seat to be had by the time Miss Akersten had played up the curtain with a very nice piano selection last Saturday night at Choral Hall. After the opening chorus had been heartily applauded, Mr Sheldon Kindly gave a touching little ballad, Miss Coralie Barlow a coon song, Horace Bent a funny ditty, Miss Lillie Smith a serio, Fred Bluett a comic, Miss Eose Belmont a well-rendered and pretty ballad, Miss Mae Marlow a serid, and Lennon Brothers a darkie duet, each item being tendered an encore, which in some instances meant another for the recall. " You'll be Welcome " (by the company) finished an enjoyable first part. Miss Eva Wilson so captivated the gods that she was compelled to serve up three additional serio-comics, and some hundred or more indifferently modelled voices in front joined her in the refrain, shouting it to very fair time, if not in harmony. Fred Bluett is so popular that he received similar attention to Miss Wilson, while those very clever contortionists, tumblers, etc., the Lennons and Hyman, must have been slightly exhausted before they were allowed to return to their dressing rooms. Percy James, George Dean, and Mae Marlow were also recalled, and laughter accompanied the farce to its end. Mr John Fuller, jun., is taking mos> the present company on tour along the West Coast, and announced that a fresh lot of artists will appear at the Choral Hall next Saturday.

The Federal Minstrel and Comedy Company had a better audience than usual on Saturday night, and went through » long and varied programme to a. tune of well-merited applause. (Mr Silvester niade his first appearance, and his rendering of "Alice, where art Thou" was so much appreciated that he responded with another very sweet tenor song, " My Sweetheart when a Boy." Six end men made things merry, and Mr Charles Marson occupied the chair as interlocutor. ' The manner in which every " turn " was applauded was evidence enough that the audience was enj oying itself. Little Maisie Edwards, a juvenile serio and dancer, wasasked so often to repeat some of her "turns," that the little lady had just enough strength to leave the stage when she made her last shuffle in a clog dance, but when she went off she took with her a beautiful' bouquet and a few pieces of silver that some enthusiastic admirers had thrown on the stage during her performances. Mr Hooper announces frequent changes of programme-. # #i • The Fabian DramatfeCompany are busy rehearsing for their jbhiree-night season at the Opera House, and, &&& what I can gather, they are goii%' IW'iuipass1 W'iuipass all previous displays with. thrfMjfyfcl:' now in hand, " Arrah-na-Pogue." Mr B. A. Keenan has the •' star " part, and all who remember his matterly handling of " Conn r the Shaughraun," will admit that it would be difficult to put the part into more capable hands. The box plan is now open, and the booking already done points to amost successful season.

The Polypnthic Medical Institute announce that they may be consulted at their rooms, South British Insurance Chambers, 27, Lambton-quav, until Saturday evening, 3rd November. The Institute, which possesses numerous establishments throughout Australasia, has located its permanent New Zealand branch at Christchurch, and it ib proposed to visit Wellington every three months in order to afford sufferers an opportunity of testing this rapid system of cures. No charge is made for consultation, or for treatment, medicines only requiring to be paid for. The Stewards of the Wellington Racing Club are inviting tenders for the rights of their racecourse privileges for the racing season 1900-1901. During the season the Club will hold four meetings, occupying nine days, and the lots to be let are the Grand Stand bar, the Grand Stand luncheon rooms, and the tea kiosk. Tenders close with Mr H. M. Lyon, the Secretary, on Monday, the sth November. An announcement in our business columns calls attention to the sale of that valuable property known as McNab's Gaidens. The estate is situate at Lower Hutt, and Messrs Mardonald, Wilson, and Co. w ill dispose of it to the highest bidder.