Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 23, 8 December 1900, Page 12

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

THE Crane-Power Dramatic Company made their debut at tte Opera House on Monday night, in "The King's Musketeer," and have been playing it to excellent business ever since. A fact like that tells iis own story- Mr. Hamilton's task in fitting "The Three Musketeers" for the stage was one . that presented unique difficulty, owing to the rapid march of action, the wealth of incident, and the host of characters that are found in the novel. However, he has accomplished his purpose exceeding well. The play of plot and coun-ter-plot connected with the incident of the Queen's diamonds and the still more e-«iting adventures which find their climax in the tragic death of Milach form the main features of the stageenacted story- * * * And, as the title of the play suggests. D'Artagnan is the central figure of the entire work. It is animated, romantic, and picturesque, easily winning the interest of the audience, and keeping it pleasantly sustained to the finish wjthout at any time stirring the emotions in any sense deeply. In short, it is a play you may witness without ?nv quickening of the pulse or firing of the blood. * ■*■ * Mr. Cecil Ward makes a very decided "hit" in the role of the daring, carolers, handsome D'Arfcacnan, the typical soldier of fortune. He has caught *o a nicety the author's conception, ard both in voice and action brings out all its distinctive lineaments into strong and harmonious relief. In two situations he appeared to special advantage. Firstly, that in which he arrives travelspent with the Queen's diamonds, and with highly wrought feeling rapidly recounts the hairbreadth escapes be has had and the desperate efforts of powe ful enemies to frustrate his mi3si;n. Secondly, the situation in which he impersonates Miladi's lover, receives her mistaken confidence, and tears frcn h«r the Cardinal's warrant. * * * Miss Crane, as Miladi, and Mr. Tyrone Power as Cardinal Richelio'i present excellent portraitures of their respective parts, but neither of them has full scop© for the display of < ' on* histrionic talents. Miss Crane, I:. w ever, has two opportunities, and of these she makes highly effective r-i~ The first of these calls for sjreat vej vitality, and she certainly exhibits it. It is the strong situation in which she ceives first the Cardinal, then Lhe 'uiitan zealot, Fenton, and finally admits B'Artagnan, under the belief that he is her lover, and only discovers her mistake when she has revealed her pi its Her depth and finesse of cunning, ',ir power of dissimulation, and the turv < f her overmastering passion at being tricked and foiled were all brought in*o Eowerful relief. Equally effec ive w% er action in the dramatic sc^i? wherein her husband compels her fo drink the poison she had prepared for another. # Mr. Power's chances were limited but he showed by the restrained force 'vith which he invested the part of the Cardinal that he is an actor of ripe talents Miss Lilian Wheeler, as the Queon of France was graceful, dignified, «nd natural, and Miss Rosa Musgrove play ed with much taste and freshness the role of the maid of honour beloved bj the handsome young Gascon, D'Artas;nan. The three dashing Musketeers! — Athos, Porthos, and Aramis — were represented by Messrs. Keightlev, Hazlett, and Dougal, Mr. Harry Hall was King of France, and Mr. Arthur Lissi,r.t was M. de Treville. All these parts were well sustained. Mr Grant's Duke of Buckingham, and Mr. Oily Deering's Planchet are worthy of favourable notice. In some of the minor parts indistinct enunciation made it difficult to follow the dialogue. * * * The play, of course, was staged in first-class style, the scenery being both choice and appropriate, while the costumes were rich, tasteful, and striking. "The King's Musketeer" will be played for the last time to-morrow (Saturday; night, and "Trilby" is billed for Monday and "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" for Tuesday. # Percy Dixs vaudeville show, at the Exchange Hall, still maintains its hold upon the public. Mr. James Bain made his farewell appearance last night, and has departed in the flood tide ot

his popularity. On Saturday night he was in particularly good form, and in spite of the frequency with which he has taken in his patrons by inviting them to join in the National Anthem over the alleged departure of Lord Roberts from Capetown, he scored with the same old gag again. The joke provoked great laughter,for it brought some of Wellington's very nicest people to their feet. Saturday night was marked by the debut of Master Claude Sullivan (from Sydney), a juvenile comedian of quite remarkable talent. Although the child is not eight years old, he is both a clever actor and a highly effective serio-comic vocalist. His character song, "I'm the Plumber/ doubled up the audience with laughter, and he was obliged to supplement ifc with "What do you think of the Irish now?" * * * Miss Alice Layton's songs are nightly encored and highly appreciated, and the Staunton Sisters' character duets and dancing, Ivy Foster's serio-comics, the trick cycling of the Delavales, the songs of Cyril Iredale and Walter Rivers, and the whimsicalities of the burnt-corkists' make-up a highly diversified and entertaining programme. Cyril Iredale and the Delavales are now on the eve of their departure, but fresh attractions are on the threshold. Wednesday night will be marked by the debut of McKisson and Kearns, the acrobatic comedians. Ivy Scott, seriocomic singer, and Ida Roslyn, seriocomic singer and sprightly danseuse. * * * Fuller's Bijou Troupe is still doing splendid business at the Choral Hall. On Saturday night those old favourites, Charles Faning and Georsde Devoe made their re-appearance, and received quite an ovation from the audience, who made a most extensive use of the sacred right of encore. The boom still continues, and there is not the slightest sign of it weakening. In fact the Bijou has now settled down into a permanent institution. Mr. Ben Fuller has arrived to take over the management, and to make Wellington the headquarters of the firm of John Fuller and Sons. More „ ,+ +i-ev have completed negotiations for the purchase of the Choral Hall, the price being £5250. Meanwhile the programme continues to be brightened up with ffesh talent at frequent intervals. Will Watkins reappeared on Tuesday night, and was warmly welcomed. On Saturday next Ted Herbert, descriptive vocalist, is due with a new budget of patriotic songs. At present to see and hear Charles Faning and Georgie Devoe is worth many times over the price of adadmission. * * * "Banjo" Paterson, who started a course ot lectures at the Federal Theatre on Monday night, under the management of Mr. R. S. Smythe, is more of a raconteur than a lecturer. He speaks quite impromptu, and his style is altogether colloquial. He is careless of diction, his speech is rapid and spasmodic, and he makes no attempt at either mimicry or elocution. It is just a plain talk about the war freshened up with stories more or less humorous, and, while it interests you, it doesn't warm your blood nor make your heart at any passage pulsate the faster. It is a rambling sort of discourse, delivered with a. level voice which communicates no thrill of emotion, but it is the story of a man who has seen the realities of war and can tell you about them in plain and direct matter-of-fact, language, which occasionally surprises you into laughter by a slangy phrase or a striking colonial idiom. His exhibition of limelight pictures and cinematograph views is very good, .ftnd along with the lectures helps to furnish very good entertainment. The final lecture of the series will be given to-night (Friday). # The variety entertainment given by the members of the Marist Old Boy* Association, in St. Patrick's Hall, on Monday evening, was really first class. The first part of he programme consisted of songs, recitations, and club swinging, and heavy-weight lifting oj Messrs. J. Doyle and W. H. Jones respectively. Two lady pupils of Mr. J. Doyle (Misses Gambrill and Woods) gave an interesting exhibition of fancy club swinging, and were accorded hearty applause. The second part of the programme was devoted to the "Burn* Cork" comedians, and the stage effects and choruses were out of the ordinary routine in this particular line of amusement. The respective parts in the chorus singing were very evenly balanced, and had a pood effect, and th ? end men provoked much mirth by thei. witticisms and "gags." Owing to the successful performance on last Monday night it was found advisable to arrange to repeat the performance on Monday evening next. * * *■ Mr. Joe Quealy, stage mechanist — uncle of the well-known Harry Quealv — arrived from Christchurch last week in order to make the necessary mechanical stage preparations for Mr. P. R. Dixs forthcoming production of "The Babes in the Wood" Chris+mas pantomime.

There will be no lack of entertainment for the people of Wellington during the next three months at least. The Opera House is engaged right no till the end of March, the "bookings" being as follows: — Crane-Power Dramatic Company, up till Christmas; Chas. Arnold Dramatic Company, opening on Boxing Night, in "What Happened to Jones," and playing for four weeks thereafter ; Nance O'Neill Dramatic Company, from 23rd January till 2nd February ; Chas. Holloway Dra - matic Company, three weeks, from 4+h February, opening in "The Power and the Glory." After that will come in due succession "Pepper's Ghost," Nance O'Neill Dramatic Company (return visit), and Northcote's New Paris ian Novelties. This last show opens for Easter. * * * I am in receipt of a new local song which ought to meet with, a hearty welcome from the public, seeing that it has been specially written and composed tv celebrate the departure and return home of the colonial contingents from Sourh Africa. It is entitled "We Sail fron. Home To-day," words by Laura E Holyoake, and music by C. # D. Macintosh, the well-known musician of Wellington. Both words and music do justice to the subject matter, and the result is a very effective song, which is bound to win its way to the popular heart. * * * An entertainment entitled "The Two Orphans" was given in the Study HaU of St. Patrick's College last Wednesday evening, the occasion being the breaking-up for the summer vacation. Hugh O'Neil, in the part of Lord Albergini, gave a strong interpretation of the pagan father, while the two converted Christian sons were faithfully sustained by Masters E. McArdle and I-. Dignan. Master D. Twohill also made a ''hit." All the minor characters were satisfactorily played. Incidental mus-c was rendered lby the College Orchestra, under the directorship of Mr. T. L. Trowell.

The Wellington Association of Spiritualists are the first body of the kind in New Zealand to erect a hall of their own. It is situated in Kentterrace, has been named the New Century Hall, and will be formally opened with a special service on Sunday evening. The event will also be celebrated on Tuesday evening with a concert and social, for which a capital programme hns been prepared.