Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 37, 16 March 1901, Page 14

Dramatic And Musical

I HAVE great pleasure in offering my cordial felicitations to that painstaking and conscientious musician, Mr. C. D. Macintosh. The stvie in which "Judas Maccabaeus" was performed under Ins baton at Wesley Church, on Friday night, reflects the utmost credit upon him, and also upon the aptitude of the performers whom he trained for the concert. In oratorio work, nothing like it has been heard in Wellington for many years past, bition, when our musical festival was The church choir was brought up, by reinforcements from outside sources, to an effective strength of upwards of one hundred voices, and was supported by the church organ, under Mr W. J. Harland, and about a dozen other instruments. • • • I need not enter into detail about the choral work. Suffice it to say that it was executed with excellent effect. The tone was well-balanced, the attacks were firm and resolute, and the expression was nicely shaded. The audience testified their satisfaction bv very warm apnlause, and were raised to such a pitch of enthusiasm by the highly effective interpretation of the tno, duet, and chorus, "See, the Conquering Hero Comes," that they insisted upon this passage being repeated in its entirety. # Miss Violet Mount, upon whom devolved the major part of the solo sing-

mg, discharged her task with marked ability. She sang with much artistic taste, and very correct expression. "From Mighty Kings." "Ah' Wretched Israel," and "Wise Men Flattering" were particularly fine performances. Her sweet and flexible voice was also heard to advantage in the concerted pieces, and the duets with Miss Winnie Birch ("Hail Judaea" and "O Lovely Peace") had a most pleasing effect. • • • Mr. E. J. Hill sang the tenor solos and recitatives in capital style, and quite thrilled the audience with the declamatory vigour which he infused into the call to arms, "Sound an Alarm." The Rev. Arthur Mitchell gave a good account of himself in the bass solos, and scored a "hit" in "Arm, Arm, ye Brave." His reading is accurate, and his phrasing excellent, but his voice seemed to lack resonance, possibly owing to the fact that he was suffering from sore throat. Miss Winnie Birch was the second soprano, and Mrs. Macintosh executed the contralto work faithfully. Mr. Harland afforded great assistance on the organ. It is to be hoped Mr. Macintosh will be induced to put another oratorio in rehearsal. • • • The public craving for "Gaiety," and plenty of it, is as strong as ever. It will, therefore, be understood that the Gaiety Company are still on the boom at the Theatre Royal. The new programme introduced on Saturday night is yielding immense satisfaction. It embraces comic songs by Alf. Hayden and Joe Cowan, serio-comics by Gladis Beuth and Olive Lenton, a Scotch ballad by Ida Clarkson, a descriptive song by George Dean (who received quite an ovation on his return from the South), Frank Clarks inimitable specialties, and a musical contribution from that marvellous infant, Baby Boyd. Frank Clarks fantastic finale, "Professor Col-lar-shirts" makes a capital ending to the first part, and causes the audience to feel very dry about the throat. • • • In the second part, little Eileen Boyd has the stage to herself for some con-

siderable time — encores are rung on. so insistently. Then the wonderful Tylers, in their striking risley act, and Clark and Cowan m their comicalities, fill a large space in the bill of fare, while George Dean's descriptive Bcena, "Two Little Drummer Boys," is sure to raise a storm — of applause — every time. Mr. Arthur Hahn made his farewell appearance on Saturday night, but two iresh attractions, or rather old favourites, are due on Friday, viz., Lottie Lome, serio-comic and danseuse, and Johnnie Coleman, comedian and scarecrow dancer. • • • A crowded house, a capital programme, and a cheering audience, were the leading features with Fuller's Bijou at the Choral Hall on Saturday night. "The Cruise of the Good Ship Empire" makes an admirable first part, and the cruise started under the happiest auspices. Fred. Bluett and Geo. Williamson, as usual, kept the fnn moving briskly, while Jack Williams and Misses Bessie Young and Coralie Barlow won encores galore by their musical contributions. In the second part, Miss Maud Faning made a great "hit" with her coon songs, and Miss Lena Young's sweet contralto voice was heard to advantage in some new and very effective numbers. The farce, "On the Fire," with which the performance closes, is punctuated rierht through with explosive laughter. • • • Mr. Orton Stevens, besides being a most successful insurance manager, is a genial host and Mrs. Stevens is a charming hostess. There are twenty members of the Wellington Camera Club ,who will give most emphatic testimony on those points. They had a field-day at the Lower Hutt on Saturday afternoon, and, after shooting-off as much scenery and animated nature as they wanted, they drove to "The Grove, 'and were most enjoyably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Stevens. As they departed, they gave three rounds of hearty cheers for their hospitable host and hostess. [Continued on Page !#.]