Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 38, 23 March 1901, Page 18

Dramatic And Musical

THK combination of talent at Dix s Gcuety has been strengthened by the advent of Mr Johnny Coleman, whose smart songs and dances are right up to date. Hib inimitable scarecrow dance, in conjunction with Lottie Lome and a diminutive child thrown m aT extry," » a tip-top performance. * • • Another fresh "turn" is provided by the GonTales Sisters, who prove to be defter than ever, whilst her dances are performed with saucy and sylphlike Se Frank Clark, as usual is a hoft in himself, and the Tylers deserve their full meed of praise. * • • Fitz-Gerald Bros.' groat circus and menagerie— far and away the best tins side of the line— are to open m Wellington on Monday, and Mr. Jones, the energetic business manager, is now busy with preparations for pitching the show on the vacant site -in Mercerstreet opposite the Board of Education. The season is limited to a week, with matinees, in addition, on Wednesday and Saturday. No one should miss this great exhibition. It is replete with novelties of which we need only recapitulate the leading points. Among the equestrian performers are Mdlle. Leon, Gus St. Leon, and Harry Cordello, while Mdlle. Adeline Antonio goes through thrilling acts on the high trapeze. The Jandaschevsky family excel in picturesque Spanish dances, illustrative of a bull fight, and the lugeling of Rhodesia, the lady juggler, is quite unlike anything that has been seen here before. Then the three Dunbars are said to be the most wonderful trapezists who have ever visited New Zealand. Behind all these "stars" of the first magnitude there is a strong array of talent, while the menagerie comprises lions, tigers, monkeys and elephants, most of which are also performers. Fuller's Empire Vaudeville Company is Btill doing nrsl>class business at the Choral Hall. The house was simply

crammed on Saturday night. Fred Bluett is in the heyday of popularity, and, in conjunction with Geo. Williamson, gives the audience no end of fun for their money. * ♦ * Miss Kate Connells concert m the Opera House last week was entirely successful. There was a crowded house, an excellent programme was presented, the performers were of the best, and the audience were pleased beyond measure. Miss Connell has a sweet soprano, not powerful, but of even quality and bird-hke flexibility, and her method is thoroughly artistic. • • * As a singer I prefer Miss Tansley, and the unaffected ease and charming, tender expression with which she sang "If all the stars were mine" (Stormberg) evoked warm applause from the audience. Her voice is rich and mellow, and she sings with much taste. Mr. John Prouse is a standing exception to the proverbial rule that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Here, in Wellington, just as in most other places where first-class singing is appreciated, he hardly ever escapes the penalty of a double encore, and on Friday night he lifted thp audience right off their feet and into rousing cheers by his singing of "I'm off to Philadelphy.'^ Miss Irene Morris, the handsome little maiden of nine summers, who fairly captivated everybody by her artless manner and her remarkable musical talent, contributed a couple of violin pieces in a style that proclaimed the born artiste. The breadth and volume of tone, the richness and purity of intonation, and the grace and freedom of the child's bowing, were all very notable features of this performance. Irene Morris is said to possess the rare gift of absolute pitch, and it is certain that Herr Hoppe has found in her a pupil of quite exceptional promise. Mr. E. J. Hill is never off-colour, and his songs on Friday night ("Doreen" and "It came with the Merry May, Love") were loudly encored, as his numbers always are. Herr Hoppe's violin solos were first-class, and Misses Florence Prouse and Winnie Connell played the accompaniments admirably.