Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 43, 27 April 1901, Page 17

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

graceful piece of orchestration. A horn call assembles the invited guests, and then a fluttering of fiddles and flutes starts the insects' ball, the ethereal movements of the butterflies being amusingly contrasted with the heavier and peculiar gait of iheir comrades, the grasshoppers. Intern oven into the quaint and fanciful conceit is the old Knghsh melody "I'd be a butterfly," "adorned with a new and felicitous semitone." Madame Stemhauer-Mallinson, who was well known in Wellington ten years ago as Madame Bahnson, has been giving some successful concerts in London. Miss Regina Nagel, the contralto, who made "Ben Bolt" populai throughout the colonies, took part in them.

POLITICS municipal or otheiwise, make no visible impiession upon Dixs Gaiety, at the Theatre Royal. B\ eight o'clock the state of the poll is 'always the same — a full house of expectant faces. The usual weekly change of programme took place on Saturday night, and every shot went home "A Turkish Palace" makes a veiy picturesque setting for the first part, and the corner-men, headed by Frank Yorke and Tom Leonaid. keep up a lively supply of jocosities. Leonard's local "hits" were keenly relished, and Yorke's duet with Arthur Hahn, "O that we two were Maying," was a genuine musicaJ success. Songs were also contributed by Misses Annetta Bodin, Ida Clarkson, and Ruby Williams (who danced as well), and Mr. Hahn scored with "The Gallant* of England" and "The Old Turnkey ." • • * The clever Williams quartette co-ope-rated in a coon song and dance, and also gave their remarkable exhibition of trick cycling, of which the public never tire. Miss Flo Williams was applauded to the echo for her descriptive song, and Mr. Arnold Jarvis gave a really first-class display of sleight-of-hand and juggling tricks. • • • Fcrrs , the Frog, made his farewell appearance on Saturday, and Tuesday night's performance was marked by the debut of Harry Gray, a comique, who is familiarly know n throughout the colonies as "Little Tich." He is a comic singer after the style of the well-known Bain, and the audience at once clasped him to its heart by honouring him with a triple encore He broke the ice with the character song "So do I," and followed it up, in response to consecutive recals, with exhibitions of vocal mimicry and other comic songs. Other attractions are now on the threshold. Wallace King, the silvery-voiced tenor, will waible for the fir&t time to-night (Friday) and to-morrow (Saturday) the Dc Vella Sifters and Miss Ethel Clifford are to make their bow. * « * Fullei's Umpire Company played to ovei flow ing business at the Choral Hall on Saturday night. In fact, the building might almost have been filled twice over. The weekly change of programme is an unfailing "draw," but this time there was an equally poweriu! magnet at work in the announcement that Miss Maud Faning would make her debut among the bones and tambofe 'on the. corner." She did appear, tind her success as an "end" artist was instantaneous and complete The programme fairly glittered with good things, and encores were the order of the evening. * * * Denis Carney was on hand with a fresh budget of comicalities, the Beverle>s furnished a new society sketch, and the Lestei Bi others received quite an ovation for their daiing and wonderfully agile high trapeze act, while Aubrey Douglas's coon songs, Miss Bessie Young's seno-comics, and Miss Lilhe Deverc's sprightly and graceful dancing weie all very highly appreciated. ♦ * * The Ad el phi Dramatic Compan> Inn c -irnved in Wellington, for the purpose of placing a season at the Opera House. They open on Thursday night, in the powerful drama, "It is Never too Late to Mend." The. cast is said to be strong, and the scenic effects very realistic, while the entire production will be under the direction of Mr. Hodge The company also intend to produce 'The Ticket of Leave Man" and "The Octoroon." ♦ ♦ • On a, telegram beuig sent to Tom Fitz-Gerald, suggesting that he should stop the announced circus performance at I'iketahuna on Good Fnday, he promptly replied.— "Regret overlooked fact that it was Good Friday, but cannot disappoint people, who are camped all over town. Howe\er, have given instructions for each animal to be supplied with a hot cross bun, and all holey" threepences to go into missionary box. — Fitz-Gcrald." « • * Dr. Frederick Cow en's new oveiture, termed the "Butterfly's Ball," was performed for the first time on Maich 2, bv Mr. R. J. Wood's orchestra at a Queen's Hall (London) symphony concert, and pioved a very dainty and