Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 44, 4 May 1901, Page 14

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

TEE Adelpln Diamatic Company have been doing capital business at the Opera House since Thursday last week. Theie are no "stars" among them and no "have beens." They are a company of young artistes, and some of them display talents which are distinctly promising. More than that, they take the trouble to learn their parts, and they mount their plays with \ery nice scenic effect. The opening piece was the drama built upon Charles Reade's powerful story, "It's Never Too Late to Mend," and it certainly received a very creditable representation. Mr. Gus Neville played the manly role of George Fielding with excellent judgment, never straining after points, and at the same time never missing a good one. His impersonation was marked by natural feeling, his action was smooth, and he has a good voice and stage presence He also filled equally well the part of the gaol chaplain. * ♦ ♦ Mr. Andrew Hodge, a young actor of home experience, made a decided "hit in the role of Tom Robinson, a London thief, who comes through the fire of adversity with the dross burnt out of him. He gradually won the sympathy of the audience, and gained many a round of applause. Mr. George Harpur, who is well and favourably known in Wellington, scored in the part of Jacky -Jacky, an Australian aboriginal. His "make-iip" was clever, his "yabber" was just like the real article, and his antics and by-play were in keeping w'th the character. The company need the services of a leading lady. Miss Ethel Gibson, who was cast for the heroine, Susan Merton, did her best but was manifestly overweighted. It was, on the whole, a very even performance, and ran for three nights, to good business. * * * Tom Taylors well-known play, "The Ticket-of-Leave Man," was staged on Monday night, and was well received. Mr. Crosbie Ward gave an excellent account of himself in the part- of Jim Dalton Mr. Gus Neville made a very fair Bob Brierly. and Mr. Harour s Metter Moss, "the fence," was droll. The audience nearly took a fit when his nose fell off, at an interesting situation, in the first act. Mr. Hodge sustained the role of Hawkshaw, the detective, and Mr. Charles Naylor won quite an ovation with his tenor songs. He was thrice encored. * • « Another change of bill was, made on Wednesday night, when "The Kingh Colours," a nautical drama, by Geo. R. Sims, was mounted. There was, a large audience and the performance was highly successful. Mr. Gus Neville, Mifcs Hilda Holmes, and Miss Ethel Gibson scored in this piece very effectively. "East Lynne" is announced for Friday evening, in order to give the ladies fair opportunity for a good weep. • The Octoroon" is billed, for Saturday and Monday, and ought to be a powerful draw, while "Held by the Enemy is in reserve for Tuesday and dayThe appearance of Mr. Wallace King at the Theatre Royal has inaugurated a fresh boom at the Gaiety. There was a tremendous throng on Saturday night, and the sale of tickets had to be stopped at 8 o'clock, for want of room. The voice of the sable tenor is as sweet as over. They nearly raised the roof over "Sally Homer," and encored it three times running. And every night since Wallace King has been paying toll after the same fashion. Mr. Arnold Jarvis, juggler, and the Williams quartette, took their farewell, and received a hearty send-off. The De Vella Sisters reappeared on Saturday night, after a long absence, and danced their wav into the popular favour iust as easily as of yore. Miss Ethel Clifford also returned to the scene of former successes, and promptly renewed them. On Tuesday night Miss Daisy Harcourt, a clever and versatile coster impersonator, made her debut, and scored strongly every time. She is an acquisition to the cause of gaiety ; of that there is no doubt. Mr. Harry Gray ("Little Tich)) still tickles his audience with his eccentricities, and Mr. Arthur

Halm keeps the stream of sweet melody flow ing, pow erfully assisted now by Wallace King. As for funny business, Frank Yorke and Tom Leonard have just btiuck some fresh oie which pans out a dozen laughs to the minute. *■ * * Fuller's Empire Vaudeville Company are still going strong at the Choral Hall. The change of piogramme on Saturday night filled tho house to overflowing as usual. "A Day's Holiday at Windsor" is a highly entertaining first part, and the scenery, painted for it. by Mr. Gil Hoskins, is both picturesque and charming. The various items on the programme went off like hot cakes. Miss Maud Faning, "on the corner," is right in her element now, and her minstrel business then, as well as her serio-comic songs later on, struck home every time. Mr. Denis Carney has taken a lease of the public, or rather they badly want to take a lease of him. He received four encores in each part of the programme. The Beverleys (Frank and Edith) are as successful as ever with their society sketches, the Lester Bros, put in some very agile work on the trapeze, and Misses Lillie Devere and Hettie Warden have been welcomed back with great cordiality. The other artists are just as usual, and business is Al at Lloyd's. No one with a taste for music should miss the farewell concert to Miss Violet Mount. It takes place in the Sydneystreet Schoolroom to-night (Friday) and a really first-class programme has been prepared, while the names of the performers are the best assurance of artistic success. Miss Mount herself will contribute the operatic aria, "Ernani Involami," and also a song by Chaminade. She deserves a brilliant sendoff. • • • "Little Tich," now performing at Dixs Gaiety, is of Wellington origin. When they were boys together, Harry Gray, otherwise "Little Tich," and "Ted" Hill were regular Sunday scholars at the Wesleyan Sunday School that many years ago was swept out of Man-ners-street by the agency of fire. When Harry Gray arrived in Wellington, the other day, he lost no time in hunting up Mr. E. J. Hill, in order to compare Sunday school notes with him. • * « Mr. George Harpur, a leading member of the Adelphi Company, now at the Opera House, has an established reputation in Wellington as a dramatic "coach." He "coached" the Marist Old Boys' Association for their production of "The Colleen Bawn," eighteen months ago, and he fulfilled a similar task for the Fabian Dramatic Company when they had "The Wearing of the Green" in hand. Mr. Gus Neville, another member of the Adelphi, and a promising one, too, is also a Wellington boy. His proper name is Gus Morgan. It may be remembered that he played in "The Amazons," along with the Dramatic Students. He started his professional career under Mr. George Harpur. • * * The Adelphi Company is an offshoot of the Henry Dramatic Company, and before coming to Wellington it played a four-and-a-half months' season at War nganui, staging a new piece every week right through twenty-two consecutn c weeks. Not a bad record! [Continued on Page 18.]