Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 45, 11 May 1901, Page 14

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

NO signs ot a blackening boom at Dixs Gaiety . On Saturday last, just as on the Saturday previous, the Theatre Royal was unequal to the task of accommodating the crowds that wanted to squeeze into it. The overflow had to remain outside. Mr. Wallaco King is still warbling to the entire satisfaction of the public, and his nightly record is three encores — nothing less will do. Mr. Frank Yorke is still making his audience run the gauntlet of apoplexy by expecting them to keep on their chairs wlu'e his khaki-clad scarecrow trooper parades the stage. It is the greatest military surprise seen in these parts since "the thin khaki line," otherw lse "the scarlet-runner " first went into camp at Newtown Park. Messrs. Harry Gray, Tom Leonard, and Jack Ritson are also performing their full share of the co-operative comic contract, and, while the fun varies, it «eems to strike home every shot. ♦ • ♦ Mr. Arthur Hahn's singing of "Dublin Bay" is very effective, and the vocal contributions of Misses Ida Clarkson <mcl Ethel Clifford are also much enloyed. The singing and dancing of the De Yell a Sisters and Miss Annetta Bodin are bright features of the programme, and Miss Daisy Harcourt's coster selections make a very brisk and lively "turn." On Tuesday night a very striking and picturesque first part, entitled "The Silver Court," was introduced, and was received with enthusiastic applause. It is one of the handsomest sets which Mr. Claude H. Whaite has painted, and does him very great credit. A picturesque court, gleaming with silver and gold, and pierced with several archways affording visions of gardens beyond, is the tableau he has worked up and it has a really dazzling effect under the brilliant light of over 200 fairy lamps. Several fresh additions to the programme are promised. Mr. Bob Hall, the comedian, reappears to-night (Thursday) and takes Tom Leonard's place as "bones," while Miss Mollie Bent ley, the highly popular descriptive vocalist, is due on Monday next. *. * ♦ Fuller's Empire Vaudeville Company were "at home" to a crowded, reception party as usual on Saturday night. Two new artistes made their debut, and leaped at once into the popular favour. Miss Belle Solomon, from the Sydney Tivoh, displayed considerable dash and vivacity as a serio-comic singer and dancer. She sang four selections, and danced with much grace. Mr. Charles Marson is a distinctly versatile performer. He sang "The Skipper," and, upon being encored, he dashed off in a couple of minutes a sketch in oils of a scene upon the Buller river. Mr. Denis Carney still turns out fun for the million, and the audience are just as much in love with Miss Maud Failing's coon songs as ever. Misses Hettie Warden and Bessie Young, the Beverleys, and Messis. Aubrey Douglas and Arthur Elliott also assist to lend sparkle and 1 ancty to the programme. • • • The faiewell concert tendered to Miss Violet Mount was a graceful tribute from the musicians of Wellington. It also fittingly reflected the esteem in winch she is held by the community. The Sydney-street schoolroom was quite iilled, and the utmost cordiality marked the proceedings. It was a very choice programme — rather 'showy and ambitious in some respects — but, on the whole, distinctly enjoyable. Several of the vocalists were plainly labouring under the- handicap of recent colds, and the intonation was not always true, but still the general effect was meritorious. * * * Miss Mount displayed her versatility by a kind of polyglot exhibition. First ot all, she sang in the Italian, and without the aid of sheet music the operatic recitative and cavatina, "Ernani Involami," which showed off the flexibility of her voice and her capacity for bravura work. The audience gave her quite <vi ovation, and half a dozen dainty baskets of choice flowers were handed up to her. The largest of these was the offering of the Amateur Operatic Society. Another was from the young lady pupils of the St. Mary's Convent. The Concort Committee presented one basket, and a fourth was tho gift of Madame Merz.

lii response to the oricore, Miss Mount sang, in German, Bohn's "Still is the Might," but did not shine in it as she did in the more florid operatic morceau. To the second pait of the programme the talented young benehciairo contributed Chaminade's "L'Kte" (sung in French), and she acknowledged the recal with Tosti's "Good-Bye." Madame Carlton was. heard in two songs, "Lovely Spring" and "Vainka's Song," and paid the usual penalty of success by adding two moie « • • Miss Ettie Maginnity's sweet and mellow contralto was heard in Goring Thomas's exacting son^ "A Summer Night," and the audience promptly recalled her. She lesponded with a tender little lullaby. Mr. John W. Hill gave an artistic rendering of "Didst Thou but Know," and Mr. Harry Smith made a decided "hit" with "A Russian Sone" (Lose), which suited his fine sympathetic baritone admirably. Mr. E. J. Hill sang the old favourite, "Come into the Garden, Maud," with his accustomed sweetness and taste. • « » Three of the choicest items on the piogramme were Mr. Maughan Barnctt's triplet of pianoforte pieces, composed by himself, Herr Max Hoppe's execution, on the violin, of a charming romance by Spies, and the vocal quartette "Spin, Spin," which the Meister Singers sung. The vocal trio from "The Bohemian Girl," by Miss Mount and Messrs. E. J. Hill and Harry Smith, went fairly well, but the sestette from "Lucia" was spoilt by loudness of tone and want of concert. It was carried out under "go as you please" conditions. The string quartettes were good, and produced a desire for more. * * * The Adelphi Dramatic Company are now playing their last nights at the Opera House. A fairly good performance of "The Octoroon" was ottered on Saturday and Monday. It was well mounted, and Mr. Gus Neville gave a very satisfactory impersonation ot Wah-noh-tee, the Indian chief. Mr. George Harpur's Salem Scudder was creditable, and Mr. Charles Naylor, in the part of Pete pleased the audience very much, and won round after round of applause. "Held by the Enemy," a five-act drama, suggested by the American Civil War, held the boards on Tuesday and Wednesday, and kept the company briskly engaged and the audience interested and amused. On Friday, "East Lynne" is to be repeated, and the season closes on Saturday with "The Black Flag." ♦ ♦ * On Tuesday the company open at Masterton for three nights, and Dannevirke and Palmerston will each be favoured with two performances. The Auckland season starts on the Bth prox. ♦ • ♦ Melbourne's loss is Wellington's gain. Mr. T. M. Wilford did not get away to the Commonwealth celebrations, and so he is booked all right for the Lord Chancellor in "lolanthe," after all. Hurrah ! • • • The report that Musgrove's Grand Opera Company will come to New Zea<land is joyful news. It will be the biggest operatic show we have ever had. It comprises 115 people. There are fifty voices in the chorus, an orchestra of forty instrumentalists under Herr Slapoffski, and two complete companies of artistes. * ♦ * Emile Lazern, a sleight-of-hand artist well-known in Wellington, is performing just now with Kenna's Empire Minstrel Company, in Bathurst, New South Wales, and getting warm kudos from the press. Mdlle. Lazern is musical directress. * * * Mr. Arthur H. Adams, the China war correspondent, gives his opening lecture <it the Exchange Hall on Monday night. The subject is "The Crusade in China," and it will be copiously illustrated with views. Other lectures will be "Among the Boxers," and "The Menace of the Yellow Man." Mr. Adams has just returned from China, and he has a thrilling story to tell. • ■* • Variety business pays all right. Percy Dix and Fred. Duval are putting their heads together so as to import their "stars" dnect from "dear old England" in future. This month, too, Walter Fuller, of the Empire Vaudeville Company, leaves for San Francisco, in search of artists for the Sydney and Wellington "shows" of the Fuller family. (Continued on Page 18.) Don't ever play with dynamite, In case it should explode, Beware of robbers late at night And take the safest road. Don't laugh at any little ill, But health at once secuie. Bad coughs and colds aiise fiom chill — Take Woods' Great Peppebhint Cuhe.