Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 46, 18 May 1901, Page 7

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

MR. ARTHUR H. ADAMS, the war correspondent from China, made his debut upon the lecture plattorm at the Exchange Hall this week, and acquitted himself in a manner that augurs for complete success in his new vocation. It is a comparatively easy undertaking to write out at your leisure a compact, terse, and lively account of adventures you have passed through, and opinions you lme formed of men and things. It is a far tougher contract to face an audience of sti angers, and hold them in close attention for some two hours. That sort of expeiuncnt needs special preparation in "swatting up" your matter, or else special training. • • • Mr. Adams had neither. His first Lecture was on "The Crusade in China." He emerged from the "wing" in full khaki uniform, with his MS. in his hand, and, as he plunged rather nervousIv into his discourse, he glanced at lus notes from time to time, just to see that ho was keeping on the right track. But, after a while, he lost his place, and, not having time to find it, he trusted more and more to the inspiration of the moment. It was a bit awkward at first, and he made occasional stumbles, but he acquired confidence as he warmed to his subject, and when he came to explain his views with the lights turned down, his tongne rattled along quite smoothly. » • • In dealing with his second lecture, "Among the Boxers," Mr. Adams was able to dispense with his MS. altogether, and, at his third and last lecture of the series, "The Menace of the Yellow Man," he seemed quite at home, and made points right along the line. These lectures are distinctly interesting and instructive. They are largely descriptive, and Mr. Adams's descriptions are graphic and picturesque. They are brightened with amusing anecdotes and incidents which are told with genial good humour. And the lecturer brings home to his listeners, as no more reading of books and papers will do, the actual state of affairs in China, and the national peculiarities of the soldiers of the various Powers that were engaged in the war. Each lecture is illustrated by an exhibition of first-class limelight views, and the loot wliich Mr. Adams displays and explains forms quite a large collection of curious and interesting articles. Mr. Bismarck Shannon manages "the show" in first-class style. , Standing-room only any time after half-past seven at the Gaiety Company's Saturday night levee. The new programme was quite up to date, and touched the regular gaiety standard, which is exactly tantamount to saying that it fairly bristled with good things. In the first part, Miss Annetta Bodin filled the "chair" in the centre of the circle, and proved a bright and charming interlocutress. Miss Daisy Harcourt and Miss Ida Clarkson were both making their farewell appearance, and they danced and warbled at their very best and. received the most cordial "send-off" from the audience. Mr. Wallace King's songs were in strong request as usual, and, with his customary fortitude, he bore up under the encore test - Mr Frank Yorke was in great form, and tho guffaws which shook the house while he frolicked about the stage proved that the building has been well and faithfully put together. Mr. Bob Hall opened out fresh veins of humour with his coon songs, the Devella Sisters sung effectively and danced most nimbly, while Harry Gray, as the dwarf prima donna, simply tied his audience into knots. Miss Ethel Clifford contributed some sweetly-sung ballads, and Frank Yorke's farce of "The Pawnshop" closed the performance with shrieks of laughter. On Monday night, Miss Mollie Bentley made her re-appearance, and scored heavily with her descriptive songs. Further attractions are due on Monday next in the persons of the Tylers, who will introduce their great Japanese screen act for the first time in New Zealand. • • • The Empire Vaudeville Company are still doing remarkably well. On Saturday night the Choral Hall presented its usual congested appearance, and the fresh budget of songs, dances, and funnyisms was received with pronounced

satisfaction. Miss Maud Faning, for her coon songs, and Mr. Denis Carney, for his nonsense ditties, each scored a triple recal. The Beverleys were applauded to the echo' for their skit on "East Lynne," and Mr. Charles Marson brought down the house with his singing of "Anchored," which was. accompanied by limelight illustrations. By way of acknowledging the imperative encore, he painted a picture in oils upside down, in the smart time of two minutes. The programme was full of variety and vivacity, and the audience were kept in a simmer of laughter from start to finish. « * * For some considerable time past nothing in the shape of opera has been presented to the Wellington public, and for this reason the forthcoming production of "lolanthe," by the Wellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society will be heartily welcome. The cast is a strong one. comprising — Mr. T. M. Wilford (Lord Chancellor) , Mr. Russell Halley (Earl of Mount Ararat) : Mr. E. J. Hill (Earl Tolloller) Mr. Roland Boot (Private Hides) Mr. A. S. Ballance (Strephoni Miss E. Maginnity (Queen of the Fairies) , Miss Winnie' Birch (lolanthe) . and Misses Good, Toohill, Gurney, and Sheen as Celia, Leila, Feta, and Phyllis respectively— to say nothing of the chorus of over fifty voices. • * • The opera has been in active rehearsal for a long tune past, under the direction of the stage manager, Mr. H. D. Lyon, and, bearing in mind the previous successes of tho Society, it appears safe to prophesy a real treat for theatregoers. The season, a short one of seven nights, opens on Wednesday next, and the box plan is now open at Holliday's. The Orpheus Liedertafel is to give a concert in the Sydney-street schoolroom to-night (Friday). This society, under the able conductorship of Mr. Lawrence F. Watkins, Mus. Bac, gave a very successful first concert towards the close of last year. Since then, it has been strengthened and improved to a considerable extent. On this occasion the society is to be assisted by Miss Elsie Hennah, the talented young violinist. The programme of songs, partsongs, etc., with this addition, should furnish a very attractive programme. * * * A South African cable, published this week, states that Lieutenant Wynyard Joss, of the Queensland Cycle Company, with ten men, while carrying despatches to Erstefabriken, captured nine Boers and several waggons. This must surely be Mr. Alex. Wynyard Joss, so wellknown at both Christchurch and Auckland, as a first-class banjo player. I never knew that Wynyard Joss yearned after martial glory, but I know he was Al on the banjo. He left Auckland about eighteen months or two years ago for Brisbane, in order to settle down there. Apparently, the war fever caught him out in Queensland, and now he has taken those nine Boers captive just as surely as he has captivated many an audience. Bravo, Joss! (Continued on Page 10.)