Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 58, 10 August 1901, Page 18

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

DIX'S Gaiety Company has been playing to the usual fine house during the week. The company has added to its strength, and its novelties, by the introduction of new and bright business. Mr. Les Wharton, who has taken the corner seat vacated by the irrepressible Sayles, is to the full as iriepressible as that permanentlycoloured gentleman. His complexion is new every night, and his comicalities follow suit. His opening night was a hard one, as he had continuously to admit to being exhausted. Mr. Bob Hall, a new-comer, is a welcome addition, and has the advantage of originaJity his topical "hits" being wildly welcomed, and his re-appearance frequently demanded. Mr. Arthur Moslev, the fine basso, is specially liked in his dual role of interlocutor and songster. His compass is remarkable, and his voice in the lower register highly satisfactory. Mr. Harry Gray is funnier than ever, and in his vigorous interpretation of comic songs adds much to the gaiety of the entertainment. The feature of the entertainment is tho ludicrous and clever sketch by the limber contortionists Johnson, Riano, and Bentley entitled "The Monkeys and the Farmer." The uncommon agility displayed by the trio causes astonishment and merriment. Les Thieres, the juvenile cyclists and acrobats, perform their difficult act without fault, and are accorded a reception that must gratify the youthful quartette. • • « Olive Lenton's easy, graceful dancing and singing is engaging as ever, while Miss Emmie Owen would, if she could overcome a somewhat unaccountable unsteadiness, be more highly appreciated than at present. Martyn Hagan. with his partner in fun, Miss Lucy Fraser, ha T e new patriotic sketches. Mr. Wallace King, the veteran tenor, contributes to the harmony with his faithful rendering of standard songs, and the whole combination is brightly entertainI had the privilege and the pleasure of attending the invitation concert which was given on Monday evening last in the Sydney-street schoolroom, by Mr. Robert Parker's Glee and Madrigal Society. A very choice programme of old English vocal music was presented, and was reinforced with two instrumental morceaux. The madrigals and part-songs were beautifully sung, with the exception of one piece, in which the tenors were unduly dominant. Mr. Parker has trained this Society to quite a remarkable degree of artistic excellence, and this performance brought out into relief the delightful charms of unaccompanied part singing, which is the most difficult of all singing. • • • Mendelsohn's Cencerto in D minor was performed by Miss Annie Page, and a small orchestra, and pro- \ ided a real treat, mainly due to the brilliant execution by Miss Page of the ornate and lovely pianoforte part. The young lady deserves warm praise for hear performance. I felicitate Mr. Parker upon the gratifying efficiency of his Glee and Madrigal Society. Wellington is under a heavy debt of gratitude to him for his unwearied efforts to raise the standard of musical taste in this part of the colony. * * # Madame Belle Cole's Concert Company, in which Mr. John Prouse, of Wellington fills, the role of baritone soloist, has made quite a triumphal progress through the South Island as far as Christchurch On Tuesday night last the Christchurch Motett Society produced "Elijah," with Madame Belle Cole and Mr Prouse in the contralto and baritone parts respectively. The large Canterbury Hall was crowded to excess, and Madame Cole and Mr. Prouse received a tremendous ovation. It was tho finest performance of "Elijah" Oh nst church has seen these many years. Madame Belle Cole and company, includins Mr Prouse, are to pass through here, without performing, early next week en route for Napier, Wanganui, and Auckland From there they proreed to Sydney for the Festival, to be held in September. ♦ • • The Empire Company, at the Choral Hall, have worked vigorously to leave a good impression behind in the minds of

their patrons. Many novelties have been introduced during the week. Something new and strange has been the order of each succeeding evcnin" and the company have fully maintained the reputation founded by Mr. Fuller as a successful and business-like entrepreneur. • ♦ • While the well-known artistes have used every effort to sustain their reputation for enterprise and good business, the novelties introduced have been quaint and amusing. The Baby Show on Wednesday night provided amusement and a great many competitors, though each aspiring mother was convinced, in her own mind, that her particular progeny should be the prize-win-ner. » • • On Thursday night, the balcony was specially reserved for old-age pensioners, who witnessed perhaps one of the best entertainments Mr. Fuller's people have given in the hall. I understand Mr. Fuller's people will journey to Sydney to swell the talent in his vaudeville company in that city. They have my best wishes for their success. • • • The McAdoo original Jubilee Singers have been, successful during the past week in upholding their established reputation as high-class singers. Their numbers are all well chosen, and rendered w ith much art. The quaint melodies of slavery days, impressively sung, are appreciated by all lovers of harmony, and the reception accorded to the singers show that they have not been forgotten, or that their talent is not unrecognised- Interspersed with the more serious items are the tuneful coon songs of more recent days. • • • The accompaniments are all that could be desired, and the whole entertainment has a charm and finish distinctly unique. The simphcitv of many of the items enhance the effect of the whole, and the appreciation shown by the large audiences during the week is evidence of the popularity of the company. • * • "Florodora," of which Mr. Tom Pollard has sole New Zealand rights, "caught on" immediately in Dunedin. Several new and talented artistes have joined the company. • * * "The Christian King," Wilson Barrett's new play, is founded on the life of Alfred the Great. • • ♦ The art of shortening or enhancing the height of notable actors for the pourtrayal of their parts are practised in their perfection by stage costumiers. One celebrated costumier says — "Mr. Wilson Barrett has often to be lengthened. Mr. Barrett is below the average height, but when he appears in kingly or other parts demanding physical presence, his aspect is that of a more than ordinarily tall man. An. inch or two is given him by elevated, boots, but a good many fictitious inches are added by the illusion of clothes and surroundings. His garments are cut low and clear at the neck, and made to sweep round the figure. These devices, with undersized furniture, and with a careful regard not to place himself close to anyone taller than himself, raise him from the undersized man of sft 4in to fche tragedian king of 6ft." • * * The Broughs open their New Zealand season in Auckland on Boxing Night. • * « The marvellous Dartos have completed their season in Australia, and are giving New Zealand the benefit of their quaint business. Dunedin is favoured as a starting place. • • » A prominent comedian (says the "Era") tells a good story against himself. When he first came to London he was under engagement to play in the Surrey pantomime. He drove in a cab to the theatre one morning, and, finding no one at the stage door, which was open, he walked in on to the stage. Seeing an elderly man, in an old white jacket, examining the scenery, he said to him, "Here, my man, just carry my basket in from the cab outside." The man did as he was told, and received fourpence for his trouble — all the loose change the comedian possessed. "And now can you tell me where I can find Mr. George Conquest?" was the query of the actor. "Yes," the old gentleman dryly replied, as he pocketed the fourpence: "you won't have to look far for him. I am George Conquest." • • * A church and stage dispute appears to have taken place the other day in Milan, whore a preacher, at the San Carlo Church, spoke, during one of his seimons, strongly against dancers. As an ex-danseuse from the Scala, Madame Cucchi, who was celebrated in 1855, happened to be amongst the congregation, and objected to the minister's denunciation, so she wrote next day to the papers a well-turned letter, which they all published. The clergyman in question made the amende honorable by de-

claring, when he next appeared in the pulpit, that he had not intended to cast any slur upon an honourable profession, all that he deplored being that a number of men who never bend the knee before Christ did not blush at kneeling to ballet dancers. • • • A curious correspondent, over the penname of "Quiz," writes asking who is Popper, of whose pieces M. Gerardy played so many at hia concerts." "Quiz" is evidently not a 'cellist, or he —perhaps it may be a she — would know that David Popper is one of the most celebrated of violoncello players. He is a Bohemian bv birth, has attained world-wide fame as a solo player, and his compositions for his favourite instrument are held in high estimation. He was born in 1846, and in 1872 married Sophie Menter, the celebrated pianiste. ♦ • • Bland Holt is importing a new leading lady from England. * * • Madame Patti announced her intention of never again singing in opera. It is an infrequent treat to hear Madame sing at all now, but rumour has it that she contemplates another excursion into opera. * • • Mr. Charles Hawtrey, actor manager and philanthropist, held a matinee of a "Message from Mars," in Sydney recently, handing the sum of £50 over to the trustees of the Sydney Hospital. • • • Actors are proverbially generous to their brethren who, through stress of circumstances, are in a poor financial position. Sydney has its Distressed Actors' Fund, and at a grand matinee, held on June 29th, the proceeds were devoted to the fund. A cable informs me that it was an enormous success. Every theatrical attraction in Sydney was represented, and the fund has been greatly augmented by this commendable enterprise.