Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 63, 14 September 1901, Page 14

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

AT the Theatre Royal, Dixs Gaiety Company is playing to its usual fine houses nightly- As there is no diminution in attendance, so is theie no falling off in the quality of the peiformanee The De Wynne Brothers are unique among the evei -increasing army of acrobats. Acrobatic acts have to be novel now-a-days to create interest. These bi others certainly create and retain the interest of the audience in their quaint contortions and adept balancing feats. • • • The Worrall Sisteis have come from Australia, with well-rehearsed and new songs and dances. Their peiformanee is a good one, and they are well received and appreciated Miss Alma Gray, the clever and piquant juvenile danseuse, has created a favourable impression by the grace of her "turn," and the \ ivacitv of her manner. This little lady is proud of her Australian birth. She was well received in London during her lounds of the halls in that city, and English critics have been most kind in their criticisms of her. * • » Mr. James Williams, the basso, brings a fine voice and a finished wav of using it to the Gaiety His enunciation is clear and natural, and his songs were tastefully chosen and well rendered. Harry Shine is an adept at "patter" songs. Ho lias some that are> particularly nonsensical therefore alluring Mis'. Violet Elliott a contralto singer is also making a bid for popularity. # » * The Redheads continue to contort, George Dean sings and dances successfnil \ Jim Mat ion, at his corner, Ethel Gwvnne Lily Roberts, Los Wharton, and many others in their respective "turns," uphold the loputahon of the rompanv and give 1 the audience a, good time. Johnny Collins, too, is still with the company. * * * The company at the Exchange Hall lias inaugurated its appearance v\ith main blight featmes On Tuesday quite a respectable ciowd gathered to witness the bill of fare prov ided Miss Ben le Gilmour is a \outig lady with a good deal of vivacity about her, and her vigoious lendenng of well selected items was calculated to amuse and please. # * * Charles Naylor uses a good voice with some care, and is often humourous. Miss Emmie Owen, whose first appearance it is under the Empue's new management, although suffering from a slight indisposition, probably the prevailing epidemic influenza, faithfully renders the songs allotted to her The Cortz Brothi'is, who have gained something of a leputation undei previous managements, stnve to letain it under the new and are (|Uamtl\ comic and humourously aciobatic night K Many people, homouious and seiious. vocal and aciobatie, make up the sum total of the perfoimance Ted Moonev Leslie Forrest, and T. Dryden have new- items, Amj Vaughan has not lost her chaim, Lillian Rainford has found something new in her repeitoire, and Lilian Loftus follows her example. Ben le Gilmoui sings with vigour, and the Wmnifrcd Sisters introduce now business Last, but not least, Freddy Garnet has something to s.i\ and sing, .md altogethct a leasonablv pleasant time may be spent dt the Kinpiie each o\ ening. [Continued on Page lit.]

Madarao Mclba who has been responsible for eiowded houses at Covent Gaiden, London, is the uiiloitunate victam of laryngitis, which confines her to bed, and cancels her present engagements. Mr Douglas Ancelon, the New Zealand actoi, who went to America with Mr. Walter Rent'ev, lecentJy leturned, and is now , I believe, in Auckland. Mr. Harold Campbell, a cle\er composei, is to be commissioned to control the incidental music for the Janet Waldorf Company during its tour through New Zealand. » » • The Haytors, after washing the dust of New Zealand off their feet at Rotoru.i, journey to London, but promise Mr. Dix to le-appear in Maonland m 1903. * * * Flora Anstead (says Adelaide "Critic"), who died recently in Melbourne, aged GO, appears to have been a New Zealand native. At all events, she first made her name there, playing juvenile lead in a company which included Mrs. Robert Heir. J. L Hall, Mr and Mrs. B N. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart OBrien, Mr. and Mrs. W. Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hill, J P Hydes, and Chas Herbert Her great successes were made as Mrs Willoughby in "The Ticket of Leave Man," Widow Green, in the "Love Chase," and Mistress Malaprop, in "The Rivals " * * * The collaboration of W. S. Gilbert and Victor Herbert (the latter described by a London theatrical paper as a "fit successor to Sullivan") should be productive of some good things in comic °P era - , Charles Faning, who has followed the fortunes of the Fullers for so long, has severed his engagement with that finn, and soon, it is rumouied will try the London "Halls " * * • Miss Irene Franklin, who delighted Wellingtonians with her unique coon songs, is to accept no more colonial engagement*. She is to go to London to open in panto, before Christmas. * • ♦ Miss Janet Waldorf opeued a season of the legitimate drama in Auckland on September 4th, and from accounts received from that city the people have taken kindly to Shakespearian comed> . Pendenms" remarks that Miss Waldorf's voice is a thing of beauty, and that her enunciation is pcifect, which will, I think, be somewhat of a novelty. » » * M Dai to, the clever husband of Madame of that name, left his ait, and wa.s conscupted foi the Ficnch Aimy. As a sergeant in the "Chasseurs" he took part in the operations around Ton(|iun, when he was wounded. He seems to have quite recovered. » * * Auckland cutics wax enthusiastic o\ei the "De Wynne" aciobats, now doing a 'turn" for Dixs Gaiety in that city. A benefit recently given to ' Teddy" Lonnen, in London, increased the beneficial c's banking account by 1-300. He is a hopeless invalid. Mi. Alec. Andeison, manager toi the Janet Waldorf Company, writes me fiom Auckland intoiming me that his company w ill appeal- in Wellington as soon as dates can be fixed * * * Mr. F. A C. De L'lsle informs me that he intends putting on 'By Right of Conquest," a two-act comedy-drama oi New Zealand life, and the Queen's Warrant," his own creations, at the Federal Hall on September 24th and '2-"3 th. Anxious to give the public the benefit of his piece, The Blue Stocking," Mr. De L'lsle tiled to stage it at the Fedeial Hall, but found that thecncumsenbed area did not permit of it He has theiefoie succeeded in peisuadlng nineteen talented local amateuis to fill the parts in the comedies abenementioned It is stated that Mr De LTsle wrote "A Vision of the Night," which owed its success in London to the magnificent interpretation of the part of the Vicomtesse D'Humiems by Mrs Pa.tnck Campbell.