Dramatic & Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 69, 26 October 1901, Page 17

Dramatic & Musical

By Footlight.

ONK returns f 1 on. Ins Tup to Chicaeo" a soir man It one has the niecnnn^ Johnnie Shoiidan's Joanna Murphy will cure them The tuneful, bieez.v mixtuie of comedy and vaudeville diableno and lush wit shows tliat Mi. J Slieiidan and Ins company h.i\e not expended all then lulanous oneigies m Fun on the Bristol " The Trip to Chicago" gives o])))oitunilies to (\eiyone who went to sing and dance, and play the silh ass " Whetliei Joanna is \olubl\ lat my: liei dauglitei Lulu (Miss Florin* Barns), or waging wai with the mothei ot hei elder child's husband, be sine that John F vShendan, for the time being, has forgotten tliat he is a shrewd male creatuie running a paying concern, and merges his identity in that of the quaint comic, \ulgar American Tush noiucau nehe Joanna's chesses aie a dieam and John's manipulation of them and the exaggerated giace ot his increments give a fun < ffect to Ins costumes Majoi Tiffin is an impossible voteian with a stiff leg, who i oars anathema and supplies situation Mr Duggan pourtiavs him, and gives Joanna oppoi funities for e\(]insitely funn\ by-play w lien a \ oungi r man, Benjamin Brewstor (ould Roostei ) makes love as a inal to tlie e\tra\ a,gant army man * * * Heibeit Patke (Mi Waltei Dalgleish) gets drunk, lov os lus wife fights somewhat has a refined mother who is tho bete noir ot Mrs. Murphy, and helps things along with a loud volte and by no means indifferent acting Alphonso Napoleon, a French footman, with a ttydnev accent (Mr B Hermann) ha<s a rasping voice, reminiscent of Hair\ Quedlv in his most provoking mood, while a haimless necefcsaiy policeman, in tbi* person of Peter Plum (Mi Charles Ashley) does nothing but complicate disastet, and help with the fun geneially When everyone hat. safely got to Chicago (and you may know you are there bv the introduction of scenic effect^ almost unparalleled, the great Fair looming luminous in the background), everybody who can smg and dance, or whistle, troops on paned with somebody else and gail\ dances until they aie all too tired to do am thing but sing in the dusk of the limelight Ml. Ciosslov loaves oft being ,\n a.s.s, " and eomicallv warbles about seaside girls 01 punishes an unoffending walking-stick which he behoves is a 'cello Miss Mavis the damtv with liei sweet smile, bnngs a soprano voice to beai on a fetching little ballad and all is peace and encoies Miss Barns is a magnetic little person who scintillates in a led d i ess If you watch hei , *-he will quit her butterfh antics and sing in a seductive style the new est things m coon" music 01 will join in partnership with tliat awful ass" Blecter (Mr. Crossley) m a duet which is all animation and kisses They aie required to kiss some more as it appeals to tho audience When, the audience is calm, Kvrle Romeo Bellow (Miss May is) and Juliet Blown Pot-An smg eU'rnal love on a business ha.sis to one another and then Mis<^ T)ais\ Chard comes on waving imii-i olouied bnntiim ,\]\(\ telling you all about John Bull Junioi . * ♦ « Kvoivone thinks tin sentiment ot John Bull J is latliei weaiisome and the gloom on the blow of the audience settles tin* question ot opinion But Daisy afteiwaids whistles without flags, and the audience is comforted Magmheonth dressed, minntabh acted and staged in Sheinlan's best st\le the Tup" is one ot tho plea.vantest T have taken since* I fust went with John toi some Kun on the Bnstol" twelve \eais ago * * * The moving stoiv of Uncle Tom's Cabin" is being told b\ Mi J Khendaii iiicl c ompanv The hallowing t.ile oi tho daikioh' mai t\ idoni is pourti a\ i d with sufficient vividness to make the audiomc sot i \ it .tided and abetted the management While the diamatisa t ion of Harriett Boer hoi Stowe's woi k shows much abihtv T tool that Mi Sheridan might have stuck to his no mistake" comcth Mi Slieiidan canu to .iinuse, he lemamed to hallow .md while his people woio not making the

audience ttit'p tlic people behind woie making disturbing noises and mishaps with the limelight that weie not m the piece All. Duggau a^s tlie \ill.nnous slavetiador Legree, was poweitul He \\ i, sufficiently villainous to wan ant his taking the part His lolapse into eat lv lite cant pre\ ions to his minder oi the lneuMit Tom was a hue tiling although lie appaientlv foigot his Ameruan accent, and ga\ c his vowels m the sonoioiis Scotch style that make*) his speaking so impressive The \illainous machinations of Tom Lokei weie oveidono In Mr Waltei Dalgleish, whose best tiling was Ins *-oat on hoi srb.uk w l'en he, with se\eia! otheis, an nod mount - ed to hunt then blark piopeit\ down HaU\ the tiadei (Mi Bedlotd) and Jonas Skefrfrs (Mi Fiank HeathoiK) weie done toleiabK (Jeoige Hams (Mi Chailes Vshlev ), an ()( toroon slave who waited a gieit deal ot time m esc aping fiom his ow neis with Pluneas Fletchei (Mi Flank Cie>ssle\) g.n o a lathei good pictuw Mi Fied Wentuoith <i.s I'nc le Ton', the man bclo\ed by childien, but who nnpiesses one as an impossible' niggei lias a hard part, in which his b.uss voice finch expression in song The ncri'i c imp meeting gatlionns"- m which wc'llknow n melodies aie mtioduced need 1 an oveihaul and much piatticc Mi Cus Neville as the polished and paitiallv pious planter St Clan, shows ta lent in the death <- ct . n , u f his danghtei Kva (Little Leonora) Kli/.a Hams tin escaping slave gnl (Miss Maud Gwvnne) is a lady who makes lite uncomfoi tab'e for hoi unfortunate child a passive \oungstoi who evidently would like t') camp sometimes He is earned o r. billows of cam as ice, is *-}■<)> at (u, l si'is; tho'tic'scle budge that dn id< s C.ui.tda tiom Ameiica, and supulus th< mateual for much c heeling ,\\u\ .ipplaiiM- at ttet l >c bad lime vill.uny b(>gins to get * * * The Topsy of Miss Kloience Hams is good and that daik cluld, in a gown c,l sack is blackly luminous anel <nnu<-uig The Mane St Clan ot Mi-s Ma\is gives hei little oppoitunit\ to display her undoubted talents Miss M uiel Famng is devei and cunning .is Cass\ who sneaks on Legiee chaws his ie\ohei, and ends his lion id life attci lie has give>n Tom his coup Minor parts are tilled with varying sucoes * * -f Mi John FSheiidan, as Junspiudene c John F Shemdan, as Jui lspiudene c Maiks, is the part in which the Shondan style> shows itsSi>lf Tt is a fine study, admirably done He-, with Topsy supplies the laughtei in the intervals between the woe The mtei jections of Mr Sheridan, and sundiy loud piomptings, rathei mailed the effect cf some of his drolleries. Vnc le Tom's Cabin' may be> impioved Tt piobablv will be but it is cjuestionable if tlic gcnoial public will deal as kindh with it as with the otliei and hveliei pioductions of the company ** . * At Dixs (iaiet\ the fun is at sumnu i he.it While othei attiactions have o-atheied large audie-nces this week the people appaientl> set aside one night in the week foi the Theatie Royal. I notice that the same people with a laige spi inkling ot count i\ cousins, till the sc>ats on paiticulai nights, and the same class ot smile is appaient as the week pavsses The crowd is satisfied with the Rianos Those lithe people aie elece'iveis who make the audience ieall\ wonder it theie. is au\ thing in Dai urn's idea ot the simian anccsti\ The\ wnggle hnalK in Wellington on Satindav » * * Miss Jennie Opie ha,s been lmiuenselv popular eluiinghei sta\ This week she sings new songs with the lichue^s that chaiacteiises all hei items Wellington will miss the handsome lad\ and Ikm \oice Mr deoige Dean hnds a new sketch evei\ week Ills acted son'JTS aie bie</\ ,tnd natuial ,\nt\ he has ceitainlv beconu a ieatuie ol tin euteitainnunt Isab\ ( apel gcx s to S\dii'\ next wick The ( banning child has ,i unit of song and dance that will possibh make- a name lor the wee nntc Succ e^s must lollow the e.ncei ol a child so danitv and accomplished » • • Mi Wallace King 111 1 ol Is tenth a sil\ei\ lav most tunetulU No tenoi lias been (|Uite so populai on the boaids i.t the (iaic'tN as Mi King and his welcome* each evening show the people ainplv appieciate his fineuoik ?.hs,s IJe.-ttn (Jalaieh giveh a quaint speeialit\ or hei own in which she charms b\ hei gi ac c ol person, voice, and mannei The Mite i tamment punctuated with laughable absurdities songs fiom old favorites and comet solo bv that finish, d musician Mr Con Buckingham is asti ong a di aw as cv ci * * * Oui old ti lends on the comei l>cs Whaiton and Jnn Alanon aie busk ,\n<] biiirht as evei Johnin Collins too comes to light ne e asionall v and sinnetiines Mi llagan units tin bones

tempoianly to sing. Mr. James, Williams who has given some fine bass songs tor us, is to leave- this week He will be missed. Theie is consolation in the tact that Mr. Krnest Fitts, the fine bautone, known so favourably here, is to give of his* bet>t almost immediately. Austin Rudd is to be here with him, too. Someone is coming along to fill the placr* of the Ria.nos, who. with Mi Williams, go to Auckland

[Continued on Page i<s.]

Wilson Barrett's first appearance on the stage was at> a "generally useful" at a guinea a week « * • Alma Cray and the Rios, aie in Auckland giving the City Hall people a taste of their quality. The Dart os have been mildly welcomed in Sydney where they are giving a farewell 'turn" en route to Pans. • . * The Williams Sisters, well-known tor tiheir smart, work in New Zealand am starring with Hairy Rickards's Adelaide combination. * * • Auckland Liedetafel gave one ot it» fine concerts on October 14th to the fullest house gathered togethei in the history of the Society. * » * Mr. Harry Gray, the little man who laughed for Mr Dix, and assisted Gaiety audiences to do likewise, is in Adelaide laughing some more * « * Mr. J F Sheridan has put up a ieeord. Time he allowed himself befoie the colonies were weary of lam expired October 7th. No signs of weariness. » » * Wiil Stevens well known to Wellington players, played for a week at Sydney Empire with a broken arm and did not know it. He is in hospital getting mended. * * • Viola Gillette, the sparkling young actress who came to New Zealand with "A Trip to Chinatown" takes a leading part at Drury Lane Christmas Pantomime 'The Sleeping Beauty." • * • A novelty in drama is being put on the stage by anarchists in New Jeisev United States, America It will pourtray the. assassination of King Humbert by real anarchists A fine chance for the public. # It is noi generally known that Irene Franklin is double-jointed, and her hands so soft and flexible that she can double them up at will. That accounts for her great hand movement in "Keep dem golden gates wide open " Others who have attempted this act have given it up after breaking a w nst ♦ ♦ » The following comes from the chorus master of the Italian Opera Company Si non E vero ben trovato. He \va9 approached by a, lady who was very anxious to secure an engagement for her son She concluded her recommendation by saying "Oh ' yes , he's clever, and I' am 'sure he would make a wod singer. He has got legs just hke a canary." • • • The newest stage effect is the representation of a man being slowly swallowed in a quicksand show n in the production of Lorna Doone," at the Chicago Opera House, USA John Ridd hurls the outlaw Carver Doone into the sands, and by some clever mechanism he appears to be engulfed gradually m sight of the audience. » » • The Queensland 'Sportsman" tells the lollowing anecdote of How aid Vernon, who, it appeals is cruising aiound with .1 small company in the north of Queensland He had announced the peitomiauce ot the "Mikado," «it Georgetown, but before the curtain went up he came to the front, and stated that owing to circumstances ovei which he had no contiol he was prevented from producing the Mikado" and would substitute Robin Hood" instead, because it contained funny jokes and plenty of comic songs. He continued that he did not think it mattered anyway, as he did not belie\e the peonle of Georgetown could appreciate such a claissical piece as the "Mikado " The local paper (the 'Mundic Miner") waxed very indignant o\er tins, and says it cannot understand why the audience didn't wipe the flooi with Howard' This is a change fiom the How .nd Vernon so popul.u through New Zealand with the Royal Comics