Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 77, 21 December 1901, Page 41

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

DIX'S Gaie^ is putting on its very best holula% aspect for Christmas, and quite a galaxy of talent will appem Kt present the Valdares, a trio of Dikistsm blue, leave most of their sisters and bi others m the iear and in common parlance, are several streets ahead of the average acrobatic bicyclists Ka^ graceful, and finished, this act does not give one the "creepy felmg that many such act^ do One feels that the daring too aie peifecth safe # Tlie public shows no sign* of waning interest in the clever act of Tom Powers, the comic rough - riding bicyclist who learns to ride every evening very rapidly on a bicycle that evidently has not yet been "broken m. It is a vicious animal, and bucks like the veriest * arrival Tom also rides a buggv wheel, and, mounted onit, he use^ a Winning-rope with great effect. I should like to know the brand of bike that can be thrown with a couple ot dozen shastlv thuds against the stage. It would be a good side line. • » • Keilderson, the hatter— I mean, the chapeaugraphist— besides his excellent facial gymnastics, is quite inimitable in the second part of his performance. He becomes a fowl stealer, and the gentle graduation from the hoarse protest ot the rooster in command through all the stages of the captured cockerels, pullets, and chicks, is quite as fin© as is his imitation of a silly boy capturing a. blowfly The buzzing of that fly makes you want to rush round the theatre with a wet cloth, thirsting for the bluebottle's gore. « • * Miss Pearl Lovell is a new attraction, who sings several serio-comic songs, and who is graceful and pleasing. That excellent baritone, Mr. Richard Shepherd, has an easy, unaffected way, and a fine presence, that fits him for the rendering of the nofc-too-iingoiBtic patriot songs he sings Pope and Sayles are stall with us Little Alma Gray is "the boy who takes the biscuit," and dances excellently and there are a dozen and a quarter other items that are well worth hearing. The management are to outshine themselves m putting on Christinas fare. Many of the Gaiety's favourites will be here shortly, and many who are favourites elsewhere are coming with them • • • The Wellington Garrison Band are under a debt of gratitude to the Prouse family, and particularly to Mrs. Prouse, who was really the projector and chier organiser of the excellent concert given in the Opera House last week in aid of the funds. She has also, with characteristic energy exerted herself to enlist a goodly number of subscribers for two band concerts a year to enable this fine corps of musicians to procure regular supplies of music. Mr. John Prouse, Miss Prouse, and Mr W. Prouse all assisted at the concert, which was really first-class of its kind, and was deserving of a bumper house. However, there was a very encouraging ''circle, and better results may be expected at the second concert of the series in Mai eh next • ♦ • I shall not review the programme m detail. It will suffice to say in general terms that Bandmaster Lieutenant Herd has every reason to feel proud of the pitch of proficiency to which he has brought the band. The most exacting piece that was attempted was Wilhams's arrangement of airs from "Faust," the solo work of the cornets and horns in the airs from the "Garden Scene" being particularly good, while the full strength of the band gave "The Soldiers' Ohorus" with rousing effect, and an encore was insisted on. A similar favour marked other numbers, notably the cornet solo "La Reve d' Amour," which Bandsman J Parker plaved with very nice expression. • • ♦ Mr J. Prouse was the only vocalist, but is he not at. all times a host in himself? He sang, with first-class effect 'To-morrow will be Friday," and "Nazareth" (the latter with organ obligaito), and, in response to encores, Lord Henry Somerset's "Echo," and Mr. Alfred Hill's beautiful song, "My Fairest. Child," which was received with very marked satisfaction. Miss Prouse plaved the accompaniments, and Mr W Prouse was at the organ.

Mrs Mueller and pupils-' annual concert is becoming au institution. On Wednesday, 11th December, at the New C'entury Hall, this excellent entertainment w' as given. Mrs Mueller may be highly complimented on the advance of her pupils TW tenderness introduced into the solo "0 Divine Redeemer" (Miss Castles), the attention to technique exhibited in Miss Feltham's rendering of • 0 Giver of Mercies," and the power and expression infused mto that quaint work of Meyeibeer, ' Loved Normandv" by Miss Varcoe either &how& that Mrs Mueller is fortunate in. her pupils. 01 that buried talents have been brought to light bv her * * * Miss Fraser gave Fate. Thou Hast Decreed" with fine emphasis Miss Jessie Anderson's interpretation of the song "Holy Portal" was careful, and showed much finish Miss Marion Fear m "The Promise of Life," was excellent Mrs MueWeir's contributions were received with enthusiasm, and her audience demanded double encores Much feel in"- and grace were introduced into her several items, the canzone "Little Swallow," beine perhaps the finest of all. Mise Beatrice Vartha, at the piano and Herr Lehmarm with his violin, accompanied with artistic taste, and contributed in a marked degree to this most successful concert [Continued on paqe 42.)

A Trial of Steams' Headache due will convince the most sceptical of its supeiiority as a lelief foi pains. When pin chasing medicines, get only the best.

An old-tame circus performer an one Leonardi is now an inmate of the Dunedin Benevolent Asylum There are over fort} shows of ono kind and another between Auckland and the Bluff at the present tame. * * *- Mr. James Bell and has sister Ada Delroy, are to take* six montlis' spell. Then first holiday in twelve years ♦ » • Mr. Due reckons that £850 per u«k has to bo taken by has four shows m Now Zealand before there is any profit Pollards' Lilliputian Opera Com pan-, is plaving at present in San Fiancisco It will journey thonoe to the golden Orient Mi Williamson liat. the colonial rights of a ivew conuc opera called "The Toreador." It was bnUiantly successful m London • » ♦ Mr. Weedon Grotsmith, the celebrated English musical comedian, is journeying to the Pacific shortly. An Australian manager makes it woith Ins while. • * • Miss Peggy Pride's re-appearanoein Australia was greeted gladly. In icply to the Melbourne audience's greetings Peggy was unorthodox "Oh, \ou people look so well, and so brown'" • • » The Lenton familv of acrobats are on their way to Dix'b land. This is Percy's first direct importation from America, Harrv Rickards being generally the first to secure the Yankee "stars " » * * Harry Rickards, recently approached on the subject believes that "turns" supplied bv English or Continental artistes are more popular than those supplied bv people from beneath the star epangled banner * * • Mr Michael Maybrick, the wellknown song-writer, professionally known in the musical world as "Stephen Adams," has again been unarumoush selected for the mayoralty of Rvde ToJe of Wight Fred Duval, genoial manager of Mi Percv Dix's shows, has been telling a press interviewer dowai South, that, for the vaudeville line of business, Wellington stands first, Auckland second Christchurch next and Dunedin last * * * Pollard's leading danseu.se, Miss Lilj Mowbray, is leaving opera, and taking up vaudeville She, with Miss Kttie Mowbray, has taken Banan&land by storm, and their tnrn" brings them in about double, the money that opera dancing did • • • Madame Darto told the inevitable press interviewer at Adelaide 'I am very sorry to leave Australia. I have had the most lovely time in. my life m Australia; — not forgetting New Zealand. It wag something too grand theio I have the permission of Sir Joseph Ward to put soap in the geyser, like the Duchess of York did " Tins w as on the occasion of Madame's trip to Rotorua recently. • • • The tenors (.bays the Bulletin") oj« changing their spots — or the tenoi of their ways. Courtice Pounds, once with "The Firm," is playing Shakespearian clowns with Beerboihm Tree in London, and Joe Tapley (who married little Vi Varley some ten years ago) is appearing in melodrama, and has made something of a hit as Gnngoire, the ballad singer in "The Shadow Dance" — a new version of Hugo's "Notre Dame." * * * Wilson Bariett's New Zealand tour starts in Dunedin on Saturday next, 28th instant Harold Ashton is in advance Mr Barrett is one of the* greatest English stars who lias ever visited Maorilan.d His plays comprise "The Sign of the Cross," The Christian King," Daughters of Babylon," and the dramatisations of The Christian," 'The Deemster," and ' Ben Macree." His complete London company will accompany Mr. Barrett, he never travels without them He also brings all the original scenery, dresses, etc , so that New Zealanders will have the plays presented in their entirety, exactly as they were produced and played in London

The Wellington Club rowed its No. 1 President's Fours last Saturday, which were won bv G. Player (sti), C Leggatt (3), G Hesford* (2), H. Green (bow) w ho defeated W J McKay (str), A. W. Humphreys (3), H Vospei (2), J Paterson (bow) in the final, after a qplendid race, by three feet The Star Club also rowed on tiie same afternoon the. Fitzgerald Memorial Fours, which were won by J McKenzie (str), W S Wheeler (3), A. M. Thomson (2), R Waters (bow), who defeated in the final a crew stioked by Gill bv tthree-quarters of a length, and a crew stroked bv Barclay bv a length and a quarter The winning stroke holds the Fitzgeiald Memorial trophv for one vear The Nelson Ron mg Club intend to be represented at the championship regatta w itli the following crews — Junior Fours — C R Cooke (sti), L Levien (3), W Smith (2), K Robinson (bow ) Maiden Fours W L James (sti), C Hamilton (3) K Johnston (2) W Cooke (bow) Junior Pairs — W Smith (str) H. O Robinson (bow) Maiden Double Sculls — C R Cooke (str), W L James (bow) The regatta crews of both the local clubs have been training consistently. The Wellington Club's senior crew have improved somewhat during the past couple of w eeks As it is composed of the four Spencer brothers, that no doubt accounts for the enthusiastic manner in which tliev have settled down to their work They aie rather rough yet, and would do well if they would pay a little more attention to neatness, especially in getting out of the water No. 2 is the worst offender, and is dipping far too deep. The catch is not sharp enough all round* and there is no necessity for the bow to get that extra ]erk at the finish of his stroke. The Stai senior crew aie studying the theory of rowing, and are doing very slow work, considering the regatta is not very far distant. I think it is time they started to put more work m. The oars are too long out of water, and the time is not good , they feather too far off the water, and every man in the boat should take his share of keeping the boat up Theie is at least one man in the crew who could do with some hard training, as he is far from hems; in good condition The Star junior crew aie a good sturdv lot, and should give a good account of themselves during the season, provided they have the staying power, which I think will be their great drawback No 3 has a nastv jerk at the finish of his stroke No. 2 mvanablv cat?h.>s too soon The stroke would do well to fret a sharper catch, which the other men in his crew w ould no doubt follow The bow could study this point with advantage. The Wellington junior crew are row mg well togethei, and keeping fair time No. 3 does far too much with his arms, and should hold his slide more No 2 catches short at times, and his head appears to work on a pivot, as he is consistently looking out of the boat. This does not help the boat to keep on her keel Bow has a tendencv to get out of the water too soon, and stroke should get the water quicker when he gets forward, as nothing i« gained bv dwelling at the catch The Star Maidens are not keeping good time They are too slow in getting the water Pretty rowing is all very well, but the main point is to get the pace. Nos. 2 and 3 and the bow should do more work with their backs, while stroke has a tendency to overreach himself The Wellington Maidens lowed a challenge crew, which comprised the following — C. Sehonberg (str), A. W. Humphreys (3), C. R. Jones (2), H. Jones (bow) — on Monday evening, and a splendid race resulted After a quarter of a mile had been row r ed, the selected crew had two and a half lengths lead, and it looked as if they weie going to have an easv win The challenge crew, however, were not to be denied, and at the mile post were on level terms The two crews rowed neck and neck until the last quarter of a mile, when the selected crew spurted and gained a length's lead The challenge crew here made a despeia/te effort to reduce the gao, and rowed a magnificent finish being only beaten bv three feet The selected ciew, although they won the race row r ed in a verv slovenly manner in the last half mile With the lead they had in the first half-mile, they should have won with plentv to spare but the condition of the men told its tale, none of the men except the stroke appearing to have anv life at the finish.