DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 85, 15 February 1902, Page 16

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

By Footlight.

DLVK bill at the Giaiot\ is ot its usual length its. usual bnghtness, and is listened to b\ tin- usual (l owiled house The bill ot a w eek 01 so ago has been found so enticing that it has been lotamed \\ ltliout alteiation except toi the ad\eut ot Madajno Dante This ]ad\ lathoi impio\es on the dances ■which ha\e been familiarised to us b> Ada Delioj. Sluoudod in stage 'avstciv assisted b\ a mirioi and the limelight man, hei ' ow n giaco, and a few scoie of diaplianous dress, she manages some weud movements, and when she final l\ flutters to the stage hke an autumn leaf ni words to that effect the audience is glad it came, and calls hei out to flutter again or delude th< m into the belief she is an arum hh or a buttcifh 01 an incmeiated lady disappeaimg in lambent flame to the accompaniment ol clapping hands and stamping ieet * ■«■ * Mi Kdgai Gtaimllo is seen this week as Napoleon, a widow, coster gn 1 and othei \anegated chaiacteis He gets in leteionces to Da\ s Ba\ and Now town, and the audience mais wheie Bnghton or Tlfracombe wouldn't fetch them a bit. Mi Gianwllo's woik is lemarkably faithful Ins roniedx is fine and people don't seem to mind that he is m his thud week » » • Miss Li/./ie Knk's seductne little ditties and her sweet costumes have become .in institution and her dexterous wink pleases all b\ its miahtv and \olume. I still incline to the opinion that Miss Kuk's song in winch she repiesents a Halleluiah lass," and •backslides" at tlie sound ot dance music is hei best thing * * * 31 1 Ernest Fitts' \oice impro\ es almost while \ou wait. He is mas good 1 oi m as at am time dunng the last dozen veais C'hailes Failing flits on fora diiaitei of an houi or so, and Miss Ueorgie T)e\ oe endea\ouis to nut people m good ti mi foi the mtoi\al T toigot to mention that Fiank Leon is still dancing, and that the championship belt is still for the w inning bv local amateurs Alt Law ton might ha\e been noticed funig off wit-ciackeis and the Howard Sisteis are still at the same addiess and with Miss Max Lewis and hei piett\ flocks, help to jovouslv while aw a\ the e\ening hours If \ on ha\e a night off o'i feel a bit depiessed \nu can't do better than taive a do^e of Di\'s Gaiet\ The last toui nights ot the Bioughs' faiewell mvi.sou weie de\ oted to a seiies ot welcome revivals First of all Jones's eomed\ of The Liais " which was bnllianth pla\ed on Saturday night Then on Mondav night that delightful comic aht\ The Ama/.ons " The Broughs m the "Amazons " aie at then best It Aithur Pinero had Di doled a pielnninarx muster of th n ((iinpain befoie wilting his bnllianth taicical comed\ and then written it foi the Brough Compam the result could scaiceh be bettei than it is Mrs Btoush, a& tlie senior Amazonian dauglitei of an Ama/oman mother, whose business m life is to buns; up her daughteis to holie\e themselves an\thing but frail females is exceptionalh fine » * * Miss Susie Yanghan is strongest in hei part of tlie Marchioness of C'astleiordau the dowager mateifamihas of her thiee bov" daughteis As> a strenuousK athletic lad\ who nuairels with the fate that had gnen hei no male child she fills ever\ cranin of the chaiactei to petection Mi Brough as an athletic peer Barnngton (Loid LitteiK^ who, h\ design entois the foi bidden pi ecincts of Ch ercote Park, and the ladies' societv gives a faultless picture of an up-to-date Knghsh gentleman of crood Ineedmg and calm insouciance * • • Mr Cecil Waid's Kail of Tweenuaves is pei haps the i en finest chaiacter in the Amazons '' As a vapid, crooked, pallid week-kneed, lnerless aristocrat, with a monotonous voice, and a large idea of his own importance, his playing is perfection. His imbecile expression and his monotonous vocal vapourings are exquisitely funnv Mr. Leslie Victor as the ludicrous Count de Grival a French nobleman the soul of eliivali\ and the summit of

Gallic exuberance sui passes lum^elt I doubt it a Fiench character lias been pi e\ mush placed in Wellington with such success On Tuesda\ night, S\di^ GiumU -■ hue pla\ 'Sowing the Wind,' was guen with nidi keel effect, and on Wednesda\ night the compam made its final appeaiance w ltli the production of that (Inciting classical skit Niobe. K\er\ house snice the Broughs opened has been a crowded house, but on this occasion it was Minplv ciammed and numbeis had to be turned a\\a\ Tlie audience laughed till the teais mil down its no'e, and then, when the fun w a-j all OAOi-hdMiig pie\iousl\ presented Mis Brough with a shepheid's ciookof flowers and Miss Temple w ith a sweet bouquet -it pioceecled to an e Mi and Mis Brough a legulai o\ ation The people sat in then -eats and ea\« round upon round of lust\ and w holeheaited 'cheering So\eial times the curtain went up and was lowered again and then at last it uplifted to leveal Mi and Mrs. Brough standing alone on the stage Mr Biough spoke the final words of faiewell and stroke them apth and well He thanked the pla\-o-oing public of Wellington for the bnlhant \esults of the season spoke of the se\eie wrench it was to him and Mis Biough towithdiaw fiom the colonial stage, and piomised thcN would alwavs lemember the good people of Wellington with kindly affection It was with the deepest legiet thes said Good-b\e" And so, withthiet moie rousing cheers, the paitmg was o\ ei Subsequent , Mr Biough and -eveial of the gentlemen of his company wcie enteitamed at dinnei b\ the Wellington Club *- * The lebircment of the Bioughs tioin the colonial stage and the disbandment of their fine compam is, m truth a public calamity They ha\ e performed a gieat seiwce in uplifting the stage refining the public taste and bnnaing the people face to face with the best types of modern English comech All their work was done with ereat thoioughness, and an artistic finish that wa.s tiulv admirable. Thev lea\e a place that seems destined to lemam vacant for some time The\ leave with us a name and a reputation that aie fragiant with bnght and hapm recollection.s Mav luck attend them ' On Monda\ next the Hawtie\ Comed\ Company onen then season at the Opei a House with A Message fiom Mats " the play that luus ahead\ amused and charmed thousands of theatieeoeis in evei\ State of Australia and the othei thve'e cities, of New Zealand A crowded house should theiefore greet the compam here It is leportod to be amongst the best ■\et seen in New Zealand A Message horn Mais," which is based upon an up-to-date stor\ on the lines of Dickens Christmas Caiol," has accoiding to all lepoits an attiactiveness about it which has led repeatedh to plavgoeis witnessing it again and again Its peculiar charm is undoubted The mechanical and electrical effects and the lllusionaiv interludes with winch it abounds are ceitain to piove a draw Mr Hawtiev bungs with him the ma101 it v of the London aitists whom he brought out fiom Home and the enteitainment promised is of an altogether lno-h order The box-plan is now open it Ho!hda\'s and the management announce that seat.s ma\ be iesei\ed six nights in ad\ ance The Janet Waldorf Diamatic ( otnpany since leading Wellington ha\e played \ei\ successful seasons on the West Coast and at Napier and Gisborne They open at Waufjanui tonight ibaturda\) and after "doing" New Plymouth and Palniet ston as well and pacing a letum visit to the West Coast thej start a farewell season m Wellington on Apul 16th. "P}Kmalion and Galatea' and "The Jewess' ha\ebeen added to then lepeitone. and these pla^s. together with other new old pieces, will be pioduced dm ins; the season here. Miss \ iolet Mount (late of Wellington) is to lecene a complimentary faiewell conceit m the Choral Hall, Auckland, on March 20, puor to her depaitmc fot Aus tiaha. deiard\, the 'cellist, expects to be back in New Zealand in September next. He brings with him a piani«t and a \ocahst from America. * r The Italian Onera Company has bios somed forth into Williamson's Operatic Company and started out on tour—Melbourne first and Adelaide next. This concert company comprises four pnma donnas — Madame De Vere Sapio, Signoras Bennedetto, Bassich, Vacan. two tenors — Larizza and Dam ; and se\en other leading singers. Here are the principal items fiom the opening programme : — "I Pagliacci," Signor Boz7olli , "Una Voce" from "II Barbiere," Signonna Vaccari ,

cuia, "Celeste Aida," Commeadatore Larizza , cavatma, "O Mio Fernando" (Donizetti), Signorina Marcoinini ; aria from "La Perle dv Bresil" (David), Ma dame De Vere bapio , ana, "Spinto Gentil ' (Donizetti), Signor Dam ; aria, "Simon Boccanegra." Signor Travaglmi ; prayer from "Otello, Signorina Bassich , meditation, "A.\c Maria" (Bach-Gounod), \iolin obligato bj Signor Garibaldo, Signor Dani. In addition, a terzetto from "Ernam," a quartet from "Eigoletto" and the sestet from "Lucia." (Continued on poqe IS )

Jean Geraidy's next colonial toui will open at Sydney m July next. The veteian Howard Vornou has leappcaied under Williamsons management at Melbourne Majesty's and the audience ga\e lum a rousni"" reception +. * * In connection with the Ben Hiu" season just started in Melbourne. Mi Williamson unpoited .")0,000 copies ot General Len Wallace's book to sell foi 9d. Wallace Brownlow seeks to ieco\ei £1000 damages from the management ot the Sandi Hicham House Compam for miuries sustained b\ falling tluougli an open dooi * - * Miss Ada C los-slcy. the Melboinne contralto, has ananged to make a pioft"--sional yisit to Australia clunni l ( )03 She will be supported b\ a complete company and will also tout New Zealand * * * Maggie Moore says that if the B rough and Boucicault stock compam had gone to Ameiica when they were at thenbest years ago they w ould have made their fortune as they were at the tune superior to Daleys Comedy Company * * * When waiting to go on at Svdne\ Palace. Loid Barv, Arnold's 2oolb St Bernard, hangs about m front with his tongue out A cynic said the othei night He has leained one of the pio bad habits— he is w ait ing to be shouted tor " * * * First half-\ early state of Williamson Comic Opera Company fund. Evei\ employee contnbutes 3d per week and so far 2o claims thiough sickness 01 accident paid absorbing £31 7s Id a credit of £131 17s 4d An excellent idea. Frank Yorke who has just finished a two years' engagement ■with Peicv Dix had a thumping benefit in Dunedm the other day, prior to his depaiture foi t'other side Also popular Mis Yorke was the recipient of bouquets and things, and. altogether, the populai pair got as nleasaait a send-off as possible. L. J. Loin, the pimce of theatncal managers, arrived unexpectedly m Dunedin the other da\ . He is taking a buef holiday pnoi to settling down to business m his new ly-acquned suburban hotel at Andersons Inlet about eiarhtv miles from Melbourne on the sea coast. He says it is the othei" entrance to Paiadise and he hopes m d couple of \eais to make it the populai seaside lesort for the denizens of the marvellous metropolis Miss> Ida Rosslvn. who rather moie than a year ago made a hit at Dixs Gaiety as Robin Hood" in the Babe* m the Wood' pantomime is now pla\mg "Robinson Crusoe" at Svdne\ Empire. The Clitic" says she is one of the best pantomime boys on the Australian stage, and for svmmctn she will stand companson with e^en the shapely Nellie Stew ait She has aho a sweet w msonieness of face and voice somewhat lacking in the othei diamond cut -s oung lady Peggy Pi \de is Han \ Rickaids' gieat diaw at the Melbourne Tn oh just now She made hei debut in a maize biocade cut en pimcesse. and falling in points and w aves of ruffle-edged w bite chiffon Diamonds twinkled on e\ei\ point diamond shoulderlets and ornaments of the same blazing ouahtv made a dazzling show on the chiffon-trimmed bodice As Peggy is coming along latei on to New Zealand it ma\ be mtei citing to know that one napei pronounces her to be the best pink mil foi destuniii" gloom that it knows ot * ■* ■* A dainty little ballad which Miss Pivde will no doubt make nnmenseh popular ha.s the sweetest eatch\ lefrain The chorus talks like this You are my hone\ hone\ suckle lam the bee I'd like to sip the hone\ sweet fioin those led lips \ou see I love you deaih, dearh and I want you to love me You are un honey hone\ c -ucle I am the bee." * * • Dixs Gaiet\ troupe at Dunedin held a picnic at Kun Bush on a lecent Sunday. Frank Yorke distinguished himself bv winning: the gents' foot race of lOOvds, while the younger Valdai e cailied off the piize for the ladies' race The races were run on the beach and as the return journey was made to the camp, Miss Beattie Galardi made the acquaintance of two horny merinos After caressing the pets for some time one thought rather much attention was being bestowed on the other and gave Beattie a polite butt vist to remind her that he was tliere A lyddite shell's report was mild compared with Beatties screech which brought down the house