Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 104, 28 June 1902, Page 16

Dramatic And Musical

THE Wellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society touched high-water mark with its production of "The Yeomen of the Guard" on Wednesday night. It was a performance that would not have discredited a first-olas® professional troupe. And the audience which crowded thetheatie in all parts marked their sense of its great merits by a cordiality of applause which must hare set the players at their ease. * * * "The Yeomen of the Guard" has always been a favourite with the Wellington public. In it the amateurs made their first great hit, ten veais ago. To-day, they completely eclipse that maiden effort and establish a fresh record. Of the original cast, only one name lemains for this repeat production, and it is almost superfluous to add that the owner of that name is Mr W. D. Lyon, who has done more for the cause of amateair opera in Wellington than any other man. As stage manager he is one of the best, and to his efforts must be ascribed the lion's share — spell it with an "1" please — of the success w hich has been achie^ - <?d. * » • From Cyril Towsev's opening tattoo on the kettledrum, to the final tableau on the Tower ramparts, the opera marched with a crispness of effect and a bright and animated swing that were really delightful. The stage "business" was gay, purposeful, and yet quite easy and unforced. There were no wooden figures — well, hardly any. Every lass and lad had learned her or his part and was not sheepilv conscious of the presence of a crowd in front. All this reflects Mr. Lvon's patient coach mo- behind the scenes * * Mr. Maughan Bamett conducted with excellent judgment He had his orchestra of sixteen instruments w ell in hand, and, although there weie blemishes here 1 and there, the general effect was surprisingly good. I would only dare to suggest one slight improvement. To ask a strong orchestra to play second fiddle is like crying for the moon But being strong, v, hy not be merciful? In other words, the orchestra might help the singers m main- a passage bv moderating their tone * * * On the whole, the chorus smgni" is admirably done. There are no w asters in the chorus. A full body of tone is obtained, the parts are well balanced, and the tempo 19 closely observed. Scenery, costumes, properties', limetight effects, wigs, and facial make-up are all up to a high standard, and the clever people who are responsible for these details of the show have earned their fair share of kudos. Among thepiincipals in the cast, Miss Amy Murphy, Miss Annie Sime Mr. E. J. Hull, and Mr. W. D. Lyon fairly divide the honours. Their several parts are sustained w ith signal success. Miss Amy Murphy plays the part' of Elsie Maynard very prettily. She betrays no self-consciousness whatever, but merges herself in her part. Her sinking voice is clear and sweet and flexible, even m its quality and charmingly fresli and full in the upper register, while her method proclaims skilled training. More than that she sings with great aptness of expression, and makes her points with good judgment. Her recitative and ballad, " 'Tis done' I am a Bride'" is one of the chief "hits" in the performance, and she also appears to striking advantage in the. final ensemble, as well as in the duet with Jack Point, "I have a song to sing, 0 " The trio ."How say you, ' madden" (Miss Murphy Mr. Bastin, and Mr. Ballamce) is one of the best of the concerted numbers. The trio, "A man who would woo a fair maid" (Miss Murphy, Mr. E. J. Hill, and Miss Sime) is another ~em, and so, too, is the quartette "When a wooer goes a- wooing," in which Mr Bastin joins the above. Miss Sime's Phoebe is a worthy companion picture to Miss Murphy's Elsie. Both are entirely charming. From her opening spinning: song (bv the wav why doesn't someone oil the wheels of that squeaking wheel), Miss Sime captured her audience and held it in thrall. She acts with composed self-

poshObsion, speaks distinctly and sings sweetly in a voice' of agreeable timbre, and good volume. She gave the ballad, • Were I thy Bride" with an arcline&s that was keenly relished, while her amorous make-believe with Shadbolt was capitally carried out. In the trio, with Mr. Lyon and Mr Hill "To thy fraternal care," she was also heard to advantage, and, in fact, she acquitted herself admirably throughout. Mr. E. J. Hill was am entire success as Colonel Fairfax. He played his role with considerable spn it And he sang at life best. This is saying a great deal, for Mr Hill is rarely found at fault in the musical line. He placed himself hieh in the good graces of the audience with his opening ballad-, "Is Life a Boon?" which he san^ with nice artistic taste, and admirable expression. He scored heavily also in the song, "Free from His Fetters Grim " made another "hit" in trie tuneful couplets with the Yeomen of the Guard, and took his share in the concerted pieces with capital effect. .*■)** Mr. W. D. Lyoc is always a host in himself. His Wilfred Shadbolt will bear comparison with any professional exposition of the part we have seen. In make-up, by-play, facial expression, general stage "business," and all the other details of a complete Dortraiture, it is really first-class. That scene wherein the jailer is fooled to the top nf his bent, while Phoebe abstracts his keys, as she sings. "Were I thy Bride," reveals Mr. Lyon's buffo talent very effectively It is simply irresistible. * * * Mr. W. P. Bastin makes a, very satisfactory Jack Point He is, perhaos. a bit too staid m the first act, but take it all in all it is distinctly a meritorious performance. His conception is good, and he sings with much acceptance. Miss Lily White, as Dame Carruthers, Mr A. S. BaJlance as Lieutenant of the Tower, Mr. w Parsons as Sergeant Meryll, and Mr. Woodward as Leonard Meryll, are all rather stiff in action and Mr. Parsons and Mr. Woodward especially seem to be puzzled now and then what to do with their hands. But their singing is quite up to requirements and after a few .lights on the stage, their action will, no doubt acquire more ease. ■» * » Miss Toohill plays the -small part of Kate very nicely and as Comoral of the Guard Mr. N. Bell gives a Yeomanlike account of himself. He knows his role thoroughly. Mr. Marriot is all right as the Headsman. I recommend everyone to see the opera. It is one of the best we have had from the Wellington Operatic Society. •V * * Dixs Coronation show , at the Theatre Royal, is being put on in the best style w ith the requisite trimmings suitable to the festive season, and talent from the four corners of the earth. Gallando, the lightning clay modeller, gives an entertainment that has real merit in it. It is worth travelling through a. Wellington drizzle to see the Governor or King Dick grow under his nimble fingers. The faithfulness of the models may be judged from the spontaneous action of the audience, which was especially istruck by the- remarkable fidelity of the clay effigy of Sir Joseph Ward and the other Joe — Chamberlain. Go and see Gallando. • • * Mr Irving Sayles' little squad of khaki Amazons easily secure second place on the present bill. The coloured •'ohaekem snatcher," m a very smart uniform of United States infantry and a drum-major's staff, with an immense silver knob, puts his lady soldiers through some intricate and interesting drill. Irving has but one word of command, which sounds like "How '" shouted through a healthy speaking trumpet, but it does 1 as well as anything one could find in the red book Sayles' soldiers sing and whistle mellifluously, and one would imagine the whole squad had just returned from tho front to hear the welcome 1 they get. * -t- *- Miss Fanny Shepherd i& the' new soprano with a sympathetic voice, especially telling in the upper register. I fancy that Mips Shepherd suffers rathen from stage fright. A Dix audience can see talent, however, behind neivousness, and, by the time Miss Shepherd had finished her "Cast Aside," she was on the best terms with her listeners. The orchestra differed w ith Mi=s Shepherd on some minor points. ♦ • „ The Lilliputian Dartos> have done their clever "turn" for the last time in Wellington, and have certainly earned distinction as faithful coypists of the finest music-hall act Mr. Dix has brought to New Zealand. Pope and Sayles have an entirely new set of foolernes. Their boisterous merriment and oleyer business can be turned on to the satisfaction of the audience at any moment. No one tires of the dusk'v pair.

Val Vousden has fallen back oil the ventr-loquaal doil business. To give him credit, his dolls are more intellectual than, the average, and you have not heard their jokes' before. This comforts you. His Irish character sketches are quite inimitable and bis imitation of sounds in nature are Val Vousden's, which is sufficient praise ♦ • • The Howard Sisters get the usual reward of all dance specialists and seriosongstresses, aiiid smile in that comfortable way of theirs, and May Lewis dashes around as the fiancee of a "Dandy Coon" in a very fetching costume. She wins her way by sheer prettiness and dainty dressing. * • * Bert Gleeson and Arthur Elliott have a good deal to say in a burnt-cork way, and they break out into son? if the orchestra provokes them. Pope and Sayles are responsible for the bright spots in the end piece, "Doctor Brown," and the said medical mail is a ffood deal more humorous, viewed from before the footlights, then he usually is viewed from behind a bill. •/■*■* The nimble Sivroni, who was one of the best artistes Mr. Dix ever had, and who was in Wellington for a six-weeks' season, left New Zealand by the Mokoia on the 12th instant. He begs me to thank all his friends in the colony for their s^reaJt kindness to him. He is going to England, but intends returning shortly with a musical comedy company of hiia own. He is an extremely clever comedian and contortionist, and will probably be a good selector for the kind of talent New Zealand likes for their musical comedy.

advertising itself, it was able to borrow largely enough to build the Calliope Dock It found that, m advertising itself, it had a white elephant on its hands that commenced to eat its head off at once, and has been so engaged ever since Then, Auckland got tired of its Calliope Dock, and offered it to the Admiralty The Admualty did not lush in and take ovei the white elephant, pay the cheque, and lift the burden. • • • It wanted to impose a furthei burden by asking Auckland to spend a heap more money on it to make it suitable for any purpose the Admiralty might lequire of it Auckland, therefore, still has the dock, but it wishes it had not. and if it could get it dug up. and handed, together with its burden, over to Mr Fisher, for the people of Wellington, everybody up North would be pleased Wellington has its Patent Slip, and it seems to have been a useful institution, capable of copmg with the work it has had to do up to date It has not got a dock though ' * *• * Has Progress stopped m her tracks, or ships carefully avoided this dockless port, m consequence? It does not appear as if anything of the kind has taken place, although, if Mr. Fisher's wish is not carried out, goodness only knows what the shipping will do m the future. Sweep away the Board, thresh the matter out m Parliament, and plant a brother of the Auckland white elephant on the shores of Port Nicholson. That is shortly Mr Fisher's advice « * * The prospect that any probable Wellington Dock Bill would be received with coldness by members who don't appreciate the immense benefits to be derived from having a real Calliope Dock the Second, that may be of little use, and is certain to be a very large expense, is too horrible to contemplate. Other places have docks Why not Wellington 1 It does not matter much that other docks in the colony do not pay, or that the proposed Wellington addition to the collection would probably be as handsome an investment The question is to be threshed out, and a dock planted, if possible. Has not Mr Fisher said so 1 And are not we willing to pay through the nose m order to advertise ourselves by having a white elephant dock of the Auckland pat> tern'

The Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society's annual exhibition, to be held on the 3rd, 4th, and sth July, bids fair to be the best the Society has ever held. It will be the twentieth annual show, and the entries have been rolling in from Auckland, Christchurch, Manawatu, Gisborne, Wanganui, New Plymouth, and elsewhere in almost bewildering numbers. In point of quality of exhibits the twentieth annual show will probably eclipse anything pieviously seen here. Besides the seventeen trophies set forth in the schedule, there are numerous others privately donated. His Excellency the Governor will probably open the show at 2.30 on Thursday, the 3rd July. The art union in connection with the exhibition has some very valuable orizes to be distributed to lucky investors.