Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 109, 2 August 1902, Page 7

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

THE ' Messenger Ben ," the latest o\tiavagance on which to hanir a supply of humoui, a display ot superb mounting, some \ erv oatchv music, and much hilanous b\-pla commenced, its season to an o\ei flow ing Opera House on Satuiday last J he Pollard. Company are sustaining a well won reputation, and, a.s all the principals are engaged, the whole thing goes with an abandon and delightful swing .always associated with these people. "Tommy Bamg," in the person of Mr. W. S. Percy, is despatched post-haste to Egypt with a letter designed to stop a marriage that no one is worrying about. Of course, the letter is the wrone one, the sender discovers afteiwards, and London society rushes off to intercept the boy, who gets there lust the same. The excruciating situations in. which the Cockney hustler finds himself are too numerous to mention, but Percy disguised as a "handy" man, in a sou- wester jacket, white bell-bot-tomed pants, and the "hand" referred to bedng of the blackest kind, and depicted very wide open on the nether part of his overalls, is screamingly fun- ' ny. Percy gets heaps of chances to dance, messenger boys being partial to this amusement, and, disguised as a dancing dervish, he got very close to an imitation of Madame Dartos's famous .turn. • • » Miss Alice Edgar, as Matilda Bans? the mother of the Messenger Boy, and the wife of Hooker Pasha, who had left her for many othei wives in Egypt, sings various satirical items on popular subjects. Her washerlacly's song, the last verse of which made pointed reference to the place occujpied by King Dick in the Coronation wash was ouaintl'y humorous, and it was re-demanded until there were no encore verses left. Miss Connie Butt el, as Nora, who, at tames disguises herself as the Messenger Boy, for picturesque reasons, and who is the heroine, hias great charm of manner, and, although she is not called upon to sing very much, has one or two chances, which she takes with pleasing results. • • * Lady Punchestown (Miss Nellie Wilson), who goes to Egypt, because her husband is there, and she doesn't want to see him, is beautifully gowned in yellow silk, and comports herself with native grace. Miss Alice Pollard , the piquant little lady who is entrusted with one of the most charming songs in the whole fantasia, sings "Maisie" with much archness. Alice is improving. The Rosa of Miss Gertie Campion, like everything this pretty player does, is gaily performed. She is a maid to Miss Nora, and a sweetheart to "Tommy." but Tommy does not take the advantage of his good fortune he should The Lady Winifred of Miss Nina Osborne, and the Cecilia Gower of Miss Wilmott Karkeek were well sustained. The dash of the "Messenger Boy" lies in its giddy choruses, its smart dialogue, and general picturesqueness. Mr. D. O'Connor's! fine voice is heard to advantage in "M-" Heart is Glad," the sentiment being expressed as he faces his adored on the burning sands of Eevot, whither everybody had rushed, as nei Ijrogramme. Harry Quealy's stiff little egs bore up the stiff little body of Cantain Pott., who is a, satire on the immortal Captain Kettle. He helps Tommy to do whatever he is. doing, and gets a chance to let his highly-trained less do the dancing for which their owner has been celebrated from childhood. » * * That nimble comedian, Alf. Stevens, as the Comte de Fleury, an irresponsible Gaul, whose watchword is Revanche ' R-r-r-revanche ' dances around like a jack-in-the-box, but kills no one after all. Stevens' Frenchman is reminiscent of his best days. Mr Chas. Carter, as Mr. Tudor Pyke, a financier, who sends messenger boys on fools' errands for the purpose of building a musical comedy out of the result, is good. Hisisong, "Believe Me, Love," was sung with the necessary expression. Mr. C Albert, as Captain Naylor, is chiefly useful for the purpose of dancing in unison with the stiff-legged Captain Pott When the Messenger Boy was at Brindisi, and could not get aboard the Captain's boat, the captain said, "Let go yer after spring'" with professional vigour.

Mi. J. Ralston, Hookei Pasha, might be worse, and Mi. C. Vaughan, as Lord P unc hest own governor of El Ban a, a diplomat without any (luahfications ioi the billert moons around in a white helmet and baggy riding pants, and is &uipnsed at the crowd of English people the Messenger Boy ha& occasioned in Eg>pt. Mr. G. Young, as Professor Phanckwitz,, a German, nhose sole occupation in lite is to smoke a pipe and tin list an ovil-smelhng bottle undei

Dixs Gaiety Company, at the Theatre Royal, is attracting a large and varied assortment of the fun-loving public. Despate other amusements, the attendance shows no diminution. Probably, this is due to the invariable rule of the management to so frequently re-cast the bill. Mr. Carl Colheir is a banjo trickster, and is also something more. He is an excellent comedian and "patters" a® well as "picks." Some of the uses he puts his banjo to are. unique, and he is most successful in persuading the usually flippant "jo" to fancy it is a ohuroh organ for the time being. Some of OarPs other business has not been seen here before. His "Stars and Stripes" solo was a treat in banjo playing. * * * Victor Kelly has gone, but he will be remembered with a laugh for a long time. His extraordinary corksciew flips, his battered, slouching person, and Ins toothsome smile have filled in his 1 part of the bill in a very unique manner during the past fortnight. Miss Lizzie Kirk, inimitable in her own special line, is still one of the chief attractions of the bill, and her repertoire evidently needs no extension if the reception her songs get is any criterion. Therei are some few "Awkward Moments" certainly, but, as Miss Kirk becomes "goody good" very frequently, everyone forgives the charming comedienne. * * * Frank Leon, also fare welling, uses his powerful voice and lissom limbs to great advantage, and the bill will look a trifle lonely without the champion dancer's name on it. Miss Stella Ranger')s fresh young voice is lifted up in "Indeed" this week, and finds a sympathetic echo in the hearts of the audience. Miss Florrie Ranger, in some comic verses called "Hullo, Hullo 1" whiles away five minutes, and is required nightly to again ransack her lepertoire for encores * * * Mr. Frank Clark, the veteran burntcorker, and Joe Cowan, a, graduate of the same school of humour, assist in various ways to keep the public lausrhmg, Frank Clarks "Tricks" being w ell played. Bert Gleeson, billed as ' The Funm Comedian " frequently lives up to his reputation and makes a big effort to keep ahead of the comic papers in the matter of jokes The usual "screamer," which is appropriately called "Deranged," is thrown in to iet you know the company has something left, and Mr. Frank Clark manages to sustain a refutation for comedy by playing "lead" in the absurdity. * • » Pressure on this space last week prevented me from congratulating the Wellington Orpheus Orchestral Club on the

peoplc'b noses with the invitation to "Sohinell!" closes the long cast. # * * The apipeaJ, by duet, by Messrs. Percy and QueaJy, for money for the Ranfurly Veterans' Home, is responded to nightly with showers of coin. The 'Messenger Boy" is a breezy, exhilarating bit of musical nonsense, and the hay it is being handled at piesent at the Opera House makes it very acceptable nonsense.

success of its first concert, given last Tuesday week at the Sydney-street schoolroom. The programme opened with the overture to Zampa, splendidly played by the orchestra. Wagner's celebrated fantasia, "Lohengrin," and Schubert's Unfinished Symphony were attacked with great confidence, and played faultlessly. Eilenberg's "German Paitrol" and Latann's "Gavotte" (pizzicato), a very dainty number, w ere executed with such grace and delioacv that a most emphatic encore was insisted upon. * * * Meissler's Valse Militaire and King Cotton March were also delightfully in-

terpreted. Two violin solos, "Carnival de Venise" and "II Trovatore," played by Miss Winnie and Addie Harcourt, were highly creditable to their instructor. Miss Maud Hall sang with feeling Parker's "At My Window," and ■ was warmly applauded. Mr. James Sea/rle, who was in excellent voice, sang "Beloved, it is Mom," and Blumenthal's "Evening Song," gaining a well-earned encore. Miss Beatrice Vartha played the accompaniments most sympathetically. On the whole, Herr Lehmann has cause to be v.ell pleased with the success of his concert, of which he was the able conductor. The second of Mrs Adelene Izett's elocutionary recitals was given last Tuesday, in the Sydney-street schoolroom. A very large and appreciative audience was present. The programme was lengthy, and encores, therefore, were not allowed, although, there were frequent demands from the audience for "more." One would not soon tire of hearing Mrs. Izett's delightfully modulated and sympathetic voice, and her two contributions, "The Lady of ShaJott" and "Horseman in the' Sky" were an exhibition of the most finished elocution . *- • * A gifted pupil is Miss Christine Pioot, who recited m a spirited manner "The Mam from Snowy River," and later the humorous interview between "Betsy Prig" and "Sairey Gamp," from "Martin Chuzzlewit." Miss. Mabel Bannister recited very prettily, "The Road to Heaven " and "Molly „". her actions .^ S J er L- s^Fi^ ] and appropriate. "The Courtan' " (Lowell) and "An Old Sweetheart of Mine," were given very nicely by Miss E. Edmeades. -^Wonderfully clever were the recitations of a vouno- boy pupil "(Master Spencer Booth), whose facial expression, actions and power of memory were remarkable. He first gave "The Friendly Waiter" (David Copper-field), and afterwards brought down the house with his desci:ption of "Bill Smith." • • • Mr. Sutherland described the gallant charge at Balaclava, in a very telling manner, which won rounds of applause and he afterwards thrilled us with horror at the "Dream of Eugene Aram." The enjoyable programme was interspersed with vocal items.. A trio. 'The Wreath." was sung by Messrs! Izett, Palmer, and Bannister: Mr. Philip PaJnier sang two bracketed songs 'Asira" (Rubenstin) and "Lohengrin's Reproof," splendidly, and Mr. G. H. Bannister won an encore for his fine rendering of "My Queen." Miss W. Upham played the pianoforte accompaniments. The entertainment was a very great success, the elocutionary talent displayed reflecting the greatest credit on Mrs. Izett. * • • Bland Holt's "The Great Ruby," is about the best, piece he has ever staged, both in libretto and spectacular effect. Frances Ross fairly surpasses herself. Do not. miss it when it comes Maoriland way.

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