Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 115, 13 September 1902, Page 7

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

DIX'S Gaiet\ is doing busk business at the Theatre Royal, and theie seems to be no reason to doubt that if the show keeps up to its piesent standard of excellence, a slump will be easily averted. Callahan and Mack are still the strongest attraction in the bill, and their stiongh dramatic, pathetic, and humouious act, 'The Old Neighbourhood," is one of very nice quality It is a musical tieat, and when the cle\er artists have finished then all tooshort "teurn " the audience insists on their re-appeaianco to let them know what they think of them Pc^e and Savles, the daikie fun-mak-ers, are known too well to require woid pictures from me It is refreshing to observe that the boisterous pair have swatted up a great budset of new iokes They use the same facial expressions, which belong entirely to them They appear no less than three times at different points in the programme and are just as wildly welcomed last a-s at first. * * * Harvey and Morris, the ouaint duologue entertainers, have a wildly hilanous time for ten minutes or so Haivey's song, intioducing imitations of the "youngest performer on earth " a, crying baby is his best effort, and if he could be induced to look moie pleased now and again it would fiesben his "turn" up " He rareiv smiles Mis* Morris on the other hand, uses a «mile frequently. * * "■■ Miss Pearl Lovell, the smart little girl in the forage cap, sings gaily about "Tommy " and "marks time" in. accordance with the stage legulations. She manages to amuse her heaiers. ''Do they do those tilings in London?" is a song in which some pertinent queries are introduced much to the delight of Bearchers after information on metropolitan methods Of course, Miss Molhe Bentle.v gets a great reception when she wants to know vocally why they rave over Tommy Atkins and forget "The Sailois of the Bang." Miss Mollie kept her c- es well fixed on a man-o'-warsman during the song, and I should not wonder if Jack is not annoyed that she is no loneer in the matrimonial market Mis« Bentley roused the fighting spirit and got a great chorus of foot -beats foi several other patriotic trifles.

Mr. Torn Saunders, a new burni>-coik man sings about accidents to people's apparel and other raie and amusing topics, and Mr. Cha&. Howard, who is back again, filling the inteilocutor's seat, waibles> tunefully m The Singer and the Song." The inteijections, a propos and otheiuise, of the humorous Sayles throughout the entertainment help to dnve away dull care. The Vitagraph throws its pictonal radiance on the scieen as a wind up. * » * The Hanv Ilickards Company of vaudeville aitists open their season at the Theatie Ro} al on Tuesday next, September Kith. Tho list of stais is a lon^ one Fagan and Bvion, whom the New Zealand people have not seen yet, have a fine reputation as entertainers, and that clovei family, the Jacksons, are bringing then unique musical turn with them. « * • Derenda and Breen, the club u°;g-

lers," are also new, and ventriloquist J. W. VVinton is no novice. The "impressible McGinty" is one of the vaudeville stage's most artless humourists. Miss JNeva Carr Glyn will lift up her fine contralto voice tor the first time in New Zealand and Miss Jennie Opie, the pleasing singer, is leappeanng. One of the latest bioscopes is an attractive feature of the coming entei taiiimeni "The American Invasion," at the Opera House, with Miss Cairie Davie as chief invadei , have been performing that picturesque and soul-stimng drama "The Lights of a Great City ' foi the past week. On Tuesday night, the audience follow ed the machinations of Mi Clifford Armitage (Phil Walsh) with breathless interest, and, indeed, he is as cold-blooded a villain as ever went lound looking for subjects for funerals. Murder and the Squne's money is Clifford's prooirimme and he carries it out with a cool diabolism worthy of bettei cause.

The Joe Jarvis of Mr. Harold Hubert is a iaithful character sketch, and, as he assists, with other virtuous people in looking after the poor unfortunate escaped convict, Harold Armitage, is well received. Mr. Y. R. Ellison, as the said escaped convict, who suffers horribly through a well-spent life for crimes that he did not commit, played excellently and when he saves the villain from drowning in the Thames by jump. ing off a giddy height, with all his clothes on, the house cheers itself hoarse. The caste is full of faithful servants outcasts, ' "weary lights," and detectives the concomitants of sensation sentiment, and villainy, and, harrowing as it is, there are opportunities for dancms and music that help to dry the tears of the audience. ~ Shakesperian James, for instance in the person of Peerless Carrie, erets in a smart dance and the "Weary Light" aforesaid (Mr. H Maher) and Sarah O'Rourke (Miss Alice Maher) sing a clever song about "McAnannv's Old Hat." * * * The way Tim (Miss Lilian Loftus) in her song, "When London bleeps annexed showers of coppers. Throughout the five scenes, which are very realistic, the usual melodramatic mistakes, rescues, heroic, acts, and faithful friendships, are shown with harrowing exactness. "The Curse of Drink is to be the company's next effort, and is said to be equal in point of sensation and effect to the niece that I have shortly reviewed. * * * That powerful and highly interesting drama "The Octoroon," has been running its devious way at the Federal HaJl dunng the week, to crowds who rather like a good thing. Zoe, the Octoroon aforesaid, as played by Miss Millie Collier, is a convincing study of Dion Boucicault's fine character. Wah-no-tee, the Indian brave, whose fortunes are wrapped up with those of the child Paul, is well played by Mr. an Burg. As a picture of slave life previous to the American Civil War, "The Octoroon" is extremely interesting and picturesaue, and sensations are so thickly interspersed that the thrill that the Van Burg Company instituted in its first perfomance still remains. • • * The best proof of the popularity with which the piece has been received is the crowded state of the Federal Hall. "East Lynne," on Wednesday night, commenced tearing the heartstrings of the people, and causing a forest of handkerchiefs. It is unnecessary to go into details of Mrs. Henry Wood's tearful tale . suffice it to say that Van Burg's people put the requisite life into it, that the sensations are very realistic, and that the chief feature — a really startling railway accident — is brougiht about with much naturalness. ♦ * • Foldesley, a youthful 'cellist, who has only recently come to light in London, is spoken of as possessing the finest technique of any performer before the public. He is classed with Kubelik. ( Continued on page 17.)