Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 142, 21 March 1903, Page 7

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

DIX'S Gaiety Company, at the Theatie Royal, has instituted a novelty by dome am ay with the familiar circle" flanked by artificiallycoloured gentlemen, who frequently ejaculate " 'Aye one yerself." and substituting as a first part a musical comedy entitled A Day at Rockaway. The ludicrous adventures of Biggs and Bingle form the basis of the "plot," and Mr. George Bentley and Mr. Jack Kearas have a "day out." Trouble ensues, for Bingle posts a photograph ol his No. 2 girl to his loving wife, and attacks the postman in order to get that missive back again. * * * Bingle also becomes the temporary possessor of an infant, stolen by Biggs from a sleeping nursemaid. The usual policeman is knocked down, the child thrust upon. him. and the plot. ends. During this thrilling time, various people stroll on and sing and dance, excusing themseives by explaining that there is a concert, to-morrow night. Mr. Ernest Hill, the young basso, in a red and white blazer, sings of drummer boys who died whole facing the foe, and Miss Idai Roslyn and Rose Devella kick holes in the atmosphere, the latter do ng a clever acrobatic dance. * * * Miss Ethel Clifford, in those pathetic items she sings so well, appears for the first time on a local platform "grown up." The breezy first part is an institution that is very acceptable as a change. In the second part, Arnoldi, the Australian juggler "manipulates moving material" without a hitch. Miss Jessie Thorne, the lithe little woman with the lissom limbs flits briefly like a gilded butterfly in the limelight, trills forth quaint melodies, and dances delightfully just before Mr. Ernest Hill sings about the "Deep Cold Sea" on the black notes near the left-hand end of the piano. * * * The excellent Irish song sketch by Miss Roslyn and Vera Kearns, brings the orchestra up again to the higher register, when George Bentley, in several of his battered costumes, consumes five minutes with wildly humorous vocal antics. Miss Ethel Clifford, the sadfaced singer, rejuvenates again, and, short-f rocked, looks quite twelve years old, and warbles winningly about ' a picture no. artist can paint." The electric vitagraph is on tap, with many merry subjects to show * ♦ • Fuller's earth" is now the Choral Hall, and the entertainers in that house could easily fill the passages, doorways, and aisles if Mr. Doyle wasn't looking. There are no "world" stars shining in the Fuller firmament, and the management does not intimate that it is payin"- Denis Carney a thousand pounds a week. It is no farce to call Denis Carney a true comedian. Denis, is satisfying. He isi clever, and has a 'cute, catchy manner of projecting his humour pellets that hits the bull's-eye every time. Shorn of Denis, "Look at Me Looking at You," is as bald as 'Does ii, Hurt You." but invested with the comic physiognomy of the comedian and. his artistic grotesqueness, the chuckles of iov are like a tidal wave sweeping all before it. Denis is at home at "Jennie Dean's 1 Wedding Party," and his lightning changes from Scotch to Irish costumes, his remarkable facility of "brogue" and "burr " give piquancy to a pleasing performance. » # * Dr. Rowe, the conjurer, is rather better on handkerchief tncks than most performers. His patter is pithy, and he does not tie himself in a knot, or faint with nervousness. Then, there are Cyril Iredalei who possesses a baritone voice, and uses it on a "Drummer Boy" . and the Phillip Sisters, in. various brilliant costumes and open-work stockings, who dance so fast that they look like lady illusions) cut off at the waist. What about the Driscoll Brothers with their songs and dances, shillelaghs, and so oopn p Funny, are they not? The gentleman who danced the other to a standstill, peeling off enough clothes to start, a store, was quite amusing to all but the; most blase hall-^oers. » • * There are the usual corner ejaculators. and the amusing females, and the wind-up comedietta. John Fuller, jun., announces that he is now at home', and that it will "take a squadron to shift him." The man who would shift

away from crouds, of clamomer^, with their sixpences all leady, would not desen c the name of Fuller. The Fitzmamiee Gill Dramatic Company opens at the Opera House tolrght (Friday), in 'Man to Man, one oi the most sensational of latter-day dramas. The Northern press remarked that the railway smash introduced into the play, and the escape of a convict from Portland gaol, are the most realistic things in that line recently seen. The fact that Miss Gill and Mr. Blake are in the leading parts is sufficient puairante<e that the fine material at the disposal of the company will be ca.pa.bly handled. *t # ♦ Mr. Thornton and his company finished up a remarkably successful season with that hoary, but ever green, absurdltv "The Private Secretary. Mr. Thornton knows the part by heart for ht has placed it over 1300 times. It is worth notice, however, that once during the ran of this piece the excellent comedian foreot his lines ' Most play-goers could supply the words of this comic classic. * * * Madame Pat.ti has earned a million pounds bv means of her wonderful voice Dunn? one single year she netted £70,000 In her American tour, she obtained as much as £1200 a nierht. Madaane Nilsson the second "Swedish Nightingale " had only a comparatively brief professional career, yet she made over a quarter of a million. Madame Melba can make £1000 a week whenever she pleases; if wanted to sing ait privaite houses, one must be prepared to put down a cheque for at least 200 2uin<?'aN. A sinde son^ from Madame Tiara Butt or Miss Ada Crossley costs from £20 to £30. M. Jean de Reszke holds the> record for male singers his contract for sixteen appearances being£72oo. The tv. o brothers, _ Edouard and Jean, have made over a million in a quarter of a century. (Continued on page 20 )