Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 168, 19 September 1903, Page 16

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

THE Stdne and Evans American Comedy Company have had no particular reason to take off "Mama's New Husband," so up to press time that hilarious production has kept the playgoers of Wellington giggling gleefully. There is a particularly exhilarating quality about this up-to-date Yankee humour that gets straight to your sense of fun, and you will find yourself singing hymns to rag time, and saying grace to coon songs if you are not careful. There is, too, that penetrating American accent diffused throughout the excellent material that is peculiarly adapted to that Kind of show. It is the only kind of show stuff in which the accent is at all acceptable. The choruses are "out of sight," and the dances are "way up." All this strikes you, but you most of all admire the terrific animation of the "hull caboodle." If a player is wanted to walk, he'll anible , should "trot" be in the lines, bet your life he'll lope. The calcium man has to be pretty spry to catch the fun distributors. A comet would be out-classed if it didn't hustle. "Brown's in Town." In fact, that particular dude struck this location last night, too late to catch my eye. l guess I'll sample him anon. If he's any relation to "Mama's New Husband" he's probably a big bonanza to the people who are engineering him. Dixs bill, at the Theatre Royal, is a reminder of old times when each succeeding "star" was eclipsed by some stellar rival. There are at least five people with "world" reputations on the present poster, and heading them all are those extraordinarily agile De> Wynne brothers, who have rather altered the style of their previous performance. These graceful athletes, who are good to look at, apart from their skill, dress in evening clothes, and are no more hampered by them than were the Craggs, of marvellous memory. Their equilibrist feats are beautifully done, and their business certainly gains bv being performed as in an ordinary draw-ing-room-. The absence of "gear" is refreshing. * ■> * Val Vousden, the Irish ventriloquist, comedian, and originator, is a gentleman who attracts by his effortless style. His imitations, as before, are very excellent, while his character impersonations (particularly his Mrs. O'Rourke) have the advantage of originality and naturalness. Vals letter from Kinp Dick to Mrs. O'Rourke is as funny as Mrs. O'Rourke's discourse on barmaids. Mr. Vousden is a true artist. The Delavales, who are quite at home as acrobats, bicyclists, and singers, or a combination of all three, are very excellent. The supple "Bert," and the sinuous "Kitty," combine to give a splendid "turn." Their bike act is clever, and their coon songs restful and well sung. ♦ • * Miss Nellie Yohe, whose tuneful voice and dainty prettiness have made her a favourite, is, with a great part of the audience, the reigning favourite. Her work is eminently artistic. Mr. Robin Hay and Mr. Harry Hall are still prime ministers of mirth and music, while veteran George Dean is always on hand wth. his acted songs and favourite ditties. Miss Birdie Foley and Miss Jessie Thorne foot a bill that is genuineJv rich in good material. * » * Fuller's Entertainers at the Choral Hall, have several absolute "world wonders" at their popular place of worship. Albert McKisson, who is again in harness for "Johnny," has collected a varied repertoire of new and superior jokes and songs, warranted free from adulteration. Albert, like all Fuller's favourites who are once adored by audiences, is worked very hard. On Saturday, the poor fellow joked himself dry, laughed until his voice cracked, and sang himself to a standstill. He earns his salary. # * * Those tumultuous brothers Jones got a lot of melody out of "Alice, Where Art Thou?" Perhaps, the event of the Fuller week is the re-appearance of that roystering artist, Will Watkins. Will never tires of being funny, and he breaks out in new and unexpected spots with weird and wondrous turns and fancies. There has never been a Fuller Entertainer to excel the gifted dancer and endman.

Jce Watts and Madge Lucas will have gone ere this meets the eye. "The Mciphys" was their breeziest bit of woik. I hope to again giggle in compliment to the merry pair's excellencies. The Claire sisters, graceful dancers and sketchists, are still stiong attractions, as also are Jessie Dell, Ada Duval, and c lame McKisson, all talented vaudenllians, of high kicking or singing tendencies. Charles Waite is still holding on to his "cornei" lot, waiting for a "rise." People will be sorry when he goes. * * * The Welhngton branch of the New Zealand Association of Kis Majesty's Veterans held their annual concert and dance in St. Peter's Schoolroom, on the 10th instant, under the patronage of Eis Excellency the Governor. It proved to be a great success. The income is derived from a subscription of 5s per member per year, self imposed, from which fund they have to provide working expenses and benevolent provision for any member requiring assistance. Mr. R. Tingey, vice-presi-dent, was m the chair, and gave an interesting and instructive address. * * * Mr. F. R. Bust sang that patriotic song, "The Old England and the New." Mr. S. S. Tingey gave a stirring recitation, Miss Birch a song, and Mr. Thompson a comic vocal item, in pleasing manner, while Mr. Rattigan's rendering of "The Sleeping Camp" was excellent. Miss Stidolph recited ' The First News of Peace," with much expression, and Mrs. Veal sang with much credit to herself and pleasure to the audience. * ♦ * Miss I. Tingey gave an exhibition of Indian club exercises, and Master Harold Bust, a youthful student of nine summers, and one month's tuition, contributed a sailor's hornpipe in fine style. Mr. T. Urwin, one of the veterans, sang •'The Pilot " like a real 01-d British salt, while Miss De Lahay fairly •'brought down the house" with her rendering of "Ben Bolt," and had to reappear. ♦ * * Mr. R. Vaal's '"Deathless Army," and Mr. J. H. Arthur's "Wrecked and Saved," were appropriate, and ably rendered, while Captain C. D. Macintosh's clarionet solo was most artistic. Miss B. Urwin sang, and Mr. C. Hale recited, in their usual good style, and Mr. Keer supplied fun with his comic singing. Mr. Sea ton, with his tricks in parlour magic qute mystified the audience. Misses Mabel Bust and Macintosh, and Messrs. Wicks and Rattagan acted efficiently as accompanists for the concert programme. * t * Afterwards, the hall was cleared, and all indulged in dancing, in which portion of the festivities the grey-headed, be-medalled veterans engaged with much spirit. Refreshments were provided on a liberal scale. Messrs. Wioks and Duncan provided excellent music for the dancing. The committee and their secretary ''Mr. Stidolph) deserve the greatest credit for arranging and carrying to a successful issue one of the best and most enjoyable social gatherings of the season. (Continued on page 20.)

Latest London papers announce the death of Mr. George Walton, at Diuban, South Africa. * * * Willoughby and Goach, the widereyed enterpreneurs, have pounced upon the latest payable foolery. ' Tops> Turvj" is theirs. * * * Miss Maud Beatty was, at latest, touring the Continent. She is not hkeh to be engaged as principal boy for Christmas pantomime. » * * ■'Say, don't you think Shakespeaie was a 'rotter 5 He never wrote anything funny, eLd he"" An up-to-date colonial youth on the Divine William. * - * ' A Midsummer Night's Dream," such a mine of wealth to the manageis in Melbourne, did not hit the Sydney fancy. Poor business in the sinful Miss Nellie Stewart is said to have a remarkably handsome residence m London, and it is whispered that "Sweet Nell" has serious thoughts of retmng into private life. * * * Once more is Australian girlhood disillusioned. Cuyler Hastings ( Sheilock Holmes"), 'tis said, has a wife and six children "way back in the States. "—"Bulletin . " . * • Australian papers say that a genuine novelty is promised by Harry Rickards. He proposes having real darkies as end-men. Pope and Say es were evidently sailing under talse colours. # Miss Ethel Knight-Moll ison the charming and much-photographed leading lady of the "Are You a Mason Comcanv was recently married to Mr. T H Kelly the well-known Sydney yacht owner. Miss Mollison is Scotch, and not Canadian as has been stated. * * * Miss May Abbott, the "Georgia Magnet," who '"died" pretty extensively in the dramatic press a while back, is said to be still living, and in tip-to-health, somewhere in Texas, United States of America. It seems to be a popular pastime for some people to set death "snow-balls" rolling. * * Miss Dorothy Marsdin, who is one of the, chief delights in the much-heard-of "Midsummer Night's Dream, is noted for her naturalness. She was so natural as the tortured boy, Stephanus in "The Sign of the Cross," that the management requested her to scream underneath the stage, so as not to scare susceptible playgoers too much. * * A strong man m Paris hasi devised a new sensation. Instead of pitting himself against the strength or weight of horses, he tackles a motor-car. A six horse-power voiturette is brought on the stage ,and the athlete, planting his shoulders against the bonnet, successfully resist* the engine's efforts to propel it. He should be hired by the Wellington City Council, to push on the electric car scheme. * * * A well-known American opera star— Katharine Germainer— who has iust suicided in New York, divorced her first husband because he would not let her go on, the stage ; then she married again, and, after a few years, divorced her second husband, because he would not allow her to go into management in New York . and finally she contracted a third marriage, which was dissolved by poison, because hubby insisted upon her returning the photograph of an exadmirer.