Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 176, 14 November 1903, Page 11

Dramatic And Musical

By Pootlight.

BROTHER OFFICERS," although played by the Daniel Frawley Company, is not American. The said officers aie of the most approved English type The comedy drama is notable foi its extreme simplicity. John Hinds is a cavalry sergeant, who has won a \ C and a commission. Also, he has won golden opinions, but no particular po<lsh. Once he killed a tiger who w .is decimating the Army by making a meal cf Lieutenant Pleydell. Pleydell suivived, and was grateful. They become "brother officeis " this aristocrat and Hinds, the son of a bookmaker. * * * Hinds gets on pretty well. He is one of nature's gentlemen and does not drink water out of his finger giass at mess. Being a pretty courageous sort of fellow, he falls- in love with the Baroness Royden. who is really quite nice about it Pleydell .rambles , also he loves the baroness. He has lost money to a millionaire, who is a scoundrel In fact, the scoundrel who ruined Hinds's bookmaker father, van aw-av with Hinds's mother and made millions in Australia — » * * The baroness admits her love for Pleydell , he admits his gambling, can not in honour, marry her, and all that sort of thing, and will not accept money from his lady-love. Will exchange, and go to the Gold Coast, where ' yellow iack" kind of fancies nice, plump, English subalterns. John Hlnd^ V C plays a lone hand with the millionaire ; makes him, after much good dramatic work, hand over the 1.0.U.5, is presumably glad that his "brother officer" is to get the girl he loves, and disappears wishing everybody ""ood luck. * * * As the at-first awkward "ranker," Mr. Darnel Frawley is sufficiently convincing. He wants to click his heels in the mess-room at sight of the Colonel and he wants to call officers of equal rank "sir," but bless you, he sets on all ri<?ht Perhaps the most charming thing "in. the play happens during the first day of Hinds's commission He, in the middle of the day orders cham-r^o-rae for everybody ladies and all, m the ante-room. Nobody wants chaim-rjao-ne The Colonel comes in, and raises a storm. John, still a sergeant at heart, springs to attention.' Up 1? no gentleman. The charm or the thine arrives when the baroness asks the Colonel's permission to chance her mind, and drink a health. All .the people in the room thereupon drink, "Mr John Hinds Y.C." * * * Miss Van Buren is a very excellent English aristocrat, and the air of ennui, the very pronounced drawl, and the' grand air, eminently suit the character she pourtrays. Even aristocrats, however, are sometimes less tired. Miss Van Buren's costumes are quite charming, a black and white "stripey" affair giving her the appearance of looking almost slight and always beautiful. Lieutenant Pleydell is played strongly by Mr. Harry Phmmer, who however, has never overcome the someiw hat w ooden walk he affects. * * * As the gay and festive Colonel of the Ist Lancers' (who, bv the wav wears a similar uniform to the 17th), Mr. Harrmgton Reynolds is a fine type of the dear, old, crusted w amor only the British service owns. That splendid actor Mr. Jeffrey Williams, has ciuite a small part as a man servant All the same, he is the most distineuished-looking male on the boards. Mess waiters, society dames paiso-ns, and others are capably pourtrayed. * * * Mr. Daniel Frawley and his fine company have been very successful during their season, especially with their military plays. In none of them is the company seen to better advantage than in "The Girl I Left Behind Me." a stirring drama- of Indian frontier life. The "house" during the two nights it occupied the boards was crowded and the Frawley people play well to big houses. * * * The principals indeed the whole of the cast, put their best effort® into this particularly bright play, and achieved perhaps the greatest success of the season. On Thursday, the company put on the rather daring "Barbara

Freitchie," a play that caused adverse comment, but attracted lai-ge crowds, in Australia. It is totaJly unlike anything else in the repertone of the company, and the versatility of Mr. Daniel Fran ley's people is shown by their success in it. * * * Dixs Gaiety Company, at the Theatio Royal are stall insisting on crowds of patrons, a condition of things that is eminently satisfying to the management. Mr. Tod Callaway, who has done a, long and prosperous season w ith Mr. Dix, shortly leaves. He is a merry soul, and a clever one withal. His work has been clean, wholesome, and amusing, and his quiet humour has made him many friends. Miss Dora Taylor is a danseuse whose merit has been widely recognised. In difficult steps she is graceful and enlivening, and '""Httdaes to serve up novelties in teirpsichaiea^ art quite often. » * * Those amusing patter comedians and parodists. Messrs. Carleton and Sutton, are stin doincr their best to cany out their contract as fun specialists, and they have had good weather to help them. The audiences have been cheerful and enthusiastic right along. The charming Miss Nellie Yohe has been singing with touching delicacy and nch expression,, "The Passion Flower" this week. During her long season she has 'done nothing bettei . Her voice improves. Bike uders Delavales and the gay Gallardis are still prominent and much-liked featuies of the einteitamment. * * *■ Fuller's Entea tamers, at the Choral Hall, set the fashion for the particular song that is 1 for the moment being blown by the street boy, hummed by the business man, and strummed bv the a,spiii<n,<s home pia.nist. This is fame. Will Stevens, as a. lady is particularly impiessive and he is calculated to act a laugh out of a lady nohtician. I have frequently had a Will Stevens joke fired at me by persons who, desned me to accept them as their own particular ear-marked property, but I lefuse to believe that am one can make a joko except Will Stevens. The Watts and Lucas combination aie reproducing: the 'scarecrow dance " It is a bad thins for persons afflicted w ith that unslaked feeling," for theie aie two scarecrows There is a long hst of talented ladies and humorous men besides, whose mirth and minstiels\ help to chase the flying hours. Hundieds aie not turned away Fullei's do nothing so impolite. Eveivone with a sixpence is welcome while there is a vacant chair. * » • The re-punting of a paiagiaph duly acknowledged as from an Australian source, in the Lance, in which it -nas stated that Miss Jessie Ramsay (Mrs. Percy), of Pollard's, was -raised from obscunty" to play "O Mimosa, San," was misleading. As a matter of fact Miss Ramsay has played with conspicuous success 'Mantana," Arhne" ( Bohemian Gnl") 0 Mimosa San," Kitty Hethoilngton ( In Town"), 'Mamip

Clancy" ( Belle"), "Tessa"' ("Goncloheis"), ''Nor?*.' ("Messenger Boy"), all leading parts besides other minor Darts too numerous to mention. Thei African papers were enthusiastic about the New Zealand night" performance, at Her Maiesty's Theatre, Johannesburg. Speakina of Miss Ramsay, one critic si\s — 'New Zealanders here had not pieviouslv seen Miss Jessiei Ramsa.y (Mrs. W. S. Percy) enacting a principal lole, and her impersonation, both m singing and acting, of 'Mimosa San' was a levclation to them. Miss Ramsay was a genuine success, and, with lier husband, cairiecl off the chief honours." * * » At the Diesden you ca,n always depend upon getting something very choice .in the latest songs and music. One of the newest gems is 'La.ndtwo veiy pretty son,°rlets bv Chqilee AVillebv set to tasteful words b\ the_ late W. E, HenJey. Thety form

a foal to each other, and are exceedingly effective. The fust is written in three flats, with long-sustained notes. The other is in the key of A minor, w ith a change to A major, and is allegro in style. Willeby is now cmrbe the rage at I-iome as a song writer. A dozen years ago he drove the patient quill m the Govexnment Buildings, and i\as then plain Mr. Hawthorne. * * Miss Agnes Rahilly, a charming elocutionist and player, has been touring the North uith the Steele-Payne Company, which has now disbanded. She has returned to Wellington, and will piobably "rest" until Christmas, Mr. Dix having engaged her for his Christmas pantomime. * * * Claude Hunt, of the Stine-Evans Company, has a very fine baritone voice. He is of a pious disposition, and uses it uheiever he goes in singing for church chions.