Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 203, 21 May 1904, Page 16

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

THE stuking and unflagging success of the comic opera season fiom start to finish is another record for Wellington. It is another convincing proof that this k the best show town m the colony and that it® people can be trusted to liberally patronise what is really good u\ the wide domains of music and drama. No one knows that better than Mr J. C. Williamson. And no one in tins line shows more enterprise in catering fon the public taste. _ -

"Ma Mie Rosette" was charminely presented on Thursday and Friday last week From a musical point of view it i*. ifoe er&m of the- company's repertoire. Miss Florence Younec, in the name part, and Mr. Reginald Roberts as Vincent, the rustic lover, fairly divided the honours. It is the best part I have seen Mr. Robeits in.

Miss Young sustained her role very prettily, and scored heavily with her leading; songs, "Noble Sire, Kneelm^ at thy Feet," and the introduced number "I've Been Dreaming;," which was doubly encored

"Dorothy," like its predecessor, packed the house for its two nights and was a complete success. "My Lady Molly" has borrowed many ideas from it in plot and otherwise. The resemblances cannot be missed by anyone who sees both operas. Miss Young as Dorothy, and Mr. Lauri as Lurcher, the sheriffs-officer who masquerades in borrowed plumes as a private secretary, made the greatest "hits," and', of course, on widely different lines. The prima donna was in capital voice, and her singing of thesolo in the rousing "Tally Ho^ chorus raised the audience to such ai pitch of enthusiasm that they enforced a> double encore after the curtain; had been rung down.

The quartettes and choruses, the stateIv measures of the old-fashioned dances, the bowinor, and' courtly graces were all a+tractnvply done, and outeitte __ th& squiie's hal] the blending of "dimity and sweet simplicity" among the rustic lasses was well presented. Nor must I foreret Mr. Bantock, who might haye sat for the portrait of Squire Bantam. It was a, companion picture to his Squire Coverdale.

"The Mikado," on Tuesday and Wedpesdav bi ought tilie prosperous season to a satisfactory close. It was richly staged and costumed, the choruses and concerted numbers were highly effective, and the leading parts were well sustained. Miss Oelia Ghiloni's Katisha, and Mr. Geo. Lauri's Ko-Ko, the Loid High Executioner, were the most striking impeirsoinatioais. Lauri's make-up was so cleverly done that a real Japanese could not have looked the 1 character more naturally. His action, too, was irresistible. Miss Ghilom transformed herself into an old maid who deserved Ko-Ko's description, "But have yon seem her? Why, she's appalling'" Nor was there any make-believe about hoi action.

Maud Cheitwynd was sprightly as Pitti Sing, and) Florence Youmg as Yum Yum, Evelyn Scott as Peep 80, Haiph Jackson, as the Mikado, Reginald Roberts as Naraki Poo, Claude Bantook as Pooh Baih. and Fred England as Pish Tush all rave a prood account of themselves. The loading "hits" we<rei the moored, trio, "Here's a How-de-do," in which Florence Young;, Roberts, amd Lauri ran and sang themselves out of breath the quintette, "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring traJa," the madrisrail, Lauri's songs. "I've Got 'Em on the List" awd "Tit Willow," amd the Mikado's sotnff, with chorus, "My Obiect all Sublime." Thei curtain went down amid prolonged cheers, a fitting finaile to a record season

I he<ar that Miss Amy Hyde, of Wellrn~+on, whose sineing has -won much praise locally, has received an offer to ioin Mr. Williamsons Royal Comics M. Caron heard her. and has formed a t erv favourable opinicm of her capabilities. Miss Hyde received her training; at the "Wanganui Convent School. (Continued on page 19.)

For Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is. 6d.

A new cure foi con&umptaon, which is 6»cud to possess wonderful efficacy, has just been placed' befoie the public. It is inhaled in the form of vapour, and Piofessoi Sommei field, a physician of great repute, in Berlin, has started he did not wish to encourage any over-sanguine hopes, but Le was sure that "Tysun," as the new curative a^ent is wiled, constituted an enormous advance towaids the extermination' of tuberculosis. We understand that this new treatmen/t has already been tried in New Zealand with most sruaoessfuil results. Two patients — one in Wellington, and one m Christclrarcih — have been under the "Tvsin" treatmernit for the past two months, and the results in each case are said 1 to have fully borne out the Germa,n reports. Both are cases of very lan<g staiiidkng, amd tihej patients have already derived a considerable amount of benefit from the tieatmemt. As "Tvsin" is already pnocurable in Ne.w Zealand, we have no doubt taat it will be very extensively

The man that ate ox-tail and calves' brains to make both ends meet had evidently neveu visited the fifth Yankee Hustle Sale to save money. The assortment of bargains is. really lemai-k-able, and the prices? — well, one has only to pay a visit to be convinced th'ait selling ohelaiD pa.ys, the. shop bemer crowded from morn. ' till night. The. fifth "hustle 1 " runs for fourteen days. The Dr. Langs>toin Institute, of Col-hns-streiert, Melboiurae, has sent some of its medical experts to New Zealand. These .gentlemen are 1 at pi eseni in the South, amd have done phenomenal bus l'i^ess. They will arrive in "WeJUinigton shycxrfcly. The Traxi&ston Institute is a household word in Australia, amd, it is evident that the pri'ncipails desare lO carry the good work it doe« into this country.

Fullers, who don't call themselves entei tamers" in the adveitibements any more, could btill win a l case if theur claim to be considered such wea c fought befoie the Privy Council. Curiou& thing I've noticed at His Majesty's is that quite a lot of people imagine they have bought the fee simple of a certaan seat. The same people take their shillmgsworth of fun eveiy week, and are quite annoyed if their particular plot is jumped 1 befoie they gettheie.

The Lentous were stall about on Saturday night. Walter Fuller says that the "turn" they do is "Ambidexterology," so I suppose it is. Anyhow, they juggle with ' Jive" fiie-sticks. The two male Lentons are acrobatic comedians, who nient a continuance of your esteemed favouj , while beduotive sister Kitty in. her sinuous manifestations of the poetry of motion, and' her " ooon" music, holds the belt for that kind of work for the cuirent week.

The Delavales rode their bikes into the wings for the last time on Saturday, cheered by the people, who were soi ry to see their back wheel. New tailent, bi ought from afar, in the person of Will Dyson, a conuque, whose quips and jests aie of the new season's blend, aids thelnlaiity. Miss Connie Denton also dashed on for her pieliminary canter, and infused a good deal of vim into some seiio songs moie or less unfamiliar. Jocularly-disposed endmen fire off their witty sayings, the indispensable farce — and* curtain.

If you have been to the Opera! at all since 'A Country Girl" was rung off, you mu-st have noticed what a first-class chorus the company possesses. Particulailv on the feminine sidle. There me some lovely voices m it.

I met some membeis of the company last Sunday night, at the hospitable home of a well-known Wellington cdtizen. Miss Olive M. Godwin captivated us by her singing. She has a lemarkably fine mezzo-soprano, of very even quality, full volume, and exceptional compass — contralto-like m its low register, and covering Cm alt. You may have noticed her on the right wing — a tall girl, with golden hair. She is Miss Florence Young's understudy, and has only been six months with the company When Miss Godwin's time comes, you will hear of her all right.

Another handsome gul of great musical talent is Miss I'ieiioh — like Miss Godwin, a Sydney-sidei . Playb the piano ohaimingly, and sings with nice ai tistic taste. She is a btuking brunette, ot graceful carnage, and nice figure, and liei place on the^ stage is alongside Misis Godwin. Miss Gross is anothei girl with a glorious voice. Miss Wilson, too — not the Nelly of Pollard fame — ib one of the singeis yet to "aiuve" — and there are others.

Mi. Beat/ty is a fine baritone, and Mi. Haigh Jackson's under-study. In the first week of the season he relieved Mr. Jackson, in 'A Country Girl" oine ujght, and made an excellent lmpies&ion. He has also liteiaiy capacity. When he has any time to spare he is working away on a comic opera plot founded upon "Don Quixote," and All. Hill is composing tlie music. It will be something to look forwai d to.

By the way "the latest news is that George Edwardes, who is the prince of comic opera in Londtm, lias "taken up" Alf. Hill's "Tapu." It could not have a finer sponsor in the Old Countiv, foi Edwardles is sure to produce it on the "reio-ardileiss of expenses" scale for which ho is soi f amou®.

"All sorts of rumours," says the Adelaide* "Critic," "are flying round re the intentions of Miss Flo. Young. It is said that she is about to break with the Royal Comics, some papers say because she wants more money than the management thinks she is worth. Possibly Miss Young has made up her mind, but the paragraphists are undecided, and some are packing her off to London, while others book her for America, where an engagement is said to be waiting her coming.

' The latter is the more probable story, as Flo is not likely to have forgotten her London experiences so soon. They were extremely unpleasant, and the songstress was heartily glad 1 to return to her native land and take a salary which would appear very humble compared with what she is now receiving. The idea of an American engagement lings true, for the reason that several of the experts connected with, recent American ventures in Australia were commissioned to be on the look out for likely pros, who might be turned to advantage in Noo Yark."