Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 207, 18 June 1904, Page 16

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

THEUE was ,m exceptionally laige house at His Majesty's Theatie on Monday night, to enjoy -the Fuller fare piovided. Theie ueie incidents, too. Tho.se sprightly chaps, Lennon, Hym.in, and Lennon, having abandoned their jugglery for the nonce, bounded into view grotesquely diesbed and act obatically inclined. One of the tauo, swathed in an all-enveloping ulstei , brought on a foT\ 1 for some rea&on not altogether apparent Fouls desire, above anything, to roost at night, so the bird picked a bonnet in the stalls on which to slumbei . Its captuie was effected to the tune of a throaty protest from the bird, and much agitated muimunnig from the ladies thereabouts. The acrobats call their "turn" ' The Travellers' Rest." Assuming they are the travellers, they take their rest in curious ways by executing flips, contorting vigorously, and otherwise keeping up their leputatmn # * * Tilhe Dunbar, once more upon the local boards, addiessed the "gods" with much effect, and they replied as is then wont. Willie Stevens, the sad-eyed shriek, remarked that "Carry," who evidently was not a prohibitionist "couldn't carry any more " William endeavoured to go off and stay off five times before his friends, the audience, permitted Mm to rest. One Steele sister only appeared in pathetic items. Miss Rose Belmont ha® the best voice straying a/round at Fulle/r's just now. Her "Just Like the Ivy" clings to me as a memory Her- voice is true, even, and flexible. • * * Miss Dolly Lament "Dreamed Mv Dear Old Mother was a Queen," which would be all light for her, you bet. _Pn>fes^or Antonio, a composite personificar tion of Codlin and Short, manipulated

the Punch and Judy show, .ib deai to mv sexagenarian heart as in the palmy clays of lace-edged trousei ottos The usual classic endings to both parts insisted on the usual "screams of laughter" and — the rush for the 'bus A very nice ch.mibei concert, ujklipi the direction of Mr. Robert Parkei , v. as given by the Wellington Piano Company, in the Sydney-sti eet schoolroom, on Tliuisday evening last. Its object was to exhibit the qualities of a fine Bluthnei concert gi and piano It wa., an invitation affair, and the schoolroom was orcxwded. The tone of the pirano was lovely — noh, sonoious, and full of Quality. • • • Miss Ja.net Ross, L A.8., -nas the laigest contributoi to the pjogiamme She gave three small pieces by Chopin, a study by Schumann and Bach's Ita.lmn concerto, besides taking part with Mr E Anderson (violin') and Mr L Cohen (cello) in Gade's tiio in F major. AU these numbeis were crisply and tastefully executed * • • The pimcipal perfoimance of the evening, how eve>i , was Mendelssohn's wellknown concei to in G minor for piano and oicliostia, Mr. Parker conducting. Miss Baiber was the pianiste, and acquitted ttierself excellently, and the orchestral effect was capital. Miss Barber also gave Chopin's nocturne in F and Leschetitzky's prietty "Arabesque " Miss Haite was hea,t d to advantage in pieces by Chopin, Liszt, and Raff. Messrs J- F. Can- and C W ebb-Bow &n were the only singers. Mi. Carr sajig with artistic ta^te, and was encored. M?. Webb-Bow en gave "The Rosa.iy" (Nevm), and Willeby's Four-leaved CSoref," but they were hardly suited to his voice. Mr D V Lilhcrap acted as piano accompanist. Mi". H. Beanchamp, as one of the directors of the Piano Company, returned thanks to the performers and to- Mr Paikcr • • * After the sensational horroi s of Sanford's American players, it is quite a lelief to get back to drama whicih has .some semblance of probability about lit. The advent of the Woods- Williamson Dramatic Company is therefore welcome. On Wednesday night the season opened with "The Gates of Bondage," and a favourable impression was produced. The play is a, dramatisation! by Miss Maud Williamson, leading lady of the company, of Hall Caine's celebrated novel, "The Deemster," and the leading incidents are brought out into strong relief.

Miss Williamson, of course, took the part of Mona, and gave ai charming impeisonaition of a winsome character. She spoke her linefe Math nice appreciation of their point, and won the populai applause for forceful acting in the tense situations with which the pJay abounds. Mr. Walter Woodis' athletic figure, and) oleai , we]] -modulated voice, .idmiraibly suited the lover's pait of Dan Mylr-ea, and he p-ave a oapatal impersonation of it. The unfounded accusation of dishonourable conduct towards his. sweetheart, and has unfortunate killing of his sweetheart's brother in defending his own life from violent attack, followed by the trial amid sentence of banishment by his own father, furnish episodes of the strongest diar matie fibre, which put an actor's powers to an exacting test. • • • Mi. P. Savieii made a very decided hit as Davy Fayle, and Mr A Booth - man gave a good account of himself as BishoD Mylrea, Dan's father. Mr. Ben Linden also scored in the lowcomedy paivt of Hommy Begr,g. The other roles were filled by Miss May Ca.ileon, Miss Barry Lane, and Messrs. Leon Roche. J. Martin, and H. Douglas. Mr. H. Hawkins, R.A.M., is in charge of a capable orchestra. • # ♦ Mi Mel. B. Spurr, the eminent entertainer, who will begin a season at the Exchange Hall to-morrow (Saturday) night, is quite unique in his gifts. He is a creator, and in dealing with his own creations aaid the creations of other authors, he has gauged' the Jiumaious possibilities to such an extent that nothing he says or smgs fails of its effect in producing spontaneous, delighted laughter. He does not depend l for his great success on any wit tiiat has the least suspicion of double entendre. His style is bi eezy, crisp, and bright. His humour does not have to be pumped — it is a perennial spring, welling up freely. Remarkable in its 1 variety, oaiie entertainment emphasises his extreme vrsatihty but when it is understood that during a season in any town he does not repeat himself, you can imaigine the wondei ful cleverness 1 of this emtetrtainer His repertoire is set out in four closely-pi inted' columns of an ordin-ary-sized programme. • • » Miss Maud Beatty has introduced a new "turn" at the Melbourne Opera House. She smers a song entitled "A Dream," a.nd at the end' of each score the subject of the dream described is exhibited by means of a limelight picture on her cloak. The idea has caught on well.

Madame Duvalli, one of the famous (fencing sisters of that name, passed away in Sydney at the end of May. • • • Mr George Darrell ifc engaged on a new play on the victor of Waterloo, but it is not known whether it is to be Bill Adams, Kaiser William, or — the other fallow. • * • Edward Laurie declares that "The Duchess of Dantzio ("Madam© Sans Gene" set to musac), is one of the finest comic operas seen for some yeajs. Gough Warien has not yet delivered judgment. • • • The Diiscoll Brothers— Alf and Bobhave finished an eighteen months' engagement with the Fullers— during which time they had not missed a single nights performance — and have gone back to Melbourne. On the eve of their departure from Dunedin, Mr. Ben Fuller piesented them with a gold sovereign-oase a-piece, inscribed, "The Fullers' appreciation of Alf and Bob Driscoll, N.Z., June, 1904." • • • Alf. Hill's Maori operai of "Tapu" was produced by Williamsons Royal Comics at Auckland on Monday night, before a crowded house, amd achieved a tremendous hit. The audience called for the composed-, md gave him a rousing ovation. Such is the news from the North. Mr Hill's numerous friends and well-wishers will be delighted to iheai it The old saw that a prophet ihath jjo honour in his own country dtoesn't apply to Neiw Zealand. • • • Mr. John Prous© was still singing m London when the mail left. Be took part, in Mis*, Leonora Jackson's concert, at St. James's Hall, on Apind. 29th and gave "Vulcan's Song" (Goui nod) and two little lyrics by Mr. Landon Ronald, who was to conduct the orchestra, sixty strong. Miss Jackson is a wianiste, and the concert was under the ' management of Mi. Hugo Gorlitz, husband of Miss Amy Sherwin. * • Millie Clare, one of the Fuller seiiocomics, who has helped to entertain the Wellington public, is just now in the Dunedin Hospital. Daisy Davis, one of the Pollard girls, is touring England with a concert comy>any. Daisy is one of the Chosen People.