Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 209, 2 July 1904, Page 14

Dramatic And Musical

FULLER'S Entertainers are as usual scintillating behind the glaie of the footlights in a programme replete with excellences. Space last *eek fo.bade me to exercise my scalpel, and 1 thereto couldn't say that Harry Brown had a light basso voice, which he uses to sin? "Will o> the Wisp" pleasingly. Wilson (lady) and Holland (gentleman) Z™ vaudeville sketch illustrating "An Actor's Troubles," which aie explaned vocally. Mks Wilson has a voice that reaches to the back chair of IL dress chcle, a pleasing presence and that indefinable air of taking the audience into her confidence which the gods appreciate so well and encore so loudly Holland assists her also with a voice of magnitude, and a sketchy manner. • ♦ • Rodda Perry is a young chap who would have had just the same kind ot voice if he had been born a girl. Ihis "phenomenal male alto" sings girlishly aSd sweetly, and his "Come Back to Me is quite coquettish, while has Dear Little Shamrock" helps his reputation along nicely. Carmo, the Herculean juggler, who balances a dining-tab.e duly loaded 1 on his nose, his wife and a chair on his chin, and other little eccentricities, is a man of dexterity and muscle, whose "turn" is, perhaps, the star item of the programme. • • * Will Stevens voiced my sentiments when he exclaimed, with that look ot abject misery, "I'm so Chilly," and was called upon to tell the audience six more events in his young life. lnen, of course, Miss Dolly Lamont, the beauteous balladist, sparkled in The Old Lock," and Miss Rose Belmont told us about "Two Sweethearts of Mine, which isn't so very flirtatious when you know sweetheart No. 2 is a little sister. * « * Miss Tilly Dunbar is still disseminating gems from her extensive repertoire in that arch manner which has grown on her. The Steele Sisters are "great" as Coster ladies in "The Belle of # Petticoat Lane," and "Love in a Kitchen, the concluding "screamer," shows our old friend, Chalks the Milkman, the policeman, and the Grenadier all comiioally striving for the hand of the cook. * * * The Skating Rink is daily and nightly the rendezvous of new and old devotees of the box-wood wheel. Politicians and people, gay young men-about-town, and those m search of exercise, find it there. Sometimes, perhaps, the wheels are in the air, and that part of the head wherein lie the social faculties finds that the poh&hed floor is the hardest. All is light and cheerfulness and an exhilarating whnl. One can rest at ease, or refresh at leisure. Since last skating was a much-sought-after pastime, tihe appliance* have much improved, and the pastime i* more of a pleasure than, ever it was. Mr. James MacMahon, always kindly considerate for the patrons of any enterprise which has been lucky enough to have him at its head, is still the same "Little Jim." His smile is worth travelling in a Wellington horse-car to see. • * • Mr. George Abbotts Musical Comedy Company can be sampled, to-morrow (Saturday) night for 3s, 2s, and Is, and from what is said of the quality of the people engaged the Wellington public won't be satisfied with a sample. Mr. Fred Graham is so well-known to lovers of a broad grin that it is unnecessary to speak of his many excellences as a comedian and stage manager. "The French Maid" will open the season, and that gay young lady is a great favourite wherever she goes. • • • Herr Slapoffski, who, you will remember once won a law case, much to the joy of everybody— bar one, is in. charge of the orchestra. A special feature of the Abbott Company is the completeness and brilliance of the ballet®, which are not composed of a "scratch crowd, but of ladies who know the Alpha and Omega of the business. "In Town, "Gaiety Girl," and "A Trip to New York" will occupy the boards when the dainty "Maid" has been accorded a vigorous welcome and' a sad farewell.

They have just f aimed an Amateur Operatic Society at Chustohurch. A strong committee has been set up to make tilings gee. ♦ • • Miss Maud Beatty's dawn to distinction, per a Sydney papei —"She is symmetrical in make." Nothing is said of her well-known, voice. ♦ • • Johnny Sheudan is touring the land of "sun sweat, sand, and sorrow" (Western Australia). The first "dry blow" r-hows large specks of good gold. ♦ * • I wonder what sort of a Rosalind or Cleop&taa Nellie Stewart is likely to make ? She threatens to do both when she comes around to cover the old giound again. Miss Jessie Ramsay (Mrs. Will Percy) is still earning golden opinions. From Broken, Hill, I hear that, as "Susette," in "The French Maid," Miss Ramsay "was charmingly coquettish, a|nd put plenty of animation into her song, "Pardon, M'sieu, pardon." Her duet with Alf. Stephens "Only a Penny," was one of the hits. • ♦ * Strong man Gordon bumped up against a bad accident at Fitzgerald's Oircus, North Sydney, the other day Carried 1 a horse up, a ladder as usual. Coming down, the horse "went to market," and planted much hoof on the tough anatomy of the Doctor, who was hurt, but took his gruelling manfully. Necessitated hospital. I hear he is likely to "pull round." He is a good hand at pulling. (Cot'tiniti d on page 16 )

Mel. B. Spurr oame, saw, was seen, and conquered. He leaves us sometihing to remember him by. There has been, no entertainer quite like him around this way before. He is a oreator who has created nothing that he need be ashamed of, a purveyor of his own inward! humour, which is in him and must bubble out. His humour has been appreciated by the man in moileskins and' the Minister in broadcloth, and it always leaves a sweet savour. He has not used the doubtful arts of the "lion comiqUe" to burnish his wit withal. He elevates while he amuses, and. he ought to come again. New Zealand wants laughter of the kind Mel. B. Spurr cam supply. • * • The Woods-Williamson Dramatic Company closed their season with "In Old Madrid," a clever dramatisation by Miss Maud Williamson, of Man on Crawfords 1 fascinating novel, "In the Palace of the King." It was played with great spirit, amd remarkable evenness, and received a rousing reception from enthusiastic audiences All the leading situations were loudK cheered, and there were several calls before the curtain • • • Mr. Alfred Woods gave a striking impersonation of the part of Don John. It was marked by great force of characterisation, and strongly impiessed the audience. His elocution was veiry fine. Miss Williamson was eouallv successful in the companion role of Dolores, and both actor and actress aire to be congratulated on their success. A special meed of praise is due to Miss Williamson for her skill in fittine the novelist's story for the stasre. The subordinate partfa were generally well sustained, and the staeinc was hifhly meritorious, the set in the throu.p-*-oom beinec very nice indeed 1 Miss Williimson has certainly proved' herself a very clever playwright, as well as a charmine actress. We hope to see this capable company in Wellington again. • • • "Baby" Denton. the original Snifkins, in "The. Belle of New York" in Sydney, and well-known throughout New Zealand, is said to be an inmaifce of the Strathmore Hospital, in Chiristchuroh. • ♦ • "I'd like to know your idea of perfect bliss, Mr. Ranter." "To lie in a hammock smoking a large, fine cigar given to me by an admirer, and listen to a woman who worships me reading aloud complimentary notices of my acting."