Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 232, 10 December 1904, Page 14

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

DIX'S Gaiety Company, at the Theatie Royal, will be a new company, but just as. "-«v, on Monday. Those clever "choir bovo" will be back again foi a short spell, and Les Whaxton, the beloved, ,a,nd the Wheelers, of bike fame, will project their specialties again. Then, a baritone of distinction (Mr. Geo. Warsaw) is on the new bill, and so is Mr. Geo. Dickie, the American ventriloquist. But of even more interest to Dixians to the news that Lizzie Kirk, who was far and away the biggest "draw" of the bind Percy ever had, and without question the 'brightest and oleveiest singing comedienne, will be back for the Christmas season. * * * Lizzie's clog-dan cang husband, Mi. Fiank Leon, will accompany her, and will possibly oome pruned with new songs. I trust Frank will clog-dance less this time. He has won the championship of the world, and, he deserves it but his a,rtistic dancing is the best of his work Neither Lizzie nor Frank waste their sweetness on Austiaha, but will dmao their bundles direct on Mew Zealand soil. ♦ * * The last week's* entertainment has been well up to old form. Miss Alice Layton scored a triumph for Denza s "Come to Me." She has true musical soul. Patterer Harry Shine has ot course, been dome all right. He is a team in himself, while ponderous Percy Denton has been giving his diverting personation of the Premier, with hilarious results. « • • Miss Goldie Collins and Dainty Daisy Sylvester have been strong attractions, and Miss Louiei Byron, who used to be mesmerised m the seventies by the Fakir 00100, and upon whose clever countenance time seems to make so little impression, scored heavily. The mysterious Howard Brothers haven't been tripped up or bowled out yet, and they move away to mystify other people with their weird wonders. • * * Fuller's Vaudeville Company, at His Majesty's Theatre, have at present, as "Johnny" says in the ads., "the greatest programme ever presented." Heading the "gieatest programme" is Tod CaJlaway, who, considered comically, carries the patronage of the house in the fun race. The songs Tod sings, and the tales Tod tells are household words in Poneke, and no one now believes that but a few short weeks ago Tod trembled on the brink of the dark abyss. • * * Then, there is Harry Hart, whose artistic work in the songs of the heartsearohmg variety is so highly appreciated by people who love the trickling tear. He sings the soul -stirring song "Excelsior" as it should be sung. Miss Gertrude Fraser, a new songstress, has a refined style, quite refreshing, and a voice of good range, flexibility, and quality. . , „ Sam Wilson, who is billed as a "king of laughter," shares his orown and has throne with Geo. Scott, and the two discourse vocally of comic capers they have cut in various parts of the earth. Miss Edie Bourke, of the dashing type of seno. Is not more dashing than' Muss Florrie Leigh, both of whom aie nevertiring in their terpsichorean endeavours. There are still Dick Davis, Charles Moody, and some others who are cheerful or comic as occasion demands, and that great tragedy. "The Coalheaver's Revenge," produced by the star tragedians of the company, gives a "dark" picture of life that causes many a half-acre smile. » • * The musical festival which the Wellington Musical Union, under Mr. Robt. Parker, is giving m connection with the opening of the Town Hall, will undoubtedly prove the brightest featuie of that event. For months past the works to be produced have been in active rehearsal, and, with a body of 360 performers engaged, something quite exceptionally fine for Wellington in the artistic line may be expected. "The Spectre's Bride" is set down for performance to-night (Friday), "Hiawatha" (in its complete form) for Monday, an orchestral concert for Tuesday, and Mendelssohn's "Hymn of

Praise" for Wednesday. The soloists comprise . Mits Amy Parsons, of Duilo dim, Mi. Hamilton Hodge-,, and Mi F. Graham, of Auckland, and the best local talent. Prices and other particulaie are set out elsewheie. * * * Mrs. Mueller's pupik will give thensixth annual concert m St. Maik'.s schoolroom, Sussex Squaie, on Wednesday, 14th December, when they will be heard! in. A. R. Gaul's newest woik, "The Prmce of Peace." The success of former concerts promises equal success, for the coming one, and the training Mis. Mueller's pupils receive is the best guarantee that m so fine a cantata they will achieve even higher honours, than formerly. On Thursday night there will be a popular concert, at the highly popular price of one shilling all round -» * * An Australian dramatic writer, m an appreciation of Einest Fitts, says he commenced life as a dentist Thus is wrong. Ernest commenced life as a toothless infant. • * ♦ I have received a neat reminder of 'The Orchid" which is the latest ' Gaiety" success of J. C. Williamsons Royal Comic Opera C. It takes the form of tiny poi traits of leadhng members of the company, used up as notes ou a couple of musical staves » * * "Everyman," the early English "morality play," which the Jeffries-Knight Dramaitio Company gave in Auckland th© other day as a matinee, is a modern stage curio. It opens with api ologue revealing a tableau of heaven. The Man of Sorrows, enthroned, tells of the sin of the world, and sends forth Death to summon, Everyman (Julius Knight). One by one his companions flee from Ivm — Fellowship, Good, Discretion — all but trie ailing sister, Good Deeds In a glorious tablea.u. he sinks at last to Ipk rest, and the an eels, sine him to the sides. The papers praise Mi_ Knight for a,n impressive impersonation. Continued on page 18.