Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 243, 25 February 1905, Page 14

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlifht.

MR George Stepl)on-.on's Xcn English Musical Comedy Company btaited a bnof letairn reason at the Opera House on Friday night, and has simply been rushed by las pubic. The difficulty has been to find seats ioi them all. This. &peak> well for Geoige, for Ins, artistes, and ln& hill of faie. 'The Rose of the Rmeia" usheied, m the season, and bloomed for one sparkling, hilarious evenmg. The blaze ol colour on the stage was worthy of the Riviera itself at the height of the season, and the costumes weie both chic and piotuiesque. Mr. Stenhenson or wlhosoevei performs the dut> of choosing his company has a fine e\e for feminine giace and attractiveness, for all the ladies are young, shapely and fair to look upon. Which reminds us that eveiy Johnny in Wellington uas present in his best bib and tuckei .

The- piece, with all its discursive whimsicalities, its lively sallies, and its musical "hits," went off with the exhilaration of a glass of champagne. May Beatty, m the title-role, looked ehaiming as a flower-girl, and quite "fetching" m her boy's yachting suit, and her puncipal song, "Egypt," with the lights lowered and the gnls waving fans, in rhythmical movement, produced a rousing encore. She was gay and debonair as usual. * * * Mr. Edward Laun, as" Bnsket, the Cockney, who masquerades at Nice as Milord Duke of Clapham, and insists on calling the French hotelkeeper "Bill," kept the fun going under a full head of steam from start to finish. He was ably seconded by Chas. McNaughton as a Spanish count of the fiercest brand, and by the mdi a rubber Bovis brothers, one as a French Boniface, and the other a® a Yankee reporter always buzzing round with an apparatus to take living pictures on the slightest provocation May Garstang as Mddle. Jacquette, Alice Nixon as Miss Hammond, Ada Papre as Bostinia Hubb (a 'Munkan girl after dollars), and Fred Twit ohm as Lord Bailham, m love with the "Rose," completed the principals of a lively cast. The song*, and dauoes and 1 the funny business, which was full measure and luuuuig ovei, went oft with, great effect, and the ballets by the Rose quartette and the "Four Gibson Girls." couJd hardly be rung off so reluctant weie the audience to let them go. The tipsy trio, "How We Go Home," by the Bovis Brothers and Clias. MaNaughton, gave the house a severe statch in the side. * * ■* On Saturday night "The Skirt Danced*" tripped on before a crowded house, and. had a gieat reception. You remember the piece, of course, with its thm plot, its gay costume^, its bright tableaux, its rollicking fun, and its constant play of mcoaisequeait broad farce. Well, you are caught up in the whirl of its madcap frolic befoie you are aware, and when you get to the end of your roar of laughter behold the ourtain is down, and your watch pioclauns it is higih time to get home. It is one continuous giggle, and May Beatty as the skirt dancer, with Edward Laun as Sir Benjamin Mapleton of patent pill fame as her lover, and Capt. Bunting, R.N. (Chas. Bovis) as her giddy old ward, keesp the fun screwed up to the top notoh. Charles McNaughton as Lord Harry, a brainless dude, Will Bovis as a "tiger," Ada Page as Lady Parkton, Alice Nixon as Lord Harry's betrothed, May Garstang as Sir Benjamin's daughter, and Fred Twitchin as Lieut. Mildmay, all have congenial parts, which fit them like gloves. * * * "The Skirt Dancer" is melodious with pretty music and taking songs, and again the Gibson girls and l the Rose quartette find l display for some bewitching costumes and very agile and graceful dancing. Th© second act, opening on the conservatory of the Grand Hotel , Nice, is a perfect feast of colour for the eye, rich costumes of the sweetest shades of harmonising colour setting off the graces and contours of feminine beauty and form to the finest effect. Only for three nights was "The Skirt Dancer" in evidence, but it was good enough for a long run. * ♦ * "The Dandy Doctor" madte his debut on Wednesday, and had a foil levee. It

belongs to the same older of musical oxMavagauza and NpectaouUi fiohc as •The Bo* oi the Rivicia" and The Skut Dancci." It distributes itself o\o,i thiee acts, one in apnvate gulden, another in a suigeiy, and thud, and prettiest of all, Carnival Night on the Brighton Pior, with eveiyonie m fancy cO'stume. * * * Mi. Edwaid Lauu fills the title 1 ole — the wildly absurd locum tenens of a medical doctor — and overloads it with tiinin business His be^t song is "Be Caieful," and Ins gieatest hit is a song and dance illustrative of national dance-* May Beatty is <i nd'oulous tiumpof a which does not affoi d hoi much scope. She scores, howevei, 111 the song '1 Was Born on a Friday " One ot the prettiest songs is 'Bluebell, 1 ' hv Ficd Twitchen. Charles McNaughton pourtrays a Johimv of the type that figoiies in 'The Skirt Dancei," get- in a lecitation Jolly Sport," and figure^ in a laughable skit on the piofessiO'ial ''strong man." Alice Nixon is fitted with a dwinty song and agile dance, 'Such a Pretty Little Girl," and theie aue two capital conceited numbers which aire ahvayh sure of an encore, viz., a trio, "He' Was aSailoi," and a feminine septette, "Six LLttle Buiglars" given with masked faces, daik lanterns, a,nd quaint dance. * •* * The Gibson Gals and the Rose Quartette pnouette through some sprightly ballet turns, and there is a charming pJiantaismagonc tableau for wind-up. Music, limelight, brilliant costumes, bioad faice, and groupings of feminine giace and shapeliness, varied by the frequent ballet or pas seul, combine to carry ''The Dandy Doctoi" through a giddy whirl of gaiety with only the merest shred of a plot Still, plot is the veiy last thing you look for in thei-e volatile vaudevilles. The season ends to-night (Friday). * * * Fuller's Vaudeville Company, at His Majesty's Theatre, is rolling the old chanot along with much success and well-oiled wheels. The. star "turn." as before, is the matrvellous jaw-work of the "Reyes Trio," who, by the way, aie now a Reyes quartette, for another small pei son appears, who adds extia weight to the burden canned by the Reyes lady in her teeth. The Reye/s lady, hanging head downwards from a trapeze, holds a juvenile trapeze in hai mouth while the Reves gentleman does a perfoimance on it. To prove haw easy this is, ban or by your feet to the gas bracket, and pick up a scuttle of coal in your teeth. The lady also takes the weight of the three other peisons in her teeth, and does other marvellous things illustrative of the powei of the feminine iaw. * * * Miss Jeannie Johnstone is a cut above the average ballad singer, and trolls 'Fiddle and I" — with, illustrations — with fine effect. Les Warton, of coonsong fame, is stall a large black circum-

■stance, and forever winds up with tlie always-demanded "Any Rags." Mibs May Dagmai, contortionist, flip-turner, dancoi, and comedienne, ib &tdl doing the ,smait things slie gets paid fOl,f 01 , amd Cailotow and Cowan, the kerbstone convers/ationalibts, consume a convivial ten minutes m comic talks. Serio May R/ose lemarks with muoli atohness "She's My Own Sweet Girl." There aie occasions when young ladaes aie justified in speaking about themselves. This is one. * * * Muss Lulu Eugene sings the senoelasbic "My Marjone," and makes Marjorie a very pieasimg young person. Both these young ladies, always highly popular with Fuller audiences, improve nightly. Mastei Huia Morton, the small voeailist with the head of hair, compels the pearly tear with "Mesa's m the Cold, Cold Ground " a poisitaon Massa has occupied now for several veaiis. We still love to hear about his funeral, however. Enooie, "Sally m Our Alley." An alley is a more cheerful place than a cemetery, and more mvigoiating for young Huia. Mr. Ted Andeu son is a good comic songster, and Miv? Anita Wilton is a capable balladist. The usual faicelets fill a few blanks. The Wilhamsoi Bio-Tableau season begins at the Opera House' on Satuidav next, for a season of seven nights amd two matinees. " "Another picture machine'" you say. But, wait a bit. This is picture machinery "de luxe." The company carries a crowd 1 of people, who aie never seen, but who are engaged m expert manipulation behand. It carries as much gear and property as a Bland Holt Dramatic Company, aaid there iten't a move that hns not its accompanying natural sound. * •+ * The cavahy marches. The hoof-beats ai-e heaid, the swords and) bits jingle, the regimental band plays. The Japs heht. They win. They yeill "Banzai !" Hacketnsmidt wrestles, a.nd you heau the grunt as he downs his man, and you fancy you hear the perspiration as it dii'ips. The warlike, citizen can go and' see the Bio-Tableau without risking his life, for , although he will get all the thnlls of the leal article, the' bullets won't come his way. * * * One ot the most remai kable series of pictures are those dealing with the train sport of Rus.siam troops aoioss Lake Baikal. Truly, the übiquitaous photo fiend lft. a great traveller. lam assured bv a serious person, who has seen the film dealing with the celebrated Toronto fire, that the effect of tihose films taken at night by a Goetz lens is remarkable. Also, that if Wellington watches the orchestra veiy closely, it will see the members stealing silently away to a;et out of the dust when the bie buildings collapse. The programme will be changed frequently, and the prices are 3s, 2s, and Is. * ♦ * Mr. J. C. Williamsons next attraction, diie to open at the Opera House.

Wellington, on March 9th, is already causing a great amount of interest, and will certainly be cordially welcomed. The company is practically a new one, and it is definitely decided to (revive all the most popular' of the Gilber 4 - and Sullivan operas, including . "Pirate& of Penaance," "H.M.S. Pinafore," "Patience," "The Mikado," "lolanthe," and "Yeomen of the Guard." Miss Dolly Gastles has created quite a sensational success, especially m the first-named, amd the nress aie most eulogistic in then- praise of this new addition to the operatic lanks. * * • The reason of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company here will be a comparatively short one, but it is the intention of the management to present the entire repertoire, and an interesting season of rapid change^ is bound to be higjhly popular. The company, whrch oommenioes its season in Wellington early next month, i«. being eouippedi for ts New Zealand tour w th a perfectly new outfit, and brinsrs new scenery, dresses, uniform^, and accessories, and the combination claims to be the finest musical attraction Mr. Williamson has sent to this col on v for many years. ( Continued on pnrjr 18.)

Dan Leno's son doesn't follow in the footsteps of IMb late parent. He keeps .1 motor bliop m London. • • * Freddy Graham reckons to collect a crowd of smart peopile later on in the year to get some of our wool and butter money. , , . New price* lulem American theatre-. Yon oan get a top seat in many good houset. for a "quarter" now, and m the very be->t tor a dollar. • * * Johnny Shendan is billing boiling Brisbane" w ith luxurious piotmes of "Naughty Nancy" Despite 120deg. in the shade at B "in the evening, his icoeption is waim. • ♦ * J. C. Piddock, the dieadfully stagey peibon who w aground here with Musgrove combinations seveial times, is on the London musical-hall stage. It is to be hoped he will not be allowed to stra y- * Frank Clarke, who used to buzz lound a bit here one time, and was chief builder of the thx panto of 1903, has been left a toitune by a lelative in America. Will Frank kindly call on his way Home? • • » Rotund Chailesi Stine and 1 Slim Olne Evans are back in Amenca once more, but Charles's picture is still with u& m all the papers ovei a testimonial to a pall. It is C'hailes' legacy to his ardent colonial woishippers,. • • • Dour Scotsmen! Four paintomnnes running in Glasgow: "The Fortj Thieves," "Red Riding Hood, 'Cinderella," and "Goosey Gander," while at the only other theatie in the city a musical comedy, "The Earl and the Giil," is. showing. • • • Bland Holt has been doing decent business at Sydney Theatie Royal, with "The Best of Friends," the events of which happen in South Africa, and axe redolent of Boer and gore. He doesn't do as well as usual, because people want a long rest from Boer and gore. Madame Pa-tti, after singing at a concert in St. Petersburg for the benefit of the Russian Red Cross Society was presented by the Grand Duke Vladimn with a laurel wreath of gold valued at £3000. You didn't hear about Vladimir giving £3000 towards the distressed strikers' fund, did. you? • * «* American Travesty stars didn't do much good in Australia, and the man who put up the purse goes down. One Travesty man says the only thing that gets a show in the colonies is a racehorse. It is cleai the Travesty man doesn/t know anything about racing, and that ".stiff" isn't in American vocabularies. • ♦ • "Newsle-ttei" on George Darrell's passion for top-boots and riding-pants — "George Dairell once wore top-boots .n Svengah in Tnlby,' but a Jap in Tokio has beaten that by playing Hamlet m a bicycle suit, with 6triped stockings. Someone ought to come along now and do Marcus Suburb-Bus in a Cob and Co.'s coach." • ♦ * Two more peeresses are to be lecruited fiom the stage, according to olub rumour in London. Viscount Braokley is reported to be engaged to marry Mane Studholme, the actress and gaiety favourite, and Baron Gerard is said to be about to marry Maude Dairel, the Drury Lane Theatre actiebs. Both young men belong to the fast smart set, and are noli and good-look-ing. The two acti esses are very popular. Mlss Studholme has visited America several times, the first time with "The Artist's Model." • « * Mrs. Howie still continues to pose before the British public in the absuid role of the Princess Te Rangi Pai. of New Zealand. Somebody sends me a cutting from the "Court Journal" a propos of "a delightful concert" given at Steinway Hall by the pseudo princess and 1 other artistes from New Zealand. I expected to find the name of that othei bogus scion of Maori royalty, "Pi nice" Rangiuia, among them, but it was not there. • *■ * The reporter says- — "The Princess is an exceptionally gifted musician and poet, who should be heard in a larger hall bv all lovers of music. Her Maori songs aie quite, beautiful, especially the lullaby, 'Hine, E Hine,' and she sines with much charm in English and German." He evidently thinks it is a notable achievement for the alleeed Maori Princess to be able to sine in English. Associated with Mrs. Howie were Miss Am" Simpson (soprano). Mi=s Belle Napier (elocutionist). Mr. F Hobbs of Christchuroh, Mr. A. L. Edwards of Auckland' (baritone and tenor), and Mr. Victor Booth (ni artist). These artistes, the "Court Journal" writer thinks, "could teach much to some of their English confreres im. the way of method, manner, and execution "