Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 251, 22 April 1905, Page 14

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

THE first of the Wellington Piano Company* semes, of popular coiicerts at popular pnoes came oil ,n the Tonn Hall on Saturday night. It «,b altogefchei enjoyable, and it the hall was not quite full it certainly ought to have been At any rate aftei so excellent a start, it ml be strange indeed if the public don t rush the next concert. * ♦ • Both on its vocal and instiumental sides the concert was of high merit, and Mr. Robert Parker, the oonductoi must be congratulated on the result and the company on its enterprise. Miss Rosrnia Buckmann. who appeared here last yeai soon after her return from a course of English study, resumed her pleasant acquaintance with the Wellington public. Her opening number was the operatic seen a from Uerr Freusehutz," "Softly Sighs the Voice of Evening." It struck me that she had not fanlv gauged the acoustics, of the hall for, although her execution was capital, and hei expression hi the legato movement very nice, the bravura passages failed to impress me. * • * In the ballad, "The Moorish Maid, ' she was heard to better advantage, and, on being recalled, she bupplemented it with Tosti's "Good-bye," which vvas sweetly and tastefully sung. Mr. Fiank Graham had a cordial reception, and was promptly encored each tune. He gave "Queen of the Earth," and, on being recalled, "I'll Sing Thee Songsof Araby," and m the second part "The Sailor's Grave" (Sullivan), which also bad to be followed up with a supplementary number. Miss Buokmann and Mr. Graham were associated! in the duet "0 Maritana," which went so well that the audience would insist on more, although Mr. Parker was obviously anxious to get on with th© programme. Mr. L. Ashcroft Edwards has a good baritone voice, but indistinctness of enunciation marred both his contributions, "The Kng's Minstrel" and "The Devout Lover." # On the instrumental hide, Mr. Cyril Towsey gave unqualified satisfaction with his piano solos. He executed Mendelssohn's brilliant caprice (Op. 22) with pearly brightness and daaiuty grace, and the orchestral acoompanament rounded off a delightful peiformance. No wonder Mr. Parker went forward and shook the young performer warmly by the hand. In the second part. Mil . Towsey furnisihed further proof of his artistic finesse by a fine expressive rendering of Chopin's "Ballade in A flat." Encores were demanded each time. * ♦ ♦ The orchestra, capably led by Hear Max Hoppe, was well prepared for its work — not by any means inconsiderable) — and gave an excellent account oi: itself. All its contributaons were choice, and were nicely interpreted. They comprised the overtures to "The Barber of Seville," and "The Bohemian Girl," Ba,rnett'si pretty little conceit, "Elf-Land," Ele;ar's "Salut d J Amour," which everybody seems to play in one form or another, and three spirited dances fiom German's pictuiesque suite, "Henry VIII." A propos of the next concert, public curiosity is whetted bv the announcement that the company hopes to obtain the services -of a singer of European reputation. Every wheie you hear the question "Who is he?" * * * Wellington's weather samples have militated against the full success the 'Broken Melody" Company at the Opeia House deserve. As it is, those who have been privileged to listen to the great 'cellist, Van Bieme, pour out hie soul will treasure the memory. And the play itself is so charming. The "Broken Melody" Company is not a "one man" show hy any means, for the action of the drama requires artists to give effect to the best that is in it. From first to last the drama has been handled with satisfying skill by the people engaged, and the audliences have been most enthusiastic in their expressions of pleasure. "Is one permitted to ask," as the Russian general would say. "whether Van Biene and his 'cello will be seen and heard! in Wellington again." At least, on© is permitted to hope so. The season closed on Wednesday night.

The Fiak Jubilee Singers had a large audience ior then taienell conceit on Friday night, m the. Town Hall, and neaily every item %\a,s encored. Among tliobd piewmt won? the Premier and Mis. and Mlss Seddon. Mr. R. H. Collins, in speaking a few woidsot iare- %\ ell &.uid there was no city in New Zealand the Jubilee Singers were so sorry to ]ea\e a,s Wellington * • • Mis-, Nellie Stewart is such a prime favourite throughout the length and bieadth of the colonies that her name of itself is suffic e.nt to conjure up full houses wherevei she appeals. On, this occasion she come- to us backed up by a dramatic company stronger than e\ei, and with a fine repertoue. The reason opens at the Opera House tomonow night with that delightfully romantic and picturesque play, "Sweet Nell of Old Diurv." Nellie will be in her favourite role, and Mr Harcourt Beatty will re-appear as the Menie Monarch." Mrs. Mac-more Moms, the Melbourne beauty, is the second lady of the company and Mr Malcolm Dunn, the new juvenile lead, pomes with a good reputation. Amongst other fresh faces are Miss Singleton, a versatile comedienne, Nannie Bennett, Amy Willard. and Evelyn Deienport Mr Harry Hill will be seen in hi-* capital impersonation, of Chief Justice Lord JefFieys. The scenery and costumes a.re quite recherche, and, in fact, the company is equipped m Mr. George Musgrove's very best style, and the public aie quite aware by tins time that he dloesn't do things by halves. Everyone is a-tiptoe with expectation to see the other new plays in the repertoire, "Old Heidelberg " "Blind Man's Buff," and "Pretty Peggy " to say nothing of "Camille," in which Miss' Stewart so recently liftedl Sydney right off its feet. * * * The grand bacred concert to be held in the Town Hall on Good Friday evening will give lovers of music an opportunity of healing many of the finest local singers andi instrumentalists, not forgetting Mr. Percy Denton, the well-known professional singer. Miss Lloyd Hassell will be heard in Mendelssohn's "He shall feed Hibi flock," and Gounod's "0 Divine Redeemer." She will also take part in the vocal quartette, "God is a spimt." Mrs. Gower Burns' items include the aria from Mendelssohn. "Hear ye Israel," and Mercadante's "Sailve Mana." She will also be heard with Mr Percy Dento'ii m Verdi's "Ah ehe la Morten." * » * Mr. Percy Denton is down for Taylors "Easter Morn" and Mendelssohn's, "Ye people rend your hearts " Mr Bal lance wiJl sino- Gounod's "There is a green hill," and Alhtsen's "Like as the hart desireth." Herr Max Hoppe will give violin sodote' (Raff's Cavatina and Godard J s "Berceuse"), Mr. Cyiil Towsey promises Chopin's "Funeral Mai eh" (Op. 35), and Mr. Herbert Barrett will be at the organ. # * * Let the hills resound. Pea cy is ooane to his own again. In other words, Dixs Gaiety Company gets off the mark again to-morrow (Saturday) after waiting a long time for the pistol. "Dresden China" dancers Bicknelk are among the "stars," and Harry Shine, whoim to know is to love, will natter some. Them, there are> Mass Harne Alexander from Victoria, songstress ; Bob Lloyd, comedian ; Misses Donne Donald and Nellie Holland, comediennes not to mention the musical comedy , "Fast Friends " and the new first-part, "Gay Pare©." The English biograph mil show some of the finest pictures to date. The pricerc are as of old, and early doors are 6d extra Fuller';* will provide a sacred concert foi Good Friday night at His Majesty's. A lnyriorarna of fine coloured viewb of Japan and the Japanese will be varied by recitations from, little Vera St. John, and songs by Miss Lavinia Tyson (contralto) and Misb Lily Northwood (soprano). Lady oornettist Miss Freda Biandon will appear, as also will Mlss Lydia Walters. * * • 'The gieat Moguls of Maooland Minstrelsy " the Fullers, have been circulating round for vaudeville talent to crowd on to His Majesty's for Easter Saturday. Among the celebnties who will exhibit their various wares on that night and thereafter are Vantell, triple horizontal bar monarch , Tom Hedley, the musical moke , Ward Lear, incomparable mametic comedian ; James Opie, baritone , Freda Brandon, cornet soloist Sam La Mert, whistling comedian Mardell Sisters (Florrie and Flo) serio double; Lavrma Tyson, contralto vocalist Alma Lyndon, hurricane diancer, Flo Calcutt, serio , Barrie Marschel and liene Carlyon, society entertainers. * • • A propos of Alf. Hill's new opera, Sydney "Newsletter" backs Hill's music "to have a better flavour than the present tune products of London mills, which seem now-a-daye to do little else than regrind the weavily stuff of the old-time nigger show." (Continued on page 18.)

Theie was a good attendance of ladies and gentlemen, young and old at Godbei''& Rooms, on Tuesday evening, to reioice ovei the return of Mr. F. M. B. Fisuei , M.H.R. Dr. Wallace Mackenzie, who is an old Otago boy, was ohlaarman, with a slow, deliberate manner of expressing his bentiments. He rambled into a rather long sema-pohtical oration xn introducing the newly -fie dlged politician, and advised everybody piesent to get to work as a committee to ' Dahn" into Parliament a.gam at the coming general elections. * • * Young Fisher, who was jovially inclined, said he felt himself an old political war-horse, and jemarked that he had met a man in, the street that day who, istrange to say, was not a candidate for the City Council. He touched poJitics m a conversational way, and etverybody endorsed, everything he said. He said the present House was a "cmc-horse show " — you know the horse referred to andi if people were satisfied, sack everybody, and let King Dick run the countiy. * * # ' Dahn" said his hat still fitted him, and he didn't intend driving tin tacks into Mr. Seddon from beginning to end of the session. The information wasi ateo forthcoming that ' Dahn's" election expenses amounted to £26 18s. Everybody refreshed temperately, Massrs. W. A. Thomson and! J. Daviies were the successful secretaries, riiiid musical items were given, bv Misses Rash and, O'Loughlin and bv Messrs. Gray. Jeff revs, Johnston, Dykes, Duff. Whitaker. Watts and Snvth.

Oh 1 Thou husky, asthmatic old fellow, Whom coughing has bent like a bow ; Thou child with the colic, whose bellow Disturbs the whole neighbourhood so. Oh ! Lad with the appetite hearty, Whom sweetmeats too greatly allure ; Now mark what I say, nor depart ye From Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.

The new American maich song, "Good Bye, Mv Bluebell," is having a good run. * * * A. A. Brown, recently thiough Australia, from 'Munka, is the oditoi of the Union S S Company's new magazine, The Red Funnel." » * * In Melbourne the Lyric Orches-tia. and Associated Choi us are going to give Weber^ "Der Freischutz" m the Town Hall in opeia di camera form. * * * You remember Fei ry the Fiog, who appeared on the Dix circuit several years ago. He is leported to have lecently died at Demei, Colorado. * * * In Sydney theie was some talk of putting Aboniah, the giantess, on the electoial roil. It wa» found) that the electoral roll wasn't big enough. * * * Alf. Steven-,, who has bee 1 with the Pollards ever since he was. a small nipper, us about to retire, along with his wife (nee Claude Palmer), and settle down. * * * John Fuller Ims luid a lot of hard knocks and pie&=> compliments in his time Somebody has now written him up ab "the Mogul of Maouland nuiistrelcy." # # Bland Holt's, latest sensation is The Betting Book," an Austrahanised melodrama. It enable* Bland to introduce a football match (Australian rules) on the fetage, as well as the usual steeplechase. * * * A young muvcian, named Gdll, who made his debut at Breslan, in February last, at a conceit given by Kubelik, has caused quite a furore. It is said that he eclipses all pianists since Liszt and Rubinstein. • * * Miiss Jennie Opie, who h*id temporarily retired from the stage to teach singing, is appearing in "La Fille d!u Tambour Major," in Melbourne. She is the statuesque beauty who used to sing for Percy Dix. • * • The revival of Offenbach's comic opera, "La Fille dv Tambour Major," at Melbourne, is on a big scale. Theie is a grand 1 chorus of one hundred voices, and an orchestra of twenty-six. Mi. John Wallace is stage nmnaiger. # • • Johnnie Sheridan (Widow OBrien) is always pleased to give a fellow-stnver a helping hand. He helped to lighten most of the "bookies" at Newcastle races (New South Wales) the other day. Backed nine winners out of ten. Big money, too. • • • Bland Holt, having been accused of being a New Zealander, has denied it. He is a Londoner, but admits he was for some: years a High School boy in New Zealand. Bland has one hundred dramas in stock, and doesn't pay royalties now-a-days. He simply buys the thing. # Eugenie Duggan is the thud actress in Australia to try the part of Camille of late. The other two were Tittell Brune and Nellie Stewart. "Table Talk" says Eugenie was seriously handicapped by poor support, and by a certain robustness of physique and voice which doesn't suggest a consumptive. # * • The Manila "Sunday Sun" remarks that the DrisooLls — well-known at Fuller's — are the best comedians in Australia, and are paid " fabulous salary." I wonder if the Drisooll boys told them, or whether they found out for themselves, or if they know where Austialia is, or whether it's a suburb, or a continent, or anything? * * * Mjssi Janet Waldorf, whose very excelLent work was not recognised here, mainly becatuse no one made a great preliminary fuss, is now one of the topnotchers of the American stage. Miss Waldorf was the only American actress I can remember who spoke English English. But off the stage she relapsed into American English. * * * Harry Musgrove tells me one of the oddest things about Little Tich is his dancing. He throws his legs about as if they didn't belong to him at all. The name "Tich" us supposed to be short for Tich bonne, the great claimant, and, as "Ticfo" allows himself to be advertised "the greatest comedian on earth." he probably thinks that makes him the greatest claimant as well. • * * Bland Holt doesn't like changes in the personnel of his stock dramatic company. Walter Baker has beem, with him for fiteen years, Albert Norman sixteen years, Charles Brown fifteen years, M. F. Kemp, Harrie Ireland and Brigh'tae Smith twelve years each, Frances Ross ten years, Christie Simonsens, business manager, fifteen years, Arthur Share, property man, fifteen years, Percy Kehoe, leader of orchestra., twelve years.