Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 287, 30 December 1905, Page 5

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight

MR. J. C. Williamsons KnightJeffne* Company began its Wellington farewell season at the Opera House on Boxing Night. There wL nob a vacant seat m the house, and a very large number ot people were Snabll to nter to see "The Daihng of the Gods " The drama is absolutely unconventional. It takes far its material Japanese legends, Japanese religion, Japanese mysticism. It d:pend> for its success not on its "book, which is full of fine things, nor on the people in the cast, but on the gorgeous scenery, the wealth of Oriental colouring: the beautifully-arranged stage pictures, and the general air of brilliancy. To explain or criticise the joint work of Daviu J3elabco ami joim Lutaer lioney is worn for a student of Japanese mysticism, habits, ana environment. To understand or follow the intricacies of the diama n» beyond the aveiage piay-goer. The average play-goer k» content to know that here is \oßaii l a beautirui, irresponsible Japanese princess who calls down the wrath of the gods' and paruculaily of Buddha, by kJimg a bubterllvj content to watch the birth and development of her love for the Samurai leader, Kara, the hellish machuiiations ot Zakkuri {a Mmjstei ot State), the subsequent death by his own hand of the said leader, and tue thousand years' wandering of the soul of Yosan across a spirit sea to meet her dead lord. « * * One sees the curtain go down, on a rather radiculous meeting of Yosan and her lord in the clouds not with any particularly poignant regret for the misforcuneo of the chief characters, noi with a great admiration for the drama further than its literary beauty. There is little that enchains the sympathies, bub there is a wealth of picturesque beauty that gratifies the artistic sensibilities. Miss Maud) Jeffries, as Yosan, invested the part of the simple Japanese maiden with dainty charm and giaoe. It is obvious that the character of Yosan is a favourite with this clever actress. The identity of Mr. Julius Knight is entirely lost in his pourtrayal of the villainous Minister, Zakkuri. It isi the addition of another triumph for Mr. Knight, and a tribute to his versatility. Mr. Harry Plimmer distinguishes the part of Kara, the outlawed! lover, by powerful acting, splendid declamation, and manly bearing. One could wish for nothing more excellent. • * • The cast is a particularly long one, and the show certainly is not a one, two, or three man or woman one. The perfection of detail is quite' marvellous, and must remain a happy memory to those who are fortunate enough to see "The Darling of the Gods." If you don't see it you are sure to rue it. • • • At His Majesty's Theatre on Boxing Night, before a crowded and) delighted audience, Czerny, a very prinoe among prestidigitateuns, gave the first of a series of entertainments, which will rank with the best of holiday attractions. Time cannot wibhgr nor custom stale the art of the magician. "Under its. spell we all become children again. The wizard's stage is perennial fairyland for humanity of both sexes and all ages. And how the memory conjures up the wonder-work-ers of the past. Some among us can still reoal the feats of Wizard Jacobs, whose astonishing trick with a lady's shawl has yet to be duplicated. And how strong, elegant, and altogether distinguished was his successor, Robert Heller, fine magician, superior pianist and musician, and delightful talker. Nor is it possible to forget the accomplished Haselmayer, he of the goblin drum and the canaries and white mice; or that great thaumaturgist, Dr. Silvester, better known as the Fakir of Oolu, whose "Beautiful Entranced Lady" was the bewilderment of all beholders. Pleasant, too, the recollections of Chevalier Thorn, Dr. Lynn, and! Kellar — all pastmasters in the world of magic and mystery. , # # Mr. Czerny — or rather Czerny, _ since this gentleman prefers to treat his ttnhandled surname as a sufficient title — i«? a worthy successor of these shining chevaliers of the black art. His

sleight-of-hand, his vivacity of address, ancl his, smooth, flow of easj' talk occupy your a c centum whilsc he dupes you mast thoroughly with his nimble sleight-of-hand. There is a careless grace about his tricks which completes the charm. In fact, neatness and finish characterise everything he does. The result is, perfect satisfaction on cue part of his. audience. The eruei-tamment comprises three distinct parts, and the ettects of each may ba ascribed to three separate bourn* of wonderment. The first part i. devoted to a capital exhio-^un. or Ueight-or-hand, and! in thus Czexny brings you under his spell at once, -a-ii his tricks are new and original, and he presents them on a scale, not hitherto attempted in Wellington, of costly and elaborate scenery and effects- and da nty and decorative dressing and costumes. "The Handkerchief in Trouble, •'The Coffee Supper," "The Flight of Birds," and "Gol Gol" are all masterpieces . . . In the second and third parts of the programme, Czerny presents some admirable and picturesque stage illusions. 'The Birth of Spiing-time," "Mimosa, a Story of Japan," and "A Legend of Persia" are all first-olass. In on© ot these mysteries, the wonder is how Czerny, apparently b.y simple wordls ot command, can materialise a uvwg, breathing woman out of the air in full light and before the eyes of everyone. In another, he aptly illustrates the Eastern marvel of the levitation of human beings in mid-air, and the methods employed are so carefully concealed that no hint is given upon which a theory of explanation may be built. Further variety was lent the entertainment by the sweet singing of Miss M. Topping, in illustrated, songs, and the tableauscope, which showed some laughable pictures. A dainty Japanese dance was executed by Misses Topping and Synnott, while a. full orchestra was under the conduetomhip of Mr. T. Dorgan. Don't mis® Czerny, by any manner of means. Tne iioiiciay crow a at Fuilei 6 Tneatie JAuyai wav a Urge, giad c^wu Wo^x tn<^ country anu eisewneie, ana, a& it came vo town to revel, it reveiieu all it Knew. Tiial there wa& a goou crop or odd habitueo mere too wat> evident oy the tumuii/uoat> and longsut>tained tnundei or welcome tttax greeted the re-appearance 01 Freu Rivenhall, who listened with due reverence to tne effort and then exclaimed, with the poet, A bosketi !" Eviuently, the ciowd are classical scholars, tor they understood. Mr. Rivenhall s worK is or the lively description, and hia efforts, as a policeman to imbibe a pint of beer through a baby's comforter and a length of tubing was a device that seemed 1 to ''go down." • • • Mist* Cecile Stephano is a new songstress ot sterling merit. She has a mezzo voice or fine quality, and! her bet>o efforo in my juugment is ' Marguerite." The value ox her voice was instantly recognised. In duets with hei sister Lulu, she is also most successful. The Brewers, who axe real coloured coons of about the fourth degree, are ooon smg9rs, sketch artists, and cake-walkers of some brilliance, and Mi&s Maude has a loud voice. John is versatile, and can make a large grotto of a rather pronounced mouth. • * • Mr. Chas. Howard sang for the first time on Saturday night Mr. J. Youlin Birch's new song, "Good-bye, May." "Jacky" Birch is the part parent of "A Moorish Maid," and this new song of his is off on a different tack altogether. The music has been written by Mr. Ivan M. Levy, who is, like "Jacky," a "Times" reporter. Mr. Howard sings it well, and, as the chorus is cast on the screen, and is a surging affair anyhow, it gets the popular fancy. Soldier songs of the "goodby, I'm-going-to-get-shot style, aTe always illustrated in New Zealand with American soldier pictures, which is a big m stake. » ♦ » Clyde Cook is a solemn boy of acrobatic tendencies. He is a good acrobat, but if he would learn a smile or two he would get. on better. The Scotch specialist, ' Will Loohrane^ is a "kilty" with a stock of fine old vatted business, and his patter is quaint and well done. • » • Fuller's sacred concert, on Christmas n'ght, was very largely attended, and not only was the musical part of the programme of much excellence, but the pictures illustrative of Russia and the Russians were of a haghly educative character. • • • Mr. P. R. T>ix has made a good start with his carnival promenade concerts, in the Skatine Rink The first of the ■senes came off on Boxing Night, and seemed to be much^ enjoyed. There was plenty of variety in the programme. Herr Max Hoppe has a capital orchestra under his baton, and the pieces they gave were played in tip-top style. The.

magic kettle, for some reason or other, didn't bubble, but the Franz .Brothers, in its place, gave a capital exhibition ot weight-lifting. Alnua turned on a good deal of magic, ana Gazza, the military equilibrist, proved au fait with his ingenious and difficult teats. There w^e four competitors for the comxo singing prize, and no end ot fun was got out of it. Other novelties anjd-^^ompetitioins are oeing rung on, and the promenade concert bids fair to have a good irun. I don't feel inclined to join in the paean of ecstatic gush in which that giddy old thing, the "Post," has let ltselx go over the "Messiah" performance by the Wellington Musical Union. It tooK place in the Town. Jlsul on Thuisday night last week, and the audience filled nearly all the seats. I have heard more evenly-balanced performances in Wellington, though, perhaps, none with so many voices and instruments engaged. On this occasion the male voices, numbering ' about seventy all told, were much on the small side as contrasted with seventy altos and about ninety or one hundred sopranos. Some of the choruses, too, were a bit ragged, as, for instance, "And He Shall Purify,' and the first part of "For Unto Us." One of the best was "Behold the Lamb of God," andi "Uiory to God" was also a decided success. The general effect was good. There were evidences of imperfect training also on the part of the orchestra, and, as a general rule, the solo accompaniments wer© too loud. The "Pastoral Svrnphony" was nicely played. # * * Mrs. Barber (from Christchurch), who took the contralto numbers and Mr. James Searle (tenor) were easily the best of the soloists. Th&re was nothing better in the concert than Mrs. Barber's rendering of "He was Despised," wljich was marked! by deep pathos and unaffected dignity. Mr. Searle's execution of "Comfort Ye" and "Every Valley' was worthy to be associated with the contralto solo. The enunciation was singularly clear, the reading accurate, and the phrasing neat. Mrs. F. P. Wilson seemed to me rather over-weighted in the soprano numbers, and "Rejoice Greatly" was marred by sharpness of intonation towards the close. Mr. Clarkson, the bass soloist, has a mellow and resonant voice, but xt needs cultivation. His portamento is not artistic, and, with greater command of vooail technique, he will achieve a much higher degree of success. • * • Mr. Robert Parker condiucted with his usual aplomb and, considering the necessarily few practices he is able to get in and 1 the very erratic attendance of singers and players at this season of the year, he deserves cordial praise far the results he gained with

the forces at his command. Miss Grace Kennedy was leader of the orchestra, and Mr. F. W. Rowley was at the harmonium. One could not but regret that the massive organ at the, back of the platform was in evidence only to the sight For our next "Messiah" we may hope to hear its voice to some purpose. • » » A keen football crowd 1 tunned up to the Town Hali on Christmas night, but they were disappointed with the cinematograpa pictures shown of the *xew Zealand-Northumberland match. Not that the pictures themselves ware faked' — oh, no — simply that the man who took them had .not worked very hard to get himself into a good position from which to operate, and' because the supply was very scant. The pictures were well advertised, hence taie overflowing attendance at the Town Hall. And the rest of the entertainment g-ven by Montgomery's Entertainers was very good indeed. If they can promise better results with the football pictures they ought to have a good run on their next visit. • • * The Tramway Band madte. their bow before the public, by giving a concert in thy Town Hall on Boxing Night. A choice programme was presented, and the pei formers did justice to it, but the audience was woefully thin. Still, strong pretessional counter-attractions and the fact that the great bulk of the population had been lured out of town by picnics and excursions fully accounted for the empty benches. • * ♦ Lieutenant Herd wielded the baton with his accustomed ability, and Mr. Cyril Towsey, as piano accompanist, left nothing to be desired 1 . Tlie band executed a couple of selections (Linton's "Soldier's Dream," and an arrangement oi Irish airs by E. Newton) in a style that showed great aptitude on its part and conscientious training on the part of the conductor. A young clarinettist of great promise came to light in the person of a lad of fourteen named Basil Petersen. He executed fantasias on airs from "Massaniello" and "Tancredi" respectively in a style that showed the possession of unusual musical talent. • • * Miss Amy Hyde was in fine voice, and sang very sweetly "H Baoio" and "A Country Wedding Song," and Misa North Barrett was heard l to advantage in Maud Y. White's setting of "When the Swallows Homeward Fly " and also in "Dermot Asthore." Mr. J. F. Carr contributed a little nosegay of songs dulcet with melody and fragrant with expression. Mr. Arthur Ballance has made "The Trumpeter" one of his most effective songs, and on Boxing Night he gave it with rousing effect. He also joined with_Mr. Carr in "Ring Out Wild Bells," which was executed very artistically indeed. Messrs. Jones and H. Dunn also sang. Herr Max Hoppe made a welcome appearance as violin soloist, and highly pleased his hearers with his technique and intonation.