AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13890, 26 October 1905, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

“THE FIRES OF ST JOHN.” Miss Nance O’Neil closed her Christchurch season last night with the production of Suderman’s latest play, “ The Fires of St John.” Considerable curiosity had existed concerning this particular drama, inasmuch as it has provoked the widest difference of opinion among both Continental'and colonial critics, not only concerning its propriety, but also as regards its dramatic quality. Frankly, the,play is probably caviare to the multitude, but this does not detract from the fact that it is a masterly and intensely human analysis of the passion of life. It is a daring dramatisation of what is probably not too uncommon a social tragedy in daily life, and. if the high lights, have been put in a little too realistically, this may be forgiven on account of the concrete morality of the'lesson which the play sets out to teach. Possibly, in view of the general acceptation of the theatre as purely a place of amusement, the play had better have remained unstaged, but to those who can appreciate a singularly refined ethical analysis of a dangerous human episode, “The Fires of St John ” must remain a vivid and imperishable memory. Tire play, of course, has a strong literary quality, as anything of Suderman’s invariably has, and the experiment of casting the whole of its action in one set is a novelty in stage-craft that was also an extraneous aid to its progress. As the distraught and unhappy Marie, Miss O’Neil has played nothing better. She played with a suggestion of repressed reserve, boiling over under the stress and storm of circumstance into human weakness, that was simply painful. The tears wore oftener in her voice than in her eyes, and it is such tears in real life that spell out its fireside tragedies. Miss O’Neil has played a varied season in Christchurch, but she will leave behind her nothing quite so pathetically personal as her Marie. It is a matter for sincere regret that Mr M’Kee Rankin should have had to leave for America .before the performance, as, in his absence, the delightful character sketch of Mr Brauer had to be played by his understudy, Mr Mario Majeroni played it with a good deal of skill and with consistent cleverness of a-lesser order, but his interpretation lacked that touch of “the divine fire” -which the greater artist might reasonably have been expected to give it. , ' Mr Andrew Robson, as George Von Harten, was only a comparative success. Mr John Glendinning’s Pastor Haffner was also a little tame for so strong a literary characterisation. Miss Jane Marbury played Gertrude prettily and effectively, and Mrs Henry Bracy was a comfortable and satisfactory Mrs Brauer. MISS JESSIE MACLACHLAN. ' Miss Jessie Maolachlan’s farewell concert Was given in the Canterbury Hall last night. • - Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather there was aiarge audience, and a fail* number of men “in tartan.” The Scot, with his wife and children, was prominent in all parts of the . house,. but, at the dose of the first part of the programme, it was shown that his brother from Ireland was also in force, and he made his presence felt by demands for “ Kills,rney,” which the fair songstress kindly granted. This incident displayed a pleasing side of Miss Macladhlan’s character. It was not her intention to have given “ Killarney ” in last night’s programme, but the sudden and emphatic demands for it _ at once told her that she had many friends amongst the most 1 warm-hearted people of the Empire, and—a word to the pianist and the song was given. Her first number was “ Soots Wha Hao,” sung as tlie singer has shown she can. sing Scotland’s patriotic songs, and her encore was the “ Scottish Blue Belle.” Her second number Burns’s “ To Mary in Heaven,” a trying song to sing, with its delicate but tunefully plaintive minor cadences, end she sang it with a feeling that was 'almost devotional. The ' applause was deafening, and the singer gave “ W.i’ a Hunder Pipers.” This song is one of Mies Maclachlan’s best ©{forts, and her audience recognised it fittingly as such. Her next sdng, “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond,” Miss Mackchlan prefaced with a gracefully delivered recital of the story on which the song is built, the last interview with his sweetheart of a condemned rebel of the ’45. Mies Maclachlan’s Gaelic songs were “ Oh. My Boatman ” and “Ho ro, My Nut Brown Maid,” both equally popular with Jthe audience with the songs in the Lowland dialect. After she had sung the Jacobite song, “Will Yo No Como Back Again,” Miss Maolachlan delivered a short address, in which she- heartily thanked the people of Christchurch, in the name of Mr'M’Linden, Mr Buchanan and herself, for the kindness that had been extended by them during the company’s two visits. Mr M’Linden’s ’cello numbers were as popular as ever, and each was loudly applauded and heartily encored. Mr Buchanauk accompaniments' were perfect, and his two solos, both wreaths of Scottish gems, were hiridy appreciated. In the course of the evening Miss Mona Fraser presented Miss Maolachlan with a pretty bouquet of heather, in bloom, from her native Argvkshire. blended with stag moss from 'Ayr, the land of Burns. Jfter the concert members of the Scottish Society took the horses from the oorriace and drew the party home to their hotel, a piper playing from the driver’s seat. “ THE GONDOLIERS.” ' The' Christchurch Amateur _ Opera Company, which scored eo decided a

success with its last production of “ The Mikado,” will_ again essay the entertainment of Christchurch, theatregoers to-night by producing Gilbert and Sullivan’s bright and tuneful opera “ The Gondoliers.” The cast of principals is a strong and clever one, and, judging from the rehearsals, the chorus, too, will be decidedly strong and effective. As is usual in amateur performances, the dressing and staging will be both fresh and elaborate. There is already heavy booking for the short season, which opens to-night. OPERA HOUSE. Mens Ajax, who has been styled ‘f the human crocodile,” is still the principal attraction at the Opera House. His engagement, however, will be concluded this evening, which,will b© the last opportunity the Christchurch public will have of seeing him. The Misses Ranger, the “ Hollos,” and other members of the present company are as popular as ever.