Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 80, 11 January 1902, Page 17

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight

FLORODORA" has been w aftmg its subtle odorb ovei packed house* every night, and, a& I write the hands are busy packing Floro doia" a* ay, and taking The Oasi" > Girl" out "of her bandbox in ordei that she may make her debut on Thursday nieht " 'Florodora" ha<- made a Sord ft will be hard to match Melo dious, -paiklmg. picturesque welldressed, and prettily staged this light and effervescent musical con^ '•caught on" in Wellington mst as surely and as completely .is it has doneven where else » • » On Saturday owing to the indisposition of Miss Edgai, Mfcs Gertie Campion filled the part of Lady ; Holyrood. She is not quite up to her "Gay Parisienne" form, but she is certainly charrn^ me as the fashionable modern woman ot 35 world. The delightful concerted item • Tell Me Pretty Maiden," has been recalled even' "ight It is worth a ride in the tram from Newtown and [that is a sacrifice almost too great for 'the. most enthralling of music. The "Darfc-ho' burE,ue g bv Miss Roue Evisson and Mr Percy, has created as much interest' as the "turn" of the marvellous Darto s themselves, and the agile graceful pair have been enroled m"htlv to dart-oh some more. « * * The Casino Girl," which I am going to see on Thursday night, has been a trump card elsewhere. A& a spectacle it is said to be exceptionally beautihil Miss Evans, in the name part, gives a very refreshing performance, and the Dolly Twinkle of fascinating Gertie Campion is in that lady's be.t sule. Miss Alice Pollard has some verj sweet items to sing. The inimitable Percy masquerade*, as Pilsenei Pasha It is almost a continuation of the celebrated German character in 'Belle of New York " but not quite up to that standard # . Mr Carter as Stuyvesant of tte half-dozen Christian names gets tnj; opportunitN to sing "Only Once More and this is reckoned the gem of the tv hole piece. The tunefulh bngln coon song, "You don't know how I lov you " the words of which are by Mr Percy and the music by Mr Clarence Vauehan, both of Pollards is anotn-r popular item * « ♦ Bright breezy business fills the house at Dixs Gaiety, and keeps the spirit* of the audience up to concert pitch The part of the audience which cannot get.' seats patiently peers from the promenade and threatens to be earhei next time. Many new and novel 'turns arc included in the big bill * * • Murphy and Mac. the American comedians, collect a select supply of people for the companj , and use their especial brand of talent to titillate the risibilities of the audience Farcically the business ot this pair is ' aw ay ahead for that kind of foolishness the people are fond of listening to There is a considerable spice of pure New York in the Murph\ , Mac, and Company farce and, being American, it is obliged to r-all for laughter and encore*. * * * The Lenton Trio make it their special mission in life to impersonate impossible Chinamen, perform (to othei people) impossible feats and throw hats with a precision that would be rather difficult to emulate This is not a •'dumb" turn, as the performers keep up a perpetual jabber in "pidgen English One brother takes a stock of hats into the dress circle, and supplies the other on the stag© with a tiei of headgeai aggregating two feet. Looks simple but try it for yourself * • • Fred. Norm, the man on the skates and with the most pronounced "Murnkan" twang ever let loose on the Gaiety stace, when he does finally hold up on his long stock of weary witticisms, corner right down to business, and skates surprisingly Skating is Mr. Norm's forte. ' His also is not a 'dumb turn The Lingard Sisters have a well-acted song and dance, recalling childhood <■ happy days and the "You w on't plavm our yard" style of argument The brunette Lingard is at her best in thi<= latest thing of hers

Charlie Failing's fooleries, and Les Wharton's ancient, but still popular, songs, are aired several tames each evening by the command of a peremptory audience, and Little Alma Gray, the sweet child singer and dancer, is rocking 'Ma Sugar Baby" to sleep for the last few nights in Wellington. Baritone Bnnkman is in fine fettle, easy in manner, and finished in execution" He is rathei an acquisition, too, ornamentally * * * Miss Mar\ Wlutakei , •who left the Telephone Exchange, m Auckland, to loin the Pollards, is said to be the eldest daughter of the la to Mr. F. A Wlutaker once upon a time M.H.R. for Waikato, and therefore grand-daughter of the late Sir Frederick Whitaker, X CM G * * • Williamsons Italian Opera Company are going to disband after their operatic engagement, and, like the Cutticas m years gone b> will re-form into a concert company to tour New Zealand Horr Ben no Soherek will be their pianist (Continue/I on page IS )

A distinguished young Aucklandei in the person of Dr. Grace Russell, M.D of London, ha*> just returned, via Am erica, on a visit to her birthplace and is now staying with her mother, Mrs. Russell, at Devonport. Dr. Grace Russell is the youngest daughter of the late Mr J B Russell, formerly a leading barrister and solicitor in Auckland and was born and received her early education in her natal city. She returns t*j the practice of her profession in London after a short visit to her old home md people Mrs. Haverson, who was well known m Wellington a few years ago, when, she «as Miss Laura Treadwell, has returned from England, and proposes to reside here for a year or two. It will be remembered that, a& Miss Treadwell, she was perhaps the "best stared at" lady m Wellington, owing to her pluck in being the first of her sex to venture out into the streets on a bicycle m this city. In England, too, Miss Treadwell, who was a keen cyclist, introduced the novelty of a "cyclists' wedding" — she and her husband, and wedding party, cycled to a prett\ church in the suburb of London were married, and merrily cycled away again on their honeymoon tour. The experiment was a great success, and has been copied since by many other enthusiasts Dr. Orontryatekha is the name •jf a full-blooded, eduoated, North American Indian, who has excited attention by his visit to Australia. He has also excited attention in. another way, for he has just been on trial at the Central Criminal Court Melbourne, on a charge of assaulting a young woman of twenty, whom he employed as ..ypist. The Sar engaged is said to have been the strongest that has ever been known in the history of a criminal trial in Australia. Mr. Purves, X.C , and Mr. Duffy, X.C the two best barristers in Melbourne, appeared for the defence, instructed by Mr. Woolf, while the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Finlayson, K.C.), xmduoted the case The jury disagreed, nine bering in favour of a conviction and three for an acquittal Under the circumstances, the accused was remanded on bail Messrs. J. W. Wallace and Co. insert an advertisement re "The Disincrustant Marseillaas," for which they have been appointed sole agents for New Zealand. This "Disincrustant" is used by leading steamship owners, manufacturers, etc., m England, and its sale is increasing enormously every year We desire to acknowledge and reciprocate New Year greeting from the Premier and from the Northern Bowling Association of New Zealand, the latter card bearing some original verses "in braad Scotch" by John McGlashan, the Wellington poet. J. H Robinson watchmaker and optician, of Willisstreet has issued a New Year souvenir, in the form of a neat little pocket calendar in leather case, which his customers will much appreciate. The National Mutual Life Association of Australasia have issued a very useful wall calendar, w Inch contains an up-to-date commercial and strategic map of the British Empire MeNsrs Turabull, Watkins. and Williams are selling bv auction, at their rooms, at No. 3, Panama-street, on Wednesday, 15th January, at 2.30 p.m the residence of Mr R W. Kane, No 8, Hobson -street. The very fine house is, perhaps, one of the most modern and convenient in Wellington The allotment has a frontaee of 63 feet to Hob-son-street , and a depth of 1 65 feet. The house contains nine large rooms and it may be viewed bv card obtainable from the auctioneers We have received a sample tin of Gold Flake, cigarettes The staff pronounces them a capital smoke. Messrs J Myers and Co are the agents

Messrs Haroourt and Co. will sell by auotion on Friday, 10th January, the privileges in connection with the Wellington^ Racing Club's summer meeting. Terms and other particulars may be had on application to the auctioneers. An important sale, of interest to brewers, hotelkeepers, and investors, appears in our advertisement columns. It will be seen that Messrs. Macdonald. Wilson, and Co., under instructions from Miss Crawford, will submit the freehold of the Te Aro Hotel, situate at tho comer of Willis and Dixon streets The hotel is well known as. one of the highest class, and the property one of the most valuable in the city. It is stated that the sum of £10,000 was recently offered for its purchase. Further details appear in the advertisement

Ot all the many headache temedies on the market, none can comp.ue favourably with Steams' Headache Cure. It is so nice to take, f^ives such certain lesults, and is free from bad effects

They have a young German baritone over in Sydney just now whose name, "Sussmileh" (meaning "sweet milk" in English), has been localised into "Milk-s-hake." • * <► The Brouglifc started thear New Zealand tour with a record house* at Auckland on Boxing night. Money was being refused* at the doors a full half-hour before the rise of the curtain • • • Leaving Sydney, the other day. Signor Steffaim, the best teacher of singing that city, perhaps, has ever known, said "Farewell, Australia, I leave you to the working man and the sen ant **" . Charles E. Naylor ("Cuckoo") is ap peanng in Sydney with Rickards, and is billed as "New Zealand's tenor vocalist '' Howard Chambers (late, of Auckland), art the same theatre, is described as "New Zealand's baritone " • • • Miss Beitha Bird, a Victorian soprano, whose phenomenal range compasses the five "C's," is studying with Mr. Chas. Santley —and was expecting to appear before the London public during the Christmas season • • « Wallace Brown] ow, the handsome baritone, is reported as "making a good recovery from his recent accident." Seems that while walking a corridor at Sandringham House he inadvertently opened a wrong door, and, stepping into space, sustained a faJl > • • Miss Clara Morns, the well-known Australian actress in the United States, is shortly to be taken out on a lecturing tour. Clara is the plucky woman who lefused an anaesthetic when her spine was burned with white hot irons, for spinal disease The most remarkable resemblance produced by a. make-up yet seen on the Melbourne stage is said to be Mr. Cha> Garry's second edition of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain in "Mrs. Dane's Defence " As James Risby, Mr. Garry was "Jo 1 ' to the life. Orchid and eyeglass were missing, otherwise audiences would have whoopetl at it. Miss Alice Hollander, the young Australian contralto, is just now starting on a farewell concert tour of New Zealand, i->rior to going Home One of her "luts" is Goring Thomas's song My Heart is Weary." Miss Hollonder is accompanied by Mr. Neil MeCay (tenor), Herr Vollmar ('cellist), and Mi Ernest Farrell (solo pianist and accompanist) • • • Neil McCay, by the wav, has been engaged bv Mr. J. C. Williamson for hi« comic opera season in Australia Mr McCa^'s voice is light, but his technique is perfect. Mr Williamson has permitted him to appear with the Hollander Concert Company for a few weeks until he is reauired to take the niincipal ■juvenile tenor parts in, Melbourne