Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 84, 8 February 1902, Page 17

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

THK Boston Concert Compam will heieaftei be remembered a.s the coinpam which brought Bernhard Walthei and his violin to Wellington This unassuming musician, without mannerism, has a mastery over his instrument, a tendei I \ -perfect execution and an intonation that makes one long to listen and regret to ' leave. In Sarasate's Romanza" the player's npe artistic talent was admirabh illustrated. Absolute faithfulness and ' soul " maiked this a& it ceitainly does all other numbers given b^ the gifted pla\er. Exquisitely sweet i\ as the Last Rose of Summer ' given as an enooie. Bernhard Walt her is brilliant The fortunate ones of Wellington who have listened to his rendering of Sarasate's gems oi his classical items will surely accoid him a glad welcome should he ever letum to Wellington. * * ■* In Madame Lillian Wdlther the compau\ has a finished soprano with music in hei heart as in her voice This lady's voice impi esses you not only by its yen fine quality but by the sympathy of its expiession Exquisite was hei renderin" of Me\ pi beei's cavatina ''Robert toi que ]'aime " and no less exquisite and even moie gladly leceived was "Comin' Through the Rye " Madame Walther's exceptionally pleasing appearance gives the promise of what proves To be a treat in music Miss Beat nee Vaitha presided at the piano Kach of her splendidly-rendered pieces was le-callod Her accompaniments weie aitistic and her whole peiformance deserving ot gieat praise Mi . C> rus Bi ow nice New ton is a gentleman with an excellent conception of humoui . and a power of expressing it to match He writes his own recitations, which from a literary point of view are rather fine Mr. Newton's facial expiessiou and command of gestuie give him a place as a comedian and his quaint chaiacter sketches are true to life and the appieciation of the audience is assured. Mi Newton's pourtrayal of the chaiactei of an elderly female, who leads the paper and makes remarks thereon is the best thing he does The introduction of such wholesome original comech is a fine feature of a fine conceit The Boston Concert Company with its finished artistes, has m it all the elements that should make for success * * * The Second m Command " a fouract comech b\ Captain Robert Marshall which the Broughs played on the last three nights of la>st week is certainly a trump card in their hands It caught the fancy of the public from the outset, held their interest unflaggineh suffused many feminine eyes with tears in the softer passages and sent evervboch home quite satisfied that he had had his moneys worth -* ■* + The principal male charactei s belong to the 10th Dragoon Guards and, consequently, there is a brave show of military uniforms and trappings Moreover, the coips is detaaled for service in South Afnca and the preparations for departure introduce a. strong flavour of patriotic spirit into the ston _It is a plot of misunderstandings leading to much heart-wringing but skilfully conducted by artistic stages to the usual happy finish. * * * Majoi Chris Bmgha.m — 'Kit' and "Binks" to hi.s intimates— has long bee-n enamoured of Muriel Mannermg and annualh nops the question only to be stalled oft each time. He is a genial, even-tempered, happy -go-luck} fellow, lust past the heyday of -\outh and not in the way of promotion, and therefore used to ill-luck Muriel is fancy free, but she has an aunt (Lad\ Harburgh), who talks with distressing plainness of the expense of keeping hei and so when the Maior next urges an engagement the girl leluctanth assents ■+ * * Immediately afterwaids she meets Colonel Anstruthei D S.O discovers in him her beau ideal and the pair fall mutually into love Muriel begs her freedom back from the unhanm "Binks " and his colonel becomes the accepted lover His fiancee's bi other is a subaltorn m his own legiment but

dttplj imohed in debt Anstiuther it, mil,' and gives lv& own cheque to Bmks in ouiei that he ma,\ paj off the debts Lieut Mannenng jumps to the conclusion that his sister had thrown o\ti Binks and eng««g«'d ht'i self to the rich Anstiuther as the pi ice of lus own financial sah ation In <i fit of Kinoise lie makes tins explanation to the Colonel The ( olonel appeals to Bmks' (his ti usted second in command) and Bmks" has not the moial coinage to sa\ that he is not the object (>t tliTgnl s lo\e Tt is the one flaw m bis rhai actei Austiuthei theiefoie, bleaks oft his ( n«aii( iiK.it b\ pienndmg he novel Nie'ant it and d< pai ts hea.it->. token for South Afnca Bmks' endures the modification ot being left behind but womes the Wai Office into sending him out on acme seivice In South Afnca he wins the VC and also brings about a I^_^ ending to th< game of cio-s-pui poses b\ confessing his deception and lestonng hanmness to the lovers This is unh the bluest outline of a charming comedy Mrs. Brough had not much scope foi that emotional acting in winch she excels One oppoitunrh certaaiih «a«enenhci in the situation wheiem the Colonel, with dissembled sane fioid bieaks off his engagement bv vague references to "another woman, and she makes the most of it in that perfectly natural manner which she never tiansgresses Altogether it was a fine character study Mr. Brough played with nice iudermeut the role of Maior Bingham ("Binks") and Mr Cecil Ward made a very decided "hit as Colonel Anstruther He looked the part and played with creat self-re-straint makinor Tiis. "points" without the least effort * • •* Miss Susie Vaughan was leally fnstclass as the haughty British mat ion patiician variety and Mr Leslie A ictcvr wa,s amusing as the Hon. Hildebrand Carstairs a young blood in leading strings There was some capital singing behind the scenes in the third act, which made the suggestion of the campfire paitv more real The T.uamij ot Teais which wax played on Moncla\ and Tuesday . was interesting became it was written bHaddon Chambers, the Australian novelist But it disappointed many and it it had not been in the hands of so fine a comedy company as the Brougns it must have failed dismally. It has a slight Ibsemsh flavour, and its dialogueare idthei prosy. There is no need to follow the •dailies" over the plot. Everyone knows it is the stoiv or a husband ruled bv the tears of his wife, and finding a way at last to come in out ot the ram It is a slight thing at best but the skilful wav in which it is handled V the Brought*, makes it effective Mr Biough was splendid as the strong clever indolent wielder of the pen escaping from the bondage ot his wife's teaiful tyrannies Mr. Cecil Ward as the husband's cynical and philosophical friend, fully sustained his reputation, and Mrs. Brough acted with her usual refinement and unfailing tact the rather difficult part of Miss Woodward the healthy, hungry English girl, who is forced to earn her living on account of her misfortune in being the thirteenth daughter of a poor country parson Mi«s Temple was exceedingly successful as the every-day Mrs. Parkins, and Mr Charles Garry, as an old roue escaped from the toil<= of connubiahtv was cheerfully ludicrous * * * "Mrs Dane s Defence" was produced on Wednesday, with great success. Mrs Dane is a lady with a past, who has been innocently introduced into the society of Sunnywater by Canon Bonsey From this beginning a capital plot is- evolved. Mr Brough as a keen-witted lawyer, and Mrs. Brough as the lady with a past, had both strong parts and shared the honours of a splendid performance. The last nights are now with us. ' Sweet and Twenty" goes on to-night, "The Liais" is undehned for Saturday, and 'The Tmazons" is promised for Monday * * * At Dix s Gaiety, two and a-half verj pleasant hours are spent each night by a big crowd. The star "turns" at the Theatre Royal are well up to the high Gaiety average, the crowds inst as large ajid the people as appreciative Alt Lawton, on the corner, is the latest acquisition. He makes quaint remarks, designed to produce laughter He is neither so lobust as Les Wharton, nor so boisterous as Sayles, but, in a quieter wav he hits the situation aimed at and o-ets home on the popular fancy Miss Lizzie Kiik is greeted each night with a good-sized ovation, and she eertamh deserves it. There is a finish a vu_"e-tn i of power m her fine vocal sketches that <nve her a distinct place rf}u t own is quite oiiginal and

her style is magnetic. There is as much difference between Miss Kirk and the average serio-comic, who skips around and depends on physical charm alone to please, as there is between 'Arry's melodeon and Mr. Hawkins' orchestra. * * * Mi Edgai Granville lias opened up has wardrobe, and appears during fifteen minutes as anybody you can suggest, with a song, dance, or patter appropriate to the case. Granville does not moroh yell he veils artistically and humorously. His patter is wholesome, and his local references free from the usual inanities His 'turn'' will live in the memory of Gaiety habitues. Frank Leon still holds the championshin of the world as a step-dancer. I heai that his challenge to dance all comers for the belt is stall open. This is a chance for local amateurs. Also local amateurs should go along and see if they have a hope. I fear not. I noticed a theatrical lady m the dress circle on Monday who remained passive at other stars' 'turns,'' but who> applauded with much abandonment when Leon broke out. He really is wonderful. *•->■* The Howard Sisters smile and sing and dance are jolly looking, and would be a splendid advertisement for any fhmthat wanted a picture of the rosebud of health Miss May Lewis still does hex hair prettily and Charlie Failing conducts a graphophone band in his usual ponderously playful style. Georgie Devoe is handsome and convincing, and stiis up all who can dance in the company to help her in a, cake walk, and helps to cheer the audience on its wav. The Craggs, whom it was feared would not come to New Zealand, are announced Their 'turn" is considered bv Svdneysiders to be one of the finest ever given on a vaudeville stage. Irene Franklin wrote from Sydney to America 'The American invasion has set m in earnest in Australia. Please tell God s country that I don't know when I am coming home." But she went all the same. A company styled the New Orleans Juvenile Company, mostly composed of boys, is touring Southland as a minstrel show The company hails from Victoria. Mrs. Howie, who lias been singing at Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, and other places under the high-sounding and verv far-fetched title of the "Princess Te B-angi-pai," has also found time to take lessons from Santley, and to pay a visit to the Rev. Charles Clark and Mrs. Clark. It will be remembered that she was engaged as son°stressin connection with Mr. Clark's lecture-entertain-ments in New Zealand. (Continued on paqe lt> }

Mr. Albert Cohen, the popular subeditoi of the Dunedin 'Star," and chairman ot the Parliamentary Press Gallery, reached Wellington this week, on his return South after "doing" Sir Joseph Ward's triumphal tour of the West Coast. It was Albert's first visit to the Coast, but his fame had preceded him. At Hokitika the local pressmen held a symposium in his honour, and "lionised" the hero of the celebrated Parliamentary privilege case. We have to acknowledge receipt of handsome calendars from the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, and the> American Tobacco Company.