Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 93, 12 April 1902, Page 16

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

"fH HK 1() 3() r>o " 11 Express," I which Waited running at the Opeia House on Saturday and was shunted oft after Wednesday, enabled the Andcison Dramatic Company to load the public up with anothei budget ot sensational hoirors. As a wholesale, cold-blooded villaui. Mr. James Inderwick would be difficult to match, e\ en on the melodramatic stage Most desperadoes of his type are afflicted with an ovei mastering passion for the heroine, but James lnderwick lias no time to think of anybody but himself. He is a bad nephew, of course, and, like the majority of these stage nephews, he has a nch and soft-headed uncle who is easih peisuaded to believe the w orst of his oh n heroic and magnanimous son and heir Theie you have in a nutshell the keinel of the stoiy To explain it in detail would be too steep a contiact altogether. Suffice it to say. that James Inderwick simply w ades into cmne up to his neok. He shoots down his discarded wife m a public place m the first act, and from there his pa,ssace to the scaffold ought to have been easy and rapid But, instead of that, he assists at the arrest of his cousin and the low-comedy man (Sam Wagstaff), and gets them sent to Portland for life They escape, of course, and Indeiwick wings botli his cousm and the low -comedy man, who are then le-taken. Aftei that exploit, he is caught in the act of rifling his uncle's safe, and attempts that relative's life as well but gets off as usual * * # Then, he tries to wreck the 10 30 expres and, mereh bv wav of tit-bit, binds his cousin to the rails. That cousin's wife averts both catastronhes ]ust in the nick of time. Still at liberty, and unmolested — where are the police pp — Inderwick indulges in a little housebreakinf shoots down a detective and several other people, pushes his accomplice over a precipice and escapes But Act "V--so fatal to all rascals — brings in its revenues and the pit gloats at last over his long-delayed doom. * » • The piece was staged in fust-class style and the armal of the 10.30 down express in the third act. was a fine specimen of sensational stage-craft. All the details were brought out into vivid relicf — the lonely signal-box, the railway linr. a. wide* perspective of countiv at night, and the approach of the train. Shingle Bay, Dorset, in the first act. formed a charming stage setting, and the dancing of the Lyceum ballerinas and the singing of Miss Kathleen Duggan, were highly enioved. Her song "The Banks of the Waba<=h" received a double encore » • • Mr. L. Dunbar played the part of the villaanous Inderwick in a style which stirred the sentimental gods to fiequent wrath, and Mr. Charles Blake furnished a fine, manly impersonation of the hero, Jcak O'Malley, who was a marvel of generous forgiveness. Miss Fitzmaurice Gill, as Bessie Leigh, the sorelytried heroine, played with much natural feeling under distressing circumstances and Mr. Frank Hai court appeal ed to advantage as a broken-down gamekeeper who^e sonows dm c him to drink * * * Mr Fiank Hawthorne was a prominent figiue as Sam Wagstaff, an A.B , who stays ashore to assist his housemaid sweetheart, Pegg^ Pott® (Miss Hilda Fraser) to liven un the drama with low comedy In faot. Miss Frasei and Mr Wagstaff kept the drama waiting while their 'fooling" kept the audience laughing It was good ''business" in its wav but rather lon~ spun-out, especially in the fourth act. where Ble-th(M-b\ Bags an extraordinaiv scaiecrow of a bailiff (enacted bv Mr Frank Reis), takes a lively part in some extravagant capers Mi Hawthorne mimicked Wilson Barrett's voice and style rather cleverly. Miss Helen Feigus gave a good account of heiself and the parts generally were stionglv sustained As for the mounting of the play it was all that could be desired * ♦ * To-meht (Thuisdav) 'The World^s A'eulict " is to be piesented. It is leploto with sensational situations and iho scene m the maniac- den is said tr> be remarkable This play had

a good lun" in Sydne\ , and the scenery used theie has been hi ought to Wellington. The season closes on Monday night. # * # Mr McLauglihn's compam of amateurs, at the Empire Bazaatf, have sunply excelled themselves in the production of "The Pirates of Penzance." On Tuesday night, de&pite the howling gale raging without, the seating and standing accommodation at the Skating Rmk was taxed to its limit. I was glad to observe that the bazaar at the back controlled itself while, the opera lasted. # * * Miss Sheen (vanouslv yclept Jennie Jeianie, and Jeannie in the same piogramme) giveis a stukms; lendeiing of the pait of Mabel Wheie\er she i<? permitted bv her lo\ei Fiedenc to be natural, =he =hmes, hei fine voice finds music worth y of it m «ome of Sullivan's brightest gems, and hci chai miner poisonahtv ontirelv fit' her for the paitof the Major-Genonl's dainty daughtei Perhaps, if one may be allowed to prefer an item from such an excellent series, the exquisite solo. "0, Leave Me Not to Pino" was Mi^s- Sheen's finest • * * The Edith of Miss A. Hyde was a.s it should be full of vivacity This young lady has an excellent voice and a good figure is confident, and nlavs with a naturalness that is a fine example for the guidance of other amateurs Miss Lawle-sVs Kate is hardly «o vivacious, but still is biierhfrlv done Mis'- L White as the Pirate "«lavev " is ie-

Dixs Gau?t> C'ompam at the Theatie Roul, compels the ciowd to cram into that nopular lesoit to see the latest imputations from Home Amenca. and Australia Mi Chas. Milton is, a "lfl^ t] t "kicksies" and pearlies, hot trom the Snd Road. He is a complete cosS bamng onl> a donkex chaise and he W arbles g m nch Cockney a .out his s^ c^?«lS M^rma^'af^Atheh^ to come from behind and tell the peonlo more about the East End until ho must wish he'd been bom a toit Those who nave studied the genus co-te-in his nathe state must accept Mi Milton's personation ot tho animal exceptionally faithful • • * The Allisons lun c some cle\ei new business. James when the pan hist appeal has owdenth been out toi an hour or two, and Lucy sings him a cataocme of his callous brutahtv that lea^e^ turn dull and limp and dumb Nothing is left, to him but appealing gpstuies Lucy having nearly exhausted the list of his alleged marital crimes and finished the third verse, James delicately change- the subject with a eorpeous diamond bangle Thereafter c adne&s and matrimonial bliss Lucy Allison is as round as an apple and as piettv a.s a picture, and nature seems to have designed her for the task of exciting applause Her skipping dance* aie daintily done- As for James's danciner it is unique and the pair are undeniably limp by the time the audience ha^ done with, them

spon.sible for the explanatory number, 1 When Fiedenc Was a Little Boy," and in this', as, in her other numbers, she was excellent • • • Sufficiently ferocious is Mr. D. Cromn as 'The Pirate King." Mr. Cromn has an exceptionally fine speaking voice, and he evidently thinks you don't know that a skull, cross-bones, dirks, swords, and pistols, are the trademarks of piracy, for he makes a great success ot the vocal explanation, "I am the Pirate King." Mr. J. M. Izett, as the Maior-General gives a very careful stud\ of that difficult part. I am told ho has rehearsed it but twice. With some necessary furbishing, and a great deal of hammering at the celebrated pattei song that has made the MajorGeneral famous, the part could scarcely be left in better hands. Mr J G. Nowlaii. as sergeant of the comic police force, with rhuematic cheats and chronic fears, is too serious. Mr Gil Hoskins, the corporal of the said force, isn't serious. His comedy is excellent. The policemen are better on songs than on pirates. Their Taranfcara chorus is given with much vim and animation. All the choruses go with great dash, and the staging is most effective. The music 'is of the best, and the whole of the "people" have faiilv eot into their stride. Now, that it has been decided to play both operas at the Opera House, these excellent jimateuis will have full scope for their undoubted talent.

James Harvey and Madge Morris, patter artists, songsters, dancers, and juggleis introduce funnyisins which you ha.\ c never read in the comio papers, and \ou aie consequently glad. Mr. Har\ev is an accomplished mimic, and, taking his many excellent imitations, perhaps, his "Irving Savles" and "Bland Holt" aire the best. The Lingard Sisteis do an exquisitely funny "turn," assisted by Miss Beryl Gilman. Two l.idies personate dolls, which the other is endeavouring to teach to dance, and the an\iet\ of the teacher to get these

dolls to keep their hinges stiff and prevent collapse, tickles the house immensely. The wind-up, wooden, expressionless, dance is so good that one hopes all the time those girls won't fall and break themselves. * • ♦ Miss Silvnn sings "Mandalay" with much sweetness and expression, and is required to sing the last verse twice before the audience is satisfied. Miss Beryl Gilman's "No Sweeter Words," sung very effectively, penalises her, and she also has to trill at greater length than the bill makes provision for. * • • Alf. Law ton and Arthur Albert's "Wild Man from Borneo." is so inexpressibly silly that the audience hurts itself laughing. The ancient song is illustrated by artistic desiems, among which 'the flea on the hair of the dog of the daughter of the wife of the wild man of Borneo" is the animal that would cause bubonic Sydney nightmare inst at present. About the best thing the charcoal pair hare done. * • • Wallace King's "Watching and Dreaming" is sung with great sweetness and charm. As ever, the accomplished veteran is required to warble about his old favourite "Sally." The quality of the wind-up farce, "A Pair of Wives," is vouched for by the fact that the nimble Sivroni takes the leading part. Anything this artiste does is genuinely humorous, and his value as a fun-pro-ducer cannot be over-estimated. * * * Mr. Edmund Montgomery, aft-jr twelve months' absence, has arrived at Dunedin with his biograph entertainment. The new films contain Santos Dumont's balloon trip round the EifFeJ Tow er and a Spanish bull fight. Comedian Harry Hall is with the show, and a Dunedin paper says he "showed great perseverance in the face of the hypocritical (sic) attitude assumed by the audience." * » * At Vespers at the Christchurch Roman Catholic Pro-Ca,thedral, on Sunday night last, Mdlle. Dolores sang Masoagm's "Aye Maria," Mr. Newell accompanying her on the organ. There was a crowded oongregation. * * * The Auckland Amateur Opera Club have had "a try over" with Alf. Hill's opera, "Lady Dolly." which they are likely to produce shortly. "MusicoDramaticus," in the "Herald," says he came away delighted with what he heard. "Lady Dolly" contains just that class of music which has a charm for lovers of comic opera, and they will be able to w liistle not one but many of its airs between the acts and afterwards. Melody has in "Lady Dolly" been the composer's chief aim, and he has skilfully hit the mark. * ' ♦ * Miss Violet Mount has delayed her departure for Sydney, in order to sine: the first soprano part in Schumann's ' Paradise and the Peri," which the Auckland Choral Society are to perform on the 29th instant. Miss Kate Best, who Left Wellington at the beginning of this year, is also likely to have one of the solo pairts

A dramatisation of "The Soirows ot Satin" is spoken of as being in piopai.ition at the Melbourne Princess * * * Bland Holt signs himself in a lettei to a, Melbourne friend, "Yours, in apeipetual hou^e of fumigation. Blanc. The Greenn ood Family are doing good business in the Melbourne suburbs. They anticipate leturning to New Zealand in the near futuie. * * ■* Bland Holt is coming money at tho Sulnev Lyceum. It is said that since he staged 'Hearts aie Trumps" he has been «conng all the tucks — an ' abondanco rlecl.iree " in fact » *• * Dan Leno gets €'221 poi week in Diurv Lane pantomime and ha«. hnrl the same toi two \ ears past Next he will be paid £210 a week' * * * Mr. Waltei Rneis (Waltei Havbittle) lias been engaged by Mi. William Andeison of Sydney as assistant sta-s.e manaeei for one of his dramatic companies. # Bernhard Walther, the Belgian violinist Madame Walther, and Mr. Cytus R. New-ton, leciter, who appeared it the Sydney-street Schoolroom some months ago, started a series of thiee concerts at Melbourne on Good Friday * * * Mr Harold Ashton has presented the brothers, Tom and Dan Fitzgerald, of ciicus fame, with a diamond and pearl pm each. The presentations, which are highly prized by the recipients are both alike, and ueie made as a token of esteem and fiiendship. * *■ * Sir Henry living never allows his title to appear on his piogiamme or play bills, and Wilson Banett does not think it necessary to follow the old stage practice- of ' staining" his name in capital letteis or bigger type than the rest of tho company put up with * * * So Amy Castles is to give two concerts m Wellington on May otli and 7th Good enough. Melbourne ' Punch" welcomes the returned songstress thusi.y - So welcome, Amy. You can twig We're glad to have you here at ah More glad to hear you singing big While all your foes are singing small * * • Mdme Miavina, a gifted Russian prima donna, who has often scored successes at the Covent Garden Opeia. m conjunction with Mdme Melba, M. Jean de Reszke, M. PI a neons, and other celebrated artists, has written from the Imperial Opeia, St. Petersburg, to a Sydney music firm to ask particulars as to Australia nrovmg a hkelv field for a concert toui . * # • The New Yorkeis aie gushing o^el Kyrle Bedlew , the beauteous Romeo. They used to do the same thing in the Commonwealth. There is a stoiv extant of his standing leaning m a graceful attitude in front of a Sydney theatre one afternoon, when a woman went up, stood watching in silence for tw o minutes, and then said ''Great Heavens, man, how beautiful you aie ! " *■ * * Herr Meyer Lutz the well-known musician, tells the following merry little story — Conducting once in Bradford, I noticed tha,t the clarionet player, a young but clever and steady lad. jumped up a good deal during the piogiess of the opera. I found that his father, who played the trombone, sat lust behind him. and every now and then he gave his son a kick, with the remaik, "Look out, Sammy l theie be a flat aeumrain'." Mi. Fied. Heniungham, managei of the Anderson Dramatic Company, is a Melbourne boy. and enteied the business in 188.3, with Charlie Taylor and Ella Carnngton, with whom he touted New Zealand m 1886. After an eleven years' connection with the Tavloi-Car-nngton Company, Mr. Henmngham filled engagement*) with J C Williamson, Geoige Danell, Tom Kennedy (the mesmerist), and others, and then joined Mr. William Anderson. * * * An ungallant writer in the 'Fnsco "Argonaut' paints the mconipaiable Patti as she appears to-day — ''One da-\ in the rue de Rivoh, in Pans, I encountered one of these bedizened old dames walking with a young and handsome man, tall, very slim, and well-dressed. She was a little woman, and walked stiffly, as though her boots were too tight She was radiantly dressed m white, a white parasol was spread over her head, on which was perched an elaborate white hat Her face was richly painted, with a pair of crimson lips a-? the deepest note of colour and a fringe of auburn curls was on her forehead She looked haggard and aged. There wa? something curiously familiar about her face, and, as she spoke I suddenly saw who it was— Adelina Patti and her you ne; husband!"