Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 98, 17 May 1902, Page 17

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight

THK Poll aids aie with us once again Tlic\ opened at the Opeia Hou&o on TuescLn night with The Rose of Persia' winch diew a bumpei house, and lias been pla\mg to excellent business e\ ci since This opeia is one of Sulln an's latest woiks, and the mv.sic is of a latliei higher older than that of many of his caihei pioductions m which he collaborated with Gilbert the exploiter of topsv-tuivm-dom The libretto was furnished b\ Captain Basil Hood, who chew his inspiration from 'The Arabian Nights and lias succeeded in making his verse and dialogue pointed, whimsical and smart. f Ha%an is a much-married Peisian. who occasionally tires of the society of Ins twenty-five wnes and seeks distraction amon" a set of lagamuffins w horn he entertains at his hou&e. lhitnei, xlso resort the Sultan's favourite wife ami' some other beauties of the harem, all in disguise and anxious foi ad venture AMahommedan priest, with, designs on Hassan's wealth, threatens to report progress at headquarters. -Hassan in terroi of losing Ins head, determines to go off his. head with a dose of bhang before the executioner arrives. Under its intoxicating influence he imagines himself to be Sultan, and the real Sultan arrives just in time to humour the idea. Hassan is deported m sleep to the paJace, and dressed in the reo-a-1 robes When the joke lias been carried far enough, he is allowed to lesume his own identity, and to d to get iead\ foi execution But he eludes his fate bv a plausible trick, which is only feasible in comic opera and everybody ge+B back to his pioper place. . • • The Rose of Persia." is beautifully mounted, as may easily be understood seems that both scenery and costumes weie used m the production at Melbourne. It is bright and piquant with gorgeous colouring, rich and picturesoue with Eastern dress and dianerv, and a.s one act is played m a haiem and the other in a palace, it need hardly be said that from a, spectacular point of view it lea.ves> nothing to be desired The opera opens unon a grouping of odahsoues reclining in languorous attitude®, while Hassan, their lord and master, placidly smokes his nargile m the midst of them. ■♦ * * Mr. W. S. Peicy. as Hassan, is the life and soul of the action. The chaaacterisation is in his happiest vein, and, as he is raielv oft the stage, the fun is brisk and lively. He scored a double encore with his song about the street arab and the daisy, and the ludicrous song and dance "We are the Childien of Adam," in which he joined with Mr. C. Albert, one of Ha&fean 6 tatteidemalion guests, fairly broke up the audience into laughter holding both its sides Miss Connie Buttel who has a chaiming personally p.aved her part of the Sultana Rose-in-Bloom, piettilv, and sang her only solo >eath mv Lattice," with nice effect She was also heard to ach antage m the coaxing, wheedling 'Wifie-pifie" duet with the Sultan. » • * Miss Nina CKsbornc is anothei new artiste. She sustained the lole of 'Heart's Desire," the Sultanas hnouiite slave, with much confidence, and acted with spirit. Her voice n of good compass and volume but the intonation is somewhat nasal. Jli . J. Ralston, who appeared as Abdullah the priest gave a capital account of himself, and sang his song,. 'When Islam First Arose," very effectively indeed It was one of the finest of the vocal numbers Mr. Chas. Carter was well suited in the role of Yussuf, the storv-teUer and lover of Heart's Desire and the best of the vocal gems fell to his share. Consequently, he scored most of the musical tricks He ga^e the dunking in the first act with admiiahle effect, and the tender love song Iry to Forget " was executed with great delicacy of expression, hut the intonation was more than once at ra.ult. Mr D O'Connor was the Sultan and a rather austere Sultan too. His fine resonant baritone told with marked success m the music, but he really ou^ht to put the break on his speaking voice. He jyaJlops through his share of the dialogue at a break-neck pace, and you aa-e left to gather the sense of it in shreds an<l patches Mr H Quealv. a.s the Grand Vizier, Mr A. Stephens, as the

Ro\ al hxeeutoonoi, and Mi. Young, a& the Phj sician-m-t lnet aie gaiuh nguit'fe m their com t lobes, enormous, tuibans and sJiaggj beaids, and look at, it tho^ had nevei been out ot Persia except on an occasional tup to Tuike\. Miss Nellie Wilson pla>s with much Lvmic talmt the eJdeilj ugly hi strife oi Hassan, and Miss Wilmot Kaikeek dances, a pas, sen! with grace and agiht\ The pietty ballet in the second act <lcsei\es to be mentioned, also the whimsical dance ot the dervishes, the well-hainiomve'd octet and the madnaal which is chaimmgh sung b> Hisses Smith and Nellie Wilson, and Me<-sib. Cuter and Wi&eman The orchestra, i.ndei Mr. Arthui King, pei formed its work \en satisfactorily Floiodora" will be' paeisonted to-morrow and Monday and Tuesday Theie will also be a matmee peifoimance of The Rose of Peisia " tomonow- afternoon Special mteiest attaches to the pioduction of Flcwodora, " as Miss Connie Buttel is said to be at her very best m the part of Dolores The season ends, on Wednesdays night with a complimentary benefit to Mi. W. S. Percy, on the e^e of his marriage. Kver\ one, both on and off the stage, likes Pcio, and we feel sure Wellington will give him a handsome wedding present in the form of a ciowded benefit. * * * Mdlle Antonia Dolores' sons: recitals in the Opeia House, on Thursda\ , Fnda\, and Monday evenings, were altogether delightful. There was simply nothing to cavil at, unless it were the attendance, which, at the opening concert, was rather below par. That was doubtless due to the inclemency of the weather. On Fnda\ , there was a much bigger gathering, while on Monday theie was so great a thiong that in all parts of the house, and notabh the cliese circle, many, who had not troubled to iTsenc seats, weie obliged to stand * * * The gem of Thursday night's conceit was unquestionably the "Shadow Song "' from Dmoiah," one of the most ornate and difficult show pieces in the whole range of bravura music. Mdlle. Dolores sang it tiippmeiy, with exquisite taste and facility, the flexibility of her voice being exhibited to great advantage in the octaves, roulades, and tulls with which this morceau is so nelilv embellished. It roused the audience to cheers. "Solveig's Lied" bv Grieg was another genuine triumph, the beauty of the phrasing, and the dehcacA of the mezza voee and sotto voce passages being marked features of it Quite in contrast but just as apt an illustration of the singer's power of expiession and her versatility was the Scotch ballad, ''Comin' thro' the Rye " given by way of encore, and sung with an aichness and a naivete that weie highly appreciated bv the audience. * ♦ * Mr. John Pro-use was fulh up to the high stand aid ot ment which he alwaivs maintains, and he paid the penalt\ in reoals for all his numbers. I liked him best m Don Juan's Seienade" and "Ho' Jolly Jenkm " the lattei being given m answer to an imperative encore. I think Mr Prouse ought to vary the style of his songs more — say, with equal proportions of grave and o-av. Mr Clarance Newell is a \erv fine pianiste with a rather shy manner, and a quiet, undemonstrative method. He has a cnsp touch, ease of execution, and power of expression All his pieces were encored » * * At the second conceit, Mdlle. Doloie* sang no less, than thirteen numbers, and the audience were loth to part fiom her.

Mi Piouse, who wafc in capital voice, was* heard in six songs, of winch tlhe best were the Toreador's song from. Caimen,' and My Fairest Child," by Alfred Hill. Mr. New ell's, pianoforte solos weie again greatly enjoyed. At the thud concert, on Monday night. Mdlle. Dolores leceived quite an o\ ation She was in complete rapport with her audience horn the outset, and <»\ en number was applauded to the echo The "Times." says Dvorak's Bohemia,n Gilpsy songs weie somewhat colouiloss. Perhaps this critic is a J-fohemian himself and anticipated some >.ti iking effects which never occurred to poor D\oiak At any rate, the cantatnce sans them with exceeding taste Slip also 'coied "ioit hits" with the \anatiojson ' The Carnival of Venice," the 'ong ham Handel's "L'Allegro" to Milton's words, and the irresistible Laughing Song" fiom 'Manon Le^caut." in which she had the entire audience laughing in sympathy with her infectious mirth. Mdlle. Dolores sang fourteen -songs, and vet, like Oliver Twist, the audience weie gieeclv for more. Mr. Prouse was (|Uite up to form as usual, and was lecailled eveav tame. His finest efforts were Schumann's "Two Grenadiers" and My Fairest, Child." Mr. New ell's pianoforte solos were charming. Miss Prouse deserves a special meed of praise for her song accompaniments, which at all three concerts., were played with nice judgment and the utmost care . * * Dixs Gaiety Company, at the Theatre Royal has. inaugurated another booni with its latest novelties. Every night the snug and co=v theatre is crowded to the doors in spite of all Clement Wra.gge's and Ca»tain Edwin's weather prophecies, and thei croAvd are kept so busy laughing and applauding that halfpast ten arrives long before they ai'e prepared for it •* Miss Pnseilla Veine, looking neither older nor less fascinating than she did when she was last m Wellington yeaa*s ago, received a welcome on her re-ap-pearance that made her blush with pleasure She sings her songs with gieat gusto, is easy and graceful in. manner, and is just as far removed from the lav-figure "style of comedienne as one could possibly be When she had got thiough four songs, with pauses for applause and pianctnaitions for laugfe she vocally "Mashed the Band." I wasn't, quite sure whether she intended, marrying the French horn or the dram, but a light-haired bandsman evidently thought his chance was pretty good, for he handed up a red baize heart on a string and said he loved her very much in tw o flats » * *■ Tim How aid is not a good specimen of lepose. He has a trick of appearing to be galvanised and he pumps jokes out as if the-v w ere on an endless band, like cartridges in a maxim gun. He is the ,sort of chap you would expect to break out dancina to the music of "The Dead March m Saul." Tim is funny apparently without serious results to himself. The Allisons sing clever little tnfles about alleged matrimonial difficulties with appropriate action, and Lucy skips all sorts of dances with a men a smile and a pair of shapely understandings. * * » Mr. Ernest Brinkman. the beauteous baritone w ith the curly hair, the witching smile and the military attitude, takes \ou into hi« confidence and sings The Bedouin's Love Son-" in erood s^ le Ho also gets "The Gauntlet"

thrown down m picturesque fashion. Miss Alice' Layton warbles "Come to Me" very sweetly ,and is never allowed to retire without, two or three supplementary pieces. The Loigards linger and discourse lightsome ditties with lissom Limbs music tossed. Maud Famng flames forth as a darkle girl, and presents the very newest notions in coon songs and funnyi&nis. Jim Marion, who has burnt-oorked himself ao-ain, gets* off a parody on "Dolly Gray" effectively, and winds up with a step-dance in a pair of twenty-five mcli clogs. If you want a real good time to chase away the blues don't miss the Gaiety lust now It is all right. * * Gooige Lyding, who will be remembeied as one of thp tenors of the Jofeephlne Stan ton Opera C'ompanv \»ill revisi* Wellington veiry soon as a member of Lop and Rial's World's Entertainers. (Continued on pnqe 16.)

Miss Daifov Belmoies husband is Mi Sam Wa\man, a uealtln \ounu; Mel bourne solicitoi * * * Gieo Musgtove's dramatic compain with Nellie Stew ait as loa'Hn^ lad\ opens in Auckland on Jul\ Xt * * * Walter Feen, at piesent a surce^tul song wntei m Ameiica. wa<- a bootmakw in Melbourne a few vpat- <mo • « * Mr. George Musgiovc's Belle or New York" Company Has embaiked upon its fourth year in the English pro\ in cos , * ♦ The benefit concert to Mane Naielle —the Sydney soprano, who goes to Euiope shortly— realised o\ei £dlK> attei pavr.l2; expenses » ♦ * John Fullei and Sons Inn c annexed Tasmania Tl«^ intend to leign tlieie as vaudeville kings just as Poic\ Din docs in New Zealand • • * The death is announced of Mi John Paxton, father of Fred W. Mills the Anstrahan ventriloquist Mr. MilN lost his mother about a yeai ago. jt * * 'One of the sweetest Juliets .seen here for many a long day" is the Sydney verdict on Janet Waldoif. in '•Romeo and Juliet " And so saA all Miss, Susie Anderson. the Black Melba, lately obtained a verdict ten *<>i> salary due, in a suit against the M Adoo Jubilee Singers management Hie vcidict earned £18 costs • * • • Dorothy" has done tremendous business at Her Majesty's, 111 Melbourne The comic opera season ended wit li a, benefit to liun Janet Waldorf 111 < As You Like It," now fills the theatio and is the reigning favourite in Melbourne. „ The veteian Professor Carl Reinecke who has probably taught more German composers than any living man, will, thiee months hence, enter his seventh - nmtli year, and has announced his mtentaon of retiring into private life. ♦ When Harold Ashton was in Welhngton he informed me that Wilson Bairefct before his departure from Brisbane to South Africa, read over to a small Land " Harold says it is lovely dialogue, but the piece will require to be skilfully played The central idea is the impersonation of one man by anothei * • * Another Australian nightingale has iU st, come to light, in the person of Miss Hilda Mulligan, of Manh , Sydney. Sne is eiehteen, is said to be a giand-niece of Vincent Wallace, the compost* ot 'Mai it ana " and her voice ranges from the lower Gto the upper C , She is going Home 111 older to be tiamed by hei uncle, Mr. William Wallace wno was a pupil of Thalberg Miss Aim Castles, m my opinion (bays Valentine Day, m the Adelaide •Critic'), will never gather around hoi feet the wondering nations ot the eaiwi to be ravished by her wonderful gittsot song. I maj be w rong, but lam tui - thermoie of the belief that the mockst colleen, with the chubby but comely Irish face, is not never was. and never will be a soprano drammatico Just as certainly she is not a mezzo-soprano Nor is she a soprano leggiero as w a«. lima di Murska as is Nellie Melba * « * Her voice is not sufficient] y flexible to place her in that category, but apparently, she has lyric powers, and so wall in "future days be classed as a soprano hrico It also seems to me that her lack of stature probably will Cisqralifv her for grand opera Tlieiefoie hei future career will doubtless be limited to nlatfoim appearances and there she will eventually earn mam laurels and a comfortable living but top-of-the-tree gieatness. no, oh no. • * * Miss Ada Crossley has expiessecl a wish that Miss Dolly Cast lee. the fanhaired younger sister of Miss Aim Castles, sihould be the sopiano ot thecontralto's Australian concert company. Miss Dolly made her debut in Melbourne shortly after the first "Castles Boom/ at a benefit concert to a lad\ loumalist, and sliowed a strong soprano voice. She. however aroused no special notice, and has not been heard since She still wears her hair down, and accomnanied sister Amy 111 her recent visit to Wellington