Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 99, 24 May 1902, Page 17

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight

DIX'S Gai<t\ Compam nt the Theatie Rn\,il is at pie<-ent booming like Mai tinidue. but, as tai ais I can make out the mliabitants of the theatie aie not fleeing beioie the brilliant flashes fiom the 'ciateis" behind the new silk screens. Olne Lenton, the damtv little lad} who ha miles her Kughbh lathei better than am other <-eno I am acquainted with, and who is alwa\s piettil^ piquant, pathetically entreats some person or peisxms unknown to Stay in Your Own Back Yard " Of course, Olive does not look as if she knew anything about back Aardis,, but I expect she has lead the subject up If aou know Olive, you will understand that she helps hea clothes to look leallv sweet. Dixians will allow me to object to Miss Lenton being dressed in the second part as a bo\ in a suit of slops." 'Ma Chnah" does not suit her style one bit. • » » Miss Pnscilla Verne as The Nursemaid " with a real live little ' kiddie " comforter and all in the pram, appears to be the sort of 'slavey" of whom the Bntisih Guardsman might well be proud Pnscilla vocalh tells you all about hen particular coipoial and gets off an amusing patnotic thing about the Dutch and Dick Seddon and kindred wonders. ♦ * * Tim Howard smites the boaids with a timbei boot of huge pioportions and sings about events that w ould keep the police busy if the-\ had a clue. The Allisons are trwng to solve the problem of perpetual motion but they have to stop to sing sometimes, bv order of the management Some quaint sidelights on modern matnmom give a zest to the turn " Miss Alice Lavton sings Love's Proving" with delightful effect, and her encore item* are equally well1 en doied. * * * Mr ftrnest, Bimkman supplies the 1 exquisite personality with which to adorn the singing of A Wai nor Bold" and the curly baritone as The Monaich of the Storm" shows that he is at home on eithei land or sea Maud Failing w ants to know What Yo's G'wme to Tell Mass Peter at the Gate," in explanation of a lone: Me spent in chicken-stealing and water mellvun" extiactioi. Maud could be turned adrift in Ole Kentuck" in her make up and not a ni^gei would suspect <-he was w lute trash • * I attended the hist of the piesent seiles of three concerts arranged by Mr. Maughan Barnett and Herr Max Hoppe, and found it a delightful musical treat. It was held on Thursday nigiht, in the Sydney-street schoolroom, and was fairly well patronised, but. of couise, in no sense commensurate with its merits. However, the auchence was highly appreciative, and the peifoimeirs weie at their best. The fiist morceau wat, a trio in A for piano, violin and 'cello by Rheinbereer the musical genius who was organist of his native place., in Austria, at the age of seven. This piece \\ as quite characteristic of his chamber music, and it was discoursed with excellent effect h\ Mi . Bamett (piano) Herr Hoppe (violin), and Mr. A H Hamerton ('cello). Mr. Barnett used a Hopkmson pia 10 of lovely mellow tone and great idowci, which he lias just imported from London for the purposes of a concert tour. The three instruments chorded in rich haimony Tins trio, and Huber's sonata in B flat (Op. 42), for piano and violin w hich was also given bv the same artistes (Mr Barnett and Herr Ho^ne) last year, foimed the leading features of the programme. Huber's music is always acceptable. It shows the traces of Brahms' influence and is also suggestive of Liszt and appeals sweeth to the ear. Huber, bv the «a' i's a Swiss composer who i>s in the full maturity of hispoweis The sonata was played con amore. Mi Barnett was heard to great ad^nta^e m the frolicsome little scherzo, and the suave and graceful adagio with its cantabile effects afforded display for Herr Hoppe's nch intonation and delicate play of expression. •» + # Both performer'; were heard ako in solo pieces, in which the'x gave an admirable account of themselves Mi Barnett contributed a delicious nocturne in E flat bv Field and a bold and stnkine;pie]ude h\ Rachmaninoff a Russian composer whose woiks aie laieh lieaid at eolo'iial concerts It was a niovt aitistic parfoimance and the audience marked their extreme satisfaction bv

d 110-demal encoie, uluch Mi. Bamett acknowledged with Ins own dajnty Humoiesque." j. * + Hen Hoppe placed a nottumo by G. HoJlteudei, Mid La Oapncieuse," by K. Sail J ft. The} aie specimens of two different schools of Molm plnving, Hollaendei being a pupil of Joachim, a,nd Sauiet a pupil of the hiilhant Belsian, Dv Ben lot. and, consequent^ made as excellent co.itiast Hen Hoppe executed them both with masteih skill, and amph earned the plaudits, that weie showeied upon him \li John Piouse was the o:ih soloist, and his sanding left nothing to bo desne<l. He ga\ e> the well-known Intelice ' horn Kinam," in ins mmv best st\le and also sang two songlets b^ Allitseii, which led to an encore The lesponse was that quaint old Knnjhsh ballad I Know a Lache Fa\ie and Kind." Miss Floience Piouse and Mi. Cvnl Tow.se\ were the accompanists. The next concert of the series takes place on Tuesday, night. At the- Opei a House, Floiodoia" wa& pja\ed h\ the Pollards from Satuiday till Tuesday with excellent lesults to all concerned That is, to sa^ the exchequei was kept busy, and the public wore sent home still quivering with the laughtei which foi tlie best pait of thiee solid hours had been shaking ail the bile out of their system. As Dolores, Miss, Connie Buttel is distinctly the best we have seen here in Wellington The part fitted her like a glove, or just as daantilv as her own costumevs suited hei shapely figure She played, too with a spairkling vivacity for which The Rose of Peisia" had not preoared me and hei music wa.s (juite up to conceit pitch. As toi Mi \Y S Peiey's Twe<?dle>punch — well, it could haidlj be bettered Ceitainh, without his \ ariegated fooling the lathei \acuous second act must have fallen as flat as. a pancake. Assisted b^ Mis& Rosie Kvesson he ga\e a, burlesque imitation of the Daitos which raised a tomoest of mirth that almost blew the roof off It also embraced the Miseieie" scena with Perc^ as the troubadoui . His ng-out was immense. — an old skirt thrown looseh oven his pants and on his head a pasteboard hat a kind of cro>s& between a dunce's cap and a bishop's nutie with the name Dam" scram led on it. Also there w as> the bakom scene from Romeo and Juliet " but, out of re&pect for W Shakespeare we diaw the curtain o~\ ci it Knough to say that Peic\ was funnier than ever * * • Tlie season closed on Wednesday night with a rousing benefit to Mr W S Perc-v . It was a kind of wedding piesent from the public to its gieatest favourite on the e\e of his ma mage In Tow n" was put on toi The occasion and the Opera House was ciowded Dunng the final chorus Mi Tom Wilfoid, M H.R appeared upon the st.ao-e, and, m a neat speech, summed up Mi Peicv's good qualities, and on behalf of the pla> goers, wished him and the bnde elect all possible happiness. Aftei the cheers had died away little Peic-s tried hard to express his thanks for the ovation, but hiv emotions weie deeply stirred. He was glad his efforts to amuse had won him the esteem of the public "and "he added, I hope always to keep it, and I am sure — well (faltering) I don't know what, I'm sure "

'Fmalh. lie thanked the Pollaid management, and there was more cheers and musical honours,. Here's long life and good luck to Percy and his bride — Hip, hip hip, etc. • • » No one who can help it should miss the. Wellington Garrison Band Concert, m the Opeia House, to-night (Friday). After hearing Herd and his merry meai play the New Plymouth test pieces, you may judge foi yourselves whether they are not entitled to oall themselves the thampion,% oi New Zealand Miss Phoebe Parsons will assist with \ocal pieces Montgomen's Knteitaineis aie heie < 1 heieabouts. and intend to make thins:'- nist hum at the. Exchange Hall o 1 Satujd.n nierlit. Then programme piomiv.es a legulai feast of fat things. Look them up. * * • The Oiuheus Liedertafeil inaugurate their third season with a concert, in the C'hoial Hall on Monday next. Dudley Buck's charming work, Spirits and Houis," will be performed for the first time in the colony. A host of local talent is engaged. Di . Peebles' lectures on Spiritualism continue to afford deep gratification to ci ow ded audiences at the New Century Hall, Kent Terrace. Last Sunday night he ga^e a most interesting discouise on his travels) in Palestine, and in that connection discussed the question • Who was Jesus Christ ?" His style is graphic and luminous, and his descnptive passages are marked by much dry humour and many quaint home^thrusts A number of questions were brightly answered at the close of the lecture. Much interest, attaches to the lectuie for Sunday night, next. The subject is l The Day After Death " Mr Wm Aiidei son's excellent dramatic company are returning to Wellington for a farewell season, which starts at the Opera House on Monday night. It will be signalised by the presentation of an entirely new Adelphi drama entitled "The Gieed of Gold," which made a ' hit" at Melbourne two months ago. It is said to be replete w ith sensational situations, prominent among which are a mill wheel scene and a scene in a Chinese opium den. Some of the tableaux are exciting to a degree, and the plot is vigorous The central character is a dumb man. This season is restricted to nine nights.

Mi Noodhani of the Yin Castles Conceit Coinpam is ,i 'lnn.pu ho\ • * * A nivrioiania porfoi nianco of tin- ucontiv (lest io\ od Bon Hulu" is nnw being given in S\dne\ • * Miss Connie Bnttel the leading lad\ oi- the Pollaid o|)eia Comjiain was onl\ a, ehoius "m I a tew mouths ago Howard Cha.mbeis the Uirkland baritone who ha-s been singing toi .lohn Fullci in S\dno\ dm me the last two veais, has lust accepted an engagement at the ' Orpheum " Fianoisco <^ fifteen guineas pel week • • * Belle, Ponsonln a handsome and shapely little vaudo\ 1110 artist who touied New Zealand as a nieiiibei of Poirv St John's C'ompam se\oial \oais back is nist now pla\mg with Dixs Gaiety Compan\ a.t Clinstrliurch And a fortnight ago she was inaiued to G Campbell an ex-Dunednute ■«■ -<• * Mr. Gustavo SlapofHvi tlie musical duector of the Musgrovo Giand Opera Company winch visited New Zealand last yeai is shorth to "i\e a Satuida\ after no on orchestral concert m Melbourne The leading featuie of the performance will be tlie Svmphonie Pathetique" of Tschaikow sk\ * « * I have received horn Mi. Kdwin Geaich a neat little booklet, containing, a senes of sei en photogravures of leading situations m The Wrong Mi Wright " Touching tins latest of Broadhurst's comedies the ' Bulletin" remarks that it is a lat her ir.oie wolent success than the pievious two — Win Smith Left Home" and "What Happened to Jones." « • • Geoigo Laun's benefit at Her Majesty's. Melbourne, produced £427, which J C Wilham&on say s is a record In the usual speech befoie the cm tain Lauri said he loved Austra'i, 1 and no one could ask for more than he had nameh an everlasting engagement a generous public a neifect climate, and oe.easiona.llv a few inches of ram It was also Grace Palotta's last night and when the audience insisted on a speech from her as well Grace gracefully said she was "only a poor little foieignei and so could not say much but thanked the people 'fiom the bottom of hoi heart" for their ''magnificent leeejjtion * * Her Ma.jes,t\'% Theatre destio\ed b\ fire, ai few weeks ago is not to be rebuilt That is the decision of the MeQuade famiN who were the owners Curiously enough tlie old theatie did not cost the MeQuados a single, peiun The land had been leaded toi something, like £20 a week to the syndicate who built Her Majesty's. W! "U toui years after t!ie completion of the theatre the syndicate went bung" the ■whole of the propert-\, including the hotel which is still standing and m no wise mimed fell into the hands of the McQuade famih . This w ais practicalh a gift oV M>me C(>o 000 The paitieulai McQuade who now ow ns the piopeit\ is a youth oi nineteen Williamsons JRo\al Comic Opcia Company, which is hkeh to visit >>ew Zealand, have opened their S\dne\ .season in A Runaway Girl." It does not equal Floiodora" or The Geift'ia" m interest or music but it is said to be distinctly aanusing and entertaining One of the hits of the piece is the song of Giace Palotto the Austrian actiess 'Soldiers in the Paik.' Mi. Laun works in a lot of ludicrous pantomime One of the most comical effects is whci in the song '"Follow the Man horn Cook's," he starts off with a stiina. of ladies in follow-nn -leadei and sot« them some dnertmg tasks such as vaulting over hurdles and walls and turning somersaults M^s Came Mooie is his anh uiutatoi m the Lit to i feat. 'Facing the Music" with which Fia,nk Thornton has lnauguiated his colonial tour at Melbourne is the woi k of Mi J H Damle\. who has produced two hours of the mo.st imith-pio\ okmg and ludicrous situation*- out of the cross-purposes occasioned h\ the confused idontit\ of two quite unlike chaiacters beanng the name of John Smith One Mr Smith is a mild curate of the afternoon-tea and lawn tennis oidei whilst the other Mr Smith is a sen tieman of marked «portmg proclivities As both the Messieurs Smith h,u c "wives, who arrive upon the scene undoii the impression that the vagaues of the one Mi Smith have been jjorpoti at<><l by the other Smith it is not long before there is the most ridiculous rm\-up imaginable