Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 123, 8 November 1902, Page 7

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

THAT mirthful combination, the Gaiety Company, at the Theatre Royal, is at present satisfying the public appetite for fun by putting on a bill of large dimensions and good quality. Leading in public favour just at present is the acrobatic and comedv act of that clever pair, Morris and Wilson. As Chinamen of a pronounced pattern, these acrobats dispel any idea you may have formed that Mongolians are seinous folk. They give each other tremendous cracks with large clubs, are equally at home hanging by an eyelash from tli© atmosphere, or turned inside out grinminig at the audience. I expect the wriggling pair have bones, but I aim not sure. Appearances are against the suppositiioin. • ♦ ♦ Olive Lenton, either sweetly serious or flippantly gay, is ever refreshing and her "Sousa Girl." which is a combination of words picked out at random from the English language for the purpose of using to music, is what is usually known as "rippin'." Olive's sinuous grace and dainty prettiness invest such words with a new delight. * * * Frank Clark and Joe Cowan, </ther singly or in harness, can always be relied on to jingle effectively. Their semi-knockabout "turns," which erenerally deal with Irish subjects, are the best things of their kind on the bill. In single-handed nonsense both comedians are up to the Dix average, and Frank's "Thrue Born Irishmahn" is useful as a word Dicture of a type you have not met in your travels. • • • Mr. Millar Fraser, with- Miss Jennie Johnston, sings that sweet duet "Maying," ripplingly, and the voices of the pair blend in sweet accord, making the audience demand some more combined sweetness. Sam Rowley, with a voice of large magnitude, behaves in a humorous way, to the delight of everybody who can see a joke. Sam would be n. useful institution on a steamer, the foghorn, of which had become useless. He always makes certain: of a hearing. ♦ • • The American Bioscope is a self-re-specting machine, which evidently re-

hedirses. it& pictures before it turns thieon on. As an educational medium it is all right. The 1 intricacies ot love-making, and kindred sciences, as shown on the screen, a.re useful to the rising generation. To wind up, a comedy of the usual screaming variety, with Baffled" as. a, title, supplies dessert foi the bis, audieace. * * » George Dean, well-known as "interlocutor" and versatile comedian of Dix's, seems to have struck a, patch with his Ro\ al Waxworks. Wherever the show goo&, it is doing excellent business, and i& not confined altogether to the drv-as-dust \rax murderer who does duty for the Prince of Wales when goiy horrors aj-e unfashionable . There are little bits of comedy and farce interspersed with the wax. I wish George the success he deserves, for hei is a capable man, who nevei forgets that a comedian and gentleman combination is possible. * * * The Mnsgrove New Comic Onera Company, which lias given to Wellington 'The Chinese Honeymoon" and "The Thirty Thieves," scored a decided success with the latter musical comedy. It is obvious, by the increased attendance' at tlhe Opera House during its run, that the public of Wellington do not appreciate mediocrity, and '"The Chinese Honeymoon" is mediocre with a large M. There are life, and light, and music in the "Thieves," and the artistes, recognising this, put in their very best work. Miss May Beatty, of course, has no special opportunities for her particular line, but, taken by and large, the musical comedy with which the comi>anv wound up the season is worthy of a place amonT the front rank of potmlar entertainments . • • * The season of Mr. J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company will be inaugurated at the Opera 1 House this (Friday) evening. "A Runaway Girl," with all its sparkle and freshness, and picturesque brilliancy, will be the initial production. Tins piece had a phenomenal run in London, and was played in Melbourne and Sydney to record houses. An exchange states that "The Geisha," "Florodora," and "The Casino Girl," entertaining as all three were, are easily outstripped by "A Runaway Girl," the music or which is" light, airy, and tuneful, and the stage-setting picturesque. • • • The runaway girl finds herself, in ti\e first act, in Corsica, and in tihei second act in Venice, and both places naturally afford Messrs. Gordon and Dixon fine opportunities! for surrounding her with pretty scemery. She is associated with strolling players, Cook's tourists, and eccentric English travellers. Mr. Williamson's company have a chance of displaying their various talents to advantage. The oast is a strong one, and the chiaraictems are well suited to their exponents.

Miss Rose Musgrove will appear as Alice, Lady Coodle's maad, and is supported by Mr. Fred. H. Graham, principal comedian, from the Gaiety Theatre, London, who plays Flipper a jockey. Miss Lilian Pigges, from the Savoy Theatre, London, is. the heroine, Winifred Grey, and Mr. Charles Lyding, as Guy Stanley, u ill aid her in sustaining the lyrical interest whilst Miss Aggie Kelton ha® a prominent role as Carmenita. Mr. Claude Bantock, comedian from the Leading London theatres will play Borther Tamannd, Mr. Fred. Leslie will enact Sir William Hake, Cook's tou nst., and Mr. Arthur Lissant, Lard Coodlei. Mr. Arthur Crane will appear as Leonello The remainder of the cast includes Miss Blanche Wallace, Miss Hetty Muret Miss Elsie Moore Miss Madge Benneit , and Miss Grahame Neiwton. The incidental dances have been arranged by Miss Minnie Everett, and the piece is produced under the stage direction of Mr. Fred. H. Graham. The box-plan, which is filline; rapidly, is on view at the Dresden Piano Company's rooms. (Continued on page 20 )

There is a tliraf ty fanner living w ithin ten miles of Wellington, who may be deemed to be the most thrifty person un these part®. This remark has been forced upon us by observing that the farmer always carries a fowl with him in liis cart when journeying hither and thither. What the fowl was for was not apparent, until the farmer was seen to stop outside a Willis-street store on Firday last. He descended, and put the nose-bag on his horse, and liberated the fowl. The fowl strutted round in an expectant manner for some time until the odds and ends of oats fell from the bag. Then, its usefulness was apparent. There w ill be no waste where that farmer is.