Dramatic and Musical.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 182, 26 December 1903, Page 16

Dramatic and Musical.

By Footlight.

DIX'S Gaiety Company have not been in evidence so fai this week — at least, as entertainers. All the talent of its people has been burnishing itself up for abuist of pantomime before which all previous pantomimes will pale their ineffectual fires. People who love gorgeousness and glitter, talent and high art, and all that kind of thing, are told that great preparations have been made to give them their moneys worth. « * * "The House That Jack Built" has, of course, been modernised, and, while it possesses those features that delight the juvenile, it has also qualities of satire and local humorous allusions that will appeal to the fathers of families who pay rates. The chorus work and the ballet will, of course, be of extra quality, and the scenery has occupied the assiduous attention of Mr. Leader Williams for quite a while. There are thirty principals in the cast, while the chorus of 100 voices-, backed ur>< by beauty, should appeal to all lovers of the artistic. The first performance takes place on Boxing Night. # * * Fuller's favourite Entertainers, at His Majesty's Theatre, which used to content itself with the Jess gorgeous title of the "Choral Hall," hasn't done itself any harm by the change of name. The past week has resulted in a rather general clearance of old favourites to make room for the holiday crowd of artists that already holds sway in the theatre. "Robinson Crusoe, ".the delight alike of the bewhiskered parent and his smoothfaced progeny, opens on Boxing night, and, like "Man Friday " will probably leave a footprint on tha sands of time. By the way, Crusoe's savage only left one footprint according to Defoe. Remember ? * « » I am immediately concerned, however, wth, the vivacious variety of fare offeied by the present company. Kielderson, the grimacer, has gone. So have the gutta-percha pair, Harley and Williams. The juvenile Bertotoes have also vanished. Miss Tilli© Dunbar, the sparkling comedienne and dashing demoiselle generally, is one of the prevailing dissipators of gloom. The nimble Joe Cowan, who is rather at home at Christmas time, and knows something of "panto," is still accompanying his wellknown smile with vocal and pedal embellishments h.ghly diverting to a holiday crowd that desires laughter as dessert to Christmas fare. * # * The "Dashing" Elmores, in lovely costumes, sing of love and expend assorted kicks on an unoffending atmosphere, greatly to the delight of people who don't have to dash or kick for a living. Altogether nic preliminaries to the pantomime are satisfying, and, although Johnny complains that the tramway excavation outside His Majesty's is interfering with the sixpences, there is little diminution in the stream of humanity that surmounts the difficulties in front of the Te Aro home of merriment. • > * Mr. William Anderson has chosen a remarkably thrilling drama with which to amuse the holiday public. On Boxing Night, his company, headed by that talented actress, Miss Eugenie Duggan, will open a season with the startlingly original "Her Second Time on Earth," a drama in which fun and pathos are said to be mingled. Mr. Anderson promises the play-gomg public something unique m the scenic line, and clever players to pourtray the ■characters in a play that has gained the distinction of full houses wherever it has yet appeared. Miss Duggans inclusion in the company is notable, as she will appear for the first time in NewZealand at the Opera House on Satuiday night. Miss Jessie Ramsay (Mrs. W. S. Percy) is gaining golden opinions in Africa. The Durban "Advertiser," of November 7th, gives the leading place to this talented young lady. She played "Mimosa" in "The Geisha." The "Advertiser" praises the sympathetic quality and full range of her voice her personal attractions, her spontaneity, and absence of sophistication. It further says that the "goldfinch" song could not have been excelled by her famous English contemporaries. Will Percy, as always, comes in for a large share 'of the critic's praise.