DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 256, 27 May 1905, Page 14

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

DIX'S Gaiety Company, at tlie Theatre Royal, is strengthened this week by the addition of Mr. Reginald Osborne, who, with. a home-made violin, fashioned out of a cigar box, plays excellently vanous. musical classics, the most notable of which is that wellknown air from ''Cavallena Rusticaiua." Regeie seemb to love his little fiddle just as much as> if it v, ere a Strad worth a ooupl© of thousand, and, the audience seem willing to let him keep going indefinitely. * * * Alice and' Mick Maher, Irish sketchists and top-boot dancers, are new , and get a good hearing for their Hibernian humours, while "The Two Masoottes are seno& of dancing tendencies, and good to look on. The clever whirlwinders, the Bioknells, still give the "star turn," and' show how terpsicborean activity can be negotiated! for cash. Tod Callaway sustains a well-won reputation as an artless artist, and still looks as if be got three meals a day and throve on them. Tod does not bore one with his business. That's why he is always welcome. * * * Little Eileen Boydi, the clever songstress and dancer, tells you "I Love Mummy, Dear," which plumbs the sentimental deeps of the Dixians soul, while her remarks about "The Soldier's Story" make one want to go out and slay "the King's enemy wbile the lime-ho-ht sheds its lustre on the gory field. Dante is still the marvellous, and his illusionary art has been brouerht to the usual pitch of -erfection. * * * To-morrow ' Australia's greatest mimics and society entertainers," Messrw. Frank Hawthorne and Carde Wilson, will take their places in the Gaiety ranks. * * * The weather on Wednesday night was not inviting, and yet the Wellington Piano Company had a capital house for its second grand concert in the Town Hall. Mr. Robert Parker was the musical diiector, and also took a share of tine pianoforte accompaniments witn Mr. F. W. B>owlev. The. programme was short and choice, enabling all 10 reach home at a reasonable distance ahead' of the milkman. Its chief charm lay on the instrumental side. * * * In the first place, the orchestra was well prepared for its work. That fact was made patent at the outset by the crisp and clear interpretation given to Schubert's fascinating concert overture. "Rosamunde." All the parts were well sustained, and the tone-colour was excellent Its second contribution, a trio by Yon Hamm. for flute oboe, and clarionet, with full orchestral accompaniment, went with a dain.tv tripping brightness and rhvthmioail swine that stirred both the pulses and the feet of the audience. Mr. L. Cohen (flute), Mr. B. Caton (oboe 1 and Mr. H. Moschini (clarionet) gave the trio with capital effect. Theire was an insistent encore, and it had to be repeated. The last item on the programme was German's orchestral suite of three dances, but only one dance was given. * * * Master Victor Harris, the clever boy violinist, who has iusrt returned from a course of study at Vienna, was an object of great interest. He came on in sailor jacket and knickers and with a silk sash round his waist to play a suite of Norwegian dadoes The confident sweep of his bow, the full, round intonation, a/nd the smoothness of his legato pasisaeres all proclaimed! how nptIv he had picked tin the technique of his art under skilful tuition * * * The polish of the schools has now been given to his own inmate musical talent. He was waornlv recalled, and gave the familiar intermezzo from ''Cavallena Ru=tieana " In the second part, ho produced ouite i furnre bv fr"* p-s-poution of a iomanpp bv d'Ambrosio. This time he was doubly encored, and responded first with a scherzo, and then with a fantasia on Scotch airs, in which the nuances, of expression were delicately wrought out. * * * Mr Fiank Graham was the principal vocal iVt. He was hardly in «uch good

voice as Übual— a point that made ltscli manifest hi BlumentJial's •Message — but he did iull justice to himself in that lmpawsMUned love i»oiig of taiewoll, "Bianca." "The Death oi NeJbOJi was given witli fin* descriptive force, and, on being encoied, wa* supplemented with "My Pretty Jaiue." Mrs. F. P. Wi'lsou, wife of a school -teacher at Newt own, and a pupil of Mr. Rob*. Parker, made her debut vi To^ti's Serenade, Miss G. Kennedy playing the violin obligate Mis. Wil^oui ha-, a light soprano voice, of sweet cjuahty. and sings with taste but the echo in the hall marred her eiHHicva>ti<m, or, rather, marred its effect on the audience. Later on she gave "The La^s With the Dedicate Air," and an lespon^eto a recal, 'The Daily Question," which wa» sung with nice expression. To sum up. the concert reflected great credit on all concerned. * * * Fuller's New Entei tamers, at His Majesty's Theatre, had a rush of new talent on. the boards last night (Thursday). The sensation wao. t/be weightlifting feats of Milo, who claims to weigih 9&t, and looks as if he might weigh less. He toys with massive avoirdupois just as if Ins name were Sandow, and is clean, lissome and satisfactory in hi® wrestles u ith solidity. J * * * Miss Elsie Blown is a coo.i cantatnee, whose original style of treatment is the reason for hei suocos^. M'.ss Flo Weston is a pleasing seno, with) a lively manner and -several new soners. The Diamond Duo, instrumentalists and dancer^, have popularised "Will My Dream Come True," while the Rexton jugglers have infused a eood' deal of fun into their skillful manipulatio.n of stage properties. Hariy Harrison, the ventriloquist, 'has Ejone and' so has illuminated songstress Lavinia Tyson. Hugh Huxton, of the tenor voice, falls baok on "Love Me, Honey, Do," and Kings it sweetly, and the kinematosa'aph gets large laughs all to itself for its series of amusme; films * * The Civil Service Club, m thear inaugural concert at the Town Hall — not the big hall — -on Friday last had to put up with one .serious hindrance. It assumed the form, of the Wellington Garrison Band on the rotunda aonofoS the .street. However, Musical Dnector Willie McLaujghlm pleaded! so nicely for the kind forbearance of the audience that everybody emaled and took it as a matter of course Up in tihe srailleiy sat some of the heads of departments. Also Ministers Jimmy Carroll and Oharlie Mills, with President Frank Waldegrave sandwiched in. between them. Customs was represented by W. T. Glasgow , Printing by John Ma ok ay Lands by W. H Kensington — and there may have been others The programme was distinctly good. Miss Amy Hyde won a prompt recal by hex sweet singing of 'II Bacio" (English version), and Mi&a Leonore Puilytord was similarly honoured foi a fine rendering of that pretty song by Goring Thomas, "A Summer Night." Miss el Parsons was very effective indeed m that old favourite by Sullivan, "Oipheus with his Lute." v In response to the encore she jnade another hit" with "Love Hath Eyes." Mr. J. F. Cai'i is far too modest for a man with such a pleasant and melodious tenor voice. He reached the heart of the audien.ee with •My Gentle Child" (Del Riego), and t.ie • when they asked for more, he o ave i tiny but tasty morsel called 'Dawn. When he bowed himself off there wai a. dawning unpiession that the singer — who is a bit of a humourist himself — was conveying has idea of brevity being the soul of wit. What do you say, Carr ? * * * Mr. J. W. Hill, who keeps too much in the background, gave a capital sample of his quality m ' Alice, Where Art Thou," and responded to the usual encore. Mr. F. Twiss was heard to advantage in "The Devout Lover." Mr A. M. Huxtable started Mozart's 'Qu> Sdegno Nan" in too low a key, and soon found himself nn,ht down m the cellar, with no chance of climbing up again. He has a good bass voice, and did more justice to it m "Roek'd in the Cradle of the Deep." * * * An unaccompanied male quartette was well done by Messrs. J. W. Hill P S. Waldic, W Godfrey, and G. Smith, and was encored. A mixed quartette by Misses Hyde and Pulsford and Messrs Hill and Mannin- betrayed want of preparation. The instrumental pieces wea-e all highly creditable. An orchestra of eleven, under Mr. McLaughlm, played the hveilv overture to "The Cahph of Bagdad," and Misses G and M. Kennedy, with Messrs. A. H. Hamerton and D. Gillies, gave a ■■tri n t quartet and Mr H. Morachmi contributed a De Beriot aria on the clarionet. Miss Grace Kennedy's violin solo was much enioyed Little Aileen Jordan, a clever pupil of Mr. Dovey. pleased' the audlienee pre-atly bv her rhythmical and graceful club swinging.

.mcl she was obliged to return and give some more. Mi. Seddon, as patron, was to have deineied an addiess, but illness pievented him. In his place, President Waldegrave and Secretary Jordan led the Hon>. Jamew Carroll on, to the stage, and then took seats to encourage him. James filled the bill by striking the lose chord at the hrs>t attempt. The speech was in the right vein, and wa. made to dovetail with artustic smoothness into "Not Understood I .' If you haven't heard Mr. Cairo'll m recitation, you oan take it from me h© needs no tuition. * * * The w hirr of the <seductive box wheel is a^ai niheard 1 in the Elite Skating Rmk, Vivian-street, and the devotees w ho flocked to the opening on Monday last are stall flocking, morning, noon, and night, to glide gladly over the «poke-shaved surface of the new floor. The states are new, and the staff are all lineal descendants of Lord Chesterfield. *■■**■ Mr. P. Roab is managing the whirlenev, and the first floundering footsteps of the nervous novice are directed with such kindness that it js worth while falling down to earn the sympathy always extended. The patrons* who last winter revolved daily for three or four hours without stopping are at it again, so that it would seem that the pastime will flourish with lenewed vigour during the winter months. * * « Riokards' Vaudeville Company have been doing variable business at the Opera House this week. It says much for their drawing power that they have done so well against the strong deteinrent of wretched wintry weather. Several changes have been made in the programme. The principal one was the appearance of Madame Olivette, who has graduated with honours m the occult art® of thought-i eading and! lightning calculation. Mr. Golden still keeps bis audiences amused with has "Casey" yarns. The people tieat them as old friends now, and can't hear them often enough. * * Those nimble sylphs, the Sisters O'Meers, have been running races, on the wires with never a stumble. Fred Milks keeps on striking off local hits with his wooden images 1 . Mdlle. Tasiho, too, has had the "gods" suniginig tihe chorus to a nice new pictorial song "Down in the Valley Where the Bluebirds Sima;." The season ends, torasht, and to-morrow the troupe leaves for Australia. ■*• * ■>- Mr. William Anderson, the caterer foi dianxatic sensations, ha,s already artiiistically hung his miual decorations on every point of vantage. The wayrarer knows what 'Through the Divorce Court" is like from the thrilling works of ait exhibited, and will possibly roll up m large numbers on Saturday next, the opening night, at the Opera House, to sample this "strong, soul-stirring strenuous, sympathetic play" as usual. Mi . Anderson will dresb "Divorce" with great elaboratenebs, and the itage effects silhouetting the sensations scattered through the drama are very numerous and 1 realistic. Lizzie Kirk, the best serio-conue that evei warbled on the Dix circuit, was down to make her debut at the Melbourne Gaiety last Saturday. M. Leon Caron, the veteran musical conductor, who left a bed o± sickness to accompany the Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company to New Zealand, finally gave up conducting in Gisborne, his health making it necessary foi him to retire. He had a big heart to fetiok to it so lomg. * * •» S dney Philharmonic have just given the hi'it act of 'Lohengrin," and the second and fourth acts of "Faust," in conceit form. Miss Violet Mount, foimerly of Wellington, sang the music of ¥Ma in the Wagner exceipt, and that ol Marguerite m "Faust " Her s.nging in the church scene it spoken of <ii 'marked by refinement. " :U Tittell Brune, at the head of J. C. Williamsons strong dramatic company, starts in Wellington about three weeks hence. She has just been appealing a^> the Second Mrs. Tanyueray, and during her New Zealand tour s,he i^> likely to add to her repertone "Leah Kleschna," 'MeielyMary Ann," and "The Merchant of Venice." * » * Miss Jeissie MacLachlan is singing to the Sydney people m Scotch, and m Gaelic, and drawing like a tractionengine. She is buxom, dark-eyed, and cornel v, and in her songs lifts up a powerful sonrano voice with a clanonuke nng m the upper register. She touches the hearts of the Scottish folk with her pathetic ballads, and makes them laugh till the tears come with comic pieces hke "The Lairdi o' Cookpen."

Nance O'Neill begins in Melbournej under J. C. Williamsons management, on the 17th June. Among the new pieces she is to produce will be "Judith" and "The Fires of St. John." The former is an extension, of a long narrative poem by Thomas Bailey Aldruoh, which- that writer adapted for stage production at the request of Mir. McKee Rankin. Oopiee of the tragedy have already reached) Australia, and the piece "reads well." * * # Claude H. Whaate, formerly Wellington manager for Percy Dix, is now tounag representative for the JBroughFlemming Comedy Company, and informs me that the company are doing well in Westralia. After that, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. They are out for twelve months in these ooloniies, and sixteen weeks of tlhat time are reserved for New Zealand. They reckon to give the public clean healthy comedy. The four principal pieces are "Beauty and the Bargre " "The Walls of Jenoho," "Little Mary," and "Quality Street." The barge, by the way, is am immense affair, built m London, and shipped out m sections. Mrs. Bi ough will appear on special occasions. * * * The Chnstchuroh Musical Union, undtar their new conductor, Dr. Bradshaw, made a great "hit" with Maecagm's 'Cavalleria Rustioana" last week. Full houses for two performances. It is sa d to be the best concert ever given by the Union. The solo partis were sustained by Mass Amy Murphy (soprano), Mrs. Wilson (contralto). Miss Woodhouse (mezzo-soprano), Mr. Frank Graham (tenor), and 1 Mr. Hamilton Hodges (baritone). The boys of the Cathedral choir sana; the "Prayer" in the first part. Mi«s Murphy is praised for a masniifioent performaviice, and Messrs. Graham and Hod^e^ also come in for liis;b kudos. Mr. Hodlses 3 duets witn Miss M'urphv, and also with Mr. Graham, ap-e spoken, of as "marveils of dramatic singing."

I dreamt that I tossed on a fever'd bed (With the curtains gather'd and drawn), With a hacking cough and a burning head Vainly waiting the tardy dawn. When close to my bedside an angel came, With a phial of liquid pure, And I read on the label a magic name — It was Woods' Great Peppermint Cuke.