DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 300, 31 March 1906, Page 5

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

By Footlight

WHEN R. G. Knowles glued his eye to the hole m the dropcurtain at the Opera House, at 7.45 on Monday night, he exclaimed to Mrs. R. G. : ''Well, this is all right!" Not very original, but he would have to say it because Wellington, bubbled into the house, and bubbled ovei, and into the street. Still, the only man who sat an the steps of the dress circle was a city councillor, and the only one who stood m, a passage m the stalls a City Council inspector! However, to our Knowles. He is a breezy chap, with a (strong voice and an American accent. He walks on his toes mostly, and talks to the audience. He has a few dancing steps, a host of reminiscences, an easy style of getting rid of them, a useful face, an imitative faculty, not a very good voice (which he makes more of than most men can) and an altogether delightful way of telling a story. Sometimes one might have exclaimed under one's breath "Chestnut!" but one is so dashed clever oneself that everything is a. chestnut that one doesn't invent oneself. * * * As I say, Knowles style of telling a yarn, of singing a song, and of doing anything, is just R. G.s way and no other person's, and he has a clean, wholesome sense of humour that is a fine twenty-two carat setting to a gem. The thing that surprises you most about R.G.s entertainment is when he tells you he's been talking to you for an hoar, and it's time for you to rush for over the road. You don't believe hes had the loan of you for an hour until you look at your watch. That's how you come to gauge the quality of his show. R.G. goes around the world sampling the earth's humour, or the humour that has been j)ut into the mouths of people who are samples of the earth, and while he is at it he shows the daintiest, clearest little "pine" pictures you ever saw. « • • Sometimes he sings, and then Mis. R. G. sweeps in, looking pleased and plump, and sits at the grand piano and plays. R. G.s running fir© of comments on. everything tickles you clean through, and! he cannot let a mere picture go by without epigramming about it. I percolated into the ciowd at half-time, and gathered that they were amused. I didn't hear one person say, "Rotten 6how !" which is often the British way of receiving a show that has cost some thousands of pounds. It's no use dishing up any of R. G.s yarns, because it is R. G. who makes them sparkle. They don't coruscate worth a dime in black and white re-hash. Would like to tay just here that Mrs. R. G. can agitate the banjo some. In fact, she can agitate two. She doesn't ovei do that banjo. Just fantasias on one, and "Home, Sweet Home" from all quarters on the other. The pair are a strong team. No orchestra, — don't need one. Just a few pot plants instead of trombones and things. The peop'e expected a great deal, and they got more than they expected. Also, R. G. put on a patch of his celebrated "turn" attired in the historic hat, "frocker," white pants, and blucher boots. He sang "Soldiers in tihe Park." He sang it nine and a-half years ago in Melbourne, and it ha^ lived all that time. R. G. wouldn't kill anything for worlds. He is so kind-hearted. Most of the stuff he does is fit to live. * * * Fullers, at the Theatre Royal, despite crowded attendances at other local shows, are holding their own, mostly because they are putting up a good show. The juvenile Elwood family are worth talking about. The Elwoods are three small children — one boy has only recently cut his teeth — and they are adept on string instruments. The elder plays the violin, and the smallest of the thiee reaches up to a 'cello, and scrapes very nice music off it indeed. This youngster's 'cello solo, "Killarney," is played with good expression, excellent .echnique, and fine tone. The violin solo, Bragas's "Serenade," was probably the best item, for it was given with an amount of feeling that proclaimed the true artist. Altogether, a most pleasing "turn."

Miss Cecile Stephano has a voice which emphasises the truth of the old adage, '"a thing of beauty is a joy for ever." She mfuses a deal of feeling into the song, ' Daddy" (which us well illustrated), and is particularly pleasmig in "The Song that Beached My Heart." Also, she gets off "The Sea » Calling Me" in fine style. A good, honest artiste, with a melodious voice. * • • Will Lochiane, the Scottish wit, is still wi us, and his nightly stumpspeech is full o' pawky Scotch humour. Also, Will's songs count for a high aggregate. Menzies and Loander are knock-about artistes, both of the "guy" order, and patterers of Parts Having just appeared, they appear to jest (which is> a joke). Nobody minds them staying for ten minutes or so, and the ten minutes seem like two. • • • Miss Viola Price favours a Dutch item, and is somewhat reminiscent of May Moore Duprez. She has a bunch

of ditties that make life brighter. Will Bollow, the versatile, is penalised in many encores. "Alone I Did It" scores heavily. The prevailing serios are. Miss Ivy Gallardi, Miss Violet Frawley, Miss Cissie Whitfbrd, and Miss Mabel Lynne. Mr. Frank King is at his descriptive songs, and Mr. Carl Collier has 'The Sights of Wellington," which is going good. * * * The ' Living London" picture show, which finished a very fine season on Tuesday night — the Town Hall being filled to its full capacity each night. — was augmented during the .last two or three nights by some excellent films of the "All Blacks" being received in Auckland. The subject was popular. The "Living London" films are unique in their way, and are of a highly educative order, glimpses of every kind of London life — except slum life — being shown in rapid succession. Messrs. Tait have a good thing in "Living London." (Continued on page 18.)