Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 309, 2 June 1906, Page 16

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight

THE most cheerful thing that has happened in Wellington for quite a while is Andersons pantomime, wJiich started ltt, season oni Saturday ndght. People crowd along in piled -up heaps to the Opera House to see it happen. It isn't like any .panto Ive seen before. It isn't pantomime or comic opera, or pure vaudeville, or musical comedy. It is a cocktail or the lot, blended, by people who understand the art. You don't hare to think while you are seeing "Smbad! the Sailor." You just hang on amd dnitt down long lanes of laughs, lulled) by lilting melodies, picturesque peißonsm gorgeous apparel, and, above all, by skilled' people who do this particular thing they are paid for with such unusual adroitness that the whole business is a joy. « • The public's old friend., Fred Gra-hanv-cheerful, curly-locked; "Freddy — is not only responsible for the stagemianagino- of this extravaganza, but he is also a delightful "Mxb. SinbadL Mr. Graham's comedy is irresistible, and his gags are never vulgar. Hie silent comedy is high art. Otner specialists include "principal boy Miss Marie Campbell, a shapely lady, with an excellent voice, nice accent amd! enunciation, and a good! actress. • • • The introduced specialities aie so many and so good! as to alone farm, a tip-top varied show. Tihe appearing and disappearing demons, who do a trap-door act that chills the marrow in your veins; the Bicknells, who dance perfectly ; the choice musical "■burn" of the Gardners; and! the acrobatic work of Messrs. Morris and Wilson— l asked the editor for three pages to describe these acrobatics, and he has refused!. Therefore, they are indescribable. Anyhow, I went out on th© Opera House balcony and shouted! "Hooray" about tnem. • • • 1 Old 1 friend, Tod Callaway is wedged into a part, and incidentally some of hie songs, and he has a jesting five minutes with "Freddy" Graham. Another old friend, George Dean, put on some of his songs*, and was well-fitted with ai part and' check pants, and the .nimble Ralph Bicknell (he of dlamce (fame) mad© a fierce pig-tailed 1 sailor- ■ man. » ♦ • The management has rather a choice taste in ga-rls, and 1 the (man responsible for the staging, transformation effects, and the thousand things that make a show "ejo" may consider himself "shouted-" for. The whole effervescence boils over, and ends in an oldfashionedl harlequinade. "Skiibad 1 the Sailor" is about the best liver mixture sold here for a long while, and is worth "a guinea 1 a box," or five "bob" for a eeat on a tumedl-up bucket. Go and see it by all means. • • • It is said that fully three thousand people were in the Town Hall on Saturday night to hear Mr. Edwin H. liemare's second organ recital. Certain it is that it was 1 a vast 1 crowd. The organist himself was not in his best form. He was suffering severely from neuraligia, but very few of the audience were probably aware of the fact. Still, it left its impression on his playing. The opening item was Elgai's fine march, "Pomp and Circumstance," which has been given several tames in Wellington by the local orchestral societies. It is a difficult composition, aindl Mr. Lemare took it at a much quicker tempo than the 1 local performers did. Wolstenholme's "Answer," so much admired at last recital, was repeated this time, prefaced by "The Question," which is not so familiar. It is really the more beautiful piece and demands subtler treatment. The organist played from the music, and in "Die Antwort" one was able to follow the theme at the beginning much better than, last week, when it was playedi from memory. The whole performance was a remarkably fine specimen, of artistic tone-colouring on the organist's part. • • • Bach's Great G minor fugue, which is not so difficult, by the way, ■ac tihe fugue in D major given last week, was rather disappointing. Several slips

were noticeable. Theie wa,s, one, ioi instance, 3Ufet before the first entry or the pedals, where the performei seemed to play a bar twice over. Throughout there was a feeling that Mr. Lemare was not in hit. best form, and on© kept expecting that he was going to make slips. He worked up his climax much earhei than, is usually done in this fugue, and produced a startling effect by bringing out the subject on the solo tuba. • • • The next number was Mr. Lemaie's own concert fantasia on the wellknown hymn tune, "Hanover." The prelude is very elaborate. All through the registration* was really delightful, a.nd the. climax was attained, in, a most brilliant and! satisfying manner. In the theme the fine old hymn tune was brought out &o simply and' yet so grandly that everyone felt inspired by it. The variations were at once ornate and l fanciful, and the oanon was an exceptionllay fine piece of organ-writing. • • • All that need 1 be said of the "Hallelujah" chorus is that it was played! spiritedly. The first few bars brought the audience to their feet, and they evidently enjoyed the performance. Liszt's "Spozalizio" was the most beautiful contribution of all. As the name indicates, the espousals of a young couiple foTm the subject, andl the gay wedding bells are clearly heard at a distance. There was a. lovely 6-8 movement on the vox huinana, and towards the end 1 some very sweet a,coompaniment work alternately on the flute of the great and the clarionetteof the choir organ. • • • The "Etude Symphonique" of Bossa may be described, as a leanarkable dasplay of artistic skill and taste. It was taken so rapidly that you could not hear a note of the pedal passages, and yet not one could have been missed as it would have thrown the organist out. In response to the encore, the only one that prevailed, Mr. Lemare played his own sweet and tender little Andantino mi D minor, to which the local organists have treated us so often within, a year past. The smoothness of the composition was spoilt on this occasion by the jerky manner in which the aooottnipanimenft was executed. In the duet of the second! part between the swell and great organ the combination of stops was exceedingly fine. • • « By a curious coincidence, the theme for the improvisation at thus recital, as at the last, happened! to be one sent in by Mr. A. J. Wicks, viz., "The Minstrel Boy," from Moore's "Irish Melodies." The organist seemed to take a considerable time before getting to work on the theme itself. Several times he was on the verge of it only to modulate aigain into the prelude. There was a very fine fugal passage, and at the close the popular air was thundered out on th© pedals. » • » The overture to "Tannhauser," arranged! for the organ by Mr. Lemare himself, must have been a revelation to all who had heard the sound-and-fuiry version given us some weeks ago by Mr. Gale. From first to last there was not a single note that did not reach the listener's ear clearly and distinctly. It was also a splendlid manifestation of the polyplionio resources of the organ under the hands of a master. Mr. Lemare's 'great interpretation will live in the memory as one of the finest reproductions on the organ of full orchestral effects that one could wish to hear. Part of the finale was omitted, but everyone must have left the Town Hall with the noble leit motif — the "Pilgrims' Chorus" — ringing sweetly in his ears. • • • Wednesday night was drippy overhead, and very sloppy underfoot' — m fact, the sort of night on which you anchor by the fire-side — but for aU fchia* Mr. Lemaire's third organ recital at the Town Hall drew a large assemblage. Not crowded', but still numerous, especially upstairs. It was a charming programme, and on this ooeasioni the organist relaxed to the extent of two encores. • * # The gems> were Mendelssohn's lovely ongan sonata (No. 6), which was played with wonderful skill and force of expression, and 1 Mr. Lemare 'a own arrangement of the powerful Schlussoene from Wagner's "Rheingiold," descriptive of the entry of the gods into WaJhalla. This piece was a really magnificent tone-picture, vivid in its realism, a,nd impressive throughout. The* other morcea/ux were : A march by Guilmant, Hollins' "Spring Song," Gounod's 1 "Funeral March of a Marionette," a romance and pastoral by Lemare himself, Handel's Lango, and an improvisation on "Comin ; thro J the Rye." There will be another organ recital to-morrow (Sa/burdlay) night. The programme is advertised 1 elsewhere in this issue.

Fullers 5 Entertainers, at the. Theatre Royal, continue to coruscate with their perennial glitter. A new glitterer on the ball is Alma, whose magio is both deft and mystifying;. Mr. Percy Liodge, a new sang anid' diance artki, makes a specialty of feminine impersonations, and succeeds admarably. His classic contribution, "What 0, She Bounces," and his soulful solo, "Oh, Mr. Harris," are sample© of minstrelsy gladly received by the populace. * • # Mr. James Opie opens with "In the Shadow of the Pines," which explains excellently the coloured pictures with trees in them, and "Hear the Pipers Calling" is one of those stirring 1 thingjs that makes you go home amd! dig your bagpipes from their green baize bed amidi keep the neighbours awake with the "Cock o' the North." New Zealand's own, comedian is Bob Lloyd, who endeavours to uphold the honour ■of the Southern Gross, by singing songs made in England 1 , amd mostly about London. Some day somebody will write New Zealand! songs for New Zealanders. It is possible New Zealandlots would refuse to sing them. 'Twas ever thus. » • • The Rowell Sisters are stall winning encores for their sonig-and-d'anoe turns, and the juveniles sing in unison or otherwise with the usual results. The Gibson Girls are piroueifcting nimbly as usual, atnd 1 telling the people between the kicks, "The Way to Catch a Man." These joyful girls never pall. They cam dance. The cinemiatogrsaphic phantasmagoria and 1 the kineitoscopic hypermyriorama (more m's please!) are a draw, and the burleitta, "Mixed," by those clever people, Marschel and! Carl yon, is a eroodi thing, with humour thickly studded. Miss Oec'le Stephano Miss Clara Keatmer, Mr. Aubrey Douglas, Mr. Jack Hagam, and others continue to chirp. * • * An exceptionally attractive proigramme has been prepared for the benefit concert to Miss Lenore Pulstford, at the Town Hall, on Wednesday evening next. All the best local talent is cheerfully assisting. Mr. Maughan Barnett will be heard 1 on tihe organ, and Mr. Cyril Towsey will oonttribute a pianoforte solo, and also accompany, while Mr. Robert Parker hias kindly altered) the date of the Musical Union's rehearsal co that it may not clash with the concert. ♦ • • One of Miss Pulsford's contributions will be "The Lost Chord. 5 ' Miss Irvine will sinig "Lovely Spring," and the celebrated waltz song from "Romeo anid Juliet." Songs will also be given by Messrs. E. J. Hill, J. F. Can;, and; A. S. Ballamce, Mr. Mac Gowan will recite, and a flute duet is to be executed! by Mr. Ohas. Hill andl a lady pupil. The box-plan opens this (Friday) morning at the Dresden. • • • Mr. Alfred Hill is back again from Sydney this week. "The Moorish Maid" had a good time in that city, but didn't draw so well as in New Zealand. Mr. Hill will now give musical comedy a rest, and confine his attention to grand, opera and opera comique, on the lines of which he constructed his opera, "Don Quixote."

He (has come to the , conclusion that there is a higher musical standard in New Zealand than in Australia. They have no singers on, the other 1 side as good as Rosina Buckmann and Amy Murphy. • • • Miss Buokmann, who, by the way, lias been, persuaded to stay on. in Sydfney for the Philharmonic concert, was the great hit in "The Moorish Maid." So were the Bovis brothers in the 'comic line. Four encores every night. Alfred is pleased to be back in Wellington, lie was att the organ/ recital the other night, and felt proud thfe Empire City had such a hall, such an organ, so great an artist to play on. it, and so large an a,udienoe .to turn out to hear Mm. (Continued on page 18.) '

"Joe" Saunders, Wellington bom anid! bred, and who helped to make the town, passed out of this life by his owii< ihand a* Palmerston North tius week, to the regret not only of Wellington people, but of many people throughout New Zealand. Mr. Saunders had! been m indifferent health for several years, and' no doubt this greatly depressed him. Be, was known as an absolutely fair employer, who paid good wages to good men, and wouldn't employ "wasters." That's why Mr. Saunders men used to go away and say . "I worked for Jo& Saundiens." It was a hall-mark of excellence. "Joe' wasn't stingy. He wasn't much of a boating man himself, but as president of the Wellington. Rowing Club lie put his hand in his pocket largely, and, indeed, saved 1 the institution from collapse unaided. It is worthy of notice that ten minutes before he shot hamtself the contractor rang up a Palmerston North) office on the telephone, and made an appointment in connection, with another contract he was about to undertake.

It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that Mr. J. S. Keith has retired; from the firm of Keith. Hutcheson, and Wilson, ship chandlers riggers, and sail-makers, haying sold his interest therein. Mr. Keith takes the opportunity to return thanks to the customers who in tlhe past have given •Mm their support. The annual sketch exhibition of the Academy of Fame Arts, which is to be opened by the Mayor on Saturday afternoon, has special attractions this year. In addition to the exflnbits themselves, of which there is a large variety, there is a splendid! loan collection of work© by English an.d colonial artists of celebrity. The committee of the Wellington Cricket Association has got its eye on the City Council's proposal to barrow £27,000 for equipping Wellington with decent recreation grounds. A special meeting has been called for Friday week to devise means for rousang public interest m the question, and all delegates are urged to be present. Now is the .time to wake up and work. If nobody cares, then the vote will be lost and people who want outdoor games will have to go far away from town to find room enough. The Wellington Sailors' Best does a lot of good without saying much about it The fact that 25,550 sailors have used the Rest in the past yeaa- speaks volumes for its usefulness. The Rest is kept going by subscriptions and Mr. Peart, who sucoeed'ed' . Miss Pye Spencer. Miss Spencer was seoretary of the Rest for quite a while, and has been connected with the institution for fifteeni years. It is not intended that there should be a fat surplus, because the presence of a fat surplus in a charitable institution is the best evidence that somebody is goins; without -charity. Anyhow, the institution has

£6 13s 6d to go on with, but it wants a lot of cash, of course, and' anybody who wants to do tine square thing by thie salt-water men ought to Mr. Peart.

No chemist, who sought in vast ages The phantom Philosopher's Stone, Has handed down that wh.ch assuages The throat-trouble always so prone. Till Woods, after thirty years' trial, In tests both exhaustive and sure, Discovered a charm to defy all — Woodte' Great Peppermint Cure.

(Continued from page 16.)

Leon Garon, the great conductor, left £5000. • • • "Johnnie" Sheridan hears the East a-calhng. Wheu he has been baked m Queensland he will fry in India. Ponderous Peicy Den ton is somewhere in New Zealand. I feel ham coming. He is going to sing toi Fullers. • ■ • Mr. Herbert Fleinmmg thinks "William Evans," in "Dark Days,' to have been the late 'Bob' Brought giedtest part. • • • Haymarket in Sydney, famed for the great Hordem store, that was burnt, is to be occupied by a theatre. Prices, Is 6d, Is, 6d, and 3d. • • • Mr. G. H. Snazelle, who is a pretty good hand at a song and btory show, i^> now professor or elocution at tne Guildhall (London) School of Music. • • • In Londoin last montu "The Spiing Chicken," one of the later musical comedies, celebrated its 300 th peifonnanoe. "The Spring Chicken" is getting, an aged brrd now. • * * A manager was lately heard to boast with a large amount of "side" that he could produce anything. "What about 'Ready Money'?" sadly queried the comedian with the frayed panto. • • • Mr. J. C Williamson has just acquired the Australasian rights of "Bedford's Hope," an American, piece- of the medo-dramatie order, which has been remarkably successful in the United States. • • • Miss Nell. E. Stewart is rather good o.n post-oard ideas. Her latest is the reproduction of thei Australasian address presented to her by people from this endl at subsequently-wrecked San Francisco. • * • Mr. Cuyler Hastings is in Sydney on a pleasure visat. It is said that the pleasure of going away- will be greatly increased for Mr. Hastings, and a certain society beauty leaves Sydney and hier old! name behind at the same time. • • • " George WiUoughby, once partnered with Eddie Geacsn, us now partneiea matrimonially with Miss Kenna, an Australian lady. Mrs. Willoughby has £1000 a-year, andi her people are among "the" people ot JSew South Wales. • • • Says Mrs. Nott Osborne (nee MioS Maud Jeffries) : "My stag© lite is ovei . Yet I often wonder if I will ever come back to it. There is such a lot before me now — something that is so new and so fascinating. I'm simply dying to go to our station." • • « Mass Violet Clarke i© a daughter of the raither noted Sir Georgje Clarke, who was re-called suddenly from the ViotorEan Governorship to advise the Briitdehi Government oa military affairs. She appears soon in> grand opera., under the name of Viola Londa, having studied under the great Marchesi and De Reeke. • • • Leading actons are naturally favourable to having their personal qualifications discussed by their admirers, but there is a poant at which the most patient of them arises in wrath. Mr. Thomas Kingston arrived at that point a few days ago when confronted with tibse definite statement that he was fifty-two years old. It was too much to be borne with equanimity, and Mr. Kingston took immediate steps to rectify the error in computation. He wishes it to be understood that lie has only thirty-six summers to his credit. • • • An American criticism of Sarah Berahardt: — "Exotic, morbific, feline, fulgurant, ophidian, hypnotic Dona Sol is wi-fah us fcbis week. 8100d 1 , death, Bin, Bplendorousness are her signs of art. She is Medusa reincarnate^ or a TTury touched with pathos. TTlrbimate feminism without veneer she voice© iai subtle and 6leek ferocity. Youth stays with her as if sustained and refreshed 1 by vampirdsh absorption! of the life of simulated 1 passions. Fascinated 1 eh© holdis us by a spell of necrophildstic, satanic power. Inscrutable, yet simple, bear witchery is that of Leonardo's Mono. Lisa, mocking us with our own fultilitdeß. She is a Madonna of Evil, and -bhie incense she feeds upon is the exhalation, of the grave. Her art is a sweet) poison brewed of indefeasible genius and' the crassest charlatanism." Reads almlost like a leader from tihe "Bush Bannerette" or the "Bingaree BugJe."