Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume IX, Issue 455, 20 March 1909, Page 14

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

POLLARD'S Juvenile Opera Company have scored a complete success in their production of Planquette's famous work, "Rip Van Winkle,"' at the Opera House, during the last few nights. If tJhey maintain. this high pitch of performance during the remainder of the season, the Wel]flngton visit should be quite reminiscent of Pollard's best days in the matter of profitableness. "Rip Van. Winkle" went up before a bumper house on Friday night last, and everyone who turned out to witness the production must have gone home perfectly satisfied. In the previous piece, "The Island of Bong-Bong," one was constantly writing off weaknesses in the work on the score of youth and inexperience in the actors. But m "Rip" there is very little indeed to be written off, and the difficulty is in convincing oneself that it is a juvenile company at work. * - * Mr. Charles Albert made a big success of Rip Van Winkle, m all ages and under all circumstances. His acting was free and natural, and his singing was excellent. The only touch of incongruity is in the inconsistenit mattiness of his dressing in the first act. His frau chides Jrim for his indolence and "rags," while Rip stands clad in spick and span attire. Mr. Albert is particularly successful m Rip of the patriarchal mien — after his long sleep. Altogether, he makes a fine thing of this character part. * * * As landlord of the ion known by the sign of "George the three times," as he designates it, Master Bert Nicholson is again well cast. Of course, his voice, ohjiously juvenile, is out of keeping with the capacious Dutch landlord. But that is the only weakness. His conception of the part is good, and his acting admirable. He falls away when he becomes "his father's son" amongst the "younger generation who knew not Rip." In this he is extravagant, and assumes an air and language of cockneyism quite out of keeping with the requirements of the part. Mr. J. Willis, as the scheming lawyer who loves Rip's wife, is well suited, and plays his part powerfully and well. His work is a marked advance upon his Bong-Bong effort. * * * Miss Cissie O'Keefe again scores by her yocal efforts. She sings effectively and wins much favour. As Katrina, her acting is oftentimes weak and faulty — too flippant. But she makes mo error in the singing. It redeems her slight faults. Miss Minnie Topping is a success as Gretchen, Rip's fcranx. She leads in. the stage successes amongst the ladies. Another piece of good work was that of Miss R. Hems, who, as a naval lieutenant, sings and acts well and aiaively. The setting of the piece is splendid 1 , md the chorus work is always good. 'The Gay Hussar" is being performed (Thursday) for the first time in Wellington as we go to press. A special interest attaches to it in the fact that the words and music were both composed in Auckland. * * * At the Theatre Royal, the Cinema Pathe pictures for the current week preserve the best traditions of the Fullers' programmes. They are of a highly educative, as we3i as an. interesting, nature, and their production leaves nothing whatever to be desired. The usual scenic splendour films of travel in many lamas are shown, and Fullers' are practically conducting a series of cheap excursions into foreign parts. The excellence of the pictures makes this phase of their entertainments approach the realities of actual travel. * * * The masterpiece of this week's show, however, is tie series pourtraying the enormous strides made in the aeroplane navigation. The "conquest of the air" films are capital, and the many successful flights performed by Wilbur Wiright, as represented in these pictures, give one an idea of the progress of aerial navigation that could never otherwise be gained in. this country. Another splendid set of pictures is that one depicting the daily life of the whale fishers in the Southern Seas. Perhaps, the finest scenic display on the bill this week is -the film of coastal Tißwa of Spitebergeni. As usual, the

Edgar Colkns oichestra piovide appropriate and appreciable music throughout. • • « I have received an Indian post-card from Carter the Magician, depicting him standing m front of the infamous Black Hole in Dalhousie Square, Calcutta. The magician, in a note, says "We end our two years' trip round the world at Cairo and Alexandria Egypt. Next address. Hotel Cecil, London." Lucky man. • » • Mr. Hamilton, Hodges intends to give a farewell concert m Wellington about the middle of next month, just prior to leaving on his trip to the Old Country. Miss Amy Murphy, of Dunedm, and late of J. C. Williamsons Comic Opera Company, is remaining in Sydney, and proposes taking up concert work. Much success is hoped for the invitation song recital which the singer is giving this month. • • • The widow who resides in the shoe at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, had a birthday last week, and the occasion served to show her how much she was thought of by the other members of the company, who sho-wered presents upon/ her and ail sorts of good wishes. la real life the "widow" is "Jimmy" Campbell, and the children who live in the shoe presented her with a gold-mounted cigar-holdeir and a silver case, with the words. "To the Widow Cobble, from hex children," inscribed therein, whilst amongst other articles which took the form of birthday gifts were a case of pipes and a flask — hardly appropriate presents for a woman, though, of course, the Widow may be one of those up-to-date females who indulge in the luxuries of a "nobbier" and a smoke now and then. (Continued on page 16.)