DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 723, 9 May 1914, Page 12

DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL.

By Footlight.

ENTERTAINMENTS. His Majesty's Theatre — Brennan - Fuller Vaudeville (in season) Empress Theatre (in Beason) —Continuous Pictmes King's Theatre (in season)— Hay ward-Ful-lers' Pictures People's Picture Palace (in season) —Continuous Pictures Olympia Skating Kink, Vivian - street— (in season) . ' ' ■ Grand Opera House—Antonia Dolores, 9th . May Town Hall—" The Dandies;" commencing , 9th May Dolores. THAT most charming and artistic of concert singers—Antonia Dolores —is with us once again, and in the Grand Opera House is renewing the spell which she always puts upon us. In the affections of the music-loving public, she fills the place that a generation ago the Carindinis used to hold. Certainly there is no other singer who visits us, ho matter what her fame may be, who gives us so much genuine satisfaction by her art as Dolores does. This is because she convinces you that she feels what she sings, because she is a true-hearted woman and because she is an artist down to her finger tips, so to speak. * * * * The first song-recital took place on Monday night, among those present be--ing Chief Justice Sir Robert : Stout, Lady Stout, and members of their family. The programme was a choice bouquet of song from many It was full of varietyj and not a single weak item in it. * * # * First of all, the recit. "Crudele ," and aria, "Ah! non dir (Ah, Tell Me Not"), from Mozart's immortal opera, "Don Giovanni!" It is in the bravura style, of course, and full of the limpid melody so characteristic of Mozart. It brought into relief the purity and flexibility of the singer's voice, and.her clear enunciation arid ease of production were a striking lesson to'all who pretend to be able to sing. In answer to the prompt encore "The Lass with the Delicate, .air" was sung with a delicate suggestion of sarcasm. * * * * -. Dolores' next contribution consisted of four dainty little trifles, two by Brahms, one of. tbem a standcheri (whicb is German for serenade), "La Bas," by SaintSaens, "and "Mandoline," by Debussy. All were delicately and most tastefully sung, the first two in German and the other two in French.. This time a double encore was enforced. Mile. Dolores opened the second part of her programme with the ever-welcome song from Mignon, "I am Titania," and it "was executed with brilliancy, leading, of course, to the usual penalty of success. This time the encore brought out a quaint Breton "Ave Maria," which was sung with such earnestness of feeling that it Bad to be repeated. * * * * A posy of songlets in English formed the cantatrice's concluding number, and in some points it was the best. It consisted of Goring Thomas's "Song of Sunshine," "In the Woods," by MacDowell (a delightful lyric), Foote's "Irish Folk Song/' sung with, exquisite nuances of expression, and Liza Lehmann's "Oh, Tell Me, Nightingale." Instead of the. usual stampede for the trams the audience, in thrall-to the singer, sat on and registered another encore." They were rewarded with "Comin' thro' the Rye," most archly and prettily sung. * * * * Mr. John Prouse was in capital voice, and at the beet of his form. He contributed "The Pilgrim's Song" (Tschaikowsky), two of Korbay's Hungarian songs ("Shepherd, See My Horse's Foaming Mane" and # "Had a Horse") and gave them all with force and fervour, his voice ringing true as a bell. He was recalled each ,time, and responded with "Vittoria" ("Victory") and "The Queen of Connemara." * # * ,* Miss Iris de Carios-Rego is a very young lady, and a fine pianiste and accompanist. She played Chopin's Nocturne in F Sharp and his scherzo in C sharp minor, and made a decided hit in this latter piece, which won her a recall. Altogether a. memorable concert.

Wednesday night's concert was well attended, and the cantatrice was in fine voice. Mdlle. Dolores sang no fewer than eight items, besides encores. Mr. John Prouse did himself great justice in the Wagnerian excerpt, "0 Star of Eve" (Tannhauser). The prologue. "Like Death's Dark Shadow, etc," is one of Wagner's most noble inspirations, and Mr. Prouse sang it splendidly. Miss De Cairos-Rejjo, the pianiste, is of the light and dainty school. She is rather unconvincing, although careful, perhaps rather too much so. As an accompaniste, she is a trifle too straight and does not assist her singer. Her playing should be more cantabile..- She is otherwise very pleasing. ,** * * At the Movies—the Empress. Items of more than usual interest in the first change of pictorial diet made at the ever well patronised Empress Theatre this week were a couple of Russian films. One illustrated an extensive Russian zoo, affording an excellent study in zoology, and just the class of picture we could very well see more of. This zoo is Bituated in the plains, where the wild beasts, can roam at their sweet will, such of them as are vegetarians and don't feed on one another. Then there ' was a film secured in the Caucasus Mountains, which, though badly acted, w::.-? -■• I'ticularly interesting because it " •'•.—"'wfl some strange Caucasian cus-t<-"ns. On the dramatic side was "The Airman's Bride," the feature picture, showing an.elopement and papas futile pursuit in a motor car. The views of the aeroplane in the air, as it aggravatingly circled and hovered like a bird over papa's head, were as clear as any seen here. "A Tango Tangle/' and another comedy provided a* good laugh, and a topical series completed the bill. * » * * "The Compact," a feature picture with a sensational finale, is the ruling attraction at the Empress for this weekend. Supporting it is "The Measure of a Man," said to be a powerful Lubin drama, and other films. * * * * Vaudeville. A couple of new star turns, adding their lustre to that of the prevailing stars on the Fuller-Brennan bill at -_as Majesty's this week, are La Stella Trio and Juno Salmo, "The Devil Dandy." The former present a Russian act composed of singing, playing of musical in- ' struments, and dancing, all of which they do delightfully. Juno Salmo is a • contortionist who rivals Ferry -the Frog. Assuming.the character of His Satanic Highness, he ties himself into all sorts of knots while calmly seated on the summit of a 14ft rod, the area of his seat- • ing accommodation measuring not much more than that of half-a-crown. Also he performs other 'remarkable feats. Hanlon, Dean, and Hanlon, a really clever acrobatic team, Miss Dorothv Harris, the ragtime specialist, and all the others are also getting their share of the ar>plause._ The tango competition on Tuesday night proved a tremendous draw, the big theatre overflowing. * '* * * King's Theatre. There is a splendid programme running at the Bang's this week. "Leah Kleschna" is a powerful drama, done by the best New York actors. The scenics are choice: Venice, Auckland, and Oamaru. "Mabel's Strange Predicament," the chief comic, is a regular screamer. The "Pathe Gazette" is right up to date as usual. Next Monday night will see the first appearance in New Zealand of a leading American actor, James K. Hackett, in the reproduction in pictui'e form of Anthony Hope's world-famed romance of love and adventure, "The Prisoner of Zenda." * * * * Mary Stuart. The tragical story of Mary, Queen of Scots, has been followed by crowded houses at the People's Picture Palace this week. The film was a splendid one, and well worth seeing. It commenced with the murder of Rizzio by Lord Damley, and the final curtain was drawn at her execution. .Another interesting feature picture is being shawn this week-end, and the P.P.P. will play its next trump-card on Monday. * * * * The Dandies The ever-welcome Branscombe "Dandies" commence a season in their old quarters in the Town Hall Concert Chamber to-morrow (Saturday) evening. This is an entirely new company, one guaranteed to add to the laurels of the different "Dandies" we have seen and heard. Portraits of. eight members of the company appear on the second dramatic page in this issue, and in addition to these there are two other members, to wit, Mr. David Lyle, tenor, and Mr. Arthur Keightly, the producer. Speaking of the recent farewell performance in Adelaide of these Dandies, a paper remarks that the applause with which each artist met was so hearty and the demands for encores so frequent that the programme threatened to continue until a late hour.

Skating The skating boom is now in. its _ giddy whirling height at the piympia Rink in Vivian-street. There is a fine crop of beginners coming on, and these, with the more seasoned and expert skaters, keep the floor well occupied. Meanwhile, during the absence of most of our young men at the Takapau camp, the usual dancing competitions on skates have been suspended. For the absence of our young soldiers the "Roller Poet" sheds a tear in verse elsewhere. See the Olympia advertisement. * * * *

-Miss Ellen Terry is to make thirty ap.pearances in Australasia, commencing in Melbourne on May 7th. Our old friend Blascheck has charge of the tour, and the expenses are so high that prices are Tip—los 6d, ss, 3s. Miss Terry's wonderful charm .is known to all men, how--ever, and her success is assured. * * * * McKee Rankin, who was with Miss Nance O'Neil in the days of her early -Australian success, is dead. The story •is that Rankin taught the great Nance all she knew, but he has lately been •concerned in the making of moving pictures. * * * * Of twenty-eight plays now running as star successes in New York theatres, snot one has yet been seen in Australasia. Meanwhile Miss Anna Held (of all peo-•ple-l) has come forward with the excellent suggestion that a children's theatre :shall be built —a theatre in which all the year round nothing but plays for child;ren shall Jae produced. A fine idea. **. * * Annette Kellerman, the Australian ifiwimmer, and Herbert Brennan, who was appearing in her act, had a painful • accident in Bermuda recently. 'They •were giving a demonstration of their ■skill in a large glass tank, which suddenly burst under the pressure of the water. Miss Kellerman and her partner were carried = away by the rush of the •escaping water, and were gashed severe-ly-by .the jagged edges of the glass.- The young lady was badly cut in the side, while Mr. Brennan was lacerated in the -arms and legs. * , * * *-. $Mrs. Patrick Campbell, who has just married George Cornwallis West, is. close •on fifty years of age, and is probably twenty years older than her' new husband. She was a star lady in melodrama at the London Adelphi twenty-five years ago, and it shows her rare capacity for making successes of her parts when she : has practically remained a star lady ever since. Young West's previous wife, Lady Randolph Churchill, the parent of -the only Winston, was quite old enough to be the young man's mother. He seems to have a fascination for elderly ladies, though he is nothing more than ' a good-looking young man with, wavy hair and an ingratiating manner. His first marriage upset his family dreadfully, and it was some time before they •could be brought to talk about it in anything like a peaceful' spirit. - . * * * * Melba's voice failed her completely at ' a recent appearance in Boston, United States. She murmured her regrets, and promised that she would try to' sing soon. Melba's'place was taken at short notice by a Miss Myra Sharlow, a protegee of the great diva, and Miss Sharlow made a sensational success; with Melba standing in the wings. Mr. Edward Branscombe and Mr. Leo D. Chateau, ,two of the directors of Edward Branscombe Pty. Ltd., have been spending some few days in Melbourne arranging for all sorts of innovations and attractions in connection with the various Dandies', shows*, which now play in # every capital city "in Australia, and are also at present here in Wellington. Mr. Branscombe will be leaving for England shortly to complete arrangements for things new on the other side of the globe. We are glad to hear of Chateau's success. He is a good fellow "and a straight one, and deserves his slice of luck. It pays better to run the Dandies than to teach elocution to the sucking Irvings of Wellington. * * * * Much curiosity has been aroused as to what form the recitals of Miss Ellen Terry. will : take. A recently-returned globe-trotter, who heard the famous actress while in England, says that it was wonderful. The recital, or lecture, was given in the little Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon during the celebrations of Shakespeare's birthday week there. The great actress, simply clad in a soft grey frock, had no scenery or accessories. A plain curtain, hung at the back of the stage, and. a reading stand and lamp were the only furnishings. The lecture was "Shakespeare's Women." The beginning was a short resume of the chief feminine characters, and following were excerpts from well-known scenes in different plays. The wonderful person- , ality of Miss Ellen Terry made the characters live and walk and talk before the audience. All this with no accessories, no properties, and no scenery. * * * ■» The "Joy-ride Lady" is the title of a new musical comedy now being produced in London ._ It is said to be unique in its decoration and its costuming. _ The latter, for both men and women, is described as the oddest ever. To quote a London ' of them (the costumes) belong to the day after tomorrow." Is it possible that costumes more freaky than those we have at present with us can be conceived P