DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 801, 5 November 1915, Page 10

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

By Foot light.

** Elijah." iN many points the Royal Wellington Choral Society achieved a decided "hit" by its presentation of Mendelssohn's immortal oratorio { 'Elijah" at the Town Hall last week-end. This is the eleventh season, and. this particular concert was the 53rd. that has been given. In spite of harsh critics, who make no allowances for amateur handicaps and few rehearsals, it mav be doubted _ whether a finer interpretation of "Elijah" has ever been given by the society. That is, taking it as a whole. * * * •» True, the orchestra made mistakes here and there, notably in two solo accompaniments—where the time was at fault —but in view of the fact that there had only been one rehearsal of the combined forces, the wonder really is that voices and instrumentalists co-or-dinated so well. The chorus was weak in male voices—obviously due to the demands made by the war —but the choruses, some of them very difficult, were, as a whole, brightly and. crisply sung. Some of them were really splendidly done. *• * * * For the. vocal solos the society assembled a remarkably fine array of talent, and the performance of solos, duets, etc., deserves very high praise indeed. In fact, it was a rare musical treat' and privilege to listen to them. For the soprano part a sweeter and better singer than Mrs. Grower Burns you would have to go very far afield. She had the music of her part completely memorised, and rendered it with clear enunciation, . remarkable facility, and true expression. Miss Mina Caldow gave a finished interpretation of the suave contralto passages. "O Rest in the Xiord" and "Woe to him" were sung with exquisite taste and clepth of feeling. The unaccompanied trio, "Lift Thine which Miss Gowder joined the two ladies just mentioned) was a positive . delight, so admirably chorded was it.

Mr. John Prouse excelled h:.r.Sv.-f in the part of "Elijah." It is his strongest part in oratorio, he is _note perfectin it, his reading is artistic, "and his performance will challenge comparison with", that of the best artists who have perforated tT:is arduous role in New Zealand.- Ifis impressive delivery of "It is was a r. ~r terpiece, and the exultiint air "Is- not His Word like a Fire?" had q-lite a thrilling effect. Mr. Martin Djff has a clear -and flexible voice, which he uses very capably, and his share of the music was contributed with-, care find good judgment. Master Rodney jL'ankhurst's boyish treble sounded sweetly in tlie Youth's part, and Miss 'Gowder took her shaTe of the trio very satisfactorily.

Mr. Bernard Page, as conductor, has earned "his full meed of praise for skilful work conscientiously execute-; 1 . The concert must have tried ?.im £ roatly, for he worliod uncommonly hard with the baton to achieve the desired results. There is no scamping about his work. Mr. W. Kerry, at the organ, was sound and reliable, and Mr. L. Logan good leader of the orchestra. "The Messiah" is now set for rehearsal, and we are promised it about the middle of December. * *• Vaudeville. A goodly • assortment of vau.l-.-ville talent conspires niehtly from 8 o'clock to 10.30 at His Majesty's Theatre to drive dull care away. The success that attends the efforts of the mum:r.ir.g conspirators is manifested in the big masses of humanity that roll up each evening to be relieved of_ their sorrows and worries. ' It is noticeable by the regular lack of vacant seats in the auditorium that with the advent of the Elton Black Revue Company on the programme the desire for a tonic has grown visibly. This company's specific •is labelled "Catch On," and it, "catches on" with a very fair measure of success. Principal contributors to this success are Elton Black himself in his role as Tiddley Tosh, a vaudeville artist, the Keystone vocal- quartette, Peter Brooks, tenor, Miss Pearl Livingstone, soubrette, and the Flapper Brigade of chorus girls. Elton Black's impersonations of Charlie Chaplin and Harry Lauder are really first class. # The whole performance, however, is not conspicuous for its originality.

• Some half-dozen turns comprise the vaudeville' half of the bill. Balancing Stevens is a great favourite with his dry humour and balancing feats. Vernon and Sinclair stage a bright little sketch, entitled "Married by Telephone." The Duckworths are neat in their acrobatic feats. Arthur Douglas might be Harry Lauder's understudy, but is very entertaining all the same. Miss Eugenie Boland voca'ises "The A complete change will be given nextMonday, including a new revue. See advertisement in another column for particulars. * * * * " The Escape." "The Escape" has been filling the complete bill at the King's this week, and co-incidentally has been keeping the house filled to the last seat. What more could a manager's heart desire? This is a vivid story of slum-life in New York set in startling contrast with life in the Smart Set. The scenery is faithful, to fact, as anyone who has passed through the crowded and motley Bowery down near the Brooklyn bridge can testify. This picture-play gives you pieces of every-day actual happenings in the world's second biggest city. There is no need to recount the chequered story or to tell how the heroine wins her arduous way from sordid environments, not without hurt from the cunning wiles of gilded vice, to the goal of - married happiness. •*•*** It is a dramatic story whose episodes play strongly upon the emotions, the keys of indignation, compassion, sympathy. pathos, humour and gladness all being sounded in turn. There are no dull moments in it. It grips you hard right through. The bill of the season is promised for Monday next. It's a guinea to a gooseberry that "Uncle Tom's Cabin" will keep business at the King's screwed right up to the 'limit. **. * # Wellington Professional Orchestra. It was the Wellington Professional Orchestra's penultimate concert of the season on Sunday night last, and, as usual, His Majesty's was full to the doors. What a fine programme it was, coo! The leading attraction, so to epeak, was that fine symphonic poem, "Finlandia," in which the Finnish composer, Sibelius, has enshrined the genius of his mother country. Musiclovers will remember it was first given by_ the orchestra two. years ago. It grips and 'holds your interest * by its sweet and pensive melodies tinged with sadness, and v by its intense national spirit working up to a stirring finale. This work was admirably -interpreted by the orchestra.

The only new piece was a triumphal march from- Greig's "Sigurd 1 Jorsalker," which Mr. Walter Fuller (who plays a serviceable violin) sent Home for and to_ the orchestra. It opens boldly quite in the Greig style, develops into a suave and pretty trio, and then resumes the opening strain and carries it to a capital climax. All the other items were gems chosen from previous settings. Gillett's ever-wclcome study (for sin-inss only) "Loin du Bal," was promptly encored,' and had to be repeated. Mr. .Hillikur deserves a. special meed of praise for the taste and delicacy with which he played . the 'cello solo. "Dawn'' gives _ a very apt musical sketch of _ the rising of the sun. "The Norwegian Carnival" has been heard before this season, and does not pall by repetition. The entr'act from "La Mariposa" is a bright little piece in 6-8 time and tickles the ear.

As the next concert is the final one of the season, it may lbe termed "a '.;le-biscit-e concert," as the items have been by the votes of the orchestra's a.:diences. . Titbits in it will be "Finlandia," the overture to "Zampa," and < the intermezzo from ' 'Cavalleria Rusticana."

The Professional Orchestra announces elsewhere the violin recital which Mr. Herbert Bloy lias cc' sented to give under its auspices at llis Majesty's Theatre on Sunday evening next. Many people remember with pleasure the Sunday recital given by Mr. Bloy a couple of years ago, and, its groat success, a bumper ho ,:se ought to be the sure result. The violin items will include the "Fantasia Appassionata" of Vieuxtemps. the "Romance" of Sarasate, Wieniawski's "Souvenir de Moscow," and, by request, the burlesque variations on "Yankee Doodle" arranged by Mr. Bloy himself. Miss Betty Purdom and. Mr. J. Culford Bell will be the assisting artists.

It is rumoured that Miss Lizette Parkes will be the "principal girl" in "Mother Goose," the next pantomime by the "Williamson firm.

An incomplete list of Australian actors now appearing in films in America and England, includes Lily Leslie (Lubin), Paul Scardon (Vitaeraph), Henry Bracy (Mutual) Wanda Radford (London), Elsie Wilson (Mutual), Bertie Wright (special comedies). G. W. Anson (Frohman). Frank Clarke (Selig), and. Arthur Shirley (Kalem). The latest addition is Miss Eve Balfour, who,

MISS SARAH BROCK, 1.5.0., the . first lady in New Zealand to be decorated with the. Imperial Service Medal The Order is conferred on her in recognition of her' meritorious services as an officer in the Post and Telegraph Department, in which she served for forty years. The presentation was made by Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General, last Monday.'^ prior to leaving for London six years ago, figured in theatrical circles in Australia and New Zealand* In. England she was fortunate enough to obtain an immediate engagement as understudy to Mrs. Patrick Campbell, who was then playing lead in "False Idols." She has since been film-acting for two years. * * * •* Gaby Deslys, the adored of the' London music halls, is goinsr to America, wher she has been tempted by "absolutely tire biggest salary ever offered to a vaudeville star." She is to; appear in a new revue, and her engagement as for six months. * * * * Miss Maud Fane, the charming soubrette of the Court Cards, has succeeded Madame D'Armond as Queen of the Tivoli Follies. *- * * * There is talk in Australia of Miss Beatrice Hollo way joining the Julius Knight Company as leading lady. Lillah . McCarthy, the tall, graceful English actress who visited New 'Zealand some years ago as leading lady ill the late Wilson Barrett's company, is declared to be one of the richest actresses in England. Under her father's will she came into a fortune some tirr.e ago of £50,000. She is the wife of Granville Barker. Her father was a successful lawyer in her native town of Cheltenham.

Patrons of the "movies" may be in teres ted to learn tli.it Mary Pickford is married, but neither of the Gish girls has yet entered the wedded state. Mary Pickford is said to be 22 years of age, Lilian Gish 19, and Dorothy Gish 17. 1 haven't seen their birth certificates, however.

Barry Lupino, the pantomime cornelian, who has been starring for a brief season on the Fuller vaudeville circuit over the other side, is leaving in a day or two for America to appear as principal comedian in a New York revue.