Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 839, 4 August 1916, Page 18

Dramatic and Musical

By Footlight.

Tivoli Follies. ITt ds a year almost to a day ' since Hugh D. Mcintosh first presented his Tivoli Follies, to Wellington. This, their second visit, opened most auspiciously in the Grand Opera House last Wednesday evening despite one of those' cold, wet x miserable nights -when the most ardent theatregoer finds a strong' counter-attraction in his own fireside. The audience was a large one, .and they gave the Follies a most warm welcome, notwithstanding the chilly weather conditions. The season extends right to the end of next week, And it should draw the whole of the time like the proverbial mustard plaster.

Hugh D. Mcintosh has every reason to be proud of his Tivoli Follies, and the only pity is that he doesn't give them a trip across the Tasman Sea more often than once a year. Their performance is staged on rather original lines, which in itself is worth a pat on the back in these days of pirates— pirates of the stage variety as well as the submarine sort. Another tion deserving of mention is that encores are neither sought nor allowed. The show is accordingly run to timetable 'and is not drawn out to dreary length because somebody in the - audience has a habit of giving a hand-clap to every item with the fixed idea of doubling his money's-worth with encores.

The Tivoli Follies possess several strong features which combine toi make it a first-class show. They possess the Belgian Orchestra, a talented trio of instrumentalists, supplemented by a very fine tenor. They possess a mirth-pro-voking bunch of comedians, four in number, and it is rarely that we find a quartette of fun-doctors of their degree all operating together in the one show on the audience's funny-bone. They also possess Miss Vera Pearce, the Queen of the Tivoli Follies, backed up by a dozen or so sprightly damsels who are, like their Queen, very good to gaze upon. . » * * » The entertainment is divided into two distinct parts. The bigger slice is provided by the Follies themselves. The Follies present in all no less than twenty-four items, given in such rapid succession that the whole show goes with a snap from opening chorus to grand finale. The main contributors are: Vera Pearce and Comedians "Welch, Weems, Rego, and Cannot. Vera Pearce gets many chances to reveal her ■ physical charms. She sings acceptably and dances with grace. Altogether she is a fine athletic specimen of the Australian girl. Comedians Weems, Rego, and Cannot are a mixed assortment. George Welch belongs to the Charlie Chaplin order, Billy Rego is a diminutive, grotesque comedian who scarcely says a word but gets there all the same, and Walter Weems is a clever burnt-cork humorist. Jack Cannot has played before a Wellington audience on previous occasions. One of his cleverest .hits was "Colonel Knut," taking off the military. This item he mars by a vulgarity that should be promptly censored. It is the

only item on the whole programme open to criticism. These four comedians are associated in some screamingly funny burlesques and bits of nonsense. Other performers include: _ Jean Keith, a clever juvenile Russian dancer; Thelma Raye, Frank Greene, and the shapely chorus. A special word is due to the splendid staging and dressing, and also to the orchestra, under Mr. Quintrell.

The shorter portion of the programme consists a series of high-class concert and vaudeville items. The _ Belgian Orchestra . is a concert party in A pianist, 'cellist, and violinist, they played in good style several concerted and. solo items. They also accompanied M. 801, a tenor with a voice of splendid quality and temperament. Instrumentalists and vocalist _ were rewarded with much appreciative, applause. Miss Ella Caspers, a contralto of good, even quality, was also warmly applauded for her singing of "Sink, Sink, Red Sun," ''Coming Home," and "In My Garden." A very effective finale to the first half was the recital set in tableau form of Henry _ Cammaerts' appealing poem, "Carillon." The poem was recited by Frank Greene in Belgian uniform, and the Belgian Orchestra played the accompanying music composed by Sir Edward Elgax. Altogether the show is sparkingly bright—one you sh.ouM not miss. •* * * ■» * His Majesty's Theatre. The arrival of Bert Le Blanc's Travesty Stars at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday evening was greeted by an overflowing audience, and big houses have been the rule all the week. They make their debut in "Fuzzy. AVuzzy," which is one of those laughable, likeable, bright musical farces that entertain you and make you forget dull care for a good solid hour at least. Bert Le Blanc, an inimitable Hebrew comedian, has the audicwre in convulsions in his role of Ike Cohen. Surrounding him are a bevy of shapely dancing damsels and various other entertaining people. Included in' the company are a fine quartette of male vocalists who sing a number of fetching melodies. Marcel and Fallon, dancing specialists, are also worthy of special mention. The show is also well staged and altogether well worth seeing. a * * <■»' The vaudeville half of this week's bill at His Majesty's contains some halfdozen items. One of the best is the comedy-acrobatic act by Marr and Evans. Their feats are refreshingly new, and some of them astonishingly clever. Miss Virginia Thornton and Messrs. Chas. King and Rupert Dunn are seen in a rib-tickling sketch, entitled "Two of a Kind," and reminiscent somewhat of ' 'Are You a Mason?" The Two Kerlines, Miss Nina Alix and George Dixon, round off a very entertaining programme. Wellington Harmonic Society's Concert The Wellington Harmonic Society gave a, very fine concert at the Town Hall (Concert Chamber) last week to a large and appreciative audience, which included Her Excellency Lady Liverpool. The chorus of some 50 members deserve very great credit for their excellent work, and the Society's conductor, Mr. H. Temple White, is to be congratulated on the fine, even performance throughout the well-chosen and varied programme. The items by the Society were mainly of the glee and madrigal style, and gave marked evidence of careful rehearsal. The nuances were duly observed and the attack and release of the chords were precise— showing that the conductor's baton was used with judgment and effect. -*•*«■» The first item, a madrigal, "Fire, Fire, My Heart," was tunefully given, after which came perhaps the most enjoyable number, viz., "An Eriskay Love Lilt." "The Parting Kiss" (Piusuti) was exceedingly well sung. The mad-

rigal, "When Love and Beauty" (Sullivan), was also well given. A very tine item was "Lullaby, My Sweet Little Baby," by Byrd, one of the famous early English composers. It was charming. The final item by the Society was a chorus, "For Empire and for King" —a fine inspiriting patriotic chorus, full of good patriotic sentiment and wedded to a. good musical setting. It was so well received by the audience that a portion of it had to be repeated.

The Society was ably assisted by Mr. Hamilon Hodges, who sang in the first part of the programme three bracketed numbers: "Romance" (Debussy), "L'Heure Exquise" (Hahn), and "Le Voyageur" (Godard). These numbers were sung in French, and whatever was lost to the audience in language was amply made up by tho excellent musical . interpretation. Later Mr. Hodges sang "Birds in. the High HallGarden" and "Go not, Happy Day," from Tennyson's "Maud." They were well received and a most enjoyable "trifle" bearing the unclassical title "Nuthin'," earned a decided encore. Miss Frieda "Walter and Mr. Eric Meier were associated in two nice violin duets, "Kunok Abrand," a Hungarian piece of rather sombre character and "Walther's (Wagner). Both items were well played. The accompanists for various items were: Mesdarnes Queree and Siegel at the piano, and Messrs. C. W. Kerry (organ) and J. W. Jack fd>-»ms> • » « • Dramatic Recital. Mr. Culford Bell and Miss Betty Purdom are giving a Pupils' Recital in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, tomorrow, Saturday. A fine • programme is promised, and the selections are well diversified. Three comediettas will be presented—"Oh, Dick!" "A Cheerful Companion," and "At the Registry Office." In addition to these amusing items, a number of new character sketches, both grave and gay, will be presented for the first time and, with musical monologues, dramatic and humorous recitals, providing a veritable feast of elocution. The proceeds are to be handed to the Mayor's Sailor's Dependants' • Funds. Seats may be . reserved at the Bristol Piano Company. + * * * The Wellington Orphans' Club koreros are always enjoyable, and the one held on Saturday last was no exception to the rule. On this occasion the Club was honoured with the presence of His Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool), the patron of the club, who was the gues* of the evening. In the "distinguished guests' gallery" were also the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Colonel Collins, the Commandant of the Forces (Brigadier-General Sir Alfred Robin), and the vice-president, the Mayor of Wellington. Orphan A E. Hunt (president) was m charge or the meeting, which included, in addition to those mentioned, a record gathering of "orphans" and their friends. A splendid programme of musical and elocutionary items was provided, those contributing being : —Orphans Goudie, Crawford, Exton. Culford Pell, Keats, and Hamilton Hodges. Special mention must be made of the Club Orchestra (under Conductor Moschini;, whose renderings were greatly appreciated. Mr. Geo. Holloway played the accompaniments.