ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13486, 13 May 1907, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE ANDREW MACK COMPANY.

"JACK SHANNON."

A plat included in the great category which embraces all that is understood by tlie term melodrama, and at the same time is artistic, clever, and popular, is something many authors attempt and few accomplish ; but Ramsay Morris in " Jack Shannon," written especially for, Mr. Andrew Mack, has- succeeded in all three respects, and when the. piece was produced at His Majesty's, on Saturday evening, the lower auditorium' and the gallery were filled to the utmost holding capacity, ami it met with . enthusiastic approval. Dainty, exhilarating, : refreshing, it- is one of the sweetest things in the playing line presented, here-for a, long time. It is true some time-worn ingredients have been called upon by the author, but his treatment. of them has been so charming, and he has invested the general scheme with so delightful an originality, that one can readily pardon the old faro and applaud the whole. There is weakness in the tendency to create situations through coincidence, but that is more than balanced by such things as the love scene in the first act, one of the most artistic drawings of a stage love scene that it has yet been the fortune of an Auckland audience to witness, while there is a most delightful finale, introducing the " Dove Song," which is illustrated by a whole dove-cote of birds. In many respects the first act stands out as the strongest section of the play, but there are powerful situations in tho second act, and a true human note in the third, in a finely portrayed confession scene in semidarkness ; then there are scenes leading to tense expectancy, and quiet moments form delicately-shaded contrasts. The opportunity given to an actor like Mr. Andrew Mack by this piece proved his sterling worth, revealing more than versatility, for 'his interpretation was such as only a performer who had the inborn feelings of manhood added to his talent as an actor could have presented. Ho played a really human part, and his genius enabled him to do that which was absolutely essential in the peculiarly high standard called forth by the circumstances, to strike every string of the harp of human feeling alternately with delicate and powerful touch. His impersonation of " Jack Shannon" was throughout a harmonious study; the higher lights were drawn with broad, free, and happy strokes, and the delicate pencil* ling of the half tones and shadows was at all times delightful. "Jack Shannon'' was. of course, an Irishman, a high-spirited Irishman, with all the true Irishman's power of loving, and Jack loved Maura Sherlock, on whose father's estate he was steward, having taken that position to seek for rest from his trouble*- caused by his confession of a forgery lie did not commit. But the man to save whom he had confessed to the forgery turned up at Old Court, Maura's home, and troubles began. Stephen Tyrrell, who was the real forger, wanted Maura, incidentally Mrs. Fairleigli, - : a young widow ( who held a mortgage over Old Court, wanted Jack, and the widow and Tyrrell conspired, he to expose Jack through the confession of forgery, and she to get Maura out of her path and into Tyrrell's hands by means of the mortgage. - -But their welllaid plans were set at nought in the end. Maura's ' father had secured the amount of the mortgage, but the money .was stolen from the safe by his son. Jack, learning of the mortgage, planned to send .the amount of it anonymously to Mi*. Sherlock, and thereby give up all "the money he had left, and that was his father's cheque for a thousand 1 pounds given him when he was exiled from his home for the forgery. The cheque, left lying in a wallet on a dressingtable, was changed for the stolen money, and Shannon was, through the widow: and Tyrrell, accused of the theft. But Mr. Sherlock and Maura overhear the remorseful son's confession to Jack, and Tyrrell is confounded by an attempt to blackmail his own father by a confession of the forgery | and a threat to drag down the family name I unless money was forthcoming. ; The father sent the letter to Jack's father, whose name had been forged, and so Maura became a bride.* ... *, V . !, , During the action of the play Mr. Mack sang " The Irish Street Song," the " Dove Song," " Eyes of Blue," and "My Heart's Delight," all written and composed by himself for this play, and his delightful rendering of each one of them called forth frequent demonstrations of approval on the part of the audience. The other members of the company gave decidedly better accounts of themselves than in "Tom Moore;" for one thing the characters they represented were more modern, and therefore .more capable of ready interpretation than impersonations of the beaux and dames of the days of Brummel and the Regency, and for another, they were more at home in the attire. Miss Jane Kelton played as' Maura Sherlock, and her interpretation was both graceful and charming, in fact, her playing of Maura in the love scene in the first act was a thoroughly natural and winsome exposition of true character , acting. Miss Mae Stephenson, as.Mrs. Fairleigh. looked the part well, but unfortunately did not maintain the impression, and spoke ;is if in highly sensational melodrama. Mr. Martin Alsop's impersonation of Tyrrell was, on the whole, a. very capable performance, infinitely better than his Lovelace in "Tom Moore;" he played with some reserve and with a decidedly more natural action and expression. Mr. Kendal Weston was good as Father Lauder, everyone's friend, and a small part played well was that of Clifford Sherlock, which was taken by Mr. E. J. McCormiek. Mr. Jack Monley-played as O'Donoghuc, a servant at Old Court, and the best of his work was the facial study while O'Donoghue is questioned by his master regarding the note containing the stolen money. A good comedy part was taken by Miss Annie Berlein as the old-fashioned Irish housekeeper at Old Court. There was quite a pleasant surprise in the performance of Miss Gwennio Walshe as Clifford's little niece. She was called upon to do a good deal and acted a real child part, thoroughly natural all through. The others in the castwere not called upon for very much, the play being almost entirely confined to the principals. The stage setting in the three | acts was pretty, the firelight scene near the close of the piece being especially effective.^ " Jack Shannon" will be staged again this . evening. OPERA HOUSE. The Opera House was filled to its utmost capacity on Saturday evening, when the weekly change of programme was submitted by the Messrs. Fuller's Vaudeville Company. '-The various turns were, without exception, distinctly good, and the performers thoroughly merited tho applause bestowed upon them. Mr. Will Diamond, who is possessed of a pleasing baritone voice, made his first appearance, and sang "Must We Part?" in good style. He was obliged to ■ respond u> an encore. Miss Amy Blackie, I who is a great favourite with Opera House patrons, sang "When the Sun Sinks in the ; Golden Weal" in a manner which gained | heaity approval, and Miss Lucy Lavinia was equally successful in hor coon songs, "Arrawauna" and "Just a Girl." In the first part of the programme Messrs. .Bob j Lloyd and Will Gilbert were entrusted with supplying the humour, and they succeeded admirably, both artists being several times recalled. Miss Pearl Livingstone, who is a first-class serio, sang "The Girl Was Young and Pretty," and as an encore, "There's Always Room for a GirL" The Rose Sisters appeared in a song and dance turn, and their performance showed that they have lost none of their skill in dancing. Tho second part of the programme was opt-nod with tho spectacular act, entitled "The Robing of the Gods," in which the performers wore Miss Ruby White and Mr. J. E. Ward. The Quealys appeared in a musical sketch, " The Burglar and the Mad Artist," which was highly amusing. Victor the Great, , who is a "clever ventriloquist, supplied a very acceptable turn, and Shaw a'id Gilbert created roars of laughter with i their funny- boxing act. Mr. Val. Now ton j appeared in two illustrated songs, 111 j After Years When I. Am Old" and "The Song That Reached My Heart." Mr. Nowton was in good voice, and his songs wero ! greatly appreciated. The lantern slides, however, with which the songs wore illustrated, wore anything but satisfactory, and this handicapped Mr. Newton to no small extent. 1 As usual, tho bioscope pictures were highly entertaining, and came in for a great deal of applause.

EXHIBITION" ORCHESTRA. ' The* -farewell recital of tbo Exhibition ' Orchestra, under tho baton of Mr.* Alfred Hill, took place in tho Choral Hall on ; Saturday night, before a. crowded and enthusiastic audience. The orchestra has now disbanded. It proved itself a phenomenally successful combination, and those who miss- ' ed hearing it have mmed a musical treat, such as seldom comes, one's way. Mr. Hill 1 I is to bo congratulated on having wcurec! : such talented artist.*, and on the skill with which he succeeded in transforming tho various : unite, brought from far and near, into one homogeneous whole, full of harmony. It is perhaps not toe much to my that there it no man who could hav* do no ii. better. The veteran leader, Mr. Georgo • Weston, has been throughout a tower of strength to tho orchestra, and much of the ■ success of this rare combination is to bo' attributed to him. Saturday night's programme opened with the overture, "William Tell" (Rossini), justly considered one of the -finest operatio works extant. It partakes of the symphonic form, having four distinct movements The opening andante by the 'cellos is given in the original to tivo solo 'cellos, accompanied pizzicato by other 'cellos, divided into firsts and seconds, and was so performed on Saturday, except that the accompaniment was taken by the douhlo basses. The passage descriptive of the rise of the storm, its fury, and its lulling, was. exquisitely performed. The orchestra's second contribution was Massenet's ballet piece, " I<e Cid," and here again „ i full justice was done to the beautiful composition. But it. was perhaps in Wagner's " rannhausor" overture that tho orchestra had its greatest success. In this piwoe, so popular always with concert-goers, tho performers showed evidence of th« skill and labour which alone could enable them to reach so near to perfection. With tho completion of tho chant, of the pilgrims at dawn, and their sublime strains proclaiming ha user's deliverance from the " works of sense" and the wiles of Ihe goddess, ami happiness to nil living things, tho enthusiasm •of tho audience was strikingly displayed. There had, of course, to be tho usual encore. Every piece was encored, and still tho audience did not seem satisfied. The second part of the programme opened with the overture, "Raymond" (Thomas), and the other orchestral _ item# were Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2." and Saint-Saens' " Unnre Macabre." In the bitter the theme is dealt with in an intensely original and masterly manner, and tho same may bo said of its interpretation, by the Exhibition Orchestra. Strikingly ingenious is tho effect of the solo violin, and so successful was Mr. Weston in this' connection that ho was obliged to play "Extras;" for th.C' audience. Owing to numerous requests having been received for various items, Mr. Hill introduced a number of the orchestra's most popular pieces as encore numbers. t Mr. John Pro use was again the vocalist of the evening, and his reception showed how popular he is with the people of Auckland. His contributions, apart from oilcores, wore Gounod's "Nazareth" and the j "Song of the Toreador," from 'ICarmon" (Bizet), both with orchestral accompaniment. , ,'• , - '?i At tho conclusion of tho performance ehcors wcro Riven for the orchestra. As was the case in the evening, there was also a largo attendance at tho afternoon performance. , - - :A BLANCHE ARRAL CONCERT. Madame Arrnl arrived by tho s.s. Mifl wera yesterday from Gisborrie, where she , ,-.|j was enthusiastically received ■by an - extrcmcly large audience. Since leaving Wel- •-,■■•£ lington, not only has tho weather been ex- v : ; tremely bad, but. the fatigue of travel has been excessive, especially from Gisborno to Auckland. At? Madame Arral wishes to bo heard at her farewell concert to the best advantage, desiring also to give Auckland ;. the best of her repertoire, tho lias absolute "need of a few days' rest, and for that reason has postponed her concert, - "T" - . OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. -0 1 ' All three sessions were well., attended at "S the Olvmpia Skating Rink on Saturday. In "morning tho usual children a mat- • tinoo was hold, and a largo number of chil- . dren were present. ■ All appeared to thoroughly cni'oy. themselves. . In tho evening thoro was a largo attendance of adults, lo- • ; morrow evening an exhibition of fancy and trick skating will bo given by Mr. G. let- /• J ham. Tho rink is open every morning, afternoon, and evening. During the summer months tho skates have-been thorough-/■ { lv overhauled, and are now in first-class,. -t '•running order.' Tho floor is attended to • r daily, and is in perfect condition for roller I, skating. Tho manager, Mr. A. J. WoodlejL Jand his'staff are already coaching a. numbor > of loarnors, for whom snccial provision has • been made. ' •• '