NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 15

NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

The Comic Opera season at the Opera Bouse is rapidly approaching its close, Last week’s new productions, “ The Mountebanks ” and “The Vicar of Bray,” were both fairly successful, although in each opera the first act dragged very much. Oellier is not at his best in “ The Mountebanks,” in which there are few very attractive numbers, and the Gilbertian satire seemed to me a little less biting, and, to tell the truth, a trifle vague here aud there. The “ penny in the slot ” duet, however, went admirably, and that excellent comedienne , Miss Marietta Nash —would that we could have seen more of her during the season —rivalled the decided hit she made in a small part in “ Ma Mie Rosette.” Miss Nellie Stewart and Mr Tapley both did well, and the mounting was superb, the set in the second act being the finest I have seen at the Opera House for a long time.

“ The Vicar of Bray V is amusing enough, and contains some very bright numbers, but whether it was that satire upon the various sections into which Anglican ecclesiastical dogmaaud pvacticeare divided failed to make itself intelligible and appreciable to a colonial audience, the first act fell very flat, and it was not until the “giddy" vicar proceeded to put into effect the theories of the Church and Stage Guild, and to hobnob so warmly with the corps da ballet , that the audience woke up and applause became frequent and hearty. Mr Lauri played the part with laudable restraint and scored all through. Mr Tapley both sang and acted well, and iVlc Lissant in a small part rendered excellent service. Miss Florence Young had a good opportunity as the Vicar’s daughter, and, so I thought, acquitted herself very ably. She sang with great spirit and acted with a far greater abandon than she has previously shown here. Miss May Pollard was, however, very disappointing, and as for vlr Sydney Deane’s siuging, the less said the better. The Opera lacked the inspiriting presence of Miss Nellie Stewart and Mr Brownlow, and suffered much—so many in the audience considered—by the absence of these two excellent artistes.

The “ Vicar of Bray ” has been followed each evening by the popular “ Rainbow Ballet," a very beautiful spectacle. Judging by the stony silence which greeted the appearance of the portraits of the English Royal Family (upon the skirts of the principal danseuse),on& would feel inclined to suppose that Wellington audiences are not over loyal. Perhaps, however, they considered that the presentment of royal “ phizogs” on a ballet dancer’s skirt is hardly the thing. It was noticeable that the only decided applause was given when the portrait of that good and graceful lady, the Princess of Wales, was shown. Poor “ Tummy’s ” face provoked not a single plaudit, and as for “ Her Gracious ” herself the cheers were but feeble.

On Wednesday “ The Mixado ” was staged and went remarkably well, A rumour that the local “ chows " intended to attend in force and cast decayed specimens of their “cabbagee'*at the Lord High Executioner, as a protest against recent Japanese successes in battle, proved incorrect. The season was to conclude on Friday with, a performance of the ever popular “ Mascofcte.”

The ’Frisco mail which arrived on Saturday night brought, news of the death im London, from typhoid fever, of Mr F. Solomons, the composer of “ Billee Taylor,’” “The Vicar of Bray,”, and other coinicoperas. The deceased, who was only 40“ years of age, was a well-known aud very clevermnsician. He was married to, but (I believe)' divorced from handsome Miss Lilian Bussell,, and the husband’s small stature and decided homeliness of features, combined with the radiant beauty of the lady, gave rise at the time to some ill-natured remarks about ‘•Beauty and the Beast.”

The Opera Company now go on to Auckland, whei’e I trust they will do well. Up to the present the Wellington season has, I believe, been far and.away more financiallysuccessful than the Dunedin and Christchurch seasons. Yet another proof that, Wellington is the best “ show town ” in the Colony. --tv

Pollards’ Liliputians commenced a short season at Wanganui on Monday last, when “La Fille du Tambour Major ” was performed with great success. “ Olivette*” “ Madame Favart" and other operas were to follow. '

Mr Allan Hamilton, well known in NewZealand, has, l hear, terminated his engagement with Woodloch’s Circus in\Sydney and is about to run a new venture of hit l own (well backed, it is said, by a Sydney syndicate) to> be known as Hamilton’s Circus and Water Pantomime. After the Sydney seasott the show will start on a long tour, eventually coming to hew Zealand.

At Dunedin Mr Albert Lucas and his new company have cpinmeneed their season at the Princess Theatre, the star being Mr Alfred Greenaway. The opening piece was Robertson’s comedy “ Caste,” which was to be preceded, I see, by the balcony scene from “ Borneo and Juliet.” The Kennedys are still at the City Hall, but intend, I -believe, to start shortly on a prolonged country tour. They have been in Dunedin for many months, playing to “ million prices.” Their latest production was Boucicault’s old comedy drama, “ Led Astray,” in which Kennedy played Major O Hara, and' Miss Lilia Wyde, Armande Cbahduee. At the Princess Theatre, Rawei, the “ native evangelist,” has been giving his entertainment, “ Maori Mnsic, Song and Story.”

The New Boy Company have moved on ten the “ other side ” via Hobart. They gave, only two performances in the Tasmaniam capital and then proceeded direct to Melbourne, where they were to open at the Princess Theatre on Tuesday last.

Everything has an end, and Mr Bland Holt's wonderfully .successful production of “The Span of Life,” which hias been running at Sydney. Royal for over “seven weeks has how given way to ;the Union Jack- 1 ' Both Miss Spong and Miss Virgie Vivienne seemed to have pleased the critics, and Mrs Blaud Holt and Miss Agnes Knight (formerly with the AinOld-Thornton company) have also good parts. Baker and Bland himself also get good notices. The piece is only to run a shorfcyseason, being succeeded by the great Adelphi success, “ The Fatal Card,” by Haddon Chambers and B. C Stephenson. This piece is still running in London, and is said to be far and away the best melodrama since “ The Silver King.” Mr Holt's enterprise in seenring such a novelty—he paid a very big sum, I hear, for the colonial rights —deserves to be generously rewarded by the play-going public. The Sydney season closes on April 5.

At Melbourne Opera just now the redoubtable 'Arry Rickards is running a big variety show with great success. Amongst the company are Miss Ada Delrov and James Hell, who were round New Zealand with the All Star Company a few years back. Miss Delroy was one of the most novel and graceful dancers I ever saw, and James Bell one of the most original and really funny burnt-cork men I remember. If I mistake not he is a Yorkshireman. Certainly when I saw him last (at Napier) he told some Yorkshire dialect stories with an inimitable humour and with the true North Country buir. Provo the juggler, Georgie Devoe and Fred Davys (of marionettes fame)- were members of the same company. After leaving New Zealand Ada Delroy and Bell went to India and afterwards joined Professor Baldwin and his Butterfly Coterie.

The new people imported by B. and B. are to make their first appearance in “ The Masqueraders,” on the 9th instant at the Sydney Lyceum.

George Rignold has" been giving the patrons of Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, a distinct novelty in the shape of the double bill of Douglas Jerrold’s famous old drama of “ Black-Eyed Susan," followed by a burlesque of the same piece (Burnand’s “ Susan with the two lively black eyes")- In the drama the great George himself plays William and Harry Plimmer, Captain Crosstreee ; Mr Stirling White plays Doggrass; Mr Frank Harcourt, Lind ; and Miss Roland Watts-Philipps, Dolly Mayflower. In the burlesque the principal parts ara taken by Misses Forde, Esdaile, Bella Perman, and Messrs Fred Dark (Dame Hatley), Frank Harcourt, and ‘E. Leonard. The dancing of the Periman family makes quite a hit every night.

It is rumoured in Sydney that Alfred Dampier contemplates returning to Australia. Evidently his English provincial tour with “ Robbery under Arms” has not been a success.'

One of the biggest things ever done in the show line is Bolossy Kiralfy’s “ Orient ” at the London Olympic. Over 2500 performers are engaged. Surely this beats Barnunrs record.

Rose Dearing (round here with Carl Hertz) seems to be a great favourite at the London music halls. Her latest engagement is at the Alhambra, where, by the wftjr# Lonnen’e

and Lethbridge’s latest sketch “ Melodrarnia,’' is voted “utter rot” by an outspoken London paper. A marionette dance by the same pair, however, has caught on wonderfully.

The Dacres seem to be giving great satisfaction to the critics in George U. Sim s play “A Wife's Ordeal," at the Melbourne Bijou. The lady has decidedly passed her first youth, and judging by a portrait of her in the latest Australasian to hand, possesses charms of a very generous character— ong-Ihmg-pung —as the old lady said.

The Bulletin's remarks on “A Wife’s Ordeal " is worth quoting :—“ ‘ A Wife's Ordeal ’ is a clever counterfeit of a fine play. Some of the situations are powerful and possible, whilst; the language ranges from familiar journalese to nervous, stirring English. Also the seducer's cynicism is sometimes witty. The two leading characters are thoughtfully drawn ’ and coloured ; the minor figures more orjess neatly sketched. The introduction to the plot is dull and hazy, and the husband exbites no sympathy. Frank Cates’ feeble, mechanical performance of this commonplace person is the play’s chief misfortune. Wilfrid Shine likewise is unequal to the,very short part of the gambling father, and Miss Mabel Hardy, as a stockbroker's amiable lady, seems a weak spot in the cast. Elton plays a dry, cantankerous Scotchman unobtrusively. Miss Muriel Carr the artless sister, is ju3t a winsome young lady who has the face and voice of a firstclass ingenue, and an evident disposition to act up to them. A handsome- presence is half the battle with Arthur ’ Dacre, in his lady-killer - His method of lovemaking now, as of yore, is somewhat feminine and stagey, but: he 'conferees on other subjects most effectively, and is an interesting “ swell." Miss Amy’Roselle (Mrs Dacre) made a brilliant success. She is no longer youthful-looking. The. leanness of Frank Cates might have been a serious drawback to a less gifted actress of equally generous outline, but Miss Roselle soon brought tears into critical eyes, and thereafter they could see no fault to find with the impersonation. For the matter of which the wife in this case is not supposed to be very young, and Miss Roselle is an attractive woman with a still shapely figure and fine carriage. If 4 A Wife’s Ordeal' is to remain long on the Bijou bill it will .be because the genius of the leading artist keeps it there. No English speaking actress ceuld play such a deeply emotional part with more power or naturalism.

Some moonstruck individual has just given to the world the information that he has discovered in the lunar orb a likeness to Mr Irring. This portrait is quite irrespective of the ordinary ” man in the moon in fact, this is to be expected, seeing that the gifted individual, whose facial... presentment has been revealed on high, would npt be likely to hob-nob with anjone so as our monthly visUaut. 9&rae one will now find Mi i g Ter rjrup ther ei' unless this I*B an impossibility on account of her being Terry-strial. —Modern Society'. *

The Princess Comic Opera. Company, of which Miss JBmma Wangenheim is the bright particular star, is touring the country towns in New South Wales)'Amongst- the company I notice the names of Miss Lambert and Mr Percy Shannon, who were here with the Mon-tague-Turner .Company. “ I'll bet,” remarked Mr Jones to his wife, as they sat in the stalls at the Opera House, “ I’ll bet, from the looks of it, that the dress that woman in the circle is wearin* is one of them elegant dresses one-half off we saw advertised yisterday in the papers.”