AMUSEMENTS

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 50, 3 September 1881, Page 595

AMUSEMENTS

The audience -which assembled at the theatre on Saturday evening last seemed to us one of the most ignorant and unapprcciative assemblages tliat ever watched the performances of a clover comedian. The first piece was the " Deal Boatman," a short domestic drama bearing a strong resemblance to the " Porter's Knot " and the " Chimney Corner." In it Marshall assumes the title role — without doubt the best part lie has yet played — a superb piece of character acting, full of subtleties and delicate lights and shades of feeling. But do you think the audience thought much of it. Not they. Instead of applauding loudly they sat unapprcciative and comparatively silent. All this, liowever, was changed Avhen the costume of the Deal boatman Avas put off and the grotesque livery of a country footman put on. As Toby Twinklc,Marshall delighted the pit and stalls. They roared again at the merest fooleries, and his " take a card " threw the audience into convulsions of laughter. We don't know how the "star " felt himself, but should imagine that such an utter want of discrimination and appreciation in an audience must be terribly galling. "What," AA-e can imagine a clever actor saying, "is the use of my studying and elaborating'unimportant character part Avhen by mere fooling — clever fooling perhaps, but still fooling — I can provoke infinitely more amusement." The "Deal Boatman " Avas well played all round. Mr Elliot, Avho invariably dresses his parts carefully and avcll, made a manly Leslie, and Maggie Knight .vas a perfect heroine. In the afterpiece Mr Elliot Avas again good as Stephen Plum, but Aye didn't like Miss Jenny Watt-Tanner in a black wig.

On Tuesday evening the programme Avas again changed, and Mr Marshall gave us another finished piece of character acting in " Milky White." He Avas well backed up by his brother, Edmund, Avhose representation of the coAv-boy Duggan excited continuous laughter and thoroughly avcll - deserved applause. Mr O'Brien played the accepted lover very easily, but was not dressed liko a veterinary surgeon. Ma«-»ie Knight continues to make great progress in her profession. Every part she undertakes is carefully studied and individualised. Mrs McGowan mado a passable Mrs Sadlip. She. seems to us, hoAvever, to be over fussy in nenrly every thing she plays.

—Mrs Marshall plays Mrs Quilp. — " Olivette " is only a success d'psfitne in Sydney. — Mr Marshall takes a benefit before leaving Auckland. — Mr A. T. Dunning is negotiating for the purchase of the Theatre Royal, Christchurch. — R. Love is "bossing" some juvenile minstrels in Nelson. — Fred Maccabe, the famous entertainer, has arrived in Melbourne. —Miss Florence Dclorme, an Auckland girl Avho has joined the Pollard gang, will play Gcrmaine in "Le.s Cloches de Comeville" in Napier. — Marshall opens the Melbourne Princesses Theatre with "Betsy," which has never been properly played in the capital of Victoria. — Jimmy O'Brien is to play Dick Talbot, " Baby's" chum, iv the revival of •' Betsy " at the Melbourne Princess. — The Melbourne Bulletin says Luscombe Searrell is known as the " missing link.'" If our contemporary thinks Luscombe so lilie a monkey whatever would be say to Wickham's chum, little Vaughan. — With the exception of a couple of shop boys, little Vaughan and a junior clerk or two, the Pollards had no friends to see them off. Where were all their " currant jelly" acquaintances ? — -To-morroAv (Saturday) the playgoers of Auckland are to have an opportunity of seeing Marshall in his greatest part, that of Quilp, the dwarf. If they don't roll up in hundreds, thoy must be even bigger blockheads than we thought them. ■ — Mr De Lias has engaged Marshall to play a week in Napier after leaving here. This is the only town the great comedian will visit in New Zealaud. Mrs Marshall does not stay at Napier with her husband, but goes straight through to Melbourne by the Te Anau. — Luscombe Searrell comes in for notice by the "Mirror " in these terms : "The new opera, by the imputed author and composer, Searrell, the fakir, or Luscombe, ' The Travancore,' is a dire failure at the Tiyoli, its only redeeming features being the scenic effects and what music has been cribbed bodily frem 'Aida.'" The News correspondent is of the same opinion. According to him, the libretto is of the weakest description and the music is " Aida " faked up. — If only that nice and Avell-meaning actor, Mr West could have caught a glimpse of himself in a glass as he appeared when playing the tutor in the "Deal Boatman" on Saturday evening last, he must inevitably have died from over-cachination. Anything more iiresistably comic than his wig of corkscrew curls surmounted by a fashionable grey billycock, it has never been our lot to see. — Mr Elliott gave us a look-in last Friday morning just to enquire tenderly after our health and state that nether he nor Miss Watt-Tanner had ever said a word to DeLias or any other man about the Observer notices. We naturally remarked, " No, of course not," and meant it. What an absurd thing it would be if an actress of Miss Watt-Tanner's ability and experience couldn't accept a little friendly corrective criticism without growling. —An Era representative has been intcrvie\v_ng Sarah Bernhardt. He was rude enough to question her about her reported matrimonial engagement with M. Angelo. Said the divine Sarah : "We were old comrades at the Conservatoire, and are the best of friends— voila tout ! — -but never — no, never shall I marry M. Angelo." And this is how the interview ended. " But one more question, Mademoiselle; is there no chance of your returning to the Com.die Fraiifaise ?" " Jamais ! Je ne veux pas rentrer a, la Come'die ; jo ny suis trop ennuy.e. Jamais! Jamais! Jamais!" "She's real jam — eh !" is what we anticipate the interviewer said to his pal who was waiting for him outside. — The Chicago Inter- Ocean comments thus on stage kisses: — Jauauschek's kisses are but rare, and they are very matronly. They come with words that are poured forth from a deeply -imbedded diaphragm, and are mere touches — not like what Soldene's used to be in the days of old, when she gave her stage lovers the full benefit of the mammoth cave tbat yawns across her face. There is more kiss to the square foot of Soldene's mouth than that of any other woman on the stage. Alice Oates did some very pretty kissing. She could kiss high tragedy or low comedy, and between the two extremes ring in every known variety, from Modjeska's stately iciness to Pauline Markham's smack. On one occasion an actor, feeling full of inspiration or of beer, seized her on the stage, gave her a hug that must have broken her ribs meet, and bestowed a paroxysmal kiss upon her. Next night her husband appeared in the wings with a big revolver, ready to blow the top of the actor's head off should he try it again, saying he could supply all the paroxysm wanted in that family himself. — " Puck " wires from Dunedin : — Carey put on " Pinafore " for two nights, but it resulted in a dis-

appointing fiasco both financially and musically, in fact the only redeeming feature was Miss Leaf's Josephine which is now a highly finished performance. Sig. Morley was a fair Ralph, but Carey as the Captain, Riverton as Buttercup, aud Wentworth as the Admiral were decidedly over-weighted. On Friday Carey had a splendid house, for his benefit, when the " Pirates of Penzance was played with Miss Leaf as Mabel. She sung the music grandly throughout. Carey intimated that so gratifying had been the success of his troupe that he hoped to keep it up indefinitely, with which purpose in view he was endeavouring to secure additional talent, and arranging for the production ef " Billie Taylor," " Olivette," and "Patience." On Wednesday night the "Pirates of Penzance" was reproduced, and a large audience greeted it with much favour showing its great popularity here. Captain Jackson Barry is annonnced to appear in the first act of " Pinafore." "Les Cloches de Corneville" will be produced to-night (Thursday) aud run till the end of the season. Miss Pomeroy's company is not so strong as announced, and it will have to be reinforced by some of Hamilton and Willis's lot. The feature of Kelsey's novelty concert on Saturday „was the appearance of young Allpress, of Carey's company, as solo violinist. His playing was much admired. 1 am in a position to state that Turner and Montagues Opera company come to New Zealand in the summer.