FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 94, 1 July 1882, Page 252

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

— — -$. ■ — The Zula's drew immense houses at Napier. — The Alexandra Dramatic Club iB still alive and kicking 1 . — Fred Wentworth has joined the Simonsen's Opera Company again. — Miss Loaf and Harding are playing in Raphael's Opera Company, Brisbane, and doing we'll. ■ — Our old friend Walter Reynolds has gone into partnership with Bayless in the feaiety, Sydney. — Arthur Elliot has been engaged at the Academy of- Music, Melbourne. — " Have you seen tJie comet ?" ~No, but we've seen a " star " of the first magnitude — Mr J. L. Hall. — "Weightnmn, agent for Koliler's Waxwork's Exhibition, arrived by tlie Rotorua. She will arrive in Auckland in two or three weeks. ;'$ — Thompson's Diorama of the Zulu War will arrive by the Te Anati on Monday and open the following eveuing- at the Opera House. — Forbes expects to clear £6000 to £7000 in Australia. We want to be a war correspondent, right oil ; we could stand a volley of golden bullets— behind a twenty -feet stone wall. — Our notice of Mr P. Doran's benefit, which took place at the Opera House on the 21st inst., was unavoidably omitted from 'our last issue. The attendance was good, and the entertainment, which was of a miscellaneous character, was received throughout by the audience with marked signs of approbation. The most meritorious items in the programme were the songs, " Here upon my vessel's deck" and "The dear little shamrock of Ireland," excellently rendered by Sir Campbell, who was in caintal voice, and was heartily applauded. The exceedingly clever, daring and graceful trapeze performance of Miss Etti and Mr Leonard ; Mr Fred Brabazon's ventriloquial foats, "and Mr Alex. Smith's various recitals were also well received. Mr James Buckland essayed a reading, entitled "Pray employ Major Namby," but although he promised the audience to imitate twenty different voices, they declined to accept the " Major's " services ; and before he had cotnplcced half .of Ms threatened infliction, he was compelled to retire from the stage. The- performance terminated with.. a ueg-fo farce, in, which, the tens-

ficiarc sustained the principal part in a most humorous manner. i — Mr J. L. Hall's, company opened at the Theatre Boyal on the 22nd inst. in Byron's "Our Girls." From an author lite Byron it is only reasonable to expect dramatic writing of a very high order, and noreasonable expectation can bo disappointed in "Our Girls." The comedy is in three acts, and is ; replete throughout with that witty satirical dialogue for which the author has made himself so famous, particularlynoticeable among which are 'the speeches put into the mouth of Panshawe in the second act, and in which he' rails at the new f angled phrases and customs which.have cropped up during the last few years. "Masters and employers/ he says, "have become governors," wages are denominated "salary," customers are dubbed clients ;" shopmen are now " assistants ;" young women are "young persons ;" young persons are "younglaches; cabs and? omnibuses have deteriorated; trainrails twist the " tyres off your carriage wheels';" boobies on bicycles bounce upon you from unsuspected corners ; and British youth starts his day with soda and brandy; finishing it by way of an exhillerating change, with, brandy and soda." It is not necessary to give the plot of the piece, which must by this time be familiar to the " majority of our theatre-going readers. The piece is excellently acted, and, when all's over, one feels that a sterling comedy and a capital company have 'been witnessed with uninterrupted pleasure. As Captain b-ingan, Mr Hall has, in our opinion, surpassed all his previous efforts in this city. He presents us with a character, and not an actor. For Mr Hall to sink his individuality in a town like Auckland, where he is so well known, is an exceedingly difficult task ; but he accomplishes it. We forget, while witnessing the performance, that there is such a man as J. L. Hall, being completely engrossed with the fortune hunting Militia Captain, Ms impersonation of which is marked not only by skill and ' ability, but by the confidence of an actor who thoroughly knows his own powers, and is not afraid to use' them. Still, while he takes care not to underact, never for a moment does he verge towards the opposite extreme. His perfect command of appropriate gesture and movement, his facial expression (particularly the working o£his eyes), and the apparently unstudied ease with which he plays throughout combine to make one of the most artistic delineations we have ever witnessed. His post prandial scene in the drawing-room, where he endeavours to conceal from the ladies the fact that he has been, indulging a little too freely, and his courtship scene in the third act with Mrs Gunn arc strong evidences of this, and serve to show us to what high perfection the actor's art can be brought. Mr Boothinan, who is a newacquaintance, created a most favourable impression. He possesses a good appearance and a fine voice, which eminently qualify him for the line of business he has chosen. His rendition of Frcdk. Fanshawe was a consistent, intelligent and gentlemanly one, and he was repeatedly applauded during the evening., Mr Hesford, who is an old friend, and one whom we are very glad to see again, was also remarkably successful in his asumption of the kind-hearted old Doctor Fleniining. The Tipkins of Mr Bimmonds was meritorious, and would be more so still conld he contrive to infuse a little more decision into it. As Arthur Medwyn, Mr Teece, although a. trifle too stiff, was fairly adequate. Master Hall made a diverting Button. Miss Jessie Grey, who contributed in no slight degree to the success of the piece, is a clever, graceful and pretty actress. She is gifted with a clear, ' sweet, sympathetic voice, and her representation of the heroine Helen Gaythorne was all that could be wished, / every phase of the character being artistically developed. Miss Kuth Grey, who is cast for the samewhat thankless role of Lilian, proved herself a very capable actress, and made as much out of the part as its limited nature afforded her an opportunity of doing ; while Mrs Gunn received ample justice at tha hands of Miss Crawford. "Our Girls" was withdrawn on Wednesday evening, after a run of six nights. The attendance, though fair, has been, owing to the wet weather, far from being coni~ mensurate with the undoubted worth of the comedy and company. "Our Dad," Byron's trump card, was produced, for the first time in Auckland, last night. Mr Hall| has played the part (in fact it is his parb) for over; 600 nights with more than ordinary success; and as Samuel Xottles, shows (as in the "Guv'ner") the thoroue-h genius of a finished actor — how, although, largely gifted by nature for his particular line of life, many sleepless nights and hours of study are necessary ' to render the characters so realistic, natural, aud distinct. In "Our Dad" are introduced several fresh members of the company, viz., Miss Maggie Ford, as old Tottles' son, is said to be 0.X., and our old friend, Harry Softon, is superlatively funny as Bungs. Earlynext week we are to have tho " Guv'ner," winch created such a sensation in England, America, and Australia. As the management have spared no expence in the purchase of first-class comedies, and have secured a good scenic artiste in Mr Eobt. Peak. We hope to see their enterprise successful, and wish them bumper houses.