THE LORCNETTE

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 750, 13 May 1893, Page 7

THE LORCNETTE

Did you patronise the first of the SixpennyPops at the City Hall ? The night was stormier than a City Council meeting, drearier than spring poetry, but the hall was packed upstairs and down. Packed P Why you couldn't get a seat half-an-hour after the doors were opened, unless yoa went to the plebeian pit, and as all seats were priced alike — sixpence — the rush was naturally for the stalls and dress-circle. Harold Ashton is an old hand at this sort of thing, and when people said : ' Why not charge a shilling for the best places, and let the crowd have the sixpenny seats,' he smiled and shook his head. He knew better. ' These are people's concerts,' he said, ' popular concerts, at which. I propose to provide the very best talent available, for sixpence, and as to the seats, why first come first Berved. Those who turn up earliest will have the choice of places.' And this determination shows sound judgment, if ray humble opinion is worth anything.

But the crowded state of the hall on the opening night came as a bit of a surprise. Captain Edwin had prophesied all kinds of meteorological misery — and scored another bull's-eye ! The weather was awful. Queen-street was gloomy and deserted. The chill wind went whooping around seeking whom it might devour, and the rain came down in torrents — with short intervals for refreshments. After the dark and sloppy streets the appearance of the well-lit and comfortable hall, with its crowded audience was a pleasing contrast. Very grateful and comforting.

The crowded house on such a night, seemed to put heart into the performers. They rose to the occasion. The audience was a most appreciative one. Showed a disposition to encore everything, from start to finish. Determined to have their sixpenn'orth ! And they got it ! Why, at many a worse concert than this in Auckland four shillings has been asked and cheerfully paid, for a circle or stall ticket. How is it done? Will it pay? Ashton seems to have no doubt about it anyhow. Quite sanguine. Some of the best amateur talent in Auckland contributed to the opening programme. Miss Clarice Brabazon of course is a professional, and so is Miss Ruby Clifford. They were both enthusiastically received. Miss Brabazon played the piano like an angel — stay, do angels play the piano ? Never mind ! You know what I mean. As for Miss Clifford, her recital, ' Jealous Peterkin Peep,' was delivered with an elocutionary skill, a dramatic force which fairly carried the audience away. Bravo, Miss Clifford ! You deserved the applause you got. Every bit of it.

Mr Horace Stebbing was in his usual form.and sang ' Comrades/and ' The Arab's Farewell' very creditably, the tormer especially so. Mibs L. Warren contributed ' Dear Heart ' and ' When the Qaiet Moon ' prettily ; Herr Zimmerman's violin solos were much appreciated. These instrumental items agreeably diversify the programme. Mrs Kilgour's two songs, 'Leonore,' and 'Tell me my Heart,' went very well. Tom Jackson was very good in 'The Anchor's Weighed,' and the duet between Messrs Reid and Jackson was kapai. Mr White made quite a hit with ' Gently Does the Trick,' and 'In the Asylum.' Such songs as the last-named, however, aie not, perhaps, in the best possible taste. But it seemed to ' take.' Mr White is a great favourite with Auckland audiences. * . #

Last night the second concert eventuated just about the time the Observer was coming off the press. More about this next week. I hope Mr Ashton will find ' sufficient inducement offer ' to run these most agreeable entertainments right through the winter months. He is talking of several novelties, and if pluck, experience, enterprise and ' go ' will command success, Ashton will have it !

On Monday evening, the mueh-talked-of Maggie Moore season will commence at the Opera House. Maggie Moore (Mrs J. C. Williamson) is one of the moat popular actresses on the stage at the present time, and ' Strnek Oil,' in which she has played

Lizzie Stoefel more than 5000 times, has been performed all over the Englishspeaking world, and with invariable success. In London, daring the seventies, it took the - metropolis by storm, and the Princess's in Oxford-street was crammed nightly for months together by people anxious to see this remarkable play and the no less remarkable performance of Miss Maggie Moore. In America the success of ' Struck Oil ' has been phenomenal, while in Australia it is always a safe draw when it goes into the bill. The part of Lizzie Stoefel fits Maggie Moore like the proverbial glove. It might have been written to order for her. Humour and pathos are so wonderfully blended in this remarkable piece that the audience is kept hovering 'twixt tears and laughter all the time. The interest never flags. From the rise to the fall of the curtain the piece rivets the attention of all who behold it.

Miss Moore will be supported by the very capable Holloway Company, strengthened by the accession of Mr John Forde and Mr Henry Diver. Mr Porde is a great favourite on the other side, where he enjoys the reputation of being the premier lyric artist on the colonial stage. He plays John Stoefel. Mr Diver is another favourite. He will be remembered by Aucklanders as an important member of Miss Myra Kemble's company.

The Beason will only extend over nine nights, daring which the great American mining drama ' Forty-nine,' ' M'liss, 1 (founded on Bret Harte's story), and ' The Daughter of the Regiment,' will be produced in addition to ' Struck Oil.' It is to be hoped Mr Holioway's enterprise in bringing this famous artiste to Auckland will meet with its reward.

The attractive operetta, 'The HolidayConcert,' so successfully performed some weeks ago, in St. George's Hall, by promising young amateurs, was again performed on Tuesday evening and went better than ever. 'Bio.' was there, and his sketches, taken on the spot, will appear next week.

Plenty of popular entertainments on just now ! Paddy Doran's Saturday night shows are taking well at the City Hall. Paddy heads his bills with : ' Firm on the rock of art they stand, Guided and directed by that great hand Which nurtures genius, and to the name Inscribes "perfection" on the scroll of fame !'

No author's name appended. Bat whose is the ' great hand ' that guides and directs ? Paddy's ! The bill is just bursting with name 3of vocal and acrobatic wonders, including 'the Man Serpent' and 'Ethel,' ' the smallest contortionist in the world,' and known to fame, it seems, as ' the boneless child.' And ' people's prices ' bear in mind.

Harry Rickards has gone home in search of latent... Slade Murray ('good old Mary Ann') at Sydney Gaiety George Farrell raking in the shekels in Melbourne where lurid drama with lots of bloodshed is appreciated Brough and Boucicault company due in Auckland shortly with 'A Village Priest! and the latest London and Sydney success in the way of burlesques 'Niobe.'...Lohr is in great demand with Australian managers. Brough and Boucicault want him and Williamson, Garner and Co., ditto, ditto. L. J. L. is a knowing old hand who thoroughly understands the ' tricks of the the lot, put a penny in the slot,' as Gilbert

Gaiety Co. coining money at Wellington Opera House. Season closes there Saturday 13th inst. — Collett Dobson crowd thrilling Dunedin with ' Wilful Murder ' and ' Current Cash.' — Fillis' Circus at Christchurch. Coming up our way soon. — Exchange Hall, Wellington, fully tenanted. Cadzow with his smoke concerts downstairs, and Milner Stephen np above with his faith-healing. ' And the motto of sings in " The Mountebanks." '

Amongst the recent passengers to Sydney waa Mr C. B. Andrew and his four daughters — Eose, Violet, Lily and Inez. The Misses Andrew have all adopted the stage as a profession, and have gone to Sydney to complete their training. They all possess considerable dramatic talent, ample evidence of which has been shown during their professional career in this colony. They have appeared with various companies both here and in the South and have all acquitted themselves admirably. We are sure they have all a good future before them on the stage.

Tea guineas' worth, of Tyson drink cure valued at two shillings 1 Nice little margin for profit here! No wonder the Go. could afford to run a palatial ' sanatorium ' and put ads. in all the papers. Money-lending is a fool to patent medicine when you oan once hit the right nail on the head.