THE LORCNETTE

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 752, 27 May 1893, Page 15

THE LORCNETTE

That Maggie Moore is not a 'one-part actress ' has been amply proved by the production of ' 'Forty-nine,' in which ehe is, if anything, even more charming than in • Struck Oil.' ' Carrots ' is a characterpart which suits Maggie down to the ground. She plays it with delightful vivacity and ' go,' and her songs, her dancing, her exquisite little bit of ' business,' so easy, so true to life, are all irresistible. And so are her quaint Americanisms. What the piece would be without her it is not difficult to say. It would be a ' froet.' She is the life and soul of the whole performance.

Not that she is badly supported, so far as some, at least, of the artistes are concerned. Holloway appears to better advantage than usual as ' old Forty-nine, 1 the rough, gruff, but tender-heass?d miner, and Forde's ' General,' the battered old tomato-nosed wreck with a chronic thirst, who tells the bar»loafers in Act 11. that his vermilhon-hued proboscis is' only a sketch as yet ' and bids them ' wait till it's finished,' is really clever. Oily Deering is quite- out of his element as the old darkie, but manages to make something out of the part nevertheless. Stewart's Tom Bradshaw is fair, but Diver's Arthur Dennison is stiff and rather priggish, and the stiffness and the priggifcfaness do not disappear even when Arthur gets out of his store clothes and comes on in digger'srig — coloured shirt, broad brimmed soft felt, and long boots. The season concluded last night (Wednesday), when ' 'M'liss,' adapted from Bret Harte, attracted a large holiday audience, and the accomplished Maggie scored again.

Paddy Doran is coining out regardless of expense ! Quite a galaxy of talent at City Hall on Saturday night, including a wonderful troupe of Japanese, who performed the most extraordinary tricks with ladders and poles and chairs and things, and who, after firmly impressing the audience several times over during the show with the idea that they (the Japs aforesaid) were about to break their necks or otherwise damaged themselves, would pull through all right, and kiss their hands gracefully to the house as much as to say : ' Behold ! it's as easy as shelling peas !' And then there was ' Bernard's Latest Sensation Troupe,' and boneless children and human serpents and comic vocalists and pretty girls, and all sorts of attractions until the audience grew quite bewildered and asked each other : ' However does he do it for the money ?' The personal pronoun of course bore reference to Paddy, and I leave him to reply or not, just as it seemeth best to him. Next Saturday fresh attractions will be on tap, and if Paddy doesn't have another crowded house it wont be his fault.

Auckland's upper crust were well represented at the Choral Society's first concert of the season on Thursday night. The audience was large, brilliant, and critical. Those present expected a treat and ihey were not disappointed. Hypercritical people are grumbling because there were 100 many voca) and noT enough instrumental items on the bill-offare. But such people must bear this in mind : That all those who flock to the Choral Hall on these occasions are not musicians ; that they are not even people possessing cultivated musical taste, and fur these patrons the Society is bound to cater as well as for those who are musical enthusiasts and connoisseurs. Hence the 'popular' orchestral selections and the popular songs. '

The overture to the ' Bohemian Girl ' was delicious. The audience seemed to revel in the soft, sweet and plaintive notes of the familiar ' I Dreamt that I Dwelt.' This is music that can be ' understanded of the people ' and is invariably appreciated by a mixed audience. The march from Wagner • Tannhauser ' is of a very different order. The music is exquisite,

bnt it requires a cultivated ear to appre ; eiace it to the full. Yet it met with an enthusiastic reception. The overture to •Le Domino Noir ' was another triumph. The light, bright and tuneful music was greatly enjoyed.

The gems of the evening we*e unquestionably Mendelssohn's concerto in D Minor for the piano (with orchestral accompaniment) and a duo for the clarionet and oboe (' La Sonnambula ') by Messrs S. aod J. Jackson. The concerto wasbrilliantly played by Miss Ada Yates. It made a profound impression. "The performance was as near perfection as it could well be. The talented young lady received quite^an ovation. The orchestral accompaniment was excellent. The duo by Messrs Jackson was exquisitely beautiful. It thrilled the house. And when it concluded thunders of applause rewarded the accomplished musicians. The two last mentioned items would have ensured the success of any concert.

The songs were all by well-known vocalists and, it goes without saying", were all most successful. Mr Horace Stebbkig, unwell as he was, sang ' The Gondolier's Serenade ' and 'I Think of Thee, My Margaret' very creditably. Mr A. L. Edwards sang ' But One ' pleasingly, but gave ' Douglas Gordon ' in better style still. Mrs E. H. Hopkins secured an enthusiastic recall for ' Softly Sigh 3' (Der Freiechutz.') It was sung very charmingly. Miss Jolly sang ' Cherry Eipe ' delightfully, and afterwards took part in the duet with Miss Beeves from Kossini's ' Moses in Egypt.'

The fine, rich strains of the ' Marche des Tronbadours,' (Roubier) brought a thoroughly enjoyable concert to a conclusion. Herr Schmitt was in great form on this occasion. The programmes, containing the words of every song sung, were much appreciated. They largely contributed to the enjoyment of the audience.

Oh yes, the Wednesday pop 3 have come to stay ! Another bumper house last Wednesday, although the „ night was damp and dreary again. And the usual enthusiastic audience 1 Encored everything, from start to finish. Couldn't get enough for their money, seemingly. The programme was perhaps the meat attractive yet presented. The septette orchestra made a great hit. Miss Ruby Clifford, whose appearance on the platform was greeted with hearty applause, was again most successful in the elocutionary line. ' Smiting the Eock ' was worth hearing. Miss Clifford undoubtedly possesses strong dramatic ability. The harp solos, by Mr F. Carter, were very beautiful. The encores received were among the most enthusiastic of the evening.

Mr Tapper's two songs, ' Death of Nelson,' and ' Sally in Our Alley,' delighted the audience. The popular tenor was never in better voice, although the weather was anything but favourable to vocal effort. Of course the singer was encored for both songs, and in response he gave ' The Lass that Loves a Sailor,' and ' Mary of Argyle. 1 Mr C. White whose popularity as a comique is very great, sang ' Be Soon,' and two or three other songs in his usual well-known btyle. Miss Warren's ' Dream of Home,' and 'On Venice Waters ' went very well. Mr Eeid vocally described • A Vision,' and how ' She Wore a Wreath of Roses ' very feiohingly. Mr P. Dufaur who has a voice he may be proud of, besought an invisible fair one to : ' Let Me Love Me,' and when she wouldn't reply he went on another tack with • Who Deeply Drinks of Wine.' Miss Short sang that old but immensely popular song : ' The Lover and the Bird,' and 'It Was a Dream, 1 and sang them very creditably, and Mr Bellamy, as a wind up, carried the audience right 'In Port. 1

Condensed Items : FilhV Circus scooping in the shekels at Wellington. Big tent holds 4,500 and it is full every night ! The show comes to Auckland very shortly per special steamer. . .Cadzow's smoke conoerts doing well at Wellington...

Gaiety Co. playing to satisfactory biz. at Christchurch.. .Tuam-street Hall sixpenny pops continue to be enormously successful., .tiomebody has started sixpenny pops at (Jhristchurcn Oddfellows' Hall now. That's always the way. One man no sooner starts a good thing than the market; is flooded with imitations.. .The Rev. Isitt opened at Napier on the' 15th. . .

Collet-Dobson Co. at Dunedin, where • Wilful Murder ' is received with ' Bhouts of enthusiasm, shrieks' of laughter.' Vide adß. . . Albu Concert Co. at Dunedin.