The Lorgnette

Observer, Volume XV, Issue 822, 29 September 1894, Page 5

The Lorgnette

By Prompter

A splendid house greeted Miss Buckland's re-appeaxance before the Auckland public on Friday evening last. The programme submitted was a most attractive one. For the past three years the fair beueficiaire has been a student of music at Dresden Conservatorium. She met with >he heartiest of receptions on Friday evening. Plainly she has not been forgotten. Her two violin solos were greatly enjoyed. As a vocalist, Miss Buckiand was also highly successful. The well-known recitative and aria, 'Before my Eyes Behold Him ' (Der Freischut.z), and ' Softly Sighs the Voice of Evening ' were both most artistically rendered, the latter more especially. In response to the inevitable encore Miss Buckiand sang the pretty" ballad 'L'Alba' (Mattei). Miss Warren, Mrs C. Queree, Messrs John Fuller, A, H. Gee, A. L. Edwards, Howard Chambers, and Brett all rendered invaluable assistance. The Choral Society (under the baton of Herr Carl Schmitt) contributed two excellent selections, and Auckland Liedertafel (under Mr Towsey) gave two part songs, which elicited loud applause. The piano accompaniments were played by Mrs Gee, Messrs Towsey and Bartley. For the very beautiful stage decorations great credit is due to Mr Theo. Queree.

City Hall was crammed to the very doors on Monday evening. Everybody patronises the ' pop concerts ' nowadays. 'Twas not always thus. John Fuller must be becoming a millionaire. On Monday evening he sang : (programme items and encores) ' The Message,' ' Love's Request,' ' She Wore a Wreath of Roses,' 'Espanita,' and ' Geraldine.' Mrs Shoesmith sang ' Esmeralda' (encored), ' I Couldn't, Could I ?' ' Bid Me Good-Bye (encored) and ■ Home Dearie Home.' Little Celia Dampier was deservedly encored for her beautiful violin solo 'Home-Sweet Home,' and responded with 'Swanee River.' Mr Will Smedley was encored for both his recitations. Mr Fuller and Mrs Shoesmith sang ' Maying ' very tastefully, and the duet ' Army and Navy,' (Messrs Fuller and Chambers) was also well received. Miss McCormick, was doubly encored, and Mr Howard Chambers got a recall. The attractive programme prepared for next Monday evening's concert appears in another column.

To-morrow (Friday) evening the famous Beaumont Family will open a short season at the Opera House.. The Beaumonts come to us with a splendid record. They have toured the world, and their ' noticebook ' contains clippings about the show from papers published in all sorts of places. The Professor is known to fame as ' the manfish.' He would have made an excellent whale if he had been born in that station of life. He dives down to the bottom of the big tank and only comes to the surface occasionally to ' blow.' ' Puff ' — and he dives again. He is more at home under the water than many people are out of it. For a long time the Beaumonts were one of the principal attractions of Fillis's circus. The Professor is assisted by 'little Alice' and Miss Lily, both of the"in perfect wonders. The New Zealand Times, in noticing the recent performance of the Beaumonts at Wellington says : — ' In a large tank filled with water, and with a plate-glass side fronting the audience, the Professor and his two daughters Misses Alice and Lily Beaumont duly disported themselves and went through some truly astonishing feats, combiniug marvellous skill with an equally astonishing endurance. In the water, or under the water, to be more correct, the performers stitched garments, ate oranges, picked up coins with their teeth, played a game at cards, and went through a variety of feats equally astonishing. The Professor calmly puffed away at a lighted cigar while reclining, seemingly at his ease, at the bottom of the tank, and great was the applause when he returned slowly to the surface with the cigar still alight. The Professor, by the way, has saved nearly one hundred persons from drowning. Mr George Warren is the courteous advance agent for the show.

Allan Hamilton has leased the Theatre Royal, Brisbane. Hilda Spong is to join Bland Holt's Company as leading lady. Bland Holt is still in Adelaide, ' A Life of Pleasure ' drawing satisfactorily.

Nothing on, at Christehurch— bar the pop, concerts. . The Connors (acrobats) are at the Criterion, Wellington. ' _- The Pollard's Lilipatians are at Napier, doing nicely, thanks. Fillis's Circus and the Lynch Bellringers are inthe Victorian capital. Melbourne shows include B. and.B. Company in. the * Cabinet Minister.' They are playing ' Fatinitza ' at Dunedin Princess, to a 2/ circle and a 6d pit. Carl Hertz is due in Adelaide towards the end of the year. Maoriland to follow. Arthur Roberts will not accompany the next Gaiety Company which visits the Antipodes. Geo. H. Woods was due in Sydney ex R.M.S. Alameda'and takes his old place at the Tivoli. Robinson's Colossal Panorama of the Royal Navy is showing at Hastings, Hawkes Bay. Miss Olga Nethersole, according to Eva, has been engaged by Augustin Daly for an American tour. The Holloway Company are appearing in George DarreU's ' Sunny South ' at the Melbourne Royal. ! . Alfred Maltby has secured the Melbourne 'Bijou ' and the Sydney ' Criterion ' for his seasons next year. Geo. Rignold is preparing a treat for the patrons of Her Majesty's at Sydney in a grand revival of ' Henry V.' The People's Company are still at City Hall, Dunedin. J. J. Kennedy is still \ the bright particular star of the show. It is rumoured that Williamson and Musgrove have purchased the colonial rights of ' The New Boy ' and will produce it at an early date. Dan Barry has entered into his 38th week at the Alexandra, Melbourne, I and his last production, ' Cast Adrift,' is drawing well. Sydney Methodist refers to ' The Second Mrs Tanqueray ' as ' seething with moral hastiness.' But why has the Sydney Methodist been walking in the way of temptation. . Wellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (writes our Empire City correspondent) produced • The Mikado ' at the Opera House last week. On the whole the performance was a very creditable one. The scenic artist, Mr J. S. Allan, received a deserved call before the curtain. A word of praise is due to Mr Alfred Levi, stagemanager. The cast was as follows: Mrs H. J. Miller, ' Yum Yum ' (excellent) ; Miss Curtice, 'Pitti Sing,' (very good) ; Miss Hand, ' Peep Bo,' (pleasing) ; Miss Newton, ' Katisha ' (voice hardly sufficiently powerful, but acting capital) ; Mr Lyon, ' Koko ' (simply admirable) ; Mr Munt, ' Nanki pooh,' (very indifferent) ; • Pooh Bah 'Mr G. Parsons, (very good indeed) ; Mr Ross, j ' The Mikado,' (disappointing) ; Mr Mabin, ' Pish Tush,' (first-rate). The costumes were very tasteful. Mr Tallis Trimnell conducted the orchestra, which materially ! added to the success of the performance. Federal Cigarettes just out ! 6d.