THE Lorenette

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 921, 5 September 1896, Page 16

THE Lorenette

' Tbilby ' is the sensation of the hour in Auckland at the present moment. It is the absorbing topic of conversation at afternoon teas, on the scrip market, and in the haunts of commerce. One section of the community has been to the Opera House! and has seen the dramatic representation of Da Maurier'B celebrated story of the three musketeers of the brash and the unsophisticated model of the altogether, and is delighted. The other Bection has booked seats, and is anticipating with undisguised eagerness the dramatic treat in store for them. And it is really a dramatic treat of rare occurrence. Setting aside altogether the play itself, which is the rage in all British speaking countries jost now, it is only once in a decade that we are afforded an opportunity of seeing a dramatic company of such excellence as the one "which is now playing in onr city. "We are occasionally visited by dramatic stars of considerable magnitude, but as a rule they are inefficiently supported. But in this instance we not only have leading people of remarkable talent, but also a company in which every member is specially adapted for the role which he or she fills. It is an admirable company, strong in the matter of capableness, and complete down to the smallest detail.

Of the story of ' Trilby ' we need say nothing. It is famous, and to confess one's ignorance of it is to admit in the same breath that one is a few years behind the literature of the times. The dramatised story that is being enacted nightly before crowded assemblages in the Opera House is, however, not exactly the same as that which Dv Maurier has made so agreeable and familiar to us in his celebrated novel. But the characters are the same, and being instinct with life, they lend a charm and fascination to the scorj- which could not possibly be imparted by the mere letterpress of a printed book. The Svengali is the same ; it is the same Trilby ; and if one or two of the other characters are not wholly consistent wich the picture our fancy painted of the author's creations, we must confess that their imitative realism is wonderful and reflects lustre upon the histrionic genius of those who impersonate them. There can be no two opinions about Mr Reuben Fax's conception and interpretation of the role of the Polish musician Svengali. It is marvellous. The creation is that of the author. Butit is the breath of tine dramatic genius that has imparted life and naturalness to this hideous Dv Maurier Frankstein. It is difficult, in reading Trilby, to understand the Svengali limmed by the author. But, having seen Trilby, it is easy enough to understand, though we may loathe, the demoniacal, fiendish, Svengali that the artiste presents to view. Throughout, Mr Fax was powerful in his impersonation, but never so powerful as in the final scene with Trilby and the pig-dog Englishes in the greenroom, which ends with Svengali's bloodcurdling death. The ' Trilby ' of Miss Edith Crane is a more pleasing and equally clever pourtrayal. The touches of light and shade are soft and natural, and indicate a high standard of histrionic talent. Trilby is effective and clever iv every scene, whether it is in the semi-abandon of studio life, the love passages with Little Billee, the in-tensely-wrought scenes with the diabolical Svengali, or in the condition of hypnotic trance. Charming stage presence and exceptional natural beauty are great professional aids to Miss Crane, but she is equally dowered with genius. The scene in the portiere of the theatre, when she rejects the advancesof Little Billee and his friends, was an intensely wrought piece of acting, quite as effective as her cleverest emotional passages. The ' Gecko ' of Mr E. W. Morrison is a careful study and exceptionally good. 'Zou Zou,' by Mr George Trader stands next to it in order of merit, and beside it we would place the ' Madame Vinard ' of Miss Reiffarth and the Taffyof Mr Herbert Carr. Mr Charles Canfield is a trifle disappointing aa the ' Laird,' while there is nothing in common with the author's innocent, simple Billee, in tne impersonation by Mr George Webster. The ' Billee ' of tbe novel was loving and guileless— this Billee of the play is unsympathetic, unemotional and hardfaced, and too fond of ranting his finest passages. The part of Dodo, though

not a great one, received clever treatment in the hands of our old friend, Mr Frank Sceats, who has made immense strides in his profession. Mr H. R. Harwood was also good as the Rev. Thomas Bagot, although those awful gloved hands were far too much in evidence. The part of Mrs Bagot was also admirably played by Miss Docy Stewart. We have heard Miss Nagel as a contralto vocalist before, but we never heard her sing more charmingly or effectively than in the simple ballad ' Ben Bolt.' Space does not permit us to review the various characters of the play at length, as we would have wished, but suffice it to say that the company is the best we have seen in Auckland for many a long day, and that everyone should make a point of seeing •Trilby. 1

Fitzgeralds' Circus took .£436 on opening night in Rockhampton (Q). The big show lost one night only on the whole of its Q. tour. That was caused by the lighter which carried their traps going aground in the Fitzroy. The Brongh Company were playing fco a packed house on the same night as the above sum was taken. The Auckland Liederfcafel's tbird concert takes place in the City Hall on Friday, 18th inst, and gives every promise of proving a great success. The Eociety will be assisted by Misses Harding, Mary Day, Lily Thompson, and Messrs James (Ballaiat Liedertafel), J. Jackson, Payne, Herr Zimmermann, and several other local artistes. The programme is a capital one, and in order to secure seats it will be necessary to book early. Mr Josepli-Barber, Victoria Arcade, has an advertisement in this issue with regard to the Wires Special Claim. Whangamata. The claim consists of 60 odd acres, situated in proximity to the Wentworth, Golden Falls, Pacific, Rothscihld, and Golden Wave Special Claims. Two reefs have been discovered — one from four to six feet, and the other two feet in thicknses. Assays from the large reef have been obtained by Mr Ratjen, giving a total value per ton of ,t'(s Bs. 3d. Thirty-five shares will be offered to the public at £25 each, Hi held by the promoters, whilst ten will be retained for the company.

K.