THE LORCNETTE

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1094, 16 December 1899, Page 15

THE LORCNETTE

By Pendennib,

On Monday evening last, tinder the management of Messrs "Williamson and Mnsgrove, the ' Trip to Chinatown ' Company opened to a very large andience at the Opera Honee. Like most musical comedies, there is very little coherency in the plot, if plot it may be called, bat the witty dialogue, the songs introduced and the ludicrous situations, together form a humourous combination that keeps the audience in a ripple of laughter from the rise until the final drop of the curtain. From a hypercritical point of view, there is really very little in the production, bnt that little is so cleverly expounded and so brilliantly expressed that the auditor nndergoes a most amusing experience, and naturally comes to the conclusion that the actors and not the authors are responsible for his enjoyment.

Briefly put, a party of yonng people are anxious to attend a fancy ball, but the consent of an old ancle whose notions of propriety are very strict when applied to anybody but himself, is required. He is told that the party want to visit the Chinese quarters in search of information, but sternly objects, until he receives, by mistake, a note from a fascinating widow expressing her intention of taking supper with , him. Then he relents, gives his permission, and advises the party to ' go early and stay late.' Matters are complicated by the arrival of an old friend named Welland Strong, who fancies be has only two years to live, but whose appearance suggests the possibility of his becoming a centenarian He claims that every indulgence will take so many days off his life, but this by no means prevents him from enjoying himaelf on every possible occasion* He, much to the disgust of the party, volunteers to accompany them on the trip, and their efforts to lose him, combined with the irritation and disappointment of the other old gentleman at the failure of the widow to keep her appointment, give rise to a number of very funny situations, and furnish the humour of the piece.

Of course, Mr Harry Conor, as Welland Strong, is the moßt prominent figure. From his first entranoe, enveloped in manifold overcoats of various colours, and flourishing the thermometer with which he takes his temperature every once in a while, to the conclusion of the last act he is irresistably comic. It is not so much the character as the clever comedian that amuses us, and it would be difficult to find another actor who could hold his audience with the part. His facial expression when Miss Merrill was singing ' Because ' was exquisitely droll, and his duet with Mies Crater with their eccentric exit won a number of well merited encores.

Mr Wallace Brownlow is an old f avcnrite, and his Rashleigh Gay was quite up to his usual standard. He was in excellent voice on Monday, and his songs ' Doreen,' ' The Widow,' and ' Soldiers of the Queen ' gave ample evidence that his recent temporary retirement from the stage has in no way detracted from his ability Mr Hugh J. Ward had a rather difficult part as Ben Gay, inasmuch as he has a terrible long wait without dialogue, but he fulfilled it most creditably. Misb Crater made a most fascinating Mrs O-nyer, and as a particularly frisky chaperon, with a marked tendency towards desperate flirtation, carried her audience with her throughout. Miaß Hoyt, who played the part of her maid, is a clever little little soubrette, and got every possible point out of the character.

Mr Tom Browne, as Noah Heap, the whistling waiter, scored a distinct hit. His double-note whistling waß something entirely new to Auckland, and his imitations of a buzz saw, 'cello, trombone, etc., were distinctly clever. The other charaters were all well sustained, and, if space permitted, I should be pleased to refer to them in detail. ' A Trip to Chinatown ' will be followed by a ' titranger in New York,' and before the conclusion of the season * A Texas Steer ' will be put on for the first time in the colonies.

Business still continues brisk at the City Hall, which maintains its reputation as. a popular place of amusement. On Saturday evening last a new feature was introduced

in the appearance of the three Jones brothers, whose specialties were very much appreciated. Miss Carter, who was formerly with the Afro - American Minstrels, also appeared The back dancing of the quartette was excellent, and was heartily applauded. Mr Frank Yorke, who made snch a hit with his song, 1 She Bumps,' received several encores, and the Lingards and Miss Lottie Lome introduced new business The No. 2 company which was expected to arrive in Auckland on Monday was detained in Wellington. They will be here to day, however, and to-night (Thursday) a double bill will be presented.

Mr Ben Fuller passed through Auckland on his way to the South from Sydney on Tuesday last. He informs me that he has engaged another company, and brought another waxworks from Australia.' This coming Christmas season they will be running three shows, one in Danedin, one in Christcbmrch, and one in Wellington. This makes the fourth trip to Australia for novelties that Mr Faller has made this year.

The s.B. Maripoaa, 00. her last trip to 'Frisco, had on board Mdile. Antoinette Trebelli and Mr idarry Oogill and wife. Mr Cogill gees to America to seenre new attractions for Aastralia and New Zealand, partly for himself and partly on behalf of Mr J. C. Williamson, while Mdlle. Trebelli fulfils an American engagement prior to her departure for Europe.

Madame Emily Spada and Mr Philip Newbury start the New Year with a concert tour of Tasmania and New Zealand, en route for Home.

The theatrical partnership of Williamson and Musgrove is to be dissolved on December 17. Mr Williamson will make his head-quarters in Sydney, and gives up the Melbourne Princess.

Mr Alfred Hill, the New Zealand musician, now in bydney, has given the name of ' Lady Dolly ' to his new opera. It ia now in active rehearsal for presentation at a Sydney theatre.

When the apparently interminable run of the ' Belle of New York ' ceases at London Shafteabury it will be followed by the ' Wire Walker,' a similar work by the same author. It has been a great success in America.

At latest accounts, the Ernest fiogan Anglo-American Minstrels and Alabama Oake Walkera were in Masterton. They are now playing up the East Coast, Aucklandwards. The minßtrels are due in bydney early in the New Year.

R. S. Smythe, the much-travelled, is trotting out the veteran Rev. Charles Clark for yet another Colonial lecturing tonr. Whereupon some cynic has observed that Clark must be very much of a back number by this time.