The Lorgnette

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 28 March 1903, Page 6

The Lorgnette

By Prompter.

COMING SHOWS

March 16th to April 4th — Haw trey Comedy Co. April 6, 7, and 8— Westminster, Abbey Glee and Concert Party. April 10— Steel - Payne Bellringers (sacred concert). April 11th to May 2nd— Anderson's Dramatic Co. May 26th to June 6th— Pollard Opera Co. (pencilled). June Bth to 26th— George Musgrove ("Sweet Nell") Co. June 27th to July 10th— Harry Rickards. July 16th to 18th— Mark Hambourg Concert Company. December 26th to January 24th, 1904— Mediation's Dramatic Company. Dixs Oaietv Co.— City Hall (permanent).

THIS week the Hawtrey Comedy Company have revived at His

Majesty's their big success of last year, " A Message from Mars." They have had large houses, for the Message has been well advertised as a play with a moral, and draws classes of the community that generally disdain to darken the doors of the theatre, as well as the ordinary play-goer who goes chiefly to be amused. And it must be said that Ganthony's drama, if it is a bit "preachy" as plays go, drives home the attack upon selfishness far more effectively than an average sermon or lecture.

The part of the Messenger is in the hands of Mr 0. P. Heggie, as of old. AbMt Heggie is the only inhabitant of Mars who has descended upon these colonies, we cannot dispute vyith him about the kind of language used on the other planet. But it does strike one that a little elocutionary effect here and there would be an agreeable change from themonotonoussing-song in which he delivers the lectures thai lay bare Horace Parker's selfishness, and would hammer home his points more forcibly. Mr Heggie makes the Messenger a striking figure, and consistent to his conception of the part. The mechanical effects of his appearance and disappearance, and of the galvanic shocks that keep Parker in his leading strings, work capitally.

Parker, the champion selfish man of the play, is represented by Mr Gregan MacMahon, with a considerable amount of success. In the early scenes, Mr MacMahon tries hard to make Parker a comic character, but his exaggerations of Parker's resentment of the suggestions of selfishness do not furnish the brightest of comedy. In Parker's awakening to " otherdom " under the guidance of the Messenger, and his subsequent application of his new virtue, Mr MacMahon is much more natural and satisfactory. Mr Hawtrey again takes the modest character of the husky old tramp, and makes of it a sketch to be remembered with pleasure. Miss Winifred Austin is graceful and pleasing as Minnie Templar, and the numerous small parts that fill out the wholesome play are capably filled. "The Message" will hold the boards until further notice.

The Choral Hall was not large enough to hold the audiences that wanted to hear Mdlle. Dolores last week. At both her concerts the building was packed, and crowds were unable to find seats. Mademoiselle's reception was enthusiastic in the extreme. It was, in fact, a fit continuation of the triumphs that she has won all along the line in her present tour of the colonies. If her Auckland admirers did not permit themselves to be carried into the extravagant demonstrations of which we have heard from Australia, they nevertheless gave ample proof of their appreciation of the artistic qualities and gracious ways of one of the finest vocalists who have yet visited them.

Mademoiselle waa extremely indulgent to her hearers. On each programme she Bet down eleven items,

and. such selections as should have satisfied -roost people. But there were some unreasonable folk present who would have doubled her evening's work. They tried to encore everything. Dolores, with the utmost good nature, yielded to the extent of adding some half-dozen other gems. But surety tMfare shonld be a limit even to the demands of enthusiastic admirers. And that limit is overstepped when an artist of Mademoiselle's calibre is asked to sing sixteen or seventeen items within the space of two hours. ••. ■ •

Both programmes were rare musical feasts, their ingredients ranging from famous operatic and oratorio ariaa to delightful little cameos of old English and Continental composers. And Mademoiselle sang them with all her old charm of florid vocalisation and moving pathos and quaint humour. Her methods were as instructive to the musical student as her sweet voice was pleasing to the everyday concertgoer. To make a selection out of her copious budget I would say that the most successful out of a series of successes were the brilliant "Polacca" from " Mignon," the flowing melodies of *' Sombre Foret " from " William Tell " and " The Meeting of the Waters," the sprightly "Should he Upbraid," the pathos of Rubinstein's " U Fair and Sweet and Holy," and the humour of "Comin' thro' the Rye," and Auber's Laughing Song ; and few who heard it will forget the sweetness of her farewell item, " Home, Sweet Home." The pity of it is that we cannot have more of such programmes. Mr Clarence Newell iplayed excellent accompaniments, and supplied pianoforte solo interspersions.

The Dix Gaiety Company keeps large audiences in entertainment at the City Hall from night to night. Arnoldi, the young Australian juggler, has rejoined the company this week, with his clever exhibition of " modern methods of manipulating moving materials." He has been aptly named the colonial Cinquevalli, for he does a number of the famous Frenchman's feats, and performs them as deftly as their originator. Mr Alf. Sherwin, the eccentric musician, is also an important feature in the bill, extracting music from a great variety of instruments, and adding a certain amount of hurtiour to his "turn" in the entertainment.

The vocal programme comprises the usual amount of variety. All the members of a large company contribute, and the tenor songs of Mr Frank Graham, the motto songa of Miss Annetta Bodin, the coon items of Miss Emmie Smith, and Frank Yorke's humour at the corner are amongst the. principal features. The dancing of the Gilardi Sisters and the Smith Sisters is still refreshing, and the latter now add graceful club-swinging to one of their items. Frank Yorke has just come out in a ne\v character, as a ladder-balancing athlete, and in that capacity performs some surprising feats. How they are done must be seen to be appreciated — and laughed over. For those who admire exhibitions of the art of self-defence a boxing display between Sturgeon, of Australia, and Turvey, of London, has been added in place of the usual farce finale.

It is understood that Mr Bert Royle will reside permanently in New Zealand, with Wellington as his headquarters, to look after Mr J. C. Williamson's interests.

Herr Slapoffski has eight daughters. The eldest, not yet 20, appears in the chorus of " The Fortune Teller," in Australia ; also, his wife plays a leading role, and he himself wields the baton.

The Greenwoods are at present in Victoria. Little Charlie Williams creates a sensation with sweet singing and bright acting. Recently in Ararat, Victoria, at the termination of his song he was showered with coins, amongst others a sovereign. The company is at present playing "Little Lord Fauntleroy," with Charlie Williams in the title role, and Miss Maribel Greenwood as " Dearest."

In regard to the Maori opera "Tapu," it has leaked out that the original design of the librettist was to burlesque Mr Seddon, but the management of the Pollard Company chose to object, and Mr Percy, who was cast for the part, substituted a well-known New South Wales politician.

Josephine Gassman, who visited New Zealand with the World's Entertainers, was granted a divorce from her husband, Florance Sullivan, .at San Francisco on the Bth January.

Mr Hal George, of Fitzgerald's Circus staff', who set out last August upon a tour of the world, to engage for his principals all the talent that was available and worth having, sends us a circular from London. Mr George has scoured Canada, the United States, and nearly every important town of the British Islands, seeing all the big circuses, and picking up many novel ideas. The artists he has secured comprise the Flying Meteors, trapeze performers ; the Zenobia Brothers, who do a daring rolling globe act on a single wire 50 feet from the ground ; Mdlle. Onra and Little Selig, performers on a very fine tight wire (the lady is very handsome, and her dresses are something out of the common) ; Gilleno, musical speciality comedian, who plays some extraordinary instruments ; Benato, the celebrated Continental clown ; Eric and Reano, who give a comic trapeze and ring act, dressed as two soldiers ; and the Marottos, who do an amusing knock-about act on a horizontal bar. Altogether, a fine galaxy of stars for the next year's tours of the big circus. The new artists are to arrive in Australia at the end of March.