THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 40, 22 June 1907, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

By From^tkr.

COMING 83HOWS. * 24th June to 18th July— Williamson's Julius Knight Company:' ■'* 9th July to 12th July— St. Patrick's Dramatic Society, ••Maritana" 15th July to 20th July — Jessie Maclachlan Concert Company. 22na July to 10th August— Musgrove's Grand Opera Company. , 12th August to 24th August— Kickards's Vaudeville Company. 10th September to 6th October— Allan Hamilton's English Star Company. 7th October to 26th October — MacMahon Brothers' Dramatic Company. 4th November to 16th November— Willoughby-Ward-Geach Comedy Company.

"HpHE STORY OF THE KELLY L GANG," as told per biograph

at His Majesty's this week, is as stirring as a melodrama. It occupies about forty minutes in the telling, and comes in as the piece de resistance at the close of a miscellaneous moving picture exhibition. For the most part the films are clear and distinct, and they are capitally pioduced. Whether the Kelly desperadoes were the chivalrous persons the drama represents may be a matter of opinion. On the whole, there is a tendency to glorify a band of law-breakers who held a -co an try side in terror for months, and to hold up to ridicule a police force that fought gallantly for law and order, but that has been the fault of most "Kelly" entertainments. At any rate, Messrs Tait have succeeded in obtaining a vivid reproduction of a series of memorable events in Australian criminal history.

There is lavish expenditure of gunpowder from start to finish. The pictures begin with the alleged provocation under which the Kellys took to the road — the insult said to have been offered by a trooper to Kate Kelly when executing a warrant to arrest Dan Kelly for horse stealing, and the consequent wounding of the trooper by a bullet from Ned's revolver. Then follows the surprising of the police samp on the Wombat range, and the .shooting of Troopers Kennedy and Scanlon, together with Constable Mclntyre's thrilling escape from the gang. The sticking- up of Younghusband's station, and some oi the exploits of Kate Kelly as " bush telegraph" furnish an element of comedy. For the rest, the films deal chiefly with bank raids, skirmishes with the police, and the final besieging of the gang at the Glenrowan Inn, and the capture of Ned Kelly in his nail-can armour.

Apart from the scenes of crime and chase, several picturesque incidents are represented. Fqr instance, there is the tearing up of the railway line for the purpose of intercepting an expected train, and the plucky behaviour of the schoolmaster, Curnow, in hoodwinking the gang and slipping away to mount guard at the gap and avert the catastrophe. If, however, the schoolmaster stood exactly at the break, instead of running along the line to meet the engine, he took a risk to himself and the train that the circumstances did not call for. Father Gibney's gallant rescue of a wounded platelayer while under fire in the siege of the inn also stands out in pleasant relief. Some relief to the monotony of the reeling out of pictures is given by the introduction of dialogue between the chief actors. But why do the management leave the whole burden or the conversation to one voice, and so fall into monotony of another kindi

The miscellaneous collection of pictures which preceded the lurid Kelly . films make up the greater part of the entertainments v Moßt these, but not all, are new to Auckland, and the whole are good . of their kiiid, and excellently reflected. The popular chase

pictures, of course, predominate. Notable amongst them is the latest thing in elopement chases, and a series of cleverly-devised •' illusion " pictures illustrating the experiences of a country bumpkin in a witch's cave, with figures mysteriously appearing and disappearing. The pictures will be shown nightly up to and including Saturday next.

John Fuller has introduced in his entertainments an innovation that will prove very popular. The oldtime minstrel circle, with its forced "humour" from the smutted-face individuals in the end chairs, and short- f rocked damsels who sing ditties, ha? had its day, and, so far as the Opera House is concerned, has ceased to be. With the plethora of talent at his command, Mr Fuller is able to dispense with conventional minstrelsy, and give a full programme of specialities on the " olio " plan. And an excellent programme it is, this week, with a liberal share of sensations. For instance, Cleopatra, the lady with the snakes, provides thrill enough for a multitude. Since she was in Auckland a year or two ago she has added considerably to her reptilian collection, which ranges from powerful boa constrictors and alligators to lithe little fellows who could almost curl up in your pocket. Perhaps Cleopatra enjoys allowing the serpents to curl and twist themselves about her, and form themselves into a glittering necklace. There is no accounting for taste in such matters. In any case, the act fascinates the audience as much as Cleo. does the snakes.

Equally exciting, and cleverer as a performance, is the skilful markswomanship of Bonita, the girl rifleshot. Bonita uses her rifle with as much ease and certainty as other people use a knife and fork. She shoots even when standing on her head, with an accuracy that would turn any Trentham pot-hunter green with envy, and the shattering of glass discs is to her a commonplace. The situation of her human target is thrilling enough, but never a hair of his head or an inch of epidermis is injured. Probably her smartest trick is the playing of a tune upon a series of bells with bullets from her repeating rifle. The time is not too precise, but not a note is missed. The athletic Samson and Juno are nightly lifting huge dumb-bells that any ordinary person would jib at. The hundreds of pounds which they have placed at the disposal of the man or woman who can emulate their feats are still going a-begging.

Slade Murray's best descriptive item of this week is made more interesting by the introduction of a series of tableau scenes. The Lewis sisters and Doris Baker are doiDg some graceful song and dance tarns, and Raleigh and May get oft' good comedy as well as their smart wire • balancing. The Stagpooles have another new and bright sketch ; Nellie Power and Bob Lloyd contribute musically on the lightsome side, and Vai. Newton supplies songs for the more seriously inclined, with illustrations per bioscope. The new features for next Saturday night include the first appearance of Sara Keenan, comedian, Ivy Goodwill, serio, and Phoebe Lewis, serio and dancer.

The New English Dramatic Company of J. C. Williamson, headed by Julius Knight, will begin its season at His Majesty's on Monday next. The leading members of the company, in addition to the popular star, are Misses Elbert - Orton, Mary Godfrey, and Elsie Wilson, Messrs Herbert Bentley, Leslie Victor, Harry Plimmer, Gordon Macintosh, Herbert Willis, Reynolds, Denniston, and A. J. Patrick. The season will extend over three weeks, during which three new plays will be staged — " Robin Hood," " Raffles," and " Brigadier Gerard." .

"Robin Hood," which has been billed as the' opening piece, is a romantic drama written around the story of the merry men of Sherwood Forest. It" introduces such historio characters as Richard the Lion-Heart, Prince John, and the nJinstrelßlondel,

as well as Robin's associates, famed in olden legend, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett, and Allan-a Dale. The old romance lends itself readily to the display of elaborate scenery and picturesque costumes, and in these respects Mr Williamson can be relied upon to maintain bis well-known standard. The dialogue glitters with epigram and choice passages of poetic speech, and altogether the play has had hearty receptions wherever it has been produced.

According to arrangements just completed by Messrs J. and N. Taifc, three instrumentalists will tour Australasia with Madame Clara Butt and her husband. These are Frank Merrick, a pupil of Leschetizky, who has already made a name for himself as a pianist ; Bane Squire, a violinist, and brother of the famous 'cellist and composer, W. H. Squire ; and Arthur Godfrey, author ot the comic opera, "Little Miss Nobody," who will act as accompanist.

Mr Frank Talbot, advance representative of the Jessie Maclachlan Concert Company, was in town this week, making arrangements for the company's season in Auckland, which begins at His Majesty's on the 15th July.

Miss Marie Narelle, the popular singer, is seriously ill in Sydney, and unlikely to be able bo resume her concert tours for some time. * .• • Estimated that over 30,000 people heard the last two open-air performances of the Besses o' th' Barn Band in Sydney.

Fitzgerald's Circus, now run by Mrs Tom, has arrived in Westralia from the East. Mrs Fitzgerald, however, had to stay behind at Colombo, owing to illness.

Miss May Beatty is still appearing in the provinces in England. She has had a tempting offer from America, but has decided to stay in England.

Cinquevalli proposes to pay New Zealand another visit in 1909. Dates have been secured for a tour beginning at Invercargill on the sth April. The Auckland season opens on the 4th May.

Ward Lyons and Miss Marion Willis are severing their connection with the Taylor-Oarrington Dramatic Company at the end of this month, after an engagement extending over five years.

Harry Rickards Lad intended to bring a dramatic company to New Zealand, about this time, but has sent in its stead the vaudeville organisation now in the South.

Charles Blake, till lately leading man of the MacMahon Dramatic Company, has gone to Australia, to join the company just formed by Clarence Brune in Melbourne.

The Brough - Flemming Company will disband at Brisbane on July 27. Its successor will be known as the Herbert Flemming Dramatic Company.

Bert Bailey, leading comedian to one of the Anderson companies, and joint author of "The Squatter's Daughter," is an Aucklander by birth, but long resident in Sydney.

Probable that when JohnTtMer, juni, returns from his European, trip, Gil Hoskinß, who is now in. "charge of the - Dunedin Alhambra, will come to Auckland to relieve the senior partner of the Puller firm and enable nim to take a holiday jaunt.

Little Eileen O'Neill, when on the point of leaving Sydney to join Fullers in New Zealand, was given a Kandsome gold cable bracelet by some Rugby footballers, who admire her skilful playing on many difficult instruments.

Charles Carter, formerly of the Pollards, and now one of tne leading tenors of the Moody-Manners Opera Company, told a colonial pressman in London that he could have had an engagement at f'oven!: Garden this year if only he lad been able to sing in German. lie is now studying hard at the language, and hopes one day to tread the same boards as Caruso and De lleske.