THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 43, 13 July 1907, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

By Promoter,

COMiNG SHOWS. 16th July to 20th July — Jessie Maclachlan Concert Company. 22nd July to 10th August— Musgrove's Grand < Opera Company. 12tb AuKUst to 24th August — Rickards's Vaudeville Company. 16th September to sth October— Allan Hamilton s English Star Company. 7th October to 26th October — MacMahon Brothers' Dramatic Company. 4th November to 16th November— Willoughby-Ward-Oeach Comedy Company.

EVERYBODY must admit that the repertoire of the Julius Knight Company is comprehensive enough to suit the most fastidious. Starting with " Robin Hood," a play of the Richard Cocur de Lion epoch, they followed on with " Rattles," a prosaic 20th century piece. La9t Saturday, the play produced — "Brigadier Gerard" — deals with the time of Napoleon — to be precise, the action of the play takes place just on the eve of Waterloo. " Brigadier Gerard" lends itself to picturesque effects and exciting situations. Most people probably have already made the acquaintance, in the pages of the Strand Magazine, of Sir Conan Doyle's unique creation — the swaggering, swashbucklering, brave and blundering Etienne Gerard, and Doyle, by dramatising one of the adventures of the Brigadier, has made it possible for admirers of the doughty fire-eater to make a closer acquaintance with him than they could do through the pages of a magazine. m m ■

The plot of the play is easily followed. Napoleon has entrusted sooae important papers to the keeping of the Comtesse de Koquelaure. Tallyrand, who at that period was using all his power to crush Napoleon and reign in his stead, steals these papers by means of his agents. Brigadier (then Captain) Gerard, arriving to receive the papers from the Comtesse on behalf of Napoleon, finds that they have been stolen. Promptly, he goes after them. Tallyrand, by a trick, outwits Gerard, binds him hand and foot, and locks him up in a chest for transmission back to Napoleon. Gerard is saved from this humiliation by the arrival at Tally rand's house of the Comtesse. She releases Gerard, and together they trap Tallyrand, who, in his turn, is bound and locked in the chest. Still, hunt as they may, neither the Comtesse nor Gerard can find these precious papers in Tallyrand's rooms. Finally, they leave in despair, Gerard disguised in Tallyrand's cloak, in which, unknown to him, the papers are concealed.

Ultimately, the papers are found, and a charming play ends in a charming manner. " Brigadier Gerard " is not a play which makes any great demand upon the intelligence. It is a play with a purpose, and that purpose is to entertain. In that, it succeeds admirably. Furthermore, the various ■ members of the company appear more at home in this play than they were in the two preceding ones. There are one or two minor details in which an improvement might be made. For instance, the officers of the Hussars of Conflans smoke pipes about seventy years ahead of t,he time. One gallant officer, unless I am greatly mistaken, was complacently puffing a " G.B D." purely a •• G.8.D." pipe is an anacbronism in the mouth of an officer of Napoleon.

t Seldom has Mr Julius Knight had a part which suited him better than that %jjj Brigadier Gerard. He throws him- ? |(&lf into it with a gusto which carries all before it. -Brigadier is a curious Icdtnpound. Bravery, conceit, egotism, & ;it\ipidity, sensitiveness, chivalry—all ! cM»e go to f orni the character of the

man. But he is never selfish. His self-assurance is colossal. When told that there are two men spying on him, "1 wo men !" he exclaims, in disgust, " Good Heavens ! Two men ! If there were twenty men, or two hundred men, d'jou think they'd stop me?" Mr Knight takes advantage of every opportunity which the dramatist gives him, and his impersonation of Brigadier Gerard must certainly be looked upon as one of his best pieces of work.

Theie are only two ladies in the cast. Miss Marion Grey, as the Comtesse be Roquelaure, gave a splendid interpretation of the part, but was somewhat handicapped by the ugly dress and fearful coiffure of the time. Miss Dorothy Sidney was a vivacious Agnes. Three of the male parts, outside of Gerard, are worthy of special mention. The Tallyrand of Mr Leslie Victor, the Major Olivier of Mr Harry Plirumer, and the Napoleon of MiHerbert Willis. These studies touched the high water mark of excellence, and it would be invidious to distinguish between the three. All the other parts were in safe hands and the staging was excellent. A revival of " Monsieur Beaucaire " is to be the fourth, and last production of this talented company.

Colonials in the past have been in the habit of complaining — and perhaps with some reason — that no singer of established European reputation ever favoured the Colonies with a visit until he, or she, was past the zenith of his, or her fame. Nowadays, however, such a theory, is untenable, and the presence of Andrew Black, the Scotch basso, and Premyslav, the violin virtuoso, in Auckland last week is sufficient in itself to prove that the most eminent artists now consider the colonies worth a visit. It is impossible in such a limited space to do justice to such a theme as Mr Black's singing or M. Premyslav's violin playing. It is gratifying, however, to find that Aucklanders have partly wiped off the reproach that good music does not appeal to them. They attended in fair numbers, and they must have been in nowise disappointed. Mr Black's repertoire covers an immense range, from Mozart's " Non Piu Audrai," or the prologue to " Pagliacci," to " The Land of the Leal" or " Scots Wha' Ha'e."

Mr Black, of course, is in a class bj himself. Not only is he one of the finest living bassos, both vocally and in dramatic effect, but he also bas a personality which charms. There is no striving aftereffect. When dramatic intensity is required, it is there, but; there is no over-drawing. Probably, to the bulk of the people, the old Ssots songs, " The Cameron Men," "Scots Wha Ha'e," "Blue Bonnets," and " The Land of the Leal," appealed most. The fiery declamation in the more martial songs, and the exquisite tenderness and pathos of " The Land of the Leal," were brought out to perfection. Those who have a liking for the more classical style of composition did not go away dissatisfied, for Mr Black provided a rich feast of vocal gems from Mozart, Henschel, Korbay, Handel, Schuman and other old and new masters. To those who had heard him on his previous visit, his reputation was enhanced, while to those who were making their first acquaintance with him, his singing was a veritable revelation.

Leopold Premyslav is a young violinist who descended on Australia not long ago, an utterly unknown in an. It was not long before he had built up for himself, as a violinist, a reputation second to none. That this reputation is justified there can be no doubt. As is the case with Mr Black, Prerayslav's range is an enormous one. Where all were so good, it would be invidious to pick out any particular item for special praise. A positive ovation succeeded each number, the audiences evidently recognising the fact, that they had in their midst a young violinist of extraordinary genius. Premyslav has a decidedly bright future before him. Other items were contributed by Madame Chambers, whose singing never fails to please an Auckland audience. Miss Bessie Beattie acted as accompanist with great ability, and

also contributed some pleasing piano : forte solos. Altogether, these concerts proved to be a succession of musical feasts of the rarest quality.

Counter attractions do not affect the complacency of John Fuller. Packed houses continued to be the rule right up to Tuesday night, when the company temporarily vacated the Opera House in favour of •• Maritana." The Klaere, with their livestock in the shape of dogs, cats, and monkeys, proved that patience can overcome even the prejudices of a conservative cat. This turn has proved a great attraction to the juvenile, members of the community. Sheldon, the ventriloquist, got in some original jokes, and some others which bloom perennially, but, taken all round, his perform-, ance is a clever one. The Stagpooles indulged in " A Turkish Bath," a sketch which bathed the audience in risible perspiration. Ted Stagpoole also jibed acrobatically all alone in his glory. A gentleman who can turn round three times on the top of his head is deserving of respect — also of commiseration over the resulting bald spot. Sam Keenan and Phcebe Lewis also gave a sketch which was good of its kind.

Keldie and Davis gave a double song and dance in au acrobatic manner. The dancing is decidedly the better part of the performance. Nellie Power gave a couple of serios, and Ivy Goodwill also contributed a song and dance. Val Newton sang two songs basso profundically, assisted by the Warwick Bioscope, which favoured the singer with a pictorial accompaniment. Bob Lloyd sang comic songs. At the request of the gods he sang some more. At t,he further request of the gods he drew again on his repertoire. The gods believe in the strenuous life for their favourites. Those whom the gods love are therefore likely to die young. Vaudeville business will be resumed again at the Opera House, weather and other circumstances permitting, next Saturday night. The company due to appear at the re-opening is a strong one, and consists of Percy Denton, end-man and vocalist ; A tlas, a trick skater ; Hilda Lane, soprano ; Clarence Tisdale, tenor ; Beattie Macdonald and Flo Weston, serios, besides some of the old company.

Miss Jessie McLachlan, the Scottish singer, who achieved such a signal success here on her previous visit some two years ago, gives a series of concerts in His Majesty's Theatre, commencing on Monday next, 15th July. Miss McLachlan is supported by Mr Douglas Young, tenor ; Mr John McLinden, 'cellist, and Mr Robert Buchanan, pianist. The dates of the concerts are July 15, 16, 17 and 19.