THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 12, 5 December 1908, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

COMING 'SHOWS. HIS MAJESTY'S. November 80 to December 19— J. C. Williamson (" Peter Pan.") December 26 to January 16— J. C. Williamson.

THE GIRL OF THBJ GOLDEN WEST " irresistibly incites

comparison with the Bret Harte dramas. There is much the same atmosphere and much the same dramatis personce. There is the rough miner, the gambling gentlemanly habitue of the saloons, the wild, independent, but quite unspoiled girl, and the semi-humorous persons who provide what is conventionally called " relief." The Belasco method is perhaps not so idealised or so idyllic as the Hartian. The "language" is more frequent and free in public, and the heroine herself shares this inconvenient tendency of the " boys " who frequent her little public house on the Sierras. The bare realism of the production could easily be pardoned if its adoption were essential to the development of the theme of (the story, which is love's world-old and perpetually -recurring triumph over every obstacle. But it hardly is. Bret Harte drove home the same conclusion with less violence to the proprieties, and in those powerful Western plays so magnificently produced here by the Frawley Company the lesson was enforced without any violence at all, and without jarring that loyalty which we all unconsciously pay to the probabilities.

In " The Girl of the Golden West," the heroine is a simple girl who keeps a drinking saloon at the bottom of a great gulch in the Sierras, and lives in a wooden shanty higher-up, in close company with the snows. All the 11 boys," including the aristocratic gambler-sheriff, want to marry her, chough they all have wives in some other parts of the States.. But the Girl has had her heart touched at Monterey some time before by a party of the . assumed name of Johnston, who is really a "road agent," or, as we should say, a highwayman or bushranger, whose correct cut-throat cognomen is Remerez. In due course, " Johnston " turns up at the saloon, with the intention of robbing, it, but, when he discovers the identity of the owner, develops what may be called local virtue, and falls in love with the Girl. But the sheriff and the boys and several other folk of lesser consequence are on the track of Ramerez, and spite of all the Girl can do the lover is wounded and caught. As the result of a successful game of poker with the sheriff, the Girl wins a chance of escape for the road agent, but "Johnston" ia again trapped and ordered out for execution on the nearest tree. The faithful bar-tender induoes the sheriff to grant a final meeting between the lovers, and the sight of the girl pray-, ing over the bowed head of the penitent rogue so melts the heart of the crowd that they pardon the offender, who departs East with the Girl to begin a new life.

The story is bald, and lacks verisimilitude, and in the first act, despite the singular brilliancy of tbe staging, it failed. to arouse sympathy. But later, when Miss Brune was enabled to develop her great gifts in the passionate love scenes, tbe audience was raised to heights of real enthusiasm. The play, in truth, is a duologue, and for the two principals there is abundant scope. Mr Kingston, as the ro&d Agent, endowed the part with attributes which give it the force of conviction, and which no mere reading . of the book would predicate. While Mißs Brune and Mr Kingston

are interpreting, one makes no scruple about accepting the whole gtory as _ true and correct in every particular. Miss Brune has given us nothing finer than her acting in certain parts pf the play, which is bo strongly reminiscent of her other great * success in " Sunday." Mr Kingston, whose humour in " Brtiwster's Millions" could keep the house in a continuous roar of laughter, shows in this play that he can touch finer chords with equal force. Ihe other parts in the play, all in the hands of tried and capable actors, are strictly subsidiary. Mr Bryant's •« Jack Ranee," the sheriff, is a fine character study, and Mr Fernie's «• Sonora Slim " gives an indication of what we may expect later on. No detail is missed, and the scenery and stage setting is, as usual, as near perfection as the art of the painter and the science of the mechanist can make them.

The Maskelyne and Devant Company closed their season at His Majesty's on Saturday, after a season of three weeks. The business done was, on the whole, satisfactory.

At the Opera House the "Wide World Pictures are still in evidence, and this week's programme is- one of the strongest and most comprehensive that the management have put on for some considerable time. Easily the prettiest and decidedly one of the most interesting is the series entitled "-The Beginning of the Seripentine," pourtraying with fantastic effects the evolution of the famous serpentine dance. ' ' The Balancing Blue Bottle " is a fine example of the trick film, in which an enormously magnified fly performs some wonderful equilibnstic feats. A very fine series of views are shown of the launch of the " Minas Geraes," the largest battleship afloat, and interesting pictures of Indian life are also shown.

Drama and tragedy are both well represented in " For the Sake of his Uniform" and " Flash James." A pretty series is that entitled " Lady Jane's Flight," a romance of the stirring days of two hundred years ago. Comedy is presented in " The Two Models," " The Sofa Bedstead," " Eggs with Care," " Parisian. Life in Miniature," and "Waterproof Willie." Fantasy is the main feature of ' ' The Mysterious Knight and "The Demon Card Shuffler," some clear and instructive views ,qf Constantinople are also shown. The orchestra has been considerably increased, but it would be well if Mr Fred Stokes would look through his portfolio and see if he can't find some fresh music. The present lot is stale.'

So far as the production of light opera is concerned, the amateurs of Waihi can give many points and a considerable beating to the operatic amateurs of Auckland. There is every justification for bestowing the highest praise upon those Waiheathens who took part in " The Mikado," two performances of which were given at the Academy of Music at Waihi last week. It is not too much to say that the production, in general all-round excellence, fell very little short of the professional standard. There was an entire absence of that stiffness and self-con-sciousness which is usually so noticeable among amateur performers. Throughout, the acting, as well as the singing, was of a consistently high order.

All the principal parts were in good hands. The part of Yum Yum was most creditably sustained by Miss Parker. , Her acting and singing were both excellent, and she received adequate support from Lady Muriel Deck and Miss Lawlor, as Pitti Sing and Peep Bo respectively. An outstanding feature of the performance was the interpretation of the part of Katisha by Mrs Hessell. This role is recognised as the most difficult one in the opera, and it says much for Mrs Hessell's ability that she was able to carry it through triumphantly. Mr 6: Ulrich, as Ko Ko, made the part altogether too much of a

burlesque. The subtle humour of the role was spoilt b- the introduction of low comedy methods. But Mr Ulrich worked hard, and if he failed to do real justice to the pact, it was probably through over-eager-ness.

' The Nanki Poo of Mr Norman Warren : was a fin© piece of work both vocally and dramatically. The Waiheathens evidently recognised this fact, because, with true Waiheathen originality, they lavished floral tributes upon the performer. Dr. Deck was responsible for an excellent interpretation of the part of Pooh Bah, the only fly in the ointment being the introduction of a number of 'gags." Introducing "gags" into Gilbert's libretto is like trying to paint the lily. One might as well introduce "gags" into Shakespeare. "Gags are legitimate in a pantomime, but in nothing else. Mr S. Williams made an adequate Pish Tush, and Mr G. Munns, who, I understand, undertook the part of the Mikado at short notice, did s , in a manner that reflected the utmost credit upon him.

The members of the chorus gave their various items in a style that was energetic and harmonious. It was clear that they had been wsil drilled ; and the total absence of talking and inane giggling that is usually a conspicuous feature in amateur choruses, reflected. the greatest credit on the stage manager. The oTchestra was a strong one, and was ably conducted by Mr Mackinnoin. The . costumes were magnificent, and the scenery, which was of local production, was of high artistic merit. The people of "Waihi may certainly be congratulated upon having such a talented organisation in their midst.

Rumoured that a project is afloat to form a new amateur operatic organisation in this city. Verily, there is room for one, but it will require to be a good one.

Auguste Van Biene is still playing "The Broken Melody" at Home. The piece is fast approaching its 5000 th performance.

The popularity of the romantic drama " The Scarlet Pimpernel," as presented at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, shows no signs of waning. Mr Julius Knight as the mysterious hero and Miss Ola Humphreys as his fascinating French wife are seen to the greatest advantage and aore exceptionally supported by the strong company of clever players they have associated with them.

Tidings from Home to the effect that May Beatty is about to be married to Edward Lauri, whose wife died some months ago. Maud Beatty is playing in musical comedy on the Pacific Slope.

The Princess Theatre, Melbourne, is still the home of " The Prince of Pilsen," and in consequence the temporary abiding place every evening of large and hilarious audiences who bestow their appreciation, full tale, upon the bright and lively musical play with its rich setting, jolly songs, and lots of laughter. The season has, however, not much longer to run, as the company leaves for New Zealand next month for a season commencing at Auckland on Boxing night.

The matinee hats at the Opera House on Saturday were a. bit too absurdly immense to please the seats behind. Some ladies arrived a bit late, doncher know, causing quite a sensation. They had booked seats for themselves and their small children in the front row of the dress circle, to reach which they had to wedge past a number of other people. The folk behind cast sad glances at each other, as the stage for them was a row of quite too beautiful millinery. Women with small children flocked to far back seats, not behind the matinee hats, but to try. and escape them, .two or three rows behind the millinery being left to enjoy their own emptiness. . .

The loleens, wire-walkers and sharpshooters, who toured the Fuller circuit a few months ago, have secured a lucrative engagement on the Sullivan and Considine circuit in the United States.

Margaret Anglin will not come to New Zealand, but Ola Jane Humphrey will come with the Humpbrey-Titheradge-Kolker Company and play " The Thief," " Zira," " Twelfth Night," and " The Silver King."

Miss. Beatrice Day, who was so long the leading lady of the Herbert * lemming Co., has joined the Julius Knight Company, and is to take the parts that are now in the hands of Miss Ola Jane Humphrey. The combination of Day and Knight ought to be a pleasing one.

When Margaret Anglin, who finishes her Australian visit with the season at the Theatre Koyal, Sydney, which commenced on Saturday, (November 21), finally departs, the exceptionally clever company supporting her will be reorganised and fitted out with new material for a further honourable career in this country. Miss Ola Humphrey is to join it, and "The Silver King " and " The Village Priest," with which the name of Mr 6. S. Titheradge has always been inseparably associated, are to be added to the repertoire, which will include also "The Thief" and "The Taming of the Shrew," "Zira," and "Twelfth Night," in all of which Mr Henry Kolker has already done well and Miss ' Humphrey may confidently be expected to do so. The new company begin a tour of New Zealand at Christmas.