MUSIC ART AND DRAMA

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 17, 24 February 1894, Page 15

MUSIC ART AND DRAMA

Frank Clark’s Alhambra Company opened to an overflowing tuulionco at tin tho Opora House on Monday night. On Tuesday night tho house was again crowded from pit to gallory and many woro turned away at tho doors. Tho popularity which tho company scons to have gained immediately on its appearanco, and especially when following right aftor tho Brough and Boucieault combination, may at first sight soon curious until wo recollect that theatre-goers as a rule aro fond of radical changes, and a stronger contrast could hardly bo drawn than that existing between tho two companies mentioned —ono refined comedy, tho other broad farce, ono appealing to tho mind, tho other almost entirely to tho souses. Moss. Hamilton and Kt. (’lair have simply got together a number of pretty faces, shapely limbs and gorgeous costumes, and these set in a (mining of artistic scenery to a very groat extent present the sum total of tho entertainment provided. True, many of tho limbs can kick and gyrate admirably, and the pretty faces cun smile in a manner calculated to make a baldheaded man’s heart beat tumultuously in his bosom, but tliere is a general sameness throughout the programme, that after a while palls on the taste. The minstrel portion of the entertainment is perhaps a bit above the average, hut its elevation is due almost entirely to Mr. Charles Fanning, who is undoubtedly the piece tie I'esinliniee of til" entire combination. If this artist wise left, out we are inclined to believe that a general gloom would settle like a Condon fog over Iho entire pei formance. To use a simile from Gilbert, he and one or two of the others

** lend verisimilitude to an otherwise bold and unconvincing narrative." Tiu>dancing as a rule is very good, but tho singing is certainly not up to par. Tho Opera House is a big building to fill, and it requires a fairly strong voico to mnko itself hoard there ; this tho company dots not seem to possess, or if it does tho owner of it is being held in reserve. To our mind tlie management has made tho mistake of bringing over too many mediocre artists, and not working their best people hard enough. To particularise : Frank Clark seems to have very little to do, and what he does do smacks a little too much of undent history. Why not give us some of the rollicking Irish “ turns ” he used to put on in Australia ? or at least a few of his really excellent specialties. The school boy’s recitation is a mediieval affair and does not show Frank to as good an advantage as it should. Fanning is undoubtedly one of, if not tho best feature of the entertainment. His double-barrelled

voice always creates amusement, and his facial contortions cause the greatest merriment. He goes through his performance in a workmanlike manner, and has the audience with him from the jump. The Post in describing this gentleman states that “ he has the advantage of possessing a prehensile ncchP Just what that means we are at a loss lo know, as we have always heard the term applied to monkey’s tails; a monkey who was the proud possessor of a prehensile tail being one who could wrap it round the branch of a tree and swing by it. Mr. Fanning’s neck is certainly a wonderful one, but wo hardly think it is prehensile. The two Anderson sisters are very clever dancers, the elder one especially being well up in the grotesque dancing lino. In the double “ turn” entitled “ Flirtation” a very good exhibition of dancing is given, and special praise is due to Miss Wilson, whose business is very graceful and clean-cut. Miss Kate Howard has a very pleasing stage presence and a fair voice, but it is not strong enough for the Opera House. The other members of the company are not bad, but they seem to be intended more for the purpose of looking pretty than doing active work. The mounting is decidedly excellent, and we are pleased to be able to award unstinted praise to the setting of the first part. “ Neptune's Bctreat" is a pretty idea, and its appearance is always m H with a round of applause on the rising of the curtain. The farces which end each act are funny, but they are not very, very funny. Ae.iango of programme was advertised for Tmirsday night, but the criticism upon it was too late for this is>uo. The Garden of Kden, a curious illusion bv means of mirrors artfully arranged, is attracting crowds of people at the Criterion Theatre, in Manners street. The original entrance fee was one shilling, but in order that all may see this very clever entertainment without too great a strain on their resources, the management have reduced the price of admission to sixpence.