Music, Draw

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 108, 18 August 1892, Page 1

Music, Draw

[By

“Orpheus.”]

— \pectatum admissi risum teneatis The Dobson-Kennedy H. J. Byron’s masterpiece “ received an excellent all-round tation, but iw pro’, c:l i'< T Middle wick . .' Kennedy’s li;S actor put com W- . could not bWy'? 'l'/v’ ''l emphatically dW-'y 'Va, M’MM ''l in the Lady of LyW"" ~-<M‘ acters adm.irablW <• "■ Mr. Collett DobsW'? proud and pepjW'? "■ perfection, anid neW Frank a splendid aiM with great W -iy y'V His are perfect, W ' to such a fool As proceeds he gradually and almost ceptibly becomes less of an more of a man, so that when the raent occurs one is not surprised the quondam noodle displaying and sound common sense. Mr. Kennedy’s Perkya Middlewick is a liant success and another feather cap of that versatile artist. He is W - - ■ resistibly funny, and in places pathetic. Especially comic are the scenWUHI with Miss Champneys (MrA Walter HilWH||| and with Sir Geoffrey, when the latteW - calls the ex-butterman “a and is met Yvith the ‘ You’re another!” Again wick looks properly cutting Sir Geoffrey’s

B Her in the poagings is a really of actling. As Mary Melrose, the ppor but fl irta,cions and somewhat audacious cousin, Miss Idrene Thornton shines as brightly as in any role I have seen her undertake. The love-making scene on the quadilateral ottoman with Talbot is simply immense, and the many witty points with which the author has studded her lines were made with faultless tact. Miss Violet Sheridan portrayed a typical lodging-house slavey to the life, and the minor parts of Kempster and Poodles in the competent hands of Messrs. Alf. Ingleson and W. E. Jermyn added to the success of a really excellent performance, k THE LADY OF LYONS.

Rjr Lytton’s immortal play both Lly and as a draw even surpassed stive predecessor. The fine writing i great excellence in rendering, author is occasionally blame d for t extravagance of diction when t really lies with the interpretation. ) In the present cast the splendid lines were delivered in every instance Iwith a truth and power which banished any notion of excess of melo-dramatic fervour. Claude Melnotte (Mr. Collett Dobson) upon whose shoulders the burthen of the piece chiefly rests, carried the feyCjjjjathies of every one present by a Bfeuiral and powerful delineation of the gardiener’s son, one of those characters who "rise “on stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things.” It is impossible to give in detail all Mr. Collett Dobson’s triumphs of delivery, but the burst beginning “ Pauline, thy ■ride,” etc., may be taken as one of the grandest feats of a great performance. Mr. Frank Norton’s “ Beauseant,” the polished and vindictive roue of the piece, was so vividly true as to win many complimentary groans and execrations foom th|e audience. His dressing of the part whs both elegant and accurate. Mr. H.

i\|. jjougias made more or wiavis rnan a Hte- accomplished actor could have dons Kith so small a role. Mr. J. J. Kennedy’s pol. Dumas was of its kind as good as anything that clever actor has done. Khe bluff republican soldier elicited roars by his quaint yet natural I was glad to see BHBBHBBBHMhyiIIe again on the role -ff Saville acquitindeed. Mr. Joe a congenial part in the comical landlord, and' made out of the role. Gaspar, £st%£&Bid Dupont were all safe in the |||g||||ißands of Messrs. Jermyn, IngleBBBRBreyton. Turning to the ladies Hraß|B ne Thornton's Pauline adds to that clever lady’s BHBBpg list. Tenderness, pathos, g’ raee come out at her call, to make Pauline a loveable woman, as the author cerThe passionate bursts worked up to and were in Hill as B wonderful ‘ C’'•\<B nt cast. A l *.'*/. Hm lilyt^ie Hill, and ySA.'z. A-’’ Widow fwa s not gave part. It has a ' l>l Q nrisli in left out in ' ■ rejoicings [io managef n g the tl ie talk to BBBght (Thursday) “Con the ShaughFriday and Saturday r£:-. /■he pretty little play, entitled “ The |||||Brphans,” is staged. On Monday the celebrated Anglo-Swiss actorMr. Chas. J. B. Palmer appears, HH>ny Faust, in the musical comedy ■■■Sweetheart.” This delightful piece, for years with the name of Minnie Palmer, is now for the first given in Auckland. It will be folby “ Hctas the Boatman ” and making a most attractive Sahara Circus. BHHBier splendid programme, full on Wednes-

By thing, better than " splendid riding of the Misses Wirth, • Messrs. Montgomerie, Morency, P., G. i and O. Wirth, the gymnastic feats of the Valazie Bros, and clever little Benham, the performing horses, and the funnyisms of the clowns, continue to make the entertainment one of the most perfect of its kind ever seen in Auckland. In the new programme now given nightly a is “ Dick Turpin’s Ride is a never failing draw. Choral Society. “Comola” and “ Zion.” commends itself to all who apprtKme a pure chaste style free from meretricious tricks and yet full of splendid effects obtained by legitimate resources only. Last week a full orchestra and a packed audience thoroughly enjoyed rendering and listening to two very fine works. “ Zion” opens with an orchestral introduction leading into a chorus, *• Hear, O My flock, Israel,” rendered with excellent volume, tune and precision. Two more choruses follow illustrating “ The departure from Egypt ” and the “ Captivity in Babylon,” and to both the same criticism applies. A melodious and scholarly orchestral prelude introduces the only solo of the cantata, interwoven with some telling choral work Mr. Arthur Stuart sang the baritone solo very creditably, marking the contrast between the smooth and plaintive “ Yet merciful i and tender,” and the exultant “ Arise I and shine, O Zion,” with artistic appreciation. Occasionally his intonation showed that he was not in his best voice, but the trifling aberrations were amply atoned for by his splendid dash and dramatic vigour. In “ Comola,” which followed immediately, the customary interval being dispensed with, Mr. Stuart sustained the arduous part of Fingal with no slight measure of success. Occasionally lapses of intonation marred what was in every other respect a really fine performance. Especially good was the burst of passionate grief, “ Let me gaze on my beloved. . . . Ah! I see her lying pale and dead,” accentuated by the fine choral burst, “0, weep; weep, Comola1” Miss Murray, although Comola’s music was in some passages beyond her natural compass, acquitted herself very well indeed. One of her best morceaux was the dramatic “ Still’d is the fight,” with its weird and original orchestral setting. Enunciation, tone, and declamation were all excellent. Dersagrena’s music was fairly rendered by Mrs. I. Alexander, who sang the quaint ballad “ One day there came from Lochlin,” very successfully. This, with the duet and chorus of maidens, is one of the gems in the work, and never fails to charm. To Mrs. H. F. Edger was assigned Melicoma, the contralto part of the piece, in which there is not much to do, but Mrs. Edger did that little very well, singing correctly and with good effect in the ensembles. The choruses were excellently rendered throughout. Very fine indeed were “ Our pathway is the storm,” with its grand harmonic changes; “ Far fled is the foe,” and the exquisite chorus of maidens, “ Casing not Jmrd triumphant songs.” But the grandest effect was produced in the impressive chorus “In the darkness of clouds,” which not only reveals the true ring of inspiration, but is enhanced by magnificent orchestral effects. Both singers and instrumentalists covered themselves with glory in rendering this fine chorus. To sum up briefly, the Society has never done better work, and I warmly congratulate Herr Carl Schmitt upon the brilliant results which could only have been achieved by the great care and patient study bestowed alike by conductor and performers upon works which are thoroughly worthy of such praiseworthy attention.