Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 148, 25 May 1893, Page 2

Music, Drama.

[By

“Orpheus.”]

The Maggie-Moobe Season.

‘ *49,* a Californian drama, founded upon the manners and customs of gold-diggers, replaced ‘ Struck Oil ’ on the evenings of Friday and Saturday. The new production, styled a comedy-drama, is a really good play. A well-sustained plot, strong situations, crisply written dialogue, and characters showing a marked individuality, command high praise. In one or two places there is perhaps just a trifle of the ‘ linked sweetness long drawn out,’ but the action is never tedious, The search after an heiress, and the discovery by the hero and villain of two girls, either of whom may be the ‘ Beal Sir Boger,’ is *the central motive. Of course the villain marries the wrong and the hero the right girl, and virtue is rewarded and truth triumphant. Miss Maggie Moore’s portrait of the Cinderella-like ‘ Carrots ’ is admirable both in conception and execution, and in every respect equal to her famous ‘ Lizzie Stofel.’ ‘ Carrots ’ is more of a larrikin than ‘ Lizzie.’ but nevertheless reveals the same true grit. In the role the talented star displayed her rare powers of pathos and humour in strikingly effective contrasts, and sang, acted and danced with unflagging spirit and success. She was ably supported by Messrs Charles Holloway (’49), Henry Diver (Arthur Denison), John Forde (General), and Oily Deering (Uncle Ned). *49 is a patient old digger, with a sad history of wrecked domestic happiness, which he confides to ‘ Carrots ’ in a splendidly pathetic speech. Mr Charles Holloway has never done better work, and has never sunk his personality so thoroughly in any role hitherto assumed. As Arthur Denison Mr Diver found a congenial part and won all sympathies by a very fine and natural portrait of the high-minded young gentleman, who only consents to marry the heiress when ’49 claims him as his son and endows him with the immense fortune which the twenty-year tunnel at last strikes. One point Mr Diver should watch —he sometimes speaks too rapidly, and so mars his usually clear enunciation. The scene in Act V., when ‘ Carrots ’ tries to propose to him without being forward, is one of the most delicious bits ever placed on any stage. Mr Forde’s ‘ General’ is a characteristic old toper, whose ingenious humour may be illustrated by one example. He is asked, ‘ How much does it cost to paint a nose like that ? ’ and replies, ‘ Oh ! that is merely a sketch— it isn't finished yet ! ’ Throughout the General’s business is irresistibly comic. Mr Oily Deering’s ‘ Uncle Ned ’ is, in my opinion, the very best old Negro impersonation I have yet seen —voice, make-up, humour and pathos, quaintly mingled with devotion to his young missus, are simply perfect. Mr B. Stewart, who plays Bradshaw, the designing villain, adds to his laurels as a most natural and accomplished actor. Mr Henry Willard deserves equal praise for an almost faultless impersonation of a high-class American gentleman in the character of Colonel James, the eminent

solicitor. Messrs George Melville, Andrew Money, Coughlan. and Bossmore act minor parts with care and skill. Miss Linda Raymond looks charming as Bella, and wears lovely dresses —a shot-silk being quite too-too. Miss Marion Medway makes a great deal out of the landlady Mississipi—a corruption, I suppose of Mrs Hippy. Capital scenery, dresses, and good music make the piece totus teres atque rotundus. On Monday evening Mr Holloway’s clever company produced ‘ M’Liss,’ a dramatisation from Bret Harte’s ‘ Romance of the Sierras.’ Miss Maggie Moore, in the title role, gave the audience a most faithful portrayal of Bret Harte’s wild girl of the mining camp—full of fun, pluck, and loving her father and kind friends. She also sang and danced with her wonted brilliancy and verve. Mr Chas. Holloway was cast for the part of Yuba Bill, and it could not have been in better hands. The bluff, brave, and honest fellow touched the hearts of all his hearers with his quaint sayings. Judge McSnagsby was taken by Mr Oily Deering with originality and capital effect. Old Bussar Smith, in the hands of Mr Geo. Melville, was made the most of. The part does not afford much scope for the player’s talents. As Manuel Torres, Mr R. Stewart acted and dressed the part very well. Mr Diver, as the schoolmaster, gave a very careful reading of the part. Miss Constance Deorwyn looked charming, and played the disconsolate widow to perfection. The minor parts were well filled. The staging was good on the whole, and the piece went without a hitch. Last night the season closed with a double bill, ‘ The Child of the Regiment ’ and ‘ The Fool of the Family.’

Choral Society’s Orchesteal Congest. I am growing more convinced every day in regard to a theory formed years ago. The success of a concert largely depends upon atmospheric conditions. On Thursday evening those conditions were extremely favourable, and I feel sure assisted the performers in achieving the greatest success the society has made for a long time. The orchestra mustered strongly, all instruments being well represented with the exception of the bassoon. They played with accuracy, dash, and in excellent time and tune, displaying, moreover, due attention to the nuances of light and shade. ‘ The Bohemian Girl,’ Wagner’s, celebrated march from ‘ Tannhauser,’ Auber’s ‘Le Domino Noir,’ and Roubier’s brilliant ‘ Marche des Troubadours,’ each and all were capitally rendered, and I must congratulate the conductor most cordially. The orchestral accompaniment to Miss Ada Yates’ brilliant performance of Mendelssohn’s great concerto in D Minor merits equal praise. Mr Kent led with much improved precision and a special word of praise is due to those valuable but rarely noticed instruments the violas, in the hands of Miss Harding and Mr J. B. Macfarlane, two accomplished musicians who are not too proud to lend valuable aid in subordinate positions. The accompaniment to Rossini’s duet from ‘ Moses ’ was only a trifle less successful than the other orchestral numbers, but the shortcomings were mainly due to a want of precision on the part of the soprano. The vocal successes of the evening were a rendering of a most ambitious selection, ‘ Softly Sighs,’ by Mrs R. H. Hopkins, who possesses a melodious light soprano voice, not perhaps of snfficient volume for Nitjens and Rudersdorf’s great morceau, which she controls with artistic skill free from affectations and rich in sympathetic sensibility ; Mr A. L. Edwards’ songs ‘ But One ’ and ‘ Douglas Gordon ’ sung in that gentleman’s best voice ; and Mr Horace Stebbing’s songs ‘ The Gondolier’s Serenade,’ and • I think of Thee, My Margaret,’ which gave the singer a chance to prove that he can sing cantabile as well as bravura selections. Miss Jolly sang Horn’s ‘ Cherry Ripe ’ very archly, but I do not think she was in voice, as her intonation was not perfect. Last but not least I must praise the duet from ‘ Sonambula ’ so tastefully rendered on oboe and clarinette by the Messrs Jackson. Miss Harding played most of the accompaniments, and as usual assisted the singers with taste and precision. Miss Reeve also accompanied some numbers in excellent style. The large audience fully appreciated one of the best concerts ever given by local talent in the Choral Hall.