Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 210, 2 August 1894, Page 2

Music, Drama.

By he Prompter.

Captain Fritz. If one judged bX the longer run accorded Charley’s Aunt, the impression would be received that it is the trump card of the Thornton - Arnold season ; but after listening to their second production, Captain Fritz, no doubt remains as to which is the better piece. Charley’s Aunt is, of course, very laughable, but I doubt whether one. would care about sitting it out twice. Fritz, on the other hand, could be listened to with pleasure a second time. The charm of the piece lies in the healthy story told, the underlying current of delicate sentiment, and the singing of Mr Chas. Arnold. I doubt whether theatregoers would ever get tired of his singing. There is nothing powerful or florid in his vocalisation, but it is one of the sweetest voices ever given to man. “Charming” is not a term usually applied to the male voice, but it can be safely mentioned in connection with Mr Arnold’s voice. The picture he has to present is one that comes to him as second nature. A smiling, jovial, tender-hearted, 1 musical German suits Mr Arnold down to / the ground, and he fairly revels in his work. On the stage he is a man to whdm one can readily imagine children taking a great liking. And it would be hard, to . imagine a prettier or more graceful scene than that which is given in the second ; act. Captain Fritz is allotted the “ haunted room ” in Vereker Chase, and the child baronet appears in white and impersonates the ghost. But Fritz takes his uncanny visitor on his knee and sings his pretty song, Bubbles, while little Geoffrey Vereker blows soap bubbles. This is one of the prettiest scenes in the piece, and <the song is one of Mr Arnold’s best. The tale told in the play is not all so pleasant though. There is the well-bred, heartless villian in the person of Colonel Vereker, who covets his dead brother’s princely home which is kept beyond his grasp by the lives of Lady Vereker and her little son. The lady is in love with Dr Earle, who stifles, his love declarations with the knowledge that in the event of Lady Vereker marrying without her brother-in-law’s consent, . her interest will cease in the Vereker : estate. And as a marriage would mean < the placing of further lives between the , Colonel and the land he covets, his con-*' sent is a very unlikely contingency. But the boy is the main stumbling block in his ambitious path, and he plots with the -, minor villian of the piece to kidnap the youthful baronet. This is done, but Captain Fritz, disguised as a Jew • “ fence,” tracks the missing boy to the I gypsies’ fair, and with the aid of some I friendly redcoats effects a rescue. Ascer- I taining Colonel Vereker’s connection I with the abduction, he forces his consent I to Lady Vereker’s marriage with her

doctor lover by giving the foiled Colonel the alternative of being handed over to the law. So the piece ends happily, and Captain Fritz is rewarded with the hand of Lady Vereker’s sister, a part charmingly sustained by Miss Dot Frederic. Miss Agnes Knights made a graceful Lady Vereker, and Mrs Walter Hill gave one of her famous “old woman” pictures. Little Jessie Meade was very good as the youthful baronet, but she may be advised not to present the back of her head *to the audience when speaking. At times her voice was inaudible. Miss Ada Lee made an effective servant, a class of character in which this actress is especially good. Mr Thomas was a good but not too melodramatic a villian, and the other characters were well sustained by Messrs Matthews, Hill, Leonard, and Brough. During the piece Mr Arnold gave Private Tommy Atkins, a catchy song that has completely captured Londoners, andofr course he had to reply to repeated encores. This evening and to-morrow night a new up-to-date version of Hans the Boatman will be produced, and on Saturday and Monday evenings Mr Frank Thornton will reappear in his never-to-be-forgotten Private Secretary. Our old friend the Rev. Robt. Spaulding will be as welcome as ever, but who will replace Mr Harwood as Cattermole ?

The audience that greeted the first appearance of the Sapio—Urso Concert Company was far below the merits of this talented combination. Auckland is called the musical town of New Zealand and yet, in comparison with the merits of the performance, a most meagre attendance resulted when a matchless concert company opened their doors I Aucklanders may love music ; but I don’t think they like paying for it. New Zealanders had the privilege of listening to Madame Urso’s superb violin playing some years back, and, consequently, they were prepared for her great artistic power. But we were not prepared for the splendid singing of Madame De Vere Sapio. She is the fortunate possessor of a beautiful soprano voice of great power and range, and the art of the songstress is worthy of the splendid voice with which Nature has blessed her. The other members of the company are Signor Sapio and Herr Scherek, a pair of accomplished pianists. Dunedinites know what a brilliant pianist Herr Scherek is I A combination such as the Sapio—Urso Company deserve a big season, but I doubt them getting it in musical (?) Auckland. / , ■ ■■ I —— ■ Brough and Boucicault have booked a Christchurch visit extending from December 3rd to December Bth. Williamson and Musgrove’s next New Zealand operatic tour will open at Dunedin on Boxing night. Cyril Tayler, the boy soprano who is the present rage of London, visits New Zealand at the end of the year. Walter Bentley has given up lecturing Ton Church and Stage, and has landed at the Bluff with a company which is booked right through New Zealand. The Invercargill Theatre is being over--hauled. New stock scenery is to be provided, and the width between the “ flies ” is to be increased. Phil. Newbury, the Dunedin boy who has made a world famous name as a tenor singer, speaking at the reception given in his honour by the Mayor of Dunedin :— “ 1 have not come back to Dunedin to make money. I have come back to see old friends and to see my dear old town again.” ' 1 “ Lorgnette” opens his drama column with the quotation from Hamlet, “ Here come the actors, Buz Buz.’’ '' ' Sydney Bulletins reading of that quotation is, “ Here come the actors, Boose, Boose.”