The STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 330, 19 November 1896, Page 11

The STAGE

£By

Orpheus.]

On Thursday evening “ The Gondoliers” season closed brilliantly, under the patronage of the Cash. Amateur ’Cyclists and a crowded house. The performance was quite one of the best of the series, the principals and chorus appearing fresh as ever after their arduous exertions for the previous eight nights. Such staying powers are rarely found in amateurs. Floral trophies were showered upon the stage impartially, two especially beautiful ones being bestowed upon Tessa and Gianetta. At the conclusion of the piece the whole company sang the National Anthem. I am glad to hear that the lavish expense of the production is covered by the receipts. The wonderful pendant lamps, so much admired in the set to the second act, are of local design and manufacture, and Auckland may well be proud of such exquisite work. Here is a paradoxical conundrum : “ Why did Marco’s shoe come off in thecachuca?” —“Because he tried to dance with a - band - on.” a mixture of cause and effect.J The change of parti-coloured shot hosiery to plain black, on.the last night, was a distinct improvement. What an immense stock-in-trade the club must go in for to furnish pairs to suit all tastes and limbs !

“ Mv Sweetheart” at the Opera House. — Two well-attended performances of this attractive little comedy, on Friday and Saturday evenings last week, added further leaves to the laurels won by the happy combination of amateur and professional talent, which gives so good a representation. Miss Alice Duriningham (Tina) improves steadily in ease and finish, her singing and dancing win her hearty applause. Miss Marie d’Alton (Mrs Fleetei) plays a difficult role with power, passion, and intelligence. Miss Hettie Howard (Mrs Hatzell) makes the most. comical old lady conceivable of the “ Mrs Brown” type, and is a pronounced success. Mr F. Sherbourne’s Tony is a very fine piece of character acting. Mr Percy Blackmore’s Harold Bartlett and Mr Slyfield’s Doctor Oliver are fair impersonations, the latter gentleman’s exceptionallv musical and sympathetic voice in a great measure atoning for a somewhat stiff deportment. . Joe Shotwell (Mr H. Beaumont) is immense, and Farmer Hatzell (Mr E. S. Fort) is the cause of many a laugh. Several interpolated’items scored well. Especially good were the songs given by Miss Dulcie Dunningham, Mr Blackmore, and Mr Fort, and a splendid recitation of Tom Hood’s “ Lost Child” by a little mite of a maiden.

On Monday evening the Elite Burlesque Minstrels opened a new season at the Opera House with a fresh and tempting programme. “ Harvesting ” presents a picturesque scene of corn-stooks, sheaves, and rural felicity. The burnt-corkists —Messrs Holland, Rogers, Delohery, and Collins—keep the ball rolling with characteristic song,- dance, and joke. Mr Joe Craydon is an ideal interlocutor, and a really firstrate band, directed by a lady conductor —who is also a finished pianist and accompanist—adds not a little to the musical strength of the show. Individual items are so good that nobody escapes an encore and double repeats are the general rule. Miss Amy Rowe sang especially well Packer’s “ Listening,” “ Ben Bolt,” and Denza’s “ Call Me Back” (quite a needless request the audience evidently thought). Miss Eva Leete in her seriocomic selections, “ Gay Paree,” “ The Wrong Girl,” etc., etc., scored brilliantly. The Mieses M a dge and Edna Mayfield, with “Ye Boys of Auckland Town ” and a Gipsy tambourine song a-nd dance, “ won each heart and delighted each eye.” Mr Ernest Brinkman gave spirited renderings of “ The Yeoman’s Wedding Song” and Pinsuti’s “ Queen of the Earth.” The Delohery, Craydon, and Holland trio were to the fore as usual with song, dance, and quaint antics. Mr Ted Holland’s “ Old Pete,” with a striking tableau as an apotheosis, was pathetic and effective. Professor West’s skating evolutions and scientifi-cally-comic disasters were a marvel of neatness and despatch ; his running jump on skates over six chairs placed together must be seen to be believed. The wrestling and boxing farce, which concludes a first-class show, is irresistibly funny. As the present season only lasts a week, all who wish for an evening of innocent fun and refined enjoyment should roll up speedily.

At the consecration service held in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday last, the music was exceptionally fine. Together with Millard’s mass, very capably rendered, a Te Deum by Romberg (composer of the “ Lay of the Bell ”) delighted the vast congregation. In the latter selection Miss Hargreaves (soprano) and M. Casier (tenor) sang with special success. Mr Hartwell, the organist, played extremely well. The Remuera Musical Society, under the conductorship of Mr McMillan, gave a creditable performance of Cowan’s “ Rose Maiden ” on Monday evening at St. Luke’s. We may shortly expect Madame Antoinette Trebelli in Auckland. Reports speak in the highest terms of the singing of this daughter of the great Trebelli, than whom a more gifted artist never shone on stage or platform. The Pollard Opera Company is performing to good business in Christchurch —“ Rip,” “ Black Cloaks,” etc., etc. Everyone is pleased to hear of Mr Pollard’s luck over Lady Zetland’s New Zealand Cup, and ndbody who knows him will be surprised at his generosity to Percy White, the winning jockey. , :i ,