The STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 352, 22 April 1897, Page 9

The STAGE

[By

Orpheus.]

Miss Ada Delroy at the Opera House. —On Saturday evening Miss Delroy’s popular combination opened a season strictly limited to seven nights. Auckland noses are keen to scent out a good thing, and very few, if any, seats were vacant. The entertainment reaches a very high standard, far above the common or garden variety show. . Much of the work reminds one of the Howard Paul or German Reed performances, so refined, witty, and original are the various numbers. Not the faintest trace of vulgarity can be detected, and yet the fun throughout is fast, furious, and irresistible. As an overture, Mr Bert Phillips played a lively march, his dainty and elastic touch displaying to full advantage the excellent tone of a piano by the Danish Steinaway Company, the first of that make imported into New Zealand. Next followed a sparkling dualogue between Miss Delroy and Mr Bell, who indulged in a wordy war of smart repartee, which provoked roars of laughter. This led up to a lively duet called “ Philosophy,” ■with a wealth of familiar proverbs ridiculously twisted after the manner of Frank Burnand. As an encore another duet, “ That’s how we do it on the stage,” was led up to by a splendid burlesque of melodramatic tragedy, Miss Delroy, the virtuons heroine, being flung upon a chalkline railway by Mr Bell, the cold-blooded villain, and run over by a toy engine. Mr T. Bergin’s fine and clear baritone voice was well suited by “ The Village Blacksmith,” an additional effect being produced by the invisible choir. Mr Bergin has an excellent method, phrases well, and is especially strong in dramatic passages. As an encore he sang “The Toast” splendidly. Mr James Bell caused inextinguishable laughter with his “ Senegambian Oddities,” a great deal of Attic salt going with the Senna ! His stump speech on “Marriage,” songs, burlesque conjuring tricks, etc., etc., were delightful, and still the audience wanted more. Miss Ada Delroy’s serio-comic songs, “ O Girls Take a Lesson from Me!” and “The Old Love and the New,” the latter enhanced by a most fascinating pas seul, compelled a storm of enthusiastic applause, the twinkling steps and graceful poses being a revelation in artistic dancing. The charming little lady had to resort to strategy to escape further encores. The first part wonnd up with an original and screaming farce by Mi’ James Bell, well 'supported by Miss Ada Delroy, Mr Teddy Ford, and several other members of the company. After the interval h dashing march, played a quatre mains by Mr Bertie Phillips and another member of the company, served «s an introduction to Miss Alice Simmons, who sang Ganz’s “ Sing Sweet Bird ” with decision of attack and finished vocalise. In response to an enthusiastic 'encore, “Poor Wand’ring One,” the favourite waltz song from the “Pirates,” was effectively rendered. Miss Simmons is gifted with a pure and true soprano voice of considerable volume and admirably produced. Later on in a duet, {“The Sirens” (I think), with Mr T. Bergin, both vocalists proved themselves artistic performers of much higher calibre than one expects to hear in an ordinary variety show, which, as I have already Baid, Miss Delroy’s is decidedly not. Mr Teddy Ford next scored tremendously with

some extraordinary feats in facial expression. His features appear to be as plastic as indiarubber or putty, and in quick succession and unaided by artificial make up or costume, he simulates all sorts of expressions, including a man with a gumboil and short leg, a man with one half his face sad and the other merry, all sorts of mouths, a Scot before and after he has seen the point of a joke, a backer of Bloodshot and his emotions as an apparently certain win changes into defeat, the final spurt of a bicyclist, a cantankerous counsellor, and a dentist’s patient in four phases of tooth-extraction. Nothing so clever in the line has ever been witnessed on an Auckland stage. He also sings capital comic songs, with facial illustrations which must be seen to be believed. Miss Ada Delroy’s Cobra di Capello dance even surpasses all that one had been led to expect by notices elsewhere. Miss Alice Lethbridge is the only skirt dancer who can at all be compared with this lithe and dainty young lady by Auckland playgoers, whose standard for the future will undoubtedly be Ada Delroy. I shall not attempt to describe the wonderfully graceful evolutions and convolutions of the 160 yards of flowing silk so marvellously manipulated under lovely limelight effects, with the picture finale, when portraits of many notables, including Sir George Grey, Mr Gladstone, Mr Crowther, Sir Maurice O’Rorke, etc., and finallv Her Gracious Majesty and the charming Ada herself are thrown upon the voluminous silk. The thing must be seen—it cannot be described. Mrs Bell’s feats in “ Somnancy,” or sleep divination, are as marvellous as they are mysterious. The ladv answers all sorts of questions written on slips of paper reposing in the pockets of the askers. She minutely describes dress and appearance of persons all over the house. The lady claims no supernatural powers, but ascribed her thought-reading feats to a scientific secret hinted at by Mr Edison’s telemeter. Certainly no other mind reader so baffles the man who can always say “ how it is done.” Altogether, Miss Delroy’s entertainment more than deserves the brilliant success it has met everywhere and is bound to achieve in Auckland.

On Good Friday evening a Sacred Concert attracted a very full house to the City Hall, and a splendid programme was successfully performed. Misses Featon, Katie Fitzpatrick, and Mary Day sang choice selections with lovely limelight illustrations, as also did Mr Robin Hay and R. Buttery. The limelight views and Myriorama of the Passion were beautifuland much appreciated. Miss Abbott’s pianoforte solos were carefully rendered, and Mr P. R. Dix clearly and concisely spoke the necessary announcements and descriptions. The concert was repeated on Sunday evening before another crowded bouse with some few alterations in the items.

City Hail —The Greenwoods : On Monday evening the house was crammed to its uttermost capacity, and the charming and accomplished young ladies scored a brilliant success. Much pains and expense had been bestowed in preparation, the costumes, scenery, and accessories being on a sumptuous scale. “ Barbara,” a one act comedy, was well played bv Misses Maribel and Agatha Greenwood and Messrs G. Linden and Walter Steins. Miss Maribel Greenwood sang a scena (“ Sweet Spirit Hear My Prayer”) from Vincent Wallace’s “Lurline” very creditably. A brillant and sereaming burlesque of “ Romeo and Juliet” including many musical items, dances, and comicalities was the “ Piece de resistance.” Miss Agatha Greenwood as “ Romeo ” sang and acted delightfully, her rendering of the difficult selection from “ Ernani ” making a distinct hit. Miss Roberta Greenwood’s “ Mercutio,” with a capital parody of the “Queen Mab” speech, won loud applause, and Miss Nora’s “ Juliet ” knocked the boys in and out of the gallery. Miss Florence Maxwell as Paris looked eharming, and sang very sweetly—an operatic serenade being an especially taking number. The Nurse turned into a grotesque Irishwoman gave the old favourite Johnny Collins opportunities, of which he fully availed himself. Other characters were well played by the Misses Eagleson and Brierly and Messrs Robin Hay, A. Carrington, Walter Steins and G. Linden. Naturally Shakespeare turned in his grave in horror at the liberties taken with his devine tragedy —nay, more he rose through the trap-door and was with difficulty appeased. Tonight (Thursday) is the last night of the season, and everyone should see this very creditable production which only needs a judicious use of the pruning knife to become first-rate.

The Easteb Carnival at the Drill Shed : Owing to pressure of racing matter on our columns this week a very interesting account of the Easter Carnival has perforced to be condensed into a very few lines. The show is a good one, and is being well patronised. Numerous attractions are scooping in a big pool. The Italian ladies look vry sweet. The Turkish divan (Mrs Goodall’s idea) is a delightful smoker’s lounge, in charge of Mrs Dawes and the Misses Eastwood, Alexander, and Kelly. The Chinese and Japanese court, in charge of Mrs James Russell, Mrs Archie Clark, Mrs R. Browning, Mrs Ware, and a bevy of pretty girls, is another success. The temptations include all sorts of fancy, useful, and ornamental work, a floral stall, a sweets’ booth, a fish pond, a doll stall, general stores, refreshment stall, fairy post, Punch and Judy, ladies’ and children’s clothing, produce stall, cake stall, phonograph, weighing machine, etc., etc. Mr P. R. Dix displays a thorough grasp of detail and wonderful marshalling capacity in his management of the Carnival. Among some capital side-shows, “ Mrs Jarley’s Waxworks!# and some lovely tableaux, with limelight effects, were a great credit, to Mrs Hudson Williamson, who worked hard in preparation, and made a wonderfully good Mrs Jarley. Did space permit of a complete list of all who have laboured so willingly and successfully, that list would be printed here.