The STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 360, 17 June 1897, Page 10

The STAGE

[By

Orpheus.]

Opera House : Williamson and Musgrove’s “Matra” Vaudeville Company—This unique combination attracted bumper houses throughout the -week, and every performance won enthusiastic approval. On Thursday evening several changes were made in the programme, chiefly in the direction of substituted songs. Mr Ernest Fitts was encored for “ Thy Sentinel Am I,” in which his use of the mezzo voice and the final cadenza were extremely effective. Mr Frank Lawton gave a realistic sketch of the “ American Tramp,” introducing a whistling solo with banjo accompaniment. He also whistled superbly Arditi s waltz, “ 11 Baccio,” and sang a most amusing parody of “Sweet Marie,” illustrated by an eccentric dance. Little Gulliver was excellent in “ Patsy Brannigan ” and his favourite, “ Home, Sweet Home” parody. Miss Alice Leamar, besides by special request again singing the gem, “ All Through Sticking to a Soldier,” sang two new songs, “I went to Par 7 s with Papa (full of espieglerie) and a pathetic newspaper - boy character song remarkable for clever contrasts. The encore evading little speech had again to be brought into requisition. Mr John Coleman, besides his inimitable “ Scarecrow,” tremendously with “ The and The Special Scotchman,” two splendid character song and dance items. The Delevines, Winterton sisters, and Mr Leoni Clarke’s performing pets fully maintained their popularity, and Mr Carl Reidle’s fine band rendered several new morceaux with telling effect. Miss Campion, who plays the rather thankless part of “ The Missus m “ Fun in the Kitchen,” showed marked improvement every evening, and all the cast introduced fresh and effective business. Not only was the matinee on Saturday afternoon a brilliant success, crowds of delighted children and their accompanying friends thronging the house, but proof also of the company’s staying power was afforded an Monday night, when an immense audience gathered at the farewell performance. Many fresh items were brilliantly given.. Miss Alice Leamar’s quaint song, “ Toora Laddie,’ especially in the last ludicrously lacarymose verse, fetched everyone; and later on her school-girl song, “ He’s out on the Briny,” and “ I want yer ma honey,” added further evidence of the clever lady’s versatility. The costume worn for the last song, a black silk boy’s knickerbocker suit, was most becoming, and the concluding step-dance extremely neat and artistic. Mr John Coleman, who seems to have an infinite variety of fresh business, came out stronger than ever. His “ Delany’s Chicken” convulsed the house, while “ Pat Malone forgot that he was dead” nearly broke -the camel’s back. As a final treat, Mr Coleman danced a clog dance, which in neatness of execution and variety of steps surpasses anything of the kind ever performed in Auckland. Mr Frank Lawton, with his “bones” solos, banjo and whistling, parody of “ Sweet Mane, and capital dancing again won enthusiastic applause. Mr Ernest Fitts’ baritone songs, especially “Marching,” fully sustained his reputation. Little Gulliver was brilliant as ever, a new song, “In the Pub,” finding especial favour. The Delevines more than ever reminded me of work seen in Paris some thirty years ago, with their unique pantomimic, acrobatic, and humourous fancies. The line is an essentially French one, and never before seen in tbe Colonies to such perfection. To attempt to describe the diablerie of that marvellous trio of Mephistopheles would run into columns of space. The mandolin quintette and dance, in conjunction with the Sisters Winterton, with the expressive pantomime which “ he who runs may read,” will not soon be forgotten by the thousands who have revelled in it during the season. Mr Leoni Clarke s performing menagerie proved laughable and interesting as ever. Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove must be thanked by all Maorilanders for sending across a combination so varied and delightful.

On Thursday, Ist July, Herr Zimmerman gives his annual concert at the Opera House, assisted by many friends, including Miss Lily Thomson, Mons. Henri Casier, Mr George Reid, and the original Auckland Banjo, Mandolin, and. Guitar Club. A specially good programme is being prepared.

Last night the St. John and Hayman’s Dramatic combination opened at the Opera House with Sims and Pettit’s “ The Vagabond,” a notice of which must be deferred until ithe next issue of this paper. Other popular plays will follow in rapid succession. Mrs. Harrie Marshall bears a high reputation as an emotional lead, and. the company includes some well-known favourites, e.g., Miss Dora Mostyn, Miss Madge Corcoran, Miss Marie D’ Alton, and Messrs. Chas. Field and Fred. Patey.

On the 29th inst. the Greenwood Family give one performance in the City Hall as. they pass through Auckland en route for a provincial tour.

The “ Matsa” Company includes some enthusiastic fishermen. They were trying their luck on the wharf the other day when Frank Lawton’s attention being distracted his line was pulled up and thrown in again with a dead fish hooked on. “ You’ve got a bite, Frank,” cried the wag, and Frank excitedly hauled in. When the fish was landed, Frank, solemnly gazing upon it, remarked “ Dead birds I have caught, and dead birds have caught me, but a dead fish I have never caught and a dead fish won’t catch me ! ” Curiously enough, on re-baiting and throwing in the line,

he almost instantly felt a tremendous bite, and, after an exciting struggle, safely landed a huge king-fish, which turned the scale at 251bs. Mr Watson has photographed the fish, and Johnny Coleman is nearly dead with envy.

The Auckland Banjo, Mandolin, and Guitar Club. —On Tuesday evening, at the Opera House, an excellent programme attracted a large audience, who vigorously applauded the performers. The club mustered about a dozen percussion instruments, and, under the baton of Mr Arthur Towsey, rendered “ The Raymonde Overture,” “Spanish Serenade,” “Hibernia” (quartette), “ Cedar Lake Waltz,” “ Cupid s Realm Overture,” “ Scotia” (quintette), and “Heroic March.” On the whole these morceaux, barring occasional lapses in tune and ensemble, were effectively given. Mr Wynyard-Joss was encored for a capital mandolin solo, “Baccacio,’ and played “ Military Airs” with dainty taste. Messrs A. E. Foster and A. Nicol brilliantly played a pot-pourri of familiar airs as a banjo duet. The vocal items were very good indeed. Mr Percy Dufaur, in excellent voice, sang “ The Storm Fiend” and “ The Bedouin’s Love Song,” and, as encores, “ Maid of Athens” and “ The Gallants of England.” Miss Mary Day’s sweet soprano voice was well suited with Lord H. Somerset’s “Echo” and Piccolomini’s “Dream Voices”; as an encore she sang, still better, Mol-

loy’s “ Carnival.” Mr Abel Rowe’s songs, “Love’s Serenade,” and “ Whisper and I Shall Hear,” with mandolin obbligato by Mr Wynyard Joss, were both encored, and the popular tenor kindly sang again. He also, with Mr Wynyard-Joss, whistled the duet, “ In the Dusk of the Twilight,” and, as an encore, another favourite duet. Both whistlers produced a good tone and were. faultless in intonation—a rare feat of whistling. Mr Ernest Schatz’s character songs were a brilliant success, the bazaar-parson burlesque being simply perfect, and a serenade parody was immense. Encores were imperative, of course. Mrs Florence Anderson accompanied the club morceaux, which were further assisted by Mr Miller’s ’cello, and Mr Alf. Bartley as usual accompanied the songs with admirable taste and precision. The stage was nicely decorated, an instrumental trophy in artificial flowers being especially effective.

Harry Furniss, the illustrated monologue entertainer, at Melbourne Athanae Hall, proves to be neither a disappointment nor otherwise, says the Bulletin. He displays 150 of his original drawings upon a sheet, in support of a discourse which is quite as humourous as London Bunch humour, and much less heavy than the discourses of two previous talking artists who have dealt with battle and murder. Harry Furniss deals

with solemn Hinglish political institutions in a fairly broad and lively spirit, his drawings are clever, and his subjects interesting, as a rule. Morover, he has his discourse on the tip of his tongue, and the 150 pictures are all disposed of within 90 minutes or so. Not a hollow, dry, or thin entertainment, but essentially soft, like the comic address of a pet parson at a chapel bunfigbt.