The STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 407, 12 May 1898, Page 14

The STAGE

[By

Orpheus.]

Pollard's Opera Company— “La Fflle de Madame Angot”—called “ Madame Angot ” for short, on the lucus a non lucando principle—was successfully produced on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in last week. Being genuine comic opera, the contract was a big one, but the company passed through the ordeal with great credit. Special interest was taken in Miss Maud Beatty’s first assumption of a female role, and I am pleased to have my 6wn favorable opinion supported by Miss Fanny Wentworth, who spoke in terms of unqualified praise of Miss Beatty’s fine impersonation and excellent sinking as Mademoiselle Lange. Wise May Beatty’s Pomponnet also merits high praise, her singing of the lovely “ She Is So Innocent ” being remarkable for exquisite taste And sympathy. As Clairette, Miss Marion Mitchell looked piquante, acted with spirit’and won encores for several songs, z Miss < Amy Curtis made a successful debut as a principal ? in the role of Aramanthe, a vigorous and determined woman of the people. The Misses Lily Stephens and W. Karkeek capably filled minor parts. Mr Alf. Stephens, as Ange Pitou, the - lampooning poet, sang and acted very well indeed. Mr W. Percy, as Lavaridiere, Mr H. Quealey, as Trenitz, the pirouetting dancing master, and Mr E. Nable, as Louchard, the monocular spy, were all mirth-provoking, while Messrs. G. Young, Albert, and A. Stevens oompleted a good cast. The many charming morceaux, such as the “ Tournez Valse,” the “ Conspirators’ Chorus,” the ensembles “ Yes You Are, Lavaridiere,”- ‘"Happy Days,” “O, Ne’er Before,” “ We’ll All be Revenged,” the “ Letter and Quarrel ” duets, etc., etc., were, without exception, encored. Chorus, ballet, and orchestra '■£ did good work, the modified can-can being capi- ■. ■ tally danced. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights “ Djin-Djin ” again drew immense audi ences. Mr Pollard has enjoyed .quite a record season, TDjin-Djin” running through fifteen K performances, including two matinees. The com- .’ pany left on Monday for JSTew Plymouth and return visits through New Zealand. They re- ~ appear in Auckland about Christmas-time, so we must now say—- “ Farewell to sweet Falka, to Angot addio ! • Good-bye to ‘ In Town ’ and to gay Boccaccio. Adieu and au revoir, bold buccaneer Paul, Chin chin to Djin-Djin, and good luck to you all I Your magic makes life seem all skittles and beer, Come I Brighten our Christmas and gild the New Year!” Opeba House : Frank Thornton Comedy . Company. —•“ The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown,” a cleverly constructed and brightly- ; written farcical comedy by Messrs Robert "Buchanan and Charles Marlowe, kept a crowded ■ house in a continuous roar of laughter on M onday night. Owing to a bad passage and late arrival the performers were severely Handicapped, but the piece nevertheless hummed along, and few among the large audience realised the difficulties

which were so gallantly faced and overcome. To condense the plot: —Angela Brightwell (Miss Clare Manfield), a ward in Chancery, has run away from school to marry Captain Courtney (Mr Frank Thornton). Major O’Gallagher (Mr Fred Shepherd) and Julia, his wife (Miss Meta Pelham), assist the pair, and the knot is tied. . Miss Romney (Miss Elsie Carew) and her solicitor Hibertson (Mr E. Haygarth), arrive too late to stop the wedding, and Sergeant Tanner, a detective (Mr George Carej), appears with a warrant to arrest Captain Courtney for the heinous crime of marrying a ward in Chancery. The captain assumes female attire and is introduced as Miss Brown, niece of the Gallaghers, when the detective searches the house —the curtain falling on a funny situation. Act 11. opens with Herr Von Moser (Mr A. Cochrane) giving a music lesson to Angela in Miss Romney’s school, and making hot love to her. Gallagher brings the hunted Miss Brown to Miss Romney and instals her as a new pupil, and after this point to the end the fun is fast and furious. One curious touch of nature bring the instinctive attractions to girls of a mans although successfully disguised in petticoats, Miss Brown is introduced to her fellow boarders, and is tremendously spooned by Euphemia (Miss Madge Corcoran), a decidedly rapid West Indian young lady, who smokes, etc., etc. She finds Miss Brown very different to English girls, to which Miss B. naively replies “ I am ! ” Angela coming in is, of course, jealous, smacks Mies B.’s face and the fat is in the fire. The detective arrives

in pursuit and cross-questions Angela. He shocks Miss Romney by insisting on stopping the night to watch for the suspected Courtney. While on guard Miss Brown endeavors to escape through the conservatory. The detective suspects her of a wish to keep a rendezvous with the music master. He flirts with the girl and wonders what his old woman would think if she knew the sort of job he was on. The music master comes to give information, but is kicked out. Miss Brown consumes all the detective’s brandy and water. Assisted by Angela, Miss B. strategically handcuffs Tanner with his own darbies and the pair escape, the confusion arousing the whole school, who troup in clad in their robes de nuit. Curtain on splendid situation. Act 111. opens with Miss Romney and her solicitor discussing matters. Herr Von Moser enters in a Killaloe condition — alterations and repairs being 'compulsory after Miss Brown’s violence. He is snubbed and dismissed, and ejaculates, “I shake my feet off your dust!” Tanner enters with further personal traces of Miss B.’s prowess, whom he presently brings in handcuffed. |Miss Romney plaintively suggests that “she is only a helpless girl!'’ Tanner feelingly retorts, “ Ask the German ! ” Miss Romney, to Miss B.’s horror, declares that she will give her a warm bath. Miss B. mutters that she will be found out —no chanoe of a shave for a whole day ! Euphemia (like Byron’s Dudu) begs to have Miss B. as a bedfellow. Gallagher brines in Angela, Countess of Fulborough, Courtney having succeeded to the title. Miss

B.’s boxes are found to contain only masculine paraphernalia. In spite of the solicitor’s growls and the detective’s threats it is apparent that ths Lord Chancellor must approve of the marriage, and all ends’happily. While Mr Frank Thornton’s Miss Brown is immense, the farce is muoh. more than a cne-character piece. .All the parts are strong and capitally played—notably, the Misses Carew, Clare Manfield, and Meta Pelham, Madge Corcoran, among the ladies, are*shining lights, and Messrs Fred. Shepherd, A. Cochrane, E. Haygarth,and George Carey among the gentlemen. Smaller parts are excellently played by Misses Iza Millet, Florence Poole, Merton, and Mr W. J. Townsend. To-night (Thursday) is the last chance of seeing “ Miss Brown,” whose acquaintance everybody should make. On Friday and Saturday evenings “ The Private Secretary” holds sway, to ■' be followed in due course by “ Charley’s Autit” and “ Sweet Lavender.” CONTRASTS. High Hopes. Deep Despair. Muritai, Stormy blow, Lots of kai ! Spoilt the show; ' . Pollard’s girls : - Couldn’t go, Fair as pearls, Awful woe! • y ” Gay young sparks, What a damper: Jolly larks ; Wasted hamper; Clair de lune, Pommery greno, High old spoon. All in vain, oh ! Land, perchance : Pretty dears, Lovely dance; ’ All in tears. Song and rhyme, Jeunesseldoree. Real good time. Glum and sore, eh 1 Fa, la, la! Fa, la, la!! Damital! Damitalll Fa, la, la !!! Damital ! ! 1