The Stage

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 434, 17 November 1898, Page 9

The Stage

LBy

Orpheus.]

“ Orpheus ” will be glad to hear from those managers of theatrical companies touring New Zealand who desire that the public shall' know the movements of the comparries. Any information as to date*, etc., will be acknow(edged in these columns, as well as any other items of interest to the theatrical world. All letters should be addressed — “ Orpheus,” SPORTING AND DRAMATIC Review, Vulcan Lanei • Auckland.

Agricultural Hall: Mr Will Watkins’ Musical Comedy Company.—Mr John Fuller, who manages, bids fair to turn his new venture into a popular and permanent music-hall, for which there is undoubtedly a good opening in Auckland. On Saturday evening the entertainment opened with an amusing one-act musical comedy, entitled “ A Lord for an Hour.. A simple plot turns upon the adventures of a tinker (Will Watkins), who comes to make love to Evelina (Alice Maher), and leaves his outer garments and implements of trade, which Lord Cecil (H. L. Jansen) appropriates as a disguise for his own love-making, leaving his own garments, which Tottles (the tinker) assumes and, posing as the real Lord, orders the servants about, raises their wages, proposes to the girls, and makes the men tight, while compelling songs from each under pain of immediate dismissal. When Lord Cecil returns he finds a pretty how-dy-do —Evelina and Angelina (Hetty Warden) each claiming his hand, while Tottles has taken refuge under the table, and the butler (M. Maher) and groom (Fred. Bluett) are in a lively state of intoxication. All ends happily in general forgiveness by Lord Cecil. The piece simply revels in fun, and is capitally acted by all the characters. The introduced songs and dances are, without exception, encored, and the whole thing goes without a hitch or a dull moment. The second part consists of a musical and variety bill, which included capital items by Mr H. L. Jansen, Miss Alice Maher s brilliant dance with Miss Hettie Warden, Mr Will Watkins’ wealth of inimitable songs, Mr and Mrs Maher’s duet and dance, Miss Hettie Warden’s admirable serio-comic songs, Mr Fred. Bluett, and Mr Mike Maher with more comic gems. Encores were too frequent to mention. A real good evening’s fun winds up with a screaming farce, “Engagements.” Mr Walter Fuller,, as musical director and accompanist, is the right man in the right place. Changes of programme are frequent and keep the ball rolling to packed houses.

Auckland Liedertafel Smoke Concert. — On Friday evening the Masonic Hall was thronged with members and guests who thoroughly enjoyed a right royal evening. Tables and chairs were so arranged in the hall as to enable coteries of friends to sit together and be sociable during the intervals between the musical items. A choice programme included some of the best Liedertafel selections, viz., “ The Vintage,” “ Evening,” “The Warrior’s Song,” “Homeward Watch,” “ In’teger Vitoe,” and “Soldiers’ Chorus” (Faust)—all splendidly sung. The Waiata Quartette, in best form, contributed “My Pipe” (encore, “ The Bagpipes.”) Besides playing a delicious selection from “ La Sonambula” on the oboe, Mr Radcliffe gave a sweet cantabile on the Cor-Anglais—a sort of cross between a clarionet and a baby bassoon — as an encore (N. 8. no pun !) Mr Sam Jackson’s selection from Verdi’s “ Ernani ” on the clarionet was rendered with his usual purity of tone, refined taste, and facile execution. Herr Zimmerman scored a tremendous success with his violin solo, “Serenade” (by C. Pierne), and, for an encore, played “ Auld Robin Grey.” Mr Alien’s rich bass voice trolled forth two bacchanaliel ditties with signal effect. ■ Mr Cadzow’s “Come into the Garden, Maud,” was a model of correct phrasing and exquisite taste. He was in fine voice, and his encore song, “ I Seek For Thee in Every Flower,” was as pleasing as the first. Mr Bourdot’s “ Tiddle Liddle Lumti” (in character) and “ The Little Nipper” (coster) were extremely clever comic numbers.' Mr Boake’s recitation, “The Ama.tenr Organist,” held the audience spell bound, and, in response to an encore, “ The Hindoo Paradise” provoked loud laughter. Mr G. M. Reid’s song, “ Nearest and Dearest” (violin obbligato, Herr Zimmerman), thoroughly deserved the emphatic encore it received, and was replied to with “ The Man Who Carries the Gun,” also enthusiastically applauded. Dr Egan’s imitation of negro minstrels, in which he gives a tenor, alto, and bass solo, besides doing the bones and chorus with a banjo accompaniment on the piano, is. a marvellous feat. As an encore his “Temperance Lecture,” delivered with the most killing variety of facial contortions, caused the audience to collapse—vocally they could laugh no more, but still faces, eyes, and bodies laughed on and on. In the interval an adjournment was made to abundant and welcome refreshments.

Opera House.—On Saturday evening the Hellers closed a six nights season, which, artistically, proved a brilliant success. They leave for Gisborne, etc., at the end of this month, and with so many attractive novelties on their programmes should have a capital tour. They thoroughly deserve success.

Mr W. H. Webbe’s Open Evenings for Visitors. —On Thursday evening last, at the beautifully fitted music-room, Grafton Road, the 84th of this pleasant series was held. Pupils and guests as usual mustered in strong force, and a high-class programme was faithfully performed and much enjoyed. The piano quartettes were Hoist’s “ Revel of the Witches” (Misses M. Webbe, M. Scott, E. and G. Spooner—pupils of Miss M. Spooner), Mozart’s “ Magic Flute Overture” (Misses Cole, Garlick, Messrs A. Walton

and Webbe), and a valse brilliante by Moszkowski (Misses Bold, Edwards, Squire, and Mr T. C. Tims). The duos were (a) Henselt’s “Romance,” (b) Chabrier’s “ Espana,” admirably rendered on two pianos by Miss M. Spooner and Mr Webbe ; an allegro from a duo concerto by E. Prout (piano and organ), in which Miss F. Garlick was associated with Mr Webbe, proved a rare treat; as, also, did another piano and organ duo (Schubert’s « Erl King”) by Miss M. Spooner and Mr Webbe. A trio (violin, organ, and piano) from Moscagni’s “ Cavelleria Rusticana” was charmingly rendered by Misses Una Garlick and M. Webbe. Mr T. Read plaved as violin solos Berthold Tours “Romance” and Pierne’s “Serenade” (muted) with sympathy and elegance, but the instrument was not quite up to the piano’s pitch. Mies Maud Howard’s fine soprano voice told well in Bach s “When the Heart is Young” and Stephen Adams’ “ The Garonne.” With Mr A. L. Edwards, Miss Howard also sang the favorite duet “Maying, one of the gems of the evening. Mr A. L. Edwards sang “Madeleine,” a really fine passionate song by Mr W. H. Webbe (violin obbligato, Mr T. Read), with signal taste and power, and Tito Mattei’s “ Bianca” with equal success. Miss M. Webbe’s piano solo (serenata, by Moszkowski) and Miss Searchfield’s serenade (Chaminade) were remarkably good pupils’ performances. Throughout the evening ample results of good and sound teaching were prominently displayed.

Mw. John Fuller has forwarded to the Jubilee Institute for the Blind a cheque for £5. The circumstances surrounding this handsome gift are as follows: —A week or two ago Mr Fullers youngest son was suffering so seriously from pneumonia that Dr Marsack almost dispaired of a recovery. Mr Fuller then vowed that if his boy recovered he would give £5 to any charity named by the doctor. Dr Marsack pulled the patient through, and, on being informed of the father s vow, selected the Blind Institute, which has thus received a welcome windfall.

Choral Hall: The Liederkranz. —On Monday evening an attractive programme comfortably filled the hall with an appreciative audience. Lady performers mustered well, but only eleven gentlemen attended. The concerted pieces given were —“How Sweet is Summer Morning” (Smart); “ It was Earl Holden’s Daughter” (M.Vaughan), a dainty morceau, nicely rendered ; “ The Stormy Petrel” (Pearson); “Venetian Boat Song” (Cusins), very good contrasts; “ Faithful and True ’ (Wagner); “Now Tramp” (Bishop), in which Mjps May Dudding sang the lead effectively, but the tempo was rather slow. Two selections for mandolins, guitars, and banjo sextette were marred by neglect to carefully tune the instruments to pitch. Mr Radcliffe • (noticed elsewhere) played a solo (Wagner) on the Cor-Anglais, and was encored. The Misses M. White, May Dudding, and Mr George Reid contributed choice songs. Miss Stella Alexander played a capital violin obligato to Braga's serenata. Miss Laura Haven’s pianoforte solo deservedly won an encore. Mrs Carter and Miss N. Butler sang as a duet Tosti’s “ Venetian Boat Song.” Mr A. Towsey acted as conductor and musical director, and shared the task of accompanying with Miss Laura Haven.

Agricultural Hall : Mr John Fuller. — Always to the fore with attractive novelties Mr Fuller presented on Monday and Wednesday evenings, to crowded houses, “ A Tour Through South Africa,” including lovely views to Capetown, Kimberley, Johannesberg (past and present), scenes of the mining camps, the Zulus and their manners and customs, etc., etc., all splendidly described by the clever delineator, Mr Walter Fuller. The musical portion was strong as ever. Mr Howard Chambers’ glorious voice and artistic singing makes us all proud of so brilliant an Auckland boy. Mr John Fuller’s “Death of Nelson,” with Trafalgar illustrations, and “Queen of the Earth” were gems. The trio, “ When a Little Farm” (Messrs J. and W. Fuller and Howard Chambers), makes a big hit Will Watkins (comic), Miss Hettie Warden (soprano vocalist and tip-top danseuse), and Miss Lydia Walters (thrilling reciter) as usual won enthusiastic encores. “ Good wine needs no bush.”

The Remuera Chobal Society gave a very pleasing performance of Gade’s “Erl King’s Daughter” and Stanford’s “ Revenge” on Monday night of last week, at St. Mark’s Hall. The solos in the former work were ably rendered by Miss Crowther, Miss Tilly, and Mr G. M. Reid. Frequent applause testified to the appreciation of the audience. The orchestra, too, was loudly applauded at the end of several numbers. The chorus was well balanced, and the “ Morning Hymn ” was very sucessfully sung. The tricky charactir of much of the orchestral setting had the quaint and charming effect intended by the composer. The second work was a more difficult and trying achievement, in which the whole brunt of the delivery rested on the chorus, assisted very materially by the orchestra. There is no doubt that the “Revenge” is a trying test for any musical society, the intervals in some portions being excruciating if not sung in time. It was satisfactory to note that in those parts where every care was necessary to avoid harshness the painstaking efforts of the conductor, Mr H. Connell, had sufficiently trained the voices into concord, and it is doubtful whether any of our choral societies could have produced this composition with better results. The orchestra was fully equal to the difficulties allotted to it, and it is gratifying to be able to say that there was practically no hitch in what may be designated the most arduous task this society has j et undertaken. For the short period which it has been in existence its future career is likely to display increasing excellence. Mr J. C. Keesing led the orchestra. Credit is due to Mr W. Bruce and the committee for the decorative arrangements and small creature comforts which greeted friends at the conclusion of the evening.