THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 479, 28 September 1899, Page 9

THE STAGE

|_By

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 companies. Any information as to dates, etc., will be acknowledged in these columns, as well as any other items of interest to the theatrical world. All letters should be addressed — ‘ Orpheus,” Sporting and Dramatic BEViEW, Vulcan Lane, Auckland.

A very successful organ and vocal recital took place at Choral Hall yesterday, but this page was on the press ere a full account could be written.

During the last week or so a decided calm has reigned in matters concerning platform and stage, but signs of activity are not wanting, and a bustling revival seems at hand, especially on the part of local talent.

The Auckland Amateur Opera Club have fixed the production of “ Dorothy” for Wednesday the 11th of October, when Alfred Cellier s gay and tuneful music will doubtless prove charming and attractive as ever. The high reputation won by the club in past productions bids fair to be amply sustained in the present instance. Mounting, dressing, and scenery are on the lavish scale always expected in the club’s productions. A strong cast, with full chorus and band under Herr Carl Schmitt, and Mr Archdale Tayler as stage manager, are features which promise another triumphant success. I may mention that the royalty is 10 guineas for each performance.

Mr Patrick Quinlan, always to the front for “the cause that lacks assistance,” announces a social and concert to be held at St. Benedict’s Hall on Friday (to-morrow) evening. The object of the entertainment is a most deserving one. Mr H. Bowman, by an unfortunate accident, lost a leg, and the proceeds from to-morrow evening’s entertainment, it is hoped, will enable him to procure an artificial limb. The pick of our local talent have promised to assist, and Mr Quinlan’s excellent string band will make “ tripping the light fantastic toe” a treat for the dancers.

St. Mark’s Club —At the Parish Hall the club will hold a gymnastic and musical entertainment —assisted .by many friends —on Friday evening, 13th October. A attractive programme is being carefully rehearsed by leading amat curs.

This (Thursday) evening, at St. Benedict’s Hall, Mr Henry Gray’s brilliant little extravaganza, “ A Fifth of November Dream,” which made a hit on its first production, will be reproduced, and a revival of the same author’s nautical absurdity, “ The Wreck of the Saucy Puss,” is also on the bill. As local productions, both pieces show distinct ability on the part not only of the writer, but also of the performers. The audience will get plenty of fun and hear nothing offensive to good taste.

Burlesques.—The true burlesque of the old school has been improved out of existence by modern attempts to run three acts of burlesque instead of the one short act with four or five scenes, the whole lasting about one hour and a half. In this form the rhymed libretto was always used. J. R Planche was facile princeps in' such work. Other brilliant writers in the same line were H. J. Byron, the Broughs, ff. Burnand, W. S. Gilbert, Reece, etc., etc. While famous burlesque actors of olden times included Robson, Charles Matthews, Madame Veetris, etc., etc., and they were artists indeed. The deadly low-comedy man is largely responsible for the decline of genuine burlesque. He must needs introduce senseless and inappropriate gags, without regard to rhyme, rhythm, or reason. He gradually disgusted not only the authors —who found their work mangled and distorted out of all recognition—but, strange as it might appear to him, his vanities and inanities disgusted audiences as well, and “ pop” went burlesque. Nowadays we get odd snatches of burlesque sandwiched between any amount of variety work, but no continuity and small coherence. Formerly a leading idea would be consistently burlesqued throughout. For example, “ The Field of the Cloth of Gold” dealt with the period of Henry VIII. and Francis I. of France. Anything more delightful than the burlesque of Bluff Hal and the skinny Francis having four rounds with the gloves under Marquis of Queensberry rules, or the tournament with competitors in the lists mounted on hobby-horses could not be imagined. When the knights rode off the scenes closed, nipping the big grey tail of Francis’ steed between them, the caudal appendage alone holding the stage and girating in apparent agony over the pinch. This splendid extravaganza-burlesque won tremendous success in the later ’6o’s. If burlesque proper is to be revived again it must be done on the old artistic lines. The performers will have to acquire the difficult art of speaking rhymed lines intelligently and intelligibly—not the mere modern gabble—and refrain from senseless vacuous gags. Good “ principal boys” are nowadays a scarce commodity, and would cease to exist were it not for the vitality of pantomime, but with a revival of burlesque a crop of comely, well-shaped “ boys”—what price Miss Maud Beatty, as an example ? —would soon spring up. There was no lack of them when burlesque was the fashion. Capable writers of true burlesque exist even yet, for instance, Messrs F. 0. Burnand and W. S. Gilbert, and doubtless the authors of “Little Jack Sheppard” and “The Vicar of Wideawakefield” have not lost the cunning they possessed as writers of real burlesque.