THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 877, 27 December 1906, Page 14

THE STAGE

(By

“Footlight.”)

THE OPERA HOUSE. FULLERS’ ENTERTAINERS. A very strong company took the boards at the Opera House on Saturday night, and the programme which Mr John Fuller will continue to present during the Christmas season, surpasses anything seen in Auckland for a long time. Of all the wonders to have been presented by this management, there is none to compare with Rex, the marvellous contort.onist. He seems able to contort and twist himself into every conceivable shape, and succeeds in tying himself up into the most staggering and inexplicable positions. While Rex performs the most astonishing and extraordinary acts, it remains for Wild Friday, the bowie knife throw er, to fairly make people’s hair stand on encj. This champion of the American back-woods has an aim that never fails, and an eye like an eagle. His assistant, Wild Rose must have nerves of iron. Imagine a woman possessing the equanmity to stand with her back to a door, and allowing a man to stand at a distance of some paces, and pick out her shape on the wood work by throwing knives all round her until the outline is complete. And this with the manipulator of the knives blind-folded. The audience holds its breath, expecting every moment to see the white flesh of the fair assistant pinned to the wood by one of the sharp weapons. The aim is unerring, however, and the turn is the most sensational on the bill. Apollo Belvidere is an artist, as the name suggests, something after the Modern Milo style, and poses in positions representative of statuary in bronze. The Rollos are old favourites, and as sketch artists are always clever, fresh, and entertaining. Miss Connie Bird holds a big reputation as a mimic, and her clever imitations and impersonations won favour in the eyes of the audience. The Lewis Sisters are a fascinating pair of singers and dancers, and are always sure of a warm reception. As a comedian, Mr Arthur Lauchert possesses considerable ability and the warmest applause followed his contributions. Miss Kitty Delavale is another charming serio, and her advent lends strength to an already strong company. Messrs Frank King and Sam Wilson are the remaining male members of the old company, while other favourites in Miss Amy Blackie, Pearl Lovell, Lucy Lavinia, and Phyllis Fay helps to make up one of the strongest and most attractive companies to have appeared at the Opera House for a very long time.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Very keen interest is being taken in the re-appearance of the Brough-Flemming Company in Auckland. This welcome event will take place on Boxing Night when this popular combination will open in “Dr. Wake’s Patient,” a new play in four acts by W. Gayer Mackay and Robert Ord. The plot of this has already been given in these columns. Mr Flemming will -take ’ the role of Dr. Wake, Miss Beatrice Day will be Lady Gerania, and Mrs Brough the Countess of St. Olbyn. Those who have seen the play describe it as one of the best things seen for years past, so that it would seem we are in for a veritable treat. It is safe to prophecy that there will be a mammoth audience on Wednesday evening to welcome back to this city one of the most genuinely talented companies which has jet visited it.

THE OLYMPIA RINK.

The Olymp’a Rink continues to make a strong bid for public favour. Last week there was a children’s plain and fancy dress carnival which went off very well, some of the costumes being capital. During the holidays school students are to be admitted, and no doubt this privilege will be largely availed of. The rink will be open all the summer, and as the management leaves nothing to be desired, it is to be expected that there will be no lack of patrons.

MARIE NARELLE, “QUEEN OF IRISH SONG.’’

Marie Narelle, whose opening concert in Auckland takes place in the Choral Hall on Boxing Night, has the reputation of being the fines: living exponent of Irish ballad singing. Although an artist in the very front rank of her profess on she prefers to sing those simple melodies beloved by the people, and her rendition of them is said to be a revelation of what can be done with a simple air when sung by an artist of the highest class. The simplest ditty, it is said, as interpreted by Miss Narelle, is eleva ed into the region of higher music, and given a dignified theme, she raises bal’ad music to its highest power. The tenor of the company, Mr Chester Fentress, comes with a high name as a vocalist, whose artistic methods and cultivated style make him immensely popular. He is a young Califorfornian, who received the bulk of his musical educa ion in Paris and London, and it was in the latter city he was chosen for the Australian tour, a choice that has been amply justified by the great success he has met with. One of the most pleasing features of the concerts is said to be the duet singing of Miss Narelf and Mr Fentress, Tosti’s “La Serenata”

and Nevin’s “O, That We Two Were Maying,” being greatly enjoyed. The pianiste, Miss Constance Brandon Usher, who is a graduate of the Liepsic Conservatorium, is said to be a very brilliant soloist, and sympathetic accompaniment. Her selections from the works of Liszt, Chopin, Greig and Mosizkowski gain her encores wherever the company appears. In addition to the Boxing Night conce t three others will be given on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings of the same week.

Madame Staunton gave two recitals at the Choral Hall on Friday and Saturday, there being a fair attendance on both occasions. This wou’d probably have been larger if so many “foreign” songs had not been included in the programme. There is no denying the fact that colonial audiences greatly prefer the songs of their mother tongue, and although the singer may consider the Italian, French, or German songs as superior nine out of ten among the audience do not agree with the contention. Madame Staunton sang very charmingly, and one could have wished the audience had been larger.

Allan Hamilton has just arranged by cable for the appearance next year of a Fagan and Byron, who toured New

So much preliminary advertising was g ven to Mr Rudolf Besier’s play, ‘7he Virgin Goddess” that its production in London seems to have caused disappointment. Mr Besier evidently set out to produce a Greek tragedy on precisely the same principles as those of Euripides or Sophocles. The plaj- is strenuous tragedy throughout. There is no comedy, ro easing down for refreshment of the mind, and London has accounted the r hole r o duction rather dull, despite the laudatory criticisms of the blank verse of which the play consists. The story has all the simplicity of the genuine Greek play. Cresphontes, King of Artis, is too cowardly to engage in battle to save the city, so his wife, Al hea, sends to his brother Haephestion, who left because he too loved her. Returning, he obeys Althea’s order to kll Cresphontes, in order that the city may be saved, but the goddess Artemis, knowing that it is love rather than patriotism which prompted the deed, decrees that the city shall be saved only on his killing Althea as well, which he eventually does. The production is of interest to Au tra ia from he fact that Mr Oscar Asche, formerly of Geelong, played Haephestion, and Miss Genevieve Ward the part of the mother of the conflicting brothers.

Zealand some time back under the management of Mr Harry Rickards, were showing at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston, on the 3rd November.

well known English star and full company. The Auckland season starts at His Majesty’s on Sep ember 16, with Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin to lol’ow.

Their Excellencies the Governor and Lady Plunket attended the opening performance of “The Little Stranger” in Wellington, and in a letter to Allan Hamilton, the private secretary expressed the immense pleasure which the performance gave the gubernatorial party.

Will’e Parke, who has come out to play “The Little Stranger,” will be nine years old next February. He was born in Westminster, educated in Camberwell, and says that “he is proud to call himself an Englishman !”

Allan Hamilton states that more people visited the Wellington Opera House on the opening night of “The Little Stranger” than ever the house has hitherto held. Sale of tickets was stopped at 7.40.

Christchurch during Christmas time will have plenty of amusements. These will include the Little Stranger Company at His Majesty’s, “The Squaw Man” at the Theatre Royal, and the circus in the Co’osseum, with the Exhibition thrown in. “The Little Stranger” opens at His Majesty’s, Christchurch, on Boxing night, and after a brief Dunedin season and a few one night stands, will be seen at His Majesty’s, Auckland, on January 18, for six nights only.

A remarkable play was produced at the Court Theatre, London, just before the departure of the last English - mail. This was “The Charity That Began at Home,” by Mr St. John Hankin, a comedy absolutely destitute of the action which is supposed to be the essential of all forms of drama. “Nothing to speak of happens during its four acts,” says one critic, and descriptions show that the play relies for its effects wholly upon its characterisation and d.alogue. It is a daring experiment, and although the play *is widely praised, it seems almost impossible tha. it should prove financially successful.

The following are a few of the vocal gems in the musical comedy “The Orchd,” which is to be presented here shortly by the Royal Comic Opera Company:—“l Must Propose to You,” Miss Olive Godwin’s delightful number, and her duet with Mr J. Ralston, “A Lack-a-Day” ; “L'ttle Mary,” a famous skit on J. M. Barrie’s celebrated comedy of that name. It convulsed London for over two years, and is sung with charming demureness by Miss Evelyn Scott; “The Unemployed,” by Mr George Lauri and Mr Arthur Crane; “From Far Peru” is rendered distinctive by the really remarkable dancing of Mr Fred Leslie; “’Liza Ann is a number in which Mr Fred Leslie’s wonderful terpsichorean feats again feature, and he is ably supported by Miss Evelyn Scott; “Advertisements and “Fancy Dress” sung by Miss Clara Clifton, are full of unctious humour; “Come Along with Me” with its chorus and Pierrot Ballet is one of the hits of the piece; “Pushful” is a number which owes much to the clever handling of Mr C. R. Bantock; “The Lady Secretary” introduces a new and delightful lady member of the company in the person of Miss Connie Milne; “I Do all the Dirty Work” is deliciously funny in the hands of that droll comedian, Mr George Lauri.

A Christmas card comes from the Black Family, who are now touring Queensland. “Right through business has been good and the tour has been a most successful one, the Family taking on with the public immensely. Australia is a big country to work, and it will take us years to do it thoroughly. We are all in good health (writes Mr Black) and enjoying the trip very much indeed.

Mr Edward German’s new comic opera based on the adventures of “Tom Jones,” will first be seen in London in the late spring. It will be presented by Mr Robert Courtneidge at Manchester at Easter, where it will be played for a period of three weeks, and it will then be brought to London. It has not yet been definitely

decided where in London it will be presented though there is some talk of it being the successor to “The Dairymaids,’’ at the Apollo Theatre.

Mr Ernest Shipman, general manager for Sweely, Shipman and Company, the American theatrical firm, is suffering from nervous collapse in New York, and will take a long vaccation and a complete rest. Mr Shipman is a brother of Mr

Fred Shipman, who is managing Miss Marie Nacelle’s Australian and New Zealand tour.

Mr Luscombe Searell, who it will be recollected produced the opera of “Estrella,” some years ago, and who is the brother of Mr R. Trist Searell, the wellknown musician, has produced a Biblical play set to music, “Mizpah” in New York with a good deal of success.

Allan Hamilton will pay only a flying visit to Auckland in connection with “The Little Stranger” season, as he is due in Sydney, January 18, to complete all arrangements for Mr Harry Rickards’ new English Dramatic Company, which opens at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, on February 2. The Australasian tour will be under Mr Hamil on’s management.