AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 258, 5 November 1906, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

- r .WEST-BRESCIAN COMPAQ. f -l 'Another complete, change of programme was presented on Saturday night by the .West-Brescian combination. Among , the picture series shown were a number of .very good and interesting lilms deserjp. tive of different phases of life in.other countries, showing the reflection, of quaint characteristics and national customs, civilised and barbarous, as the ease might be, but to the untravelled equally instructive and entertaining. In this category may be mentioned a series of scenes relating to life in Holland; another set illustrating the barbaric pomp and undisciplined circumstance of Morocco's war department: and a number of films depicting scenes at. the recent royal wedding in Spain. An English fox hunt was spread panorama-like before the audience, while the rigorous training that man and horse in certain of the Italian cavalry regiments undergo in hazardous riding and leaping was also vividly reproduced in everything save the actual life. Of the numerous coloured and clev-

*rly "faked" pictures., especial mention should be given to a very realistic series portraying several exciting passages in the career of the redoubtable outlaw of lieroie memory, Dick Turpin. and lu s famous mare Black Bess. LaughterMaking and farcical pictures of one sort and another were also much in evidence; in fact, this class of representation verged occasionally on the border of monotony, but the films, with one or two exceptions, had the merit of being entirely fresh to the audienco, and were all warmly applauded. The Brescians made something of a departure from their usual form of entertainment by attempting a scene from "The Bohemian Girl." The scene chosen was that laid in the drawing-room of Count Arnheim's castle, Miss Antonia Martinengo taking the part of Arline (daughter of the. Count). Mr. Maurice Chenoweth that of the Polish refugee Thaddeus. and Mr. Kurlall Hayward playing the Gipsy Deviishoof. The respective vocal parts .were very creditably sustained, the voices of Miss Martinengo and Mr. Chenoweth blending sweetly, especially in the final refrain; but the wide dissimilarity between a drawing-room entertainment and an operatic passage makes a successful and sympathetic rendering of the lattor, apart from the singing, an extremely difficult task, even for professional singers, without considerable care in the matter of preparation, including attention to such details as voice inflection in the speaking parts. In addition to this scene a number of items were given by the members of the company. The. harmonised song "Ye Banks and Braes" Mas a particularly happy score, while Miss Domenica Martinengo also gave a very sweet and expressive rendering of '"Angus Macdonald." Mr. Rudall Hayward's "I •Fear Ko Foe" was sung in characteristic good style and voice, and Mr. Fred Mills kept the audience more or less convulsed as usual, while he held the stage with a number of new whimsicalities. A similar programme will be presented during the current week.

THE OPERA HOUSE.

The attractions of a varirty enter tainment drew an audience, which filled the Opera House in parts on Saturday night, when Fuller's Minstrel and ■"Vaudeville Company presented their usual weekly change of programme. Serio-comic items and da.nces were contributed by the Goklen ])uo, Misses Rosie Bertoto and Addie Baxton in. a manner which called for the strong marks of approval from the audience! Ballads were eung by Mies Millie Bertoto with excellent effect, and Messrs. .Sam Wilson and Harry Linden were responsible for much merriment with their songs, parodies, and stories. "Little Jackson" sang- cleverly and danced in a manner which, though applauded liberally, mijht bo modified. Magic, music, and sliadowgraphy were skilfully and attractively combined by Mr Fred Foley. -The" Old Turnkey" and Father OTlynn" were well sung }y- M , r - fL- Cropp. In their sketch Whos Who" the Bicknells, besides their Tocal and comedy work, gave an excellent exhibition of eccentric dancing ■Miss Celia Mavis sang sweetly in "White the, Moon and the Stars make Love," besides being heard to adva-nta-rp with Mr. John Fuller in the "Miserere" duet from "II Trovatcre." A number ot coon songs were contributed by Mr. Les Warton in a manner which earned several recalls. Mr. James Cravdon, Miss Addie Barton, and Little JackBon contributed their coster specialty Babj- Bill," which caused much amusctajent a.nd applauiso, especially for a banjo eong and dance which is introdnced dunng the turn. The lady contortionist, Ethel, was again heartily appreciated for her wonderful power of assuring impossible looking positions. The entertainment was concluded by an exhibition of moving pictures. \ similar programme will be given this evenmg.