AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16157, 11 March 1918, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

Both, matinee and evening performances at tiie Optra House, on Saturday, were very largely nttended, hundreds of would-be patrons having to be refnsod admission at nigat. This week's programme, commencing to-night, promises an even more attractive entertainment than its predecessor. Hickcy and Rcsc, singing and dancing juveniles, are the only artists of last week's programme who have left, and in their places will appear Sergeant Copelancl and Kid and McLean and Lee. The former pair are said to provide a most remarkable act of mental telepathy, ' Kid,'" a boy of but seven years, having gained lavish praise for his wonderful mind and second thought reading. Ted McLean and Genevieve Lee ; old favourites with Christchurch audiences, will make a reappearance, and will present a high-class dramatic sketch entitled "Beyond Price." The artists remaining from last week will make up a particularly strong bill, and lovers of high-class vaudeville will learn with pleasure that Kelly and Drake, and Dennv and Dunigan, a couple - of the finest sketch teams .seen hero for some considerable tim<\ will be appearing in entirely new offerings, which should earn for them even greater popularity than they enjoyed last week. Tlonita and Lo:\ Walsh and Walsh, McKay and Graham. C«los, the Pictorial Littles. and the Trio Classiqtie, will all fiave fresh items to present. Judging h.v the past week's business, int<*ndinc; ratrons would be well advised to l>ook their seats at Milner and Thompson's, as early as possible.

SCOUT CONCERT. The Mc; t-Avous' Scout concert, given by tue .uenvaie and Avonsicte troops— i.jc winners in l'Jli and lIUS respoctiveiy i) j me King's Standard —attracted a laige uuuieiiee to ivnoi Sfchoolroom ou .'batumiiy evening. Amongst those present welo the jiayor or Christcameii, b:r John Dvuniston,. Colonel t/U3.i«n,ro (.Dominion Sc-outmaster), and Lieuicuant-Coioncl Creswell. As regards quality, quantity, and variety, trie aiidieiiL-o was rully satisiied witir tho picgiainine submitted. Proceedings opaned aiid closed witli the singing of tne i\ ational Anthem. "There's a iiig Lot of Sunshine Coming Soon," was the cponing solo and chorus, which was given by the Mori vale boys. Tho Avonsicie boys gave an excellent exposition ol Swedish drill, and were also very success! :ii in producing the Human Pyramid, the apex of wnich was the bugler, who sounded a call from his elevated position. Very true to naturo was "A Day in Camp,'' given by the Merivale boys. Owing to the restricted platform pccommodation, apology was made for certain adjuncts, such, as a properly

[ erected tent, which, if they had beeii provided, would have lent a greater air of realism; but despite these shortcomings (which the audience readily filled in by imagining* them) the day in camp went very well from the morning bathing parade to the camp-fire gathering, with its songs, and till "lights out" was sounded. Another item, and' a rather novel one, was the Time Test. In this test two Scouts -went down on all fours in front of a squad, and wero required to remain in that position, no matter what happened. At unexpected intervals the Scoutmaster made' uncouth noises, alternated by the dropping of some h wiry "article. Some of the noises by their unexpectedness and loudness were enough to have made the untrained boy almost "jump out of his skin," but the two youthful Scouts emerged triumphant from the tost, and wore greeted with much applause. Amateur boxing and jiu jitsu exhibitions were also given successfully. Very line items,

consist in£•. of action songs, were given '*jV the l'.dgoware Anzae Girls. The first was ' Our Biys," the participants representing; sokiiorn and sailors. Very effective was their next item, "AnzacJ" the performers being headed by Britannia suicl, in addition to singing, going through so:ue evolutions very correctly. In the plare of knapsacks the soldiers had on their backs a letter, and each soldier was so placed that when they went "right about face,'' the letters spelt i, Anzac." This action song was one of the decided "hits'' of the evening. Thoir final item was the acLion song (also in costume). "The Tulip and the nose,'' which -was nicely given. Miss Beby Fardell, as a Red Cross nurse, sang with gohc l . effect the '"Red Cross Appeal Song," and was rewardect\ with a shower, of pennies. The Mayor announced at the end of the conccrt that the collection had amounted to 275, and as a member of the executive of the Red Cross. Mr Holland Ufanked the

■audience for their contributions to a {lin'iJ so v. ortiiy. Other items given during the evening were: Recitations by Scout H. Cray I'Avonsicle). Sergeant J. Pollock (Tp Kitpraoa Troop), Scout P. Mitnn (.\raiisirle\ and (in character) "Red Cross.'' blisses Ma.rjorie Turton and l}?hy Fardoll: a violin solo, selest?on.«■ from "Ma.rit.ana,'' was capably given by Scout, I. Sinclair (Merivalc); :md pn Irish jig (in costume) was pivtn by Misses Mavjorie Turton "and TJeby Fardel!. A model aeroplane, made by a Scout, was put up l>y Dutch auction during the. evening, and fetched fivo shillings.

CJTIi ISTCIIURCH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. The f.iuifijh concert of tho second season oi tho i:hristehurch Symphony Orchestra" will be given at tho Cixoral Hall, to-night, and the programme to be performed .'s that selected by the popular vote of the subscribers at tho last concert given by the orchestra. The programme is a thoroughly representative one, and will comprise the following items: Donizetti's Fantasia "Lucia cii Lammcrmoor," two movements from Symphony No. (5 in C (a) Andante, (b) Allegro (Schubert)j Lizst's Rhapsodic No. 2 in tho first half: and the "Overture from William Toll" (Rossini); Greig's Norwegian Dances, 3rd and 4th : and the ballet music from "Faust, 1 ' in the second half. The soloif.t will be 31r W. J. Trcwern, who v.ill sing "Lend Me Your Aid," from "Irene,and "0 Vision Entrancing" from "Esmeralda." The concert will bo given under the patronage of her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool.