AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16158, 12 March 1918, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The new programme submitted by Fuller's Vaudeville Company at the Opera House last night went brightly, and was highly appreciated by the large audience. Sergeant Cop©land ana the Kid —the last mentioned a boy of nine years of. agecreated great wonderment with the niarvollous exhibition of clairvoyancy given. Tho boy was blindfolded and sat on the stage, while the sergeant, moving amidst the audience, with his back to the stage, and, in some cases he himself blindfolded, asked the .boy to describe various articles —chiefly articles of jewellery handed to him by different members of the audience. The boy invariably correctly described tho articles, and, in additionin the case of brooches, gave the initials engraved on them. Various tests were made, and the boy proved equal to them all. Newcomers were Ted McLean and Genevieve Loe, who gave the playlet, "Beyond Price," with considerable dramatic effect. The artists who appeared last week —Walsh and "Walsh (upside down dancing), McKay and Graham (balladists), Kelly and Drake (eccentric dancers), Colos (banjoist), the Pictorial Littles, the Trio Classique, Denny and Dunigan (comedians), and Bonita and Leo (sharpshooters)— submitted now items, which were successfully given. The Trio Classiquo •gave Gounod's "Serenade," "Fantasia" ('cello). Chaminade's "Air de Ballet" (piano), and "Excelsior** (flute, cornet, and piano). To-night the same programme will be repeated.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. The bymplioiiy Orchestra gave its first concort of the year in the presence of a full house at the Choral Mali last nignt. The programme pre- # sonted was judiciously chosen, witn a view to pleasing a variety of taste 6, and well within the powers of the performers. Jiver dear to tho heart of the great pliblic is the operatic, so called Fantasia, and Donizetti's "Lucia," smartiy played, as the first number Is by no means the worst of tho kind. There followed two movements, the Andante and Allegro, from Schubert's graceful, delightfully longwinded, 6th Symphony, giving the best cvidencc of the progress of the Orchestra under Mr Alncd Worsley's care and musicianship. Their work ' has grown inoro transparent, bettor in balance and tone-gradations, pleasantly contrasting with former undisciplined outbursts. The splendidly orchestrated second of Liszt's Rhapsodies was very creditably performed, but requires yet more pointed, and, one may say, more capricious treatment. One must know, in fact, of tho Hungarian excitability to do it justice. Tastefully was "played, the soloists, especially the flute, also earning a good share of praise, the over charming overture to "William Tell," hotter than the two Norwegian Dances by Grieg, which mav yet pain in refinement. The Ballet Music to "Faust" concluded the nroaramnip of the Orchestra, led by Mr W. E. Skelton. Mr W. J. Troweni was the chosen excellent vocalist of the concert. who sang -with much force, understanding. and capital enunciation, tho fiii» arin. «L~nd M e , Your Aid." from GouiindV "Irene," and Goring ll'omas s"O Vision Entrancing." As enroros w*>re hv him very ohnrmd Harriett's "Miction,"' and two i S °- ,C Tv "Fa'ewell,"' ?> v Liddle. ?err tf i of a RnriHn," Alfred Wor'sler" acco ®?«"i«l