ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"HOME, SWEET HOME.

It is ever aii agreeable task to praise',-' but

this virtue,' as applied to the ■ average melodrama of recent yearn, is a difficult, if not an absolutely impossible one. The manufacturers of melodrama in London have, unfortunately, found it a'pnyable policy to abjure the simple -villainy-vanquishcd-virtuc-triumphant type of play in favour of the most extravagant horrors

human ingenuity can devise; ?o wo aro.treated at to a class of. melodrama lliat

harrows up the soul of the unthinking playgoer, and excites something akin to derision in others. It is therefore gratifying to havo to chronicle the fact that "Home, Sweet ITomo" .is distinctly not of the above category. It harks back ten years or so to the simple; homely class of play of the "Harbour Lights"

stamp, that .depends on an intelligible -story well told,' and that; lacking, all the violent '.sensationalism or deeds of blood, yet holds th-. 'audienco interested throughout . ', '".

Joan is an ocean waif, who as a child was thoj sole survivor of , a wreck, and.,who is adopted as a daughter of her rescuer,■-. Hull ol'it David Armitage. But she is now eighteen:yoars of' ago arid the pride of the coast, when

the Duke of Ancaster, who is on a yachting cruise, puts in an appearance. In the course of a yarn with tho old fisherman the latter is apprised of the astonishing fact that Ihe waif is no other than the Duke's daiigh tor, but as htvknou's his son's (Stephen Armitage)'. happiness is bound up in liis love for'the girl, he omits to inform the Duke, and soDaviil and Joan .marry, and lead the simple . life. /JMie canker arrives in the .person of the Dtilife'ssecretary, .Lucas Lyle, who conceives..α-pasisipn for Joan,'and manages by. his'.arts lo stir up in the girl tho'hereditary longing for something more attractive in life than tan be offered by a fisherman. Lyle learns of Joan's identity, and using it to convince her that she lias been deceived by her husband and his father, in"duces her to leave homo and' child, and-''join' , her father. She is enjoying to the fullest extent her- now-founil -life, inane possible- by.Ljdc'n duplicity in "infoi'ining-hcr that her liufiliantl .and child.arc no .way put out by her. flight— are, indeed, happy and contented—until she, .in imagination,, hears her child crying her, an incident to which verisimilitude' is

given by n■■' drp.im tableaux (reminiscent' of Luko ITiddc's picture, "Tho Doctor"), which ir> followed by the appearance Of .ono"ol (he fisher-folk,-who lulls her that hard times havu descended upon the village, and that her child is dying. The mother in her awakens nt once, and, acquainting lierself with Lyle's villainy in making, false reports and intercepting correspondence, she hastens kick to her old home, where want has made its abiding place.,' There explanations are made, and old relations are resumed, not, however, bol'oro a. storm occurs oft' the coast, and Lyle is rescued from ccrtaiiv ■ death .by ' the man. he- has -robbed. , :.; On Ids

recovery, Lyle .-shows • his . vicious procli-viUes t too patently, for there to be any doubt left of the hero's, position! and he departs in ignominy, by the door thai; admits (ho reconciled Duke.! Tho company provided by Mr. Allan Hamilton is a Ihoronghly sound one, who 'are. refreshingly earnest in doing the author (Jf.:. Frank Lindo) all justice. Miss Khadijah C'coper, who is not unknown', to' Wellington plvjgoers, makes a handsome Joan, and ex-

hibits, in a number of charming , frocks,, a matured histrionic capacity in all demands ma-lo upon her. She was particularly charming us (he iisher-girl iu the early scenes, .and rose, admirably to the dramatic occasions that followed in her more palatial surroundings, lter eiiorls was enhanced by Ihc captivating performance of little Dora, by little" Baby Watson, who, quite free from stage precocity, , hold all hearts, by her sweet artlessness and'lack' of splf-consciousnrs.s. Incidentally, this ' clever liWe. lady...brought down the house with, her catching of a catchy lilt, entitled ■■" Captain Hα ).v iiuuting, of the Hocking Horse Brigade." JJnby Watson lias a future. . ilr. Uobert lnniau played : the hero, Stephen Armitage, with manly robustness, and Mr S. A. VHzgeraM, as his father, made a bluff old lifeboat-hand.

The Duke of Ancaster was played with dignity, anil a fine reserve by Mr. Augustus Neville, and Mr. Harold Can , , as his son, gave a finished, if a little overdrawn, sketch of the genus "johnny," who, in defiance of parental authority, marries Sybil Fay (from tho halls), played with, attractive sprJghtliuess by Miss I'iinny Erris, who enlivened the proceedings with it couple of songs. Mr. George E. llvyant as Lyle was inconsistent—the villain of the !last act was not-oven distantly related,to tlie gentlemanly secretary of the fust. Mr/Stitart Clyde, did good work as Gaffer, a bibulous old villager, and Mr. K. M. 13cresford. was t[uito satisfactory as Dick liedmayne. The scenery was adequate, and tho • incidental music by Mr. 11. Hcnniiighain's orchestra, was quits good. ■ ■■ • " "Ilome, Sweet Homo" will be played until Saturday, when it gives way to "A Message from Jlars." .

ST. MARY'S CONVENT CONCERT.

The pupils of ..St.. Mary's Convent, Hill Street, have, iu past performances, shown that they can not only engage upon the preparation of a programme of higli-closs music, but that they can also produce the same in a finished and artistic manner. Their concert last night was quite up to their usual standard. When it is remembered that the performers arc pupils whose voices cannot be snid to havo properly matured, n little , roughness hero and there, a slight, very slight, inclination to be cither, a little,sharp or flat in one or two cases may bo easily understood, and would not, moreover, be noticed in a smaller room. The whole concert, however, was exceedingly good, and distinctly creditable to Sister Mary Agnes, of the Convent. Tho programme opened with Greig's "Komance," for two pianos—played by Misses Jones and Evatt. Then followed the "Spinning Chorus" from the opera "The Flying Dutchman." This was a very good item, tho .Wngnerian music being very wqll done. "Still ns the Night" (Bohm) .was pleasingly sung by Hiss Maxwell, a young contralto of promise. Meyerbeer's C'avatina, "Ilobeito tu cho Adoro," as sung by. Miss Violot Lamacroft, was one of the best items of the evening, aud, in response to n recall, she sang a quaint little Irish ditty. Jliss Eileen Ward gave a successful interpretation, of Soint-Saens's beautiful melody, " Softly awakes my heart,": with 'cello and violin obligato; she was ;-lso recalled. Curschmann's delightful trio, "The Flower Greeting," sm\g by Misses Lnmaci-oft, .Storey, and M'Enroe, must also rank as one of the successes of the evening; the audience insisted upon its repetition. "When the Tide Comes In" (Miliar.!), by Miss Edith Martin; "JBi'luved, it is Morn" (Alywnrd), by Miss Olive Moore; Allitzen's "Oh for a burst of song," .by Miss Dcnliard; and a piano solo, " Piipilloii" (Greig), by Miss Evatt, were all very, good items, and recalls were the order of the evening. Special mention, however, in list- be given Mifs Agnes Segrief, whose singim: of Meicailante's- Cavatinn, "Ah! s'ostinto," was a very fine effort; to Miss Sweeney, for-her excellent'rendering of Uobniidi's "Alia Stella Confidenli," and hoicharming singing of "Up in the Mornin' Airly"; to Miss May Story for her artistic

rendering of Rossini's Cavalinn. "Bel Raggiod ; and to the almost perfect singing of Marchetti's' bonutiful trio, "Avi> Maria," by MLsscs I,nmacroft, Martin, and Morrison. Miss I'rances Morrison's item, "Tlie Enchantress (Hatton) was a very good olfort. The performance concluded with the chorus, "Oh, Sing to God (Gounod). .

O'NKILL'S HUCIC.TU.MP.ERS.

The many who delight in equestrian .feats were again' all'ordod an onporlunity of gratif.villi? their taste last night, in the excellent ncrforinAnce Riven by O'Neill's buekjumpers.. The O'Neill Urothcrs are sucli accomplished exfononts of tlie iirt of riding bucking horseo th.it their own individual fonts can always attract a largo audience, while the fun provided by loss skilful attempts at mastering the "outlaws" brought into being is side-splitting. The "buckjiiinpers" will again be in evidence lu-night at the back of the Opera House.

"WONDERLAND." 'Several hundred people attended the special

display at "Wonderland" yesterday evening. Tlio attraction was a navy battle on tlie lake, which 'purported to represent the storming of I'ovl Arthur by Ihe Japanese (loot. The battle w-is emictod in seven scenes, concluding with the destruction of the- Japanese' licet by torpedoes. 'J'.ho ideas of the. originator of the scheme were well carried out, producing a most interestim; and- novel situation. The pretty effect of the- coloured lights which un inert on the boats. was a feature of the display. The spectators appeared to be very well satisfied with tlio faro pwided, and but for • the doubtful weather, the crowd would duubtlres hiivo been larger than it. was. It is probable'that the battle will be fought ngiu:i ihis week. The water i.'lnile and , the

haunted castle'provud.-never-failing sources of .air.usfinout for the largo gathering on the grrunds "A thrilling spectacle" is announced for to-morrow, night, when.Do Dio will chute the chute on a bicycle enveloped in dames. .Between fi.lo p.m. lo n p.m.. trams ,will leave Couitenay. Place every ten minutes, and the Government Station every half-hour.

"A TRIP TO CHTNATOWN."

The American cxlraraiusa, "A .Trip to Chinatown," is to. bo produced at His Majesty's Theatre this evening by a company organised and headed by. that. popular comedian, Mr. Howard. Vernoii, who; will be .assisted by that clever , actress and vocalist, Miss Vinia (16 Loitto. and a number of clever people, who hopo to provide patrons with a 'bright ■entertainment.' The admission tarift' is a low one, and the management hope* to obtain a fair sluivo of the public's support.

•\ gnod deal of interest is being taken in'the coi; ■'limenlarv concert, which is to bo tendered to llerr Max "lloppe at the Town Hall, this evening. The present occasion is a very fdtipfj, opportunity for" , Wellington citizens to sli-)iv Jlerr lloppi! their appreciation of his

•eaiiy ami gratuitious services .on many occasions. Sir Joseph and Liiily Ward and his We i ship the Mayor have intimated their in.ehtion of being present. ' ,

The promoters of the concert to be given by Miss Hose Blayney are arranging an at-

tractive programme. '. Added to the. list of artists; whoso names have already been mentioned; is that of Miss Mina Caldow, who recently sang with [front' Success id oratorio, etc., Miss Madeline Knight, of: Auckland, who is a 'favourite-in..that city, besides singing two sol is, will take part in the trio, "Queen of the Night" (Smart).. with Miss Rose JJlauoy and Mv. E; Parkcs. The box plan is now open at tht! Dresden.