ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 398, 6 January 1909, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

A GIFTED STORY-TELLER.

MR/ EDWARD REEVES.

' It is 110 ordinary talent which gives to an elocutionist the power to hold the attention of a critical audienco for something like two hours while ho tells a story. The difficulty of maintaining the interest of the listener becomes very much greater when the story is an old one, and its characters familiar to everyone. In Mh Edward Reeves, Wellington has become acquainted with an elocutionist who has revived the lost art of storytelling; and who can, in his narrative; play upon" the entire gamut of the human emotions, when •,entertaining his audience. He gave his .first recital in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening, before a-very good 'attendance of the public, and for two" delightful houre simply played with his audience as he: recited Dickens's immortal "Christmas, Carol."- Obviously, the whole of the work could "not be covered, but the olocutionist had so skilfully abridged the story, and so ingeniously linked up the salient extracts selected by him for the purpose. of. a two-hours' recital,' that the .whole had. the effect of a continuous narrative of compelling, interest. The fine old tale was listened to with rapt .attention from..beginning/to end; applause was frequent, and at the conclusions most unanimous 'demonstration' of,approval broke forth from the audience; , the elocutionist and entertainer being recalled thrice'. Mr. Reeves' has a fine speaking' voice, with the faintest suspicion, of a nasal twang perceptible now and. then. His: voice is under, perfect control, and responds to every variety■.•■of emotion inspired by' the story.' Added'to that is a: high degree of ..dramatic; feeling, considerable., histrionic." p6w£r, ; ,-Haii' expressive countenance,:• an. • presence, and a prodigious memory which "enables him to give :'-a ' recital . of; two hours, duration without the-aid of the notes, The ''Christmas Carol''- was a splendid-effort, and: furnished 1 an excellent testimonial to'- the elocutionist's abilities.;. In the "Christmas Carol," ihumour, grim or. gay, :pathos. edy even, all have their places, and Mr. Reeves did full justice ,to the story. In. the sordid opening the grasping skinflint, Old Scrooge; and his quaking 155., a week.clerk, Bob- Cratchit, were depicted with a reality which! disclosed ideas ■ hitherto' unsuspected in the- simple text. Then follewei the; ghost scene,, and subsequent, ad vent of tho first of the three. Christmas spirits. Here the elocutionist achieved one of-the finest eiforts of the evening. "Old Fizziwig's Ball" ■ was simply delightful—another of ' the triumphs of the, recital; : Tho Christinas dinner of tho Cratchit Family, whoso humblo cele-., brations were pathetic as they were amus■'ing,: was excellently; done,, as also ;was tlie. party-at .Scrooge's .nephew's, where-the elocutionist's' depiction -'of':- the ; ."'Blindman's ■Buff" scene'was . most amusing". ."■",' - . 1 In sharp- contrast .'came '•the;;.pathetic ■ incidents of, the rag ■ shop,'-, the', mourning pf the ; Cratchit Faihily. over' little 'Tiny'- Tim, and, the dramatic grave scene, "where Scrooge is. taken .to see'' his own tombstone.' Then came ;the,'. departure of' the- ghosts, and : the 'first'joyous Christmas spent by, Scrooge,for many a ; long year. The whole recital 'was, an] elocutionary .treat 'such' as','has, not'/beenenjoyed in Wellington, for soine': time.'v,,'','''. 1 ■ Mr. Reeves will ei?e his second recital tq-morrpw_'.eyening (Thursday), when he Tyill; take as, his subject .the'"Exploits of Brigar djer Gerard" (Sir? Arthur Conan Doyle). . . "THE TAMING OF THE SHREW." ■ As Shakespeare's charming comedy unfolded itself at the Opera House again last 'night, '■* a•: steadily.' increasing tide: df "• mirth swept' over : 'the" crowded : audieric?'." The virile topthodsl'usoi to induce,'firstly," "submission,! afld' theii lqve.'.in - a' forward- wife, have-vary-'' ;ing influences'on: the menfolk; the husband inthe circle finds'it: -to. chuckle, and -the lordly "sire in 1 ! other 'seats . decides to .it all seriously over. - The ladies,;without ex-' Vqeption,'regard: " The" Taming of the Shrew/" as. a deliberate .misrepresentation; nevferthe: lessj theyiflock to, fee it; • Miss'ol a Humphrey and 1 Mr.,' Henry Kolker ■ have > the'" leading parts; and ■ syistam • them with : unswerving ..merit. A s --finalAppearance .- Will -be . hight in :"_The Timing.of the' Shrew." ; The", Village Priest " will be: presented; .•to-morrow night. ' ; ' ":, ;. : WEST'S PICTURES A large•>iidi&ce.; gathered.in . the.jTcmi. iHall last night, when a finfe kinematbgraph. ■.exhibition '"was given by. the West's' Pictures .Management. i: . From a programme of "films, : , all of good quality, ; there: may- be selected as , • worthy'of- special mention those of. Naples and the Boulevards of Paris. In the whole ..of. .the list there is .not, a. preponderance or any i particular'class, of picture, so that-the .Mwe^!' : w«,J^«pt'"'"-fnlly-- i .'Mtertamed;-i:ahd--. /amused throughout"the evening. - . Seleptibhs: were also plfij'ed by L. do Groon's vice-rogal orchestra, tii that the.attraction was a:double one. The pictures .will be shown again."ti night. . ; '.' X':.:';../■:■' ■ -At this evening'sproduction,- tte ViceJtegal Or'chostra: will jiinclude in- their; musical programme the overture "Semiraniidie," by. Ros- : sini, and a characteristic" selection entitled '• A Wee Bit c' Scotch," by J. Fred' Helf. On this '.taxation: they.-will be conducted throughout ; the performance by .their.'organiser, Mr. Lowis de Groen, who will arrive from Sydney by the Marama. THEATRE ROYAL .Lovers of -sensation'and tragedy,are well :.catered ■for in Messrs. . Fuller's present programme T-heatrc 'IloyalTwo goo'd pictures of - this class are j' '1 flo-.Rivals"; cand' '".Tho Fisherman's.Hatp._ ! ' ; TheVmainiatfrac;,' -.tion, .however, iis the series of ; films'depicting parts.-of Sicily ; before 'the---'recent,disaster; Humoiir in '-kinematography is well - represented by'' the slaughter-raising film entitled "Tho Female -Politician." ■ -A repetition of ,'tlie programme, will'take place; to-night".;\

;■ -;;: v . ■ HIS MAJESTY'S,THEATRE. -,• : ,iTho:last". night of present-,programme was availed of' by a large number oi- people, whbwished to see the-Royal Pictures. Again loud laughter'was called forth by the humorous items; of' tho programme,; and generous' applause ; was' again accorded the instructive and; tragical ones.. ,A';.change of .programme is; announced for' to-night.' ;'■'; .''*'.