ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 402, 11 January 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

; - : "THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS." / 'The Scarlet Troubadours/whoare not new to-.Wellington, present a--happy compromise between a concert party and- something- which might , be classed as - : respectable" , ."vaudeville, which combination goes far "on. the way to.wurds. pleasing most • party, which,consists of two ladies (of\the' souDrette order) and six' gentlemen,' is 1 sfeoiig vocally. It tackles almost -everything;: from:" the ■catchiest lilts that exhale. aVhuinour of that simple English quality which ;lielped to make Corney Grain famous, to-balhVdS and.'aeeom•paniod quartets that require a ; ;degree of vocal finish. Among these clever (people, Mr. Alfred Cunningham, the baritone;flf the party, is gifted. Hβ. musical, baritone,'effective over a big-range, and-ha> the knowledge , to guide him ; ?;in' its '■ use.■Vocally,, he stands .first. ' In'vMaude Valerie .White's ' 'Devout.. Lover" * he;-'infused, a fine devotional sympathy, ' which,-iiptli .his admirable, vocalism and'clear enunciation," made the number particularly enjoyable; -'At , , the 'same time, the, ballad is quite good-'enough,: and Mr. Cuhningham's ; artis all-sofficiant' without that .theatrical .action :which/;he.: is:given to'. The patriotic effusion sung as.,;'. an encore served'merely' to emphasise;'-the' beauty' of Miss.;, White's,, song, and :.th'eYs:inger's"weakness referred to. ■ %,.'Fof.o|..Waftham, tjie basso,.'is a pillar of ;sjirei ,^n',■■■to'■■the■■TrouD.a---3oUrß■;; '.Hβ. revels ■ in' tbe>rollicking 'ballad that gives his; fine resonant voice and lugubrious humour an equal .'chance; 'His best effort on' Saturday. evening. ;was : "Lanig'an's Log/ , . (Hermann'. Lohr), ' : -£f Joke song on■ • accepted; - lines, and- , , in- Hhe iconcerted music he was an indispensable quantity.. Mr: Sydney Mannering is -.a : light-,tehpr ; of 'pleasing quality. At.tiines -!h'e : arouses"-.the suspicion that his vocal; timeysiiot. the acme, of.truth, .but this may be'forgiven fpr-the brightness and,variableness"■ of; ; his methods. He sangnqthing better than 'tlio-duet (with Miss Maggie- Fane) "Under'.•'■the- WeepingWillow". (Pelissier), and (encored) "My .Telephone- Girl.'.' "A Dainty.Pair.of Shoes"wasa harmless number that calls 'for. further' re-'-hearsaKon the part of the" "corps' de ballet" (vide'. programme)., Mr. EdsariWarwick, the humorist.of the company,.has!.a.clever peri- ■ chant for patter songs of-;the;briskly humorous order./ Hβ suigs them ; Wll~particularly well.' On Saturday he chirpedVgaily of what might be named "The Little' Brown Girl -in the Big Black Hat," "Nothing in'.lt" (a song of, boredom- by., one bored),; "Quick Work I" and "Penelope and.the Pierrot." Vocalism' took a rest -..while 1 .Mr. Mackenzie twinged cleverly on a ' .tuneful'"banjo,-: arid later when he gave . a , smart- .illustrated seance on early, (very early) art,-an exposition of lightning black- and: white.work to- the accompaniment of rhymes : (not written .by Swinburne). Finally he amazes by drawing, a seascape in: coloured chalkV,'in'<me',ininute. In. ; Miss Maiide :Fane, the" Trbiibadours ; posbright little 'lady.', with :a, fresh and flexible soprano voice, as pleasing .as herpef- • sonality^'' Miss Fane -was-particularly nice : in her; semi-serious duets. with.JVlr;-Mannering, and. sang. '.'The : Moonflpwef"Y-. charmingly, Another ..attractive performerlwas Miss' Gertrude ■ Parker, who Was' sweetly.:coy in "A Lesson .with the' TpE." .3 Thpi : ladies'of the company turned ; themselvesVinto"-automatons for -the purpose of. "The \Dancing Dolls,"- a -.'hnm'orous eisperiment 'in': mechanics. .The quartets included' "The Lbvex's' 'Parting, , ', a group- of.: nicotine, numbers ■..(Entitled: "The Hookah"."The Dutchmap'.sl'.ipe,'! and "The Soothing man's'chorus V'Lbve : is':Me'ant. ; itp 'Make Us. Glad," .made a;bright openmg.Jpr'.'the Pierrot second;'part.; , - ■:.:.'': '-'Xi-y'H'i- : p :'v '"■• -~'~- • The Scarlet: Troubadours -would be showing a kindly .consideration "■. to the/ public by commehcitig their programme,' 'promptly;. at '■ : 8 p.m.' '(instead of'Bi3op.ni;),.|md ; so enabling people to"leave.■proportionately'early.-.-■ ,; .'--; : ;■■'•■'';•■:■'.'■ -.- OPERA ; HOUSE. ■ ,'•■■-■ r. :■}■; "The Village Priest', , .was again staged.be--for a large" audience'at' the' Opera House.by the members of Mr. J. 0.; Williamson's highclass dramatic company' on -Saturday ■.evening. -!The .-■pla'y'f'is %;^'very; "fine"' , one, and, as'■interpreted in-its.-principal characters. by Miss Ola Humphrey. (Comtesse de Tremeillan), -Miss -Susie: Vaughaii ' (Madame: :P'Arcay), Mr. :G.'S.;'Tithefadge;(Abbe Du-. bois);' Mr. Henry Kolker CJean" Torquenie), Jind.-; Mr.. ■ Aubrey Mallalieu '(Armahd U'Arcay); a.production of fiiiusual.excellence ; and'artistic'finish. The'-fine 'acting of-Mr.: Titheradge gives;. a striking'; picture -of the Abbe'Dubois, while Mr. Kolke^s.representation of the' escaped convict Torqnenie reaches a high stiindard of dramatic: art.- .To theatre-; goers -. who. incline more/to-'such- pla.ys- as. afford a quiet study\of human life, with its: •philosophy;''its foibles, its plptsj and'oounter plots; rather' than :to the, more exaggerated depictions of the gtous'hqinb;;as. represented by ' burlesque, melodrama",-., knd 'musical comedy,; "The -Village Priest' , .'.".- is - a very .enjoyable production. ,It is'.'hardly,, the .type, of play' which fills the. fanlily'circle; of •'that' I morbid section,of the public which delights tb_ crane :its' neck -in-its -. aiisiety '■ ia : miss • n<>thine of the particular horror'-'wliich is being at' the Imomerit perpetrated/'Dy: - the villain; nor is-it of the sbailbw typ&\which attracts that particular,. section'• bf-the. dress circle theatregoers .who -delight': to''.b'ask,. in this coign of fashionable, vantage -and engage: in vacuous chatter, to-the discomfort-, and- annoyance of those '.to- wh'om'.itHe play is an intellectual .treatr-a study'in: philfeophy. -'[ : ■ The farewell ,performances;p£^the'ebmbina-tion-wilT-take place on Friday"next, January 15,'. when- "Zira" will be-prijsented for the last time.: This.; powerful''emotional drama, which: is to be' produced -for'-the.'first.time in New -Zealand on'rTuesday, night Kwas '.written by J., Hartley Manner ahd/He"nry; Miller. The'stofy,of "Zira" is that of/i;young girl neglected by, a 'drunken'.fatnerj;.."cheated into a; siipposed- marriage of.a man':already wed, publicly ■as ■ the.-." cause' of : ' the. man's death,- and:'of-.his".widow's unhappiness, and,' finally seeks refuge-as. a ; trained; nurse' in the British forces 'during the progress,'of theßoeiwar. ;A woman through the camp recognises .her,, and; is'ab'out'te expose her when.'-the- former, is "struck':'; by a'- shell. Hesther Trent).believing.hersdead j changes places -with. , iher, - 'passport,, and as Ruth' Wilding," the niece "of '"Lady ■ Clavering, whom; she ihas-never seen^; Hesther. assists her .'supposed; cousin, the Rev. Gordon. Clavering, among 'poor, 'and/the/ two fall' in love. ' .The".surgeon- who -upon the- real Buth:-Wilding;, and -has saved' Tier life, .but not. her reason, bringsi'-his : patient to the mission.," In ; the shock , of; meeting Hes : ther .Trent,'reason returns, and r the imposter falls fainting. ; i :. ; ;,,i:;;;- ; ,..: , • ..- ::

-.:■" -; : WEST'S. PICTIERES:. • The pictures of greatest interest screened by. the West , Management of Saturday afterEoon were those eho.ving..Sicily, before the recent disaster.- These' : . beautiful views of the chief Palermo, Messina—and a panoramic.vview'of the lastnamed was-' particularly ; picturesque.- Other pictures in the same series/showed''the -people of. the land, at work: : .and, at. play—toiling at the fisheries. ;and sulphur mines; and joyfully celebrating public/festivals. • Of scenic and descriptive films there yas" a goodly choice in the . programine.,;v ; , "Scenes, in Sudan" was an attractive- shdwirig'the habits industries\of the. inhabitants of this historic part of the' y/orld; There was the Egyptian village market with its crowds of. curiously-clad .men, women,'and;.children, trafficking, and dealing in;strange, commodities, the, cane: merchant buying- the cane in : small quantities for.'transportltp.other mar'kets, and_ the .native/jewellers'• displaying queer oriental charms,; ■and--.' ornaments. "Views on the St. : ■ Lawrence- : and Niagara Falls" proved an'interestihg-'set.-of/pictures. The falls were shown from all pomts and "positions,, and theaudionce were also able to gain a- knowledge of the river iaboVe and. below —the Thousand Islande;. and/Vthfl..:rapids. Though a large portion of the. programme was taken ;up_ with those descriptive-minis,, which are. certainly, as entertaining as-,'any. pictures can bej there was. a good assortment' of'.other classes. Ta ; bloid drama was. shown: in "The Squawman's a .talq of th(i wild west, where the men ride as if pbsscsse'd ■ and •; draw their "shooting-irons', , on the'least provocation. "The Mountaineer's; flirtation" was another of the-dramatic , -order, having the scenq laid on- the- green^hills''of Tyrol Rather a pretty effect was ■■obtained''-in a coloured; film entitled "The-.Wonderful Lantern. ■ The scenes in this, wero displayed in a dun shadowv lieht of red/>uch;as would be

produced by a darkened lantern. The finesti. coloured film of the .programme, however, was a Biblical one depicting incidents'in; the life of Samson. Another film-of a very, interesting nature showed a troop of Italian; cavalry in the course of;,manoeuvres—riding over ■seemingly insurmountable objects, and travelling over almost impassable country. Of .comic films there'were plenty,- the best being "Bobby's Fine Engine," "Students' Larks," and "Two Travelling Bags." De Groen's Orchestra added considerably to the' enjoyment of- : the. audience during the. entertainment. . In the evening a repetition of the programme -took: ; place, and another will- take place' to-night. . :■- .;

■ '■",'•'.■ HIS MAJESTY'S ; ;. 1 Despite other attractions the popular pro- : gramme of moving pictures being exhibited ■ at. His Majesty's Theatre: attracted '&■ larg« ::; audience at both the afternoon and even- ■ ing. performances given on- Saturday.. There; ■ is no doubt that these 1 pictures have takeaa strong, hold on the;'public of Wellington'," and since the quality is always well-up to the . . maru, patronsvare; certain ■• of., seeing ■ a ."good-'.' show. ■ The same programme, thrit was given "■•■■ on Saturday will be repeated tc-night'.- ; :"' '■----■ : :- THEATRE: : ROYAi;^;;!jj ; -i;: ; \ , .In thematter of variety, Messrs-rFuUera , -' ■ picture entertainment, which., is - r.unninir nightly at the Theatre' Royal, woul^''be difiS cult -to-surpass.-.-.- The , films "have;; been :/ gathered from many lauds, and disclose the ' beauties of the tourist track, 1 the fierce' en- ' gagements of the fighting' line, :thb privations ■ .suffered/in-,the farm and rapio,; lifeiof' ■ settled lands, and. the rfew incidents' v'aiph are' met with .in; stay-at-home" monotony. Therefore, a kine'matbgraph show can haye a ; broadening influence on all who see at. The one thing necessary..is..tnat" the pictures '. shall be pf.the right kind—not all fophih' fancies — .and 'M,essrs; -Fuller'have'always"' ma,de,a proper, choice; The programme' was: ; ' again completely, changed ,on Satoday. night, ''" and some" unusually good pictures ; are to 'be'""' put forward;throughout the-week, .pie giyea '■■''■'■ a glimpse; at the " indnstries u 'of : :■-,'> South' j\i mining, hop-picking; etc.| an _ amazing ■ film;.' presents. ■ a series - of'- un- f: , believable. 'horsemanshipVaccom-.''-,■ plished at cavalry manoeuvres Italy; a;' third brings beautiful : Switzerland quite. close; and still another;' "The;Road,of 'Life, , '. ■ tells'-a- touching'stery,' which mnst appeal,to-; all. There are one'or two '.'fake ,, ; pictures^-V oud others which cannot, fail to bring;the \ laugh are;: "A Hydropathetic Eevenge," v "Distributing Handbills, ' "The Sofa- Bedstead, ".and"' Fido's Taking Way." >.- . - ; , : > ; ;'.CpNCERT 'AT TOWN/HALL. ,''' : : -That. Sunday' concerts cpntinue'to'gain'm ■ popularity-is beyond question; and-the recent protests which have been>made against theia seemto have had the effect of drawing the : attention, of concert' managers to the opening that may exist-for this-'class-of entertainment;' There was- a large audience at the Town Hall last:evening, 'when: an ;interestirig vocal and; instrumental programme was submitted. : The instrumental i section' was in. the'hands -:of"-';the'. Garrison- Band (uiider ' •Lieutenant.Herd),vwhich played with good effect'such selections as "Rossini's .Works." ~ (which includes the exhilarating-finale of'the ■'■''.I "William Tell" : overture),-, the- air-..r'arie ' ; " ■ i Sandon .'• (Rimmer), 1 and the march "CoK : ■ onial" (Hall). : In addition- Corporal' T. ' Goodall played, "The Holy City" (wrth.band accompaniment) w#h fine'effect, "producing; 4 a ■ tone .of excellent, quality/. '. The vocalist -of .V the evening ; was: Miss Hayward,:the r possessor of a cnltured sbprario ; voice of good ■■ range •;and' power. • "There's'a Land," and: on being encored, - responded, with.: ".The : Land- of - tho Leal. , ' > ; ' Late'r;she;sang Lee's'setting of "He wipes'the.tears from every, eye.",: The elocutionist is under, considerable difficulty .inthe .Town .• Hall, , owing' to 'the'demands made upon the ■ voicetofill th'e;vast space, and Madame Nita . Steel cannot : be. said, to;have t succeeded aa well as could be'desired. Her items, W,—'■-.'' "The Lady of Provence". (Hemans), . and Cato on .' Immortality : (Addison)—are more adapted to the study than the. concert platform.. Mrs. Nixner. acted as'accompanist;'.'

-\ ■■ \> The.Opera House was filled'to its nteosi' capacityclast, when' Haydn Beik, the it gifted boy-violinist, whom .Wellington has - heard, frequently of late; made another appearance. : The.lad; is talented far.beyond ; his years. His. tone is not so big as'; it ' might be, but,with such;a facility for: fingering, and artistic appreciation .for the pieces : heymemorises so well, the-rest must come ' with the' years. Last evening he pkyed the ' difficult "Prayer" of'. Hubay,. "Graziosp" , (Bohm), the final movement of the Sonata in. •. E Minor by Veracini, and perhaps'as wel- ' come as any, a De Beriot ; t0. ,, !: The vocal contributions, of Miss Amy '; Hyde-Woodward were very. welcome. < She ■ sang' Liddle's'"Abide With; Mβ" andTosti-'s ■' "Good-bye," which latter, song; seems lately to t have obtained a hew lease of "life., What. I Miss Hyde-Woodward lacks in power.is made up in sweetness,. :and a ■ nice perception' of: the artistio-demands of .her''songs.- ..Mr,.-. Franlc Moran, sang, a couple of. songs, Mr. Geo. Buckley played "The Lost Chord"-as a - .cornet solo surpassingly-well,; andlMr., Cecil : Trevelyan, a flautist, played his own "Pizak cati" -acceptably., .•'.".;;;• ; ■:}■ ~;x- ■';..'■

: THE TITTELL ;BRIJNE; SEASON. ■; ■ . The box plans for the Tittell Brune; season ; of thirteen nightsiwill open at the Dresden ' to-morrow morning.- The return'of Miss Tittell Brune and Mr., J. C. Williamson's Com- : pany is-an event of note, as one and all have Vivid recollections ■of the. pleasure they, were afforded on previous visits. Four productions ' are to be staged here, "opening with David • Belasco's great American play, "The Girl of the Golden West." A recojd of two seasons in New York'and most' flattering receptions : \k Sydney, and Auckland are associated with it. ' The story is of, a mining.camp in California, the : land .to which ..thousands': flocked search of hidden wealth. The second production will be a new romantic coniedvbv-Cicely Hamilton, entitled ."Diana of Dobsons." It is described as; being distinctly 'quaint-and novel,' for ,the,author hais:taken- -a ; shop--girl as the.heroine.'This will befollowed by > ; revivals of Thomas Itaceward's-- delightful drama "Sunday,", and "Romeo and' Juliet." Miss Tittell-BrUne is supported by Mrs.' Rob.ert. Brpugh,. Mr. Thomas: Kingston, and ; a : ■ company'in which are.many other favourites. ■;

■'..' ••■ :MADAME ADACROSSLEY." , >,' ■ : The announcement/that Madame Ada Cross- • ley is to give two'concerts here in'the.Town • Hall on.Monday and Tuesday.next, January 18 and 19, has been received/with' enthusiasm.. .The reports which'have : reached here from Australia and the towns' so far Visited, seem to indicate that /the tour-of the great ■'•'• contralto .will surpass even, the triumphs of '■ hervisit five years ago.. The critics all agree that Madame. Crossley's company-- is • the ■ nnest concert organisation ever heard in one ■'•• programme in. Australasia. Madame. Cross- : ■ Uγ is.already most favourably known here,-'' and her voice is said to be even, better than when she was last here. Mr. John Harrison' ' is acknowledged ; to be their greatest English tenor of- the day. Mr. Jay Ryan, the Irish baritone, is said to be a vocalist of excep-' tionallyfine quality.'Mr. Percy Grainger, the solo pianist; has. played at all the leading concerts_in tho principal towns of great Britam; having made during tho,last,winter sea- '• son more than one hundred appearances. Hβ is particularly a favourite at London recitals; ■ Mr.. Leon' Sametini • is' a ..violinist who ranks • nejttfl Kubelik.' Hβ is the yomigest violinist who, has obtained the Prague Conservatoire Diploma, winning that distinction three vears earlier in lifo than ' Kubelik. -Mr; H'arold Whittle is the accompanist. '.Tho box'plane for the two concerts will be opened on"W:ednesday. morning -next, ; at ten.o'clock,'at the Dresden, where tickets for the lower-priced ' seats-will also be: put on .sale at. the' .same ■■■'■ time. , Mr. Henry Bracy is the manager -of • the tour, which is under the directiou of Mr J.' C.'Williamson, i - .... -. -.- \. ■■■-.■ -.:■>., .'■'■■:

On' Saturday afternoon-next the musical public will bo given a; iiual i.pportunit yof hearing the Cherniavski -hoys.-.vhose-concerts' of a fewvweeks aso.wer- suuli. ■an - artistic success. .Tho -concert:,.wil ue cireiv in'+Ka Concert; Chamber /.of/ the. Town ?Hat.^'