ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 488, 22 April 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE DAIRYMAIDS." ■ Tho last two nights of "The Merry 'Widow" aro now announced, in spite of tho sustained popularity of that fascinating, opera, and on Saturday evoniag tho Royal Comio Opera' Company will produco "Tho Dairymaids" for tho first time in Now Zealand. This ' successful musical play has a strong credential in having been played for nearly two years at tho Apollo Theatre, London, and its Australian seasons havo beon oho continuous record of success. Tho cast ib a strong one, embracing all tho favourites, and much has been heard of Miss Fanny Dango's performance as "Peggy." Miss Florence Young, as "Winifred," also has a part in which she is said to'have'been more than ordinarily successful, whilo Mr. Eeginald Roberts and Mr. Andrew Higginsou are credited with clover and finished performances: in tho tenor and baritone partsi respectively. Tho comedy work (in which the piece is very strong) rests generally upon the able shoulders of Messrs. C. R.Bantock, W. S. Percy,: Arthur Hunter, and D. B. O'Connor. A special feature of the production, which, it is stated, will be presented on as lavish a. scale-as-"The Merry, Widow," will be the unique gymnasium scene in the second act, in which a number of the ladies go through various and most aUraotivo athletio exercises. ...-.' ■ v / THEATRE ROYAL. Melodrama at its height is having a very successful run at the Theatre Royal, whero "Lured to London" is the attraction. Though there is nothing very novel in tho plot of the play, the mounting and acting help to make it an interesting production. Mr. J. P. O'Neill, Miss Ethel Buckley, Mr. Kenneth Hunter,'and Mr. Robt. Inman all play their parts well. On Saturday night " Lured to London," will be replaced by a drama new to Wellington—"The Broken Home." ■-.-.. i ' . '; . ■ WEST'S: PICTURES.. -, "Tabloid drama" ..as long been a feature of kinematographic exhibitions, but until quite lately almost all the pictures of this, class have been French productions, which, though cxcollently got up and acted, have always'had something of the foreign clement, in. them, which detracted from their interest Wherißhbwn before New Zealand theatre-goers: Now,'howover, West's management have made anew departure by presenting 'an ' English . dramatic' nlni-"Tho Mystery of Edwin Drood." : :',Tlie dramatic intensity,.,*)!; Charles Dickens's last and unfinished novel is well suited for this; and its presentation in Wellington has proved an entire'success. In addition to this "star" film, the programme, last night was full of popular pictures, one of tho best being'tha't showing scenes around Jerusalem." A chango.of programme is announced for ,to-night. ■ ,'-..,. ''/.'. ". SONG; : RECITAL.: ••';'".'s . . There were only about .twenty people prosent at the.song recital given by Mr. and Mrs! Hamilton Hodges in the .Concerti Chamber yesterday afternoon. Mr. Hodges;', who was in good voice, sang Liza Lehman's, "In iMemoriara" song ■ cycle. He : also sang Arthur Somervell's cycle, " Maud." It would i.o unfair to criticise the singer, ■ owing to the echo caused, by the " vast emptiness "; of the hall. Mrs. Hodges's contribution was "A Lone Garden," another cycle by Clough-Lelghton. .The excellent accompanying ''of Mre.• E. H. Queree was a feature worth noting/: .'■'•. .'..-',"• HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. : Last nighf s change programme of pictures at His Majesty's Theatre was quite up to the standard, which tho management have set themselves. One of tho most interesting' films was "Making Dreadnought Guns," which' showed the various processes in the. manufacture of the large cannon which' go* to make tho armament of a, modern warship: "Valeria of Isspgne" was vivid tabloid drama. '■,'Valeria is a maid living in the stern-Middle Ages, and she loves a man" named Guido. Her father, however, orders her to marry a man of his choosing, and when 6he displays a mind of her .oivn on tho matter shuts.her up in a monastery. From, there she is released by her lover'and a "gallant band with' sword in hand." The couple are pursued, but find refuge in another monastery, and when the pursuing band;would seize Valeria, the monk sternly commands them to desist from tearing asunder those whom the church had' united. .Other classos of' films were also plentiful in tho programme, such'as "Satan's Smithy," "From' Yokohama .to Kyoto," and " The Marvellous Gramophone." ;Tho programme will be repeated to-night, • ' ; : •-■'mada'ME'.'melba:.-''. \ -■■■ ' to baud state that at her final concert in the southern city. Madamo 'Melba created quite a furore;- Especially fine' was.her singing .of the great scena.from'Ambroise -Thomass "Hamlet.", The. audience'' I were spellbound with Melba's rendering- of the terrible dirge. ..Of the other numbers given bv the' great singer, the "Otago..Daily .Times•'■'■ specially refers to "the climax qf the evening Melba's interpretation of Sir H. Bishop's rendering of Shakespeare's wonderful words in "Venus and'Adonis":—"Seldom," says the " Times;" ." has there been heard a more) perfect blending of harmony and melody than when the flute-like ■ notes' of Madame Melba's noble voice soared in perfect unison with tho marvellous music which issued from the mouth of the'talented flutist's instrument. It was Mr. John Leminonc's evident endeavour to second the diva, and in this ho succeeded. Then for music-lovers there ensued ono of those rare moments'when, by a precious combination of- training and technique, ability and art, a peon is permitted into an earthly paradise. And despite the rapturous applause.which followed;'Madame Melba earned the'thanks of all artistic souls by persistently refusing to sing again.. For what'more delightful memory could anyone desire to take away from so eventful an' evening than that of tho queen of song environed in a bower composed of tho floral tributes, smiling 'and bowing, in acknowledgment of the' roars of applause and shouts of "encore," the while charmingly shaking her head as her lips framed the words "Good-bye, Good-bye, Good-bye."