ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 535, 16 June 1909, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CHUNG LING SOO. ' The marvellous skill of- tiie star artist of the luckards's Vaudeville Company, Chung Ling boo, attracted an audience wnich completely lUled tho Opera House last mglit. Tho (inowd began to gather soon alter. IS o'clock, and as soon as tho early doors were opened .the house was crowded.. Many had apparently bean to see the master conjuror and illusionist the previous night, and theories-were expounded on all sides as to how this or that "simple" trick'was. done, whilstone or two of the more venturesome had explanations which were alleged to account for other of the items.. Keen observers, as niost of the audience were," and w«U versed in arts of. conjurors and illusionists, it. was impossible lo detect the methods by which the dignified Soo so calmly aud completely mystified tlio house. Tho more difficult of the acts of the magician were described in these columns yesterday, but*ono at least, "The Witch's Cauldron," is worthy of another line. A great empty cauldron is introduced, and a few bucketfuls of water are turned into it, after which a spirit fire is set aught underneath. When the water, reaches about the boiling stage, stock poultry is thrown into tho pot. Before the. audience realise what has been done, live rabbits, pigeons, fowls, and ducks flutter-out-'of the pot until the surroundings give the impression of a farmyard. X'ihally Mrs. Soo, her face wreathed in smiles,'rises from the cauldron; and then the audience breathes freely again, and wants to know "how" and "when." Stewart and Lorraine gave an entertaining "turn" with banjos, bells, etc./and the soprano operatic airs of Madame Camillo Cornwall are-well received. Eccentric dancing is the forte ot Australia s Little Tich." The other performers are the Two Bells, song and danco artists,, the Australian D'Artos, dancers,- and the Wheelers, a pair of clever trick cyclists, and Mr. Ted_ Kalman, comedian. A . matinee performance is to be given on Saturday.' ■ THEATRE KOYAL. The merit of programme which is being put forward at the Theatre Royal this week, is proclaimed rby the enthusiasm with which Ihe varied assortment of films is received b'v the audience. "Coffee Cultivation," an-excellent industrial picture, is oho of several instructive items, and the<comic clement is sandwiched in so. as not to permit ofany. sameness running through the pictures. Tho latest addition-to an already strong programmers Madame Sarah Bernhardt'* drama. "The Baffoon."

" \ HIS-MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The final' running off of the feast of pictures which has been the draw at His Majesty's Theatre, for ' the; : past , week: was..given last night, and Ithe house--.was as pleased with the fare provided as.it was 'oir thc. evening-of -the first .production. The management announce their weekly change of bill, for^this'evening.'i 01 A'MPI A RlNlvi All sessions "ofthVSkafcng Rink are.lieing wkl attended. The. rink is open-for three orcunary sessions every day, and,- in -addition,- a r special session,for beginners is held from Oto 7.15 p.m., oxcept Wednesdays, and Saturdays; . 'A; lady instructress is present,at the ordinary- session to;initiate.. lady nonces in the art of.skating. Various Competitions are-held every .week, and for to-night a' couples race (first heat) will be run, and- should 'prove very; interesting,, as Jarra . entries. have. been.: received- The. push ball and the black,and white carnival are the chief items for the next fbw weeks.'". - ' . "inss HOOK OF HOLLAND."' There is not only- something, delightfully picturesque in, Holland ecenery and tulip gardens, but some strange simplicity. in the Dutch peo-ple,-which lends itself :to sentiment and humour.;. lh.e very conventional Dutch' language the stage is perhaps, a, successful, dialect .as the stage Irish Boucicault. , It has thus that the authors of "Miss: Hook of Holland" havo followed tradition. The scene of the first act, .the Cheese' Market of Arndyke," is said to be full of beautifully-blended tender /tints, fH? contrast delightfully with the costumes of the players.- It, is claimed for "Miss: Hook" that it is amusing! it is clover; it is acted by comedians who. are comic-;..and* it is sung bv singers, who can' sing. The music is . far superior to tho averge oopera-light, : melodious, and catcny. The movement,'* says a critic, "never flags, the dresses are all .perfectly charming, especially the blue overalls, * which the girls wear in'the Amsterdam Distillery. In fact the entertainment is what X despaired of over seeing, ngain—iv musical go-as-yc»i-please piece, rn '? rea - 1 , 1 ?', w 'orth going many times'to -sco od S, a ??. -humour 1 nnd dainty deiL ■ „ ss J?ook .will. make, her,debut at the Upera House on June' 28, and the'plans will open at tho Dresden on Tuesday next. ' '

THE, AtiFli® HILL CONCERT. Among tlie important' musical' .functions to engago the attention of the public in tlie near future is. the concert to be tendered to Mr. Alfred Hill in'the big Town' Hall on Monday week. Mr.-J. W. .lo.vnt presided at a meeting of .the general committee held at the Dresdeix Rooitis lust o.yoiiinjj, when a, progress re* port was presenter! by the exofciitive comniittte, stating that matters weroin satisfactory train for what would Imj a really notable concert. It was* reported the orchcstrn, some fifty members strong, .tinder, the alternative conductorshin of Mr. J. Mauphan Bavnrtt. and Mr. ftobt Parker, will play tSchnbert's "Unfinished Symphony, and nis overture to "TJosaniuncli" the adagio > movement of Mr. Hill's . .beautiful "Maori • Symphony," and; TschaikowsKy's Dornroschen." Mr. John Prouse' is to ping Mr. Hill's. ..song, "Tangi'*—a , notable composition—with . a full, orohestrul accompaniment, . and; songs will/ ■ also bo contributed" by ' Miss ' Phoebe Parson 6 and Mr.. E. J. Hill..' T.Ho Hon. A. /I\ 'Ngata lias promised to recite , his stirring poem, "Scenes trom the Past," and the, committee decidecl to forward , him a letter of thanks for the- assistance he is rendering. Those .who have purchased tickets are notified that the box plan opens at the Dresden to-morrow morning. ELOCUTIONARY AND MUSICAL RECITAL. _An-elocutionary and.mimical'recital ,bv Mips -'\y„ Harvey,. assisted' by IHra-JI. 'and - tf.'-Dix, v.- teasdalo, and i\l.r. (.'. M'lntyre/ in : tKe elocutionary. portion of the programme, and bv Miss'Pringlo'. and. llrssrs.K.'.l, Hi Tombs, ami Hugh Wright m the iiiuuV.nl porlio'n. will be given iu the \yesley Hall, .Taranaki Street, to-morrow evening, at-S o'clock, in'connection with the : Wesleyah ;l.i'terafy .and'; Debating Sbciety.. An excellent selection of literary and musical items has-been made, which, conibined with -the'.morits-of the individual performers, should provide an enioyahlo evening. The price of admission is one shilling, and 'tickets may be purchased, and seats reserved, at the Drosden Co., whare the booking:plan;is'now open.

to-night;s "pop." At to-night's, "Pop," given, under, the' 'auspices of the"Wellington Professional Orchestra, the purchaser.of the 500th-ticket is to be presented with ill. The programme will include contributions' by Miss' Estelle Beere's pupils, solos by Mrs. Orr-Loring and Mjbs Baker. -Mr. Fred Baines, and a number of selections •by the orchestra. The third stage of the school children's singing competitions will also bo taken this eyening. The box-plan is at the Dresden. ' WELLINGTON' CHORAL SOCIETY ' The first performance of the 1309 season of th'e Wellington Choral Society will be given on Tuesday evening next, Muno 22.. at tho Town Hall. Mr. .T. Mnughan Barnett, the musical directqr, has had the chorus hard, at'work for some time with Ciade's "Comala" and .■ "Song of Destiny," and, latterly, the orchestra has joined, with the result that, a. first-class performance is'expected. The box-plan'is" now open at tho Dresden. '•