ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 February 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" "A. COUNTRY GIRL." There were no .-.vacant seats 'at'-.tto Opera House lost night when "the well, known musical play, "A Country Girl," was again produced'by the Williamson Now Comic Opera Company. As on the occasions "of 'the previous . presentations the tuneful music, , bright, songs and choruses, and. animated .dancing 'were greatly admired. ' The comedy •element, also, was so well brought out as-to cause no end of. mirth. Miss Court again appeared to advantage in the name partj' whilst Mr. Clayton . as . Geoffrey, ; Mr;. Prince as the Kajah of Bhong, Miss Sar-; gent as Sophie, and Mr. Percy as.Barry, also filled their'.parts-well.- The piece will be presented , for the. last time . tonight. ' '

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.:, ■. . The excellent'programme of moving pictures now being, shown; at His Majesty's Theatre was ■ applauded byanother large attendance, last evening. A matinee exhibition will be given to-day. in addition to the usual: evening ;'entertainment.'

. THEATRE. ROYAL. Laughter ruled at the Theatre Royal last evening, when Messrs. clever vaudeville company delighted a large audience .with tile varied, songs and eccentricities of' their programme.: The ' present entertainment, which is of a. .consistently 'high standard,' will be repeated this, evening for the last time/ and on Monday a new: bill will -be presented.

" THE' CORNISH PIXIE. Special receptions .will be given -to-day by the Cornish '"Pixie" in his room at the corner of Willis Street and Chew's Lane, in the morning from 11 till 12.30, afternoon from 3 till 5.30,. and at night from 7 till. 9.15.'

; • FISK JUBILEE SINGERS^ The question has not infrequently been :asked - to.- what is attributable -, the ' un-. fading popularity of: tho entertainments given , by' the Fiik Jubilee-Singers. - Peraps the secret .is .-contained in the fol-. lowed expression" of opinion made many years ago by 'the.' E«v.". Henry Ward BECeher: ,f Mv Christian - friends, ■we have in our midst a..-small company of singers, from -"way .down South'! . They-are-here.-to. sing -a'few. of. their 'plantation melodies,' such as are used in -their own : camp .meetings. Tho .company call ■ themselves the: -'Jubilee -Singers,* .for, as you all;. know, the : day . that . Abraham ; 'Lincoln isigned.' 1 the 'Emancipations Proclama-tion.-was to the poor slave a day of great rejoicing. I have heard our l - church music ;sung' 1 artistically;'by' four- birds perched on their roost -in tlTe' gallery/ until I thought of Jenny Lind, and Nilson, and Sontag, and all the other warblers, but there came not one tear to my heart; but, .my.friends, after hearing the ; coloured singers render. .'Steal away, to Jesus,' 'The . Lord's Prayer,' and 'Nobody knows-the .trouble I've seen,' I was ■ float-: ed -some three >. or. .four; miles' nearer Heaven than I;have ever, been since.";;;'

: The. Fisks will cemmence a season at the" Town. Hall to-night. Seats, may ,be reserved at-the Dresden. :■ Popular prices will he charged—no extra fee for;booking.-': , '!

■ MUSICAL ALL 1 This celebrated company of entertainers, who'open their season at,the Opera House on Monday night next, come with glowing accounts from the leading exchanges, and' from what wo hear the company'is one';of the' niost'.versatile' that 'nas.; appeared hero for some time; Every member of.the troupe is what'may-bo term'ed a double-headed musician, playing two or threo instruments, with an ease and grace which, is,said to be: marvellous; MissNellio Black is the. star - .artist; of the troupe, and is. described as a musician' of : rare merit,,her,performance ori:the violin' being a j revelation,-, and . her singing an artistip,.,success. ,i.One-.paper. 'says whole • company could call-themselves- the, ''All Stars' as well as the 'All Blacks/ as thero is not a weak.. member in the troupe. . The . pictures are' a distinctly pleasing feature of the performance,, the subjects/being, new and - varied, ; and; the projecting being • wonderfully ' clear." Seats may be reservedirat - the Dresden, and day sales are arranged , for at'Christeson's. . • . - -.

: EICKAEDS'S VAUDEVILLE COM- - , '. ; :i : (I ;PANT.;;;;,^ : Tho . amusement-loving-, public of Wellington -will welcome - the liews in our 'advertising columns of :theappearanc«.in'. Wellington at tho Opera House on Saturday evening next, of another.of.i Mr- Harry' Eickards's -Vaudeville - Looking- over,-the Uongdist of -artists' a treat may be expected.- Mr.- Eickards's companies : invariably comprise a large number-of artists who have made a name' for - themselves'- in ' the -Australian ' colonies, and;, it is evident that ! this enter-' prising • manager is ■ determined: to give' the public of i New Zealand tho best talent engaged by him in Europe, America] - and the Continent. The array of artists comprising;. the present 'combination'.: appears to bo particularly strong,- for :it includes a number'of the'world's greatest star-' acts.'' Particular ! ,'interest ' attaches 'to the, debut of l Mr.' and Mrs. Robert Fitzsimmons, who will appear in' a clever little', playlet, whioh aroused a good;deal of enthusiasm in-England and America." During this sketch Mr-'Titi-6imm'ons will givo an exhibition of ball--punching,' and Mrs., Fitzsimmons, who is said to be a- brilliant-lyric soprano,-irill sing a number'-of new songs. , Mrs. Fitz-. siminons, whoso professional name . is Miss Julia Gilford, created, quite a furore in; -Sydney. She is described' as bright and ; vivacious, : combining the, chic - of -the French chansonet with the gTaco and : abandon of tho American woman. The success of Mr. Franco Piper' has'already ' preceded him. ■He is described' as the Maestro of the '. spinning, tossing, jugglingi and swinging banjo: He plays six banjos'-at the same'time, while juggl-' ing and'tossing.them'about in all manner of : ways: .• He prides himself- upon tho tonal quality . of his; playing, " and': produces some wonderful.'effects upon' this instrument. ; Another' great' "performance is one- to bo submitted by the three* ters .Trapnell; th 6 only 'lady acrobats! oh. the' English;] stage, all other' similar performers ; being- either 'Continental, or American; ' The success of % these ladies in Anstralia .was' instantaneous. Amongst' the other artists \are "■ such favourites. as Mr.' Fred.' Bluett,.;.the. 'Wheelers, Vaude and Verne.The performance will close, nightly .'.with' an" exhibition of' the bioscope films of , the Fitzsimmons-Lang boxing "contest, : which.-took .plaoe -on Christmas' Day.'at the, Stadium,. Sydney,' in the ; presence' of " upwards of 15,000 people. . Tho box plan , for the short, season of.-seven . nights. opens .on Wednesdaj morning at tho Dresden. • ■.

■ ANDREW BLACK CONCERT; Wellington residents are 1 to have another opportunity; of making the' acquaintance of-'Mr. Andrew Black and his concert company—the season covering two appearances in the Opora .House on- Monday and Tuesday, March 7 and 8.. . Mr.; Andrew Black is easily remembered.. The' famous'baritone's past visits have proved, what , a:' fine 1 singer'he' is,' and oratoria, opera,: or the, homely English and Scot-" tish ballad' arc equally , easy to this ;fino ar,t:st. Mr'. Black is-'a perfectly natural singer, and; at, all times thoroughly uii-' . derstarids .the, secret of /"fine" singing. ' Mr. : Blaek is. bringing'with him another artist of' great ability," viz., Herr Anton Tschaikov, ■ a celebrated, violin 1 virtuoso. This gentleman,'was born.in Russia, an,d received his first lessons from his father, who is ai 'cellist. of. note. 'Although young in ' years,'- : the; musical i critics who' have heard him : unanimously' agree that. nothing short' of a. supernatural gift could account'/.for."his,, mastery'. over tho instrument. , Passing ,;out of,his; father's' hands. ho soon lMrncd'.to iplay.-the.Vmost difficult compositions, -and .with careful study: and care ho .steadily: improved, year, by year until to-day :he stands prominently forward as a violin virtuoso. - Tho, other members, Miss Hey Cross (contralto) and Miss Lilian. Delanoy, are. both artists': of repute, 'and combine,.in forming' an interesting., concert company. ( -<' ....'. ENOS BACON. Mr. Enos Bacon; after a most successful tour in- .the; . South . Island,' is returning to : Wellington for. threo; days,, and -is advertised to appear on' Sunday and Mon,iny, i'ebruary 37 and 2?, and March I, .