ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 811, 7 May 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

, "THE WEDDING RING." Benjamin Landcck's melodrama, "Tlio Wedding Ring," was repeated at the Opera House last night by the Georgo Marlow Company. It "is a piece with plenty of truo tnclodraniatic "thrill"— too much, perhaps, oven for some of the fondest admirers of this class of play. Tho agony and villainy are piled so thick in. some places that the dramatic illusion is quite dispelled. The interest of the audience, however, is never allowed to Hag, for the play moves briskly from incident to incident until tho final curtain. It is, moreover, well mounted and Btagemanaged, and a railway smash is realistically achieved. Tho parts of the hero and heroine aro played by Mr. Herbert Bentley and Miss Essie Clay, while the portrayal of various phases of villainy is entrusted to Mr., H. Vox, Mr. P. V. Scully, and Mr. T. Tilt-on, and tho comic relief is in the hands of Mr. T. Curran and Miss L. Carbasso. The play will bo repeated to-night and Monday night, and will be succeeded on. Tuesday by "As Midnight Chimes." Next Tuesday evening tho company will be seen in another drama, new to Wellington, entitled, "As Midnight Chimes," by Edward Marris. This piece is said to have had remarkable success in England, and tho English press speak in high terms of it. There are stated to be a number of very fine dramatic situations, all well interwoven. The story deals with the doings pt a "goatleman" smuggler and his fishermen comrades. It opens with a happy domestic scene on the coast of Britain. An inkling of smuggling going on reaches the ears of tho wife of Nat Wilson, whoso, father is interested in the traffic. Eearing her.husband is engaged in the work, she implores ber father to persuade him to desist, and she later does tho same. , Wilson,' being ignorant, endeavours to reassume his wife, but the real smugglers, when! they find the police on their tTack, shift the responsibility on to Wilson, and use his wife as an unconscious tool. From this on there are many strong dramatic situations, well worked out, while the company's interpretation is said to be very fine. The scenic, effects are reported to be ■ excellent, and one of the several big scenes is whore the hero oscapes from a gang of prisoners on a railway platform, and jumps into a train as it is moving away, special mechanical appliances having been imported for this great effect. The box plan is at the Dresden, and early-door tickets for tho season can be obtained at Christcsou's, opposite the theatre.

THEATRE ROYAL. Tom Armstrong and Priscilla Vcrno, Frank Yorke,' the "Kelso Boys," "Victor the Groat," and tho other members of tlio Fuller Vaudeville Company now in Wellington had an appreciative audiento at'the Theatro Royal last night. The same programme will bo repeated to-night and a new one is being prepared for Monday. KING'S THEATRE. , Comic, sporting, and scenic subjects are strongly represented in tlie current programme of moving pictures, as repoatcd nightly at the new King's . Theatre under the direction of Messrs. T. J. West, Linley and Donovan. A gift matinco is announced for 2.30 'today and the usual display at night. HIS MAJESTY'S. M. Paulhan's. great flight in the aviator trials at Los Angeles is, perhaps, the most interesting tiling to be seen at his Majesty's, whore Messrs. John.j Fuller ,and ■ Sons are running a 'first-class moving-picturo show. The current something ■ good, in evory .department of up-to-date kineniatograpny> It will bo repeated to-day at tho 'inatinee and-even-ing performances. ; STAR PICTURES. St. Thomas's Hall, Nowtown, contained a large audience last evening, when tho Star Pictures were again on view. Tho same bright and interesting programme will be repeated tonight. ELLWOOD CONCERTS.. The third ooncert of the Ellwood children and Aliss Winnie Nixon, given before a large audience in the Municipal Concert Hall last* evening, confirmed previous high opinions of tho value of Mr. Gorlitz's "discoveries." The young musicians acquitted themsolvcs remarkably well in a variety of difficult selections, and Miss Nixon displayed a voice of exceptional compass and purity. Practically every it-em on tho programme was encored. Tho Ellwood children appeared together in the last movement Op. 32, D minor (Bacho), Gounod's Ave Maria, and Grieg's Norwegian Dance No. 3. The small 'cellist, •George Ellwood, interpreted Popper's "Rhapsodic Hongroiso" with surprising feeling and ability, and for an encore gave tho same composer's "Begeguiig." In the second part of the programme he played Squire's "Harlequinade," and in response t-p a double encore "Le Cygno" (Saint Saons) and "Gavotte Humoresque" (Squire). The violinist, Harry Ellwood, managed tbo double-stopping in "La Rondo des Lutins " (Bazzini), and for an encoro number gave "Romance" (Schutt). In tho second part he played Brahms' "Hungarian Danco," and for an encore Hubay s "Czardas." Miss Nixon sang "When the Heart is Young" (Buck) in an admirable manner, and in response to a redemand gave "Long Ago" (OleySneak) quite as successfully. In tho Mallinson songs, "Slow. Horses, Slow," and "A Blood-red Ring Hung Round the moon," her lack of artistic training was more evident, especially in the -first number, which requires simplicity and restraint of treatment. For ail encore number "Annie Laurie" was sung very pleasingly, though Miss Nixon's phrasing in at least one place might have been improved. Goring Thomas's song "A Summer Night" was excellently sung, and had to be repeated. For this number George Ellwood furnished a 'cello ohblieato. Mr..Dave Kenny accompanied nil but one of Miss Nixon's songs, and did so most artistically. A - fourth concert will bo given this evening, when a populnr programme will be offered, mid to-morrow night a sacred concert will be riven in the Town Hall. The sacred concert will bo the last, onnorttmity of hearing the party In Wellington, and they are well wnrt.ii hearing, not only as oxamnles of little taught precocity, but for the pure pleasure of their. performance. apart from such extraneous considerations. GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH. Commencing on Thursday week at tho Opora House, Mr.. J. C. Williamson will inaugurate a- fortnight's season of grand opera, during which tho works to bo presented will include Puccini's "Madam Butterfly" and "La Bohemo," and Bizet's "Carmen" —all to ho sung in English. An orchestra of <10 instruments will be under the direction of Signor Hazon, with Mr. Alfred Hill as deputy-conductor. The company numbers 130 peoplo, and altogether tbo enterprise is the biggest musical venture that has appeared in Now Zealand. When in Europe recently, Mr. Williamson visited Milan in search of. firstclass operatic tnlorit. His chief discovery was Mdlle. Bel Sorel, and after bearing her sing Mr. Williamson shared, Signor Hazon's enthusiasm and cn-| gaged her for the Australasian' tour. Mdlle. Sorel is young, and possesses! a voico that has won her reputation] in all tho art centres of Europe. Sho is reported to bo also one of tho most] subtle actresses of the lyric stage, with 1

a voice moving in its emotional quality —a voico of beauty, dramatically flexible and unerringly sincere. In grand opera more than ono prima donna is essential, accordingly three other sopranos ivoro engaged. Mdlle. Eily Barnato is also an Italian, and for two seasons was one of the chief attractions of the Metropolitan Opera House, under tho management of Oscar Hammcrstein, in New York. Signorita Maria l'ampari, tho third prima donna, has also, though still in her early twenties, had a phenomenally successful career,' having sung leading soprano parts in every capital in Europe, whilst Miss Amy Castles, tho fourth, is an Australian, and will alternate the part of Chocho San nightly with Mdlle. Bel Sorel, in "Madam Butterfly." Tho principal tenors aro Mr. P. H. Blarney, whose voice is praised for its "beguiling tenderness," and M. Jean Zerga, who will alternate with Mr. Blarney in tho tenor roles. The principal baritone is Signor Antonio Zanelli, a name said to be' one to conjure with in European operatic circles. According to Signor Hazon, Signor Zanelli is a singer of delightful poise, breadth, and sensibility. In our advertising columns will be found particulars of the prices that will obtain. The box tilans for the first sis nights ("Madam' Butterfly") will be opened at the Dresden on Friday next.

' MONTGOMERY'S DRAMATIC COMPANY. Montgomery's new Dramatic Company will appear in the Town Hall, Lowor Hutt, to-night, in what is said to be a very thrilling drama, "The Web of Fate." New artists and new scenery aro promised. On Tuesday night the play will be repeated in the Skating Rink hall, between Hutt and Petone, and there will be fireworks from 7 p.m. till 8 p.m. Entertainments, consisting of pictures and illustrated melodies, aro also to be hold every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, in Fullford's Hall, Brooklyn. TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. By special request, Mr. Maughan Barnett is going to repeat to-night his programme for the previous recital, which was the one hundredth recital since tho City Council commenced the series. The pieces were exceptionally well received by tho large audience, particularly Gounod's fantaisie on "Faust," Dobussy's prelude from "La Demoiselle Elue," and the suite "Peer Gyut," by Grieg. OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. The Olympia Skating Rink will reopen on May 21, under tho direction of Messrs. John Fuller and Sons. New flooring has been put down, and now skates will bo provided.