ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1257, 12 October 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

.mi;, frank nuTcncxs. Tlio first concert of Mr. Frank Ilutchens, Hip young New Zealand pianist:, was given in Hip Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening before an audience dial: was not so Ior<;o a.s the round artist deserved, for one cannot doubt but that fhcro is «i prt'nl c.nrwr before liim. 'J'lio programme opened willi the first movement of Chopin's famous sonata in B Minor. Ills rendering of tins numlx.T showed him to tie jKis-c-sd ot technical and inlorprclativo gifts of a very high order. His lone was round and sonorous, and lie proved him.-elf capable of producing a lin?, robust fortissimo or the most delicate pianissimo at will. His encore to fliis number was a Km inns waltz in J! Major. The next number, a miniature suite by YorkBowen, displayed originality and imagination in a high degree: in fact, in every branch of artistry Mr. Hutchens is most astonishingly mature and complete. In reisponse to an encore he played "Liebestrurae" (Liszt). A bracketed number of Chopin etude.? (Nocturne. F Elinor, C'hopin as encore), and ,1 Liszt Rhapsody (No. 10) completed Mr. iLutoheiifl's contributions to the programme. Miss Agnes Segrief gave much pleasure by her singing of "Stride la A'ampa" (Y'cnlij, and as an encore she responded with "Love's Whisper" (Willoughby). Her sccon<l number, "Down iu the Forest," was particularly good, and, on being recalled, she sung "I Sometimes Wonder" (Amy Woodford Finden). Mr. Will Hutchens, the possessor of a lyric tenor voice of good quality, sang 'the recitative and air, "Where'er You Walk" (Handel). His enunciation and intonatioii wcro particularly gum, and his pei-formance-s were very artistic, and pka.sing. "I Thank Thee, Life" (Amy Bedford Wright) was his ene-orc number. His second number was a bracketed one, "A Memory" (Goring Thomas) and "The Browney Bird," an effective little song : by Mr. Frank Hutchens. He also contributed "My Quesn" (Blumenthal)—his • least pleasing number. Miss Fthel Car- • ter gave a somewhat unconvincing performance of Lewis Carey's "Break! ; Break! Break!" Sho possesses a voiis i of much tone and sweetness, but showed < a tendency to force it.' Her song was 1 encored. In the second half of the pro-

gramme Hiss Carter sang the Jfcyprbeer Cavatina, "Lieti Signor" (from Gli I'gonotti), and, for an encore, gave Jlallinson's "Eloanore." Jlr. David Keuny plaved Hiss Segrief's accompaniments and Miss Mabelle Harris thoso of the other singers. Another concert will he given oil Friday evening, and miisicIpvers should not miss the i>j)j)ortunity of hearing Jlr. prank Hiitcliens. TIIEATKE KOYAL. ' A largo audience filled the Theatre Royal last evening, the principal attraction being tho turn of the National Duo. With quite a large stock of business to

amuse the audience, these clcvcr juvenile performers command attention during the whole of the timo that they are on the stage, 'and, as the.v iinished last evening, they wero. vociferously applauded. Mabelle, the dancer, continues to be popular, and Signer Martincngo and the Musical Sheppards were also well received. A managerial announcement states that Emerald and Dupre, knockabout artists from America, will arrive in Wellington next Monday for a season of seven nights. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Notwithstanding the number of strong counter-attractions, His Majesty's Theatre was filled last evening, when tho current week's programme was screened for the last time. To-night an entirely new series will be presented. The neiv programme, which arrives by the 'Frisco mail 10-dav, includes the very latest liiograph productions. Only the short period of a month has elapsed since they were first presented at the principal picture theatres of London. "Lost in the Desert" is a powerful dramatic film by the American Biograph Company. "Making Straw Hats" is a representation of a most interesting industry, showing the method of manufacture by natives of the Philippines, "l-'oolsbead's Last Itoguery," "Mr. inquisitive," a comic absurdity by the Lubin Company, is said to lo' one of that firm's best productions. A number of other 'films will be introduced, tho whole making a bright and pleasant evening's entertainment. THE KING'S T ILEA TEE. "Napier JDay by Day"—an interesting picture showing well-selected views of Ilawke's Hay's chief city—was screened at the King's Theatre last evening, and ilrcy a large attendance. It will be supplemented by a new scries of travel, agricultural, historical, and tropical subjects, as well as several dramatic and comic items of good clas;. These pictures have been specially selected in London by Mr. T. J. West. Music will be supplied by tho King's Lyric Orchestra. THE NEW THEATRE. Again last night people had to be refused admission to the New Theatre on account of the crowded state of the building where the continuous' picture showholds sway. "The Price of Beauty," tho principal film in tho programme, is proving one of the most successful yet shown by the management. It is supplemented by a fine selection of photo-plays, including "Scenes in a Kaffir Compound.". Tomorrow, in addition to the "Price of Beauty," there will bo a new series of scenic, comic, and dramatic items. ST. THOMAS'S HALL. West's Pictures are still doing good business at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown. There will bo the usual bi-weekly change of programme to-night, when a new series of varied subjects will bo screenod. THE COMPETITIONS.

The first annual festival of_ the New Zealand Competitions Society bids fair to bring about a yearly national reunion of enthusiastic and intelligent people from all over .Australasia. Were this re-union the solo end and aim of the festivals, tho tiling would bo wo!I worth while, but there is more than that. To this national festival there will come most of tho competitors of proved ability from tho various provincial centres. Even this first year some are coming from as far away as Australia. Champions in (ho various seotions will arrive from Ballarat, Tasmania, Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch. There is apparently good evidence that Wellington can do a. thing of this kind very well. The festival opens on Octobcr 25. LIEDERTAFEL CONCERT. Tho ooneerts of the Liedertnfel aro always welcome, and no doubt the society's second concert of tho present season will attract a good audience to-

night. It is being held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hali. The pro-! gramme, which will naturally _ comprise glees and part-songs' by tlie Liedertafol, will be an attractive 0110. The Liedertafel will havo tlio assistanco of Mr. Frank Johnstone, who will con tribute two 'cello solo?, and that old-time favourite (Mr. E. B. Williams) will sin? Schubert's beautiful "Who is Sylvia?" THE ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY. The second performance of the Choral Society for the. season will take place at the Town Hall on Friday, October 20, when Sir Frederick Cohen's dramatic oratorio ''Ruth" will be performed for the first time in Xew Zealand by a. chorus and orchestra numbering 2GO. The oratorio has been receiving closo attention by the musical director, Mr. Maughan Barnctt, A full rehearsal will be held in St. John's Schoolroom to-morrow evening, and a practice for chorus only on Monday. Mr. Sydney Butler, of Glasgow, will take the tenor "solos, while tho soprano solo work will 110 undertaken by M.rs. Gower Burns, of Christchurch. The box plan opens at tho Dresden to-morrow at 9 o'clock, where 2s. and 3s. seats may lie reserved without extra charge. One shilling tickets may also be obtained at the Dresden. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Islington will be present at the performance. CASEY. Casey, the famous performing chimpanzee, arrived by the Wnrrimoo yesterday, en route for the Hastings show, whore he will give a series of performances. Ho is claimed to have 80 point* out of 1000 in common with human anatomy, no plays the piano and also tho mouth-organ, uses carpenter's tooK smokes a pipe, nurses children, and, in fact, can do anything but talk. Since he was in Wellington sonic eight months ago he has grown about ti fooi in height, increased two stone in weight, and is a bigger comedian than over. He is very enter)niuiuJi and is no doubt well lvurUi teeing.