ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE MERCHANT OF VENICE." Ther-} was another capacity audience at "Tho Merchant of Venice," played by tho talented As:he-]irayton Company last evening at tlio Opera House. Tlio production reaches a. very high standard, and tlio porl'orinanca of Miss Brayton as Portia and Mr. Oscar Asclio as Shylock wore greatly appreciated. Thero will bo a matinee of "Tho Merchant of Venice" this afternoon, tho curtain rising at 2 o'clock. Those who, wish to avoid tho crush at night should avail themsolves of the afternoon performance, as it will bo precisely tho same in overy detail as in tho evening. Children will bo admitted at half-price to all parts. On Monday aad lucsday nights, Shakespeare's fine comedy, "Tlio M erry Wives of Windsor," will be presented, with Mr. Oscar Asche and Miss Lily Brayton in two of their favourite and most popular characters, Sir John FnlstalF and -Mistress Ford. A point interest in connection with tho staging of this piece is that, contrary to tho usual practice, tho scenes are set in winter. Mr. Ascho holds that thero are abundant evidences' in the text that it was intended to refer to tlio tirno of snow, aud tho wintry surroundings cbcracteristic of England provido tho opportunity for somo very fine effects. THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Royal was packed last evening, when tho programme included tho first heat of tho singing competition lor amateurs. I/jcal talent appears to be popular, and, according to tho singing last evening, is quite good. Tho competition throughout was most amusing, and the sectionof the audience particularly interested in their competing friends loudly applauded when, in a rather dazed manner, they appeared in tlio glare of tho lootlights. Tho audienco were very goodnatured, and, excepting fair comment and oasy chaff, oulminating in a "count-out" in two instances, there was no rowdyism. Mr. Jack Wilkinson (No. 3), in the character of a convict, topped tho poll with 591 votes against Mr. Jack Lucas (No. 8) with 178 vote's, second, and Mr. Gcorgo Wilson (No. 9), third, with 91 votes. Mr. Lucas appeared as a. burglar, and Mr. Wilson as a labourer. Mr. Wilkinson easily deserved his win; his character and general make-up being well in keeping with the tone of the song, besides which Ills voice was better than his rivals. Mr. Lucas was a good second, although tho part of a burglar was not so fitting as that of a convict, as tho song is in reality full of pathos, and Mr. Nelson himself owes a great part of his success when singing "Mr. Booze" by being ablo to make fho song understood as well as heard. The rest of the programme went oft' with a genial swing. Mr, Roy Rene, Hebrew comedian, was recalled throe times and applauded vigorously. Tho Cliflo quartet, Messrs. Georgo Collins, Leonard Nelson, and Miss Grace Compton did their best to mako tho programme a bright one. The management announco that tho next heat for the competition will be sung next Friday, the entries to close not later than next Wednesday. Tho final, comprising tho first throe out of each heat, will take place on Friday wook. The usual oliange of programme will be staged on Monday.

TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. Several interesting novelties are included in the programroo for to-nighfs organ recital in the Town Hall. Rheijiberger's "Phantasie" from the 15th sonata, Lemnro's "Im prom hire in A," Bach's "Fantasia and Fugue in A Minor" will have their first performances at these recitals. Mr. Maughnn Barnctt will also play Wagner's "Waldncbon" and Meyerbeer's "Torch Light March."' The vocalist is Miss Gertrude Hunt.

BENEFIT ENTERTAINMENT. A benefit concert and picture entertainment will bo given in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening to raise funds to assist tho widow and children of the lato Mr. S. Garshook, who recently met his death in a lift accident. Patrons aro assured of an excellent programme. Specially-selected films havo been lent by Messrs. MacMahon and Donnelly, of the New Theatre. The same firm aro also supplying tho biograp.il and operator. A full orchestra of well-known musicians will be in attendance, and first-class artists will contribute to tho concert programme.

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS. The success attending the opening of the Baillie Exhibition on Sunday afterneons has prompted tho New Zealand Academy to similarly open its annual exhibition Best Sunday. Admission on this occasion will be free, but there will be a collection-box at the door, and it_ is hoped that in view of the work which the Academy has done in the matter of tho national collection that those attending will contribute as freely as tliey did at the Baillie Exhibition.

MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA. Tho Municipal Orchestra will give its eloventh concert of tho present series on Tuesday next in tho Town Hall. The programme will include Tscluiikovskv's "Nutcracker" Suite, Grieg's "Peer Gynt" Suite, Weber's Overture "Euryanthe," and Rubinstein's "Toreador et Andaluse." Miss Dora Read will bo the vocalist, SONG RECITAL. Tho Hamilton Hodges song Tecital takes place on Wednesday, next, October 23. Among the numbers are the song cycle, "Stars of the Desert" (Amy WoodfordeFinden), which is typically eastern in construction. In Hermann Lohr's "Songs of Rumania," Mr. Hodgos has found a group that ho predicts will be as popular as the Freebooter songe. Three of tho Coleridge-Taylor songs aro new to Wellington audiences. Mr. Horace Hunt Is lo play tho Adagio from Schubert's "Fantaisio. Op. 15," and two Arabesques of tho great French composer, Debussy. Signor Truda will play the brilliant Fantasio for the flute, "Aux Alpes," by Terschak. Mrs. E. H. Queree is the accompanist. Tho box plan is open at the Dresden. SUNDAY CONCERT. Under the patronage of his Excellency the Governor nnd _ Lady Islington, the Wellington Professional Orchestra will give the seventh concert of the 1912 season at the Town Hall to-morrow evening.. Tschaikovsky's Overture Solennelle "1812" will bo one of the attractions, and for this item tho orchestra will linvo the assistance of tho Wellington City and Wellington Tramways Bands. The remaining items are:—Overture "Mignon" (Ambroise Thomas), "Rhapsodic Hongroiso No. 2" (Franz Liszt), overture "Tannhauser" (Wagner), and two numbers from suite "In Foreign Land?, GermanvQ)nd Hungary" (Moszkowski). The conto will commence at 8.30 p.m. There lylt bo a silver coin collection at the doors.

CELTIC CLUB. / The second lecture in connection wi/h the Celtic Club will be on "Robert Burns." Tho lecturer is Dr. Thomas E. Cahiiv. During tho evening _ appropriate songs and stories will bo given by well-known artists. The club, which is now soundly established, has lost no time in catering for tho literary taste of members, n substantial instalment to a Celtic library having already been securcd. Tho volumes arc now available, and will bo lent to members on application to the executive. The function takes place at the Burlington rooms on Thursday, October 24. Tho Wellington Pipe Band will givo a band performanco at tho Botanical Gardens to-morrow afternoon.