ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1601, 19 November 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. "Change night" (it the Theatre Royal drew a very largo audience last.evening. The now bill was well up to the standard of entertainment offered the public by the Bronnan-Fuller management. The whole ot' the fresh portion of the evening was taken up by Bletsoe's Crimson Ramblers, ono of the brightest combinations of entertainers which have appeared at the Theatre Royal. Mr. Albert Bletsoo opened with p. "comicality" entitled "Ono of tho Deathless Army." A very pretty solo, "I'm Lonesome," was tnstefully rendered by Hiss Bessie Cahill, who has a nice Ropra no voice. "Chcero!" a gay concerted number, was full of life ond jollity. Tho most popular item was "The Shadows," a delightful and instantly popular solo by Miss Maud Bletsoe, and accompanied by an excellent tableau. "Tho Quaker GirJs," very sweet and dainty, was sung by 'Misses Cahill, Sinclair, and Bletsoe. Otlior items by members of this delightful company were: Tenor solo, "Nirvana" (Mr. Edward Moran); a story, "Tho River" (Miss Olive Sinclair); a humouresquc, "Zum, Zum, Zum" (Mr. Lou Vernon); and "When Richard the First Sat on the Throno" (by tlio Ramblers). In the second part ono of the cleverest turns was that of Los Bow. The chief thing in the • turn was tho work of a really marvellous trick cyclist. With two disconnected bicycle wheels, on one of which he was mounted, and using the other as a bogus steering wheel, he did a score nf tricks which no ono would dream of Attempting on an ordinary bicycle. Finally he appeared perched six feet in fhe air above a small wheel, on which he -pedalled round the stage in an extraordinary manner. The whole turn wo.s brilliant. Victoria Cross, a Scotch comedienne, and monologuist, reappeared; also, Harry Linden, eccentric' comedian. Ida Berridge explained in song "Why Littlo-Bov Blue was Blue," and sung, also, "Send Me a Picture Postcard." Lieut. Stoff, ventriloquist; the Do Re Mi Trio; and Guillame, Baby, and Co. assisted to complete this most enjoyable evening. The last-named raised no end of laughter by their performance. CATHOLIC SEAMEN'S CONCERT. The usual fortnightly concert, under the' auspices of the Catholic Seamen's Conference, was held in the Sailors' Rest last evening. A largo number of 6eamen and their friends were present.' An excellent programme was presented, and was much appreciated. The following items were contributed:—Songs by Misses OTarrell, Segrief, Gallagher. Monaghan, and Hickey, Messrs. Bradley, Sieyers, Keaney, and M'Erlean; duet by Misses Cashman and Jensen; pianoforte duet by Misses F. and M. Newton; recitation by •Mr. Moriarty and a banjo solo by Mr. Beddell. A very clever exhibition of rifleswinging was given by Miss and Master Chase. The accompaniments were played by Miss Jensen. Mr. D. Kelly, who presided, thanked the artists for helping to make the concert so great a success, and also Captain Bonner, who had gono to much trouble in arranging the hall. MADAME KIRKBY LTJNN. $ Madame Kirkby Lunn, ono of the foremost operatic and concert-room singers in England, 'has been drawing great audi-, ences in Australia, and will be heard here on Tuesday,' Thursday, and Saturday, December 3, 5, and 7, - Madame possesses a high reputation as an operatic artist, and her reception by the press and public in the Commonwealth has been whole-heart-ed in its character. The supporting artists engaged in London by Messrs. J. and N. Tait, namely, Messrs. Andro de Ribaupierre, French violinist, William Murdoch, a retired Victorian pianist, and Andrew Shanks,' English baritone, ' also won acceptance. Mme.-Lunn, who is in the prime of life, was. born at Manchester, and. entered the Royal College of Music, London, in 1593, gaining a scholarship the following year. The late Sir Augustus Harris, after hearing her at the students' operatic performances, gave her a six years' contract, but his death in 1896 made, that void. None.the less, she played small parts at Covent Garden that year, and was then for two years principal contralto with the,.Carl Rosa Company as Ortrud;' Carnien.rßrangaenay and Mignon.- After two or three years-as a leading concert singer, _ she began , her permanent connection with Royal Italian opera; Covent Garden, as the Sandman in-' "Hansel and Gretel" (May 14, 1901), and in 1904 made a hit in tho important role of Amneris, and has since become a favourite exponent of Orpheus and Dalila. Besides singing at many of the oratorio festivals in England, Mme. Lunn lias twice visited' the TJnited Slates, singing Ortrud, ■ Brangaena, and other roles in New York on the first occasion, and on tho second (1904) creating Kundry- in the first English performance of "Parsifal" by the Savage Company. Messrs. J. and N. Tait, directors of Madame Lunn's tour, announce that- the opening of the box plans for.the three Wellington concerts will be on Wednesday morning, November 27;