ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

"GOODY TWO SHOES." The box plans for the J. C. Williamson "Goody Two Shoes" pantomime, to commence at the Grand Opera Houso on Friday evening next, for the first six nights and first two matinees will be opened at the Bristol this morning. The cast and tho list of features included iu the two acts and nineteen scenes makes very interesting reading. The personnel of tho. "panto." comprises several notable artists irom England and America, who will niako their first appearance in tho Dominion. Tho specialties too uro unusually attractive, amongst, tho most notable of Irliese being the Keuna Brothers, in their acrobatic act, "By Aeroplane to tho North Polo," Fred. Walton, with tho toy soldier, and Jewel's Marionette Circus, presenting "Circus Day in Toyland." Tho management consider that "Goody Two Shoes" excels in every way those .two notable successes, "Mother Goose" and "Tho Forty • Thieves." Thero aro some remarkable effects in the pantomime. Most extraordinary is the "Miraculous Tent," which' gradually comes into view on the stage, and then mysteriously disappears, after an apparently endless chain of people have emerged from it. Another effect, more dazzlingly spectacular, is a luigo crystal globe that fills the -whole theatro with its radiance, while it revolves in liho centro of tie stage, the lights on it changing Ho all the colours of the rainbow, though there is not an olectrio lamp in it. But more wonderful than any of these is Ithe spectacle of a lovely bubble, with a bewitching young girl inside. This baffles description, and must be seen in ord6r to appreciate its wondrous beauty. The management have catered the children,' without detracting in any way from the attractiveness .for .the grown-ups. "THE SPIRIT OF ENGLAND." The second subscription concert this season of the Wellington Choral Union will be given in the Town Hall on Wednesday next, when' Elgar's great choral work, "Tho Spirit of England," will be produced under the conductorship of i-Mr.'H. Temple-White. This, work is a. musical setting of three poems by Lawrence Binyon, entitled respectively "Tho Fourth of August," "To Women," and "For the Fallon," which aro grouped under tho general title of "The Spirit of England." "Musical Opinion" (London) nays of this work: "Elgar has the power to handle ithe machinery of 'patriotism' without becoming \ noisy jingo. It 13 no exaggeration to say that the war has produced nothing better of its kind than 'For tho Fallen.' The composer achieves true poignancy, and a fine lofliiness of thought; while his scoro is in itself beautiful and appropriately elegiac." This work will be preceded by Mendelssohn's "A Hymn of Praise." The following soloists havo been engaged — Miss.Teresa MTSnroe, Mrs. Frank Tunley, and Mr. Martin Duff. Seats may be reserved at the Bristol, where the plan opens at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.

HARMONIC SOCIETY. Readers aro given a final reminder of the cqneen; to bo given in tho Town Hall Concert Chamber this evening, at 8 o'clock, by the Wellington Harmonic ■ Society, under the baton of Mr. H. Templo White. The society will contribute mue items of the programme, and the majority of the work will be ouite unaccompanied. The chorus, "For Empire and for King" (Porcy Fletcher), with piano accompaniment, and part song, "Ply,\ Singing Bird" (Elgar), for ladies voices, with accompaniment for two violins and piano, will, in fact, be the only concerted accompanied numbers Two pieces which were vory enthusiastically loeoived at the soci<|:y's last concert, viz., "The Leo Shore" (Colorideolaylor), and "The Bells of St. Michael's lower" (Stewart), are being repeated by special request. Other part songs will bo "Awake, Awako" (Bantock) "Spring" '.(Houghton),'-"Go, Song of Mine," a beautiful but most difficult':; composition by Elgar..and "Tho Laird o' Cockpon" (Eobertson). The society will bo assisted by Miss Eileen Hriscoll (vucalist). and Miss Laurie Anderson (violinist), who will each bo heard'in solo items, while ihe latter will also, play, with Miss Dorothy Mills, the violin part fonihe ladies' part song. The piano accompaniments will be in the capablo hands of Mr: Harold Whittle. The box plan at the Bristol discloses very heavy booking, and intending patrons are advised to reserve their ssats, which can be done without exltra charge. ! "• DRAMATIC KECITAL. In the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, on September 22 and 23, the annual dramatici recital by pupils of Mr. and Mrs. Culford Bell will bo held, when a largo number of children and adults will appear, in two entirely different programmes of plays, character sketches, monologues, ace. Most of the items wili ba given in fancy costumes, and the playettes are of a very varied nature, including two quaint Japanese fantasies, a Savoyard scene, two.fairy plays, and an amusing little sketch.by the baby class, ihe- box plan will open at the Bristol on Monday l nesit.