ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 74, 20 December 1919, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

, GRANS OPERA SEASON. ALTERATION OF OPENING DATE Tho .T. C. Williamson management announce with regret that owing to tho .engineers' strike, which has'delayed tho deDarturo of the s.s. Eiverina from Sydney, it will be imposiblo to begin the Wellington season of tho .Grand Opera Company on Monday next. Tho company has been transferred to tho s.s. Manuka, which will arrive hero Suno'ay, December 23. Tins will necessitate tho Wellington season starting ono week later than originally arranged. Tho season will now commence on Monday week. December 29. The advertised programme lias been automatically put back a week, .and holders of reserved tickets are advised that tho present booking will stand for the operas to bo produced during that period. "Faust" will he performed on Mono'ay, December 29, "Tales of Hoffman" on Tuesday, December 30, "La Boheme". on Wednesday, and will be followed by "II Trovatoro" and "Madame Butterfly." An important engagement is that of Miss Amy Castles, tho brilliant young Australian soprano; who ha 3 iust returned from a successful tour of America. This is not Jliss Castles' first engagement in grand opera under the J. C. Williamson management. She has alieady scored marked successes in opera under the auspices of that firm. Associated with her will be Ralph Errolle. Raymond' Loder, Carl Formes, Alfredo Valenti, all distinguished Artists from European and American operatic centres. A brilliant array of Australian talent' is promised in Misses Strella Wilson. Leah Myers, Gertrude Johnson, Thelirta Carter,' Elsv Ticweek, and Eileen Castles, Messrs Browning Mummery, Fred Collier. Tom Minogue, and others. In order to impart greater prominence to tho grouping and movements of the chorus. Miss Minnie Everett will bo associated with tho producing side of the enterprise. The musical director will be Mr. Gustavo Slapoffski, who has for many years been io'ontified with grand on era abroad and in Australia. A full ETand opera orchestra will bo under his baton. The bos plans are ot the Bristol.

. "THE-MESSIAH." The ChoTal Union has every reason to be gratified at the heavy booking for Handel's masterpiece, "The Messiah," which is to be given this evening in tho Town Hall, under the baton of Mr.H. Temple White. Almost every seat m the dress circle has been reserved, but there are still some good seats to lie had in the stalls. Patrons are advised to book their seats at the Bristol this morning. Doubtless to a large extent tho heavy booking is accounted for by the splendid east of soloists that has been engaged. Ihe society is fortunate in this respect, having secured the following Soprano, Miss Teresa M'Enroe; contralto. Miss Mabellc Esquilant; tenor, Mr. Walter Whyte; and ibass, ■Mr Frank C. Charles. In view of the heavy booking, holders of reserved tickets, are asked to be in their seats not latsr than a quarter, to 8.

"DECLASSE." The sedate and reserved dramatic critic of the "Now York Tinws" writes down "Dcclasse," a comedy in three acts, by Zoe Atkins, as tho lichest and most interesting nlar that has (ver fallen to the lot of Miss' Ethel Barrymore to appear in upon the stage. "The new play." says tho "Times," "immeasurably crriched by the work of Miss Barrymore, held tho audience snelllxmnd and enthralled even through a 'lingering ami Inxnripns death scene, such as has not been -ouchsafed this hurried city in our day and generation." To praise such a play, the critic continues, one would have to search the bills of Barnum and Bailey, and continues: "It is difficult to remember when last a plav came this way with text so continuously interesting to hear. Many of the nassiifres have genuine beauty. All nf them are cl»nn cut, sound, and true." Next to Miss EtM Barn-more, the work of Mr. Claude Tfinc /who visited New Zealand with Miss Nellie Stewart on one occasion), is sinsled out for special praise. Ot,h"r successful n»rfnrn>.er« *n a notably gnpd cast were Miss Care Eames (a niecn of. the prima donna Emma Eames), and Mr. Harry Plimmer (formerly of Wellington).

The Emelie Polini Company, r.fter a very successful tour of New Zealand, left for' Sydney by the Moeraki on Thursday night.