ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 75, 22 December 1919, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

WILLIAMSON GRAND OI'ERA..' Among the lists of names in the casta for the first week of llio J. C. Williamson grand opera season are those of artists who take high rank in the operatic centres of the earth. The great among operatic artists arc scarce, and Europe and America have to be searched to obtain them. The J. C. Williamson management asserts that there will be no "off nights" during the forthcoming .season. T4ie first week's bill is said to bear out this statement. Each -.performance is claimed to be brimful of interest. Ono of the most interesting features of the forthcoming season, apart from the appearance with the company of Amy Castles, will bo the first appenvancc in Wellington of the noted tenor, Ralph Errollc, from the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Mr. Errolle is said to be a lyric tenor of unusual personality, vocal tjlvarm, and acting ability, and lias won a high place lor himself on tile grand opera stage by liis performance of such roles as -the title lole in "Faust," the Duko in 'Uiigoiiitto," Don Jose in "Carmen," Turitidu in' "Cavalleria Rusticana," ltiulolpho in "La Boheme," and others. Raymond Lodur, baritone, Alfredo Valenti, basso, both from the great operatic centres of America, will make their first appeal ance in New Zcalaud. The season, which has been put back a week on account of the shipping strike in Sydney, will commence next Monday evening with n performance of "Faust," ■Other operas to, be staged during the first week aro "Tales of Hoffman," "La Bolieme," "II Trovalore," and .Madams Butterfly."- The bos plans are open at the Bristol.

AMATEUR TRIALS. On Eoxing'Night, at Hie Grand Opera House, another of the Vernon-Spencer amateur trials will be held, jfml the gathering is expected to provide a good evening's fun. The Vernon-Spencer management have been very successful with their previous trials, ,and tilley again promise a big variety of competitors. Tlio. competitors will ineliide'balladists, comedians, dancers, sketch teams, and vawl»ville artists. A Charlie Chaplin trial will also' ho brought off. The prizes to he given are said to be most liberal, and .all prize-winners, are judged b.v the audicncc. Beside.?' the big variety of artists offering, added attraction will be Wellington's original jazz orchestra, with It. J. Tutsclika as leader. Tho box jilans open to-morrow at the Bristol. ,

LIFE AT DARWIN

JURIES AVnO NEVER CONVICT. An official imiuiry into the condition of aft airs ill the Northern Territory lias now commenced, and it is believed that tlio tact and capacity of the new Administrator there,' Mr. Slanifortli Smith, will quickly put order and law in the placo of the recent chaos. A representative of the Melbourno "Argus," who has bpen sent to Darwin, tells sonic quaint storie.s of life there. He, says that, as lie writes, with the temperature at 90 decrees, a vigorous football match is in progress. The barracking is being done in tongues as far apart as Greek, and Chinese, il'ere, football is play id in summer, which is the rainy season, and cricket in winter, when the ground is more consistently dry. Thousands of pounds have been spent by the Government here in "promoting agriculture." To-day, the only agriculture is represented bv'market gardens, from which ceme ail insufficient supply of vegetables.

The Government maintains in the Territory a full-blown' Judge, to attend to tho litigation of 1000 people. But for years past the juries hero have absolutely refused'to convict anybody of anything. No matter what wa« "tho evidence. the verdict was acquittal. So now prosecutions ar<\ initiated with reluctance.

This is tlio glad home of the sly-grog shops. The people strike against paying Is. 9d. per bottle for beer at tho hotels (which are conducted by the Stale); but they 30 liko lambs to the sly-grog shops in tho evenings and pay as. and is. per bottle.

They sent up from Melbourne at great expense a launch for the use of the Administration. It arrived without some essential parts, and is still lyin,g there helpless. The wharf lias an electric light equipment, but nil night work is dono with (lares.