ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 79, 29 December 1919, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

•T. C. WILLIAMSON GRAND OPERA' SEABON. - To-night, at the Grand Opera House, the much-heralded season of grand opera will commence, when Gounod's "Faust" is to be staged. It is claimed that J. C. Williamson, Ltd , has sent an organisation to Wellington which is pre-emin-ently out of tho ordinary. Yesterday the entire company, whiuh lias recently been appearing in Sydney and Melbourne with extraordinary success, arrived by the Manuka. To-night the one hundred and twenty-five people engaged—with the wonderful orchestra and splendid choruswill be heard in "Faust," which will be sung throughout in English. The cast will include Ralph Errolle as Faust (his first appearance in New Zealand), Alfredo Valenti as Mepliistopheles (his first appearance here), Raymond Loder as Valentine (his first appearance in Wellington), Thelma Carter as Siebel, and Amy Castles as Marguerite. Owing to the length of the production the curtain will rise at 7.45 sharp. Tho audience is reauested to be seated at least five minutes earlier.. The times announced each nisht for the opening of tho performance must be rigorously adhered to in the interests of natrons themselves. To-mor-row night the successful opera, "Tale 1 ; of Hoffman." will be presented for the first time in New Zealand. Offenbach's setting of this beautiful work is strikingly effective This popular work will introduce Miss E : leen Castles to Wellington in an operatic role.. "La Boheme," on Wednesday-evening, will introduce a new tenor in Mr. Walter Wheatley, who comes from America with a fine record of operatic work. Miss Amy Castles will annear as Mirni. "Lucia' Di Lnmmerruoor." Donizetti's masterpiece, will be staged on Thursday with a strong cast, including Vittorio Lois, Carl Formes, Browning Mummery, Alfredo" Valenti, and Gertrude Johnson. "II ,Trovatore" will be played on. Friday, and "Madamo Butterfly" on Saturday./ The grand ooera orchestra will be conducted by Mr. Giistave Slapoffski, and tho stage direction will ho in the hands of Mr Frank Hiiro. While the highest- standard of grand opera is to be presented, popular prices will be charged. The programme for tho second week is announced elsewhere. Box plans for the opening week are now open at the Grand Opera. House. Plans for the second week open next Tuesday. l '

"THE. KIWIS." "The Kiwis." another of the "Digger" organisations of entertainers who did wod and. cheering servico behind the lines in Franco during fho war, and subeecuiantlv gave a number of entertainments in England, have inaugurated a tour of New Zealand at Auckland under the management of Captain A. ,T. C. /.neiis. Tht' vocal quartet consists of ■Messrs.' Will Cotterill, Ernie Skam, Alf. North, and Ashley M'Donald. Mr. Ernest. Graham is the comedian; Mr. Will Tbomnso'.i is a female impersonator, and Mr. Wallv Burrow makes an attractive Konbrettfi. The Kiwis will visit Wellington in February. Mr Owen Cnrdfton. erstwhile of Queen Carnival fame, is the nrcducer of the Kiwis. CALEDONIAN CONCERT. The concert under the auspices of the WeJliiicton Calodoniau Society was rereaS.'d on Saturday evening, and was iigain crowned with success. Chief .David Clark presided, and the evening was devoted to Scottish vocal items, grave and gay, intermingled with dancinif. Master Jimmy Grieve, of Cliristchurch. aaain made a great hit as a invenile interpreter of songs dear to fho heart _of every Scot, and Mr. Austen Blackie. Mrs. Billy Green, Misses Doris and Mariorie Clark, and others were also heard to advantage, the whole forming' u a tit pleasing and high-class programme.