ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 87, 13 April 1911, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"A BACHELOR'S HONEYMOON." John Stapleton's three-act farcical comedy, "A Bachelor's Honeymoon," was revived by the Hugh J. Ward Comedy Company at the Opera House last evening. It is an old story now how the disingenuous Benjamin Batchelor brought home, as his second wife, an actress, Miss Arbuckle, whose stage name was Juno Joyce, and of the trouble entailed in an amusing 'series of deceptions practised by Benjamin with the intention of concealing from the' acidulous and prim Minerva, his sister, the identity of the dashing jxmoesque.lady. When it is added that Minerva, besides being her brother's moTal guardian, is also mistress of the family exchequer, the honeymoon can be figured out as one of moTe surprises than, sweets. It is that. Ingenious complications are raised .to make confusion more confounded, and through all the entangled skein there runs a gold thread — that delightful maid-servant who gets a clue in her head, is very impressed by "detekertives," and who spends considerable time in studying the method's of Sherlock Holmes. The story profits by a not too cloying dressing of dances, cheerful songs, and generally cheerful and enlivening fooling. 3VIr. Ward played Batchelor almost wonderfully well. He surely is a born comedian. All he did last evening, whether prevaricating, dancing, or merely listening, was don* cleverly and amusingly. He was well supported by Miss Grace Palotta, who made aai ideal Juno Joyce. She frisked j and frivolled_ through the piece, exhilaratingly revelling in the role. Miss Maud i Chetwynd, as Marianne, the maid-ser-vant, was a big success right through, and her two songs and w eird posturing 1 eai-ned her numerous TecaJls. Messrs. H. H. Wallace, Reginald Wykeham, Laurence Hardinge, Robert Greig, and Misses Celia Ghiloni, Florence Redfern, Ruby Baxter, all did capably. . A beautiful little pantomime sketch, "The Scarecrow," was played by Mr. and Miss Grace Palofeta, assisted by Messrs. Robert Greig and Reginald Wykeham. Mr. Ward's performance was on© to be Temembered for its sustwied characterisation. The season concludes to-night with the same performances. "THE BAD GIRL OF THE FAMILY." Commencing on Saturday next the George Marlow Dramatic Company will inaugurate a season of melodrama in Wellington at the Opera House. The company's opening production will be Frederick Melville's drama, "The Bad Girl of the Family," which had a very long run in London. This is a play new to Wellington. The management promise a "continuous succession of exciting and stirring incidents, including the shop girls' dormitory, and the police raid." The company is announced as a strong one. A matinee performance of "The Bad Girl of the Family" will be giv.eai on Easter Monday. The box plan will be at Christesou's on Saturday and Monday. THEATRE ROYAL. Visitors to Wellington during tho J Easter holidays can rely on spending a pleasant evening at the Theatre Royal, j where Fuller's Company presents an attractive bill each evening. The "Racoons,'' the Rogers quartette, and Miss Mabel Fowler are all artists of note. Last night's programme will be repeated this evening. THE KING'S THEATRE. Tho excellent programme of pictures at The King's Theatre was greatly appreciated by a full house last night. The management has arranged a special programme for the holidays, including matinees to-morrow and Saturday, and a special bill for Monday. Entries for the animated beauty competition close on Saturday. 1 HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. There was a large attendance at this popular place of entertainment last night, and the bill-of-fare was greatly appreciated. There will be a change of programme this evening. The new items include "Test of Friendship.," "The Great Italian Hydroplane," "Standard Bread-making," "Wax Models in Paris," and "The Blue Nile." A special matinee will be held on Friday, when Pathe Freres coloured reproduction of " The Life of Christ" and -"The Seven Capital Sins" will be screened. The Australian rights of the famous drama, "Never Too Late to Mend," have been secured for Monday night. CLASSICAL CONCERT. M. Eugene Ossipoff, the Russian baritone, and the members of his company will give a concert at the Opera House to-morrow evening, under the direction of Messrs. Macmahon Bros, and Mr. W. H. Williamson. M. Ossipoff will be assisted by Miss Renee Lees, who will be heard in a vocal number with M. Ossipoff. Miss Lilian Edwards (toprauo) and Mr. Charles Norman (oboe soloist). A leading exchange says: — "M. Ossipoff has a well-developed * range, the notes ringing beautifully true, but it is in the declamatory and emotional powers that M. Ossipoff excels any baritone that has vibited these parts boiore. He sings with such intense feeling, such earnestness and energy. Reserved seats and day sales may be obtained all day to-morrow (Friday) at Opera House vestibule. CONCERT AT BROOKLYN. An enjoyable concert, arranged by, Miss and i^r. John Graham, was given in the Brooklyn Baptist Schoolroom on Tuesday night in the presence of a large audience. Items were contributed by tho fallowing: — Misses Teychenne, . Peek, M. Mason, M. .Brown, Sewell (2), and Walters, Mesdames Kennedy and Thomas, and Messrs. Rankin, Nees, Jones, Sherwood, Walters, Hastings, and Sewell. The proceeds were in aid of the Young Men's Bible Class in connection with the Easter camp expenses. ' ' ORGAN. RECITAL. An organ recital will be given in the Town Hall to-roorrow (Good Friday) night at 8 o'clock by the City Organist, Ma- Maughan Barnett. The programme will include the following numbei*s : — Chopin's "Funeral March," Schubert's "Aye Maria," Good Friday Mvsic fiom Wagners "Parsifal," and "A Meditation on two Passion- tide Hymn Tunes." Popular prices will be charged for admission. SKATING RINK. Onco again the Olympia Rink is open, to devotees of the exhilarating pastime of roller skating. Yesterday afternoon when the first session was held there was a large attendance, and the learners' session in the evening saw" numerous young people making their first efforts at controlling the rollers. At the night session there was a j crowded attendance, the rinking space being fuHy taxed. There were also many onlookers. Messrs. Fuller have gone into an elaborate scheme of decoration, numerous electrically lighted Chinese lanterns and umbrellas giving the interior a gala appearance. The floor has also been renosated, and tho skate-room restocked. The rii*k will bo closed to-morrow, but thereafter will be opened daily. On Easter Monday there will be three public sessions. PASSION MUSIC. Stainer's ' ' Crucifixion ' ' was given by the choir at St. Thomas's Church, NewWwn; last; evgjugg. " TJje sole-jets

were Misses Chisholm and Twist, Messrs W. J. Robbins, Thompson, J. Sewell, and Wm. Hill. Mr. Robbins conducted and Mr. H. Collie was organist. The " Crucifixion " was also given by the choir at Taranaki-street Methodist Church last evening, the soloists being Mr. Wm. Thompson and Mr. F. Charlton. Mr. T. Cooper conducted and Mr. W. 0. Harland was organist, STAR PICTURES. There will be a complete change of pictures ab St. Thomas's Hall to-night, when the Star Proprietary will present some attractions new to Wellington. The pictures will not be shown to-morrow night (Good Friday). CHAMBER MUSIC. The last of the series of chamber concerts being given by Miss Beatrice Richmond (piano), Miss May Donaldson (violin), and Mr. Frank R. Johnson ('cello),, will take place at the Sydneystreet schoolroom on Thursday evening next. The programme will include works by Beethoven, Raif, and Rubinstein, that by the first named being the trio in B flab op. 97. The original date being fixed for this concert was Wednesday, 19th insjt., but in order to allow the committee, which is arranging a farewell social to Bishop W«llis, to have the use of the hall on that night, -Dheconcert has been postponed until the following night. ST. MARK'S. An excellent rendering of " From Olivet to Calvary " (J. H. Maunder) was I given lasb evening by the choir of St. I Mark's Church, and was listened to by a large congregation. An enjoyable, j quartet was sung by Misses Moore and Mori-ell and Messrs. Nelson and Coira. The soloii were taken by Mr. J. Fergueon (tenor;, Mr. H. Culverwell (baritone), and Miss Watkins (soprano). Mr. L. F. Watkins was conductor. THE WANDERERS MUSICAL COMPANY. The charm of music, mirth, and merriment is strongly claimed for the Wanderers Musical Comedy Company, which will inaugurate its Wellington season at the Town Hall (Concert Chamber) on, Saturday evening. The organisation consists of clever artiste — dancers, instrumentalists, monologuists, and comedians. The principals include the London society entertainer, Mks Phyllis Hopwood Foldi, whose monologue and pianologue recitals have been highly commended. The box plan arrangements for the holidays are as follows : — To-day the plan will be open at the Dresden ; on Saturday and Monday, the plans will be on view at Abel's, tobacconists. SKATING CARNIVAL AT LOWER HUTT. In the Hutt Valley skating is a popular pastime^ the Lower Hutt rink of an evening being invariably crowded. Tho first carnival of the season (poster and fancy dress), which was held at Lower Hutt last night, was attended by about 800 people, skaters and spec- j tators, and co large a crowd somewhat I interfered with the satisfactory carrying pout of the numerous interesting and amusing competitions. Even then, the pig-driving competition was abandoned after several heats were decided. The following were the results ot the competitions : — Fancy dresjj — Lady. Miss Bailey (representing a bridge) ; men, Mr. Kekita (Maori Chief). Poster costume, Miss Watt (Nelson Moate Tea). Most graceful couple, Mies Reade and Mr. Ward. Comical character. Mr. Barridge. Mile race (men), E. Young 1, E. M'lntosh 2. Thr*e-quar tor-mile-race (ladies), Miss Smith' 1, Miss Stutter 2. Musical choirs, Mr. Morris. Couples' race, Miss M'lnnes and Mr. F. Stratt-on. 1 Mr. R. L. Mullarkey, touring manager for Sousa's Band, has engaged the Wellington Town, "Hall from 14th to 19th August. Mr. James \ Dykes has been, appointed Wellington agent for Edward I Branscombe, Ltd., under whose direction the band is touring the Dominion.