ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE CINGALEE," Musical comedy in the form of "Tho Cingalee " reigned ohce more at the Opera House last evening. The experiment of reviving this, one of the daintiest of the comib operas following on the heels of Floradora, by Mr. J. C. Williamson's Comic Opera Company was unmistakably a happy one. The opera is one full of charming melody ; there are* more than just the mere bones of a plot, and the dialogue is bright and clever. Last evening the quaint but tasteful costumes, the swinging choruses, the. clever dances, catchy airs, and the stage effects sent the performance crisply along, and the delighted audience expressed due appreciation. Artistic taste, characterised the mounting of the piece. Nothing could be prettier than W. R. Coleman's scene, of Vereker's tea plantation in Ceylon and the vista of beautiful palms in the light of the setting sun. The same might be said of Boobhattiba's palace by the Lake of Kandy j, in it there was the atmosphere of the Orient, and its rich, warm colouring. The dressing was also particularly effective. Miss Sybil Arundale, as Nanoya,- a, Cingalee gjrl, was the life >&nd sout d£ the piece. Shg acted with a perfect natliralnoss of manner and speech. Her singing of "My Cinnamon Tree " pleased the audience mightily. She also gave a vivacious rendering of "The Dance I'd Lead Him" and ",Sloe Eyes," and her daintily clever and graceful dancing drew an insistent encore.. Mr. R. Roberts, as Bobby Warren (in love with Lady Patricia -'Verekef), had no difficulty in retaining the, favour won by hie tuneful singing. He' 1 received warm and unstinted applause • for jhis singing of " Four Little Girls of Ceylon," and ih the duet." You and I," in which -lie had associated with him Miss Amy Murphy. Mr. Talleur Andrews scored a success as the Hon. Harry Vereker-(in lbve i with the pretty Cingalee), and his singing of "Cingalee" and "Pearl of Sweet Ceylon " met with well deserved appreciation. The role of Chambuddy Bam, the swaggering, shrewd, and wily little Babu lawyer, was played by ■ Mr. W. S. Percy with effective and familiar humOlir, and laughter rang through the house time after time at the bidding of this versatile comedian. He, was 'well backed up by Miss Dorothy Brunton as Peggy Sabme, come to India to teach tho dainty Nanoya English, and, incidentally, to find a husband— preferably an Indian Prince. In conjunction with Mr". Percy, Miss Brunton succeeded ih entertaining the house very agreeably in a. sketch and song, " Golly -wogß." An admirable character sketch wqs given by Mr. Victor Prince as Bbobhahiba Chejbtu Bhoy. His make-up was excellent^ and he fairly captured tho audience with the song, "It Will All Come Right in tlie Future," and some clever gagging was respdnsible for recall after recall. Miss Vivian Talleut* executed ah incense and Bcarf dance with a rhythmical elasticity that' was inspiring ; it was managed with an effortless grace and ease that placed it on a new plane of perfection. The other principal and minor parts were well bait.- "The Cjhgalee" will be played lagain this evening, and On Friday night Cellier's opera "Dorothy" will be staged. • ■ HUGARD. To impress the modern mind nowadays with ■ the mysterious; one must Indeed be a wizard havihg more than the ordinary stock in' trade of tho average conjurer at his command. Hugard* who makes his first bow to the public of Wellington at the Opera House on Monday next, is said to come to us in the zenith of his power. In his profession he ac-" knowledges no superior. For two and a half hours, it is said, the performance rivets the attention of those present, and one of the striking features is]that ntoet ,of the. work is done in absolute 'silence,! when, watch as you will, ybu .cannot see how tho niiracle is effected. The illusions and tricks- are said to be riew to Wellington people, and the t rifle act is tne talk of every place thia magician has visited. The box plan is at the Dresden. THELMA, PETERSEN CONCERT. Miss Peterson will make her last appearance to-night ih the Concert Chamber of -the Town Hall, before leaving for London for further study. The concert is an exceedingly attractive one, including items by. Miss Remington. Messrs. J. C. Sell, W. S. Allwright, H. N. Fletcher, Z. Wood, and the Orpheus Quartette. . The box plan is still open at the Dresden. THEATRE ROYAL. A really good vaudeville combination is showing at the Theatre Royal this week. New artists, are putting on several novel turns. Maud Fanning, the coOh impersonator, the Musical Mokes, the Elliott Sisters, and Victoi the Great, -were all responsible for' a bright programme last evening. Th& whole bill will be repeated this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. His Majesty's Theatre held a largeattendance last night, when a splendid programme was repeated. " Adventures of Ulysses" is the star film, maghificontly and faithfully produced. Among 'supporting pictures are:—" An Assisted Elopement," "The Water Rats," and "Beauty Spots in Italy." KING'S THEATRE. Yet aliother film, with Saharet^in it. is showing at The King's Theatre this week. It is entitled "Gipsy Hato," and is an intensely draniatio .study, dealing with the\ life of a wandering dancing girl, who goes brt to tne stage and makes namo arid fortune, only to perish as the ra3ttlt of a feud carried on by her tribe. . The supporting studies aro equally meritorious. THE NEW THEATRE. , The demand for sensational and wellstaged picture drama is catered for by "The Great Circus .Catastrophe," the '' feature " of the ourrent scries of the New Theatre Continuous Pictures. The picture ie mounted on a "costly sdale, and the plot is distinctly entertaining. ",Why Jim Reformed " (Lubih drdtfia) and "Alkali Ike Stung" (S. and A. comedy drama) Are prbmihent items among the minor pictures. The programme will be ,1 exhibited for the last 'time this evening. Tha' change to-morrow will include "The Secret Treaty" (Solax drama), "High Tide" (Cine 3 drama), and "On the Trail of the Germs" (Kalem drama). THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The attractive programme of continuous pictures presented at the Empress Theatre yesterday was responsible for large attendances. The Sehg bpeetacular drama, "The Count of Monte Cristo," provided an enjoyable - fifty minutes. The A.B. exclusive cbmedydrahia, "Ths Divorcee," is an a-miteing example of domestic infelicity, in which an aggressive wife is paid back in her own coin. "The Count of Monte Crlsto," with supporting items, .will be repeated for tne last time this evening. The new programme to-morrow will introduce an A.B. exclusive comedydrama, "My Hero," and "The Moving Finger," an impressive film by the S.A. Company. PEOPLE'S -PICTURE PALACE. The chief attraction at the People's Picture Palace is a film entitled " Nellie, the Lion Tamer." This is a first-class ! circus drama in which both the artists and the cataewt. have done excellent work. The complementary films ate all interesting. Tho programme will be reputed 1 this evening,,

SHORTT'S THEATRE. "The Blacksmith," a brightly-acted domestic drama by the Aquila Picture Company ie the principal picture contained in the admirable programme screened at Shortt's Continuous Picture Theatre. Every session yesterday wae well attended. The feature of to-morrow 'e programmo will be a aeries entitled "The Loyalty of Sylvia," described as a Vitagraph masterpiece. The principal roles are filled by Florence Turner and Maurice Costello. The fetaging is ako in keeping with the general excellence of the picture. On Monday next the names of the winners of the picture competition will be announced at 8.30. ' STAR THEATRE. There was a large attendance at the Star Theatre, Newtown* last evening, when the current programme was again submitted. Two of the leading films are "A Gipsy's Hate" and "With the Colours/ ST. THOAtAS'S HALL. TJie programme current at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, ie looked upon by the management as one /of the most varied yet submitted. There will be a repetition this evening. The Miramar Municipal Brass Band's bazaar, fancy fair, and art uriioh, will )>f .opened by Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.P., at 8 o'clock to-night, in the lown Hall, Miramar. Many special attractions have teen arranged for. The full programme of a baud cohc,ett i° be S iven at Newtown Park by the Tramways Band this evening appears in our advertising columns. The park will be illuminated.