AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 36, 7 February 1912, Page 5

AMUSEME NTS.

THELMA PETERSEN. A rare treat wa's accorded lovers of good music at tho Town Hall last night, when Miss Thelma Peterson, assisted by local talent, gave an excellent song recital. In proportion to the quality of the entertainment tho nouse was not a good one. It becomes increasingly evident, after such singers as Ossipoff have failed to fill the hall, that nothing but vaudeville or a circus has the magic power in Stratford of attracting a crowded audience. Miss Petersen showed herself last night to ho a singer of marked ability. She has a full contralto voice of a tone and volume that, at first, startles, coming as it does from so young a singer. In her first number, “Abide with Me,” Miss Petersen won over her audience completely. Her rendering of the famous hymn was simple and unaffected, yet so feeling and so sympathetic was her interpretation of tin’s great work that the song came as quite a revolution. Miss Petersen has come here with a big reputation, having won golden opinions from the critics, but one hardly expected such a finished performance. In all she sang seven songs and fully merited tho enthusiastic applause which was icforded her. Elgar’s “Land of Hope ind Glory” was sung as if Miss Petersen had already studied under the great masters, instead of being mero.y on her way towards attaining that desired object. In “An Emblem,” the singer obtained a fascinating effect, ind showed herself in a piquant vein, natural and pleasing. Taken as a whole, Miss Petersen proved herself the possessor of a remarkably fine voice, and the young singer should have a great future before her. Miss Petersen carries with her, we feel sure, the good wishes of her Stratford audience, who hope at some future date to again have the pleasure of hearing her sing, and then as a “star” in grand opera. A feature of the evening were the pianoforte solos given by Miss D. Bayy, L.A.B. Miss Bayly played with remarkable expression, her execution ind technique being brilliant in the oxtreme. This was particularly noticeable in Greig’s “On the Mountain,” a piece whose beauties are only ixceeded by the difficulties which its perfect execution entails. Last night was practically the first oublic appearance in Stratford of Mr. D. Twohill. He has a light baritone voice, of good range and sweet tone. 3oth his numbers were encored. Mr. E: W. Lewis was in good voice, and sang three songs in good style. Miss Rogers i played two violin solos very pleasingly indeed, while Mr. Doherty, with a fine song, stepped into the breach made by the absence .of Mr. Wilkie. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Again “The Colleen Biuvn” more than pleased the patrons of Bernard’s Picture Show, and the finale of the drama will be to-night, when an entire change of pictures will be screened in tho first part. To-morrow evening a big change of pictures will take place, amongst 'which is a fairly lengthy film depicting the gigantic preparations for war at Tripoli. This is no “fake” film, but was actually taken on the spot, and is of a veyy interesting order. A very true ito life drama is “The Clown’s Best Performance,” introducing one iinto the mysteries of circus life. In factual! the.pictures are of the latest and the best. MISS ANDERSON HUGHES. ■ Readers arc reminded of the lecture descriptive of Egypt and Palestine, which is to he delivered at the Town Hall this evening by Miss Anderson Hughes, who has- earned an excellent reputation throughout New Zealand as a speaker. The lecture will be illustrated with a large number of magic-lantern vieWsi , ' ,