AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 56, 1 March 1912, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

CONCERT BY MISS HOS.INA c.l t KM AY. T' c r.v.ciicr.co widen k-t r- };••< applauded to the echoes Buckma.li and her oo’r.pa. ~i M artists confirms our previous nnpieK sion made when Miss 1 helm a ; - o en sang to a three-parts empty lin Stratford, no good show need But if the poorness of tlu house which greeted Miss Petersen rhould give cause for surprise, the one l.cffre which Miss Bnckman appeared arouses something iiit-He sho. . of- indignation. Miss Bnckman is a true artiste. Melba*has praised lei, and Now Zealand has acclaimed her nr. a queen cf song. More, she is a Taranaki girl. Yet last night, from the dress circle, which was none .on full little was visible but row upon raw’ of empty chairs. It was a house little bigger than the one that the Mayor recently decided it would be inadvisable to speak to, when the electr'c light scheme was afoot. W enough. What the audience lacked in numbers, they made yip for thnsiasm. They were quick to appieciate what was really good, and were attentive and sympathetic tlncugiiont. . _ Miss Bnckman was in fine voice. Her singing was truly delightful. That grand soprano voice, with its fine range and crystal clearness sot off by a dainty manner and charming presence, completely won the hearts of the audience. In the “Jewel Song from Faust, Miss Bnckman’s powers were fully exemplified, and the rounds C'f applause that followed showed least that the audience well recognised them. When, in the second half, the si a our gave such a fine rendering of Mr? Alfred Mill’s new composition. “Waia.ta Maori,” the audience hoped that they might hear again “Waiata Foi,” which has always been such 'a favourite with Miis Buckman’s aitdionces. Nor were they disappointed, for in’her encore number Miss Buckman gave this fascinating song. It was one of the finest items on the programme—a splendid interpretation of a. fine song. Last of all Miss Buckman sang Tosti’s “Good-bye, and then the ever-grecn “Home, Sweet Home.” They left nothing to be desired, and one no longer wondered why the audience numbered among it Now Plymouth residents, who had already had an opportunity of hearing Miss Bnckman in their own town. Mr. Hamilton Hodges is every bit as good as when he delighted Auckland audiences years ago. Ho gave four songs, the best, perhaps, being “The Rebel,” and more than twice that number of encores. Of these, “The Song of Sleep” stood out in bold relief. The song was finished in silence, which was maintained for several seconds till it Was broken up by a perfect storm of applause. Mr. Herbert Bloy upheld his repntation .as a master violinist. Had there 1 Ween no ftther nuittbeYs on the programme than the items he supplied, the 'audience' would have been well content'. Ho played' Wiehiawski’s “Lege fide” 1 with fail Wes's technique and masterly precision, meeting with a, splendid reception- Later he gave SchuhertVMAve Maria,” gud then a sprightly and charming little piece— Gcssee’s “Gavotte.” Hi'S encore number came as a perfect revelation, as to what depths of feeling can lie wooed from the violin when in the hands of a skilled musician. Mr. Arthur Carbines made an excellent accompanist .and played two pianoforte solos--“ Scherzo” (Wall anhairp) and “March Hengroi.se” (Kowalski)—in excellent: mannpr, being heartily encored for the latter piece. . ■ ■ I ' H'l. ■ ' ■ ■ ‘ u

HIS MAJESTY’S ' THEATRE,, •} Despite trie elements, a fairly large] audience appreciated the p : ctures last night at Kernel us, when the films screened showed great variety and excellence. The dramas were equal in quality. “Life on the Western Border” shows the great trials the backwoodsmen struggle with. The pettier leaving his wife and child in his new heme ventures forth to la.l)o;urous hush foiling. Shortly after his wife visits the wood-house which is secured by a heavy cross bar, which is lowered on the outside by the little daughter in childish play. The mother begs the child to open the door which is beyond the strength of, the little one. Presently a huge grizzly , bear pats in an appearance, the child reacaes safety. Suddenly a. band of Indians, on the warpath, show themselves. On approaching the shed the settle! s wife hides behind a wood pile. Ihe Indians, satisfied that the inhabitants are absent, set fire to the buildings to further their chase after the bear. The settler espies the bear, and is just about to raise his gun when no sees the redskins. Ho promptly hides, and the Indians follow the hear. The husband rushes homewards, arriving 'just in time to batter in the floor and save his wife. ‘ ‘How %rocs are Made” is an exciting and is a fine example of what a woman can do when put to the test. “Sherlock Holmes” is by far the funniest picture yet seen. Ihe ligjdning changes of a celebrated theif being simply marvellous. “Making a Book,” from the arm a I of the reels of paper at the factory to the finished article, is a most c.ear educational film. , The programme will, ho repeated tonight and to-monxr evening. On Monday the star item will he Nat Gould’s great racing drama Jiie Double Event.’

MISS MARIE BAINES. Stratford is to have a visit from Mario Baines, a talented English comedienne next week. She lias been having an unbroken series of successes during her New Zealand tour, jheie arc two philosophies that pertain to theatre-going, one holding that 10 is the mission of the theatre to educate and instruct, and the other advocating that it should be a place of amusement and relaxation. Miss Baines is an unqualified devotee of the latter gospel, and while she has no grown fat herself on a diet of healthy laughter, these who go and hear her do so at their own risk, if the thorny of to “laugh and grow f->t lias a substratum of truth in it- ‘Our Maiy Ellen” is supported by a strong Eng--1 ifill company, all of whom are new to the DoTTvmion. r JUio play lias hean irnisically strengthened by the inclusion of several vocalists of wide experience and high standing.. Apart from any managerial eulogy it is sufficient to quote the Dunedin “Star, which tersely advised its readers: “If you dou’t want to laugh, stop away.”