AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 13 October 1913, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

KING’S COLLEGE BOYS. “What are you going to sing “Oh, I will sing ‘Home Sweet Home.’ '“Ah, yes; that’s where all the peoplt are to-night!” This witticism, delivered at the Town Hall on Saturday night, had all too much point, a rather small audience turning up to witness the musical performance by the King’s College Boys Company. The performance consists of solo and part' singing, instrumental music and comic “business”; and it can be said at once that seldom, if ever, has a better combination of the kind been heard in Stratford. All the artists are in the front rank in their different lines, and the harp solo, a somewhat novel item, was characterised by a 'great degree of executive ability. The 'alternation of grave and gay in the programme is well arranged and there is not a . dull moment from start to 'finish!' All lovers of music can b. ! confidently recommended to be pro | sent at this evening’s performance, j The “Boys” have, been out of loti, drosses some time, in fact they arc ;Old Boys. They are Messrs Lewis (tenor), Hitching (baritone), and Leslie (bass), and they contributed a good amount of the programme. Messrs Leslie and Hitching sang “Larboard Watch” in line style in the first part and the “Boys” finished off the first part with a nicely harmonised .unaccompanied rendition of a, medley Ol old and popular songs. In, the second part Mr Lewis was encored for singing of “Till Death,” responding \vith “The Deathless Army.” The Boys, also,supported Mr Shields and gave “Everybody’s Doin’ It” with hutch spirit. They, wore again prominent in, the finale to the second part, anbtfref excellently-arranged medley, Mr Leslie causing much laughter by contributing ' an item, made up as it to caricature a New Zealand singer perhaps not known in Stratford., Throughout their singing was clean, and their items were well chosen an d' ca pably rendered. The Vienna Trio consists of a viola, a dins and, 'a harp, and they filled no unirnphrtante place on the programme. Tin violinist; did not specialise in the musical “fireworks” peculiarly associated with the violin, but his playing was solid and pleasing, and the harp provided an excellent accompaniment. In the first part they played the. intermezzo from “Cavalleria,, Rusticaha,” and, being encored, tlie barcarolle from Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffmapn.” In the second part they played Kevin's “Kokary” and as an, .encore a pleasant collection of popular, national airs. One of the best items, of the \eveping was thn'j harp sold by Sig. Antonio Guarella. is seldom that ,a. solo harpistds heard, and when-the harpist iS .N'hrst-wate artist ( both as regards temperainVnt and execution a yeal musical the yesujit. Sig. (iiiarella played ‘‘The Man of Harlech,” giving a, rendition of some intricate and difficult variations. He was loudly applauded but merely bowed his acknowledgments. He demonstrated fully the capabilities of the harp as a, iustrumynt, and if was rather a l|c ylid not; contribute item,, dirge,tress of the company is Miss Buby nMcDonald, \\;ho played i(l ; l the accompaniments with feeling, and sympathy, contributing not a. little to the sue cess of flip various items. To open the second part she also gave a Polish dance of her own,composition, showing complete mastery of the piano. Miss lona Auguste pas higljly;.,sue-; cess till in her humorous songs., ( “Agatha Green” is an up-to-date ,so,ug: (about an aeroplane) and “Tinker, Tailor” is old-fashioned, dealing with the method of ascertaining a rough description of a lady’s,future husband by counting off the fruit stones left on the dessert plate; but both wcr. artistically rendered, the most being made of the humor of the songs. In the second part she gave a fine turn billed as “child impersonations,” consisting of an amusing recital by a very young girl, and “Pa’s Soft Spot,” the pathos of which lost nothing.in effectiveness by being led up to in,lighter vein. The soprano of the company; Miss Marceleno Boulais, is (in artist in c'vcry respect, combining sympathetic. treatment with a voice-,of fine, quality. She was encored for lief singing of “Request,” responding with “The Wishing pgp.” In the.secv ond part she gave “Waiata Poi,” which is the work of Alfred Hill, Xowv#on-„ land’s most prominent composer, whose Maori work especially is well, kippyu, and popular. Miss, Boulais caught, very .happily the particularly Maori expression, and was heartily encored, responding with “The Little Maori Girl.” The broad humor of the performance was in the hands of Mr Jack Shields,: who was well rewarded in his endeavour to obtain ,and maintain laughter among the audience. He sang a song in Jewish character and als > gave a good selection of Yiddish tales, which were none the loss acceptable, although not old acquaintances. Perhaps his best item was a series of imitations. He describes a visit he has paid to a farm-house, ami ho proceeds to imitate the sounds made in the vicinity—a hand-saw, a circular saw, a horse, a pig, a “had gramaphono, a cow (“Which,” he ‘said, “I suppose you have soon”) and a variety of other things. He has reduced imitation to a fine art, and the turn is entertaining apart from its strong humorous vein, by reason ol the clean and clover methods used in the productions of the sounds. Mr Shields was much in evidence wherever ihroad humor was railed for and those I who wished for broad humor had their fill and to spare. The performance will he repeated this evening for tho last time. Mr H. G. Mitchell, a well-known pressman and a visitor to Stratford on

Saturday, in the course of a letter to the Editor, writes:—“Happening to ■ he in your town on Saturday night I naturally dropped in at the entertainment being given by tho King’s College Company, and was surprised at the poorness of the patronage ex- ! tended, even for a Saturday night. 11 Stratford only knew it, it is ‘entertaining an angel unawares,’ for a more delightful entertainment of a light musical nature it would be hard to find. I speak as you know, with some considerable experience, and if your townfolks don’t hear this exceireiu company they will be sorry only once—and that is always. Individual criticism of the entertainment is, of course, your work, but may I be permitted to state that the part singing ’ is comparable with anything that we j have heard for years. With a really i top-notch bass, a fine alto and a rich j baritone, tho unaccompanied numbers | are admirable. Then this company is : equipped with a soprano and a con- | tralto that are almost brilliant, and for once, thank goodness, we get de- | cent enunciation. I must not forget ( the instrumental trio, which is, as j Browning would say, ‘a thing en- , skied,’ the viola in particular being most admirably played. But I am getting into too much intimate detail; sufficient to say that any lover of music who docs not attend at the Theatre to-night will miss one of the brightest and most excellent musical shows that has ever visited Stratford.”

THE JULiUS KMIGHT COMPANY. The appearance of the popular iarorite, Mr Julius Knight. Will doubtless bb heartily welcomed in Stratford, •ie being announced to give owe special ■performance at the Town Hall on j Saturday evening next under the direction of the J. C. Williamson i\ian-j agomeht, of the new comedy “Milestones,” which has met with so much success wherever played. In de- ■ scribing this play a well-known critic Writes that the dramatic treatment of the interests of this novel scheme present unusual difficulties, but the authors, Messrs. Arnold Bennett and Edward Knoblauch, have met them all with an astonishing display of technical skill; and the pathetic atmosohere which unconsciously surrounds the happiest and most prosperous of human lives reaches every heart. Apart from the literary merits of “Milestones,” which are described as great, it is also stated that the manner of production and the attention to detail in the various epochs it represents is a revelation in stagecraft. Tlie management has secured a very strong supporting-cast for Mr Knight whkhi Will include'Miss'lrene Browne, .who. was recently so successful'With the H. B. Irving Company, and New Comedy Wlomptiriy'*specuiHy* organised , for Mr 9 Km^t’s t ; and New Zealand ‘four.* plan will ho open at-(E (L r (k'lddi’s .on ■ Wednesday next at 8.30 a.m. BERNARD'S PICTURES. To-night will he the first of the triweekly changes, which include the world’s latest, and, gyqatest,..makers.. .Co. is to ,the fore in .the' grand ylramagraph, Prodigal,” which is "a story that touches th«i H#t't dnd ."biiii'gs' throbs of joy' to all. After passing through the cm- . cia! tests of youthful folly, an only son redeems himself from the fetters of vice, and, in true prodigal fashion returns to His home and rescues his aged mother from poverty and want. Her faith and love —so characteristic of mothers the world over—are the influences that guide him hack to manhood and happiness. “Olaf, The Atom” is a new A.B. scenario of intense in- 1 terest. Oalaf became a wanderer in . search of kindness, and in his travels I met but one kind person, the home-j steader and his wife. They gave him I food, and in return he saved the homesteader and his wife from the artful j land-grabbers, but in their joy they! forgot Olaf and he again became a wanderer. “The Usurer’s Grip,” d Edison photo-play, dealing with the loan sharks of every-day life. Reece, A the great billiard expert, in his best form, is. a clear picture of the pope- , lar cuo manipulator. ' Views Ini 2 Africa, a glorious Bathe scenic, and I ' °\ >> 3 I D the. Latest Warwick Chronicle tend a to .majvO. ono gigantic programme, j Changes every Monday, Wednesday “ and Friday. 1