ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 8, 10 January 1902, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"A MESSAGE FROM MARS.' The theatre'going public.of New Plymouth have something to look forward to in the approaching season of Mr William F. Hawtrey's Company which opens at the Theatre Royal on Friday, the 17th insfc. with a " Message from I Mars." This popular play has gained fame throughout Australia, and the company b?ars an enviable reputation. Throughout the Southland tour the Press "is unanimous in its eulogistic comments on the merits of the company, as well as the play. It is an enterbaioment that has never failed to please, and charm; is novel, interesting, full of pathos and humour. Mr Charles Hawtrey (brother of William F. Hawtrey) is at present produoiog a " Message from Mars" at the Oarrick Theatre, New York, where it has "caught on" with our Amerioan cousins. A New York contemporary says: "As for the play, it is the most i original that has yet been staged here, and of its success there' was not a moment's question, its novel and gheitly effects, its quaint atmosphere, its droll situations, and its simple pathos caught the house immediately, and held the audience under a spell of shiyers and hughter. As simple us a story in a child's primer, the little play holds you in a spell. It raps selfishness of every sort and kind severely on the knuckles. It points a dozen moral*, and adorns a pratty tale. It would be spoiling a good night's fun to enter into further particulars of the plot, for before it leaves New York, every mao, woman, and child will probably have seen a "' Message from Mars.' The snow scene looks real, enough to give even a blind man pneumonia." The Hawtrey Company produce in every detail exactly the s»me senio effeo's and mechanical contrivances that characterised the play in London, New York, and the Australian States. The second production will be the famed farcicial comedy, "Tom, Dick, and Harry." This is said to ba the comedy of comedies, and surpasses anything of its kind over attempted. It is preceded hy a charming one-act play by Brandon Thomas, entitled " A Highland Legaey." The box plan is now open at Mr D. McKinnon Biin's.

MISS VIOLET MOUNT'S CONCERT,

The sparse attendance at Miss Mount's concert at the Theatre R)yal on Thursday night must have had w very depressing effect on the performers as well as on the audience. An excellent programme had been provided, and yet, though there was a fairly good muster in the dress circle, the main portion of the house was painfully empty. Those who were present, however, evinced great appreciation of the various items, and were most liberal with tixefir applause. M<r | H. W. Cottier's orchestra opened the concert with an overture, which was particularly well gendered, the final movement being especially pleasing. Mr Ryan then sang Wingrove's " Clinking Toast," which exactly suited his voice. Although it is a, very catchy song, he was accurate and tasteful throughout, securing a well-de-served encore, to which be responded with " Father Q'Flynn." Miss Mount chose for her debut Ganz's " ISjlng, sweet bird." It was at ox\ce that she possessed a voice oj; remarkable flexibility and panetra,ting power, and that it had been trained in a masterly | manner. The bird-like trills and ornate embellishments with which the song abounded were rendered most accurately and artistically, and all that was lacking was that sympathetic sweetness of tone which is the great cbarm of vocalists. Every note was true and incisive, and loud applause endued. The encore number was "I wonder," to which Miss Mount did equal justice, Mr Cooke's violin so]o was, as is always the case with this gifted musician, a splendid performance. Th<# duet, " Exeelsior," by Messrs Ryan and Trebilco, was executed tunefully, but the voices were ratiier too much alike for this due', and therefore the tone colouring was not as effective as otherwise io would have been. A pianola solo manipula'ed by Mjr s«n4arkcm secured an encftra. Qphe 3>at part of the programme was oonoluded with a due*, " Nocturne," by Mrs Burgess and Miss Mount. This was the least satisfactory item of the evening, although Miss Mount's V'ic* was again heard to great advantage, In the second part

; the various items were all well renIderei and heartily applauded, Mi-s ' Mount securing a haarty encore for her artistic rendering of Verdi's " Ervaoi Involami," and again for the duet with Mr Twhilco, " Maying." In response jto ilia former she sang " Violets" very I prettily, and the fioal veAe of the latter whs repeated. Her last item was Tosti's " Good-bye," which she sang wi'h great expression and fervour, rewiring most hearty applause, for which she bowed her acknowledgements. Mm A. L. Oooke as accompanist was simply perfect, and deierves the warmest' praise for the excellent judgment displayed in a by no means eisy task. The concert was in every way worthy of those who took part in it, the only regret being that so good an entertainment was so poorly patronised.