Amusements.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 261, 3 December 1903, Page 3

Amusements.

A BRILLIANT EVENT. 'ADA CROSSLEY CONCERT TONIGHT. An historic event that opens a new «ra in the musical history of New Plymouth will take place to-nig+it in .the Theatre Royal, when the world's greatest contralto, Miss Ada Crossley, will make her first and only appearance ia this city. It is quite safe to predict that the theatre will contain one of the largest and most expectant audiences that has ever been inside fihe building. The famous contralto has decided that the opening number of her New Plymouth concert programme this evening will be "Caro Mio Ben," Giordani's beautiful air, which she sang at Buckingham Palace on July 3, by special request of Her Majesty the .Queen. The late Queen also asked Miss Crossley to sing this numbbr at 1 Balmoral Castle, and since then the distinguished contralto has made it Bo completely her own that no other iartist of rank ever puts it on a programme. This song is said to show the great beauty of her voice and the sauvity and broadness of her style almost better thin anything else in her repertoire of 500" numbers. Another famous song that Miss Crossley will give this evening is "Oh, That We Two Were Maying," .which has been received with extra- i ordinary enthusiasm everywhere. Al.together Miss Crossley will sing seven important selections this evening, including Chamin&de's charming number, " The Little Bilven Ring," " Martini's "Philis et Croyidon," Willeby's " The Four-leaved .Clover," and German's "Love the Psdlar." Miss Crossley also generally sings one or two very wellknown popular sopgs as encores. Lovers of piano playing will be afforded an interesting selection, as the talented young Australian pianist, Mr Percy Grainger, will play Grelg's "In OUa Dale,'' * Beethoven's "Rondo Capriccuso," and the Schubert-Tausig "Military March." The gifted violinist, Mr Jacques Jacobs, who created such a sensation in Dunedin, Christchureh and Wellington, will be heard in a Saint Saens' "Andant and Hondo Capriccioso," and Wlenaiwskl's "Polonaise in A." Mr W. A. Peterkin, the famous English basso, will make his appearance in Handel's gieat aria "Arm, Arm, Ye Brave," and Sullivan's "The Sailor's (J rave." The box plan for to-migkt's prolamine is now open at the Colonial Piano Co.'s rooms, where a number «f specially good seats may still b# obtained-. It is specially announced that 500 ftve-shilling and half-a-crown tickets will be reserved for sale at the doors this evening. Miss Crossley will be welcomed by prominent citizens on her arrival from Wanganui by the 5.27 train this afternoon.

"TOPSY TL'KVY." Capacious as the theatre is there should be a record attendance on Tuesday evening to welcome Mr Geo. Willoughb'y and his popular band of players in the very latest "hit," "Topsy Turvy," of which un ex- i change says " The brightest and merriest comedy that the stage has seen in the past decade, which is now in its second successful season In America. As a fun producer it has ne equal. It is a wholesome play that is one laugh from the first until the final curtain. It has been the aim of the author to piak* the comedy novel, and to this end lie lias discarded the traditional form of farcical writing, and his introduced new material through the entire play. "Topsy Turvy" received the highest possible praise from the best dramatic authorities in the country last season, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast and delighted the audiences everywhere. Messrs Villoughby and Geach have placed the comedy in the hands of an exceptionally strong and well balanced company of comedians, headed by Mr George WillouffhJ®-. Seats should be reserved at McKinnon Bain's, Bfince the season is liiiii'ed 1o the one performance, as the talented Company are shortly due in Auckland.