Theatre Royal.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 213, 13 September 1904, Page 2

Theatre Royal.

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT TOI NIGHT. i We have just received a proof of i tho varied and attractive programme - to be presented in aid of tho Town f Band at the Theatre Royal to-night. -. Tho iact that Mr George Carry is. • in charge of the musical items and that Ihv spectacular and comic items - are being managed by Mr J. D. ■ Stoyle, is sufficient to warrant theg'ood quality of the performance. . Among other niusical items we notice a comet solo by Mr U. Uarry, | songs by Miss K. Murphy, and a I brilliant violin 8010 by Mr Jack Garry. A boxing contest (moving picture), comic song toy Mr Stoyle, and a song by the tallest woman in th« world will provide plenty of fun, while Mr Limts,' display of fire clubs and fire ball swinging is said to be very fine. Footballers will he a r Mr L. Smith's new song, with music by Mr N. Holding. This, with all other songs, will be given with orchestral accompaniments specially written by Mr Garry. WATKLV MILLS CONCERT. Wniting on the appearance in Christchurch of Mr Watkin Mills, who will appear before a Taranaki audience ill the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening, the Lyttelton Times has tho following ;-Mr Watkin Mills, ivho liitulo his idobut here in "Faust" with'tho Musical Union, is the first distinguished English vocalist since Santley who has come t 0 us in tho plenitude jnd full vigour of his vocal powers—though the concert part of Mephistopheles, divested of the stage sotting and thi attraction of action, did not afford ! so good ail opportunity for disphw as in oratorio, Mr Mills showed conclusively what a really great artist he is. His voice is full, resonant, and of great range, uniting the melody of tho baritone quality with tho power and volume of the bass. To this Mr Mills adds a wonderful dramatic ability in interproting the music, investing it as he did last night with the characteristics which the composer intended to convey. Tho most striking illustration of this last night was tho serenade "Caterini," the fiendish mgckfng quality of which was brought out very forcibly. A noticeable point also in the singing of Mills is clearness of enunciation. As m the solos, so in the concerted music, Mr Mills was excellent, his voico lending powerful and ar l t'c support, noticeably in the ensembles and the fino quartette in the garden scene. "The Song of the Golden Calf " afforded Mr Mills an opportunity of displaying h's great ability in bravura singing. vi'ui, aS .u Very ' inoly sivc "' throughout, VMtn tho exception of two songs already mentioned, tho part of Mephistopheles is composed mainly of short sentences of melody. These require much artistic care ami lability to get their full effect, and this Mr .mils did most successfully. Every point was made, and Mr Binglng throughout tho evening was a very (great treat—such a one as rarely falls to tho lot of a colonial audienco to hear.