AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 356, 6 April 1910, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

THE (.ORNISH PIXIE. The quaint little man of unknown age and sensational history continues to attract numerous visitors to his receptions in Devon street. The things about him that seem weird and strange are the twinkling eyes with their old man expression and the piping voice of mature age. All else is curiously symmetrical, while his habits are irreproachable. He will remain on view here during the week, and may be seen daily from 11.30 till 12..15, 3.30 bo 5, and 7.30 till 9 p.m. ROYAL BESSES 0' Til' BARN BAND. •'One could imagine that there was a master hand at a rich-toned organ," wrote a distinguished musical critic of the famous Besses, who are to favor New Plymouth with the three appearances, on Saturday and Monday evenings next, at the Theatre Royal, and en the Recreation Sports Ground on Monday afternoon 'at 3, under the guidance of Messrs J .and N. Tait, but with I the band there was this in addition— I that to eacli note in each, part there was a value given by the .individual player, a thing impossible on the organ. The whole Wended beautifully, and there was added delight of subtle little movements beneath. The wave of sound swayed on majestically —one long unbroken roller, but the line was not 'mathematical, as if drawn with a ruler. Everywhere there were little crests and hollows, swelling and swaying undulations of liquid sound. Kipling has said somewhere that in the best-drilled regiments of soldiers there Is a ripple that runs naturally along the ranks when they are executing movements, which i* a far better sign that a stiti, rigid line; and now one can understand why. In the discussion born of expectancy of hearing this famous combination it had been whispered that their playing would be mechanical. It is anything but that in the bare sense of the word. Mechanical in its accuracy, if you like, hut imbued with a feeling and a subtlety ver/ human indeed. From what has been said, it will have been gathered that the quality of tone produced was incomparable. It was, indeed,and the balance of parts was wonderful. Nowhere could it be said that the bass was too heavy or that any section wa« over-weighted here or too prominent there. The contrasts obtained by various combinations of instruments was remarkable, and a very fine thing was the working up to (fortissimo of these passages. The piling of sound as instrument after instrument | was added, reached a climax when the J soprano cornets leaped up an octave, their soaring passages seeming to culminate in a scream of triumph.

PETER PAN. So much has been heard of Mr. J. M. Barrie during recent years, standing, a» he unquestionably does, in the foremost rant of modern dramatists, that the opportunity of seeing his latest and most conspicuous success, "Peter Pan," will be cordially welcomed by theatre-goers. Mr. J. C. Williamson announces that the play will be presented at the Theatre Royal, Xew Plymouth, next Tuesday evening at 7.45. There is practically no one who does not like the curious, *nd this work of Mr. J. M. Barrie's is said to be very curious. It is probably bess described as' a fantasy—an appeal from the imagination to the imagination. It was described by a Melbourne contemporary— j\vhere "Peter Pan" enjoyed an extraordinarily successful run —as a dream, a comedy, a fantasia, a pantomime, a play within a play. 14 is all this and more. The difficulty is to say what it is not. It is a play for children ana a play for adults." After having witnessed a performance in London, where it has been presented for the last seven years, Mr. W. T. Stead, the wellknown editor of the Review of Reviews, wrote: ':' Peter Pan, the boy who could not grow up, is a dainty, delightful little magician, who make old boys grow young again at the Duke of York's Theatre, twice a day six days a week. I saw its 9Sth performance; I hope to see it again on its 008 th, for there is no reason why it should ever grow stale. It ought tn share the eternal youth of its charming hero. Mr. J. M. Barrie deserves the thanks and congratulations of all who love children, and of all who possess the faculty of becoming as little children. To become as a little child is the gecret of entering other kingdoms besides tlw 'kingdom of heaven.' As a. key to that fairyland 'Peter Pav ; is simple and delightful and unique." The box plan is announced to open at Collier and Co.'* next Friday morning, when a record attendance i« expected to attend the box office. Owing to the very limited nature of the tour "Peter Pan" can only be given in New Pliymouth for one night.