AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 44, 1 June 1910, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE CALEDONIAN'S." A CAPITAL ENTERTAINMENT. There was not a very large audience at the Theatre Royal last night for the entertainment given by the Caledonian Entertainers, hut it is'safe to predict » much larger one for to-night. and that despite the present pletl«>ra of evening amusements in Now Plymouth. The Caledonians are a troupe organised by our old friend Mr. .Jock Willis, weil known to local playgoers as the popular Scotch comedian <>f Pollard's Opera Company, lie has brought us a bright and clean entertainment, and includes in his company some artists of merit. Miss Cissie O'Keefe has forsaken the boards of flowery opera for the nonce, and sings without those gay settings with which she has usually been accompanied. The more we heard of her last night the better we liked her voice. Miss O'Keefe possesses one of the finest contralto voices in New Zealand, iproducing it without effort and with, great power and resonance. Her numlbers were "My Aim Folk" (encore number "My Eyes") in the first part and "Down in the Vale" and ''The Invitation" in the second. The last-named song was perhaps the best of the evening, lighter and brighter thaa her other selections. Mr. Colin Cameron is the tenor of" the company, and possesses a well-trained and tuneful voice, ■which was heard to great advantage in his songs, "Mary of Argyle," "Killarney," and "Loch Lomond," and also in his duet with Mr. McLean, "Larboard Watch." Mr. McLean is a bass singer who has done a lot of fine oratorio work, and thus the fine old songs "Drinking" and "Off to Philadelphia" Received masterly treatment. Ho was also good in the duet just mentioned, in the quartette "Will ye no come back again?" and the final trio, "Auld Laiig--1 Svne,"' with Messrs. Willis and Cameron. Mr. Jock Willis himself was a host in the 'humorous part of the programme, with his Scotch songs and mannerisms, and some of Harry Lauder's favorites. He sang "The March of the Cameron Men" and the comic songs "Turn Over" and "Pilgrims of the N'ight," two scream- . ingly funny numbers, amongst others. Mr. Farquiiar Finlayson, the piper, is a mtin of the very first rank. He has won championships in Canada, Scotland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zea- ' land, and was for three years piper to , Mr. Andrew Carnegie, having 'been selected out of five hundred applicants. Messrs. : Tam .lalTray and Dan Mac Donald are j New Zealand champion dancers and their Highland dances, Irish jig, and sailor's J hornpi.pe are fine exhibitions. The' pipe band rendered a couple of well-played selections. The accompaniments were exceedingly well played by Mr. Percy Hawkins. | TO-NIGHT. ■ To-night Mr. Willis presents an entire ■ chance of programme, and he will intro- | duce into one of his own ditties several I verses dealing with local celebrities. | There should be a. good house. I COOPER & MACDERMOTT'S OPERAI SCOPE AND WESTMINSTER AND WESTMINSTER RELLRINOERS. , To-morrow, and Friday Messrs. i Cooper and Macdermott will present | their entertainment of music, mirth and magic. The present combination is strong, and press reports speak highly of the entertainment. The Westminster ; Bell ringers present instruments new, and I mix comedy with their turn. The picI hires -ire of a sensational character, j "iAn Englishman's Home" is full 01 inI terest. The comic films are well sei lected. Prices of admission are reasonI able, and good houses' should greet this company.