ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1918, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS. The appearance periodically of Edward Branscoinbe's musical comedians, who have been variously styled Red, Pink or jFurpte Dandies, Troubadours or Pier- [ rots, is always greeted with delight in every town in New Zealand. They have always found favor with, theatre-goers, musicians, humorists, and provided just that relaxation which lifts the tired business man out of himself, and for the time frees him from his commercial cares, and incidentally makes him a keener man on the morrow. Last night, at the Empire Theatre, an entirely new combination, under the style of Scarlet Troubadours, was introduced to New Plymouth, when a good audience greeted thifi clever company. The troupe includes about a dozen entertainers, all of them being talented vocalists or comedians. They possess an extensive repertoire of the latest songs, sketches, dialogues and dances, and provide a very versatile programme, which makes an excellent evening's entertainment. There were no dull moments, and the audience was kept in a simmer of merriment from start to finished, which frequently broke into explosive laughter, the clever jests creating great amusement. The programme consisted of songs, duets and choruses from some of the best-known operas, and in these the parly was most successful, the concerted singing being particularly pleasing, especially in the "Anvil Chorus" from "II Trovatore." The soloists were all well received, and encores were frequently demanded. Miss Lai la Ward in "Dream Boat," and Miss Ivy Davis in "Back to Virginia," with male quartette chorus, were amongst the most pleasing of the items in the first part of the entertainment. Mr. Renn Miller (baritone) sang "Friend o' Mine' and "The Toreador Song," and Mr. An drew Pace (tenor) was heard to greal advantage in "Sweet Kentucky Lady.' These two artists were heard later in tin duet "Maiden, Fly," which they had t< repeat. Miss Madeline Knight, who possesses a good contralto voice, sang "Mj Ships" and "A Maori Song." The coined} element in the entertainment- is in tin capable hands of Messrs. Reg. Haw lliorne and (Jeorge Livingstone, who an ably supported by the whole eompain in a series of sketches and burlesques in which some clever repartee is intro duced. The solo dancing of Miss Hildi MeMnrtry was most captivating, and thi turn with Mr. Reg. Hawthorne had to In repeated. The whole .entertainment i. produced by Mr. C-ourteiniy Ford. i The Scarlet Troubadours will appea again to-night and to-morrow night. Oi each occasion entirely new programme will be submitted. PIANOFORTE RECITAL. Id the advertisements will be foum ■the iprogrureo* hat to-night'* recital

c Each o£ these numbers will be of intere est, as each has a style of its own, affordb ing plenty of scope for musieianly v treatment, for brilliance of execution, n arid tasteful style of melody. The Deis lms;y and BrobmJs' munbers, tbougli heard for the first time in New Plymouth, are so totally different to anything else 011 the programme that they must rivet attention from first to last. (1 The songg will add pleasing variety and 1. lie veil worth hearing.