WEST'S PICTURES AND THE BRESCIANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9059, 7 April 1908, Page 5

WEST'S PICTURES AND THE BRESCIANS.

A MERITORIOUS ENTERTAINMENT. Although the weather. conditions last night were not favourable, the Town Hall was crowded downstairs, and well filled in the dress circle, to witness the entertainment of West's Pictures and the Brescians. The programme submitted was of a very high-class character, in fact it is not too much to say that it was far and away the best entertainment of its class so far submitted to a Masterton audience. The bioscope pictures were without a sinale exception new films, and all depicted subjects which kept the audience either spell-bound with interest, or in roars of laughter. The illusions were invariably intensely funny, the devil-driven train forming a subjeit upon which the bioscope experts who got up these pictures evidently expended considerable thought and money over. The motor trials on the Dieppe circuit was what might be fitly termed a "breathless" film, motor cars careering round snaky thoroughfares and through narrow avenues at meteoric speed, and keeping the audience on the tip-toj of expectation for a spill, which, of course, eventually occurs. "The Runaway Van," and "The] Mjgn-itic Man" were also most humorous picture stories,'and were roundly applauded. Among the serious subjects was "Dumb Sagacity," in, which a dog brings a horse the rescue of a little girl caught on the rocks by the tide.

The musical portion of the programme was provided by that talented troupe, the "Brcsciatis," and a treat it was. The selections from Maritana were splendidly rendered, the soloists being loudly applauded. Mr Hayward was demonstratively encored for his singing of "Simon the Cellarer," as also was Mr Chetioweth for his capable treatment of "Roses." Miss Adelina Martir.engo gave two violin selections, "Lq Cyne," and "Saint Saeus," her execution being of a masterly nature, eliciting hearty applause. It is rarely such a giftpd artist as ihis is heard in Masterton, the dulcet notes of her instrument in the upper register resembling the vox humana of a great organ. A humorous trio by Messrs Chenoweth, Mills and Hayward} entitled "Laughing Gypsies," was deservedly recalled. Miss An*:onia Martinengo gave a naive rendering of "A needle in a haystack," and was also encored. Mr Fred Mills, an old favourite, had the house in roars of laughter with his humorous songs, a "Scotch" effort, with bagpipe effects, being highly effective. Miss Maude Browne accompanied the Bresciaps on the pianoforte in an artistic style. The pianoforte improvisations by Mr T. N. Lax were of a really brilliant order, and his performance on the popular instrument throughout the pictures gave the entertainment a distinctive tone.