AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9709, 3 February 1910, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

A FAMOUS ATHLETE.

THE-COMING OF HACKENSCHMIDT. Hackmschmidt, the Russian wrestler, who is to be here on Friday next, at the Town Hall, is in the fullest sense of the term a world-famous athlete. In tact Eugene Randow on the one side and Hackenschmidt on the other can both easily be regarded as the world's most famous athletes —known to more people than Jeffries and Johnson and Burns, and famous not for months but for years Hackenf hmidt is to appear at the Town a(l to-morro wevenmg, and his visit stiould encourage wrestline and general athletics in the Dominion, especially when the universal training is "in the air.'* It is not alone in wrestling that Hackenschmidt excells. In his displays a wide range of athletics is demonstrated by "The Russian Lion," and his assisting de-monstrators,-Gunner Moir and Alex. Bain, the latter a famous Scottish wrestler. Accompanying the party from England is a physical culture expert, who adds consideraole interest to the series by describing the various exercises in detail, thus making the entertainment attractive to children and ladies. Other features in lighter vein will be monologues, .magic, mirth and melody by Clifford Mark Osborne, and other artists qcite new to New Zealand. i?'ilms which depict Hackenschmidt's most recent International contests will be reproduced by b'oscope. Reserved seats may be secured at Miss Rive's.

POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY. The box plans for the two nights' season of this much-travelled combination were opened yesterday, and already the booking is of such a healthy character as to point to its success. The opening attraction on Saturday night at the Town Hall is the very latest American success, the original \ operatic extravaganza "The Belle of Cuba." The author and compose* of the work are Mr Newton Abbot and Mr Burton Trent, names entirely new to musical comedy or light opera admirers. That the librettist knows his work is established by the following verse from the burlesque toreador song, which Aquila, a boaster, who claims to be a famous bull-lighter, sings in the first act: — To check the bull's hostility My sword with great ability . Directed to the heart of him, I made a violent swoop; With marvellous agility ... And swordsmanlike facility I cut away that part of him They use for ox*tail soup. This neat versification and these I- well-balanced lines are almost worthy of a Gilbert. The muisc is said to be exceptionally bright and tuneful, and though rollicking in style, yet embodies several numbers that are recognised musical gems. As the plot is laid in Cuba, it gives the Pollard management ample scope for the wealth of spectacle and magnificent miseen-scene for which it is famed.