AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10059, 2 June 1910, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

AMY CASTLES IN GRAND OPERA. MADAM BUTTERFLY; "Madam Butterfly," Puccini's grand opera in three, acts, with Amy" Gaatles in the very exacting role of "Cho Cho San," will be presented by J. C. Williamson on Saturday next. With Signor Roberto Hazon in command of an orchestra of picked instrumentalists, the music of the opera should! be in safe hands. There is a chorus of 30 male and 30 female voices. Ia order to accommodate the abnormal orchestra, it has been made necessary to make alterations in the orchestra well of the 1 Town Hail. Amy Castles, the Ma- . dam Butterfly of Saturday next, ' according to Wellington contemporarie", not only admirably looks the part, but sings it in a manner worthy of the highest praise. For 54 minutes the clever cantutrice is on the stage in the second act, and to be on the siage in grand opera is to sing. The stage settings of the opera are descriheri as being remarkably beau- i tiful. The wistaria and rose-clad bower, the "marriage house" in the first act, and the delightfully picturesque Japanese interior in the I stecond, are specially admirfd. Ernest Toy, who is the leader of J C. Williamson's Grand Opera under Signor Hazon, still owns tlie old violin which descended from "Oie Bull" to Wilheling in 188U, and which was bought for Mr Toy by his Queensland admirers in ISJO2. His last starring tour was in New Zealand with his sister Lilian as pianiste The box plan is now open at Miss tUve's,

THOMPSON—PAYNE PICTURES

The charming views of "The | Gorges of the Andes," "Walrus Hunting i the Arctic," and "Paper Pulp Making," were shown for the last time on Wednesday evening. Ihis evening a complete change of programme will include "The Spanish Gir," a good cowboy story, and "Love and Treason.' Tne usual batch of comics will also be sh-.iwn. The screen will bermoved back a considerable distance' from its present position to enable a larger picture to be shown, and the effect to spectators further enhanced. Messrs Coradine and Whittaker have carried out the alterations to tha buiding in a most satisfactory "inanner, and the Foresters' Hail now ranks as second to rone as a cinematograph picture Hall.