AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 163, 10 July 1907, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

JULIUS KNIGHT SEASON.

"Brigadier Gerard" will be staged for the last time in Auckland to-night, and it is not without regret that we bid adieu to the gay, rollicking, boastful, but brave and loyal young hussar and his bright interesting associates and surroundings. To-morrow (Thursday) night the farewell production of the season will be staged, and a more appropriate selection could hardly have been made for the three last performances of this very successful season than the justly popular stage romance "Monsieur Beaucaire." There is little need to say much in commendation of this play, it is such a universal favourite, and undoubtedly affords Mr Julius Knight opportunity for some of his finest and most delicate work in character study. The play is indeed at all points as charming as it is original. Miss Elbert-OrtOn makes her first appearance as Lady Mary Carlyle in Auckland. Wellington critics praised her impersonation most highly, while the whole company won from them almost unqualified praise.

ST. PATRICK'S OPERATIC SOCIETY.

O'NETDL'S BUCKJUMPERS.

•''MARTTANA." The long-expected performance of the ever-green little opera "Maritana" by the members of St. Patrick's Operatic Society eventuated last night, when there was a large audience in attendance. Since its production at Druy Lane in 1845 Until •the present, the gracefulness of the opera, its sprightly and flowing music, combined with the unusual interest and delicate humour of the subject, have always commended it to public favour. The drama is one well adapted to catchy music, and the gifted Irish melodist, Vincent Wallace, has taken every opportunity to clothe his themes with the sweetest of melodies, which, for beauty and expressiveness, can well challenge any that have ever been written. The score contains at least twenty-one distinctly melodious pieces, more or less delightful to listen to, all of which have been transcribed for different instruments, and arranged as vocal pieces.

The opera was mounted with a degree of completeness, and the dresses becoming and appropriate. The groupings on the stage were effective, and generally good order was maintained after the rising of the curtain. The performers on the stage were not, nor, indeed, could they, be expected to be, perfect as actors and actresses, but they had the merit of being as a whole well up with their parts, and any minor faults which were visible at the initial performance will doubtless disappear when the company get accustomed to their surroundings. The performance dragged somewhat, and was not concluded nil twenty-five minutes past eleven, this being due to the slow tempo in which some of the pieces were taken, and the encores. The chorus is a well-balanced one, and, save for their indifferent singing in the finale of Act H., did good work. They sang with nice expression "The Angelus," and gave a sprightly rendering of "Pretty. Gitana," while the part singing and volume of tone was most pleasing in "Oh, Forbear." And a creditable delivery was secured of the closing pages of Act I. A lightsome interpretation was secured of "Oh! What Pleasure." In the chorus "What Mystery" the executants got very mixed up, and were difficult to follow, and had it not been for the orchestra sticking closely to their music, the result would have been disastrous.

The principal character was sustained by Miss Rosina Buckmann. with all her power and ability. To this talented lady the highest praise is due for the completeness with which she portrayed the widely different characters, and for the culture and refined taste with which she sang the music incidental to them. . She was honoured with hearty encores, and was the recipient of several lovely floral tributes. The solo "The Harp in the Air' was delightfully vocalised; the lights and shades of the music were charmingly realised, and the intonation and phrasing were excellent. The lovely air "Scenes That Are Brightest" was rendered with considerable taste, and dramatic intensity was exhibited in "But Who Art Thou," while she contributed with extreme lightness and smoothness the scent "Fairy Wand." She also sang with facility and freedom the soprano in "Of Pleasure Queen," the scale passages were given with a nice legato, and the high " notes rang out with telling effect. In the other pretty little pieces, both in. solo and concerted, in which "Maritana" is heard, she was always ready and equal to the part. Mr. James prabtree made a fairly creditable "Don Caesar de Bazan," his acting was somewhat stagy, while he was not always equal to the music, this being especially noticeable in the air "Know, Sir," and in some of the concerted pieces. He received a recall for his singing of "Let Mc Like a Soldier Fall," and gave a 'tasteful rendering of "There is a Flower," and was pleasing in the duet "Thine for Ever is this Faithful Heart," with Miss Buekniann. Mr. Ryan was over-weighted as "Don Jose," and acted stiffly. Bis best solo was "No My Courage," while he gave a creditable delivery of "In Happy Moments." In the air "Think of the Splendour" and the music of "Thus Woman's Heart" he was only fairly successful. In the important character of "Lazarillo," the faithful friend of "Don CUesar," Miss Madeline Knight was well suited. She was warmly encored for her expressive delivery of "Alas, Those Chimes," and she gained a great success with Miss Buckmann in the duo "Sainted Mother," after which the duettists were enthusiastically recalled. Mrs. Nelson as Mr. A. McElwain as "Marquis," and Mr. J. Lonergan as 'Kinoof Spain," filled their parts in a credit? able way. The minuet and ballet were gracefully danced, which reflected credit on the teacher, Miss D. Kni°_t. The orchestra, ably led by Mr. Colin Muston, LJ_AM., lent good aid. In places they were uncertain of their tempo, and they did not play always together, while in the introduction to Act lIL the cornet played an impromptu solo, otherwise their efforts were most praiseworthy, and they worked admirable climaxes." The overture could not be heard properly, owinoto the noise on the stage, but it ap° peared to go very well. Dr. de Clive Lowe Conducted, and must have taken infinite pains preparing his forces. The excellence of the stage management owes much to the untiring efforts of Mr. Scott Colville. To-night the opera will be again staged.

Fine weather, a huge and comfortablyseated marquee, and the fame of the O'Neill's as daring and accomplished equestrians, augurs well for the opening performance to-night of this amusement enterprise, which comes to Auckland in its entirety from the Chxistchuxch J___3rtk_j pgwards °*

200,000 persons witnessed these unigxte exhibitions-of skilled horsemanship. In addition to the brothers OQSeill, Ernie, Sidney, and Vincent, two lady riders ■will take part. A novel item will be contributed by Mexican Bill. The equine portion of the show consists of forty bucking "outlaws," a troupe of highlytrained ponies, and the champion high- , jumping mare "Ruby," which holds the New Zealand record. The management announce a series of riding competitions nightly, offering any person a guinea who succeeds in sitting any "outlaw" for 60 seconds. Special trams will leav-e Customs-street at frequent intervals for the location at Freeman's Bay, adjoining Victoria Park.

MISS JESSIE MACLACHLAN.

The first of four farewell concerts to be given by Miss Jessie Maclaehlan will take place in His Majesty's Theatre on Monday, July 15. Mr Douglas Young, the new tenor whom Miss Maclaehlan is introducing to New Zealand for the first time, comes from Edinburgh, where ha has achieved a very high reputation on the. concert platform. He has a tenor voice of exquisite quality and extensive compass, which he uses with great skilL A feature of the programme to be presented by the company during their stay, will be the singing of "duets by Miss Maclaehlan and Mr Douglas Young, notably the well-known "Hunting Tower." Mr Young sings both dramatic and pathetic songs, "iving amongst others the martial "Standard o_ the Banks of Mar," "When the Kye Come Hame," and the English songs "The Old Countree" and "My Pretty Jane." Mr John McLinden, the young Scottish 'cellist, is well and favourably known to music lovers in New Zealand. Mr Robert Buchanan acts aa accompanist and also musical director.