AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 232, 28 September 1908, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. i ! Standing-room only again constituted i the remaining available accommodation at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday even- ' ing, wh_n the curtain rose on the second t production of "The Great Rescue" by the t Bland Holt Company. The. splendid scenic j effects of the production carried the audi- t ence time and time again to a high pitch , of enthusiasm, the curtain having to be raised sevreal times in response to the , insistent demands-of the audience at the . conclusion of the scene depicting an ex- < citing race between motor aud train. In this scene is witnessed a wonderful piece j of stagecraft, the whirling panorama of , forest, hill, and vall?y, the rushing ex- , press racing sided by side with an automobile, and the clouds of dust, smoke, and , steam combining to render an effect which ] must be a_en in order to appreciate its , extraordinary realism. The rescue of ths i entombed man, imprisoned by the Hooding of the mine, also app?aled strongly to the , audience. As in the previous performance, i Mr. Bland Holt was accorded an enthusi- i astic reception in his characterisation of : "Ironbark Bill," and Miss Jennie Pollock, , in the role of his daughter, also acquitted herself capably. The piece will be repeated tor two more nights, Tuesday's j, _ eriormance being the last of the Bland I, Holt season in Auckland.

OPERA HOUSE.

The final cinematographic view at the Opera House on Saturday night of the Burns-Squires' pugilistic contest and of the Olympic games attracted a big- attend- j ana?. To-night the pieturps will be shown at Hamilton, while Messrs. Fuller and Sons will start a season of '"The Wide- ! world Pictures" at the Opera House this evening. A divcrsive and interesting set of films will he shown, all of them being entirely new to Auckland. ' '~

CHARLES SAUNDERS.

To-night at the Choral Hall, the first of two farewell concerts will be given j by the distinguished English tenor, Air. I Charles Saunders. The programme to I be given is of an extensive and unique character, picked from the gems of his j repertoire, and including such numbers . ns the grand scena and aria, "Lucifer's Soliloquy" from "The Golden Legend." ■ The music by Kent-Sutton is something of a remarkable nature, for tenor voice, i violin, organ, and piano accompaniment; j it created a marked impression iv | Wellington and Christchurch by its I weird and thrilling intensity. At to- I night's concert, Mr. Saunders will receive strong support, including Miss Clara | Robson, Mr. G. van Heck (a violinist) Mr. Horace Hunt (organist and solo pianist), and Mr. T. E. Midgiey, accom- 1 paiiist. The box plan is open at Wildman and Arey's.

'•■LITTLE BBEADWINNER" COMPANY.

I Messrs. Meynell and Gunn's "Little Breadwinner" Company, only recently I i terminated an exceptional season at the 1 Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and is now on a tour of .New Zealand. The. Auckland season opens at H.M. Theatre on "Wednes- I day night next. The company has been carefully selected, and includes in the leads Miss Beatrice Hollo way (already I well and favourably known throughout Australia), and Mr. Ernest Leicester, a I London actor of distinction. In support. ( there are many names favourably known to the public, including such favourites | as Miss Ida Gresfeam, F. Coape, E. G. I j Coughlin, C. R. Stanford, and G. P. Carey. [The name part is played by Little Queenie Williams, a sweet little girl whose deI lightful impersonation has won for her I J plaudits of the public and the keen ap- | preciation of the Press. The run of "The j Little Breadwinner" is limited to four nights only, and will be followed by a farewell revival of "The Fatal Wedding." The box plan opened at Wildmau and I Arey's this morning. • 1