AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 246, 14 October 1908, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

: HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' " - The Old -'oiks A. Home" was staged igain at His Majesty's "Theatre" last night by Messrs. Meynell and- Gunn's traipatie cenipany-before- a-large audi- - encc-. who gave - every -manifestation of • their approval.-The same piece will be - repeated to-night, and to-morrow night ± will -be repla_ed „y "The Stepmother." - THE -OPERA HOUSE.".. The Opera House was again well patronised last night, and the really excelien- assortment of animated pictures B-as thoroughly enjoyed by the large Audience. The same programme will be repeated to-night and • throughout the JFeek. -MEIS -WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH. 1 ' The production by J. C. Williamson, "by arrangement with Liebler and Co., of New York, of the world-famous comedy - drama, -'Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday nest, is an- event in the theatriEal world of perhaps more than ordinary interest. Pood for laughter is "Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," and the laughter wrung from delightful observers of the droll characters moving in and shout the loquacious grass widow's home in the poverty-stricken cabbage patch is of the doubling-up kind. Under the influence of this humorous creation during a recent engagement in one re- .. fined and intelligent woman who evi- _ dently knew Mrs Wiggs, Mis' Hazy, . Xoyfiy Mary.. Mr Stubbins, Mrs Eichorn, Mrs' Schultz, and Little Tom-qy, long before they were transferred from, -the library to the stage, so surrendered herself to the enjoyment of their eccentricities that_ she., became, quite hysterical during the performance, and sought the retiring room i_v recover her composureShe is only one of hundreds, however, Every audience is -spurred to unrestrained laughter by the sight of the dolorous Mis' Hazy in her bridal array, a mixture of black alpaca, Nottingham lace curtains, and "a peacock aigrette; -of the ' gaTrtilous" Airs Wiggs, plucking her false iair from the coal scuttle ; the bibulous Mr Stubbins rocking the bride-elect on his attenuated knee; the lath-like Mrs Eieharu's arrogant bearing; the ponderous Mrs Schultz's wabble, and the grotesqueness oi the others. A more amusing mosaic of comic players, piquant dialogue, and humorous action, it is said, can hardly be conceived- In the title Tole will be seen Ada Dwyer, one of the '"best-character comediennes on the American stage. Her work has the distinction of- a vignette. Helen Lowell, as "Mis' Hazy, the poor, craven creature, victim of a matrimonal agent, furnishes a strikingly original characterisation. "Jonn Webber is irresistibly - funny in. the role of- "the soldier of "fortune," Hiram Stal. •bins. Miss' Lottie Alters' individuality] as Lovey Mary is even more pronounced i than any of her predecessors. Others in the cast are Helen Raymond, Gustine! -Armstrong,. Miss .Gordon, George Bryant, _and Pearl Eagan. Miss- Crawford Flex- ' iter's handling- of the original material , Jfaas been, it is said, wonderfully syin-, pathetic, the play, being as enjoyable to "those who have not read the story as to' . .those..who know it;by- heart. "The box plan for the six _nights' season. will -be ©pen-at- Wildman and Arey's to-morrow. MARE HAMBOURG. Mark Hambourg will give .his second - -recital in the . Choral.. Hall to-morrow --evening,- when "a remarkably" interesting programme will be given. Hambourg" is notedT for-being an artist with a great -repertoire, and ha.be_ie.es in playing as many novelties as possible. In tp-mor-_eow-5 recital"there, .trill be three, or four, works which have probably never been .heard before in Auckland. A delightful ■ pastorale by A Scarlatti is one of them, .and this work .has become a great favourite during the tour. The greatest itean of the evening wiU be the f axnons B "Minor Sonata of Chopin, which includes the well known Funeral Marche, probably one of the best known pianoforte pieces of the famous. Polish composer. -Ibibins-ein, Schumann, Paderewski, Schubert, and Handel will also -be represented, and the full" programme will ■fee published to-morrow. Asa large audience is anticipated, the management - advise those who- intend visiting the recital to-morrow to. set-tre. their seats at the box office, as the accommodation of the Choral Hall isKmited. The final recital takes place on Saturday evening. A concert and dramatic recital will he given on Friday evening in St. Jades' Hall, Weflington-street. The first half -of the programme will be under, the dfireetion of Mr. Waiter"___pe.tt. Mrs. Forsyth .and lady pupils will.contribnte the second • -haljf, when "The" Parliament of tlje _Tv-vie, 2025, -AD-" will be depicted.