AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 311, 31 December 1923, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

MISS KATE CAMPION. j AN ACCOMPLISHED SINGER. Those people that rormed such a high opinion of the talent or Miss Kate Campion prior to her going Home to Have her voice trained were amply Justified berore she had got half-way through her nrst song at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, when she made her firs: appearance arter her return. Ever since Miss Gertie Campion made it known in the days or those likeable people •••the Pollards," the name of Campion has alwaj - 3 been popular among Auckland con-cert-goers, and anyone bearing that name would be sure or a good reception, but. apart Trorn this Tact, Miss Kate Campion wins out through her own unmistakable talent. Always a singer or charm, with a wonderrully rresh soprano voice, she comes back with the added attraction or a very thorough training, and she has, or course, profited greatly through the privilege or bearing and singing with the ramous artists or the day—an advantage which is denied those or our artists who have not enjoyed Miss Campion's interesting sojourn in Europe. Abroad she has sung with success at the Covent Garden Opera House, and Saturday evening's audience soon realised why she had been so popular at Home, and why the critics spoke so highly or her talent. Even when she was an untrained but obviously gifted amateur her inclinations were towards dramatic work, and this Is undoubtedly her metier. She has other qualities, but her instinct Tor the dramatic element In song is exceptional. A dramatic sense also indicates personality, and that or Miss Campion is both marked and pleasing. But her work is not entirely confined to the dramatic side. She has feeling as well, and since we last heard ber tn Auckland her voice has gained considerably in power and richness. Miss Campion's programme on Saturday night. Tor the Arst or the three concerts she is announced to give in Auckland, was well chosen to display the capabilities or her brilliant voice and ber manipulation of it. Tbe audience gave her a splendid reception, and recalled ber time and again. First came Massenet's exquisite "Pleurez Mes Yeux," which was delightfully sung. It was, of course, in the great ana from "OtbeUo" that Miss Campion scored her greatest triumph. Nothing could have been more conclusive or the nature and thoroughness or ber study and training than the masterly manner in which she handled this exacting classic. Her other items covered many moods and included several ballads that pleased the audience greatly. The Polonaise from "Mignon"' was a piece of brilliant wort. "Lire and Death" (Coleridge Taylor), "The Cloths or Heaven" (Dunhui), and "The Enchanted Forest" (Phillips) were three contrasting songs that admirably displayed ber voice ana methods. Tbe audience was insistent In its recalls, and Miss Campion's encore numbers were nearly as lengthy as ber programme items.

Assisting Miss Campion was Signor Costantini, who has established himseir as a firm favourite with the Auckland public. He made a great hit wltn "Di Sposa di Padre" (Gomez), and after Tosti's "Sogno d'Avertt" he was brought back three times. Mr. Harold Beck gave several delightful 'cello solos, which met with marked favour, each being recalled. His items included Bantock's "Hamabdil," Schubert's "Berceuse." and Popper's "Hungarian Rhapsody." Mr. Cyril Towsey made a perfect accompanist, and, owing to the large number or items and recalls, his task was by no means a light one during the evening.

The second concert of the series will take place to-morrow evenm-, and the third on Wednesday.

TOWN HALL CABARET. This evening the Town Hall Cabaret will present a novel opportunity to those people who wish to Jazz the .New Year In and welcome It in a right merry manner. Th<: Cabaret is under the direction or .Mr. Herbert J. Bentley. and no pains have been spared to provide patrons with every facility which goes to make up -'a good tibe." The hall has been beautifully decorated. an excellent orchestra en" gaged, and specialty items will be rendered by Miss Dorothy Richardson. Mi=s Mary Wilson, the Cabaret Girls, and members of the Humphrey Bishop Company. AMUSEMENTS GUIDE. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE—" Tbe Cabaret Girl." OPERA HOUSE —George Wallace's Revue and Vaudeville. CONCERT CHAMBER (TOWN HALL) Humphrey- Bishop Comedy Company. PICTURE THEATRES. NATlONAL —Vaudeville and Owen Moore and Alice Lake in "Modern Matrimony." STRAND —SvIvia Breamer in 'The Girl of the Golden West." HIPPODROME —snowy Baker in "His Last Race." PRINCESS —Tom Mix in "The l.one star Ranger." and Agnes Ayres in -\ Daughter or Luxury." TlVOLl —Blanche Sweet In "Quinccy Adams sawyer." LYRIC —Clara Kimball Young in "Tne Woman of Bronze." EVERYBODY'S— Wesley Barry in 'The Printer's Devil." QUEEN'S —Jackie Coogan In "Pecks Bad Boy." and Harold l.loyd in A sailor - made Man." QRAND —Mary Fftilbin in "Merry-Go-Round." BROADWAY— Th-- Sport of Kinii" and "Fools and Riches." EMPREBS —DustIn Karnum in "r_» Buster." BRITANNIA —I.npino Lane in 'The Kriendlv Husband" and the. Lee kids in "Toa.: Terrors." CAPITOL- Roy Stewart in 'Burning Words." WEST END —Thomas Mcighan :n "The Prince Chap" and "crossroads of >ew York."