AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12571, 14 August 1906, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

MR LESLIE HARRIS. It is not often that an entertainment, especially when the greater part of the work talis on one performer, seems all too ■diort. But tliat was I the case with tho exceedingly clover and most enjoyable one given by Air Leslie Harris at the Theatre Royal last night. Mr Harris has a magnetic personality on tho stage, and was at once en rapport with his audience, and discoursed, sang, and played to them as if they were a party of old friends whom he had undertaken to amuse. There were a crispness and a verve about all he did which made the items on the programme go with a swing from rir.st to last. In fact, there wa.s not a dull moment throughout. As a pianist, Mr Harris is entitled to high rank, and he made the instrument not only help to accentuate the_ humour of hjs sketches, but also aid In" telling tho story. He lias great command of dialect, as witness his wonderfully clever sketch of a Somersetshire farmer, and his facial expression is also excellent. As instancing how Mr Harris makes u-*e of the piano in his entertainment, special mention may be mado of the admirable illustrations of the stylos of tho great composers in "The Honeysuckle and the Bee.." These included clever adaptations of Mendelssohn's "Spring Song in "Songs Without Words" and "Star of Eve," from Wagner's "Tannhauser." His sketch on the old .songs, as compared with the new, in which Mr Horns showed how tlio old love-song writers went straight to the point, whilst the modern composers were vague, was deliciously funny. So also in the operatic sketch and tliat of tho drama in three acts in • three minutes, Mr HarifS elicited roars- of laughter. Tho sketch of the | late Mr Me-i. B. Spun- in tho song "When I was a Boy at School," was wonderfully true to the original, even to the inflection of tho voice, and Mr Harris's own song, "The I/adies' Penny Paper," with its involved description of how to make a blouse for an infinitesimal sum, was excellently given. The .stories told by Mr Hams all had point, and were given with much crkpness and a keen h<:rtse of humour. Another itom which deserves special notice was "The Singing T/esson' duet with Miss Buckmann, in which tho by-play, as well as the singing, was exceedingly o'.ever. Taken as a whole, Mr Harris is decidedly the most accomplished entertainer of tho kind we have had here. Miss Buckmann gave as her first solo "Tho Jewel Song from "Faust." Though somewhat lacking in spirit in parts it was sung with considerable success, displaying to the full tho flexibility and range of Miss Buckmann's fine voice. This latter quality was evinced most markedly in a charming waltz song in tho second part, which was brilliantly given, and Miss ' Buckmann was also heard to great advantage in "Three Green Bonnets'' and "Tho Dewdrop and the Rcse." Sho was encored for several of the numbers, and all her items were sung most artistically. Madame Flora Gilfillan accompanied with rare ability, adhieving what so few accompanists do, the sustaining of the singer without undue prominence of the accompaniment. The entertainment will be repeated tonight. OPERA HOUSE. The Fuller Vaudeville Company repeated tho current programme at tho Opera House very successfully last night. There was a good attendance, ■ and all tho items went excellently. Tonight the same bill will be given, THE COLOSSEUM. Tho attractiveness of skating as an amusement is daily evidenced by the attendances at- the rink. Last night a half mile race was run, resulting in a win for Mr T. Ball, and Mr G. Piercv second. This evening a foot race will lie run, and for to-morrow night a hockey match between two teams of 1 ladies will be tho principal attraction. WAINONI PARK. A veiy attractive programme of entertainments has been prepared for the week at Wnrnoni Park. Every kind of unique display has been arranged for, and there should be plenty to draw visitors to tho Park during tho pres-enft week.