AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14883, 24 January 1914, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

.1 THE DUFAULT -CONCERTS. ~J W anticipated, the very first " JftcortVith Mr Paul Dufault as leader, 'tie* a v,,r >" ? oo<l house at tne Tncatre Ro p| last night. Unknown to its a Iβ*" months ago. not only his sympatheIJoVoice and temperament, but the *»rnest sincerity of the sentiments ho orcssos ami conveys, his manly and 6taW bearing, all combine to product) •n 'artistic ensemble that cannot fail to -pea!. an d find its reward. It is a "■ n g;timo since tenors of the calibre of j>»a. Dufault and John McCorniaek '>ire favoured New Zealand. Both muM only make their appearance here ' „ the concert platform, but after hearing them in quick succession ♦L verdict with regard to song and haliid ringing, must be in favour of Mr -T>nfault As the interpreter of his tutive Irish airs, Mr McCormack could ™t be easily sumassed; the quaint humour, the brogue, and tho man were all in cordial agreement. In the esl h ZZnis from the operas in which h^ I renutation has been gained, we could • Sirmfce how, in his full war paint, and with the accessories of the etas*- , , no uonkl carry away his hearers. J Jut for tho acquisition of a true and great foallid eiyl e » ihe opera, Italian opera in ' n-rivcular, is but a treacherous school. It" begets an artificiality and sameness of expression, a reliance- upon the surrounding ensemble that in the rarest of cases permits the singer to lift himw tf above its atmosphere. The concert ianger, in a word, must be a more fineiv-stringed artist. For in his songs and'baUads there ie no aiding feature. '•■' Hi*'vocal equipment and musical skill ijuiv not, need not, match his operatic rival's- ■ But-his instincts arid* emotional : capacity must reach a greater height, as ; - faftMnliy and naturally they reflect the : spirit, the equivalent of every word and phrase and variation; he may rely upon no dazzling exhibitions or broad dramatic, quotations, and it js evident that his costume will not help him. Wd for these reasons, without approv- .-, ing of all he does, Mr Dufault as a concert eingec must.be ueemed! superior -to his competitor. He goes deeper, is more versatile, and more emotional. Ho ■'"• opened last mght with tho beautiful Aria.from Gounod's "Queen of Sheba," -Which- he sang with fine dramatic force, .'■'. revealing even there, touches that would ■ be rarely heard in a stage performance. He is careful in providing artistic oonirasts in the selection of his numbers, "the "Boat Song" by Ware, and" "You'll get Heaps of Lickings," following as * enoores with admirable effect. In the second part the charming "Lβ Sais-Tu ?" :• _by Massenet, the changing moods in . -character and voices of the picturesque ■ *?Aa Pays" by Holmes, and the former • '■ ■ favourites, "EjylveHn," Bruno Huhn's "'■' - "(nvictus," and the graceful "Mignon" - iwere'lully equal in artistic delineation, ; and embodied many charming details in regard to conception, feeling and grace. : .Mr Dufault has no reason to complain '•■'' ot the appreciation that was showered upon him after every number by the audience, and he deserved it all. ' - Jiiss Pauline Biridiey introduced hor- ■ selr with the florid Aria from Verdi's '■Jrtig6-«no," displaying " consider- , aoie skill, and subsequently in .:.. -AraeV "Lass with the , Delicate ''Air, , -' taste and delicacy of manir puij-tion, but sne .succumbs, like ea ttk&ny siugere, too often to the temptation" ot lorcing , her . voice beyond its legitimate vojume, and perhaps comto tho detriment of sympathy and co-metimes of tune. • Mr Ecnest Toy left t .4c- impression that we have not yet heard ibie best of Jiim, • The Chopui ; ttanscriptioh sounded somow!ha£ artittc'ia! in expression; even *Wieniawski's '"Souvenir, tie Moscou, in which the lovely Russian airs awt,-of.bourse,;only - something to be desired in the warmth of his . interpretation, I tiUKi tne '.'Dying. Swan"■ in. .daintiness. ine pretty ~i iutiernjt,V.by Bohm, came ueajtsf to ehowing what < lie caa. do. l-'av^ourabryrknown already, Mr Harold ' 1\ hit lie again his worth; and merit ac accompanist, excelling par- . ihii iarly- in- the Gounod Aria and v.jioiihess'''Au Pays," and amply con--V'inf>ucingMb'.share to the enjoyment of . th'o-coucort.;'; .'. , > ■'.-" -.. • :»- 'tiiis. .evening's ' concert Mr I);jiault.wilJ sing:—Aria from "Lβ Cid" . VJiassenet), "A.apirit ITloWer" (Tipton), ; .-."*>j je.li'ouvais Mpunr" (Barbiroili), : ; ''How's My Boy P' (Homer), winter ;. Aos" (Mct'ayden), "J'ai Pleure en - iteKo'J ( . (Hub), and\ "Morning" r (Speaks). - Mr Ernest Toy will play: — "Jfadrigale" . ' (Simonetti), "flumor- ]. eske" '(Dvorak), - "Faust Fantasia" (Gounod-sarasate), and "Valse Caprice" (Wienjawski); and Miss Pauline Bindley . f will slngr"one Fine Day" (Puccini), v v ".Mother Dear" (Jefferson), "A Maid • Sings Light" (Macdowell), ' "Apnl ; " Morn?' (Batten), and with Mr Dufault/ -■'- :.^ rr, P' Tri P« Trip" (Marzials). Mr : =• Harold "Whittle - will accompany the .:■•'; .■•amgs. ' . ■.." ; ; " ■ ■ ■■- . •- . • ■■ ;■■■.*-/•.:. THEATRE. .-;- .';The ; principal.film on the new pro- ; gramnie't screened for the first time at tAe Queen's Tifeatre yesterday, was the drama "From the Bottom of the Sea." .4-,. For fpuro realism, attention to detail, Mα,for-interest of;plot, film is one that has not. been excelled for a lone •"./■.y;.iin&-; in- .Christchorch. There is inter- ?»^ en with the , main incidents a love .story-or more than usual interest, but ;■'-. thfr- most; thrilUng episode is that deof the sinking of a submarine. I jAifomier- attache succeeds , in cetting ; •-." anjunscrnpulous person to tamper with /•;\. Ane; ; engine of., a United States sub- ■ ■*■■■ inanne torpedo-boat, on which tho at- -. .tache's; rival in love is an ensign. The submarine ia s«en gradually disappear- ' Tig, .and when it has reached' a conr siderable depth ,-all on board are astonv ished when the engineer tells them that i : ;!ojnething has gone wrong with the ■ - engine. Though there is consternation ; vM>«e t is. absolute discipline. As a for-' , kHKfcope, a volunteer ie asked for to pc shot: through the torpedo tube, and the ensign ;offers himself. Ho succeeds ■-•■;■ in .reaching the surface and swimming ashore to where the repairing ship is moored. In the meantime those on the *nbinarme : have a terrible time until tins depth-gaujre indicates that the rescuers are at work. Ultimately the sub- _ nwjine is raised, and all are saved. The pictures were well selected, '..enoA-onststed-of "A Momentous Deciswn; (Lubin drama), "South Bong" . TV s ??nic pourtrarinc the beanties of « river), and- "A Close Shave" f ?^W, comedy). "The Water Cure." •i ihaftnouser. comedy, was very anvnsa J?4 was followed with keen inter- /?;- Jo-a«y nnd'this evening the same ..-pwrajnine trill be jriren. and as "sue;*J«h M then will he screened "Thft Intlie Child"-(Western drama) pM "The Exiles of Erin," a Kalem - oramn. flip srenes of which were photo- - ; in Ireland. .-■■■ V;.. HAYWARB'S PICTURES. ' current programme at His r • Ainjcety's Theatre derives peculiar interest from the inchision of the'mag- , "pcehtly-prepared film, "A Message , - [Tom Mars." the story of which is well KiiosTO to patrons of the drama. A . matinee will be held at 2.30 this after- , noon, and the final presentation of the , progrannne will be made this evening. ? ~/°f Monday night, at His Majesty's ; ificatre, the management annotmces ;•-. the first screening here of what Is desenbed as a Pathe colour reproduction : f^;art, grace, and beauty, entitled • J?^ che v' The new "star" is said to N "e a striking reproduction in pictures - of the mythological legend dealing iv-..with the story of the love of the God Sf? 5 or Cupid for. the mortal Psyche. - '; Tins fine film is 3000 ft long. A strong &*•'*£ of 6U PPorting subjects include "The g4 Children's. Hour" (drama), "Beautiful il< A •P c ? n ; eR :': -'in Chevreuse" (a coloured "Iha Railway Inspector's

Peril" (drama), "Schnitz, tho Tailor'" (.comic), "The Last Pathe Gazette.'" and "Which Way.Did Hβ Go?" (a Bunny comedy). Hayward's orchestra will j supply appropriate music. ! OPERA HOUSE. J Thero was another large and enthusiastic audience at the Opera House last night. To-night is the last night of Henri French, tho wonder on the one wheel; the two Storeys, instrumentalists; Max and Cameron, ventriloquists; and Franz and Mounier, nthletee and jiu-jitsu experts. On Monday evening the special starring engagement of the Royal Banzai Family of Japanese equilibrists is announced for a season of six nights and one speciiil matinee on Saturday, January 31st. They will uso their gorgeous setting of pure silk and velvet, magnificently gold embroidered by hand, and costing approximately £5000. Tho box plans are at Milner and Thompson's-. SYDENHAM PICTURES. The current programme at the Sydenham pictures was well patronised last night. ' : Xick Winter and the Kidnappers," the een-sational detective drama, and the other fine pictures were greatly enjoyed. The same programme will be shown at tho matineo this afternoon and to-night. On Monday a Pathe-colonr fairy legend. "Psyche," in magnificent and elaborate settings, will be prefer ted, with a splendid supporting series. GLOBE PICTURES. The new programme at tho Globe Picture Theatre was repeated yesterday before large houses at all sessions. The same films will be screened continuously to-day, from noon till 10.30 p.m. FULLER'S PICTURES. "Kick "Winter and The Kidnappers" still attracts good business at the Colosseum, where there was a large and appreciative audience last night. The big film will be presented at the matinee this afternoon, and finally to-night. The new "star" for Monday is "The Call," a dramatic play by the Vitagraph Company. WAINONI GALA. To-day a large and varied programmo will bo provided at tho Wainoni Gala. Tho children's sports will commence at 11 a.m., and numerous races and competition!} will bo held during tho day. Captain Jonassen'e balloon ascent and parachute , descent will be well worth witnessing. A very interesting programme of hakas, poi dances and songs by the Rapaki Maoris will be given during tho afternoon, and there will be a Punch and Judy show for children. Tho Limvood Brass Band will be in attendance. At- night, in addition to a very largd fireworks display, thero will be further items by the Rapaki Maoris, and a programme of pictures. j