ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 79, 27 December 1907, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

WILLIAMSON'S MUSICAL COMEDY .'. ,' ' '.COMTANY. ■>■-■: k-- '-.- "THE BLUE MOON." //Even standing;room was at a high premium at tho Opera. llouso'last evoninc when Wil"liam r s6n's New'" Musical Comedy Company made its first appearance in New Zealand in .'.'Tho Blue- Moon/'■!;. Musical-comedy, which makes no ,prptenco to v serious art either In miisio.or comodjvis born', of a- need for something bright ami ; jolly, to .counteract'• the . incvea'siiig strcmiousnoss of tho responsibilities of .'modern ..business' life;- but, apart .'from its brightness and. jollity, it .must please tlicconses 'in.quitd a''yane'tj;-. of'expensive, ways. There must bo'bevies of pretty girls who-know their alluring business; lavish Econory is expected; no colour'sclicmo.or'multiplication of schemes aro too-extravagant;-and.'tncro must be pretty .lightjng.effects. tbWld further glamour to the glaniour of-.'the scone. Given;a thread,pLplot, V v fbw; lively'songs and .'choruses,' and soinc smart dialogue (which cannot be too racy), "and ,yoh. havb' .t to.', ingredient's.' of ■, musical. comedy— •Tho Blue Moon,'"' for;:examplo. :■.'.• ■ • 'v'To/i attain ■ the".requisito ''standard qiiitb ; a n'umbor.of peoD.le'aro inTplved-in , the pronarntion; of the , .piece bc'forii,'-it! readies, tlio limelight.'- "Tho Blue Moon", book was .written by revised' by. Mr. A. M. 'Tnbiipspn. The lyrics,'arb by Percy Greenbank and, Paul A. ;Eeubcris, and tho.musio'is by'-Howard Talbot' and : Paul A." Reubens—a coterie of'gentlemen who have not'collaborated in'-yainV'■ -/Tho''Blue Moon'" is 'made ,up of love, laughter, and song, with a story (that gives amplo.cxcuso.fpr'all threo elements), set in - Burinah, -in 'two .ma'gnificent scenes: that idcaliso/aj'tistically'.the golden '-opulence , of; the mystic. Years and years before Liidy "Bfahasham; then-living in India, with her officer. kidnapped for no', particularly lobvipus'. reason 1 by one Cutler, a renegade'"ipmniy," who/disappears. Cutler, 'wh'o' , has'also stplenVa'spvereigri,- hides amongst 'the 'natives, "and. becomes' ohe'of them in all but birth. Itt'-coutso-of time ho is known' as Moblraj/.-and.'' ; as such starts a travelling comI'pany'.TOf players,:,singefs, 'and jugglers,' and'in his spare- time. Sets' as 'a ' marnagebrbker.,;.Tho little English girl he - had kidnapped- becomes "the-, leading singer of 'a' troiipe/- under/'tho name of Chandra 'Nil '(."Bluo; Moon");" and 'whilst travelling, meets and falls/'in 1 - love: with ■ Captain-Jack' .Ormsby: At ; the' Eamb'-fimo./sho' has-managed to fascinate '.Priiice -Badahur/of "KhaTlkar. ■■ These, withia.lot of other/people,'plain; and colouietl, meet'af the'bungalow-at Naga, wher.e. Lady JJrabasham, her/niece, Eyelyn Ormsby, Major eallabpne; andyßdbbie Scott '(a.jonrnalistl'are staying.,. These;:people,■ more'or less, fall in 'lov'e'with each ofher,/and ,the-Prince 'has: gone so : far -as Jto : ihako ; his marriage' arrangements, :whori he-'-pverh"ears u Chandra Nil .confess, her lovo for Jack, so,-beins "as'good as nn English ■.gentleman," ho-roleases her amidst general rejoicing,.-just, as:M6olr;ij .confesses-ho is really-Cutler,-and that Chandra j\ilus.Her:Ladyslnp,s daughter. As sido.'issues , : to the , majiv arguments, taere areth'e f lo«s' of BobbieandEvelyn..l and 'of.- a, .:&;- particularly spry lady's maid./ ; : : -" : ' : 'r''V -. .: ■i' This brief story is , holped along by music of 'somewhat ■uneven''quality;. The opening chorus .was-tpkefr-'at-.such,a -furious rate that ;icft>'o'f .'either .music or meaning, : but"faga : inst. ; .'thaPthe; finale ,-.of- the, first .act was' : -a;rfcallv fine effort in choral and-orclics-tral composition of the florid, order. Chandra Nil's opening-solo; "Blue Moon,' , .is.a. daintily written number,--and-was beautifully,, sung by Miss -Vmy. llurphyr'lwho. should bo flattered at the'warm''reception she received. She had no in-carrying.off/the vocnl honours, l she"-could'-be persuaded .to.'infuso- the .warmth' into her: cpnversatipn that colours her carolling -there- would ■Mα .little left: to 'desire. "The' Poplar and-the Bainbow solo was uis : placed -'by,a, florid, -number of greater merit, in which "Miss' Miirphy' charmingly displayed her limpid •vocalism.....;Hiv Reginald Ivenneth, .as Jack;" has:a' ; cou'ple\df baritone songs, the pes., of: Which Girl, which;, tio 'score.'/attributes ..to/.'Major/ Callabpne.: . The MaiDri.us'capablyiacted- by. ■MrJ.'-Myles. Clifton, :is ; .'evidently3n6t:a::si!iging.man,.as several, excellent songs' given to him :are. cut out,. owing to Mho aiithor: inclndiug:' the high .top tr. Nevertheless,-, Mr ., Clifton, gives a fine'sketch of.the susc'epHble old,officer, with au eye-for a pretty gii'l.-In-Mr. Victor, Gounet, as Moolraj, we havo a comediaiir.-whose facial contortion ,'ahd-byipiay; lift/him;to: a/high, place among stage 'jesters bf<<recont yenrs. He amusing-Via! his'. miopk-jugßlinc act,, and Ins rjipee-extracting scene with the Prince,. and his■ antics -under tho influence : of that, potentate's hospitality,, .were'- refreshingly-cpm»o. "° has ho dp, which is..a deplorable ■ shortcoming,'--on-. theJ:part •of Messrs. ; fieubens 'and' Co Miss: Baisio , -.Wallace ■ played Millicent" Leroy. (lady's maid)' on; peculinr- lines- .. that,; varied between. a hoyden' ; -'-and- an, ultra-smart . 'young person. * She has a■■ beautiful song in' hola, bufc-is r vpcally. defipient,,being much more 1 at homo in ''She' Didn't Know/' whero. tho singing voice is' madp an; optional-.element., Miss :Alma ; -'Barber- was somewhat' colourless as Evelyn Ormsby, but>ang "Sometimes" nicely. Misa Celia Ghiloni, as Lady..Brabashan, had ■little.to do ,but,look.well, in which she succeeded admirably/ .■Mγ. Harold ! Parkcs gnvo a capital performance of Private Charlie ,I'avlor, Mr. I'at Bathurst looked magnificent anil ■ acted well-as Prince' Badahur; nnd Mr. ■T Roland- Hogue was moderately , :amusmg as. Bobbie Scott. As Onia, Miss"Jessica"Dcano made■ a " fine figure;! of >a , woman." Mr. Ed. Nable sangtlie inane "Oh,.be Carefuhof tho Crocodile,' 5 ; nnmber, which,was helped out by (Somo'Vei-v 'cute business.-' Ho was also asso'ciated:w.ith..Miss;'Walloce -in .the. duet" Mnke -a:-Fuss /of.- Me." .'-" ■ ... '■■? .' ■: •' „. , • . The scoheryrby Messrs. Gordon and Coleman. is", equal-.to-.anything- yet • seen in musical comedy ■ in Wellington; and .the dresses are daz!linp in their, .wealth of colour and-diver-sHt: Inhere-lire/"a.few-little dances hero/and 'there iifv-'Thej- Blue" Mooli," b.ut ; there ,are no baUofe;;'/ol;uerFise'::th6 stage movements and busiiifes arc escelleiltly • arranged, which .ve-. fleets'.'credit on' the 'managemejit of Mr.""Henry ' Brr.iiy: 'The 'orchestra , , is/a .very conlpleto' one. and "is .very ; cleverly ..handled by Mr. Alfred. ".iiO'ultpii, w'lio''.leaves''nothing to ;cliarice.: - s•"The';. 'Blue-Mbon" will 'be repeated until further' notice..; '.. i ■■''■ '■■.-' X: ■■■■ ':'■■■ /y /.; '■■' ■.. . The Theatre lloyal -was 'crowded to excess, last'riigut,;.wbcii";Mossrs. Fuller ajid Sons submitted, 'al'large.' aridv attractive: programme." Merriment-prevailed'-' throughout the perfOrmence' bv-;Mr: Toin^,Armstrong and/Miss Pris-' cilln-'VerAc' of the aniusing comedy .'.sketch,' "The .Foolish-F061.". Another very laughable item:was\the clever burlesque, "Defence, not ])efiancp,'C' given 'by. the . StagpOplo ■ Trip.' Madame.,Blanche GareUi earned vociferous ap-,pla)ise.<as,'a-result of her ,singing : bf.'"Caris-.sinia".-.:and.,,''.Thtl. Swallows."' <; Stewart'/and musical apt. was also a ..feature, of the. programme. The other performers ncquitted'.,themselves creditably. \ This evening' another' v programiho will bo presented..' ' ~-7.., :,.■:■•:■..:.w est's-pictures. .' ' •■■ .. i._ -Tire! series of films presented by the manapre'ment', of'.W.est's/iPictures. include some of ..the finest , pxamples of-kincmatography'which-have r ye't-.be'en.-.'shoVn.- in-'-Wellington.■ Assisted. by the Pei'Groon'Band,"the whole entertainment is one which' well: deserves patronage. Two performances- werolgiven yesterday, a matinee in the afternoon, and tho usual performance in the evening! <At> both, the great hall was packed to ihe .doors. At the evening perform' ance it was noticed that the overflow had been •; accommodated with'seats at the .-'year of .the •.stage. i-Tlio. ciirtain. ,is.-, transparent,, of ' course, j and.tho pictures were seen to same ad-.;Viintapo.-i.,iThe film,- "Daniel .Boonc," depicting ,'tlie ■:life.'-pF~jtho"early",,Ameriean pioneers, and tliqi r eucojfnters -the Indians, is a. most thrilliug arid"(lramatic one,'and was heartily applauded. The., famous Yosemite Valley, in the Californian 'Wo'iid9rlaud, was the ■■ subject' of another splendid, ..film. The magnificent grandeur of the ,falls"'"iind tho' cataracts, and the interesting drive,among the big trees are well shown. The;-''fai'ry pantomime, "Cinderella," is , another ;feaf:uro of the entertainment which deserves mSfitioir. Other excellent films were, "Rod Russia," depicting the : work of the Terrorists in; that uhliappy country; the marvdldus exploits>of"liyker"; "Tobasanning at • St.''JMorit!i''; "Tho Chnrmed Tjmbrclla," an exceedingly clever "fake" picture; "Picturesque Japan," etc. The De Gr'oen Band played thrqughont the perfonn'aricp,.',and their music ■was a feature of ithe> entertainment. 'MADAME ABOMAE. "..'■. Yesterday largo crowds went to sno Madumo Abpmah.'thy, 1 famons ,J Amazon giantess, who is on! exliibition' iii ' Mdnhprs Street. As usual, tho clieplay, . of., given by Prineo Olrao, ::; - who ' nppears in conjunction with Madamo'Abomali, cii'uscd amazemcit. ~...'.:.. ..,:. "..WONDpLAND." ■Over six thousand J pcoplo are estimated to have visited "Wonderland" yesterday: -'-The popnlar resort- was densely' thronged throughout tho day rind evening, and water-chute and toboKKan'icoulu'iiot. descend fast enough. 'Great o'xcitemeht waS'caused by. the search for tho hidd'en 'Money,' 'which', to tho ralue of is, wns scattered about .tho grounds: It is suggested that at the present rate of "Wonderland's." popularity., it.will soon.be necessary to provtdo ;, 'ah6ther car' connectiou by way of . Constable.Street, io carry peoplo to the resort ThorOiWill.:bp:/Bpecial:attractions at "Wonderland" throughout the holidays. ,