ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 226, 17 June 1908, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

e '■' ORGAN RECITAL. AT THE TOWN HALL. It Was not organ recital weather, lastevening, and oven tho majesty of the_ great organ in the vast Town Hall was not inspiring to those with a proper respect for a blazing hearth. For this reason- Mr: Maughan Barnett ought to be proud of tho audionce present at last night's recital. Tho programmo selected was of. the interestingly popular order, the strictly classical being confined to a Bach Fugue (St. Ann's), "without which any programme of organ music would bo incomplete. Tho rolling continuity of the Fugue, ■ with its clashing -harmonies and pompous assertiveness, was finely'inter-' proted, being only marred-by-thb echo-that afflicts every musical performance ■ when' the hall is less than half •full.* if ; tho Council would either wiro tho hall or-drapo iind side walls it would show a proper respect for art, and those who derive some pleasure from entertainments, other than, kinematograph shows. The programmo' -included Lemmens' " Marche Triumphalo," a pretty " Canzonet-ta" of unique construction by Nicodo, and Dvorak's " Humoresque.", Wagner made his impression in tho-form of the Preludes to Acts I and'H of -" Lohengrin." The latter, bold and massive ill its, : torrential melody, is familiar-enough-now-to all lovers of music, but tho first" act Prelu'do has not been played in Wellington • since', , Lernare showed us how adaptiblo the music of Wagner can b9 mado to tho organ'.-' It contrasts strikingly to tho third act Prelude, in that it is with almost otheroal lightness, with the "strings" making beautiful harmonios 6f- an eerily inysti-- . c'al character fraught with poetical 'meaning/ As tho theme is given out th'e'eolbur deepens gradually as the fuller-toned - stops are brought jnto_ play, until it works up to a polyphonic climax, only to dio down again to -.tranquil harmonies dying' away to not-hiuc. Wolv's "Storm Fantasie" or Pastorale, ?s perhaps as popular as : any- composition in .Mr. Barnett's repertoire, -but we-fancy tho organist has played this frankly descriptive Work better than he did last evening., Th' 6 martial spirit of Mondelssohn's "War 'March of the Priests" from " Athalie," lost its definitencss through tho echo,' which;'manifested itself painfully whenever' the " full of the organ was brought into'requisition as in that case. Another recit&L will be given by Mr. Barnett on Tuesday iiext..'' V ; : . . FULLER'S r

; : Tho weather apparently wakes littlo difference to the attendances at'-the Theatre Eoyal. Last night was such as to tempt people to. stay, at home .alongside.'a wariu fire, but the temptation to go to Fuller's was stronger ill a largo " number of cases, and the cosy littlo theatro'.:was well filled) and a bright programmo was thoroughly appreciated by. the audience. The popular comedian, Mr. Fred Graham—whose impersonations, introduced in numerous lade-split-, ting comedies acted in collaboration with Miss Nellie -Dent, have been so ■ successful—i • will make his farewell appearance this evening, and during tho-performance, Mr. Ben Fuller, on behalf of the. management and' tho mechanical staff, will, make him a presentation. RICKARDS'S VAUDEVILLE CO. V" To-morrow night at the. Opora Hoiise) Mr. Harry Rickards's combination...of. vauftpvUls and speciality artists will present their initial programmo of wha.t are reported to be'-un-usually attractive and sensational turiis. •The organisation is said to preeminent, and Ito include many .. European "stars"—the finest that havo ever appeared in New Zealand. As tlie several, artists will .appear frosh from their, triumphs...in ; the leading metropolitan theatres of the, world, thoy will undoubtedly, as,"experienced dpw'n South, sc-curo much enthusiasm'"and crowdedhouses. Tho three Sisters Klos are most daring and intrepid aerialists, and their, act is said to hold the spectators spell-bound,, and to be a3 graceful as it is intrepid. The Miles-Stavordalo Quintet presents imitations of the. human voico on tho. strings of 'the banjo and other instruments. .. ~The Brothers Artais apcar in their unique comedy bar act, in which they it is said, to disregard all laws of equilibrium. .... The remaining members of tho Company, are .all claimed to be sterling v artists, evory-''turn" being a distinct feature in. itself. .The..box plan is at Holliday's. ... OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. • The skating carnival of to-night is the principal topic of conversation 'among tlio patrons of the Olympia. There. are to be competitions, and among tho noveltios to bo introduced for tho first time here is a fan and balloon race. Tho spectators, are.,to act .as. judges, and. altogether a real good .evening's, entertainment is promised .'to '.all. who attend. Tho management /hive secured- the services of Mr. Arthur Smith, . .of, Christchurch, who, as Mr 3. M Kibosh, will; contribute towards the enjoyment of-visitors in his various specialities.,;,, - , , To-morrow night an interproyincial hookey match, between Canterbury and Wellington, will be played, and a keen and exciting' contest is expected. ... •• ■ ; / • SCOTTISH CONCERTS. The Scottish Clioral and' Orchestral So-' ciety will give two more, concerts., this .sen-, sou, for which tlio subscription will.bo 7s. 6cl. This will entitlo tho subscriber to three tickcts for each concert. ' .Practice., will bo resumed noxt wesk, and it.is;not too late for new members to enrol; MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. Tho fortnightly mooting of the Sydney .Street and Northland Mutual . Improvement Society was held 011 Monday.evening, iii tlio. Sydney Street Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, where there, was a good .'atteiidaiico of members. The chair was occupied .by .'tho •President, tho Rev. C. E. Ward. Tho syllabus, which was submitted and adopted after some minor alterations, should provido a. most enjoyable and instructive session. I'ho subject for the ovening was a lectureti;e on "Irish Wit and-Humour',!' which was delivered in a most ablo manner by.-tho Rev. 0. E., Ward. Numerous, illustrations were given, and comparisons were.also.made with English humour. The lectuibttc was.brimfulof humourous anecdotes, which kept tho members in fits of laughtpr s irom beginning to end. Several mombers .payUcipated in a pleasant discussion. A ' hearty. vote of tlmuks was accorded to the .Rev._C. E. Ward for tlio pnjoyablo evening provided. At an. interval Miss Elsie Florence contributed ..a song. For tho next meeting a " New Zoaland Evening " has boon arranged.