ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 228, 19 June 1908, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE HARRY RICIvARDS'S COMPANY. Good vaudeville performances aro rare in Now Zealand; much more so, bo it regrettably said, than some ten years ago, when a few of the high-salaried, and therefore richly-talcntcd, artists imported to Australia used to find their way to tho Dominion. For high-class performances of tho kind we now hang upon tho favour of Mr. Harry Richards, who occasionally finds it expedient to semi a company over tliis way to give nr. a taste of the real thing, 110 has unquestionably succeeded in doing so with the combination which appeared beforo a full house last evening. Of tho bright array of.enter l tainers who graco the bill St th 6 Opera House there aro two "turns" that, iii their lines, stand out as something far better than has ever been witnessed in this country. The reference is to the astounding performance of the three Sisters Klos, atrial artists of amazing powers, and tlio Artois Brothers, triple horizontal bar wonders and comedians. An old saw says that nothing is new under tho sun, but tlio philosopher who coined the phraso could not.have seen tho pretty Klos girls at work. Their apparatus Consists of three ropes of different lengths, each _ with a small loop at tho .end, hanging from a stationary trapeze, a restricted outfit truly, but that with Which they upset all preconceived notions of the limitations of the physical powers of tlio " weaker sex." One Klos slips a hand through tho loop, grasps tho rope, aiid frithout using the other hand throws herself from the vertical to horizontal, not once but a dozen times; another hangs by one foot to tho .hoop,, and, hanging head downwards, extends horizontally her arnis, which. her two sisters use as horizontal bars, doing as pretty An act on the rigid limbs as ono would delight iji witnessing on a bar of good stoiit Ash. • One .would ordinarily suppose that this Would be the limit, hilt.it was eclipsed by ono other act, that in which,tho latter of the t-hren shapely girls .hangs by one foot from the loop, and by striking that acrobatic attitudo known as tho "splits" in inid-aifj allows her other foot to become a rest for an ornamental metal bar; on which tlio other two girls do a graceful act. Tho Artois Brothers blend a quaint humour to athletic skill of 110 ordinary kind. As exponents of horizontal bar work tliey begin where most others leave off, and get through every act cleanly and without any showman's business to impress any particularly daring act. They aro sis much above that sort of thing as.their humour is above tho ordinary clowning that .often accompanies 'such iitterludes. It would .bo spoiling sport .to detail their cleyer fooling, but credit should be given them for evolving original laughtergetting methods that are literally tod. funny for words. Another excellent item was the music-making Miles-StavOrdale Quintet—four banjos and a liarp, who play with such a nice regard: to light and shade; And artistic effect generally, that their playing Suggests human voices in harmony, an ,V n S particularly noticeable in . Back to Erin." Miss Alma Gray Sinj*s or " My AVaratah," ah Australian adaptation of tho eternal coon song. It Was when Miss Gray began to patter her dainty feet that sho scored heaviest. Her beats aro as definite as her steps aro variable, aiid she gains an added,effect in tlio silent intervals sho works ilito the rhythm of her dances. In he-r case it may bo truly said that mtisic echoea/fronuher solo. Mr. Leonard Nelsoil gn.ro a highly amusing character sketch of a tired'son of toil, who, from tlio apostrophes ho utterod 011 labour, might easily bo mistaken for. a touring Socialist. Later in the evening Mr, Nelson Bang " Good-bye, Melbournetown," and "The Land that I wns Born In," songs that were illustrated bv coloured Viows of Australasian cities. and wellknown places of scenic charm. Tho Collier Sisters sang and danced in unisou on traditional lines, aiid Miss Lottie Kay exhibited a ilice soprano voico.of limited power in a iHiriibcr of ballads, including "Tho Swallows." All present were glad to welcome back the effervescent George Dean, who was bright and chippy as heretofore, even to the exit skip. His songs wore of the comic-descriptive tvpo, and his recitation in .Which lie deals with, tho trying experiences of a burglar's existence was as pointed as a .porciipino, A capable orchestra, under Mr. Ernest Hill, 'was quito competent in. its department. Tile Eicltardfs's. Company is booked for a twelro nights' SeAsoii. . .

THEATRE EOTAL. . Fuller's Entertainers w<sro' reinforced last night by 110 lees than nine new artists. The Swifts (Wilton, Dorothy, and Amy), in their original sketch, "The Awful Boy,"' ouickly rtiado themselves favourites. It 'was one of tho most amusing acts ebon for a long titae at this popular house. Miss Beatrice Butler, a pleasant soprano, was well received. The Armo'n Brothers also appeared for tho first time in this city, and in a verv original and whimsical musical turn. Miss Blanch Carclli, who is already well known here, made a welcome reappearance with two Song 3 in her best style, iho laßSbbihg display bv Mexican Bill was clever aiid spectacular, and lie had a graceful assistant in Miss Loio Reynolds, who rode a pony, which the rope artist could evidently have thrown at any time if he had wanted to. Bryaiit, tho axo and knife swinger, reappeared in his dazzling jand apparently dangerous act, and several other artists helped to fill a vory strong programme. The biograph pictures of the Grand National Steeplechase, run at Aintreo last March, deservo praise. v KUL'ELIK. Tllo famous violinist, itubplilc, accompanied by his Wife, tho Countess Czaky-Czell, will arnvo 111 Auckland on Sunday next, and after giving, two concerts 'there, and one in Waugamu and Palmcrston North, will conio on to Wellington to give tiireo. concerts in tho Town Ilall on June 27, 20, and 30. Tho other members of tho concert nartv are Miss Erna Mueller, a mezzo-soprano with a firstclass London reputation, Miss Emily Dyasoil, a solo pianist of exceptionally brilliant parts, and Herr Ludwig Schwab] who is regarded as an accompanist of a very high order. To have been chosen to assist lOibelik in hia most difficult pieces is "in itself a compliment to lierr Schwab's fitness for the position. Tho tour of Australia, just concluded,'though necessarily very brief, was wonderfully successful. In Melbourne and Sydney tho, im. menso Town Ilalls wero filled by Klibelik for six nights, and he stirred up an enthusiasm that was quite romarkablo. A notable fact in connectitin with tho Melbourne concerts was that fully two-thirds of the audiences consisted of men. Tho box plans of tho reserved seats will open at The Dresden on Monday next, June 22. Applications from country residents will bo dealt with in the order they aro received at the box oflico.

GOLDEN LEGEND. An entirely successful final rehearsal of tho " Golden Legend" was held by tho Musical Union in tho Town Hall last night, when ovary iilfmg went with tho certainty and finish that speaks of months of hard practice. -The solo work' is a very strong featuro of the cantata, and the Union is fortunate in having secured a particularly fine quartet of singers—Miss Bosina Duckmann, soprano; Mrs. Barber, of Christcliurch, alto; Mr. E. T. Hill, tenor; and Mr. J. Prouse, bass. Mr. Lawrencc F. Watkins will preside at tlio organ. Bonking has been extremely good, and thore has been quite a run on the unbooked tickets. Tho Union announces that the next concert will consist of " Faust," and will bo given during August. For this occasion the famous English tenor, Mr. Clias. Saunders, and llis3 Clara Hobson (Mrs. Saunders), adornment contralto, havo been engaged to sing tho solo parts. OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. . The continuation of the Carnival Week programme yesterday at the Olympia Kink was most successful.' Tho principal attraction was an interprovincial hockey match between Canterbury and Wellington. Tho game, which aroused great interest in skating circles, was keenly contested, victory eventually resting with Wellington by 4 goals to i!. To-night, Air. Davis, of Christcliurch, will give un exhibition of chair-jumping and seesawing un skates, and to-morrow night tho mile championship of the North Island wilj bo run..