ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 229, 20 June 1908, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE HARRY RICKARDS COMPANY. A great audience greeted the rising of tho curtain last evening for the second performance of the Rickards'a raudevillo season at /the Opora House. Connoisseurs in vaudevillo must agree on the merit of the entertainment, which is distinctly good, not only as regards artistic excollenca, but on the scoro of variety and star items, of which tho two most prominent aro those contributed by the/ three Sisters Klos, aerial artists, and the Artois Brothers, triplo horizontal bar gymnasts, who flavour their performance with a spies*'of comody. Wo have already said something regarding tho nature of tho amazing porlormaneo given by tho Klos Sistors. It is a daring turn—daring enough to make the spectator catch his breath, 'i'lio Artois Brothers, if they havo not reached tho summit of dexterity in their art, must bo very near to it, and aro certainly a long way ahead of most of those, whom wo havo been accus.tomcd to regard as tho "lions" of this particular. branch of the profession. Another distinct feature of tho programme is the clever Miles-Stavordale quintet—four banjos and a harp. Theso instruments, under tho hands of the "performers, seem to lose their instrumental characteristics and assume—so exquisite is tho colouring of the expression— those of the human voice. In addition to these, there are a number of moritorious items contributed by the other members of the company. Montion Should be mado of Miss Alma Gray; singing and dancing; Miss Lottie Kay, ballad singer; tho Collier Sistors; Mr. Leonard Nelson; a'character sketch artist arid singer, whose' performances aro very good; and last, but by no means least, Mr, George Dean, tho chippy and effervescent comedian, whose descriptive comic songs were heartily applauded. Tho entire per-' formance reflects groat credit on the com-i pany, and a very successful season should be recorded. * ■

' THEATRE ROYAL." Tho complete alteration of programme, at Fuller's has resulted in packed houses and enthusiastic audicnces. Last night was 110 exception, and thoso present could not fail to be well pleased with their, evening's entertainment. There can bo no two opinions as _to the talent' of the porformers, most of whom are new-comers, and the entertainment taken as a wholo formed a most, popular bill-of-fare. Mr. Fuller knows from his long experience what tho public enjoys, and his present list of contributors testifies as to how successfully he has gauged the taste of his patrons.. Regarding last night's programme, tho sketch, " Tho Awful Boy," by the Swifts (Wilton, Dorothy, and Amy), was a popular attraction, and tho porformers were loudly applauded. Perhaps one of the most entertaining items was tho turn givon by the Ai'mon Brothers, musical eccentriqnes. They were soon en rapport with tho audicnco, who were sorry when their time was up. Miss Beatrice Butler, tho soprano, from. New South Wales,, sang, very expressively and attractivelyj and she was very well received. A very, interesting exhibition of tho lassooing of horses, etc., was provided by Mexican Bill and Miss Loie Reynolds. " Rope' manipulation extraordinary" is the only term that affords an adequate notion of Bryant's turn and thoso present wcro not slow in appreciation. The popular favourites. Carlton and Sutton, Jock Willis, Brightie Smith, Connie Solomon, and Blanch Carolli, were also very well received.'

t" . KUBELIK,

On Monday morning nex-t, the box plans for * the Kubelik concerts, to bo .given at the 1 Town Hall on Juno 27, 29, and 30, will bo {. opened at tho Dresden. The plans for the ■ guinea and half-guinea seats will bo opened I simultaneously, and intending patrons may book their soats.Jor of tho season. Country residents . will'.', bo',, afforded' equal facilities-for.- reserving, and .their, applications will be attended to iri. tho order they reach tho box-office. It seems liko painting tho lily to quote further, criticisms of tho great virtuoso, but the. following extract from the Melbourne '' Argus " . will bo of interest :— 'To musicians, and to violinists.in especial, it .is always a.source of keen interest to hear, how easily the most appalling difficulties of execution can bo made to vanisli by so supremo a'virtuoso as we have now with us.There is no tripping or stumbling with him —no fear of it, . and, apparontly, not the slightest risk of it.. 'You are only conscious of hearing things done on tho violin vzhich are like nothing you ovor, heard done on it before. But,- as wo set • out to say, theso movements, marvellous though they bo, are only , a part, and that'not tho greatest part of Kubelik's_ art. Impeccable in intonation, however rapid or exacting tho passage may be, the purity of tone is never allowod to suffer; not a trace of a s'quoak in the highest notes or of coarseness in tho lowest; while 110 such harmonics as ho brings out have, in our memory, ever been hoard in Melbourne fore." Kubclik will be assisted by Miss Erna Mueller, mezzo-soprano; Miss Enu'lv Dvason solo pianist; and Herr Ludwig Schwab, accompanist. ' TOWN HALL ORGAN RECITAL. The weekly municipal organ recital takes placo on Tuesday ovening next, in tho,Town -i i P®Pulftr-items of tlio programnio will includo Leraare's, u Andantmo " and Bowldieu's overture, ." Caliph .of Bagdad" and.of standard organ works. Mr. Maughan Barnett will play Handel's. "Second Concerto . and Guilmant's "Grand Choeur." V ' MAORI CONCERT. ' A numbor of Maoris, who have already attamed distinction by performing before their Royal Highnesses tho Duke and Duchess of Qornwall andAork,, aro giving a-n entertainment in tho Town Hall 011 Wednesday. July ' 8. under the patronago of their Excel/oncies tho_ Governor and Lady Plunket. An energetic . local comnutteo of lyoung Indies are meeting witli much encouragement in tho dis- : posal of tickets, and aro anticipating a substantial addition to their funds in aid of the work of sisters now engaged amongst, tho Maoris in tho Taranaki district. \ .

"THE GWNOR." : Tlio following well-known amateurs aro to appear, m " The " -at tho Opera Rouso oj> July-14 and lo,'in aid of tho Veterans' Sick Fund Messrs. J. F ClavH - £• Wood.-Norman Aitken, Kenneth Aitlcen, Dennis Kelly) and D. M. Williams ; Perry S ) Lt!nnoX ' E * Gunl °y> Scott, and OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. Rinking is now a well-established and exhilarating pastime, and tho patrons of tlio • ymp JS. call testif y to the healthful oxerciso. The roller skating has given enjoyment to many citizens who seek relaxation' from tho worries of life by indulging in tin's amusement-. Last night a clever exhibition was tho sec-saw skating given by two Christchurch exponents, Messrs. H. Davis and G Piorcy. A number of local skaters 'afterwards attempted the feat, but had to retiro unsuccessful." This was tho causo of great merriment amongst tho onlookers. Mr. Davis also gave an exhibition of chair-jumping, and succeedcd in clearing a loan of fivo chairs wide. Much interest is taken in the Milo Championship of tho North Island. . which is to be run to-night. Amongst tlio competitors aro Messrs. Davis and Piorcy. Tlio former is at present champion of Cantorbury.