ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 232, 24 June 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

RICKARDS'S VAUDEVILLE. ' ' Despite tlio inclement weather, there was a very largo and appreciative audience at tho Opera House last evening, when the Rickards's Vaudeville Company repeated their interesting programme. Some, very interesting and amusing biojjraph sketches wero run off, evoking tho decided approval of the audience. Tho Klos Sisters were again .watched with the closest attention, and their graceful and extremely clever turn was heartily applauded. The Miles-Stravordalc musical quintet gave some pleasing items on their banjos, and their sontribution Was duly appreciated. Tho Collier Sisters, in their pretty sketch, also called forth the hoarty applause of '■'lose present. Tho Brothers Artois, Mr Leonard Nolsou, Ml'. George Dean, Mis& Alma Gray, and Miss Lottie Kay, wero also well'received.

THEATRE ROYAL. Tho Theatro Royal was literally packed last night, even standing room being at a premium. Tho performance '.was' started early in order to allow an amateur competition for the best comic singer to take place in the second half. About thirteen entered, and, after some interesting and amusing exhibitions, the prize, a gold medal, .was awarded by tho vote of the audience, to Mr. J. A. Knowles. He sang "Won't You Come Down and Open tho Door." The runner-up, Mr. H. Henderson, wiio sang " Tho Re<ristrar," was awarded half a sovereign. Tho competitions will ho continued 011 Thursday and Friday nights. The varhus performers in Messrs. - Fullers' company gave their usual turns, to tho great appreciation of'those present. Mr. Fuller has gathered a good company together, and they all met with their meed of praise. ORGAN RECITAL. By comparison with previous organ recitals, the audience assembled to hear Mr. Maughan , Barnett at the Town Hall last evening was a somewhat thin one, a circumstance due, no doubt to the steady and dispiriting rain which commenced to fall earlier in the oven- !!/?' Tho openjng number was Guilmant's Grand Choeur in.D," a spirited movement °f. Handolian characteristics, "eminently suited to tho splendid resources of tho instrument. Then followed one of the most popular of Greig's shorter pieces, a berceuso, composed for the pianoforte and admirably transcribed' for the organ. Both items wore heartily applauded._ Lemaigro's "Capriccio," a piquant composition representative of the lighter school of French organ compositions, proved to bo a delightful contribution-to the programme. The somewhat fanciful theme was exquisitely interpreted by tho organist, and had to bo repeated. In sharp contrast came tho next number, the massivo Haudclian " Concerto in B Flat;", Tho opening movement, characteristic of the composer, was au imposing theme, which, majestic in its volumo of sound, introduced tho,second movement) a brilliant allegro, revealing Handel in one of his happiest moods. In this movement, a spirited cadenza is introduced by Mr. W. T. Best with fine effect. A short" adagio followed, and gave placo to the finale, an allegretto,'adapted from tlio organ.ohbligato to tho' song "In Battle Fame Pursuing" from "Deborah." The first part of tho recital concluded. with Lemaro's beautiful " Andantino," which, it may be remembered, was played on tho Triivn Hall organ by tho composer himself, on tho occasion of his visit to Wellington two or- three years ago. A feature of' tho composition is tho predominanco of tho vox humana stop,, wheih lends a niost expressive character to' tlio thomo. The item Was encored; and repeated. Next came a fivo movomont- from Sterndale Ben r nett's,Pianoforto Concerto (No. 4)— a barcarolla, which opens quietly and melodiously, develops spiritedly, and then reverts to tho song-liko characteristics, of the opeiling. Tho recital concluded with a transcription of the popular overture to the " Caliph of Bagdad " (Boioldieu)', with whjcli nearly everyone is familiar. The orchestral character of the interpretation was excellently maintained. The next recital is announced to take place on Wednesday, July 1. ,

MR. REGINALD FORD'S LECTURE. ' The lecture room at the Y.M.C.A Buildings was crowded last night, when Sir. Reginald Ford, F.R.G.S., of the Discovery expedition, gave a lecture oil the Discovery's two years in tho Antarctic regions. Mr. Ford is a very pleasing speaker, fluent, expressive, never paddii.ig his material, or lettiug tho lcctiirp drag, and he showed a series of magnificent views illustrating the story he told. One may imagine that a certain monotony broods over those who dwell in the stubborn darkness of an Antarctic night, but condensed into a few hours' narration tho story is vivid and full of excitement, and Mr. Pord mado full use of his opportunities. More interesting even than the-adventures of tho ship boforoand after her long imprisonment in tho ice was the account of the that went far afield with tho very unsatisfactory assistance of tho sledge dogs, and very interesting too was tho description of the plucky way in which members of the expedition took, day after day, the scientific observations, which resulted in the collection of . such valuable data. Tho dramatic ctory of the vain attempts to cut a channel for the ice-bound Discovcrv through several .miles of ico was also well told. Mr. 'Ford has a splendid set _o0 slides, the ones, showing wide milos of ico field broken startlinjrly with wider chasms being particularly jrood, but the best of. all were the capital pictures of animal lifo, that made tho audience feel on quite intimate terms with seals monstrous and tiny, with sea birds, and with the penguins' curiously ordered lives. Mr. Ford concluded with a brief- summary of tho scientific results of the expedition. On the motiou of Mr. Holmes, the vesting accorded him a very hearty vet- of thanks. KUBELIE. At tho Town Hall 011 Saturday evening next, Wellington music-lovers will have anopportunity of Hearilv; one of the-world's greatest maestros,'Kubelik. - Thq story of tho great violinist's rapid rise to fame and fortune has already boon told in these columns, an<;l it -reads liko a romance. TJnliko so many great orti;:ts who have visited tho colonies with _thair powers somewhat impaired, Jail Lubelik comes to us at the vory zenith (if his fame. In England and on the Continent ho has been hailed as 1 a great master, while in America his playing has created a furore. Australia has followed; suit in paying homage to his genius, and now a meteor-like tour of the Dominion is in progress. The'other members of tho concert party are Miss Erna Mueller, a mezzo-soprano, who won considerable notico on London platforms, Miss Emily Dyason, a brilliant young pianist, and, Herr Ludwig Schwab, who has tho namo of being a masterly accompanist. The plans of tho reserved seats at a guinea and half a guinea are now onon at tho Dresden. Only threo concerts will be given in Wellington, namely, on Saturday, Monday, 1 and Tuesday, Juno 27. 20,, and 30. » 1 An Auckland Press Association telegram states that Kubelik. performed to a crowded house again last night, remarkable-enthusi-asm being displayed by the audience. Ho leaves with his party, by the Rotoiti to-day 'en route to Wanganui, Palmorston N6rth, and Wellington. ■ . OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. The Ol.vnipia floor and skates, combined with tho attractiveness of skating as an indoor pastime, induces tho many to go a wheeling daily. Pleasantness is also added by tho excellent music rendered nightly by tho Olympia Band. To-morrow night a filteenlap race will bo run, which should provo an interesting contest. On Friday tho evening session will bo under tho auspices of tho Agonothctes Skating Club.. Tho fancy dress and poster carnival is set down for Wednesday, July 13. LECTURE AND ORGAN RECITAL. . i The Rev. J. Flanagan's farewell lecturo in New Zealand will be given in the Town Hall to-night, tho subject being "Snapshots in London Slums." The lecturo will be illustrated by 100 slides. The following organ recital programme will bo played by Mr. T. C Webb, of Nelson, prior to tho lecture " Marcho Militairo" (Gounod), "Elsa's Dream" (Wagner), "Cuckoo Concerto" (Handel), "Gondola Son?," (Lohr).