ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 256, 22 July 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

, ~ THE FRANK THORNTON COMPANY. "CHARLEY'S .'AUNT." • A large audience renewed its acquaintance with that quaint old party,. "Charley's Aunt," at the Opera House 'last evening, and, judging by the continuity of the aggregate giggle, the old lady from Brazil (where the nuts come frpm) lias, lost kittle, if any, of her power to, amuse, which is perhaps as much due to the excellent'fooling of Mr. I'rank Thornton as to tho character drawn by Mr. Brandon Thomas, who' wrote tlia play for Mr. W. S.. Penlcy sixteen ago. As-is the case with nearly'all farces of. a wildly hilarious character, tho rolling years Jiave left, their imprint on "Charley's Aunt. The humour seems a trifle forced, and the situations are so obviously as one anticipates they will be, that there is missing the spontaneity of tho unexpected. Thero is a simple, robust humour in hanging situaround a man who has been jockeyed into impersonating a lady who does not arrive when expected. What follows is tho objectionably obvious—men foil in love with her, the girls kiss and cuddle her to tho intense aggravation of their lovers who originated the deception, and finally the real aunt from Brazil turns up to bless the several couples who have been making love off and on throughout the play. The comedy has. been performed* too often in "Wellington to recapitulate its story further, and last night's performance was_ sound if it was not so satisfactorily cast as it has been by previous Thornton companies. Mr. Thornton'.himself, in the part of the Hon. "Fnncourt Babberley, the vouhn* sprig who impersonates Dona Lucia D'Aluadroy (from Brazil), is an'exaggerated edition of tho comic old lady, and .does many things that even strain tho elastic, binding 'of.farco projier, but his wonderful vitality, and command of facial expression'stand him in excellent. stead, and his merry masquerading caused laughter .unrestrained: Strange as it may seem. Mr. Thornton looked far more at home in the wig and black satin gown than lie did as the young college student, and ,ho was a deal less convincing out. rff : tli<i skirts than in them. Mr. Douglas Hamilton, as Col. Sir Francis. Chesney. lacked'the bearing and dignity of a military',officer, ;'lid was in fact, Mr. Isaacs of "When Knights «ere Bold" under a different name. Mr. Harry -. Ashford, who_ was conspicuously good in "That Brute Simmons," proves, himself , to be a , capital; . character actor. His Dundreary.' whiskers' were "as. much a feature as his amorous side-nlay.with the.sun : nosed millionaires from Brazil. Mr. T! Powell was satisfactory as Jack Chesney, but Mr. 0. Stone, does not possess the personality for Charles Wykeliam.' ' Mi\ Keppel'Stevenson. does not make the best Brassetfc that has been seen, in''Wellington. ladies, Miss. Lily Willis looked pretty and acted quite charmingly as Amy Spettfgue; Miss Harriet French invested the genuine' pen-on from Brazil, with a.sweet/difinity;;and. Miss Clare Manifold made Ella Delahay a lovable creature. Miss Belle Donaldson' as Kitty Ver-' dun was hardly, so well suited as in tho previous play. • . There will ho two more representations of "Charley's.Aunt," which will be followed by a two nights' revival .of "The Private. Secretary." ' , V ■.. .. • . THEATRIC ROYAL. ; ' There was again a very large attendance at tho Theatre Royal last evening,, when Mr. Fuller presented his new programme of highclass turns. , The' entertainment "was. of a most-pleasing description, ahfl/'the audience wero not slow in demonstrating .their approval. Mr. Charles Moody'; was well received ' for liis character sketch,' and ' Mr. George Mackie, comedy musician, made himself very popular. , 1 Messrs. Albert Lucas, Fred ■ Bransgrove, the Zeala Sisters, - Miss Maud Perman, and the other-members'of'the company were heartily applauded. THE ROYAL PICTURES. ■ The i change iii the weather last night did not affect the audienco at. His' Majesty's Theatre, when tho prograinmo of tho, past weok was given for the last; time., To-night a chango will be .made, and amongst tho films to bo shown ; is a very lengthy one entitled' "Blue and Grey; or the Days of '61;" and one depicting the visit -of President Fallieres to London. "For a Crown" is described as very sensational, and "A Russian Bear Hunt" is also of exciting nature. The "Tribulations of a Mayor," "Mr. Hayseed's Bargain," "Bewitched Boots," and "A Cold and Frosty Morning" arc the loading comic subjects. Oil Saturday'a matinee will be held. I ORGAN RECITAL. . One of tho best of the municipal organ recitals, yet given by Mr. M.iughan Barnett was the "special request" selections, which' ; appeared on the programme last evening. Thero was a small but highly appreciative audience, several of the items being deservedly eucorcd. , ' The opening number was Bach's magnificent "Prelude and Fugue in G." Tho most striking feature of this .composition/is. the prelude, ill triple time, which affords ample scope both for tho powers of the. instrument and'the technique of the organist. It was spiritedly played. ' Following''this, came Nicode's charming "G'anzonetta j". which, was encored. Lovers of organ music, and particularly those who have attended Mr; Barnett's recitals are by this tijne familiar with Handel's graceful "Minuet in G;" and its reappearance on the programme last eveuiiig is •an indication •of its growing popularity. The niinuet was skilfully treated, and had to ho repeated, i Then came Adam's "Si j'etais R-oi" overture, a brilliant; composition, full of colour, "and strikingly varied in its treatment. A dainty' berceuse-of Greig's! concluded the'first part of tho recital. After tho interval the organist opened, with a delightful "Aragonaise," . from. the-- French opera "Le Cid." This was a'most .enjoyablo number," and a repetition y.-as" demanded. Lemaro's beautiful "Andantmo," familiar by this time to Mr. Barnett's audiences, was charmingly played. The recital concluded with'a' fine interpretation' of Mendelssohn's' famous "War March of the Priests," from his incidental music to jßacine's Biblical drama "Athalie." TJio "War March" is a \ bold ifnd inspiriting composition, of imposing ' characteristics, ami in Mr. 1 Barnett's hands j it received full justice. " . ' Thenext recital will take place 011 Tuesday, July 28, at 8 p.m. ' . MEYNELL AND GUNN. COMPANY. The plan of reserved seats .'for, tho. season j Df Messrs. Meynell and Gunh's Beatty-M'ln- . tosh' Company, which will commence on Moil- j lay evening next at the Opera House, Will j Dpen this morning at tho Dresden. The , inaugural production will be the romantic ! military drama, "Her liovej Against the ! World." The principal parts will bo filled iy Miss Madge M'liitosh, an English acttess . ivlio will make her debut here 011 tho occasion, and Mr Harcoiirt Beatty. "Miss M'lniosli is reported to have wou golden opinions n Australia and the other cities of tho Do- ; ninion where she has already appeared for I icr forceful and artistic acting. Mr. Har- £ iourt. Beatty is already,'deservedly, a great avourite with Wellington playgoers, his per'ormances in various-parts with tho Nellio Stewart Company having established liis 'rc: luta.tion as a sterling actor. Tho supporting :ompany, which is said to bo a strong one, J s.under the supervision of Mr. Gaston Mer- 1 'ale. ... - v ' OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. { "Full house" -is still" tho sign at tho s Hympia Rink ; despite all the counter at- .1 ractions of the city. 'Tho weather, whilst j, lot suitable for outdoor pastimes, is par- f icularly suitable for'skating. Morning and j, fternoon . sessions 'aro _ mostly devoted to j earners, when amplo assistance by competent iistructors is, available. ' To-morrow night wo teams meet in what-should bo a splenid exhibition of polo, and on Monday evenig next a ladies' complimentary, evening will e hold, tickets for which will bo obtain- G bio at tho Rink. • a ! ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL. . " An enjoyablo time is promised to tlioso who ttend the Newtown Catholic ' social and f( ance at tho Victoria Hall, "Adelaide Road, w lis ovening. • Not only lias an.excellent con- s< ?rfc been arranged by the committee, but a pi rst-class dance programme .will . bo. gono ■rough. An orchostra lias been engaged to ipply the dance music. The social is in' aid in ' tho Newtown Catholic School fund. G