ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 2631, 5 August 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE, ■ The final performance of the thrilling drama, "Her Lovo Against the World," was given before a large and appreciative audience at the Opera House last' evening. Tonight, Mr. Harcourt Beatty and Miss Madgo M'lntosh will commenco tho farewell seven nights of their season with Duma's masterpiece "Camille." Tho revival of "Camille" has crcated unusual interest in Melbourne, Sydney, and elsewhere, the play being staged with such marked success in both Melbourne and Sydney, and more recently sjill in Auckland and Christchurch. Mr. Harcourt Beatty will appear as Armaud Duval a role in which he has made a line impression. In Miss Madge; M'lntosh, Camille has found ono of her most notable exponents, and her performance has created quite a stir wherever she has appeared.. Tho stars will have admirable support in Messrs. Meynell and Gunn's capable company. Mr. Gaston Mervale will appear as the Comto de Vamlle, Mr. Tom Oannam as Gaston, Mr. Norman M'Keown as Gustav, Mr. Rutland Beckett as 'Pero - Duval, Miss Winifred Gunn as 'Naiiine, Miss Norah Delaney as Madame Prudence, Miss Hilda Meade as Olimpo, and\Miss Lizette Parkes as Nichette. An in- | novation will be made in . the musical programme. One item, the "March of the Marionette," will be played in , tho street as Camille lies dying; the idea being that Camille was, after all, only a doll and was not to be taken seriously; Camille can' be presented for two nights only. On Friday and Saturday, the popular military, spectacle, "The Midnight. Wedding," wiil 'be revived after an' interval of twelve lnonths. Monday and Tuesday will be devoted to a revival of Victorien Sardou's play, "Fedora," which has not been produced in New Zealand for over seven years: -Miss M'lntosh will appear as the Princess Fedora, and Mr. Harcourt Beatty as Loris Ipanoff-. For tho farewell night of tho season the management has selected tho romantic costume drama, "A Beggar on Horseback.*" Tho plans -fot the season are now open at the' Dresden. THEATRE ROYAL. , , This week's programme- of' vaudevillo entertainment at the Theatre Royal furnishes an excellent testimonial to the- enterprise of Messrs. Fuller, arid .the bill should have a popular run. George Mackie,' in his musical . comicalities, Arthur. Elliott, Scott' and Beresford, Alberto, and the other talented members of the company were in capital form, and were highly successful iiji their various turns. The biograph films aro really good. . ' • ■ '

HIS MAJESTY'S; THEATRE. :. ■ Business still keeps to; a high mark at the Royal Pictures .at His' Majesty's Theatre, and there was a. largo audience last night to witness tho pictorial entertainment. To-night, a change will ,Tta; made, when a large number of new pictures will be shown 'including "The Slave," "The Night Watchman," "Man the Lifeboat," "The Loafer's Lucky Day;" "The - Billiard Fiend," and "Where there's a. Will there's a Way." THE MERRYMAKERS. Attired in handsome Pierrot costumes, '.'The Merrymakers," whose, season will 'be!gin oil Saturday evening, .are sajd to create a very artistic effect 'in. their brightly atranged ensembles. Right through • their novel entertainment there is one continuous change of items, no' long, waits for dressing effects (with the musicians playing introductory music.) Hie Merrymakers are there on the . spot in a never flagging brisk fashion that-results in the interest of the audience being maintained throughout the length of the ■ programme. The experiment ; of bringing this new form of' entertainment from London was regarded as a r bold '..managerial move, but colonial audiences instantly appreciated the cleverness of Mr. Clayton's company, and their; subsequent success has been doubly assured. The box plans for ieserved seats (35.) are now open at the Dresden, and tickets for all parts can be'had at Abel's. .

CHAMBER MUSIC. To-night, in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, Messrs. Barhett, Hoppe, Prouse, and Johnstone will combine to present as lino a' programme of chamber music as lias ever been seen in this' city. Each of tha gentlemen lis too' well known to require any comment on his capacity to faithfully fulfil his part of the performance. The concerted number, in the hands of Messrs. Barnett (piano), Hoppe (violin), and' Johnstone ('cello) • will receive tho musicianly treatment, which this most charming form of music demands. is Rheinberger's most famous trio, and is- a most beautiful composition, abounding in delightful, and haunting phrases of melody.. There are ;a]so vocal items by Mr. Prouse, and' • several instrumental soli, and Brahm's splendid 'Sonata in A" is in tho capable hands of Herr Hoppe. Tickets are on sale 1 at tho Dresden.

ORGAN RECITAL. Tho programme of selections arranged ;by Mr. Maughan Barnett for his organ recita'l at the Town- Hall last evening was a thoroughly _ representative one, and was ■ highly appreciated by the audience, which in point ot numbers was, for this class of. entertainment," fairly, larcc. The opening number, Jlendelssohn's Third' Sonata for the organ, was a particularly fine effort. The sonata opens with a' magnificent introduction on tho full organ; loading into an imposing fugue, in which the subject is given out by the pedals. The second movement, "Andante Tranquillo," was in-.marked contrast to the fiery and impassioned strains of the preceding movements.- Wesley's' "Gavotte," a pleasing composition :of ■. unpretentious characteristics, was, followed by St. Clair's exquisite "Meditation," which in point of simple beauty shared with Tscliaikowski's "Andante" from tho "Pinafore .Concerto," tho distin'ctioni of being the'most highly appreciated items of the . programme. Both wero encored. Another attractive, composition was Massenet's "Angelus" ("Slcenes Pittoresques"). The "Angelus"—the transcription, .by the way, was, arranged by Mr. W. J. Harland, of Wellington—is a charming tone impression, in which the vesper bells are heard. Handel's Concerto, number fivo of the series published during the- period 1736-00, was an imposing number, brilliantly played. The "Zampa" overture (Herold) has dolighted previous audiences, but it was nevertheless very being ono of the mosti enjoyablo items of the evening.- It was impossible to evade the infection of the exuberant strains of the gay' opera, and the audience heartily, applauded the performance. The recital concluded with Schubert's spirited "Military March in D." The next recital is announced to tako place on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m., ds tho Hall is booked for tho usual evening of next week.

"HUMPTY-DUMPTY," According to Mr. Claude M'Kay, who has arrived in Wellington iii advance of "HurnptyDumpty," Mr. J. C. Williamson's jjautonurao has caught tlio Auckland tasto. Since the entertainment opened, he states, His Majesty's Theatro has been unequal to the business. "Humpty-Dumpty" appears 'to have impressed Auckland \ theatre-goers' from its spectacular splendour, whilo it also seems to bo particularly strong in comedy. The principal, comedian is Mr. Bert Gilbert, who has an established English reputation. , Associated with Mr. Gilbert, are Mr. Victor Loydall, who plays the dame, and Mr. Harry Shine, who appears as: Bison Bob. The pantomimo will open in Wellington on August 17.'

OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. A full house was tlio order of the day at the Olympia Skating Rink vesterday, tlio toboggan being patronised to' its full extent. A string band has now been engaged to play at tlio afternoon session, and, in addition, an afternoon tea stall has been arranged, which should be favourably received by tlio rink patrons. On August 12 an Old English carnival will bo held, for which excellent entries .iro being received.