ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 272, 10 August 1908, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

. . THE The . Merrymakers, introduced by 'Messrs. J. and N. Tait, made merry for the first, timo in Wellington at tho Town Half on Saturday fevefiing. - • The "entertainment is quite unique.<-- It--ma'y be' " classified as "chamber ■vaudeville.'' ' "The Merrymakers" aro an ■English 1 ' company^of' , four gentlemen and three ! ladies, who attired as flame-coloured picrrottes. and pierrots/ with an appropriate setting, sing sungs (mostly of the lighter order), dance, tell storiesj and recito, for a couplo of delightful hours. It should bo stated that the show, is not adapted to such a vast audi torium as the Town Hall, although it was well-filled on Saturday evening, and many, w.cre because they could ■not hear as they would like, a defect attributable as much to the echo as to anything else. ."Tli'o Merrymakers!' do not do justice in the opening chorus, which .'in "tho "big'hall, sounded thin and tlio ro^er'sb 'of''tuneful,''.-which was unfortunate as it helped to creato an erroneous impression' ■of"'the capabilities of tho performers individually,' but as the programme developed sheer talent warmed tlio atmosphere to a temperature that might have easily been cifeatedi'injtially. IA Mr.' J. M.f Carripbeli tho company, possesses a patter comedian from .whom--exudes :>a natural humour absolutely "irresistible, and whose _ smart talk kept, the- audience " rocking with laughter. His first .impersonation was that -of a slightly bibulous old lady "Mrs. Wizzen," who "chatters about her lato- husbands and domestic' troubles with a humour difficult to disasspciato from" the "cheer-ups" of squaro, gin, .the aroma. of which seems to steal :across tho footlights, so finished is Mr. "Campbell's comedy. :Mrs. Wizzen's removal by a constable with an overgrown uniform was regretted by alf hut Mr.. Canip■bell returned to give an imitation of a'bridegroom of the absolute "johnny" type replying to the toast of his health at tho wedding breakfast-—a' capital sketch after tlio style of the late Mel. B. Spurr. Later Mr. Campbell imitated--Harry Lauder singing "Fu the Noo,",and followed it up -with a monologue .' about .Mulligan, which evoked moro laughter than, anything else in tho bill. Mr.' -Sam Walsh is _ another clever jester'who amalgamates with tho piano in his clever monologues. Mr, Walsh is au fait with tho instrument, and. utilises it comically and skilfully to point'his jokes and interpret his characters. His best effort was tho;melodrama "musicalised." ' In.response to an encore-'ho gave an energetic And 'spmewliat' original -.recital of tho Harileur speech from Shakespeare's "Henry V." ' Jjr. Gavin WoodVh'ai. a/spryipeabje.; voico and a lugubrious humour, tjo,assist , the. merrymaking.;'."He .sang ''Sandy M'Clusky," "Driilidflgl" arid "Scots Wlia flae,"."and was a strength-ill'the-, part-singing. There is still another-,singing;'■• comedian- in-Mr. Eric Blore, Svhosb ■ eiceVVtric 'effusions were; warmly welcoffied.yi-H<S- sang "Tliore's a Sim Still Shining," ,'aitd in\;.a, sneezing song' sncpzed with surprising, naturalness.' The. pierottes are bright and attractive, with pert stylo and soprano.Voices on'-tho Ithin'side.-. Miss Elsie Williams sang' "Mi I .'Sfchnoidor'" and "Flics Round the Ho'neypot." 'Miss' Doris Lind sang "She Didn't Know" and "A Hint." Miss Ruby Edgar'(who replaced Miss Betty Obis', who'was indisposed), sang Alfred I-lill's "Waiata Poi," which is-proving to bo a general utility composition much in demand. Miss-Amy Murphy and other prominent singers have , sung it oil the concert platform, Mjv' Kennerley .Ruijiford, a, representative

English baritone, has introduced it to London, local tenors and baritones have warbled it with varying success, and lioiv it has reached the vaudeville stage. Miss Edgar manipulated a poi as she sang tho refrain to tempo, the Maori slightly diverging from the original. Some ot ' the concerted numbers, such as "Tho Farmyard" and "Tho Baby oil the Shore," havo survived the frost of-many winters, and are suspected of senile decay, but the final chorale as conducted by Mr. Campbell was a cheerful example, of the burlesque glee. Mr. Walsh and Misses Lind and Williams supplied the accompaniments. ■A local orchestra, uiulpr the direction of Mr. J. Parker, played attractively during such time as "Tho Merrymakers" ceascd from merrymaking Tho company appears at tho Town Hall this and to-morrow evenings, and at tho Opera House (wherb they should be heard to better advantage) on Friday and: Saturday nest. . , .. >

OPERA HOUSE. The. second performance of "Tho Midnight Wedding" on.Saturday, evening by tho lile.v--nell-Gunn Company was well patronised. Pathos and smiles alternated in this modern molodrama, and as 011 tho previous evening a capable presentation was given. Mr. Harcourt Beatty and Miss Madge M'lntosh in their respective leading roles wero clever and convincing. ~ This .evening,, Messrs. Meynell and Gunn'will revive; after a lapso of many years Sardou's famous drama "Fedora" one of the leading classics of the dramatic stage. Mr. Harconrt Beatty and Miss Madge M'lntosh achieved quite a,triumph in the.play recently'in Sydney and. their' success elsewhere has been equally meritorious. Miss Madge M'lntosh will appear as ; "Fedora" and Mr.' Beatty will assume the part of Loris Ipanoff, a characterisation, which is said to stand out amongst tho many excellent parts of this sterling actor. Miss _ M'lntosh's performance as "Fedora"- 1 is said to bo. remarkable in its tragic intensity, and judged by tho standard of her Camillo—an interpretation'of more than ordinary excellence may be anticipated. The other members of the company will be admirably cast. Tho plot resolves itself into four acts of absorbing interest, some of the scenes being magnificent examples of the artist's brush. For Wednesday the farewell. night of the season the exciting romantic historical costume drama A Beggar' on Horseback" is announced.; .' < .'

! THEATRE ROYAL, Every seat in the;' Theatre Rpyal was 'occu* pied on Saturday.' evening, wlieii an entirely now and especially attractive programme was presented. Mt.~Hu.plr 'Hu'xliam, who possesses a fine tenor voice, delighted tho large audience with his rendering of several illustrated songs. Vernon and Mac performed a number of-novel and difficult acrobatic feats' so cleverly as to demonstrate that they are in tho forefront in, that line. Alberto was seen to 'great' advantage in an exhibition of humorous conjuring.' . : One of 'the most' popular artists was Miss Maud Fanning; the coon vocalist,whose, items evoked unbounded applause. A high stilt danco was executed 'by Denis Carnoy in a 'creditable manner. Hagan and Fraser appeared in a hew Irish sketch entitled "Thp Echo," which was provocative of much hearty laughter. Arthur Elliott, tho clever acrobatic comedian, submitted a capital "turn." Very successful also were the Cambry Sisters, who aro song, dance, and mandolin artists of 110 mean order. Clever singing .and dancing earned for Miss' Violet Elliott unstinted applause. An amusing item was t]iat contributed by George'Mackie, who rendered several vocal and instrumental selections of a. varied character. A feature of the now programme is also the biograph pictures which have not previously been seen hero. It may confidently he prophesied that there will be' bumper houses throughout the week.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Both -Vperformancos at His MajestyV Theatre on Saturday were largely attended, arid tho Royal Pictures' were received with marked favour. Tlio last two nights. of ; the present programm-3 is announced, the usual cliange being made on Wednesday, when a shipment of' picture novelties which have arrived from London, and Paris will be drawn upon.' '/

. • ••• humpty-dumpty." The.author, of-"Eumpty Dumpty," the. J., C. Williamson 1 production 1 that is-due* at the Opgra Hoiisa west -Monday,'' is '»J. Hickory' Wobd, who was also the boo!; of "Mother Goose/' There is littlo doubt that two more, successful pantomimes have never come-from onopen. 1' or the purposes of-'* stage presentation , Mr. Hickory Wood iu "Humpty Dumpty" has resurrected the ill-fated hero of nursery rhyme from the 'awful smash that baffled all the king's horses and all tho king's men, and has carried on the story to tho exhaustion of sis -"wishes. Through: all the comic episodes, the gorgeous spectacles,- and musical interludes, the, stoi} is never • lost sight of. Tho strings are pulled by the demon and the fairly queen as the presiding destinies for evil and. good. "Humptv Dumpty" is far from being a -'lov-able-charactcr. Mr. Bert Gilbert, who plays King Solium, insists that he is a bad egg, and gets 110 • better as 1 ho grows older, and Mr. Harrv Shine as Bison Bob curses him seven times. The malevolent spirit of "Humpty Dumpty" is responsible for many changes of scenes for those who cross his ambition. Ho dethrones Xing So lum and usurps : the crown. ' Ho disperses the court, so that the characters journey to strange regions. The result is describes by tho Melbourne "Argiis,"-which sums up tho production as "an amazing succession of appeal-ing-artistic pictures; .a wonderful union ot illusions, graced by -colour, harmony-, bevies of charming damsels lavishly costumed, excellent comedy, troops of clever little people, quaintly earnest in their business, tuneiul incidental miuic and songs well abovo the average." The box plan for the first eight performances of the production will open at the Dresden on Thursday morning, at J o'clock. 1 !

WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY. Tho Town Hall has been engaged for August 13 and 14 by tho Wellington Choral bo--ciety, when Handel's "Judas Maccabaeus will be performed on Thursday, and Rossini s "St-abat Mater" on the following evening. The Society has been fortunate in service of "Mr. Charle3 Saunders, one of England's greatest tenors, and Miss Clara Eobr soil, tho well-known Scottish contralto. Tho soprano and baritone parts are to bo taken by-Mrs. Gower Burns, of Christshurch, and Mk J. Prouse, of this city, respectively. .'As the result of Mr. Saunders's fino singing m Christ-church last w£ck, ho lias been engaged for a return visit to that city in September. Tho Christchurch "Press," referring to Mr. Saunders, says:—"We venture to assert that Handel's 'Sound an Alarm' has never been sung with more imposing effects than by Mr. Chas. Saunders. The singer has every qualification for such an inspiriting aria. His voice, a puro tenor, musical, cultured, and wido ranged, has a volume that is truly superb. The injunction 'Sound an Alarm' rang out liko a trumpet call, as clear-toned as a' clarion. In the highly effective unaccompanied passages tho, voice' of tho singer seemed to porvado tho building with a flood of sound, whilst tho last word of tho invocation was a tour do force. A really magnificent climax had seemed to be reached, where tho voice unexpectedly swelled out into a crcscondo that was astonishing. Tho audience fairly cheerod-Mr. Saunders, who, smil,ing and speaking,in tho.most .dulcet of tenor voices that came ill "such amusing contrast to his singing voice, promised that ho would sing again presently." Tho box plan is now open at tho Dresden.

ORGAN RECITAL. * ' Two especially fine pieces of music will bo played by Mr. : Maughan Barnett at his organ recital oil Wednesday afternoon, • August 12, at 4 o'clock, i.e., prelude, Act I, "Lohengrin," bv Wagner, and "Revo ■ Angeliquo," by Rubinstein. It will bo noted that this recital will bo given on Wednesday afternoon instead of the usual Tuesday evening entertainment; - FREE LECTURE. In St. Thomas's Schoolroom to-night Mr. W. Gray, M.A., B.Sc., will give a municipal freo lecture on ."A Compulsory Continuation School System."