ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 291, 2 September 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE LITTLE BREAD WINNER." To-night at' tho Opera House will bo presented for tho first time in Wellington "The Littlo Bread Winner," a play strong in human characterisation and situations, direct from tho Theatre Royal, Melbourno, whero the company recently 'terminated a highly successful season. Messrs. Meyncll and Gunn anticipate for this production an equal success to their famous "Fatal Wedding" play, which attracted great attention in Australia. Tho plot concerns principally ono Richard Lawrence, whoso adopted father, Lord William Dorrington, a very strick old Quaker, turns him adrift owing to supposed prodigality, tho main part of which exists only in tho lying machinations • of Joseph Prior (Dorrington's confidential and hypocritical secretary) who sees in tho degradation of tho adopted son an opportunity for satisfying his avarice. Tho two child characters aro played by Queenio Williams and Maggie Dickinson, who scored so successfully in "Tho Fatal Wedding." Tho remamdor of the cast includes many promincnt Australian and English artists, including Messrs. F. Coape, (i. P.. Carey, C. R. Stanford, and E. G. Coughlan, and Mesdanies Beatrice Holloway, Ida- Gresham, and Alico Deorwyn. Tho run of "The Little Bread Winner" is limited to fivo performances. On Tuesday night will bo presented Arthur Shirley's drama, "Tho Stepmother," which is now scoring immensely in England. Tho management states that the productions will be on a lavish scale, with complete scenic effects and accessories. Tho box plan is at the Dresden, and prices, 35., 25., and Is., aro announced, with an early door feo of 6d. to tho 2s. and Is. seats. Day sales aro procurablo at Abel's, tobacconist.

A CLEVER YOUNG VIOLINIST. In Miss Ruby M'Donald, a young Sydney violinist who has come over to settle in AYellington, local music cirelps will' gain a musician of distinct ability. Miss M'Donald mado her professional debut iii Wellington before a small audience in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening, assisted by Miss Marcelene Boulais, Miss Nollip Simpson, Miss Ada Remington, Miss Putnam, and Messrs. Horace Hunt, J. Smith, and T. K. Thompson, and proved herself to be an executant of exceptional ability. Her .selections— Godard's difficult "Romantique" Concerto, Schubert's "Ave. Maria," and "Am Moor," Wieniawski's "Kuyawiak," "Romance". (Concerto in D Minor), and "Legende," and a "Morris Dance" of Gorman's—were ambitious efforts, but thoy were I capably played. Miss M'Donald, who is fortunate in the possession of a fine instrument, plays without affectation of any sort. Her bowing is clean and full of verve; she produces a full rich tone from the instrument; her fingering, harmonies, and octaves are admirable, and her playing is animated with passionate feeling. Miss Marcelene Boulais, who sang Gounod's "Serenade", in the French; and Schubert's. 'Hark! Hark! the Lark," with, as an encoro number, a pretty littlo ballad of . Nevin's, made a favourable impression. Miss Boulais has a soprano' voice, of. very agreeable quality, but her vibrato is so pronounced as to give to lier singing of certa.in passages ail appearance of breathlessness. Mr. Horaco Hunt, whb should certainly be heard more frequently in piano soli, played Rolf's Rogandon" (Suite in B Flat) with excellent skill and expression. Mr. Smith, who sang Mattei s Leave Me Notj" "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes" ("Gondoliers"), . "My Dreams" (Tosti), and : "Ailsa Mine." was disappointing. Mr. Smith has a robust tenor voico which suggests futuro possibilities, given judicious culture. At present his singing method is faulty, tho quality is : very uneven, and frequently fiat. An enjoy'™? item was the "Andante" and Rondo' (Dopplor) for two flutes and piano, contributed by Miss Nellie Simpson (second flute), Miss Ada Remington (piano), and Mr. T. K. Thomson (first flute). Tho instruments wore in perfect accord, the effects produced by tho blending of the clear notes of ths flutes being very fine. Among those present wore Lady Ward and His Grace Archbishop Redwood. ORGAN RECITAL. .

J : It 'was encouraging to find that tho attendance at Mr. Maughan Barnett's organ J recital in tlio Town Hall last evening was considerably larger than usual. The prov grammo was a "special request" one,-and 1 proved to be a most enjoyable selection. Bach's fine " Toccata," in JF, was the open- ' ing number, and the full resources of tho ■ great instrument were displayed with magnii uccnt effect. St. Clair's beautiful "Medi- > fcation " followed, tho peaceful, almost re- ■ ligious, calm of tho study being in striking contrast to tho stormy composition which ! preceded it. Then came Handel's delightful 1 " Gavotte" from "Otho," which was very • enjoyable. Guilmant's "Funeral March ■ and Hymn of Seraphs" was very welcome, i Mr. Barnett played this fine piece quite recently, and its popularity does the musical appreciation of tho public considerable credit. Rubinstein's now familiar " Revo Angeligue,"_ a charming composition, followed m quieter contrast. Tho picturesque overture to Rossini's " William Tell" came nest, being one of tho most popular items of the evening. An "Andante" fron> Tschai- • kowski's " Pianoforte Concerto," and Mendelsshon's spirited "March in I)," arrangedfrom _two themes in the well-known " Capriccio Brilliante," concluded tho programme. The next recital will tako place on. Tuesday evening next,. September 8, when tho programme will include Lemare's "Arcadian Idyll," and a transcription ■of a fino orchestral work " Fiulandia,"'by the Finnish composer Sivelins. THE MALLINSONS. The Mallinson song recitals will be given at the Town Hall to-night'and Friday evening noxt. . Mrs. Mallinson was once Anne Steinhauer, the Danish soprano, and is regarded by her own country-folk as one of their finest singers. , Albert Mallinson's song cycle "My Garden" will, it is said, sing praises more eloquently than tho pens of tho critics. People who have heard this charming cycle call it one of the most beautiful and attractive compositions written. Mrs. Mallinson's charming rendering of 'this composition, it is stated, leaves a'refined appreciation of the artistic expression; The Mallinson song recital should afford music-lovers an unusual treat. The Mallinsbns will bo supported by Miss' Rebo Kussman, a clever young violinist, and Miss Wyman, pianist. Tho box plan is at the Dresden, where seats may be booked. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Tho final presentation of the past week's programmo was given at His Majesty's Theatre last evening before another full liouse. -The Royal Pictures are receiving a very fair share of tho patronage of tho amuscmontloving public. To-night another new programmo will be submitted, when a long list of novel subjects, which have just como to hand from England and tho syndicate's agents in Australia, will be shown. OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. Notwithstanding the warm weather of yesterday there were good attendances at the Ingestro Street rink. At the evening session a boys' race was well contested, and won by Rodger Harris,_ with Jokn Snaddon second. A girls' race is 6ot down for decision tonight. Tho Impersonation and Floral Carnival to bo held next week is creating considerablo interest in skating circles, as it is tho first of its kind in this city. The closing night has been fixed for Saturday week. A concort will bo given by tho musical helpers of tho Rosencath Presbyterian Church in tho Anglican Church to-night. Tho prices of admission are:—Adults Is. and children 6d. •• An enjoyable concert was given on Monday evening at the Town Hall, Lower Hutt, by ! Miss Arlino Thackeray, violinist, and was . well attended, by an enthusiastic audience, i Miss Thackeray's items consisted of Greig i "Sonata Op. 13," and several pieces of a . lighter character by Hubay, Schubert, Am- ! brosio, Hans Sitt, and Saint-Saens,which were i played in this artist's usual finished style, i Miss Phobe Parsons sang . "Pastoral," by i Lano Wilson, and several other songs most i successfully, for which she. was heartily on- i cored. Misses Allport and Treadwell played two interesting pianoforto duots by Moskowski and Schubert, which were much appreciated. Altogether tho concert was a great ] success. (