ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 335, 23 October 1908, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE BLAND HOLT SEASON. The customary rush for seats at tha Opera House took place last' night, when "The Bondman" was reproduced by tho Bland Holt Company in - the manner that • only Bland Holt can produce a sensational drama. The piece will be staged again tonight and to-morrow night, and will give way oil Monday evening to another sensation, "The Great Rescue," in which tilers are a number of striking mechanical effects, including a great race between a motor car and an express train, and the rescue- of a - miner from a flooded West Australian mine. It is sufficient to say that press notices of the piece say that it is staged in Bland Holt's very best style. . ROYAL PICTURES. The second running off of the new set of pictures at His Majesty's Theatro attracted another full house, which was not slow to show its appreciation of the films.' The management of the Picture Syndicate appears to havo an exceptionally well-stocked storehouse to draw from, and their stock in trade is exactly to the public taste. "Skinney's Finish," "Tho Living Blackboard," "Tho Rooking Chair," and the numerous other attractions wero loudly applauded. THEATRE ROYAL. The entertainment provided at the Theatre Royal this week appears to havo caught the public fancy, more especially the films de-. picting the progress , made in experiments with balloons, aeroplanes, and bird-machines. This is but one phase of a bright, interesting, and well-balanced programme, which wins the approval of all who witness it. • The present bill will be repeated this evening. • MARK HAMBOURG. . In the Town Hall to-night, Mr. Mark Hambourg will give his last recital but one. Tho . farewell concert takes place to-morrow evening. . A great amount of interest is being centred in the famous artist's final appearance, as he will on that' occasion be associated with the Wellington Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Alfred Hill, who will accompany Mr. Hambourg in Beethoven's wellknown pianoforte Concerto in C Minor. At t-o-night's recital Mr. Hambourg will be heard in another of his splendid programmes. He will begin . by playing Rameau's Gavotte- and Variations, after which will come that famous work, the Appassionata Sonata of Beethoven. In this work Mr. Hambourg is said to be without rival, and his interpretation, is regarded as being his greatest achievement, and may be looked forward to with great interest. Nowadays it seems almost impossible for a pianoforte programme to bo given without the inclusion of some of Chopin's works, and a group of this composer's works will ba given to-night. They are, Etudes E-Minor, E flat, and C Minor,' Nocturne in G Major, Mazurka in A Minor, and the well-known Ballade in A flat. Tarantejie, Leschetizky-, Idyll, J. B. Davis; and Liszt's Rhapsodio Hongroise No. 6 will also" be given. Messrs. J. and N. Tait announce these two recitals as being positively .the last appearances in Wellington of Mark Hambourg, as he leaves for. Christ-church on Saturday evening after the concert, to fulfil his engagements in the ■ southern centres before returning to Europe.:. The plans are at the Dresden Piano Co., and unreserved seats ajre on sale at Abel's.

"MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE ' PATCEL" "

J. C. Williamson, by arrangement with Liebler and Co., of New. York, will commence, on, Saturday next, an eight nights' season. "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" comes, to Wellington, heralded by the praises of America,. England, and Australia, as perhaps the most unique play of the hour. Tha laughter of delightful observers fet the droll characters moving in and about the loquacious grass-widow's home in' the povertystrickon Cabbage Patch is of the doubling-up kind. Under the influence of this humourous creation during a recent engagement in Boston, one refined and intelligent woman who evidently knew Mrs. Wiggs, Mis' Hazy, Lovey Mary, Mr. Stubbins, Mrs. Eichorn, Mrs. Schultz, and Little Tommy, long before they were transferred from the library to the stage, so surrendered,herself to the enjoyment of their eccentricities that she became quite hysterical during the performance,' and sought the retiring room to recover her. composure. She is only one of hundreds,, however; every audience is spurred to unrestrained laughter . by the sight of Mis' Hazy in her bridal array, a mixture of black alpaca, Nottingham lace curtains, and a Peacock cigarette, of the garrulous Mrs. Wiggs, plucking her false hair from the coal scuttle, the bibulous Mr. Stubbins: rocking the bride-elect on his knee. Mrs. Eichorn's arrogant bearing., Sirs. Schultz's wobble, and the grotesqueness of the others. A more amusing mosaic of comio players, piquant dialogues, and humorous action, could hardly be conceived. The title role is taken by Ada Dwyer, one of the best; character comediennes on the American; stage. Helen Lowell, as Mis' Hazy the poor victim of a matrimonial agent furnishes a strikingly original. characterisation. Jotm , Webber'is irresistibly funny in the role; of "the soldier of fortune, "I Hiram' Stubbins. Others in the cast ere Helen Raymonu as Mrs. Eichorn, Gustine Armstrong as Mrs. Schultz, Miss Gordon as Asia, Lottie Alters as Lovey Mary, George Bryant as Mr. Wiggs, and Pearl Eagan as Australia.

SCULLING.

THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP. The training operations of both Arnst and Webb are- being watched with an interest which is growing keener as the weeks go by (says the Wanganui "Herald")/ Arnst continues to gain friends, the more that is seen of him the more favourably do a number regard his prospects. On the other hand,, there are some who declare that he can never hope to beat Webb so long as his boat dips and rolls as it does when the challenger indulges in fast sprints. However, it is well to bear in mind that prior to his race with Harry Pearee many on the "other side' did not like .Arnst's chance becauso of the pronounced "roll" which was noticeable when he spurted in his training spins, but on the day the ex-cyclist gave a display which has been described by the critics as magnificent, and showed that he could row his shell without the suspicion of a roll .when ho wanted to. This being so, it will not do to take much notice of tho defects noted in Arnst's style. If he rowed in good style on the Parramatta against Pearco he is likely to do wen better on Decomber 15, by which time he will have had so much moro experience, though, on the other hand, he will find the pace much more solid in the forthcoming racethan it was, in his last contest. Whiie this is certain, the fact remains that in. the 'ong solid rows which Arnst indulges iu lie swings along in a very pleasing manner, and liis boat runs very well indeed. He appears able to keep going very strongly right through, and it is evident, therefore, that he is going to put up a big race. . So far as Webb is concerned he continues to progress along the right lines, and is in tho best of health and spirits to start the hard training, which he will settle down to almost immediately.