ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 433, 16 February 1909, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■ • ■. ■ —*■— —— ; ■ THEATRE ROYAL. This week'a programme of pictures at the Theatre Royal is quite up to the usual standard, and consequently largo houses are the rule. Those who , have not seen tho change of programme cannot fail to appreciate tho new series, among-the funniest of which may bo mentioned "Polly's Excursion,"' and "Flash Jones." Altogether tho present bill of faro is one well calculated to pleaso the public. N 'HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. - The Royal' Pictures at His Majesty's Theatre still continue to do big business. Last night's varied and attractive programme:was thoroughly appreciated by a large-audience. ■ ADA CROSSLEY CONCERTS; Lovers of-music,!-'as-..presented'by such a cultured artist as Madame Ada Crossley, will bo given a raro treat on Monday and Tuesday evenings next, when the great'contralto will be heard for the last time in the Tovjn Hall. Madame Crossley is doing a return, visit to the larger towns of the Dominion,; and leaves for Tasmania, Victoria, Now South. Wales, and Queensland, on the conclusion of her visit to New Zealand. Sho ■will eventually sail from "Brisbane :by the Orient line for London direct. , ' The box plan for both concerts will be open tomorrow morning at the-. Dresden. THE ROYAL WELSH MALE CHOIR. From Wales in olden times there went forth bands, who, with rousing eonge of war and tuneful lays of peace and We, delighted the bold knights and fair ladies of that. rough age. The flight of ages has changed many things, but still the British race retains a lovo of melody, and'the descendants of; the old Welsh bands and minstrels, the Royal Welsh Male Choir'. are here to charm with song and chorus. That modern people retain a love of music was made plainly apparent by the enthusiastic reception accorded the choir, last , night. Almost .every-' number brought forth a request for an encore,'given so', decisively, that it could not be.refused. The AVelsh National Anthem was followed by a melodious glee, "Little Church" (Becker) \ rendered in a' mariner 'well.-befitting-the descriptive, nature of the composition.-.'■ As an encore was. given the popular-. "Song'.of the Northmen" (Mamder).. .The versatility of the singers -was well illustrated 'in Dr.', Parry's Welsh, choru3J' "Monks'.,War/March," and the encore number, "Abide With Me." The ; contrast .shown between the stirring: military, air of the march: and the low, peaceful, toiies of,.the .hymn may be compared- to;'the scene at.:the British occupation of- Khartoum, ■when . after the defeat of. the Dervishes and, the victorious entry of the British troop's'into'tho '.orjjy,',"Abide, With Me;" Gordon's favourite hymn, was played by:the army bands at -the palace,'where years beforo the heroic general had, met" his death'.' Other choral-;items.,of tho programme ~wero-"The? Long Day, Closes" -(Sullivan.)', "Tho.. Soldier's- ; Chorus" , from ''Faust,", the: musical jest' "Italian Salad" .(Geno).:i The .Hallelujah-.Chorus from"' J : he '.'Messiah."; and,-"The March of the Men of .Harlechi' demonstrated' well .'■■' the', i strength and perfect balance of the choir, .whilst 1 the fine modulation, of which they are capable,■was finely shown in .the', part song. "Home, Sweot Homo," and the Welsh hymn "Aberystwyth" ("Jesu, Lover of My Soul"). Apart from the x choral einping, the solo items were of no ordinary quality. Mr. Trevor .Lewis sang "The Trumpeter" in pleasing style, and "Tho Imago of the Rose" was well rendered by Mri Robert Jones, the .choir singing the chorus. ,;The duet "Excelsior" »was. given; by .Messrs. Todd Jones'and A. Edwards, and the trio, "Peace to tho Heroes" (Caldicott), by Messrs. Jones, Jones, and Davies. A delightful nuartet was "In Absence" (Dudley -A ■ slight vibrato was to be noticed in Mr. David Davies's rendering of ."Big Ben". (Ppntct), but the effect was'riot so noticeable in an encore .number, "Recked in-the Cradle of the ,Deen."■'■'.. ■,-.'.' , ''.- ,:'