ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 823, 23 May 1910, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"MADAM BUTTERFLY."

MISS AMI.' CASTLES AS CHO CIIO

Tho changos wero rung by Williamson's Opera Company oil Saturday evening, when Miss Amy Castles and Mr. John Zerga made their first appearance hero in Puccini's opera, "Madum Butterfly," before a crowded house. Both by those who had and had not heard Mdlle. llel Sorel in tho all-demanding role, a keen curiosity was manifested in Miss Castle's appearance in the role, firstly because, there exists a sort of family interest, in hor vocal progress, and secondly on, account of it being h.-j- initial effort in grand opera. It is pleasing to chronicle that Miss Castles' performance exceeded every expectation, How difficult, perhaps embarassing, it must be to follow Mdlle. Sorel in the part, all who saw tho French singer on Thursday evening will readily appreciate.. Tho hitter made ' hor deep appeal through an art perfected by years of Continental experience, combined with temperamental powers, vocal and histrionic. Her art is great, and never fails in its effect, but it is obvious) Mdlle.' Sorel'was something apart from the other Japanese girls in the first, act. Miss Castles, smiling, ingenuous, natural, is one ,of them. \\ hat she lacks in artistic embroidery is almost compensated for in her untutored simplicity and directness. The chief difference between the two prima donnas —tho comparison is forced upon one—• is that of nationality, one which would always make a cleavage between two singers so much, temperamentally, apart. Miss Castles' voice has losl) none of .its silver limpidity since last it was heard in Wellington. It is a. round, full voice of the finest fibre,, admirably suited to Puccini's changeful music, in which slio absolutely revelled.. There was a suggestion of hesitancy as to her cues, after tho pretty singing entrance of Madam Butterfly, but that disappeared entirely in tho love scone which follows, which she sang brilliantly, and acted with a warmth and abandon that, augurs well for her. future in lighter grand opera. Though not realising to its greatest depth that premonition of impending tragedy in the second act, Miss Castles was quite, admirable in the prettily-pathetic scene with Sharpless, and tho flowerstrewing number that fdllows the discovery of Pinkerton's warship in tho bay. Miss Castles did not strike tho deepest noto in the last act; still, it was an astonishingly sound performance for so inexperienced a singer in opera, and that it should be placed in comparison with so finished an artist as Mdlle. Sorel must be inspiring and educative to the young Australian. Mr. John Zerga, w'lio made his first appearance as Lieutenant Pinkerton, has a tnnor voice of pleasant quality, with a ringing rcsonancy in the top register that was v'ery effective in tho more florid passages. Jlr. ZfcrgaS enunciation was excellent, and his acting, debonnair, passionate, and despairing by turns, was in the best of grand operatic taste. His singing of tho farewell numbor in tho last act was a feature of tho performance. Mr. Arthur Crane as Sharpless, and Miss Rosina Buckman as Suzuki are both excellent.

On second hearing, the orchestration of "Madam Butterfly" thrusts its roots deeper into \tho hearts of all lovers of good music, and tho memories of wonderful chords and hits of delicious melody tako form and meaning clearly in the memory.

"Bel Sorcl will sing the prima donna part this, ana Wednesday evenings— Amy Castles on Tuesday. On Thursday will bo given "La Boheme," with Signorina Maria Pampari ,as Mimi. The' box plans for the entiro season will be .open at the Dresden this morning, at 9 o'clock. Sir Joseph and Lady Ward were amongst those present on Saturday evening. THEATRE ROYAL. The final performance of the programme which has been running at the Theatre Royal for the past week was given bofore an enthusiastic audience 011 Saturday evening, when Misses Cecile Stephano and Ivy Goodwill, and Messrs. Warwick Lumley, Banco Smith, and Frank York were greeted with considerable enthusiasm. The various biograph iilms screened were of a high order of merit. A full change of programme is announced for this evening, when another newcomer in the person of Mr. Carden Wilson, an imitator of wellknown actors, etc., will make his bow. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The collection of subjects which arc being screened in the now programmo at His Majesty's Theatre offers something which appears to just suit the public taste. The theatre was crowded on Saturday evening, when the consensus of opinion' appeared to ho that the picture showing lit. Etna in eruption and the onrush of tlio relentless stream of lava was the best of an excellent selection. Another series of pictures, i illustrative of the flight of the Dalai Lama, and his arrival at Darjeeling, also met with loud plaudits. A strong dramatic picture was entitled, "A Victim of. Bridge." A matineo performance was held on Saturday afternoon, and delighted a large number of young pcoplo. KING'S THEATRE. The usual Saturday afternoon and evening displays of moving pictures were given at tlio King's Theatre last Saturday. A feature of the children's matinee was the distribution of Royalty postcards and other gifts. The . programme, which is of tlio high standard associated with West's and the Boyal Pictures, will be repeated to-night." To-morrow (Tuesday evening), every lady attending tlio performance will receive a postcard bearing a portrait of a Boyal person. 1 STAR PICTUBES. The Star Pictures appear to have firmly established themselves in the affections of the amusement-loving public of Wellington South. The niatinco and evening displays last Saturday in St. Thomas's Hall were largely attended. There will bo a change of programme to-night. PICTURES AT TOWN HALL. The heart of New Zealand is to bo laid open to view by the New Zealand Picture Company at the Town Hall tomorrow night. "Living New Zealand" includes many pictures of interesting sights within the Dominion, while historical events of days gone by will bo recalled in the pictures of the visit of their Majesties King George and Queen Mary to New Zealand. "Life on Sheep and Cattle Stations" will show in detail the handling of sheep and cattle, and should afford some evidence of New Zealand's industrial progress. "Pun in the Hlne Bath, Rotorua," in which a number of small boys will be ;Vn disporting themselves in the warm mineral waters of the thermal regions, should appeal to the juvenile element of the audience. During the, showing of the film of the Dominion Day celebrations of IflOS, and before the local troops complete their pictorial march along Lambton Quay, Mrs. M. Siitclili'e will recite Clement Scott's "Midnight Charge." The orchestra will be under the baton of Mr. D. Kenny. "THE WEB OF PATH." An advertisement of interest to pinygoers appears in this issue regarding the performance of "The Web of Pate. Further particulars will bo advertised later.