ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 825, 25 May 1910, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"MADAM BUTTERFLY." The entrancing beauties of Puccini's "Madam Butterfly" attracted another very laTgo audience to the Opera House Inst evening. Miss Amy Castles essayed the part of Clio Clio San for the. second (ime, confirming the very high opinion \ formed of her capacity in grand opera in Saturday evening's performance. It is in the lighter passages that Miss Castles excels. She sang the music of tho great love scene in the first act with a charm f and sweetness soothing to the ear, and her \ acting with Mr. John Zerga was most £ pleasing. ; Her scenes with Sharpless and ' Yamadori in the second act were grace- ' fully acted, while- her tragedy, whilst not s plunbing to the deepest abyss the wrench- ] ing pathos of the last act, gained her kudos from a delighted audience. Mr. John Zerga was, vocally and histrionically, excellent as Pinkerton. Tho Sharp, j less of Mr. Arthur Crane improves on acquaintance. His restrained and natural acting, and the sympathetic quali- 4 ties of liis fine baritone voice, ara material aids to the perfection achieved in the second act. Mr. Edwin Wynn do- j serves praise- for his artistic work in tho all-important role of Goro, the slim marriage-broker. When "Madam Butterfly" has flown to other parts no memory -. will linger more sweetly than the haunt- }. ing music of Puccini's mighty orchestra- J tion as interpreted by Signor Hazon's t fino orchestra. i "LA BOHEME." 3 On Thursday night "La Boheme," by ' Puccini, will be presented at the Opera 1 House. Signorina .Maria Pampari will make her appearance as the hapless ' Mimi. A highly enjoyable representation ' of a great operatic work is anticipated. 1 Tho onchanting strains of "La Boheme," with its constant change of rhythm and accent are said to exert littlo short of a spell that reaches the heart in an un- , accountable fashion. Signorina Pampari " —tho Mimi—is credited with an extraordinary dramatic magnetism. Her birdlike voice, that is said to rise into the full power of a penetrating sweetness in the upper registers, exactly suits , Puccini's great music. Signor Hazon and his band of players, ably led by Ernest Toy, elicit varying nuances as the music hurries along with all tho vivacity, passionate sweetness, and charm 1 which characterise the scoring through- J out. There are especially two love ( songs—grand, vibrant, and appealing. 1 These delight tho ear and charm the i sense. There is no prelude to "Bojieme." After a few bars the curtain rises upon f Marcel at his easel, complaining of the 1 bitter cold and as Rudolph prepares to \ light tho flro with his last blank verse 1 tragedy, the orchestra illuminates the 1 vocal part in the most wonderful • way. t Beside Signorina Pampari in the princi- ] pal role will be heard John Zerga as i Rudolph, Arthur Crane as Schuanard. s Signor Antonio Zanelli will make his f first appearance as Marcel, the painter, ( and Miss Mabel Batchelor also her first ap- 1 pearance this season as the gay Musctta. 1 ''La Bohoine" will be played also on s Tmsilay next. On Saturday "Carmen," i with Bel Sore] as Carmen, Maria Pam- < pari as Michacla will be given. On < Friday Amy Castles will repeat her great 1 .success as Cho Cho San. 1 1 THEATRE ROYAL. 1 Added brightness has come to the \ Theatre Royal vaudeville entertainment , this week by the arrival of Mr. Garden ' Wilson, who, after his second appear- j anco last evening, has certainly cstab- ■ lished himself as a very clever raconteur and mimic. Mr. Wilson is perfectly at •, home with his audience, upon whom the [ well-remembered humour of. George Ful- ', ler Golden, John F. Sheridan, Maurice 1 Dudley, and others is not lost. His j mimicry of these is capital. Miss Pearl Hellmrich, soubrette, makes a first appearanco this week, and is experiencing , a warm welcome. Other performers who still contribute attractively are: Frank I Yorkc, Miss Cecile Stephano, Bert Warne, . Warwick Lumlcy, Ranee Smith, Joe Lamb, and Victor tho Ventriloquist. Tho entertainment will bo repeated this. ■: [ evening. 1 HIS'MAJESTY'S PICTURES. . ' His Majesty's Theatre was well filled ' last evening to witness tho. final pro-. ', duction of the current week's programme. As usual, to-night will eco a completely new programme on the screen, and a • particularly strong bill is promised. Prominent among the new items is a '■ realistic series of views of the great I Irish Steeplechase at Punchestown. , This film is remarkable for the extra- ■ ordinary number of falls—by riders- and j horses —and also for tho plucky way in < which many of the fallen riders got 011 j their mounts and continued the race. A j lilm entitled "Tho Third Degree" is rin ( absoibing drama describing modern j American detective methods. The Biograph Company contribute two of their ( popular dramas, both well up to standnrd, entitled, "The Final Settlement," •' and "The Thread of Destiny." There -, are many other noticeably good items, including a comic study of the everpopular "Foolshead," who, with his two - brothers, is responsible for some irresistibly funny situations. . 4 THE KING'S THEATRE. Tho King's Theatro was again crowded 5 last evening, when the current week's .programme was shown for tho last time An entire change will be made this evenin: •'•■ •■ •Mi* session will include some, ( nolabie pictures. The dramatic section 1 is exceptionally strong, and will includn 11 "The Silent Piano," a thrilling story of C the Revolutionists in Italy, "Zingarn," 1 a Pathe coloured dramatic story of ex- ( crptional interest, "The Ticket of Leave Man," and "The Geld-sceker's Daughter." ( Special mention may also bo made of Patho Frcrcs' great Parisian comedy, "Paris after Dark, or Seeing tho Real Thing," introducing Mile. Palaixe in the sensational Apache danco, "Tho Valso L > Naire." Other noteworthy .pictures will be "The Parramatla River," showing "Dick" Arnst training, "The Launching 1 of the Yarra," "Native Dances," 'and "Wild Bavaria," and tho comic sketches, "A Boarding School Girl," "Where is « Your Wife," "Our German Cousin," "Calino's Duel," and "The Light that Failed,"- with new selections by the brilliant King's Theatre orchestra. 1 STAR PICTURES. f 1 Tho striking new programme of Stai t Pictures on exhibition at St. Thomas's f Hall attracted a large attendance last ( e zoning, and applause and laughter worn 1 frequent throughout the entertainment. The dramatic picture, "Under Field In- f '. structions," was especially popular with 1 ! the audience. The programme will bo ( ■ repeated to-night. 1 '. SKATING RINK. The busy whirr of skates at the newly- 6 i ononsd and renovated Skating Rink pro- . claims the renewal of the skating boom. • The new floor has met with .the approval j ' of devotees of the gliding pastime, and ' the skates provided by the present management are in keeping with the general * , advancement at the rink. Dreamy music ' supplied by the band stationed in tho ' loft adds materially to the enjoyment of half an hour at the rink. ' A SONG RECITAL. V ! Miss Lloyd' Hassell, the cultured con- 'J ' tralto vocalist, wlio has not been heard ', in Wellington for some time, is to break !. a long silence in a soilg recital to be ' i given in tho Concert Chamber this even- J 1 ing. The programme Miss Hassell has '' ! set herself is uniinpeachably good, most J ; of the very best song writers being rep- ' ! resented in the list of numbers she is f to sing. Schumann will bo represented ' r bv "Widmung," "Der Nussbaum," and . "Wacdcgesprach"; Mallinson by "Elea- ] . nore," "The Blood Red Ring," "Hindu Children's Rain Song"; Strauss by - "Droop o'er My Head," and "Rest Thee .' Mv Spirit"; Grieg by his "Cradle Song," , "My r.ove She was so Pure," and "The Princess"; and Schubert by "Du Bist - die Ruhe," "Der Tod und dnss Madchee," r - and "Wohin." Mr. F. R.. Johnstone, ■' • 'cellist, is to play Gotterman's "Cantilena," Becker's "Minuetto," ;uid d'Ambrosio's "Cnnzonotta." The accompani- " ments will be played by Miss Ursula Tewsley. Such a concert should comniond itself to lovers of good music. West's Pictures, Sydney, have re- 1 ceived a cable from their firm in Eng- 1 j bind, staling that (heir firm has secured ( , 11 magnificent picluro of the lung's 7 1 runeral, and that it will 1» shown at I the King's Theatre.. Wellington, nn ( ij VYxJueitLny, Juno '•'O. y