ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 16, 19 January 1901, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

* ! THE ARNOLD COMEDY COMPANY. "What Happened to Jones" was performed by the Arnold Company at the Opera, House last night, with the us>uul faueceos. To-night another farcical comedy, "On and OH," will be staged. This is an adaptation of the French play, "Le Controlleur dcs Wagoiishts," by M. Bihson, the famous Parisian playwright, and wherever it has been produced it has drawn crowded audiences. "On and OIF' is said to be very funny. It certainly has some novel effects. A phonograph plays an important part in the development of the plot, and a "winking gin" causes no end of trouble to a trio of "gay old boys." The breakfast- table scene, where two families sit down to breakfast, is said to be one of the funniest scenes introduced for many a day. lur. Arnold's successful season is now rapidiy ' drawing to a happy termination, the three nights that "On and Oil" holds the boards constituting the popular actor-manager's farewell appearances in Wellington. MR. DIX'S NEW PROGRAMME. The pantomime season at the Theatre Royal having concluded, Mr. Dix returned last night to the class of entertainment by which he first made his name in Wellington, presenting a long and diversified music-hall programme. The Heartiest approbation was shown by the audience, and many of the performers had to respond to repeated encores. In the first part, which opened with a minstrel circle, Misses Ivy Scott and Ivy Foster appeared in new serio-comic items ; Mr. George Dean contributed descriptive songs • and Messrs. Kearns and McKisson, the popular comedians and knock-about artists, created much fun with their silent act,, tumbling, and acrobatic displays. a.xi\ Tom Leonard, with his comic specialities, also came -in for his full share of applause. . The Williams quartette danced, sang, and wont through, a number of club evolutions to the entire satisfaction of the audience, who insisted upon repetitions in almost every instance. The acrobatic feats of the Leonard Brothers also came in for due applause. The same bill is ±o be presented for. the last time to-night, and on Monday evening one of the best programmes yet provided is announced by the management. The performers will include a number of uew faces. THE NANCE CNEIL SEASON. The desire of the Wellington public to welcome Miss Nance O'Neil will soon be gratified, for the engagement of the O'Neil Company will open at the Opera House on Wednesday next, 23rd January, for a ten-nights' season. Mr. J. C. Williamson played Nance O'Neil first in Sydney in February last, and since then her seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide have been remarkable triumphs. Very little was known about Miss O'i\ r eil when she made her Australian debut, but from the moment of her' first appearance the public recognised the genius of the tall, graceful young American, and her triumph was assured. Her career on the American btage has been most brilliant, and in a few years she has jumped into a recognised leading position among Eng-lish-speaking dramatic artists. Speaking of her phenomenal progress, Mr. McKee Rankine, under whose direction Miss O'Neil has be"en for some time, said in an interview, "During the period of 35 years in which I Ihove been associated with' the stage, either as a "star" or as a manager, I have never seen Such a remarkable young woman in th 6 dramatic profession as Miss O'Neil. I have seen Mary Anderson and others rise, but their ascent to fame has never been so rapid as hers. She only started in 1893, with no knowledge of the ways of tho stage. But she had enthusiasm, and the capacity to take pains and work hard. From small parts she worked gradually up to more important undertakings, until to-day she is a brilliant star. Miss O'Neil possesses capacity of taking old characters, by that I mean characters that have beetx plajed over and over again, and giving them new life. She is too young to c6py the methods of others. She thinks, What is meant by this V and she plays it. That's her success ; that's what you call individuality." The repertoire for the ten nights here comprises eight high-Glass plays, which are are -varied' as they are famous, and should enable Miss O'Neil to display the wttole" ffiuge" 6t EeT tatefits. TUe Opening play will be "Magda," always Nance O'i\'eiPs introductory production; it will be succeeded in rapid order by "Elizabeth, Queen of England," "Fedora;" "La Tosca," "Heddi Gabier," "The School for Scandal," "Camdlle," and "Peg Woftington/', The box-j>lan' is open at Holiday's". .WIRT^ BROTHERS' CIRCUS. The^ arrangements for the initial performance of \Yirth Brothers' Circus are now almost completed 1 , and everything will be id readiness for the opening on . Monday, nignt. Since their visii to Wellmgtqn, Wirth Brothers have doi^e a very big tour, and had some stirring experiences, „'rhey went .t'6 Monte Video, and toured South America. One the night of their last performance the circus building was destroyed by fire, and their wardrobe and other yaluaTiles were burned. Two years were next occupied in travelling through the British provinces, and then followed a long season m the United States. They next went right through Southern Africa, and up into Rhodesia, and from . jVlafeking _on v the return journey intended to go through the Transvaal, but were held back owing to tho threatening wai*. Indeed, theirs was almost' the last caravan to' get over the Modder River Bridge before it was blown up by tho Boers. At the time of 1 the famous conference between ex-Presi dents Kru^er^nti Steyn and' Sir Alfred Milner the Wirths were in bloemfontein. From Capetown they visited the eastern coa'bf town's, and dfte'r "doing" Ebrertfo Marques and Beira 1 , tliej* l'clt- lbr 1 Ceylon, India, Burm'ah> the Straife Settlenients, and Java in the order mentioned. From tho last-name^ 1 ebuhtry they voyaged to AWralia: As the" Wellington sCaston i 6 limited* to' six nights, two performances Will be giVen- doily during their stay. Our readers ate" reminded of the entertainment. t>? be giyen.ia the Federal Theatre this 4 evening. Ty the Seymour KinematograpH and' Concert Company. Of the pictures shown by the' company, some are new to. the public. The concert comnaaVy" will appe&r iii' new songs and* Sluices. At the Choral 1 Hall tWight the Fuller Bijou Company is to" present an entirely new- pTogrammto. Several old favourites are to make their reappearance' ,includiirg Misses- Mao' Marlow, Rose BeJmont, Messrsi Will Stevens', Lennon, Hyjnan, and Lennon. At tho Opera House to-morrow night a sacred concert \ri\\ be given by the deaf and dumb and 1 |.nd entertainers; As this .is the first appaarance of the deaf and dumb performances ■in Wellington something novel may be expected. The company, will appear at Petone, in the afternoon. At the Missions to Seamen Ambulance lecture, last evening, Mr. M*oore spoke on "Mistakes that cause pain," and showed how to attend to the wounded. The competition, "Helping the Sick," caused great interest. Missei Pedersen and Johnson, and Messrs. Bush and Turner con- • Li'huicl musical items. A pinafore ball is to take place at the Oddfellows' Hall, Upper Hutt, on Anniversary night.