ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 133, 2 December 1901, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

THE "ORIENTAL" FIRE BENEFIT PERFORMANCE. ' > The thoughtfulness which prompted the management and members of the four theatrical combinations at present in Wellington to give a performance for the benefit of those rendered destitute by the Oriental Hotel fire had an ample reward on Saturday afternoon. The Opera House was packed from floor to family circle, and before the,curtain went up there was "standing room only." Both audience and performers were on the best of terms with each other, and .the three-hours' entertainment provided was probably the most varied and the mosfc enjoyable ever given in' this city. Wherje all gave of their best and gave it heaHily, whether it was, song or story, dance or dramatic display, .and where the contributors were so numerous, it would be invidious to single out individual performers. The iwhole entertainment was provided by artists of recognised ability, the stage management was v excellent throughout, and the • entr'acte accompanying orchestral music was not the least enjoyable part of an enjoyable whole. It was well that encores were prohibited, <else had there been no end to the programme. The first part was a musical melange contributed to by members of Mr. Mr." Dixs Gaiety Co. The second part consisted of » production of the fourth and fifth acts of Sh&kes- ! peare's delightful comedy, "As You Like It," given by Miss. Janet Waldorf and her Dramatic Company. Part three was a vaudeville entertainment given by Mias Ada Delroy and the members of her company. The feature ot the fourth part, which consisted of items from 'members of the Empire Specialty Company, was a song by one of the gentlemen, who introduced a topical verse Teferring to the fire, the response to which was a liberal shower of silver and gold coins (totalling i 34 8s) from the audience. During one of the intervals Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.H.R., thanked the public for its liberal response to- the \call for help, and on his call a vote of .thanks to the performers and oiganisers of the benefit was carried by acclamation. Mr. Wilford' announced 'that so far as was known up to the time of his speaking the sum of £139 4s 6d ha# been received, and there were some returns, from sales of tickets y,et to come to hand. The shower of coins on to the stage also fell subsequent to the making of the above announcement. Nearly every member of the theatrical profession in town interested himself or herself in the matinee by an active canvass, and therefore to the profession as a whole the greatest credit is due for the success of a .unique philanthropic event. In another column appears a notice to those who have had. tickets for sale, while all who have claims on.the fund are asked to send in particulars of their losses and injuries. THE WALDORF SEASON., Lyttan's pretty romance concerning "The Lady of Lyons'' was repeated by the Waldorf Company 1 at the Opera House on Saturday night, before a fairly filled house. " This evening Miss Waldorf will be seen in "Camille," which, will enable her to txhibit the full extent of her powers.. She will have the support of> Mr. Norval Macgregor as Armand Duval, and the remaining members of the company will lend their best efforts to wards a pleasant -performance. DIX'S GAIETY COMPANY. There was a full house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, when an excellent bill of fare was provided. An enthusiastic send-off was given to Miss Beattie Galardi, Miss Fanny -Powers, Mr. Ted Box, and Dan La Mont with his trained dogs; and all the other items on a long, programme were well received. A number' of old friends will make their appearance again to-night, including Miss Olive Lentan and Miss Alma Gray, the Valdares (trick cyclists), the bicycle tramp (Tom Powers), and Mr. Richard Shepherd (baritone). EMPIRE SPECIALTY COMPANY. The Federal Theatre was .well patronised on Saturday night, and the programme presented was up to the standard of the company's best work. Mr. Arthur Hahn, whose singing is well known to WeUingtonians, 1 made his first appearance in the hall, ftnd received an enthusiastic welcome. Miases Fulton, Gilman, and Snowden were warmly applauded for their items, and new songs and specialties were given by Messrs. Thomas, Baxter, and Walton. The com pany is stronger at present than at anj time since its inception. THE DELROY COMPANY. A large audience greeted the performance of the Ada Delroy Company m the Choral-Hall on Saturday evening. Miss Maud Lita was heard to advantage in "Out on the Deep," and Mr. Bell's oddities were well received, as also were the ,bioscope views. The lady who appears in the specialty dances —the "Cobra di Capello," "Fire Dance," and "Lily Dance" —acquitted herself with credit, and the programme concluded with the- remarkable divinations of the "White Mahatma." j [