ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 82, 7 April 1902, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

"THE 10.30 DOWN EXPRESS." There was a large audience at the Opeia House on Saturday night to wit-ne-K the production of the sensational melodr.ima, "The lO.ZO Down Express," by the William Anderson Dramatic Company. For v series of improbabilities and ultra-sensational situations, the play, one would imagine, has hardly ever been equalled, and the dramatist who would essay higher Mights of imagination would bo ambitious indeed. There is no need to sketch the plot of "The 10.30 Down Express;" it is the usual story, a murder ior which not one, but two innocent people are sent to penal servitude for life ; the robbery by the villain of the old man from whom he has for long concealed his true character, culminating in an attempt to wreck the express so as to get rid of the evidence of his crime, and at the same time murder the hero, who, in some miraculous manner, has been pardoned for the crime of which he had been unjustly accused. Blended with this tale of depravity and villainy is a plentiful supply of comedy, not always of the most elevating description, supplied by a comic sailor man and a pert young housemaid, and the appreciation of the audience not only of the comedy, but of the more highly spiced portion of the drama, was plainly evidenced by the loud applause which greeted every moral platitude uttered by the hero and heroine, and the stern reprobation meted out to the very naughty villain who simply wallows in crime through the greater portion of five long aots. The hero is Jack O'Malley, a young naval lieutenant, vigorously pourtrayed by Mr. Charles Blake, and the funny sailorman is Sam Wagstaff, a character which Mr. Frank Hawthorne revelled in, and in which he caused a great deal of fun. He was ably assisted by Miss Hilda Fraser as Peggy Potts, the pert housemaid aforesaid. Mr. L. Dunbar made a dark and forbidding villain, by name, James Inderwick, and Miss Fitzmaurice Gill gained a great deal of sympathy as Bessie Leigh, the much-wronged heroine. There is a whole host of other characters, all of which were well filled, and the great scene, the attempt to wreck the express, was realistic in the extreme. In addition the Lyceum Ballerinas did some veiy clever dancing, and Miss Kathleen Duggan sang "On the Banks of tha Wabash far away" with much feeling. "The 10.30 Down Express" will be staged until further notice, and will doubtless prove highly attractive to those who like their drama to be sensational. __ THE DIX GAIETY COMPANY. After a succession of planetary bodies^ the present stars at the Theatre Royal shine, by comparison, somewhat dimly. The programme is still a fair one, and was well received by the large audience that assembled on Saturday night. The Lingard Sisters presented .their ctever doll-act, Mr. Harvey and Miss Morris duologue entertainers, and the Allisons, sketchers, got off some pointed things, and filled up their turn very successfully. Miss Lucy Allison skipped and danced with wonderful precision. Among vocalists, Miss Beryl Oilman and Mr. .«allace King remain favourites with Wellington audiences. THE EMPIRE BAZAAR. The Skating Rink was crowded on Saturday evening, when an Irish national programme was presented at the Empire Bazaar. A great deal of interest centred in the Irish jig contest, for which there were six entries. The prize was carried off by Master M'Carthy. A clever and entertaining exhibition of fancy skating was given by Mr. C. T. Norriß, and a number of children took part in a country dance, their work reflecting great credit on Miss Crombie, who coached them. The following were the winners of raffles : — Misses Nelson, M. M 'Donald, Thompson, Dr. H. Tonner, Messrs. Benbow, Beckinsale, Delaney, Lawlor, Casey, Murphy, Mitcheltbn, Danks, A. M. Hall, M'Grath, Sullivan, Galloway, Smythe, Spencer, Robinson, Stitt, Bennett, and Stephens. This evening a Scottish national programme will be submitted. Owing to the numerous interruptions caused during the performances of "Les Cloches de Corneville" last week, no business will be conducted at the stalls while "The Pirates of Penzance" is in progress. . Mr. E. D. Dunn's having found himself unable to take up the part of the Major-General, it will do played by Mr. J. M. Isett. A lecture was given by Miss Wilkin/ son (A.R.A.M., Rome) at the Dresden Rooms on Saturday afternoon on the Virgil clavier and its method. Mr. Robert Parker, who was in the chair, remarked that this instrument and its method were going to revolutionise the teaching and study of the pianoforte. In the course of her lecture Miss Wilkinson dealt with the advantages of the Virgil clavier considered only as a practising instrument, referring to its portability, cheapness, and strength and the facilities it affords for practising without disturbance to others. The clavier itself was, by its very nature, a teacher in one essential pomt — namely, in that of fingerwork, owing to its two clicks — the one for the down, the other for the up (and ordinarily much neglected) stroke of the finger. Through it it was possible to at once instil into the minds of even the youngest pupils a perfect understanding of the various touches — legato, marcato, etc. Miss Wilkinson also read some eulogistic reports on the method by leading musicians. The entertainment being given in St. Hill's Saloon in Willis-street is now in its last week. There were large audiences on Saturday, the biograph pictures and Madame Zola's statuesque posings being the attractions. The weekly meeting of the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon to Sailors was held yesterday in the Institute connected with Wesley Church, Taranaki-street. Miss Hopkirk supplied the programme, and the following contributed : — Misses Marryat» Steel, Plimmer, and Guise, Messrs. Johnston and Nash. ■ Seventy sailors partook of tea, and the Missioner, Mr. A. Cameron, gave an address. On Wednesday evening a "social" •will be given in the Foresters' Hall, Torystreet, by the Butchers' Union. A firstclass supper will be provided, and King's string band will be in attendance. The Empire City Athletic and Cycling Club will start its weekly quadrille assembly on April 10th.