ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 147, 22 June 1904, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

— ♦ THE WOODS-WILLIAMSON COM. T»ANY. The audionco that assembled afc the Opera House last evening was most cnihn.Vmhtic in its applause of. tho acting of tho leading members of tho WoodsWilhamsnn Dramatic Company. The play staged— a vci*ion of Hull Civine's novel, " The Christian " — was dramatised by Miss Williamson. It abounds in powerfully dramatic situations such as appeal to tho mass of tho public, and affoid an actor of Mr. Woods's capacity ample scope for foree-fitl and even passionate acting. There can bp no doubt that hi> poiirtrayal last night of the character vfi John Storm wa-s an excellent piece of work. The story is so well known that it i.<» not nccessnrjr to refer to the plot in detail. The interest centres mainly lound the actions of (he par&on philanthropist, Storm, who is almost fanatical in his championship of women, whom he believes aro only too likely to be led astray. This man is in lovo with a girl who becomes an actress, and after a long separation a very dramatic meeting takes place between the two, for John Slot in in his fanaticism resolves to kill the woman ho loves in oid«r that her soul may not go down to perdition. Eren in this scene the woman's love triumphs, sho marries John Storm, and the two would, no doubt, have lived happily ever afterwords but for the fact that the husband is hunted down and killed by. a gang of rogues. whote path he has previously crossed in the course of his "philanthropic efforts. An tJio plot unfolded itself, and tho situations developed in dramatic intensity, the plaudits of the audience ioso to tho point of cheering, showing clearly tbui there is still a. section of the public that prefers drama evon to Hie musical burlesque with which tho stage has of recent yeHrs been ifaoded. Miss Williamson acted the part of ti'lory Qtmyle, tho actresn, most successfully, and came in for a Jarge share of tho .ipplause. In her interpretation of (ho part (hero was a duo appreciation of the light and shade of the character of the clever and ambitious girl, who leaves her island home for the fuller delights of London life. Tho drama is lightened at intervals ■with bits of comedy that serve as a foil for the heavier action of the play. On Saturday next, a piny entitled "In Old Madrid " will be staged by the company for the first time in Wellington. It is founded on Marion Crawford's story "In the Palace of the King." To-night, " The, Christian " will be again played. mkl. b. sruim/ Th» sale of tickets at the Exchange Hall last evening on tho occasion of Mij. Spurr's thud entertainment had to bo stopped, bccaUNo some lime before the entertainer made his appearance all the scats wore booked. From beginning to end of his performance Mr. Spun* simply rivet led the attention of his audience, and tht'io is no doubt that his ability as an entertainer rises almotl to the point of {vouius. The charm of the whole 'perforuuiiice ■« .is as temarkablc as iis variety, and one really felt that he could

listen to Mr. Spurr all night. Mr. .Spurr will give liia us>ual entertainment this evening, and afterwauls will be a guest at the Premier's banquet. THE SKATING RINK. The fascination of . gliding on roller skates round the spacious rink in higesliefctreet has become widespread in Wellington. Each evening marks an inerea>e in the attendance of skaters, and the season promises to be a bu^y one for tho management. A lecture under the auspices of, the Thorndon Young Men's Guild was deliveied in tho Molcswoith-street L'uurchroom laat night by the Rev. 11. L. Blaniircs, whoso subject was "Reading, Thinking, Speaking." Mr. AValton was in the chair. • Tho Civil Service Rifles will hold their annual ball in the Sydney-street- Schoolroom on Friday evening. An instructive catsay was read by Mr. 11. Baker at Monday night's meeting of [he Central Mission Christian Endeavour Society. Mr. S. Forsyth presided. The Wellington Drivers' Union will hold its annual social gathering at the Dmids' Hall, Tarannki-slreet, on Friday evening. An enjoyable programme was presented at tho Sailors' Rest last evening by A<t. Cooke. Recitations, songs, etc., wee contributed by tho Misses* Taylor, Meo, Grant, and Messrs. Carr, I/.ett, Dykes, and Cooke. At the conclusion of a short speech by Mr. Spencor cheers weie given for the new Governor, Lord Plunfcet. 1