ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 134, 7 June 1906, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

,■»■ MISS PULSFORD'S BENEFIT CONCERT. Dcsrito ■ the wintry condition of tho wetitlicr laat night, there was a large attendance at MissLenore Pulsford's compliment ary benefit concert at tho Town Hall, from 1000 to 1200 persons being present. The lengthy and varied programme of items submitted was thoroughly enjoyed, and demands for encores were frequent. Miss Pulsford contributed four bongs di'ring the evening, "The Lost Ch< rd," with organ accompaniment by Mr. Cyril IWsey, a Willcby bracket ('•a'ealod Oidera"' and "Summer Rain"), ani "TLe Dawn," and as an encore item sang "Meet Mo by Moonlight Alone." Mis 3 Pulsford was in excellent voice and luckl, and gave ample evidence that, v.itli 'the further expeiience which tho cj. tarnation of her studies in Australia v.. t »he her, i^ie will prove an addition Da t he ranks of colonial contraltos. , She t.. ■ ived two ve'iy handsome floral preBKiis after singing "The Lost Chord," one hclv.^ sent by To Rangi Pai. Miss LiLum Irvino, s young girl who has also t^e singer's temperament, sang the Valss Ken:* fiom Gouno'd's "Romeo et Juliette," and Cohen's "Lovely Spxing," her encore numbers bfiaj "The Cuckoo" and "Three 'Green fiouiicfcs." Mr. Maughan Bainett's yiayiuj of 'his own Fantasia on National Ah's on tlia organ was so enjoyable that the organist had to contribute another item. Mr. Roland MacGowan gave further variety to the evenings entertainENiEi by rscitiug ''Banjo" Paterson's story of '-Liio GranSe's Last Bace" in excellent Stylo. Mr. E. J. Hill sang Scott's dainty melody "A Dream," and Teplisd to- a 'demand for nidre with "Dainty Dorothea." Mr. Arthur Ballanca contributed Bix's vigorous song "The Trumpeter" in the first part, and a Willeby bracket ("The Kose" and *'The River and the Sea") in the second part, and Mr. J. F. Carr also appeared in both parts of the programme, his first item being "A Swedish Love Song" and his second Clutsam's delightful "I know of IVo Bright Eyes," the latter song being encored. Mr. Chas Hill played Percivnl's "Dedicatesse" on the flute, and subsequently played Furstenav's "Rondo Brillante" with his pupil, Mes Nellie Z. Simpson, a young flautist who has a ,-jood touo and pleasing' stylo. Mr. Cyril ioiTsey appeared not only as the solo pianist, playing Schubsrt's Adagio from Fantaisie in* C with his usual mueicianly taste and skill, but he acted thioughout tho evening as accompanist, and proved tvbolly in sympathy with the singers and instrumentalists whom he accompanied. The Mayor {Hon. T. WHislop) was pressnt, and the Hon. CH. represented the Ministry, who had given th«ir patronage to the concert. "SDTBAD THE SAILOR." Tha Opera House was again well filled in every pert last evening, when "Sinbad the fc-ailor"' was once more produced. The final matinee will be given on Saturday afternoon, and the final performance of the pantomimo on Saturday evening. On Monday and Tuesday evenings tho members of the company will bo seen in a musical and vaudeville comedy entitled "Monte Carlo." Every sirember of the company will be seen in j. new role. The pantomimo company will move on to Auckland on Wednesday to make room for Mr. Anderson's ■^ramatic company. THEATRE ROYAL. The popularity of .the present programme at' the Theatre Royal is very marked. The building was filled again list evening with an audience which thoroughly enjoyed the various Lurns. Ths bosing act- of- the Bovis Brothers treated- -roaie of- laughter, and Les. Warton's coon songs met with especial favour. Tb.2 other members of the company all contribute enjoyable and interesting items The programme will bs repeated this evening. THE MUSICAL UNIOVS CONCERT 1 TO-2vIGHT. This evening the Wellington Musical Union, which has a chorus and orchestra- i 250 strong, is to give its first subscrip- I tion ' concert of the season in the Town Hall. An unusually attractive pro- i gramme has been prepared, choral and orchestral selections being of a, popular nature. The chief choral work i» Dr. Cowen's diverting and melodious setting of the well-known ballad, "John Gflpin." The selections to T»e played by the orchestra are sure to appeal to the popular taste, and include compositions by the great Russian composer, Tchaikowsky, by Beethoven, and by Mendelssohn. Madame Emily Briggs, who will be the only vocal soloist of the evening, recently arrived from England. Of her appearance in London, the Daily News says she 'particularly distinguished herself;" the Era says she has "the true dramatic spirit, and possesses a charming voice and good style." The concert is to be given under the baton of Mr. Robert Parker. A3 the union has set apart one thousand seata at the popular price of one shilling, there should be a bumper house to-night. LEMARE'S FINAL ORGAN RECITAL. To-morrow night Mr. E. H. Lemare will bid farewell to Wellington people, who, it may be presumed, will show by their attendance at the Town Hall that th"ey are loth to part with the famous organist. The programme, which is published in this issue, includes some numbers which have been exceedingly popular in previous recitals, PANTOSCOPE COMPA2TE 1 . To say tlhat living pictures are a favourite form of amusement is to state a self-evident fact. In England, in the United States, in New Zealand, crowded houses are confidently anticipated where the pictures are of a high standard, and even if the public be somewhat satiated with a plethora of other good things they have only to learn tTaat so-and-so's living pictures are really good to assure their patronage. The higher side to such exHbitions, the educational side, inseparable from a varied collection of famous scenes and places may account tlo some extent for this. The Wide World Pantoscope Company, which opens a season at the Town Hall next Saturday, promises the public plenty of educational variety. With scenes from Fiji, scenes from Switzerland, and scenes from our own Wonderland in the Rotorua district (the latter taken and developed by the company's own expert), a series of striking contrasts is promised the audience. Interpersed there will be other films and choice music by a good orchestra. TE RANGI PAI SACRED RECITAL. The- programme in courso of preparation for the sacred recital in the Town Hall on Sund-av evening next promises to be one of rare excellence. To Rangi Pai has carefully selected her items with a view to suiting all sections of her audience. The popular contralto will line : Mascagni's beautiful " Av<s Maria," with organ, piano, and violin accompaniment; Carey's "Nearer 'My God to Thee"; "Abide With. "Me" (Liddle); "There ia a Green Hill Far Away" (Blumenthal) ; and Mendelssohn's "O, Heat in tho Lord," all of which will have grand ougan and piano accompaniment, and should prove a musical treat. THE ANDERSON DRAMATIC COMPANY. The above organisation will inaugu-

rate a season of drama at the Opera House on Wednesday evening' next for eleven nights. During that time four pieces wifi be produced. Tho opening production will be Arthur Jefferson's sensational drama "The Orphan Heiress," which will bo staged for three nights, and will bo followed in rapid succession by ''The Mariners of England," "Thunderbolt" (an Australian drama by Ambrose Pratt and A. G. Joseph), and "Tho Work Girl," by Arthur Shirley and George Conquest. Full particulars will be duly announced. Andrew Block, tho famous baritone, will give two farewell concerts in the Town Hall on the 18th and 20th of this month. Mr. Black, since appearing hero some weeks ago, has visited Auckland, and hi? appearances in that city caused a great stir in musical circles. The two farewell concerts here should prove as great a success as tho predecessors were. Entirely new and equnHy attractive programmes have been arranged. Miss Ethel Sinclair and Hevr Borschko will 'be the assisting artists as before. Only the two concerts can be given, as the company is due in Sydney at no distant date to give a season of concerts in that city. Mr. Ben Fuller has concluded arrangements with Madams Lydia- Yeainans-Titus to tour Fuller's New Zealand circuit. This talented lady vocalist will not be forgotten in Wellington, for her baby songs, imitations, and musical mimicry are still remembered. Madame Titus has been touring Australia with Mr. Leslie -u-arris, under Mr. Allan Hamilton's direction, but leaveG Sydney on Saturday for Wellington, and will commence her season at th 6 Theatre Royal on the 15th. Madame Ycamans-Titus will be accompanied by her husband, Professor Titus, who plays her musical accompaniments. America is not given over entirely to pork and beans; just as New Zealauders are- not all footballers. There may besomething of a scare created by the food supplies scandal in Chicago, but Americans go on working all tho time. In tho Town Hall on the 23rd of this month the people of Wellington will get «. very good impression of America at work by means of Edison's Popular Pic- 1 tur-es, which represent the very latest ' achievements in animatsd photography. It is generally acknowledged that America 1,3 the country whero " thsy do things," and the pictures which Mr. Fredflrick Andrews has imported amply demonstrate this, contention. " Up-to-datod-ness" is the motto and inspiration of the. management, and the entertainment will be minus a single dull moment. Somo of the films are of great length, and every picture is said to tell a etory, some being of thrilling interest. They range along the whole gamut of human interest, "from grave to gay, from lively to severe," and there is tragedy, comedy, and broad farce. In addition, Mr. Avalon Collard will sing character spngs in costume, his extensive- repertoire containing coster songs and other of " The Gay Gendarme" type. A bazaar in aid of the organ fund of St. David's Church, Petone, was opened yesterday in the Oddfellows' Hall, Good business was done- at tlio various stalls, and in the evening tableaux, under the direction of Mrs. Robison and Miss Vile, were staged in a tasteful manner, and musical items \vere rendered. Tho bazaar will bo continued uutil Fridpy evening.