ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 28, 2 February 1907, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

THE WILLIAMSON SEASON. "UNDER TWO FLAGS." A spectacular military melodrama,'. "Under Two Flags," founded on a novel by Ouida, is closing the Williamson, season at the Opera House. The piece interested a good audience last night warmly enough to- draw plenty of applause 1 . The plot is an old friend in a new suit, with bright buttons, epaulettes, and other adornments. The hero, the Hon. "Bertie Cecil, bears the suspicion of a forgery which his brother perpetrated, but he will, not open his mouth any wider than to say, "I am not guilty." Then Bertie is, of course, disinherited by his father, and mokes his w-ay to Africa, , and joints the Frenoh army fighting the Arabs, somewhere near Algiers. Tho yivandiere of the regiment, Cigarette, falls in love with the solemn mysterious soldier, who is pereniaUy performing deeds of valour, and thus the colonel, who has a penchant for Cigaietto, deter- . mines to get the Englishman killed somehow: In the meantime poor Cigarette is doomed to have her heart broken. A little Bweetheart of Bertie's m th© old days arrives at the French camp after Bertie has been serving a. dozen yeajs, and a recognition comes in due course. The aotion gallops on. The corporali BeTtie, sees Ciwi6e to strike his colonel, and is condemned to be shot. The magnanimous Cigaretto rides hard to the marshal for a reprieve, and dashes on the final scene with the document just as tho firing party's rifles ore spitting fire and lead. The little girl's body receives the fusillade, and so Bertie's life is saved. The piece was brightly staged. There, Vt'Oß abundance of colour, any amount of moTement. in the rolo of the hero Mr. Charles Waldron was commendably reserved in his manner, skilfully avoiding temptation to run into high heroics. As Cigaretto Miss Ola Humphrey was a very lively character. Her voice was a trifle thick, but improved in tho pathetio scenes towards the close. She acted very cleverly in the difficult scenes; at the end of the piece. As the Princess (Bertie's sweotheart) Miss Hppo Mayne accomplished some very sweet voicing. Mr. Rapley Holmes, promoted from his •wellliked role of cow-puncher to b-a a peer of England, was a stTong, breezy aristocrat. The American accent came a little strange from the lips of the blue-blooded Lord Rockingham, but this touch only added charm to the character. Mr. Hardie Kirkland was a sufficiently villainous Colonel Chateauroy. TheTc were many pther chnracters who fitted in well enough with the general scheme of things. Incidentally there- were a couple of adi mirable tableaux depicting the French 1 Chasseurs routing tho Arabs. The season -will end to-night with the ' repetition of "Under Two Flags." ; MADAME, BLANCHE ARRAL'S i CONCERT. The audience last night in the Town Hall was by no means so largo as the exceptional excellence of the perform- ; anco would warrant. Madame Blanche ! Arral has all the qualities of a prima donna of the highest rank — an attractive personality, sympathetic delivery, ■ and dramatic, but nover exaggerated, gesture. When to this is added a voice of rare compass and beauty, and perfect ! technique, she brings to her profession every quality that tho mo3t exacting could desire. Certainly last night there ■ was no lack of appreciation' on tho part of the audience. The programme included four operatic selections of the most difficult order, in each of which the vocalist appeared attired in character — as Nemea in Gounod's "If I wore King,' 1 as Jeannette in- Massi's opera, as Carmen, and as tho leading Character in "La. Traviata." Tho' first r item is ono of tho most difficult in the whole range of opera, and the singer 'was tri- • umphantly successful — the most intricate trills and runs were faultlessly given, , and without in any way marring the strong dramatic effect of the passage. There was a general call for an encore, ! which was acceded to. Tho "Nightingale's Song," from Massi's ''Wedding of Joannette, was new to a great part of tho audience — a difficult but beautiful selection, delightfully rendered. The third was the bright and lively "Habanera," from "Carmen," and the last the impassioned "Ah, fors o lvi," from ''La Traviata,'' which elicited an encore. The minor solps included the favourite 'Flower Song, 1 ' from "Faust," Broga's ''La Sercnftiia," and a Spanish "Bolero" — an extraordinary piece, with a touch of gipsy extravagance, sung in bold and defiant style, and with a curious close that "fetched" the audience. A lighter Spanish ballad, given with much archness of style, was the encote piece. Herr G. Paans, a masteT of the violin, gave two nolos ; encores were called for on each occasion. To the first ho bowed acknowledgment ; the second was so persistent that he gavo another 6010 in response. His marvellous execution of the pianissimo passages fascinated the house. Signor Torzillo's harp solos were also encored. Wo do not think that there has ever before been in this city so artistic an interpreter of the instrument. Tho orchestra, though small, is perfectly arranged, and the overtures and accompaniments wero musical treats. Tho wedding-bells, in Massi's overture, wero charmingly represented. The third (and farewell) performance 1 will be given on Monday evening and 1 thoroughly deserves a crowded audionce ( BROUGH-i' HEMMING COMPANY. Monday night will mark tho re-appear-anco of the Brough-Flemming Company, the return to the stage of Mrs. Brough j after four yoars absence, and the first . production in Wellington of "Dr. Wake's Patient," a play that may be ' distinctly tormed tho success of tho year. The cast of characters will be i tho same hero as when originally pro- ■ duced in Sydney. Mr. Herbert Flemtning will be seen as Andrew Wake, an i old Devonshire farmer, Miss Beatrice > Day as Lady Qorania. and Mrs Brough • as the Countess of St. Olbyn. Some ' exquisite dresses are said to be worn ■ by Mrs. Brough, Miss Beatrice Day, and other ladies of the company. ' Another special feature- of the production i will ho the magniflcient scenery special- < ly painted for this production by Mr. Harry Whaite. : FULLER'S ENTERTAINERS. There was a lareo and appreciative 1 audience at the TheatTe Royal lasfr night, 1 when the Fuller Company gave another of ita attractive entertainments. A new bill of faro will be presented to-night. ; The Rollos wjll make their first appearance in a musical comedy, introducing several new songs. A number of new bioscope pictures are to be chown. Messrs. Shaw and Gilbert will Tepeat J-herr laughable boxing act, and now songs dances, and sketches will ba given by otlwr members of the company. Mr. Harold Gregson, organist of Holy Innocents Church, London, W., and, Exhibitioner Royal College of Music, Lon- ' don, will give on organ recital at the | Town Hall this evening, under engagement to the City Council.

j A fall yesterday afternoon from a three-storied building at the earner of Rintoul and Riddiford-streets, was re- • sponsibla for Albert Chilcotte, a single [ man, 32 years' of age receiving serious . injuries to his head, necessitating his . being taken to ihe hospital for treat* jaent. " . . --