ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1907, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Tho popularity of "Bluebell in Fairyland," at the Opera House, has increased with the number of performances. Last evening the Juvenile Opera Company player! the charming fantasy before a large audience, who chose the opportunity of seeing the' final performance. All the favourite numbers were received with applause. To-night Mr. Pollard will present his second attraction, "His Highness Ilio Bey," a musical comedy of American authorship, which has met with continuous success, wherever it has been played. ' The scene is laid in Turkey, at the time supposed to 'bs at v;ar with Russia. Master Bwt Nicholson will play the part of the Grand Bey, which gives ample opportunity for comedy. The dresses and scenery aro reported to bo extremely beautiful. The Bey can only be pioduced for four nights, as tha company leave for Auck« land on Monday. , THEATRE ROYAL. Popularity all round is the leading characteristic of tms week's programme at tho Theatre Royal, and the Fuller proprietary seem to be assured of record business during the holiday season with their "star" company. There is not a dull item on the programme. Fresh attractions are promised for tho end of tho week. OUTING AT BELLEVUE GARDENS. The Bellevue Gardens should attract many holiday-makers at Christmas and New Year. On Boxing Day Minifies band will play selections throughout the day. Special arrangements have been made for providing luncheon, afternoon, tea, and dinner for a large crowd, and picnic parties will bo supplipd hot water. Thero will be a display of fireworks in. tho evening. "THE BLUE MOON " With thirty years.' of management b©» hind him, Sir. J. C. Williamson has long been convinced that New Zealandera are music-lovers. The success of his Royal Comic Opera Company, and the recent popularity of tho Gilbert and Sullivan Company stand as proofs of this. Another company has now bepn formed, and, according to reports to hand, -it Ins been very successful in the Australian centres. The company will make its first appearance in New Zealand at the Opera House on Boxing "Night in tho new musical comedy, "The Blue Moon," described as "a dainty and delightful .piece, with scenes set in the silken East." The production is spoken of in high torms by the Australian press. Box plans will be opened at tho Dresden next Saturday morning. No scats will be reserved prior to the advertised opening of the plans. / MRS. MUELLER'S' CONCERT. - Last evening Mrs. Mueller's pupila gave an indication of their progress in the study of music during the year, and at the same timo entertained their friends with a well-selected programme of part songs, solos, and"^ duets. The occasion was the ninth annual concert, and it reflected credit on both teacher and students. Some of the older pupils who last year showed promise as singers have fulfilled that promise. Their voices last night w«re improved in range and* tone, and it was evident from their treatment of some of the florid music that they had mastered the art of vocalisation. Others, again, in tho elementary stages showed thas they had tho fundamental qualities to justify "*"them seriously taking up the study of music. Porhaps the best items given by pupils last evening were tha solos of Miss Nellie- Castle, contralto,Miss Violet Mueller, soprano, Miss Ada Baker, and Miss Louise Carrington. Diversion was added to tho programme by Mr. F. Muellor, who contributed as violin solos "Abcndlied" by Max Eichhorn, and Meynarski's mazurka. A recitative and scena from the works of Weber were admirably sung by M/s. Mueller, who was deservedly applauded. Songs wer-e also eung by Miss Vera Cooper and Messrs. W. Duncan, A. Eobins, and A. Craddock. • The accompaniments wei'e played by Misses Paul and Levestam. "WONDERLAND." . The splendid weather which Wellington has enjoyed of late has had a decided influence on the attendance at "Wonderland," where large crowds of people foregather in the afternoons and evenings. New attractions ha^'o been addocl to those originally provided fo? the public, and old and young can be assured of an enjoyable outing when ' they visit Miramar. WEST'S PICTURES. On Christmas night West's Picture Company will commence a season at the ToWn Hall. The management announce that there will be a novel chnngo in the manner of presenting the animated pictures, particularly in regard to the musical accompaniments which are to be- supplied by a full orchestra. For this purpose L. Do Groen's Band has been, brought from Sydney, and all selections to be played during the performance will be appropriate to the pictures shown, on the screen. The opening programme is a selection of films adapted to the festive season. '~ "ISRAEL IN EGYPT." The performance of "Israel in. Egypt" by the Wellington Musical Union, under the direction of Mr. Robert to be given in the Town Hall next Friday, promises to be a great success. *[j^ciai efforts have been made to provide the most attractive concert yet given by the union. A chorus oi over three hundred voices has been in active training for some time past, and the orchestra, consisting of strings and trombones only, has aho been well drilled. Tho final rehearsal will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday next. The solo pavta will be taken by Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Mitchell, Messrs. E. J. Hill, H. Widdcp, and E. Parkes. A special fi/otuie of the work is a stirring duet for two baritones, which will be taken by the two last-named gentlemen. The* box plan is now open at the Dresden. At tho Congregational Church, Con-stable-street, last evening, a concert was given in aid of tho organ fund, .Mr. W. A. Evans, the pastor, presiding. Mr. Horaco Hunt, Mus. Bac, was organist; Mr. J. 11. Johnston, conductor; and* Mr. yon Hjasl lpd tho orchestra. The soloists were :— Soprano, Miss G. Mason; contralto, Miss h. Head; tor.or, G. Anker; bass, Mr. A. L. Johnson. The programme opened with Weiy's "Oli'crtoiro" and Wolstenholme's "Answer," each bringing out to advantage tha fine qualities of tho orpan. Miss Head's rich and full contralto was h,eard with fine effect in "Sun cf My Soul;" Messrs. Anker and Johnston sang expressively f.hs duet, "Lord, Cause Thy Face to Shine." Mr. Johnston sang "ITnw Willing Thy Paternal Love" (".Srntcn"), and Mr. Hunt played Dubcis's •'Toccata" on N tho organ. The second p-,a ..-f the programme consisted of ■■' i.v mterprotalion of Mendelssohn's •'".-.rda •Sion," by choir and orchestra — r>srformance weil woithy of a larsro. ,;u<lience. v

The subcommittee of the Society for tht Protection of Women anJ CJiildron will bo iv iiUfnc'ance at tlio si" ii\;-'s rooms, v% »ri._es 'Jiuiidings. on .. ..a. iy and 'I! " •. JiUiiuiiPo. to ghi. au\ioa to WOluukM