ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 142, 15 December 1908, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Messrs. Maskelyne and Devant mystified and bewildered another largo audience at the Opera House last evening. The "act" in ' which a patient is decapitated and the spectacle of the headless trunk gaily promenading on the stage is a weird apparition that never fails to puzzle the audience. "Mrs. Daffodil Downey's Seanc3" is another smart piece'of "magic," as the stage .knows it.' Owen Clark is responsible for some very clever card tricks and Gintaro contnbutes_ to an excellent programme some astonishing balancing feats. The programme will be repeated to-night. "MISS LANCASHIRE, LIMITED." Miss Florence Baines, "The Lancashire Lass," has entered upon the second week of her season at the Thealro Royal, and last night as usual she had hor numerous audience in a simmer of laughter from first to last. 'Fresh songs were sung during the evening by thi» clever artist, 'included in her best selections were "Home, Sweet Home," and her irresistible laughing song, to which she has added some new verses. The other members of the company were also well received. The last nights u£ the seasor are now announced. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. This week's programme 'of Royal Pictures at His Majesty's Theatre is more than usually interesting, arid full houses are the rule. A change of programme will bo made to-morrow night. CHERNIAVSKI CONCERTS. The Cherniavski trio gave the fourth of their delightful series of musical entertainments in the Town Hall concert chamber last night, and if the heartiness of their reception may "be regarded as a criterion of public favour, then the youthful geniuses have certainly pleased the Wellington public. At least the music-loving portion of the community has appreciated to the full the displays, and regret has been expressed that this evening's performance and a matinee to-morrow afternoon will close the season. The opening number of last night's programme was a concerted item "Peer Gynt" (Greig), which the brothers treated in brilliant style and earned an undeniable encore. Hearty rounds of applause followed each of the Cherniavski's subsequent items, and howed acknowledgments being without avail, encore numbers were given on each occasion. The violoncello contributions of Mischel, the youngest of the trio, were ''Summer Night" (Sulzer) and "Papillons" (Popper), both of which received admirable treatment. His encore item was "Serenade" (Herbert). The second brother, Jan, ' if possible, excelled his former brilliance /as the pianist of the company in the execution of a Rachmanioff "Prelude" and a "Mazurka" composed by Goddard. * A Chopin "Preludio" was given as an encore. Leo, the violinist, delighted the audience with a sparkling "Hungarian Melody" .(Ernst), and as an encore gave an equally pleasing number in a French valse. The closing items were ,the trios "Funeral March" (Chopin) and. a Mozart minuet. The concerted playing was again very fine, each of tKo instruments being handled in artistic manner. Pleasing variation was lent to the instrumental portion of the programme by the contralto solos of Madame Marie Hooton and the songs of Mr. Percival Driver. ENTERTAINING SAILORS. At the Sailors' Rest last night an entertainment was arranged under the direction of Captain Bonnor,' superintendent of tht institution. Items to an enjoyable programme were rendered by Miss L. Rice and Messrs. Iverson, Helford, Teague, 'Turner, Okey, Burns, Fqgarty, and .Captain Bonnor. I ; SCHOOL CONCERT. The State school' house at Mitchelltown was crowded last night on the occasion of the annual entertainment by the pupils, assisted by various ladies and gentlemen. Miss 'Hardinge-Maltby gave two recitations. Solos were played by Miss L. M'Loughlin (piano) and Miss J. Lindsay (violin), and vocal items were contributed by Miss Alice Luke, Messrs. Cook and Proctor, Master Sayer/ and the school children, the action song by the little ones being particularly -good. The senior girls gave a fine exhibition with clubs and dumbbells. Messrs Warner and Lindsay and a number of the boys and girls gave dialogues. Mr. Raymond entertained the audience with some feats of magic. The overtures were played by Miss Taylor and the Battalion Band. CHRISTMAS CAROLS. The novelty of a Choral Society taking upon itself the singing of Christmas Carols is attracting much attention. This evening at the. Town Hall the Wellington Chora}. Society will give a non-sub- [ scribers' concert, when ten Christmas Carols will bo sung by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. J. M. Barnett. The programme will also include songs by Miss Mina Caldow (contralto), who will sing "The Lord is my Light" (Allitsen) and "Nearer, my God to Thee/ (Carey). Mr. Egerton Pegg (tenor), a recent, arrival from England, will sing the. beautiful solo from "Elijah" "If with all your Hearts," and Mr. W. A. Robyns (baritone}; will sing "Nazareth" (Gounod) and "The Pilgrims of the Night" (Frank Idle). EVENING EXCURSION. The excursion, and concert at Day's Bay to-morrow evening is expected to attract a large number across t-he- water. The pavilion and grounds will be illuminated for the occasion, and a firstclass programme has been arranged for the concert in the pavilion. The s.s. Duchess will leave the ferry wharf at 7.45 p.m., returning from the Bay at 10 o'clock. The full programme appears j in another column. CHRISTMAS TREE. A Christmas tree and sale of work arranged by the children of St. Anne's Church, Northland, will be opened by Mrs. J. P. Luke in the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom to-morrow afternoon. The proceeds will be devoted in aid of a Sunday school site. Mr. F. L. Seager arrived from Christchurch to-day to make arrangements for a return season of West's Pictures and De Groeu's Orchestra, commencing in the Town Hall on Christmas night.