ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 101, 30 April 1909, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"GIRLS OF GOTTENBERG." LAST NIGITTS~OF THE ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY. The ail-lob-brief season of the Royal Comic Opera Company is drawing to a close. It may be interesting to know j that it has established the most successful record known in Wellington by this organisation, founded by Mr. J. C. Williamson upwards of twenty years a^o. It ia some years bince the Royal Comic Opera Company in its entirety visited New Zealand, a matter which Mr. J. C. Williamson regretted, but which under the exigencies of theatrical management was unavoidable. Mr. Williamson, however, recognising this fact, has on this occasion not only sent the iu\\ organisation, but has in addition included two very valuaole artists — Miss Fanny Dango and Mr. Andrew Higginson — both of whom, in support of the old favourites, Misses Florence Young, Nellie Wilson, Messrs. Victor Gouriet, Reginald Roberts, W. S. Percy, C. R- Bantock, and D. O'Connor, have held the Wellington public entertained and highly amused during the past three weeks. "The Girls of Gottenberg ' will be pioduced for the first time in New Zealand to-night. Only two performances of this successful piece can be given, as the season closes to-morrow night. The company leaves for Auckland on Monday morning, playing in the various centres on the overland route. MADAME MELBA'S- SECOND CONCERT. A house lull in every part assembled last night to hear Melba. The audience was rewarded by a performance by the whole company of quite exceptional merit. Madame Melba is, before everything, "not so much a concert hall artist as a dramatic soprano who is seen at her best in opera, with the glamour ot the footlights and the accompaniment of a line orchestra to help her. To have heard her in ' Faust," " Romeo et Juliette," or "La Boheme " is a revelation to 'die uninitiated. So, last night, it was into her operatic items that she throw her heart and soul. The macl scene from thu "Hamlet" of "i\mbroise Thomas " was just suited to her glorious vocalisation. It may be truthlully said that there is no living soprano that could sing this scena as she saug it. It is doubtful if ever Christine Nilsson at her best could equal Melba in this great number. The quality ot the voice, the command over it and the way in which every word in French could be heard ali over the hall, was a triumph of art and skill. It must be confessed that in songs like Tosti's "Good-bye" the writer does not appreciate the great singer as in operatic music. This song, however, served its part, because Madame Melba gave as an encore the lovely " Aye Maria" from " Otello," which she sang at her first concert. It was sung as near perfectly as the human voice could sing it. A second encore was " Comin' Through the Rye." MelJoa'a final song was " Lo .' He:: the gentle Lark " (Bishop), sung to Mr. Lemmone's lovely flute obiigato. The effect of such a voice with the flute was exquisite. Encored, Melba sang and accompanied herself in Tosti's " Matinata. ' Except for two songs, Mr. Rannlow's choice fell on far better lines than at the first concert. Mr. Rai-alow sin°-s and pronounces French extremely well, and his " L' Amour Captif " (Chaminade), and an encore, "Vulcan's Song," by Gounod, were a pleasure to listen to. His singing of Clay's well-known s° n S> "Oh! Mary, go and call the Cattle Home, was also marked by artistic restraint and fine treatment, ouch songs as "A Sergeant of the Line " and " An Emblem " are not for a singer of his meiit. Miss Una Bourne played an etude and the well-known valse in A' fiat by Chopin. Miss Bourne was better in more modern music. It requires a Pachmann with his lippling touch lo play Chopin as it should be played, but in her second selection Miss Bourne was quite at home. The minuetto by Lavella was charming, and the staccato Caprice (Vogrich) was leally magnificently played. The latter of the two pieces is of most exceptional difficulty, and Miss Bourne's rendering of it compared favourably with that of Mdme Larreno, who played it here. The encore was a "March.& Grotesque" by Smdmg. J .The flute can hardly be called a solo instrument, but it is wonderful what sweetness of ' tone Mr. Lemmone gets irom it. His solo was vociferously applauded, and he responded obligingly. "EAST LYNNE." That old favourite drama, "East Lynne," was produced by the Edwin Gedch Company at the Theatre Royal last night, in the presence of an audience which almost filled the theatre. The difficult emotional role of Lady Isabel was played by Mis o Maud Appleton in & manner which from first to last found great favour with the audience, and secured their sympathy throughout the progress of the pluy. Mr. Robert Inman gave a capital interpretation of Archibald Oarlyle, and Mr. Kenneth Hunter made a most convincing scoundrel as Sir. Francis Levison. Mr. Albert Lucas was well fitted with the part of Lord Mount-Severn, and Miss Pattie Gourlay gave a clever interpretation of the fussy Cornelia Carlyle. The other characters in the drama were capably acted, and the performance was evidently greatly appreciated by those present. "East Lynns" will be staged again tonight— the last night of the •.season. ROYAL PICTURES. The Royal Pictures, which are now in their seventeenth month of continuous sui'cees, were again well patronised at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. The "f-tar"' picture, "C.Q.D.," was again well lcceived. It is a representation of the collision of the Florida and the Republic off the American coast, and is, perhaps, one of the cleverest of its kind yet thov.-ii in Wellington. In another picture the beauties of the banks of the River Thames when under biiow, are depicted, while a picture of a similar nature -shows street scenes in Moscow. Dramatic subjects are well represented. The comic element of the programme is not forgotten. The management announce? tbe usual matinee for Saturday afternoon, when children will be admitted for sixpence. FULLERS' SINGING PICTURES. To-morrow night Messrs. Fuller will renew their enjoyable picture entertainments at the Theatre Royal. The chiei attraction will be the seeing and hearing, per cinephone, of the famous Scotch comedian. Mr. Harry Laudet, who \vili render in his inimitable style, " I Love a Lai'iie " and "She's Ma Daisy." The films to be shown to-morrow night have been imported from London ana Paris, so that the entertainment should prove an attractive one to lovers of the universal cinematograph. SUNDAY CHARITY CONCERT. On Sunday evening next the Wellington Professional Orchestra will give a concert in the Town Hall in aid of the St. John Ambulance Nmsing Guild fund for nursing the sick poor in their own homes. This is not the first occasion on which the orchestra hah given its services in the cause of charity ; it has ahve\a readily responded to requests for help. Besides a specially attractive in-

slrumental programme, Mrs. Woodward (nee Miss Amy Hyde) will contribute vocal items, and so will Mr. Charles Read, the well-known Christchurch tenor. Admission will be free, but it is hoped that the public will be generous, considering the object of the concert. The full programme will appear in tomorrow's issue. "TWO LITTLE SAILOR" BOYS.'' The Mej-nell and Gunn Dramatic Company will make their appearance here on Monday evening next, when they wi'H produce a domestic drama, by Walter Howard, entitled " Two Little Sailor Boys." Since the amalgamation with Sir Rupert Clarke and Ivlr. John Wren this firm have made great progress as public entertainers, and their reputation is now well known. At the present time they have companies all over the Commonwealth, and prominent artists are now on their way out from England and America. It is announced that "Two Little Sailor Boys" will be staged in a most complete manner, and will be interpreted by a cast including Miss Beatrice Holloway, Miss Lillian Meyers, Mr. Herbert J. Bentley, and' Mr. J. B. Atholwood. The plan is now on view at the Dresden; day sales of early-door tickets at Abel's. " Robert Louis Stevenson " was the title of a most interesting lecture by Rev J. Gibson Smith at Kent-terrace 1 rcsbyterian Church last evening Tho lecture was given under the auspices ox ri« d l e « t ,- fleadi ng Club. Mr. Smith described the nobility and charm ot it.L.o. s workh to be superior to those of any other author of the time ior excellence in diction. A vote ot thanks was accorded the lecturer for his thoughtful and interesting address