ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 71, 26 March 1910, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

BESSES O1O 1 '111' BARN. Open air concerts depend very much <ju ihniato anil w cat lit r for their success, and not the bfst orchestra iv tho world could overcome the inherent discomforts of vain, wind, or cold. When, however, the night is warm and clear and itarry, the gras*> dry, and the wind at rest, there arc few things in life more enjoyable than listening to a good band playing good music. There are no walls to check the sweet spreading ripples of sound, and, indeed, the band and its music become part of the night, something akin to the melody attributed to the spheres. So it was at the Athletic Park la*t night with the Besses o' th" Darn concert. Under the soft light of the incandescent globes the band played to an audience of about a thousand people inside the Park. Outside, on Scotchman's Hill, and all round on the slopes, was another audience listening to the music. The band excelled itself. Whether it was the night, mild and calm, or the glamour of the lights, or what it was, people who have heard the band play several times agreed that last night's performance was absolutely the best of all. The programme was popular and lighter than usual. Wagner was conspicuous by his absence. An inspiriting march, German's "Coronation," was followed by Suppe's wellknown overture, "Light Cavalry," a popular piece with most audiences. Then came a cornet polka, "Les Folies," of Waldteufel, beautifully played in tho solo part by Mr. W. Ryder. "Abide With Me," as an encore, raised much enthusiasm among the audience. The pieces de resistance were, however, Weber's "Oberon" and selections from Meyerbeer, in which the band was heard at its best, the euphonium solo parts being specially good. The rest of the programme included a trombone solo, "Victory" (J. Ord Hume), played by Mr. W. Weedall, "Gems of Sullivan' 3 Operas," crisp and livejy, and "Songs of Ireland," with "Star of Bethlehem" as an encore. The band will play again to-night at the Athletic "PETER PAN." To-night, at 7.45 o'clock punctually, the cuitain will rise on Mr. J. C. Williamson's Easter attraction. Concerning the little play, an Australian critic writes : —"The necessity for any sort of limitation is less apparent after witnessing 'Peter Pan' than reading about it. It is something so entirely new in spirit and conception, something so altogether out of the beaten track, something so genuinely clever, that it should appeal to audiences of all ages and tastes. No one need be fearful that it is necessary to metaphorically put on pinafores and shprt trousers to be able to enjoy 'Peter Pan.' The open 'Sesame' to the charm of the story and spirit : of innocent fun which runs through it is only the willingness to appreciate it. The author and the very competent company by which it is presented, do the rest. It is, as Peter Pan says, 'the spirit' of eternal youth and joyousness.' It is Mr. Barries eloquent piotest against everything which tends to rob childhood of its imagination, its trust, its freshness, and its capacity for innocent enjoyment." There will be a matinee performance on Monday, commencing at 2 o'clock; and during the season a special invitation matinee is to be given expiessly for the poor child inmates of various charitable m&titutions. This afternoon and on Monday box plans will be on view at Christesen's, opposite the Opera House. THEATRE ROYAL. A special Good Friday programme was the distinctive feature of the entertainment provided by Messrs Fuller at the Theatre Royal last evening. There weie a number of selected songa and pictures. Miss Maud Hewson, who, with a mellow contralto voice well trained, has achieved considerable popularity here, sang "Alas! Those Chimes from "MariUna," and as an encore "Ben Bolt." The popular favourite "Daddy" was al>o one of lier efforts. Miss Beattie M'Donald and Miss Gertie Johns contributed a number of ordinary sentimental songs. Some excellent pictures were shown. The building was ciowdcd. This evening the Vaudeville Company will present a strong programme, which will include feats of ttreugth by the Crottons and serio-comedy of the Colman Sitters. KING'S THEATRE. There was a large attendance at the : semi-sacred picture programme presented at'the King't. Theatre yesterday. The chief items wero "Scenes from Palestine" and "The Way of the Cross." Suitable music was played by the theatre's efficient orchestra. Other pictures appropriate to the season were al.io shown. The theatre will be open again this evening, with a holiday selection of pictures, and on Monday afternoon theie will be a special exhibition, in addition to tha u«ual evening piograninir. HIS MAJESTY'S. For the two performances of the new programme of pictures at h^ Hih Majesty's yesterday there were crowded audiences. "Wild Birds in their Haunt*,'' a magnificently-coloured I'athe Him, ii- a very worthy item, and one of the very best pictuiea ot its kind. The programme will be repeated to-night, and on Kabter Monday af lei noon there is to be a ppeciul matinee, when a uniform ! charge of 6d will be made to all parts. BTAR PICTURES. Lahc night the Star Fiitiuc Proprietary took the Opera House ior a special cinematograph entertainment. The house was crowded. The outstanding film was a series of Mene* from "Othello.*' The piece was richly mounted and well acted. A judicioiin selection of scenic, instructive, aud amusing filnif made up an excellent programme. A matinee waa held at St. Thomas'.s Hall, Newtown, this afternoon, and the usual performance will be held in the evening. A matinee will be held on Monday afternoon, and a change" of programme will be submitted in the ovening. ORGAN RECITAL. A very large audience was present at the Town Hall last evening, when tho tity organist gave a programme of music suitable to the day. The Good Friday music from "Parsifal" (Wagner), and Chopin's "Funeral March" were very finely interpreted. A fantasia on the "Sicilian Marineis" h3'inn was ably executed. Two familiar tunes were jjiven : "O Come let us Mourn," and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." The latter was encored. The "Avo Maria" of Gounod, and Guilnunl's "Funeral March and Hymn of Seraphs"N»lso were very well appreciated. The lecital throughout was of a wiy dexotionul character, and illustrated how- many of the finest musical sentiments aie inspired by the religious spirit. IN THK TOWN HALL. The Fuller Proprietary has taken the 'Town Hall for Easter Monday night, for which a -penal programme has been piepared. A film dltog-ethei now to 'Wellington audiences ir> "The Last Mutter of the Balaclava Light Brigade." wlndi the management promises to be borne-

thing out of the ordinary. There i& also a "Macbeth" picture "numptuoualy f-taped, and snperbly acted," 'Tho Galley Slav«" — embodying incidents from Victor. Hugo's "Lor Miberables'"— and fceveral' amusing films. FIREWORKS AT PETONE. A display of fireworks will bo given on the Petone Recreation Ground on Kaster Monday evening. Many set pieces of art in tic design, and enhanced by the addition of t>everal ingenious mechanical novelties are- promised. Tho display will include several novel pyrotechnical items, and there will al*o be an exhibition of fire club swinging. Tho programme will be varied by the inclusion of a net of humorous moving pictures. The Petone Brass Band will provide the music. WONDERLAND. Spocial attractions aro promised by the management for to-night and Easter Monday. During the past few weeks the attendance has been very large, and, given fine weather, Wonderland should be well patronised during the holidays. Special arrangements have been made for trams, which leave at intervale. EASTER CARNIVAL. Lady Ward will this evening at 8 o'clock open the Easter carnival at the Sydney-street Schoolroom. One of the features of to-night's programme will be a display of dancing by sixty children, who nave been carefully trained j for some time by Miss B. Putnam. Tho dances will include the "Flower ! Ballet," a pas de deux, a scarf dance, HigHand fling, and will conclude wkh a grand march. Mr. H. P. Clark's orchestra will play musical selections during the evening. Connected with the carnival there is to be a bazaar, the stallholders being Mesdames Sommerville, Sullivan, Rylands, Gibbs, Blake, Moffitt, Nesbitt, Whiteford, Steward, and Diamond, and the Children of Mary (Mrs. Scrimegour). The carnival will continue every evening until Saturday next. Tho proceeds will be devoted to the building fund of a Catholic schoolchapel to be erected at Wadestown. A concert was given at the Torystreet Mission Hall oa Thursday night. The programme was arranged by McsHre. Boyd and Kershaw. Sister Isabel occupied the chair. Mips Carter played a pianoforte bob, and ucted as accompanist. Songs were sung by Mesdames Williams, Herzog, and Mi»s Baker, and Messrs. Yon Haast, Knowles, Cromarte, and Boyd. Mr. Martien contributed a violin solo and Mr. and Mis* Graham two dialogues. The Victoria College students arc holding a bazaar at tne end of Kaster week in aid of the building and furnishing fund for their gymnasium. There is a small debt owing on the gymnasium, and so far no provision has been made for furnishing. The preparations are well iv hand, and the list of side shows is attractive. Children will be provided for with welltilled bran tubs, and their old favorite — Punch and Judy. A chemical display run by the science students in the college laboratories should prove interesting. The St. Hilda's , choir, Island Bay, gave a creditable rendering of Stainer's "Crucifixion" last evening at the churchroom, Island Bay. The soloists were :—: — Messrs. Catanach (tenor), Hood, Jenson, and C. Proctor. The quartet was taken by Mrs. and Miss Freda Colley and Messrs. Rowe (tenor) and C. Proctor (bass). Mr. Fisher presided at the organ, and Mr. F. Proctor was conductor. There was a good attendance.