ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 26, 31 July 1911, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS. J The ycarlet Troubadours, in their gay i •cloaks, with a new programme and come -new faces, received a very hearty wel- | come back to Wellington on Saturday evening. The new programme was, if anything, better j than the old ; but the old faces — feminine faces — were missed. Nevertheless the entertainment provided was an excellent one, and the large audience u 'it fille/' the Opera House was deli: ' with it. The Troubadours ha\ ays provided a clean and wholesoiii. .w well as a bright and artistic entertainment, showing the possibility of lifting the vaudeville ftage to a high plane. It is ( rather sad, therefore, to think that this little company of entertainers is about to be disbanded at tho zenith of its success. New Zealand play goers will surely be sorry not to see them again, When the curtain was rung up on the first of a Week's farewell performances on Saturday night the storm of applause thafc swept through the Opera House showed that the Troubadours had not been forgotten, and, an item followed item, and double and even triple encores had to be responded to, it, was apparent that the present . seasoa would be all too brie/. After ihe opefi, ing chorus, Messrs. Sydney Mannering and' E. Warwick etepp«l forward and sang a very, clever duet, "Well, Well, Ypu Nover Can Tell,", in which them was a clever hit, at the present political situation regarding/ the- British House of Lords, The audience insisted on a double encore. Mr. Ford Waltham, who received a very cordial welcome, sans; "Jonathan Jones," and the inevitable encore had to be responded to. His fine voice, both in the solos and the part songs, is one of the most valuable assets the Troubadours possess, and he not only has a fine voice but an excellent method asMvell. Mr. Edgar Warwick was cKarming in his humof ous songs and monologues. _ He -seems to have no end of good things in his repertoire, and from the moment he smites at his audiencehie audience is en rapport with him. He is artistic in his methods, and has * personal magnetism that never fails to attract. Mr. Alfred Cunningham's more Serious songs were equally delightful, and an excellent foil to Mr. Warwick's lighter vein. His singing of the "Toreador" song was magnificent, and it had tlio added charm of appropriate and graceful action, which, in a less artistic performer, might lij»ve easily become grotesque. For a third encore he Sang that very charming yet simple modern song, "The Rose." The Troubadours have got their unaccompanied part-sing-ing to a. very high pitch of perfection, and the audience insisted upon a double encore to the quartette, "Calm is the Sea,',' by Messrs. Manheting, Griffiths, Cunningham, and Waltham. In response to the long-continued applause they sang the Very qttaiht and comical compositions—"Timbuctoo" and "Down in a Flowery "Vale," and the audience 'still wanted more. Mr, Sydney Mannering's solos were "Once I Loved a Maiden," and "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes," both charmingly sung, The lady performers were Miss Rita. Fitzgerald, Miss Lily Fitzgerald, and Miss Winifred Birch, who will be remembered as a successful performer in Wellington amateur opera a few years ago. "A new song, "Cups and Saucecs^'' was rather charmingly sung by Mis»- Rita-Fitzgerald, and as an encore she gave -the well-remem-bered "Jammy Face." Miss Birch's best song Wa« "The Little Girl from Nowhere' -^a quaint little ditty with a catchy air. Mention must, also be made of tho excellent choruses by the whole company, of Mr. Dsplastrier's clever quickly-drawn studies in chalk, and of the capital pianoforte accompaniments of Mr. Griffiths. The Troubadours will give another performance at the Opera House' this Evening, - - , . "NICOLA." "Nicola," who is to .appear at the Opera > House, commencing next Saturday, is, the management states, holder of the attendance record far, Australasia, ha.ving played to over 4000 people in Adelaide on 13th May. The company comes here after a most successful tour throughout the Far East, The "Nicola" entertainment ie said to be the biggest of its kind that has ever visited this country, presenting more illusions .thaii any two*flimilar shows extant. Although illusions and magic are , the principal part of the programme, .Some of America's foremost variety artists present a, vaudeville programme of much attractiveness, Nadolny, described as an eocentric juggler, is a feature of the entertainment. The box plan will open on Wednesday morning, at the Dresden. ORGAN RECITAL. The organ" recital given by Mr. Ma*ighan Barnett on Saturday night at 'the Town Hall was a musical treat. The programme included many well-known and popular selections. "Prelude and Fugue in G Minor," by Bach, an intricate work, was skilfully interpreted, ac was also Mendelssohn's beautiful "Sonata No, 1." "Wery enjoyable was "Waldweben," from " Siegfried," by Wagner ; it was warmly applauded. Wagneria-n items are i atwa.ys welcome. The "Zampa Overture" (Sevold) was bril* liantly played, and an encor© was demanded. Included in the programme were Hollirets dainty "Spring Song," "Nocturnette " (D'Evry), and "Priere," by, Caponi. Next Saturday evening a "special request" programme will be played. GARRJ.SON BAND. The Town Hall Was practically full last, evening ,when the Wellington Garrieon Band, under the able conductorship of Lieut, T. Herd, submitted an excellent programme, The items included the overture to "Tancredi" (IW eini), "Hear My Prayer" (Mendelssohn), W. R-immer's intermezzo, "Evening Bells, 1 ' selection^ from "Faust" and J. Schrammel'e "Wein ftleit Wein." The 6oloists were Madame Mueller, whoTgave C. Deacon's "Birth of Day" and Gounod's "0 Divine Redeemer" very pleauing, and* Mr. U. Blow, whose rendering of "The Star of Bethlehem (Adams) earned him an encore. He also eang "There is a Green Hill" (Gounod) very acceptably, THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Royal wae well attended on Saturday evening when the current programme of .vaudeville was repeated, This evening there will be a change when the Alton Trio of acrobats, and Mr. Chae. Heath, tenor Vocaliot, will arrive. THE NEW THEATRE. All day long on Saturday excellent business was done at ' The New Theatre in Manners-street. A change of programme is announced for to-morrow, THE KING'S THEATRE. To-night 'the programme at The King'a Theatre will include Coronation scenes. Special music will be played by the orchestra . STAR PICTURES. There will be a change oi programme at Nt. Thomas's ifn.ll, Newtown, this evening, when thfi Star Picture Proprietary will present «, new series of films. Scottish Concert. Scotsmen and friends of Scotland are reminded of the popular Scotch concert, under th^ auspices ' of the Wellington '.Scottish Society, which will be held in the Ckat'ur^ Hall to-uighti " " >

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. This evening a. film for which many people have been waiting will be screened at His Majesty's Theatre, Courtenayplace. This ib the picture taken, during the Coronation ceremonies. The film is an exceptionally long one, over 2000 feet, and it embraces all the features of interest ii* connection with the crowning of the King. The processions on both da-ys, 22nd a-nd 23rd June, the Colonial troops marching through the etreete, the illuminations in London, all are shown, beeides a number of other pictures of dramatic and humorous subjects. KILBIRNIE BEACH RINK. ' Skating at the Kilbirnie Beach Rink was indulged in by large numbers at the different sessions on Saturday. The Rink 'Will be open at the customary periods to-day, MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA. The final practice of the above society takes place to-night. The entire programme, aa will be performed tomorrow,^ will be gone through, and the last finishing touches added to what will be a really admirable performance. A wise selection has been made for this concert, and the hall should be .well filled. Those who intend being present will have the pleasure of hearing a very fine harp solo by Mrs. W. D. Murdoch in Massenet's "Hungarian Scenes." The solo Work on the organ in Handel's grand Seventh Concerto is particularly line. Altogether the concert should appeal strongly to all lovers of music, as there is considerable variety without in any single degree detracting from its musical" quality, which is exto come up to the standard of any previous concert.