ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 150, 25 June 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

MISS ROSINA BUCKMANN AT THE TOWN HALL. The complimentary farewell concert tendered, the charming and dramatic New Zealand soprano, Miss Rosina Buckmann, at the Town Hall last evening, must be counted an excellent success. The very large crowd that attended was a testimonial to the talent of the songstress and to the possibilities before her. Miss Buckmann lias designs on the great woi'ld of music at Covent Garden, and those best able to judge, such as Melba, John M'Cormack, and others, predict big achievements for the New Zealander who pats her fortune to the test shortly. When the idea was first mooted, a number of music enthusiasts in Wellington banded together and arranged the conceit which has resulted so successfully. MiE6 Buckmann herself was in splendid voice. The opening item was the aria from "Madame Butterfly" — "One Fine Day." Miss Buckmann's convincing work in the opera, will not soon be forgotten, and her performance in the subject mentioned was every whit as appealing. Her upper register was particularly clear cut and melodious in. the Puccini number, which was "acted," so. far as' such excerpt* can be acted, with a. euggestion of intensity that was well understood. In reply to a unanimous encore, Mbs Buckmann gave a " Cuckoo " eong archly and with & fine vocal description. The majority of the audience, it is safe to aver, were more concerned by the next two numbers of Miss Buckmann — a song, " Buy My English Posies," the well-known words of Kipling, and set to music by 'Mies Medley, of Kelburno j and Alfred Hill's " Waiata Maori." The former & pleasing if it does not display any great individuality, but " Waiaia. Maori " is even such a clabaic iv its way as- the " Waiata Poi." The composer has eai«ht-£he spirit of the several themes, ana woven about it truly poetic music, coloured richly, and threaded vith appealing harmonies, concluding a hymn-Uke quartette, full of passion. With Miss Buckmann as interpreter, the new song was an immediate winner, the listeners insisting on a repetition. The singer was just as successful with "Waiata Maori" as she has been in the past with "Waiata Poi"— which ifc sufficient tribute. Miss Buckmann also displayed a really splendid clarity of tone and flexibility in an aria from David's "Pearl of Brazil." This wa* entitled "Le Channant Oieeau," and is a selection that makes exacting demands on the artist's voice, conception, and technique. Here again Miss Buckmann triumphed over those difficulties. She Bang with a- wonderful verve and vigour, cesiting a furore with a striking climax. Signor Truda supplied the flute obbligato. Ms* Buekmann s other numbers were "The Moorish Maid" and Tosti'a "Good-bye." She had an exceedingly warm reception. Mrs. Nellie Fieldhouse sang twice. In her item, "Divinities dv Styx," scarcely a word could be heard, but Mr*. Fieldnoute did better m less pretentious selections. Others who assisted were as follow : Miss Muriel Bennett, Messrs. D. V. LiUicrap, J. M. Clark, Borneo Gardiner, E. J. Hill, Horace .Hunt, and the Wellington Ldederiafel (under Mr. R. Parker). Mr. D. J. Kenny played most of the accompaniments. "THE BELLE OF NEWPORT." "The Belle of Newport," whose present address its the Opera Hou&e, had a large throng of callers again last evening. The Wykeham-Nable Company is nucceeding in giving this clever and highly diverting piece an American atmosphere which does not detract from the merit of this laughter-maker. Mr. Reginald AVykehani makes a great succa=6 of the irascible old Colonel, and Mr. Max Monteeole, Mr. Nabk, Mieeeu Press'y Preston, Maud Cbetwynd, and lngersoll all do excellently in parts that (it. ' The audience enjoyed the "belle" immensely. There will be a repetition to-night- and to-mt>rrow night. The management's prize offer in connection with the naming of the play holds good until the piece concludes. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the company stages "Who's William?" THE DANDIES. It is evident that the Dandies have found a warm place in the hearts of the Wellington public. The Concert Chamber hist evening was filled to overflowing, and the performance of tlje merry band of artists created such a favourable impression that recalls were numerous throughout the evening. The company is capable of the serious, the humorous, and the pathetic, and not the least enjoyable part of the entertainment is the artistic dancing of Miss Irene Vere and Mr. George Morgan. Last evening the audience was greedy for comedy, and perhaps Mr. Claude Dampier, a jester of genuine merit, found most favour. "Interlude," "Singers and Talkers," "My Brother and Myself," and "Hope for the Best" were greeted with roars of laughter, and Mr. Dampier had to respond to many encores. Miss Irene Vere stood out as usual as a graceful dancer and a pleasing vocalist, and such items as "Lucia" and "Rufus Rastus Brown" were warmly applauded. Miss Vere was also associated with Mr. Morgan in "There's None in the World" and "Dreamy Coloured Gal." Miss Hilda Lane gave much pleasure by her artistic singing of such numbers as "Summer Night," "Swallows," and "II Bacio," in which «he ased her voice with good effect. Miss Evelyn Ward's contributions, "Melisande in the Wood" "Astbore," and "Robin Adair" were delightful. Mr. Oliver Peacock sang some well-known ballads with pleasant spirit, and Mr. Gavin Wood contributed "Bedouin Love Song" and "King Duncan's Daughtor." Mr. George . Morgan sang "On the Silvery Sands" and "Hello, You Fellows" with ' quaint humour. There were several good concerted items, one of the best being "Adverts." The entertainment will be repeated this evening. STAR PICTURES. There was a, large attendance last evening a,t the S(ar Picture Theatre, Newtown, when a new and comprehensive programme was presented by the management. One of the best items on the^ programme was a dramatic series entitled "Bound and Released," the i>tory of a girl who married in haste ope of her father's groonm, an ex-circus rider, and repented at leisure. The story ends, however, more "happily than it begins ; retribution overtakes the cir-cuu-xider, and the girl and her child are restored once more to her parent's home. Tho film is well-acted and mounted. Another capital dramatic series is included in "Out of the Depths." Lovers of scenery were taken for a delightful tour in Sweden, where many beautiful scenes unfolded • themselves per kinematograph. "Lobsters and Crabs" proved a fibn of educational merit, interesting alike to old and young. Comedy was well provided for and such films as "Tontolini Sneezes" and "Leah ie Jealous" occasioned hearty laughter. Other good items were "Path© Gazette, 1 ' "At the Point «f the Sword," "Violet Dew," and "Our Dai lings." KILBIRNIE RINK. The popularity of the KUbirnie llink continues unabated. To-morrow evening the first half-mile race for the ladies' silver presentation cup will be held, and on Saturday evening the eecond raco is bet down. Arrangements are well ad"NaufurJ f«n- the t-ui'uival lo be held un tlie 3iil .July- Tuu nuk will uvt bu uney. lv tha ]nit?]ic Uub £\cuijj^,

a feature of the evening, each child representing a flower, and the figure marching and tableaux by th© children were excellent. Another item on the programme was a dialogue in costume representing the seasons, performed by the elder girls of tlie school, and th© tableau entitled, "Lead Kindly Light," by llise Elsie Bassett and little Winnie Burwood wae well produced, as also were other talbleaux by these young ladies. In the interval the Rev. J. R. Clark thanked those present for their support in helping the effort to build an infant clace-room for the school, and he also complimented Mr. and Mrs. Wilton, for the splendid manner in which they had trained the children. A special attraction was the playing of the Mission Band, which contributed selections outside the hall, and also^ during the interval. Other items which were greatly appreciated by the largo audience were the tinging of th* Mieses' Cunningham and Collins, a .dulcimer solo by MrWhite, and recitation by Miss G. Bageett. The programme concluded with a grand tableau by the scholars of the school.