ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

AMERICAN MINSTRELS TO-NIGHT. To-night, in the Opera House, Kersand's Greater American Minstrels will open, for a short Wellington season. Their business manager, Mr. Frank Hurst, announces that preceding tho evening entertainment ea«h night the band of the company will give a free concert in front of the Opera House. As this band is 6aid to contain some pf the best musicians of the coloured race, it will no doubt iiUraut. much attention. The company itself is a strong one, and comes with high credentials. " THE DANDIES." The popularity of Mr. Edward Branscombe's clever company Was again heartily shown on Saturday night, when the Town Hall Concert Chamber was filled, to overflowing. Songe, dances, stories," and concerted items in quick ■succession were highly ■ enjoyed by the audience, •and many repetitions were insisted on. To-night the company will be heard, in a new programme. • ORGAN RECITAL. The organ • recital ' given by Mr.' Maughan Barnett, the City Organist, on Saturday evening at the Town Hall, was worthy of a better audience. The cold southerly weather was doubtless the reason of the rather sparse attendance, but it seems a pity that more advantage is not taken by the people of Wellington to hear the works of the greatest masters of music, as so artistically interpreted by Mr. Barnett. The most brilliant number of the evening was the beautiful passage lrom the first act of Wagner's "Tannhauser," always a welcome feature from Mr. Barnett's repertoire, and never' played more admirably than on this, occasion. Another very fine number, breathing the fine spirit of the grand" master, was "Bach's choral prelude, "Wir Glauben All' an einen Gott," and tho three movements — pastorale, adagio, and finale — From Widor's Eighth Symphony for 'the organ, , a number full' of melody, was warmly applauded. The programme also included such items as "Aye Maria" arid "Moni'ena Musicaux in F Minor," by Schubert, and Wely's "March in E Flat." Miss Hannah Sweeney, of Dun«dinj contributed two songs very sweetly. They were : "Romance/ 1 from "Mignon, ' aud "Indian Desert Song." Mr. Horace Hunt acted as accompanist. THE WELLINGTON ORPHANS. The Prime Minister (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) was expected at the Wellington Orphans' gathering on Saturday evening, but was unable- to be present. Tho attendance, in spite of the weather, was large. In the chair was the "Mosb' Orphan" (Dr. A. W. Izard). As usual, a most enjoyable evening was spent, and a capital programme of miscellaneous items was submitted. At the next gathering, a fortnight hence, His Excellency Lord Islington will be present. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. There were about two thousand people at the Town Hall last night, when the Wellington Professional Orchestra gave its third concert of the season, and _ those who were present had a musical treat. The main attraction was, of couiee, Schubert's Unfinished Symphony," and it was interpreted by tho orchestra, with a musical understanding 'and sympathy that reflect' the highest credit oh that organisation and its conductor, Mr. Herbert Bloy. Its very unusualneßo, weird, . beaujty ;»n4, expression; and exquisite pathos, aititffed the attention of. the audience, which never relaxed until the ctoee. The applause was earnest ,and well deserved. i The impression left, by this famous creation Was co profound that ' it is hoped the orchestra will see its way to repeat it at no distant date. The other numjbers also found favour with the audience < and were : — Rubinstein's "Trot de Cayallerie," Lacombe's "Aubade Prhifaniere," "March dv Boyards" (Harvorsen), liwit by the Wnnganui Orchestral Society .and played tor the first time in, Wellington ; and We.ber's Overture to "Obeion." MARGARET COOPER. The Margaret, Cooper season at the Jpera H,oubo will commence on Wednesday of next week. Miss Cooper will open her New Zealand tour after having appeared' in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide, and in all the6o cities she proved herself one of the best attractions ever imported to Australia by Messrs. J. and N. Tait. A complete company supports the star, and the programme promised k a most varied one. Miss Cooper's visit tc Australia, New Zealand, and Africa is a hurried one, as she returns to London to a fresh engagement immediately after the present tour. THEATRE ROYAL. The feature of the now programme to be presented by the Brennan-Fuller 'management at the Theatre Royal to-night i& .Mies Beaumont Collins, the distinguished London emotional actre&s, who will, in conjunction with a capable . company, present a number of dramas and come dies, from the pens of well-known authors. Miss, Collins carries all her , scensry and effects, ,and a different set of scenery is used for every piece in which she appears. Besides the Beaumont Collins Company, the, new programme will include turns by Hanley, Marguerite, and Hanley (sensational athletes direct from Germany), Lawrence Barclay, in his biggest success, "The Ballet Girl," and Ted Labby, a prominent comedian. . THE ADELPHI. A numerous attendance was present at the Adelphi Theatre on Saturday night, when the programme wus. presented for the last time. A complete change is announced for to-night, and for the current week. A picture- entitled "The Carbonari" holds pride of place and is described as being an exceptionally strong dramatic film. It tells erf the famous beauty, Princess Spadda, and of the doings of orip of those secret societies with which Italy is generally supposed to be infested. Strong support is given to this film by two A.B. pictures, odd a comedy und • the other a dramatic episode called "Justice, of the Desert." Taken all round this week's programme appears to be well up to standard. The Adelphi Ladies' Orchestra will play selections during the evening. On Friday evening next, the Adelphi masked male quartette will make their initial bow to the Wellington public.' It is Baid that the members ot the quartette are all well known gentlemen of Wellington, and the management only succeeded in seeming tlreir services on the distinct understanding that no one, -savo. the management, should know their identity. The idea of having on© rmusical item, during the evening really comes from America, and there -theso items are termed "eye-resters." At piesent it is the intention of the Adelphi management to have this item once a week, but should it be found to be .received favourably by the public if will be introduced every evening. ST. THOMAS'S PICT ORES. ' There wall be a complete change of programme at St. Thomas's Hull tonight, and the new bill of faro promises well. One of the principal items i« to be "How States aio Madp," described as a magnificent production, and there is also a full quota of scenic, industrial, travel, and comedy film*

I SKATING RINK. Both the afternoon and evening performances at the Skating Rink on Saturday were well patronised. For to-nig|ht a complete change of programme is announced. Included in the list is a long film prcduced by tho Vitagraph Company, and entitled "How States are Made" — said to bo a magnificent pro-" duction. "Arab Trade Industries" should prove very interesting, and a series of -topical events will be pictured in th© "Gazette." How two girls were cured of matinee idol worship is told in "Irene's Infatuation," and the pro gramme also includes "Their First Kidnapping Case," "Children Who Labour," "Shadeß of Winter," and "The Joker's Mistake." THE KING'S THEATRE. "Redeemed by Fire," an English picture for English audiences, for which West's hold the exclusive rights, will be fch« star feature at The King's Theatre this evening. Its setting, acting, costuming, and staging are essentially British. "Redeemed by Fire" is a dramatic subject, and said to be one of thebest histrionic efforts shown here for many a day, and whilst of th© sensational type— for it abounds in thrilling situations— is entirely devoid of anything approaching the morbid or the suggestive. Special selections will be played by The King's Orchestra. "ATTACKED BY A LION." " •A sensational and adventuroue pic- 1 ture-play, "Attacked by a Lion," was introduced to-day as a special feature ' attraction at Meeers. MacMahon and 1 Donnelly's continuous pictures at tho New Theatre, Mannors-street. This photo-play is drawing large attendances. In realistic manner the startling encounter with a wild lion is portrayed. The episode, it is Hated,- is not the result of trick photography,- but ts an actual happening, performed with considerable risk to the hero of the story. Ths narrative opens with an attack by Arabs upon a settler's homestead. A neighbour, Hqwarth, sets out to render assistance. He loses his way, and while resting a big lion steals upon the scene. The horse is sighted by the lion, which makes a ferocious bound at its intended victim. The lion, however, w bowled over by a, rifle shot akilfully aimed by Howard. The hero then continues on his and arrives in time to assist m putting tho Arabs to flight. "Attacked, by a Lion," , which will be shown at all sessions until further notice, is supported by a number of, other entertaining moving pictures. SHORTT'S PICTURES. At Shbrtt's picture- Theatre to-day an attractive new 'programme will be screened. It will include "Firing a Patchwork Quilt" (a thrilling railway picture), "Tho Social Secretary," "Those Hicksville Boys," "Tim and Jim" (a Lubin comedy), "Australian Gazette," ' Riva m Russia," and others of almost equal interest. STAR THEATRE. A complete change of programme is unnouncod for to-night, and a bright and varied and interesting collection of travel, drama, and comedy pictures is promised. THE KILBIRNIE RINK. On the principle that it's an ill wind that profits nobody, tho present weather has been adding to the attendances at the Kilbirnie Skating Rink. Tho cold weather is particularly appreciat>PftJ?y the Tinkers, and .the' , usual ccc fiions are being held. The occond halfmile race for the Ladies' Silver Gup on Saturday evening resulted as before, Miss M. M.'Catie being: first aud Mis^ V. Asher second.. The race wae run" in Imin 54 2-sfiec. »I» I - *- At ite kp'rero on Friday evening last the Kakanki Savage* Club emoiUuned ac it* guest Mr. Efbdon Best, who deli.»red a very interesting address on tho early Maori hiotorv of New Zealand. The Wykeham-Nable Comedy ' Company brought a successful season at the Opera House to' a close on Saturday ' evening with a presentation of "Who's '.Villiam'/"