AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Volume 12869, Issue 12869, 19 July 1906, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

ALHAMBRA theatre. An unusually big mid-week audience ■were present at the Alhambra Theatre last evening. The excellent programme is dispensed by Loydall and Berry, Craydon, Barton, and Little Jackson, Sam Wilson, and many others. On Saturday evening the charming English comedienne, Mdme. Lydia Yea-mens-Titus made her first appearance. MR LESLIE-HARRIS. The favorable opinion formed of Mr Leslie-Harris's powers as an entertainer on Tuesday evening was deepened last evening, when Mr Harris met his second night's He at once secured the ear and confidence of his listeners whilst he gave examples of the style of the old love song, with its 'simple complete story, and of the modern production, intense with emotion, but unintelligible. He told a story of how a well-known composer claimed that anything animate or inanimate could be translated into music, and a friend asked him while standing in Trafalgar square, London, to so translate the famous Nelson column. Retiring to his hotel, he thought hard. Presently four massive chords announced the lions at the base; a rippling upward run of the notes stood for the column; another spell of hard thinking, and then a touch of the topmost noto possessed by the piano illustrated the figure of Nelson on the summit. This was received with pro-? longed laughter. A pantomimic sketch of a chairman and a political candidate addressing a meeting was carried out in dumb show; the interruptions, and, finally, the effective egg-throwing were eatiily understood by the audience, who fully appreciated this clever sketch. A laughing song was sung in excellent style, and it was remarkable that while Mr Harris's body was shaking in a paroxysm of laughter the accompaniment was being steadily played by his hands upon the piano. The sketches of other notable entertainers were interesting; one of the cleverest of the mimicries being that of Albert Chevalier when singing in charac-' ter a song of an aged English agriculturist. _ The sketch ' The Choral Society ' has evidently been made familiar to Mr Harrir by frequent repetition, and it is presented in its most finished form. The representation of the conductor was a very fine piece of comedy. Throughout, Mr Leslie-Hams, unldce* Mr Maecabe and others of the early school of monologue entertainers, uses no costume nor artificial aids. His smile, which will be remembered longest by those who have heard him, is pleasant and frequent, and possessed of many gradations. Mr Harris is a thoroughly skilful and pleasant entertainer. Miss llosina Buckmann makes a, good impression. Plenty of vigor is infused into her singing, and Miss Buckmann is not afraid to attack high notes, although once or twice her top notes sounded shrill. Among her most acceptable songs were ' Three green bonnets' (D. Hardelot), 'The birth of dawn' (Leoni), and the final number. This evening Mr Leslie Harris will present an entire change of programme, hi? selections comprising a number of the most popular musical sketches, monologues, stories, and songs in his repertoire. Among them will be found ' The gentle art of courting,' 'A fallen star,' 'All in the day's work,' ' Tiek-tock.' Miss Rosina Buckmann will also be heard iu a number of new | ballads, including 'The jewel song' from I Taust,' 'II Bacio,' 'Because,' and 'Happy song.' The entprtainment provided by our visitors should draw a crowded audience 10 the Garrison Hall. The season positively , closes on Saturday, as Mr Harris and partv are due at Timaru on Monday night, with Askburtor. and Wellington to follow. 'TnE FATAL WEDDING.' His Majesty's Theatre was packed to the doors Jast evening, when the fourth representation of this highly successful melodrama was, given. The season closes on Saturday night next.

AMERICAN PICTURE SHOW. At His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday next Edison' 3 Popular Pictures and America at .Work will bo shown for the first time in this City. In view of the tour "of New Zealand, the most modem examples of animated photography have been secured from the land of The programme will comprise one hour of scenes in American industrial, commercial, and financial life, with filing representing America at play as well as at workj and vivid representations of the great metropolitan fire department battling with the flames at a New York fire; and another hour and a half of diverting scenes, including a ludicrous series of " chase " pictures. Amongst a number of sensational reproductions will be those showing the leading thoroughfares of San Francisco before and after v the late i disastrous earthquake. There- %vilf be pier tures of beauty spots in California and other parts of the States, and of public appearances of President Roosevelt. The pictures will be projected upon a screen 28ft square, and made of "kineto cloth." Mr i AvfJon Collard, character vocahst, will ap-! pear in costume, arid the orchestra will be directed by Miss Olive Merton. ... Seats are mow on sate-afc tbe_DKesde», J