AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 12927, 25 September 1906, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLERS'. Mr Alex. Hays, comedian and eccentrio dancer, made his. first appearance with Fullers' Entertainers at • the Alhambra Theatre last evening. There was a big attendance. He proved a most diverting and entertaining fellow, and a fine dancer, and he should become a warm favorite. Other members of the strong company at present holding the Fuller banner here are the Musical Moke, Les Warton, Harvey and Morris, Frank King, Bob Lloyd," Pearl Lovell, and Lewis sisters, Phyllis Fay, and Celia Mavis. The programme may be seen again this evening. /" .Ml 'MY SWEETHEART.' Last night's production of 'My Sweetheart' at His Majesty's Theatre by a cast that included professionals and amateurs was soniewhat disappointing. The pretty little piece was played here not so very long ago, and played Very well indeed. The cast was largely the same on that occasion, except for twoVharacters—Tony Faust and Tina (My Sweetheart). The cast being the same with these and one or two other minor exceptions, _it is obvious that the difference in the two productions must be looked for amongst the "leads." Neither Mr Courtney Hood (Tony) nor Miss Nellie Galloway (Tina) was happily cast. Upon them the weight of the piece falls, and, to be candid, they were both over-burdened. Miss Galloway quite failed to present lighthearted, spirited, delightful little Tina. She adopted, it is true, a manner that might conceivably be taken for a manifestation of joyous light-heartedness, but she failed to get inside the character. Miss Galloway comes hero with" something of a reputation, which no doubt in other types o£ character she can act up to; but Tina is not at all her type. Mr Courtney Hood's Tony Faust was an unequal performance. At times, in lighter momente, he was quite " a PPy» indeed he sang very nicely and sweetly; but he too groped in Vain for the spirit of the role, and was quite unconvincing in the dramatic curtain to the second act, where Tony is suddenly smitten with a long-threatened blindness. Mr Percy James repeated his admirable portrayal of Dudley Harcourt, introducing an amusing and splendidly-given monologue. The chief honors fall to him. Mr Fairfax Brennan deserves a special word for a surprisingly natural and convincing impersonation of Joe Spotwell, a broken-down sport. Other characters—Harold Bartlett (Mr J. Dee), Dr Oliver (Mr G. H. Kin*), and Farmer Hatzell (Mr J. Hill)—were satisfactorily handled. Of the ladies, Miss Addie Healey put in some excellent character work as Mrs Hatzell, and succeeded in presenting a clever " old woman " (type long tongue, warm heart) study. Miss Tot Brennan, too, has improved vastly since the last production. She looked charming, and spoke and acted her lines with force and directness. Little Miss Myers was responsible for a nice dance. The performance was witnessed by a large audience It was given, under the direction of the Otago University Athletic Club, and was m aid of the club's funds. Mr Robertsbaw's band played excellen* entr" octe and incidental music.

SALE OF WORK. The Executive of St. Andrew's Church have decided to establish a Sunday school at Kensington, for which about £4OO is needed, and it is hoped that the requisite funds will be raised by means of a sale of work, which will be inaugurated at the Victoria Hall to-morrow afternoon, and be continued there for the rest of the ■week. A happy idea in this connection is the compilation of a booklet of favorite quotations, to which some of the best minds in Australasia have contributed. The typography of the little work reflects much credit on the printers (Coulls, Culling, and Co.), and it will doubtless be quite as much prized on that account as for its intrinsic worth. And here we cannot do better than make a quotation from the preface written by the erudite and esteemed pastor of St. Andrew's : The Committee venture to think that the book itself is a unique, if unpretentious, contribution to colonial literature. _ It gives a conspectus, in brief and pleasing form, of the great thoughts that have most impressed themselves on men and women of light and leading in Australasia. These include the Governors of New Zealand and Fiji, and most of the State Governors of the Commonwealth ; also the Premiers,! judges, editors of the chief newspapers and magazines, notable " litterateurs," and leaders of the various churches throughout Australasia. In all this there is perhaps more even than an ephemeral literary interest. A great scientist compares man's body to an old curiosity shop, because of tihe number of relics of the past that are to be found in it. That is even more true of the mind. It contains below its consciousness a vast multitude of forgotten facts and truths. But above this sea of forgetfulness there are a few that stand out prominently like the island peaks of a submerged world. These are the ones that mould character and conduct. If a man can fix upon the chiefest of these you have his life's aim. If you can get many men to do it, counting in quality as well as quantity, you have a more or less accurate forecast of a nation's destiny, for its destiny is determined by the ruling ideals of its .people. That i 3 the significance of "My Favorite Quotation" : that is what makesa collection such as this one more than a mere literary curiosity. It invests it with a high ethical and philosophical significance. Dr Waddell has most happily said all that can bo written as to the literary value of the booklet; we hope that the public will take to it kindly for the good they can do in aiding St. Andrew's congregation to extend their activities where they are much needed and eagerly sought. Messrs J. G. Patterson and C. R. Smith, two members of the Executive of the Church, have not only conceived but carried out the idea, and it is to be hoped that they will have the satisfaction of seeing not only a second but a third edition promptly called for. St. Andrew's, it will be recollected, raised a very considerable sum a few years ago by means of a useful book of cookery, which is still in demand; it is highly probable that this second excursion into the field of literature will be quite as successful. As showing the spirit in which the idea was taken up by wellwishers at a distance, we have been permitted to make two extracts from a sheaf of letters. The editor of the ' Sydney Morning Herald,' in enclosing a subscription to the building fund, wrote :

I enclose a slip containing a quotation from Sir Waiter Scott, which has long seemed to me one of the finest in the language. It is difficult to s&y which is one's favorite, for if you mean your quotation to apply, say, to the domestic virtues, to patriotism, to " selfknowledge, self-reverence, self-control," to gaiety and conviviality, or to the pastoral side of Nature, you would naturally make a different excerpt. Let me say how glad I should feel to be of. help to you in your object. Last February twelvemonth my wife and I spent my yearly holiday in the South Island of New Zealand. We went to Wellington, and by the same steamer down to Bunedin—your beautiful city. Then we went to Wakatipu, aajd returned via Dimedin to Chnstchurch, and went

by the Gorges. Of that happy .month •we have none bat pleasant recollections. Not only the mellow charms of late sumr : mer weather, not only the beauties of a varied but always noble landscape, but even more bo the kindness and hospitality of all kinds of people, who seemed to desire cordially to make our stay agreeable, leave us iuflof pleasant memories. We hope that we may be permitted to take our children over with us this summer, but my health is 'so far from robust that I have learned to plan my life not far ahead, but take my days as they are given. ... If there is anight I can do to be of service, believe me it will be a sincere pleasure to pay in that wav my debt to New Zealanders. Mr T. A. Browne, better known as "Rolf Boldrewood," author of 'Robbery Under Arms," wrote i-^.

I beg to apologise for my delay in your letter with a request for my favorite quotation, but my correspondence is a, rather large one, and between the time when duty calls and I ought to write, and the time when I must write, the period of absolute'leisure is curiously limited. However, the request is so reasonable that if it affords pleasure to anyone, or the smallest gratification to yourself, I hereby despatch it most willingly : " Kindness in another's troubles, Courage in your own." —Gordon. This, I think, goes near to comprehend the whole duty of man. I took my nom-de-plume from a verse of Sir Walter Scott's : " And that red King who, while of yore Through Boldrewood the chase he led, By his loved huntsman's arrow bled." As a Christmas souvenir the 'Book of Quotations' should be most acceptable, and will, we feel sure, have a generous circulation. WM. ANDERSON DRAMATIC COMPANY. To-morrow evening, at the Princess Theatre, lovers of melodrama will be able to witness the interesting London drama 'The Worst Woman in London.' Mr William Anderson's Dramatic Company will open a brief season with this play, wnioh is noted for its sensational situations and its portrayal of passions and simple plot. The pky is nevertheless enthralling, and by its thrilling nature keeps an audience absorbed till the climax. Seats may be booked at the Dresden Piano Warehouse. LECTURE BY DEAN FITCHETT. 'Wagner and the Lyric Drama—the Battle of the Styles, with Musical Illustrations,' is the title of a lecture to be given in All Saints' Schoolroom to-morrow evening. This lecture is an expansion of the address recently given by the Dean to the Society of Musicians of Otago (registered).