AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 13013, 7 January 1907, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLERS'. Fuller' weekly change of programme was rendered more than usually interesting an Saturday night by the appearance of several new and entertaining people. First and foremost those remarkable dancers the Bicknells made their first appearance in Dunedin under the Fuller banner. Tbip is a genuinely big act. The Bicknells (of whom there -ire two— a lady and gentleman)— get. right away from other people. The wild whirl of their hurricane dance calls momentarily to mind the Darios, but there is really no similarity between the acts except tSat both are " star" acts. Everyone should tee the Bicknells. The other cew artist was an old friend —Miss Dorothy Leetnvnge, a. lady with a strong and pleasing soprano voice. Miss Ixistrango was wall received, and her two sonjjs -were admirably rendered. Her first was ' Estndiantina? Of late one of the important features of the. Messrs Fullers' entertainments has been the bioscope, and this section bulked big in entertaining quality on Saturday evening. A really fine picture entitled 'The Stolen Bride,'"was screened for the first time in Dunedin. This depicts a .sort of Locbinvar incident in modern time, "Young Locbinvar" bearing away hia bride that is to bo m hia motor launch. The picture is genuinely amusing. Mr Arthur Credge and his luDoesqoe partaer, Miss Maio Gibson, are nutting on a most amusing travesty, which is characterised by ingenious dialogue and clever repartee. Tne sketch concludes with a novel specialty turn, which is admirably executed by these very talented people. Mis Ida Berridge has a warmer corner in the hearts of Fuller andiences than any soubrette on tie circuit, and her position is the result of a. certain piquancy and originality which sue invariably infuses into lier serio songs. She does; riot dance and she does not prance about the stage, but. she "arrives" every time. The last few nights are announced of the St. Leonards, who in chair -work

are reall v remarkable. The strength of tht lady is joined to the dexterity am&qmakuess of the man, and the' act which the two present is a good one. Master Norman Mudford, the boy soprano, is a great, favorite, and, indeed, sings very Query, though he is inclined to force his. voice at times. In the first part there is that sterling baritone Mr Val. Newton, there m Miss Annie Cavender (a bright, attractive little serio), and there are Messrs Harry Linden and Ward Lear, from whose, lipj the rill of laughter flows perennial. Far, thermore, there is a good orchestra, under the direction of Mr Fred- Stokes. In brief, a good two and a-half hours' amusement awaits those who. find their way to the Alhambra Theatre this week, during every evening of which the present programme will be presented, * THE LITTLE STRANGER.* On Saturday night ' The Little Stranger' made his farewell bow to a Dnoedm aadience. The popularity of th» amusmj comedy in Dunedin has been great, and no doubt its success will be just afl pronwimcod wherever people are found who still enjoj a really hearty laugh. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A very attractive eeries of operatic song recitals "is announced to be inaugurated at His Majesty's Theatre to-night, when Madame Blanche Arral will make her firs! appearance in New Zealand. The concerU given by this world-famed artiste in tn* Australian States have been phenomenally successful, and with a. programme of unusual excellence to be submitted to-night, should prove equally attractive in Dmeain. Madame Arral will sing scenes fre» Gounod's 'Faust' and Thomas's 'Mignon, the well-known Czardas from Milbicker's ' Beggar Student,' and Saint-Saen's famous and twifliant song 'Lo timbre d'argent.' Herr Paans, a celebrated violinist, will ! play Wieiiiawski's * MazoxJEa* and Hanm's i • Test Polonaise,' and Signer Torzillo, a ' harpist of note, will play 'La Hirondelli Perdu' and fantasia on Scotch airs. The recitals will be given in costume, with appropriate scenery, and should appeal to all classes of theatregoers. Early doora open at seven, and the performance com> mences at eight sharp, and will tennjnatl at 10.15. HOLLOWAY DRAMATIC Holloway's productions conlhroe to attract, large audiences to the Princess Theal.« every evening. This popularity is whol'y deserved, for there is no doubt of tie efficiency and care with which Mr Holloway puts on his pieces. •The Wages of Sin' was Saturday night's production, and it rivalled in excellence the three previoaJ piavs. It is unnecessary to elaborate on the" theme of the piece, which is as old as human nature, and as interesting. Melodrama admits no greys; it states dogmatically " The cat is black" or " Tbe oat is white," and this direct rejection of analysis makes melodrama popalar with most classes of playgoers. 'The Wages of Sin,' then, is a good play of its type. There is no unnecessary dissipation of the dramatic interest, which is well sustained throughout, and ingeniously climaxed. It would be even more difficult than ungracious to find fault with Mr Holloway's band of players who interpreted the play. The cast was very well balanced indeed. That sterling actor Mr Robert lonian playff the hero, the Rev. Geo. Brand, a type of broad -minded, athletic clergyman who find* growing-place in modern fictional literature? and a type ranch nearer nature than the older playwrighte' distorted conception. Mi Inman did excellent work. No less clever was Mr Jefferson Taite'e portrayal o. Stephen Marler, an * oot-aztd-oater," wh< hesitartes at nothing in the shape of villainy, from robbery to atrocious murder. Sound and oonsißtent work on comedv oi straight lines was done by Messrs Hesford Cats, John P. O'Neill, JefEeryWilbams[ and other gentleman. Miss FStaunaurice Gill played the heroine —Rath Hope—and played the part with intelligence and a good deal of emotional power. No less successful was Miss Beatrice Holloway in her impersonatSn of the eccentric actress Juliana Bloggs. Misßes P-oaa Conroy, Mabel Russell, Alice Deomryn, and Pattie Gotrriay wore the other ladies who assisted in making the production the undoubted success that it was. ' The Wages of Sin' will be repeated this and to-morrow evenings. On Wednesday evening the company will appear in what may be accounted the production of the season. This is an adaptation of Dickens's ' Bleak House.' under the title of 'Jo.' 'in this piece it was that Miss Jennie Lee made her great hit. Miss Beatrice Holloway will appear in the nam part, which is said to lio one of her beet roles, and the full strength of the oompanj will support her. ' MARIE XARELLE, QUEEN OF HUSH SONG. Owing to the great interest that is being shown in the approaching visit of the Marie Narelle Concert Company, the management have decided to give four concerts, instead of throe, as originally advertised. The opening concert will take place on Monday next, and the others on th» three following evenings. Speaking o< Miss Narelle, the ' Lyttelton Times' says: " Miss Narello is reminiscent of both Miss Crosslcv and Madame Dolores. This is mainly" dne to her delightful personality, for she not only sings her songs, but she enters whole-heartedly into the spirit of them. She is, in fact, a dramatic singer w'ho seeks not only to sing a eong, but also to interpret it, and in doing so she is not slow to use gesture, facial expression, and spiritual impressment. These characteristics, wedded to a charming voice, make her one of the most sfctaactiw vocalists ever heard in ChrktchTrrch- Her versatility is never-ending. After singing BordesT6 dramatic story of Vasbti, she was warmly encored, and "replied with a delightfully delicate version of ' Rory CMore,' and as a third encoro she sang 'Bonny Marv of Argyle.' It would be difficult to select three compositions more, varied, and it speaks at once for the clever singer's ability that it was hard to determine which song "was the best." Popular prices have been arranged, in order to give all classes an opportunity of attending the four concerts, and the box plan for the season will be open to the public on Wednesday morning at nine o'clock.