MUSIC, SONG, AND PICTURES

Evening Star, Issue 17324, 12 April 1920, Page 2

MUSIC, SONG, AND PICTURES

AT EMPIRE THEATRE, The Smythe Concert Party g cored a distinct success in their first appearance on Saturday night at the Empire Theatre, where, m addition to a number of most entertaining pictures, a splendid programme of music was thoroughly enjoyed by an attendance that filled the house in all parts. In fact, all seats upstairs' were booked long before the entertainment commenced, this shewing that such a form of entertainment is highly popular. The members of the Sroytlle Company came with a fairly formidable'reputation. which was cetaiuiy in no way injured by their initial performance hero. Their programme was a varied one, Comprising numbers from grand opera, ballads, roT licking sea eongs, sketches, Maori songs, and harmonised items bv the whole company. The company are headed by MrCharles Smythe, the eminent Australian basso. His rendering of the prologue to " I l'agliacci' was loudly applaudeti. and even more popular were the favorites ' There's Only One England.' 'Up from Someiset,' 'Captain Mac' and 'The Company Sergeant-major.' Miss Anita Green sang pleasingly with her rich soprano voice 'Prelude' (Ronald), and in resnons? to insistent demands for encores "gave several other numbers. The appearance of Miss Bathie Stuart, the blight comedienne so well known to Dune-din audiences, was the signal for an outburst of applause. This clever little lady's singing voice has slightly improved since her last visit some months ago, and she was in demand for about half a dozen items. 'Chin Chin,' from the 'Hip Hoorah' revue..,, was daintily rendered, and was followed by 'The Cinema Serial,' a comic sketch of the ways of film actors, 'which aroused great laughter. B:it Miss Stuart's chief success was in her Maori numbers. A haunting Maori lecruiting song. *Te Dpi Tuatahf' (Hon. A. T. Ngata), which was n treat favorite with the Maori members of the N.Z.E.E., was most effective, as also were a tanei lament and a hnka. Mjss Miriam Kufrner, the* accompanist of the party, assistedmaterially in the success of the evening. The pictures shown were of a most entertaining nature. The company will appear again to-night, and in addition there] will be screened ' A Burglar for a Night,' an arresting drama, and several other films.