ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 241, 15 October 1921, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“BABETTE.” Those privileged to view the rehearsals of “Babette’’ this last week are loud in their praises o 1 the excellent standing of our local folk in the work set them. Another pleasing feature of the perforniance is the cjinck movement by all the performers, special attention having been paid to entrances, exits, etc. The costuming and scenic effects are all hat could be desired. With popular airs, an orchestra under the direction of Mr. S. H. Knight, is all that can be desired, “Babette’’’ will be a joy from risjp to fall of cilrtain. The box plan is filling rapidlv at Riddells’

SHOW NIGHT ATTRACTION. PICTURES AND COMEDY. Special show iiight attractions have been arranged by the Hastings Municipal pictures. First on the bill is the King, Marsh, Lanauze Company who created such a favourable impression at Havelock in their comedies and recitations. These young artists who have won golden opinions for their work will appear in the comedies, 4 ‘ This is Ours” and “Not in Those.” While Miss Kiore King will recite “llio Burglar” and faking Willie to Lunch.” Speaking of the Havelock performance the “H.B. Herald” says the applause at times Was almost deafening. The entertainment is by common consent considered the finest given in Havelock North, ami should meet with great success in future ventures.

THo second attraction is a Pickford picture. Mary’s admirers will flock to see her in “Heart o’ the Hills.” In it is Mary I'iekford’s greatest role, that ot Mavis, the little mountain girl who is “afraid of nobody nor nothin 7 ” and Who is ready with fists or gun to fight for her rights against tho world. MR. ALEXANDER WATSON. HASTINGS AUDIENCE DELIGHTED R ’y 3B a largo and altogether delighted audience that listened to Mr Alexander Watson’s recital, delivered at the Hastings Municipal Theatre last night, An artist to his finger tips, with an easy power and adaptability in his voice, a good presence and faculty or carrying his hearers away with him into the heart of his story, Mr. Watson cast a spell over his auditors, and when ho had concluded his last number only few people could realise that it was ten o’clock Hi was perfect and its slightest vibration pervaded the remotest corners of tho theatre, in a restful effortless way, whilst the magic of his sympathy conveyed witli an intimate touch the beautiful Dickcnsonean sketches and the vivid, rough hewn

sentences of Kipling, until one required little imagination to believe they were in the centre of the happenings. As an interpreter of Dickens’, the genius of the Victorian era who w stamped the literature not only of Ins day but of much of tho present day literature, with his cast of thought, Air. Watson is wonderfully successful, and his treatment of the “Flight of Little Em’ly” last evening was a beautiful effort, whilst his recital of “Nicholas Thrashes Squeers,” was quivering with strength and qualified with a fine humour which went straight home. Ho made the living unpolished language of Kipling flame in Tho Ballad of Bolivar, “The Bell Buoy,” “Mandalay” and “Boots,” whilst*, his conception of the Kipling’s “Glory of the Garden” was also excellently handled. J. M. Barrie’s “A Holiday in Bed” was told with a delicious sense of quiet fun, and his programme concluded with Mark Twain’s “Punch Brothers Punch,” a recitation which requires no small amount of understanding, if its full quality is to bo achieved. The recital was most satisfying from the commencement to the end and the community would welcome other entertainments of a similar high standard. Mr. Watson appears in Napier to-night.