ENTERTAINMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11530, 17 March 1898, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MADAME AMY SEEK WIN. The final concert of Madame Amy Sherwin’s Christchurch season lastnightwaa attended by a very largo audience. Madame Sherwin sang “The Lost Chord,” “The Swallows” and “Little Bird so Sweetly Singing.” All three wore enthusiastically encored, and wore responded to respectively with “Oh, Ma Babbie,” “ All Souls 5 Day” and “No, Sir. 55 With Miss Kitty Gxindlay and Mr Arthur Deane, Madame Sherwin took part in the trio “ I’m not the Queen;” from Bolfo 5 s opera ThalioscofCadillc, which number was likewise received with demonstrations of satisfaction. Miss Grindlay and Mr Deane sang solos, and Mr Alberto Zelman, Mr Herbert Stoneham and Mr Szczepanowski contributed instrumental selections. This afternoon Madame Sherwin will give a “ Students' Hour, 55 at which she will lecture on voice production, distinct enunciation and phrasing. THEATRE ROYAL. There was another crowded house at the Theatre Royal last evening, when Mr Holt put on the last piece of the present season. A Sailor’s Knot, which filled the bill, was played here by .Mr Holt in 1893, and last evening it was as well received as ever. The cast had undergone several changes, and in nearly ever instance it was for the better. The mounting was superb, the scene on board H.M.S. Dauntless being an extremely fine one. The piece gives scope for some very fine acting, and this was taken advantage of to the greatest extent. Mias Frances Ross, who, on making her first appearance of the present season, received an ovation, gave a very even rendering of the part of tho heroine, Marie Delaunay (played here on the last occasion by Miss Edith Bland).

In ' tho /'HiOTe . powerful scenes Miss Ross was very effective, more especially in that in which she is parted from her lover by the press'-gang. The part, throughont-is a trying one, and Miss Boss’s portrayal of it stamps Tier as a sterling actress. Mrs Bland Holt, as Margery Briarwood, had a part in which there is considerably more pathos than in those in which she has been seen lately, and the light and shade were particularly well-marked. Mr Baker, who again played the part of the hero. Jack Westward, was very successful; and Mr Cosgrove, as Harry Westward (previously taken by Mr Hcwe), gaye a very good representation of the character. Mr Harford, in th e character of the cold calculating French villain Delaunay (previously taken by Mr Inman) fulfilled a difficult task in a satisfactory manner. , Mr Charles Brown was again an exceedingly repulsive villain as the infamous PeterQPennycad, Mr Bland Holt, in the 1 amusing character of Joe -Straw-'-bones, -kept the audience supplied with laughter ;©very time he made his appearance. The other characters were all in hands.. The piece from first to last went 'splendidly, and' calls before the curtain were frequent. The orchestra, undbr the directorship of Mr Percy Kehoe, Contributed much to the enjoyment of the evening, the orchestral novelty, “ EecollecChristmas Pantomino ’’ (Kehoe) being a very pretty number. This evening Jfr Holt wBl close the present season, and A Sailor’s Knot will be repeated. The Company will leave for Dunedin to-morrow and open' there on Saturday night in The Cotton'King,

OPERA-HOUSE. ' The Opera House was crowded last even- : ing; when an Irish national concert was [held to celebrate the eve of St Patrick’s ‘Day. Mr H. Eossiter, the musical director, 'had arranged an excellent programme, and [almost without exception the different [items were of such a nature as to appeal to. the patriotism of the audience. _ The :overtures were played.by Mr H. Eossiter’s 'string hand and the Banjo and Guitar •'Band,.and the latteralsoplayed a selection in. the second part in place of a song by Mr P, Hoislriey, who was prevented by ihdisrposftion- from taking part. Signora •Venosta had also to be apologised for, but ;a very satisfactory substitute was found in ;Miss Lilian Smith, who sang “Terence’s ! Fare well to Kathleen. ” and “ Como Back to iErin,” and. was encored for her second num|ber. Afrs'E. T. Robinson's songs were “ Kililamey ” and “ Kathleen Mavoum’een,” and her. encore number .for, the first was ".Barney O’Hea.” Miss Lucy Ryan, a papil> of Mr Eossiter’s, scored a distinct ;success with her singing of “The Dear ;Little Shamrock.” She was recalled, and gave “Believe me if all Those Endearing .Young Charms.” Instrumental selections were played by the Misses C. and M O’Brien (pupils of St Mary’s Convent) and Misses Burke, Poff, O’Connell and Fowler (pupils..of. Barbadoes Street Convent). Mr C. Read and Mr Russell Halley were recalled for each of their songs,'and Messrs J. and R, Peterson’s duet had to bo repeated, .’Mr A. F. Young, too, hit the popular taste with his song, “ The Wearing of the Green,” and Mr W. A, Hall recited “ Shamus O’Brieh ” with excellent expression.' ' Mr O’Callaghan gave a step dahco, and the pupils! of the Marist Brothers’ School sang two choruses. The pot plants for the, decoration of the stage were supplied by Mr W; Jones.