AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14202, 26 October 1906, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

ALEXANDRA HALL. Mere was a large house at the Alexfcndra Hall last night, when Mrs C. M. 13r<>oke gave a recital. Mrs Brooke ifi an old Christchurch favourite, and she has been studying for some time at Home under that princess 1 of teachers, Madame Marches!, She has returned with her voice much improved, and giving every evklence.of careful and appreciative study. Mrs Brooke is:the fortunate possessor of a generous mezzo-soprano voice, tending, in . the higher register, to soprano in quality. She is singularly free from yccal affectations, and to recall one delightful professional singer who charmed Christchurch audiences, she may be well compared with Miss. Kirkwood. Her voice is not by any means a strenuous .one, but it is light-toned and sweet. It is, indeed, in daintier mood that Mrs Brooke shines most. Her numbers last night were well diversified, both vocally and linguistically, and, for once, her Continental training condoned the fact of her entertaining her audience in foreign tongues. Her intonation and enunciation were alike excellent, and she sang generally with consistent sweetness and feeling. Probably her best number was “ Una Vcce,” from '“ II Barbiere,” and the encore •png, the ' old-fashioned but everdelightful “ Annie Laurie ” was also feelingly interpreted. Her singing of Massenet’s “ Alleluia” was also : distinctly, above the average. Mrs Russell, Miss Ruby Edgar and Miss Doris Russell provided the inevitable instrumental variation to, the vocal portion of the programme. They played three concerted numbers for the piano, violin and ’cello. The best of these, where all were good, was undoubtedly Reissiger’s pretty “ Andante Capriccio.” This was played with much grace and feeling, and the strings were especially good. Another acceptable addition,.to the programme was Miss Ida Hansen’s recitation of the “ Potion Scene” from “Romeo and Juliet.” This was . given with much dramatic fervour. Mrs Russell played the accompaniments particularly well. WTLLOUGHBY-W ARD COMPANY. Last evening there was another very large attendance at: the Theatre Royal to .witness the performance of “ The Man from Mexico,” which has had an exceptionally successful season. “ The Man. from Mexico” will be given for the ,last time this evening, and will give place to-morrow : evening to an equally humorous piece, entitled,“ The Talk of the Town,” from the pen of Mr E. Norwood, who was at one time a member of the Brough and Boucicault Company, where ho was able to acquire the fullest knowledge of the stage requirements of : such productions. Miss Palotta, Mr Ward and Mr Willoughby all have prominent parts in the new piece,’which will be staged for three nights only. “THE WORLD’S PICTURES.” During a previous, season in -Christchurch “ Tne : World’s Pictures ” ■ earned high praise - from patrons for ‘the excellence of the entertainment ■provided, and the announcement that the, company will-open, a season at His Majesty’s Theatre oh Monday will he welcomed. A feature of the programme will be a moving picture of the great fire in Wellington, when damage to the extent of £IOO,OOO- was done. This panoramic view was specially taken by the company’s operator. The other subjects are of. a varied character, and include “ A Detective’s Tour of the World,” claimed to be the longest ’coloured film yet exhibited in the colonies. A French-fantasy, “Around a Star,” introduces some clever panto-* mime work. “ The Falls of the Csu River, • Japan,” Is a coloured picture of great merit. The‘box plan is now •s view at the 'Dresden. * HARNUM’S..CIRCUS. ( Arrangementa.are nearly completed for the appearance on Monday evening of Harnum’s Circus.- The combination will arrive on Saturday, so 'that everything will be in readiness for the initial performance. Spacious •nd comfortable seating has been erected at the King Edward Barracks, ‘where the performances will be given. 'The. performed, who form quite a large ■party, are alb Star jartists in, their particular, line, while,.-.the pony acts are remarkably clever,. . ..Seats may be reserved at' the; .Dresden Piano Warehouse, Cathedral Square. ; OPERA HOUSE. There was the usual good attendance at the Opera House last evening, when Messrs "Fuller and Sons’ Vaudeville Company .'occupied the hoards, ’and gave, the fifth performance of the current programme. The audience received it appreciatively, a.nd it scored as great a success, as on the preceding evening. This, evening the last per-formance-will be given, and there will be a complete, change, to-morrow.