AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14972, 19 April 1909, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. JVliss E'lorence Baines concluded her season in Christchurch on Saturday night, when a very large audience assembled to witness the twentieth performance of " Miss Lancashire, Limited." The piece has established a record for Christchurch for the number of productions, as well as for takings. During the evening Miss Baiues was presented by the members of the company with a silver card case, suitably engraved, and a floral horseshoe of Lancashire and Yorkshire roses. Several other bouquets were also handed up. At the close of the performance, to the accompaniment of enthusiastic applause from the audience, the orchestra played "Say Au Kevoir, but not Good-bye. Miss Baines will leave for America direct to-morrow night, but will probably return to Australasia in 1911. OPERA HOUSE. The new programme presented hy the Cinephone Company at the Opera House on Saturday evening drew a large audience, and was very heartily received. A picture introducing Mr Harry Lauder, the famous Scottish comedian, singing ''.She's Ma Daisy'' was especially good, and evoked much laughter, and- another fine picture was " Christmas Eve in the Barracks." There were some very pretty views of Paris under snow, and a series depicting the story of " The Merchant of Venice " was very cleverly acted. Pic-' turos of Italian cavalry showed some fine feats of horsemanship, and the humorous and dramatic films made up a good entertainment. Tho programme will be repeated this evening. COLOSSEUM. There was a good attendance at the Colosseum on Saturday night, when the current programme of the Wide World Pictures was received with much applause. A long and very well "staged" film, illustrative of Rider Haggard's African romance ''She" was one of the most attractive, and was loudly applauded. The selection of scenic pictures was varied and excellent. The programme will be repeated to-night. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The All Seasons' Carnival attracted a large attendance to His Majesty s Theatre on Saturday, and a matinee

in the afternoon resulted in good business being done. The concert programme was full of merit, and went with a swine, and several of the items were heartily encored. The carnival will be open again this evening, when Miss Florence Baines will 6ing a.number of songs. MADAME MELBA. ' Ihe plans for 6eats for the concerts to be given by Madame Melba at His Majesty's Theatre on April 22 and 23 are filling rapidly at the Dresden. Molba will be supported by a fine company, including Mr Frederick Ranalow, a. young Irish Dajitonfe, who created a very favourable impression in 'Great Britain; Miss Una Bourne, a solo pianist; Mr John Lemmone, who is wellknown as a flautist; and Mr Harold Whittle, accompanist. The southern tour of the diva has been a triumph in each centre, and she is said to be in remarkably fine voice. The plans for all seats are at the Dresden.

THE CINQUEVALLI SEASON. Tile bos plan for a short season of Mr Harry Rickards's Vaudeville Company, commencing at the Theatre Royal on Friday evening, will be opened this morning at the Dresden. Chief among the members of the company is Paul Cinquevalli, a juggler who has won a world-wide reputation. On a previous visit to Christchurch he was remarkably successful, and since then he has been winning fresh laurels. He has nothing to do with the art of the conjurer, the art of tricking his audience, being purely a juggler, who depends on his skill to enable'him to dp jußt what he professes to do. The company includes a large number of artists who give a great variety of turns of the most modern music-hall type.