AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14977, 24 April 1909, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

THE MELBA CONCERTS. Considering the nature of the attraction, tho attendance at Madame Melba's second concert last night was anything but large, and tiio programme was concluded shortly alter half-past nine. The diva was in splendid voice, and her opening number, the " mad scene" from Ambrose Thomas's " Hamlet," was in many respects' the most attractive performance of her season, although her magnificent singing of Sir Henry Bishop's brilliant and florid setting of "Lol Hero the Gentle Lark" ran it very close. Her other numbers were a repetition of Tosti's " Good-bye" and tho inevitable thin and unimpressive catch-penny pathos "Three Green Bonnets." Her reception throughout tho evening . was enthusiastic to the last degree, but although the audience clamoured vigorously for more at the conclusion of the last number, the singer declined to do more than emphatically bow her acknowledgments. Mr Frederick Ranalow was again burdened with the bulk of the programme, and, aided by a more > judicious selection of songs, he emphasised the marked success he scored on the previous ovoning. He opened unhappily with a pitiably commonplace little ballad appropriately composed by one ''Jack Thompson,"/ but hie singing of Ch'aminade's •'Captive Love" was delightful. The " Sergeant of the Line" was boldly and vigorously sung, and he put the climax to an excellent performance with a most expreayve version of " The Sands o' Dec." Miss Una Bourne also bettered her previous performance, probably from tho same cause of more judicious selection. Her second bracket, a minuet by Zanella and the familiar "Staccato Caprice" by Vogrich, was particularly good. Mr Lemmono played a beautiful " Idyll" by Wetzger in his own delightful his fluto accompaniment to " Lo! Here the Gentle Lark " was a revelation in the possibilities of flute-playing. Mr Harold Whittle played the accompaniments well. THEATRE ROYAIi. BICKARDS'S VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. It a long time since a vaudeville ontert*mment has been given in Christchurch. and the company sent to the city by Mr Harry Bickarde met with an enthusiastic reception at the Theatro Royal last evening. The entertainment was of a particularly bright,and interesting character, and each item waa heartily encored. The company is a diversified and well-balanced one ; and the stage management is convincingly thorough. Of course there is not another portion of the entertainment, to compare with that given by Paul Cinquevalli, and he appeared, after a long absence, to delight his audience with feats even brighter and more humorous than his previous ones. The famous juggler was greeted with loud and prolonged cheering, and after his turn had to respond to insistent encores. The inevitable billiard balls played an important part in his clever exhibition, and his marvellous facility with, the balls and cues kept the audience simply staring all tho time. The manner in which Cinquevalli upeets with ease all the laws of gravity is astounding, and when-ho was last here there were many of tho cognoscenti who said that it would be impossible to better his performance. But they reckoned without their Cinquevalli, and ho showed last ovening that, in addition to having lost none of his old-time freshness, ho was able to perform foata more wonderful than ever. It is unnecessary to enumerate tho things that he does, for all aro almost equally good, but the difficult and palpably dangerous juggling with cannon-balls is there, as are several now balancing turns of surpassing cleverness. Tho delightfully idiotic, assistant who. has accompanied the juggler ever since anyone can remember deserves a word of praise for his exceedingly clover and amusing " sidelino " of comedy. Of the other features of the entertainment, the turn of Frank and Jen Latona is the best. The lady sang an infinite number of bright and catchy patter songs, and several topical verses of quite, exceptional merit, and her piano playing was Biirprisingly good. Her companion's turn was on entirely original lines, and ho gave a clover study of a tired comic tramp, into which he introduced some musical effects of a high order with the aid of a trombone and a one-stringed viola. The jokes of the pair were refreshingly new, and roused hearty laughter." Lawson and Namon were another clever pair, who gave a brilliant exhibition. Tho lady gave a series of expositions of ball-punching, which demonstrated that she was no novice in " the gentle art," and her companion performed in a nonchalant manner a series of astounding antics on a bicycle. Tho Scottish Meisters were heard to advantage in several concerted numbers, and their turn was relieved by the bright comedy work of a redhaired stage Highlander, who caused general confusion among_ his fellows. A portion of their turn, in which they played a number of instruments of the ocarina variety, apparently improvised from beer bottles, was much appreciated. Guest and Nowl.yn gave some original and attractive dances, and they wcro not allowed to retire until they had sated the audience. Mr Tom Dawson sang a number of comic songs with a gocd deal of success, and his work was cleverly carried, out. Mies Fanny Powers proved quite as big a favourite as ever, and ■ the, little lady presented a number of imitations in convincing stylo. Miss Nellie Maunsell sang several ballets very nicely, which proved her to be the possessor of a contralto voico of soitie power, and Mr Arthur Harris also sang a couple of ballads. The company will appear again thifl evening. OPERA HOUSE. The cinephone attracted a largo audience to the Opera Kouso last evening, and the combined biograph and phonograph entertainment succeeded in keeping tho audience amused and interested from tho rise to the fall of tho curtain. The Harry Lauder song, " She's Ma Daisy," was again the most popular item of tho entertainment, and tho other features of the programme fell but little behind it in tho estimation of the audience. A complete change of programme will be made this evening. COLOSSEUM. Notwithstanding tlio inclemency of the weather, the attendance at the Colosseum suffered in no way last evening, and a very large audience witnessed the second production of the current week's programme of moving pictures. The picture drama, " Tho Light-house-Keeper," proved an exceptional attraction, and the otlior items of the programme were well up to the usual high standard. In addition to the usual evening entertainment a matinee will be given this afternoon. WEST'S PICTURES. The production of ".art studies" is one of the newest features of biograph enterprise, and elaborate arrangements have been made for their manufacture in Europe. Miniature theatres have been built and some of the bert-known dramatic-Artists have produced in them the incidents which go to the making of the "art study." Mr T. J. West has secured tho Australasian rights of these films, and ho proposes to show

them in His Majesty's Taeatre during a season that will begin on Monday, May 3. Tho first of tho series will be " The Red Hand," a picture which is said to portray all the incidents of a successful drama. Many other new pictures will be shown at tho entertainments and De Groen's orchestra will supply music.