ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12055, 27 August 1902, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

■ ' "' ■ • ■.■■■■■ ' ' '■ ' ."•■ '■ :■■ .'. ,'"■■. HARRY RIOKARDS' VAUDEVILLE i COMPANY. The City Hall was packed to the doors lasfc night for the opening performance by Mr. ;i Harry Rickards' new vaudeville ; '-;company. ■■■■£ The preliminary announcements of the com- V pany's ; advent promised well, . and in the re- : sult there is no cause for disappointment* The new show is one of many degree.? of attractiveness/ oae turn vieing with another in securing the enjoyment of the onlookers. Jfc. was a huge success last night. Some of the turns are as clever and entertaining as anything in their respective lines seen here, and. ". taken right through, there is an evenness of merit which fully entitles the performers and the performance to a large share of publio patronage. Mr. Barney Fagan'and Miss Henrietta Byron introduce a. new protean burletta which, coming early in the programme and being so entirely clever and original, whets the appetite for what is to follow. These two artistes give various good comedy impersonations and songs, etc., in • character. .Mr.: Fagan also shows his ability ; as a sand-dancer, whilst Miss Byron, who has a bewitching stage appearance and style, and ",-' is delightfully like a dancing sunbeam—so vivacious is she and so bright— merrily out and in again, costumed on each fresh ap- ..' pearance in a different dress. Her costumwj arc dreams of elegance, and the last one, lit up with coloured electric globes, lias an astonishingly striking and brilliant effect. Tin* turn was last night welcomed with prolonged and well-deserved applause. The Jackson Family (two ladies and two gentlemen) also received an ovation for their particularly enjoyable turn. Their contributions make up a.complete and musically-agreeablo concert on a small scale, and nearly every kind of musical instrument is played upon in turn, - all with much skill and taste. They give the following items: — Selection from "Tho Mikado" (violin, piccolo, 'cello, and piano), "Brooklyn Cake "Walk" (mandolins), "Souvenir do Sorrento" (violin and piano), and "Scotch Melodies'* (banjos, piccolo, drum, and fife). The last-named aroused storms of applause last night, and as an encore one of : the lady members of the quartette gave tha piccolo solo. " The Wren," the others playing the orchestral accompaniment. Messrs.: Derenda and Breen created little short of a sensation in a really marvellous exhibition of club-swinging. One performer handles the glittering clubs (they are of various scintillating colours), two, three, and even four at a. "■! time, lightning-like speed of hand and eye. his manipulation being indescribably swift and neat withal. The other performer is made tip very comically, and whilst performing equally as well with the clubs, does so with an irresistibly funny air of laziness, as though he had "just woke up" and is still tired. The act is absolutely-unique, and is of such extreme merit and so enlivened by the humorous business of the performers that its close comes all too soon. Another excel-' lent turn is the ventriloquial interlude provided by Mr. J. H. Winton, who keeps the audience highly amused with his , comic figures, " McGinty" and others. Miss Jennie Opie sings with her old sweetness of voice and expression "Tell Me" and "I Trust You Still," and later in the programme renders two songs "Just As the Daylight Was Breaking" and " Coon, Coon, Coon," which' are illustrated with capital pictures. Miss Neva Carr-Glyn, a contralto with a pleasing voice, sings with good style the. solos " Memories of Long Ago." "Why Must We Say Good-bye?" and "Fiddle and I." The Clarence Sisters provide the serio-comic re- ' lief, and the programme terminates with a fine series of animated pictures,- shown by means of the bioscope. Of th»\se a striking view is.that of a stag hunt. The orchestra ,: is under the direction of Mr. G. Gardner. It is announced that with the view of meeting the convenience of orchestral stalls patrons and of affording them a specially, expeditious exit, arrangements have been made for them to leave the theatre by way of the stage. Ushers will bo in attendance to escort and direct occupiers of these seats. The same programme will be repeated to-night. On Saturday next, for the convenience ;of -ladies and families residing at a distance, a special matinee performance will be given. . : .i ,-'■/ WIRTH'S CIRCUS. .'.':',■■■' The popularity of Messrs. Wirth Bros.* circus was fully sustained last evening,- when i fi the change of bill met with a. flattering, re- H ception. All the varied items," which went to fill an; enjoyable circus programme, were heartily applauded, and the burlesque, "They Figaro Barbier, "in which % Mr. Geo. .Wirth ; :; introduced some original - and /_ decidedly;; , comic . business,"/. proved a capital finals ; .;:. to an excellent programme. Miss Florence ;- Bartello, an equestrienne and artiste with a high reputation for feats of skill and the Detrelles, Casinos, a musical turn, which introduces -■ the '-: only lady clown■: in.; the:' colonies, will appear on Monday evening next. • Mons. Ragoul ; will also introduce ; his ; tight-rope • walking tiger Kitty" on the same evenings On Saturday evening there will bo a heavyweight lifting competition 7 for a gold medal presented by Mr. A. Kohn. " , KINGSLAND BAND OF HOPE. • The Kingsland Band of Hope was favoured:,; on Monday i night ,with a visit from the J Christian Standard Society. ?/ Mr. Morton presided. ; An excellent programme was rendered' by the following:—Misses Hall, Mar- f sen, Carnahan, Morton,; Rosser, Evans, and /, Messrs. Marsen, Holsen," and .Leslie.. , A very interesting address was listened to from ■■-, ~ Mrs. Hall, sen, . Mrs. Evans played the accompaniments. MR. CLIFFORD WALKER. To-night in the Choral Hall Mr. . Clifford Walker, the brilliant young society entertainer, will give the first of his monologue entertainments, and the high reputation he • ■'■ has earned should ensure a large attendance. The programme for to-night will be a: most varied one, and embraces almost every phase ,i of characterisation fantastic, sen-' timental, dramatic, and pathetic—and Mr.' Walker's; press notices show that he : i.i equally at home :in each and .-, every :■ phase .1; of his work. The programme for each of &{ i the two ,". performances will be entirely s dif- y ferent. Mr. Walker: will be assisted by Mrs. Ernest H. Queree, who will contribute two piano solos. GREY LYNN LITERARY SOCIETY. The Grey Lynn Literary Society > hold its weekly meeting on Monday evening, when "An Evening with Abraham" constituted I: the programme. Instructive '":• and - interest-) wig- essays were given by Misses H. MeDerinotfc and E. Hibbutt and Messrs. P. Bagnal and J. Wilkes. V ST. JOHN'S LITERARY SOCIETY. : At tho fortnightly meeting of St. John'* Literary and Musical Society on Tuesday the junior members provided a splendid evening's entertainment. Mr. J. Reeve occupied the chair. The following programme was given, every item being heartily applauded:— duet, Misses Cook and Beaumont: paper, "Dickens," Miss M. Beaumont; reading from Dickens, Miss Blomfield; solo, Miss s Gladys Hanncken; recitations, "Little Nell." Miss Bullens, "Hollow and the Twins," Mr C. Blom- : field trio (violin, piano, and 'cello), Misses Thome; pianoforte duet, Misses Thorne and dickers. , Two interesting items (a dialogue), "Pickwick's Trial " and a plantation song, De Old Banjo," were pleasingly rendered by a company of juniors. :: At the close of . the programme ample refreshments were pro-' vided for all. Great credit is due to Mr. J. Reeve and Miss M. Beaumont, who undertook the arrangements. THE REV. J. LYALL'S MISSION. There was a large attendance at the.. Foresters' Hall, Devonport, last night- to hear the Rev. J. Lyall, the subject of his address being "Excuses." Mr., Lyall's mission closes this evening.