ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13369, 26 December 1906, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MARIE NARELLE CONCERT COMPANY. Miss Mar Nabex-lb will make her first appearance in Auckland to-night at the Choral Hall. " The Queen of Irish Song," as she is called, comes with a high reputation as a ballad-singer, a reputation gained of late years in the Old World and America, and more recently in Australia and the •southern towns of this colony. Her speciality is the singing of Irish ballads, but her repertoire covers a wide range of English and Scotch songs as well. The tenor of the companv is Mr. Chester Fentrees, who received his musical training in Paris and London. Australian critics speak in high praise of his beautiful voice, and more recently the Wellington and Christchurch press spoke of him in very favourable terms. Miss Constance BrandonUsher, a graduate of the Leipsie Conservatorium, will contribute solos, and act as accompanist. Her playing has been much admired during the tour. The box plan to-day is at His Majesty's Cafe. Special trams will leave the Three Lamps at seven, a-quartei; past seven, and hall-past seven direct for the hall. ■

A number of leading citizens have arrang- j ed to give Miss Marie Narelle it welcome to j Auckland at the Star Hotel oil Thursday ! morning at half-past ten. Before she left America President Roosevelt gave a farewell to this celebrated ballad-singer at the White House, and on her arrival in Sydney she was entertained in the Town Hall by Mr. Carruthers, tho Premier, and nearly 2000 citizens. BROUGH-FLEMMING COMPANY. The first production of the comedy-drama,. "Dr. Wake's Patient," will 'take place tonight at His Majesty's Theatre. The story is a simple and interesting one. Lady Gerauia is thrown from her horse, and carried into a farmhouse belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Wake. She has "hurt her arm, and torn her skirt. Luckily, Dr. Forrester Wake, the son of the old couple, and the "cleverest doctor in London," has just arrived on a visit to his old parents. He .bandages up the arm and sews up the skirt of Lady Gerania. In the meantime he falls in love with her, and she with him. Then they part, ignorant of each other's names. | As a result-, Gerania pines, and is advised ! to consult the celebrated Dr. Wake. They are delighted' to meet , again, and he prescribe.? a rest at a quiet little placeSeton Barr. At Setou things still go wrong. Dr. Wake, turning up suddenly, has reason to believe that Gerania is in love with somebody else. He is greatly comforted, therefore, when lie finds out it is all a mistake. But trouble once more steps in, for no sooner lias he proposed to Gerania, and been accepted, than Gerania's patents object to his father and mother. Obviously there is nothing for the young man to do but to give her up. Happily, the whole thing is settled l to the mutual satisfaction of all parties concerned, and at the last moment Dr. Wake gets news that he has had the honor of knighthood conferred upon him. A feature of to-night's performance will be tho reappearnce in this city of Mrs. Brough, who will be seen in the character of " The Countess of St. Olbyn." Miss Beatrice Day will play "Lady Gerania," while Mr. Herbert Flemming will be seen as Andrew Wake, an old Devonshire farmer. During

the past nine days His -Majesty's Theatre lias been undergoing a. thorough cleaning out, the whole of the place Laving been repainted. OPERA HOUSE. A holiday audience attended at the Opera House 011 Monday night. The vaudeville programme was well received, and great enthusiasm was displayed over many of the turns—notably the knife-throwing of Wild Friday, the statuary of Apollo Belvidere, and the contortions, of Ilex. Last night the illustrated concert was highly entertaining. Beautiful views of "Modern New York" were shown, and also ''London to Rome." Songs oi a sacred character were interspersed throughout the programme. Miss May Fuller was loudly applauded for her splendid elocution in reciting George R. Sims' '"Billy's Rose." To-night the vaudeville programme will be given, when several extra items will, be introduced.

SACRED AND SECULAR CONCERT.

At His Majesty's Theatre last evening the Steele-Payne Company presented a sacred and secular concert programme before a good house. As bellriuger# this company is well known throughout the colony, and the audience was afforded a most enjoyable evening. The company opened with the part song, Steal Away to Jesus," and then contributed several beautiful bell numbers, "Marseillaise," "Georgia Rose," and " Kentucky Home." Miss Kate Maher was hoard to advantage in the vocal number, ".Hosanna in Excelsis," and Miss Lizzie Payne added a most enjoyable item with numerous strings of small bells, playing the sacred solo, "He Wipes the Tear From Every Eye." Other solos were "Rocked ill the Cradle of the Deep," by Miss L. Tansley, " A Thousand Leagues'," by Mr. J. Williams; "0 Dry those Tears," by Miss Alice Appleby; "Angels Ever Bright and Fair," by Miss Tansley; and l "The Last Muster," by Mr. J. Williams. Mr. Elston Whidburn contributed two good recitations. " The Old Brigade," by the bellringers, was a particularly enjoyable item, and as an encore " Ben Bolt " was added.

The company also contributed the part song.v, " Plantation Melodies," and " The Vesper Hymn." The features of the second part were the mandolin and banjo trie number by Misses Payne and Appleby and Mr. R. Steele, and the hand bell chorus, "Sweet Chiming Bella." Numerous encores were demanded during the evening.