ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13391, 21 January 1907, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

Fn.i.ttt'.s Minstrel and Vaudeville Company appeared in an entirely new programme on Saturday night, and patrons of tin Opera House will have an opportunity of seeing it any night this week until Saturday. The audience! were again treated to an entertaining and amusing comedy -ketch by the Hollo-, entitled "The Game of Life." in which were introduced the latest musical novelties. The turn by Les»o and Roberts was greatly appreciated. The conjuring, balancing, and other feats performed by them were exceedingly clever, and deserved the unstinted applause they received. Miss Lucy Lavinia had to sing a largo budget of songs, included mi which were '-Hello, Little Girl. Who Are You?" "Rosy, Cosy Bungalow." and Mamie Lady." Mr. Slade Murray, the character-comedy vocalist, was exceedingly well received, and was three time-; recalled. The Lewis Sisters appeared in double song and dance, and won the decided approval oi the- audience-. Their number-, included

"Pretty .Mimosa" and "Jockey Hornpipe. Miss Amy Blackie's rendering of "Goodbye. My Rosebud," was heartily applauded. Mr. Arthur Tancher's comic songs proved most popular, and lie was accorded an enviable reception. Little Eileen McLeod was very successful in her serio and dance turn, while Mr. Andy Roberts and Mr. Sam. Wilson provided a variety of comic songs, all adding considerably to the night'- enjoyment. Mr. A. L. Croup'- song, "The Friar of Orders Gray," was well rendered. Miss Florrie Leigh's serio.s met with approval. A number of new slider:, amusing and interesting, were depicted by the Warwick bioscope.

THE FIJIAN IT RE-WALK The Fijian fire-walker-, gave their final performance at Alexandra Park, Kp-otn. on Saturday afternoon, 'there were about: 1500 spectators present. The fire-walkers again walked over the bed of red-hot .-tone-, flic Orakei Maoris, who were to have met the Fijian* in a tug-of-war and -port- events. • lid not attend, owing to a death at the- settlement, and in lieu the management arranged a -port- programme on Hie ground. This embraced a tug-o-war (11 men a-side) between the Fijian- and the Tramway- Company's employees, a sack race, climbing a 4Oft pole, and two running events, one over 75yds and the other over 440 yds. The Fijian* won the tug-of-war, but their runners were defeated in the 75yds sprint by a local pedestrian named Taylor. The 440 yds race, the sack race, and the pole-climbing by the Fijian-, aroused a good deal of interest, especially the latter event. A number of Fijian dances were- also given. The Fijian- will leave for Fiji by the s.s. Hauroto on Wednesday.

"THE ORCHID." The box plans for the first six performances of "The Orchid," with which Mr. .1. C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company commence their season at His Majesty's Theatre on Friday evening next, will la, opened at Messrs. Wildman and Arey's this morning, at nine, o'clock. As in all probability there will be an exceptionally great demartd for -eats, arrangements have been made- to obviate overcrowding by only allowing a limited number to inspect the plans at one time, and that for each night will lie attended to separately. The now opera will he- staged on a scale of magnificence completely eclipsing any of the firm's previous displays. In criticising " TieOrchid." a Wellington paper said: "The Opera House contained a record attendance-, when this bright musical comedy was pre--fined for the first time in New Zealand by the Royal Comic Opera Company. Both the performers and the performance met with a most enthusiastic reception. The old favourites of the company each received an ovation, and more than one artist new to Wellington was given a warm corner in the. esteem of a thoroughly pleased audience. It was borne upon everybody from the outset that what they were- going to witness was intended by its authors to amuse, and by it- composers to delight, by its producers to (harm. And what was intended happened. The dialogue, light, and inconsequential, created con-taut mirth, the music set the senses dancing to it- ryhthm, and the spectacular effects fairly dazzled the sight. The prince of operatic- comedians. Mr. George Lauri. who i- reputed to be in better form than ever, i- still with the company, also several other old favourites. The, places) of others ha\e been filled by artists of high reputation from England and elsewhere, and these will make their first appearance hero during the forthcoming season.

"THE LITTLE STRANGER." The second performance of '"The Little Stranger" was given at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening, when the peculiar inventive genius of Master Willie Parke (as the "little stranger") for humour was enjoyed by a very large audience. The play goes with a swing from rise to fall of the curtain, and for this Master Parke is mainly responsible, though the other artists in the company prove themselves a clever band of players. On the whole a most enjoyable evening's fun is provided. To-night the play will be reported, together with the amusing comedietta "Wig and Gown."