ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13814, 29 July 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS -MAJESTY'S.

"aaa second Auckland ■ performance oi ** Humpty-Dumpty," by Mr. J. C. Williamson's company, drew another crowded house

at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, and .-• the piece went with the manifest approval of the audience from start to finish.. " Humpty- ;-:; Dumpty" is not ; extravaganza, pantomime, nor musical comedy. It 'is a medly, which embraces the best features of the three, with- . out being; distinctly, one of them. ,It has the .. gorgeous raiment and spectacular effects of the i first, the necessary nursery rhyme and stage-animal ■ flavouring of i the second, and the modernity and sparkle of the third. The compound has been cunningly mixed, and the theatrical palate finds it very good. Tb.9 company, headed by Mr. Bert Gilbert, - is one* of uniform excellence. '■: A long interval has elapsed since Mr. Gilbert made his first acquaintance with an Australasian audience in •'The . Gay Parisienne/* * and hennas come back an even better romedian, with the same ? v ..'y- rice- singing voice of yore. >• He is ably assisted in the fun of the piece by Mr. Harry Shine—-■ J;|;f who now fairly ,ranks as Australia's leading "patter" comedian— Mr. Victor Loydall. Although Miss Mabelle Morgan has net the voc-J equipment of . Miss Florence Young the original " principal boy " of the piece she is a very efficient substitute in all other >'; respects, and sings her principal song excellently;-. Sir... G. Howard as Soaro is well placed, as are the other members of the company. *' Humpty-Dumpty" will be staged ' till further- notice, '' and there •.:■' will be " a' matinee: this alternoon, at :'. 1.45. .The box plains for the las*. performances of "'Hiiropfcy-Dumpty " —six v"night-s: and two matinees, from Monday next—will-be opened' : 'v;f' at Wiklman and Arey'a to-morrow. ; v t "-,; - . ■■ , ' .

--- - ■> .OPERA. HOUSE.

'The Opera House was well filled last night, and the " entertainment submitted was well up to the! standard. One of, the best ;turns t: provided was thai .by; Mr. Chas. ;Moody, ;, «rfK>' was equally at home in comic, sentimental, = and',' descriptive', songs, i bis contributions drawing unstinted applause. Miss Maud.' Perman proved herself to bo a vivaci-ous-comedienne of : more '■ th'.vn average ability. She ignores »the linev laid down by the stereotyped, serio, and introduces some pleasingly original methods into her torn. . The .three- Swifts appeared in a sketch/that wa* clearly to the fancy of the audience, 'if recalls can be taken ,as any, cri- : tenon.' f Miss . Julia " Longman contributed a couple of. acceptable ballads,-which ■ were accompanied by illustrations projected by the btograph. Messrs. Vernon and Mac, -balancers and 'equilibrists, proved most popular. ; - The Armon i Brothers introduced a clever musical melange, interspersed with some i high-class comedy t work. ,; Madame Blanche Carellfg_ soprano items were hailed with acclamation, several encored resulting. Messrs. \ Vaude ■ and Varna were' loudly applauded for- their smart patter act, and Miss Eva Lee and her pickaninnies contributed a sketch, which, although somewhat below the average,' appeared to be acceptable to " the audience. Mr. Bob Lloyd elicited numerous recalls for his comic sOngs, while Miss Nellie Power? and .Miss Dorothy Swift proved their . capabilities as soubrettes. Some, excellent ; pictures were shewn on the ': biograph. . ;v. '':-■ "" .. ■'

THE FRENCH CLUB.

J'; There was a good attendance at the meet- ■" > ing of the French Club, held last evening m St. Paul's schoolroom. M. Boeufye, French Consul, presided. The first part of the programme was filled by an excellent one-act • comedy, "Les Deux Timides," the parts being ' taken by Misses B. Brown and G. Buddie, < - Messrs. Ardern, Drummond, and' Wallace. "After the interval for refreshments, which were provided by Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Gres- ;.:.-: ham, a debate took place on the question of , the , suitability of athletic, sports for women. Messrs. Gresham, Francis, .. and Boeufve, , Misses Bagnall and Outhwaite and Mrs. S: Baker took part in the discussion. Several "H'.n- new members were elected. It was announced ' by the president that during Fleet Week: a -' special meeting would be held to entertain '■■>.'.:■: the French-speaking officers of the American fleet.

"A TRIP TO EUROPE." At the Hibernian Hall last evening Mr. L. T. Reichel, Government electrician, gave an interesting lecture, illustrated with many fine slides, on a trip to Europe via Suez Scenes at Colombo, Italy, and Continental capitals, and views of Ireland, Were included. Musical items were given by Messrs. Fritchard, O'Shea, and Hawthorne. The lecture was held under the auspices of the Marist Brothers Old Boys' Literary Socieiy.

DANCE AT DEVONPORT.

A dance in aid of the Society for the Protection of Women and . Children and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held in the Foresters' Hall, Devonport, last :.'; night. The hall was tastefully decorated 4 , for /the occasion, and, reflected credit on the Ladies' Committer, consisting' of Mesdames W: J.'Kapier, Giiiham, J. C. Macky, Guinness, Benjamin, Young, and Misses Graham &, y;, (2), -\ Metcalf, Marks (secretary). There ~ : '* was an attendance of 100 couples. Dancing was commenced shortly after eight o'clock, ; and. kept up.until an early hour this morning. Excellent ■ music was supplied by the »', • Devonport Band, under the conductor ship ■■; - of Mr. W. Stewart. ';;..-,;, _ >; -"