ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13839, 27 August 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. " Charley's Aunt" was accorded a very favourable reception from a largo audience at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when it was produced for the last time during the Thornton season. This evening and the two following evenings "The Private Secretary" will be played. In this comedy Mr. Frank Thornton will appear as the Rev. Robert Spalding. Twenty years ago Mr. Thornton captured New Zealand with his characterisation of this gentleman, whose nervous care of I his goloshes and his bath bun and milk \ provided unrestrained laughter for thousands ,of people. It is still Mr. Thornton's best part, and those who witness his performance are assured of a delightful time. HANDEL'S " SAMSON." The performance of " Samson" by the Auckland Choral Society to-morrow evening, with the assistance of Mr. Charles Saunders, England's oratorio singer, and Miss Clara Robson, the English contralto, should be an event of more than ordinary interest to music-lovers of this city. Mr. Saunders undoubtedly occupies tho foremost position amongst contemporary oratorio tenors, and has won no little fame in the rendering ot the magnificent airs allotted to the character of Samson in Handel's great work of this name. As only a limited number of unreserved seats at 3s each arc open to tho public, intending patrons should make immediate application to the booking-office at Wildman and Arey's. MISS AINSLEY-S MATINEE. Miss Irene Ainslcy's farewell concert in Auckland took the form of a matinee at the Choral Hall yesterday, when there was a Rood audience. The programme was opened by Mr. G. E. Poore, who contributed the flute solo " Papillou—Etudo" (Kohler), for which he was accorded a well-merited round of applause. Mr. Hamilton Hodges followed with the song " Across the Far Blue Hills, Marie" (Blumenthal), and he was obliged to respond to an emphatic encore. Miss Irono Ainsley, who was accorded an ovation when she came on to the sfTige, opened her part of the programme with Bembcrg's " Chant Hindoo, ' a number which was received with enthusiastic favour, and she responded with the song "Absent." In the second part of the programme she added the bracketed numbers, "Lilies" (Barry) and "In My Garden" (Liddle). the latter item especially being accorded such warm approval that Miss Ainsley had to come forward with an encore song. Subsequently she sang the favourite solo "Abide With Me" (Liddle), which also had to be followed by an encore. Mrs. E. H. Queree, who played the accompaniments, also contributed two pianoforte solos" Murine hides" (Luftchen) and "Staccato Caprice " (Vogrich). In the second part of the concert Mr. G. E. Poore played tho flute solo Lemmone's " Graceful Dance," and an encore number, and Mr. Hodges was also encored for his Hinging of Schumann's Two Grenadiers." Mr. Midgley accompanied on j the organ. ! CHARLES SAUNDERS. Lovers of music and song are looking forward with pleasure to the recitals to be given ' at the Choral Hall, commencing with the i Auckland Choral Society to-morrow night, and following with grand song recitals on Saturday and Monday next by Mr. Charles Saunders and Miss Robson (Mrs. Saunders). It is but rarely that Mr. Saunders can manage to get so far away during the interval between the seasons in England, though ho has succeeded twice or thrice during the past. 10 years iu paying a visit to South Africa. In the forthcoming series of concerts the programme, like the prices, will be on a popular scale, and a treat is in store for those who appreciate hearing popular songs and brilliant music as sung by Mr. Saunders. Mr. Saunders' personality is' an engaging one. and he and his audience are always from the commencement on the most cordial terms. As for Mrs. Saunders, in the press notices of the recent Melbourne season her singing was especially praised, particularly for her rendering of tho old Scotch tongs. The box plan is now on view at Wildman and Arey's. Tho management anticipates large audiences, and therefore desires to advise intending patrons to reserve their seats. A lecture entitled " Home by Way of Rio Janeiro" will lie given in the Ponsonby Baptist Church by the Rev. Gray Dixon this evening.