ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13873, 6 October 1908, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"'"'" THE. FATAL WEDDING." The revival: of "The Fatal Wedding" by: the Meyriell and Gunn company at His Ma-; jesty's last evening proved a popular event, 1 and the house was well filled. This play has proved an immense success wherever it has been staged, and ;it doubtless owes much of the- favour which has greeted it t'ol<, the , variety of tastes it appeals to, while it is largely invested with that special painting known as " heart interest." A melodrama constructed on commonsense lines would in all probability freeze to death the first night. The. author of "The Fatal Wedding" has written for the melodrama-loving public, and added a specialty of his own in the tin-can band, which has proved a somewhat unique attraction. The story is the usual one of the loving wife divorced by the loving husband, who believes the: palpably ridiculous story of the villain. Then follows the abduction of the children by the wronged mother,, who gets a precarious living as a seamstress, the arrangement of a marriage between the husband and the arch " sho fiend"- and the interruption of the ceremony by the production of the important document, and the confession of the villain. The production has lost a little in. details, the choristers singing "The Voice That Breathed O'er Eden" arc less in number, and the orchestra does not fill the placo of the. organ. But the tin-can band is as vigorous as over. Highly-trained, and brought to a degree of perfection in the presentation of their parts, tho "kiddies", still retain tho happy abandon and charm' of children, and their performance was productive of great merriment from start to finish. Little' Queenie Williams in the part of Jessie, " the Little Mother," is one of the cleverest child actresses the Auckland stage has scon for a long time, and to her splendid work much of the success of tho play was due. , Her bright, intelligent, and unaffected manner is a welcome relief from the precociousness of the usual child actress. Mr.', E. Leicester appeared for the first time in the part of Howard Wilson, and played it well, but the character has obviously too many limitations for him. Miss Beatrice Holloway was well cast in the part of the divorced wife, and Miss Ida Gresham made a convincing Cora' Williams. Mr. F. Coape presented the villainy of Curtis with a good conception of the opportunity of such a : strikingly-drawn character. Tho other parts; were all in capable hands, and the piece was excellently staged. Little Donald Cameron, with a kerosene tin almost as large as himself, led the tinman band in their characteristic march, and in the vaudeville programme Daisy Mendoza was well heard in " Josepheno, My Jo," Maggie Dickenson sang the popular " Kids from the Alley," and " Pansy," and Queenie Williams scored quick success with " I Want No Other Boy." "The Fatal Wedding" will be repeated this evening. . ~ On Friday next ope of the most important productions of the season will be presented by the management, when J. A. Campbell's domestic play," The Old Folks at Home," will be presented for the first time in Auckland. The cast is a particularly strong one,: numbering 37 performers. The setting is said to bo effective and picturesque, and,on a Virginian cotton plantation, a children's' ..musical seena is presented, the little ones. who perform so creditably in the tin-can, band. i

BURNS-SQUIRES PICTURES. ..» k The Opera House was well filled last, evening, when .the Burns-Squires pictures wereagain presented/by the Ma'cMahon/arid Carroll syndicate. *i4s additional'attraction,' Wm. Squires was present to explain the incidents of the' contest. The first 'half of. ,<tho programme was devoted to- the exhibition of 'pa sories of moving pictures depicting various # subjects. Those mostpopular.,. with the audience were the films which 'reproduced the athletic events at the Olympic Stadium.': Thero wore calls for Squires immediately' after the interval, and he was given a great' reception on his appearance. He made a brief speech, and then explained the inci-; dents of.the fight for the world's champion.ship as the fine film? disclosed them on the screen. The most marked feature of Squires' running: commentary was his extreme^ "modesty when; referring to. his own share \& the contest. - -fy The syndicate leaves to-day, via the east coast, on a flying trip South. ■■•$

: ; PIANO AND SONG recital i The large audience who assembled in St.? Andrew's Hall yesterday evening to hear a piano and song r recital by Mr. "Horace Hunt - and Mr. Arthur Ballance ': were fortunate enough to hear a . distinctly high-class performance. Mr. ; Arthur Ballance is '..'the for-, tunato possessor of a fine ringing baritone voice, which really is a baritone— of most excellent quality i; and ' even register throughout The favourable impression previously formed of Mr. Horace Hunt as a, pianist was deepened last night. Mr. Hunt lias many gifts as pianist that lie will : do' well to foster. He has temperament, imagination, and insight, and is; a born musician; His technique is all that could be desired, 1 and his playing is full of light and shade.; In the first part of; the programme Mr. Ballance was heard, to particular : advantage in " Songs of the Norseland " > (Hermann Lohr)/ The three bracketed ; numbers were en-, thusiastically received.: : He also sang three •delightful compositions by Mr. Horace Hunt In the second ; part of the programme the baritone contributed "The Turn of the "and "Mine Enemy," and a group of Wallace's stirring "Freebooter Songs." He was recalled on each oecasion. Mr. Hunt's contributions, included Beethoven's " Sonata in A Flat" (Op. 26). This was superbly played, and nothing better could have been desired than .the clear manner in which the contrasting movements were - shown. . The pianist subsequently contributed a " Fan-:: tasie Impromptu'," a "Nocturne," and air "etude-" of Chopin's, Moszkowski's brilliant and % 'difficulty : Caprice : Eapagnol," and several other selections, including Liszt's " Liebestraum." Mr. Herbert Bloy pleased the audience with several violin soli contributions in his usual excellent style. His fantasia in the first part, with difficult double stopping, was deservedly encored.

ONEHUNGA FORESTERS. ' ■ The members of Court Pride of Onehunga, No. 5261, A.0.F., held a successful concert and musical entertainment in the Foresters' Hall, . Onehunga, last evening, when the district , officers . and a number ,' of visiting brethren were present. j, During the evening P.C.Rs's regalia was presented to t Brothers Marks and H. Simmonds, -the recipients suitably acknowledging same. ~ MARK HAMBOURG RECITALS. This morning at Wildman and Arey's the Mark Hambourg box , plans are; to open for the reserving of seats. Three recitals are advertised.to be given by the distinguished Russian pianist .'at the t Choral) Hall, viz.: On Monday evening, next; and : also the 15th . and 17th insfc.:':" brilliant career of the great pianist has been-a succession of crowning triumphs," says one of the Australian papers. •' Mark Hambourg's penetrative intellectuality, together with a sober respect for tradition, enables him to interpret the greatest. compositions with a breadth of reposeful feeling and . perfect execution and emotional control that belong only to an assured master of the pianoforte." Mark Hambourg since his last visit was married to a daughter of Sir Mil Mackenzie. Mrs. Hambourg and her little daughter accompany the famous pianist on his present tour. "THE GLIDEAWAY." Despite the unfavourable weather the rink continues to be well patronised, numbers of novices attending daily to learn the art of roller skating. For the wheel and bucket race to-morrow evening two prizes will be given. The race is to be run in heats. The fancy dress and impersonating carnival takes place on October 15 and 16. Numerous entries have already been received. , '■'

The children's cantata, " Sdot < and the Fairies," will be given this evening in St. George's Hall- by the junior society of the mission under the leadership of Sister Esther. The musical arrangements will bo under the direction of Mr. G. F. Cater,, the musical director of the mission. : v 'A concert, under the auspices of the Auckland Presbyterian Young Men's Bible-class Union, will be held : this .evening in St. James' Hall, Wellington-street, The • proceeds arc to assist the union in carrying out the forthcoming • Easter encampment next year. The following will contribute to tho programme:— Grace 'Lambourne; and Nellie Biggs, Dr. Keith, Messrs. 0. E. Farrow, Alan McElwain. Taylor - (trombone), Moody (flute), and the Lyrio Quartette. '_~