ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14132, 6 August 1909, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"AS YOU LIKE IT."

Auckland theatregoers last night "tocperi* j enced the pleasure of bearing and steing ; Miss Nellie Stewart in a Shakespereau part —that of Rosalind in "As You Like It." His Majesty's Theatre was filled in every ] part with an audience eagerly curious to see'J how the popular actress would interpret a Shakesperean part. It was an extremely ' critical audience, applause coming slowly ! at first, but gradually scepticism melted under the glow of appreciation, and those who had come to anatomise remained to praise.....

In the opening scenes the reflective melancholy of Rosalind, caused by thoughts of her father's banishment, and her own dependence upon her uncle (the false usurper of her father's dukedom), was effectively expressed, although a slight voice affection, resulting from the taxing demands of the heavy season, made itself occasionally .apparent. It was, however, after Rosalind had been ordered to leave the duke's palace, and Celia, her cousin, had fled with her to the forest, that the full pleasure of the play made itself apparent. Here, in the guise of a young countryman, bravely acting the part of the rustic stout-hearted brother of Celia, habited as a country lass, Miss Stewart was completely at home, and made the most of the part. In a bewitching scene with Orlando, in the wild forest, Miss Stewart, as the disguised ■ shepherd Ganymede, indulged in the sportive play of a feigned courtship with delightful merriment, and her brilliant sallies were captivating in the extreme. Her cowhide garb surrounded her with a strikingly rural atmosphere, which was not dispelled until the final scene.

The Orlando of Mr. Langhc-rne Burton was a manly portrayal; Mr. Fredk. Moyes succeeded well as the banished duke, and Mr. Claude King (Jaques) excelled in his recitals, particularly in "The Seven Ages of Man Mr. A. B. Tapping (who wee also the director of the excellent scenic effects) cleverly took the part of old Adam, Mr. Harry Ashford made an excellent Touchstone, Mr. Conway Wingfield was forceful as Oliver, and Miss Harriet* French caused considerable laughter in her impersonation of Audrey. The final performances will be to-night, to-morrow afternoon, and night. ■;•

"JACK AND JILL." It is one of the paradoxes of pantomime that the principal boy is a girl and the dame a man,: and that, while the former makes the poetic appeal, so to speak, the latter, so far from being an idealisation, is a burlesque of everything feminine. Mr. J. M. ; Campbell, in "Jack and Jill" is therefore quite within his rights when he presents Widow Cobble as an i; amusingly garrulous old woman, "never tired of telling all her woes, or of angling for the hand of, the wealthy Baron Bounce. In this manner he provides; a series of amusing interludes in the course of the evening, and in the most genial manner satirises the fair sex. The principal boy, however, returns good for evil. : Miss Stella Gastelle presents a very charming boy, in which character she has had considerable experience, having for some years been greatly in request by English managers for these parts. She made her first;" hit" in " Aladdin," and scored a huge success from ■ the first, combining, as she did, 'all-the', attractions of a pantomime boy with the advantages of an ' operatic training in Leipzic ; and Paris. Her impersonation of Jack has been generally praised for its frank boyishness, and vivacity 4 throughout the Australasian career of the present pantomime. Mr. Fred. Leslie is the ; Baron Bounce of : the cast. Prince Opulent is ~: played by Miss Stella Selbourne, who has visited Auckland as leading boy in the late iJ. F. Sheridan's Pantomime Company. Mr. Victor Xoydell, Miss Nance' Maher, Miss Olga Grey, and many other popular names are rathe- cast. V ~ ■-■'-V'V'-. ''..... '.'.'■'*''' ■ ROYAL ALBERT- HALL. Large audiences continue to patronise the Pathe Picture entertainment, and ; this week's programme is , really excellent. The star film is "Where is My Wandering Boy," a picture story which was enthusiastically received : last night. ■} ; I The comedy subjects are particularly good. '

. - • TIVOLI. , - In addition to picture programme at the Tivoli, Newton, Mr. Hayward will present, for a week commencing on Monday, the trio of singers and comedians, ; "The Harmonious Huxhame," with new eonge, acts, and funnyisms. OPERA HOUSE. The popularity of this week's programme was , again in evidence . last night, when Fuller's Wide World : Pictures were shown to a large audience. " Winter Logging in Canada showed us the timber industry in the heart of the huge forests, and the great pines being brought down sent quite a thrill through : the audience, so ;:realistic;; is ;' it. ~\ The same programme will be repeated tonight, but on Saturday afternoon there will be a complete change, when 'Victorien Sardou's tragedy of " La Tosca" will be produced, with Madame Sarah Bernhardt in the name part. "JUDAS MACCABEUS." A fair audience assembled in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening to hear the production by the Birkenhead and Northcote Musical Society of Handel's oratorio, "Judas Maccabeus'' and had the pleasure of listening to a finished and well-balanced , performance, in which * chorus and orchestra did equally meritorious work. The society has a etrong chorus, which did excellent service, especially in the more martial parts. The interpretation ,of the alternatingly devotional and defiant theme was always intelligent, and the conductor (Mr. W. T. Sharp) is to be congratulated on having so much talent under his baton. The society was fortunate in its vocalists. Madame Chambers was in excellent voice, and Miss E. Husband was heard to advantage, especially in her devotional numbers. Mr. W. K. A. Stewart infused spirit into his items. Mr. W. C. Prime completed an excellent . quartette. The orchestra and chorus were well matched. Miss Sharp made an efficient pianist.

ORGAN RECITAL. A highly successful organ recital was given in St. David's Church, Khyber Pose, last evening, by Mr. E. S. Craston, Mm Bac., organist and choirmaster of the church. There was a large attendance. The solos played by Mr. Craston included Batiste's " Offertoire in E,'' Haydn's " Andante from Quartett in F," Handel's "Andante Maestoso and Allegro," Boellman'e "Priere," Bach's "Prelude and Fugue," grand organ study, Kuir'fi "Elegy and Prayer,' and Salome's "Marche," During the evening vocal solos were contributed by Miss Lambourne and Messrs. J. W. Ryan and W. Aspinall. ,; The anthem, "The Day is Past and Over," was given by St. David's choir. v "THE GAYMAKERS." A capital entertainment was given by " The Gaymakers," some 40 or 50 of the younger members of St. Sepulchre's Church, in St. Sepulchre's Parish Hall, last evening. : The performers, a attired in costumes similar to those worn .by '•' "The Merrymakers," ; who recently appeared ;in Auckland, opened with a'chorus, which -was warmly applauded. Then followed items by "The Irresistible Mike, the eggproof comedian," a " Song Seri6so by, the Soapralto of the ' Company," "Reggie the Refined" in a comic item, "Jack and Jill" in a topical duet, a ballad by "A Robber and the Den of Thieves,"; a. song by :'" The Qurious ] Quartette,",;'a plantation I 6ong by "The Iro-Scotch vocalist," items by "The Gay Drum-major and his ': Band of Beauties," an item by " Cliff, the Comedian," assisted by other comedians, a duet by "Mi* Hook of , Holland," and "Ike, the Comedian," etc, The entertainment was much appreciated by '}. the largo > audience present, frequent encore numbers being insisted upon. ■ ■■- ; :: ; / ; -■: ■•' v ; ;'-'G