ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14231, 30 November 1909, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ANDERSON DRAMATIC COMPANY.

That which, to one class of theatregoer, is the veriest twaddle is, to another class, as the salt of the earth. Give some people high-class drama, and they will ask nothing better, whereas it would be a wasted gift conferred upon others who are quite as numerous, if not more so. It is to this latter class that your sensational melodrama, full to the .brim of blood-curdling and hair-raising situations, , appeals. - To cater for such there has ■ arisen an army of authors, some of whom are dramatists, and some of whom call themselves by that name, and the works of imagination that they turn out are duly taken in hand by managers whose business it is to give the play-going ' public what they want. The result of this thirst on the part of so many persons for sensationalism has been a crop of melodramas ranging from the truly dreadful to the astonishingly good. " The Great World of Jkmdon," in which the Anderson Dramatic Company successfully inaugurated its season at His Majesty's Theatre last night, belongs neither to the one classification nor the other, but somewhere in between. It is. not appallingly bad, and it is not surpassingly excellent. The main thing is that it pleased the audience hugely, so much so that they were almost always applauding and generally cheering into the .bargain. As , a matter of fact it is quite a long time since such enthusiasm was displayed over a production in the same theatre. Which all goes to show that Mr. Wm. Anderson is a wise theatrical caterer. Allied with the customary acts of felony and personal violence, of which the immaculate hero is invariably falsely accused (until such time as the onlookers have to catch their trams), there are in "The Great World of London" one or two start-' ling sensations, the best of which is a wellworked railway scene, in which a train murder is committed by the villain. Herein the mechanical effects are realistically carried out, and the illusion is anything but poor. The old church at Richmond is a good spectacular scene, in which perhaps the most striking dramatic situation of the piece occurs. Amidst a plethora' of comedy, that was heartily laughed at last : night, but all more or less painful to anybody ' not blessed with a complacent sense of humour, there is one bright bit in the last act. This is a scene in the interior of a Salvation Army shelter, in which the author has done some really capable character drawing of an entertaining type. For the rest there are the usual platitudes and soliloquies, and the, indispensable "digs" at the rich and the wicked, without which no melodrama would : be complete. In short, the fare offered ;is of a kind that may be relied upon to draw full,houses, because it is so eminently calculated to prove palatable and appetising to the majority. ■?• . Mr. Vivian Edwards is a breezy young actor, who for once gives us a buoyant, spirited hero, not. to be daunted by. a few years in gaol, nor the sentence of death.' There is something fresh, youthful, and vigorous about f Mr. Edwards' impersona- ; ; tion which warrants his almost instantaneous popularity. His foil, the villain, is well played by Mr. Herbert Linden,, who remains praiee-worthily : cool t whilst' perpetrating the most ': diabolical deeds. Miss Kate Gair has a quiet, womanly style, and makes the heroine a i sympathetic enough study, : tempering her emotional work judiciously. . Mr. Charles Throsby, as a staunch friend of virtue in distress, proves himself a comedian deserving of better lines. His partner in the comedy element is Mrs.; Barry Lane, an actress^ of experience, Mr. John dedJacey Jis billed as the "heavy father,"; and is under the suspicion of being l likewise the "drunken passenger," and one or two other individuals in the course of the evening, fc* He reels off each, characterisation with imperturbed mien. : Mr: Alf. Holland is a weak spot in the cast, and Mr. Stewart Garner, is only slightly/stronger. Both portray doers of reprehensible deeds. Mr. CrosbievWard, as an obvious burglar, is gruff .enough; and villainous-looking enough to suit all tastes. He is unfortunately murdered, but not too late to permit of him saving . the hero's neck from the noose by a tardy confession.; The cast is a long one, and some of the remaining , parts have very fair exponents, whilst others have not.

" The Great World; of London" will be repeated to-night, and until further notice.

MUSICAL. CRUISES.

The musical cruises have come- to"stay." Last evening's initial concert was a great' success. The s.s. Condor left the wharf at eight, loaded : with .a crowd that filled practically every part of the vessel, and a most happy crowd it was, who thoroughly, enjoyed the . whole programme. It is difficult to say which was enjoyed f the more—the delightful cruise'■; in the i keen, fresh air, the charming concert, or the brilliant series of animated photography. .The.-'boat,,- after half-an-hour's cruise to the strains of Meredith's full ,- orchestra/ .anchored in the light of the rising moon, under the shadow the Rangitoto. ; Here a varied programme of vocal ; and instrumental items,; enlivened by exquisite partsinging, , was given. Miss Louie Fisher sang charmingly "Idle Words," and, being encored, gave Hill's famous Maori song, descriptive of the poi dance. Mr. Neville Blackmore was equally successful in ." Songs of Araby" and ■;'. " The Little Irish Girl." Mr. Allan McElwain, the humorist of the party, received a flattering reception for• his /'Uncle Josh" : arid \ " 0 Memory." The Lyric Quartette, than j which no finer combination of male: part-! singers exists in New Zealand,: contributed several of their masterpieces, and Mr. ■! Hunter was heard to: great advantage in I a finished cornet solo. The entertainment concluded with a brilliant series of electric pictures, thrown 'on a screen, which had been , ingeniously erected amidships, and clearly visible to the crowd who thronged the * deck. Altogether, sf it was a delightful-evening, and those who appreciate an "al fresco" entertainment in the unrivalled setting of Auckland Harbour ; should certainly Lake, advantage of the musical cruises which are >to be repeated to-night and every evening, rain or fine. ■ •'...

OPERA HOUSE. The Opera House was comfortably filled last night on the second night's presentment of the new programme of Fullers' Pictures. The films dealing with the. Zeigler expedition to the * North Pole attracted considerable interest, as did also "The Slave," "Mexican Bill," and "Instructions by Correspondence." The programme will be repeated this evening. .-; v ROYAL ALBERT ; HALL. There was another large audience at the Royal Albert Hall last night to witness the current programme of pictures, all of which were received with warm approval, especially "The Sword and the King," "London Zoo. Series," and "The False' Lunatic." The programme will be repeated this' evening. < TIVOLI THEATRE. Another good audience assembled at the Tivoli Theatre last night, when the current programme of Pathe Pictures was repeated, the favourites being: "Scenes in a Modern Seaport," " Princess Nicotine," and < "The Sword and = the King." The same programme will be given this evening. ' STUDENTS' CONCERT. A successful students' concert was given in St. Andrew's Hall last night by the pupils of Mrs. Hamilton Hodges, assisted by Miss Elsie Hamilton's; pianoforte students. The hall was comfortably filled. The pupils acquitted, themselves well, in spite , of nervousness;; ; Master BobbyGeddes was encored for his rendering of Maseagni's" Maria,'' with ; orchestral accompaniment. Others taking part' were Misses Becroft, Garland, J;Geddes, Stone, McMasteiy Sheath, : Mitchell, : Rimmer, Ralph, Miller, Kent, Bradney, Jones, Rae, Hemus (2), , Mills, Joy, Jackson, \ and Messrs. Massey, Gleeson, Fishwiek, Buscomb, and:: Dixon. The accompaniments K were played by Miss Kathleen Hunt.