ENTEETAIMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16435, 11 January 1917, Page 7

ENTEETAIMENTS.

GRAND OPERA SEASON.

"MADAM BUTTERFLY."

Grand opera patrons assembled at His Majesty's Theatre in large numbers last night to witness the only performance this season of Puccini's picturesque " Madam Butterfly." The story of the opera is concerned with the wooing of a Japanese girl by an American naval officer, Lieutenant F. B. Pinkerton. In her devotion she regards herself, after going through a form of marriage, as his lawful wife. Pinkerton treats the whole matter as merely an episode, and after a prolonged absence from Butterfly, marries an American wife and returns, to find the girl a mother. In the end, Butterfly takes her life when she realises her dishonoured state. The music is always descriptive. ' There are no 6et numbers in the conveni tional style of the older Italian operas, rather is the subtly treated orchestration a sort of continuous musical narrative. Interest naturally centres round impersonation of the hapless Japanese girl, who, from the moment she sings of her happiness in being honoured by the American's choice, to the final scene, where she takes | her own life, has many opportunities, I musically and otherwise, of enlisting the sympathies of an audience.

3 Last night's presentation of the work £ by the Gonsalez Company was, to some • extent, disappointing. As far as the interpretation of the music was concerned, there was little fault to find, but a few weaknesses, such as a lack of youthfulness j in the stage make-up of the central figure, and a slackness about the impersonation ' of Butterfly's faithful maid, Suzuke, by Signorina Rubs, detracted somewhat from the performance. The child introduced , seemed rather out of the picture in the more impressive moments of the opera. ! Signorina Gonsalez, in the soprano titlerole, provedas formerly— a most accom--1 plished artist, winning much applause after her first entry in the beautiful "Largo" ending with a high D flat. Pathos was infused into her singing just before the signing of the contract, but it was in the exquisite love duet at the close of Act 1., where both voices soar to a high C sharp, that the heroine and Pinkerton (Signor Lois) made the supreme success of the evening. .Mention of Signorina Gonsalez's work would be incomplete without noting her free and expressive singing of the favourite " One Fine Day," in the second act. The conflicting emotions of the character were, with few exceptions, strikingly suggested, and the final tragedy was appropriately impressive. Signor Lois, in appearance and gesture, made a convincing Pinkerton. His numbers, too, were sung intelligently, the main obstacle to complete success being the vibrato effects on his higher notes. Signor Belloni's impersonation of Sharpies, the American Consul, was well thought out, and his " letter " scene showed an adequate sense of treatment. The small parts of the Bonze and Prince Yamadori were taken by Signors Cesa- I roni and Barontini respectively. Signorina Piccolo as Kate Pinkerton, and Signors Scipioni and Borgh'esi as portrayers of official characters completed a lengthy list ,of exponents. The orchestra under Signor Giovanni Gonzalez were at times somewhat unequal in their interpretation of the wonderful music to the opera. The beautiful intermezzo—one of the gemsshowed the fertility of the composer's ideas by the introduction of a humming chorus of sopranos and tenors behind the scenes. A llarge audience attended the matinee performance of "Faust" yesterday, .when the company again gave a highly satisfactory rendering of that popular opera. To-night the company will stage Puccini's "La Tosca," a work abounding in strong dramatic features. OPERA COMPANY CONCERT. Unusual interest is being taken by the music lovers of Auckland in the concert to be given in the Town Hall on Saturday night, when the full strength. of the Gonsalez Italian Grand Opera Company, combined with the full orchestra, will appear on the concert platform. They will for the occasion select the gems from the various operas that they nave performed at His Majesty's Theatre luring their present season, as well as other popular items that are not in the oresent repertoire. Solos, duets, quartettes, aid sextettes will be presented and each of the items will be accompanied bv either the orchestra, harp or piano. The box plan will open at Wildman and Arey's at 8 a.m. to-day. "WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES." The box plans for the latest George Willoughby attraction, "What Happened to Jones,' open at Wildman and Arey's this morning.

OPERA HOUSE. The attractive vaudeville programme presented at the Opera House this week is responsible for large audiences at both matinee and evening performances. The turns provided by Mr. James Dunn, » ' mimic, Mons. Alsace, violinist, and Scott y Gibson, the brilliant Scotch comedian, are I, ! accorded hearty applause, while the other ~ artists all add attractive items to the , strong programme. ___ t i KING'S THEATRE. I " The Christian" was again presented to a large audience at the King's Theatre i last evening, and the leading performers were all accorded hearty applause for their " ! work.. On Saturday next, " In the Service of Love," a melodrama by Mr. Alfred J Newcombe, of Auckland, is to be staged. The play deals with the faithfulness of * a Chinese servant, for her mistress, and is j full of incident that should make a strong 9 appeal to lovers of emotional melodrama, a Incidental music has been arranged by Miss Abie Taylor's orchestra, and special , scenery and dresses are in preparation for ' the opening performance. } ■■ ■■— . —— \ STRAND THEATRE. > At the Strand Theatre this week "Frir, day the 13th " is proving a strong attraction to picture lovers. Robert Warwick, II the well-known and popular actor, plays i i the leading part, and he is ably supported r by a first-class company of players. There I are some excellent scenes in the picture, , i notably those that have their setting in i ' the Stock Exchange. The story portrayed II is intensely human in its conception, and . j the natural situations depicted appeal very . ! strongly on account of their realism. The [ supporting programme embodies several > j excellent pictures a charming scenic of I Mount Dore being particularly attractive. ,'"Their Dream House" and the latest ,' Pathe Gazette complete an excellent programme. "Peggy," with Billie Burke in i! the leading part, is to be screened at the j change of programme on Saturday. TTVOLI THEATRE. The comedy romance, '' The Red . Widow," with comedian John Barrymore I in the lead, has proved a popular attraction at the Tivoli Theatre this week. The I humour in the piece is distinctly refreshing, jand the incidents novel in construcj tion. Excellent directing has extracted | nil the fun out of familiar old complica- ! tions, while careful detailing and excellent j photography have added atmosphere to I the story of the innocent American who i passes a woman Nihilist into Russia as his wife. At the weeklv change of programme on "Saturday " Mr, Orex of Monte Carlo " will be the leading picture. KING GEORGE THEATRE. Marguerite Clark, in the Famous Players' production, " Still Waters," is the leading feature in the change of programme at the King George Theatre today. She has an ideal part that gives her abundant opportunities which she utilises to the full. As a young, impulsive child, full of tricks, but innocent of the world's temptations, and brought up on a canalboat with only an old grandfather and

cabin boy as companions, she unconsciously reaches womanhood without realising the fact. The canal banks and a circus form the principal scenes, and wherever she is placed Miss Clark's charming personality dominates and imparts a fascination {fiat is irresistible. The production is charming in point of scenery, acting, and general detail. A good supporting programme includes a picture version of Ella Wilcox's poem " Angel or Demon."

\ \ GLOBE THEATRE. . Elizabeth Risden, the well-known moving picture actress; gives a superb exhibi- ] tion of her unique histrionic genius in 1 " The Morals of Weybury," which is being i screened at all sessions of the Globe Theatre this week. Adapted from " The Hypocrites" by H. A. Jones, the film version loses nothing of the powerful attraction which made the stage drama such a success. i PRINCESS THEATRE. There is the same power and thrill in " The Wheel of the Law " that in a novel holds the reader far into the night bent j on completing the book before putting out i the light. It is a fine picture, ard Erailv I Stevens and Frank Mills in the leading ■ parts depict most vividly that la v is not always justice. John Bull's Sketch-book and a clever Drew comedy are included in the Princess programme. ; LYRIC THEATRE. The attractive photo, play, "The Eye of the Night," makes pleasing entertainment at the Lyric Theatre this week. Well photographed, and with strict attention paid to the smallest detail in the construction of the drama, it is worthy of the attention of picture-lovers. The principles expounded and put into practical effect by the old lighthouse-keeper, who, despite the slander of the village people, shelters an erring girl and her child, stand for a good moral tone. i GRAND THEATRE. The Triangle photo, play, " The Eye of the Night," which features the well-known picture-player, William H. Thomson, is attracting large audiences to the Grand Theatre at every session. The artistry of the production, the originality of the plot, and the sensational bombing attack 'rom : aeroplanes, introduced in the picture, r.'e j features that make a distinctly novel photo, play The supporting programme I presents two clever comedies, and a ~!aumont Graphic, picturing some of the latest incidents from the vicinity of the firing line in France. WEST END THEATRE. The latest picture featuring Charlie Cbaplin, "The Count," is being screened at the West End Theatre for the remainder of the week. A supporting programme of interesting subjects is shown in conjunction with the leading attraction. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Count," the latest release of the Mutual studios, which features Chai'io Chaplin, is being screened at all sessions of Everybody's Theatre this week. The | picture is one long laugh from the time Charlie applies the tape measure to the tailor's fair client until he plays golf with the decorations on the iced cake. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The love of a sweet little woman like Marguerite- Clark is wasted on her partner in the film drama, "The Question," being screened at the Queen's Theatre this week. How the husband takes to drink, and the home life of the couple becomes a blank, is pictured with a wealth of detail. The tenth episode in the serial picture, "The Mysteries of Myra," is screened, in conjunction with several other attractive films.