ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18174, 21 August 1922, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

NICOLA.

An original turn "will be given outside His Majesty's Arcade at. 1 p.m. to-day, by Nicola. Suspended by the legs in midair, while bound in a regulation prison straight jacket, he undertakes to free himself in a few seconds. Nicola has performed this feat successfully in various parte of the world. His Majesty's Theatre was crowded on Saturday afternoon and evening, the audiences being delighted and mystified by Nicola's clever enter tainment. A matinee will be given oc Wednesday, and tho season will close next Saturday. OPERA HOUSE. A new programme will be presented at the Opera House this afternoon and this evening. Artiste making their first appearance here are Mademoiselle Dolinda, trapeze artist, and Fred Webber, versatile entertainer. New tum3 will be presented by Pastor and Merle, the three Jacksons, Saunders and Roberts, Belle Mora, Hirste and Ven ton, Eddie Martyn, and Pagden and Stanley. AUCKLAND EISTEDDFOD. The musical competitions organised by the Auckland City Band were concluded at the Town Hall on Saturday, when the brass section occupied the afternoon and evening sessions. Six city and provincial bands were represented among the competitors, the contestants being especially numerous in the quartette and Bb cornet classes. Out of seven quartettes the award of the judges, Messrs. Colin Muston and Phil Mohr, was in favour of tho Whangarei No. 1 team, consisting of W. Coniglian (solo cornet), E. T. Dennis (2nd cornet), F. Eccles (horn), and L. Hoare (euphonium), under the baton of Conductor S. B. Dennis. The winners gave a nicely-balanced interpretation of a Wagnerian selection. A novelty in this class was the appearance of three basses and a euphonium, also representing Whangarei, whose playing of " Town and Country " was snch as to give them second place, equal with Auckland City No. 1 team, in the Tschaikowsky quartette. The highest marks of ■ the day were awarded to V. I Hogg, of the Garrison Artillery Band, in the Bb cornet class, for a particularly meritorious rendering of Weber's " Last Waltz." Occasional weakness in the high notes was the only blemish in a fine performance. Other performers who earned special mention were G. Munro (I3b bass), H. Rowe (horn), arid L. Munro (euphonium). The official accompanist was Mr. Cyril Towsey, assisted by Mrs. V. Hogg. The following were the awards, the number of competitors in each class; being given in parentheses flat'bass (6): G. Munro (Artillery), 103 marks, 1; E. Reed (Whangarei), 87, 2. BB flat bass (4): H. Maher (City), 91, 1; A. T. Hughes (Whangarei), 90, 2. Tenor horn (6): H. Rowe (City), 98, 1; S. Rowe (City), 87, 2. Trombone (1): H. Redwood (Thames), 1. Baritone (2): P. Williams (City), 96, 1; R. Sinclair 86, 2. Euphonium (2): L. Munro* Birkenhead, 105, 1. Soprano cornet (2): J. E. Wilson (City), 91, 1 ; R. Cooke (Watersiders'), 83, 2. BTTaf cornet (14): V. Hogg (Artillery), 107, 1; P. Hayes (Artillery), 97, 2; A. Williams (Thames), 91, 3. Quartettes (7): Whangarei No. 1, 98. 1; Whangarei No. 2 and City No. 1, 93 each, 2. Juvenile cornet section: A. Macky (Whangarei), 85, 1; S. Forth (Whangarei), 75, 2.

ITALIAN OPERA COMPANY. [ The Royal Italian Opera Concert Company will open its Auckland season afc the Town Hall on Wednesday eveningI Miss Pauline Dawson was selected by Dame Melba on her last, vidfc to Australia as the most promising rising dramatic soprano. She spent three yeaaa in Italy under the great masters, Rochet and Del Lucia, at the Royal Conservatoriuim of Music, Naples. Their training, which aims at securing dramatic intensity and sympathy rather than 1 robust loudness, is said to have developed a voice of singular sweetness and charm, combined with great fire and appeal. In Auckland she will give selections from the great Italian* operas of Mascagni. Puccini, Pergoleso, Bellini and Rassini, in addition to impressive selections with Notanelk). Besides Signor Notariello, the tenor of the combination, and Mr. Moore-MacMahon, the violinist, Mr. Carlton Fay, the pianist, is said to be a master. His appearances in Europe America and Australia, it is stated, have always evoked singular enthusiasm. Mr. Fay will play compositions by Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Liszt, Schumann, Rameau, Lack s Mendelssohn, Mozart, Mangiagalli, MacDowell, Steibelt, Smitana, Greig, and Scriabini. The famous Nocturne of Scriabini, played only with the left hand, was introduced bv Mr. Fay to Australian audiences. Five concerts will bo given in Auckland. The box; plan is now open at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., and at the Grand Hotel.

SONG RECITAL. Mr. Frank Wilson will present a number of students in a song recital at, the Town Hall concert chamber "on Saturday, September 2. Contributions to the programme will be given by Misses Ethel Fletcher, Myra Monk, Norah McManus, Fay Nezdar, Eva .Robertson, Betty Sharman, Messrs. Edward Cburchouse, Arthur Jackson, Douglas W. Russell, William Sharkey, Hugh Woods, .and John Wright. TIVOLI THEATRE. The favourite, Wallace Reid, in " The World's Champion," is providing excellent entertainment for crowded houses at the Tivoli Theatre, where the film named is ono of the leading features on the current programme. How the young son of an English aristocrat drops the classics for the gloves is interestingly related in a bright, and, at the same time, dramatic picture. The fact that a boxing match takes place between Reid and an actual ex-pugilist, Kid McCoy, heightens tho attraction of the photo-play. A second feature of the bill is " All Souls' Eve,'? in which Mary Miles Minter and Jack Holt play the leading roles with distinction. There are strong supporting films., NEW LYRIC THEATRE. " The Three Musketeers" is still proving exceedingly popular at the Lyric Theatre, where it is now in its second week. As, only a limited number of further presentations! of this fine film can be givep, would-be patrons would do well to avail themselves 6f an early opportunity, of seeing it. Douglas Fairbanks excels himself in th e role of the dashing D'Arfcagnan, and the production is wholly admirable. GRAND THEATRE Jackie Coogan, the child hero of "The Kid " and " Peck's Bad Boy," is appealing in another picture, " My Boy,"* at the Grand Theatre this week. Those who witnessed his in conjunction with Charles Chaplin will find much in his latest picture to sustain their high opinion 1 of his acting. On the same programme is shown a romantic drama, " Where Mer. Arc Men," starring William and Edith Duncan. SCOTTISH CONCERT. A grand Scottish concert in celebration of Sir Walter Scott's anniversary will be given in the Town Hall concert chamber to-morrow evening. An attractive programme of popular Scottish songs.w; trumental numbers, and dances has arranged, and patrons should be of an enjoyable entertainment. ■ will be contributed by IJada ll3 HcrHayward, Miss Jessie Bailey, and bert Richards, Mr. Cbarh» be Mr. A. ML Bryden. and rendered by Mr. _H. O. Sean little Adelia D»vi b wiU pipe .Major Truibheas. Mr . Trevol , Ferguson, and tho aocaoH-