ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5294, 4 June 1904, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

SANFORD'S AMERICAN FLAYERS. A savour ol Uio sea always leuua iasciualiou to wliat is known as spectacular drama. In ’'Tempest. lotsed," presented by Sanford's Piaycis to a crowded trpera House last evcuuig, a suiiLol Uie ormy is given to the gicen suoiea el the anew England territory, L.S.A. The story is as old as civilisation. It tells oi tne wealtliy stranger wlio cumos to tue Ush■mg village, marries seemly, tires, and subsequently. attempts to do away with tiie pretty village maiden, and dually is exposed by tho good aud proper people ot uie play. Tne bad man lu this instance is Mr Richard Wentworth, and his victim Nellie Preston, sister of Tom Prestju, the breezy sailor lad who thrives on a diet of salt junk. Tho tool whom " entworth uses for his : evil ends, one Jabez Haggard, has a daughter beloved ef Preston. Wentworth has arranged with Haggard to take Nellie off his hands, but that shrewd villain, while professing to have killed tho girl has really only concealed her. and blackmails W entworth. Wentworth tires of the imposition, and coming upon Preston while that, gallant person is protesting with his lists against Haggard thrashing his daughter, ktrikes tho latter with an oar, and, thinking he has killed him, lavs tho blame upon Preston. The latter is imprisoned in the lighthouse cellar "until tho sheriff arrives," and while there Haggard recovers and resolves to do tho right thing. He restores Nellie Preston to her borne, and then, sets off to tho lighthouse to release Preston and expose tho real villain. The latter, foreseeing his end, visits the lighthouse and applies a slow match to some powder barrels lying handily about. Tho explosion occurs during a storm, just as Preston, who has soon signals of distress, dives into a seething sea of canvas and rescues his sister, who has not been able to restrain tho desire to visit her brother. Haggard also arrives considerably tossed by the tempest and clears the atmosphere by speaking the brutal truth about all things. Beyond a few modified heroics, Mr Sanford, as Tom Preston, Is not called upon to do any fine work, but what he did was upon othorodox lines. Mr W, C. Henderson was tho genteel villain, and Mx George Kunkel gave a rugged sketch as Jabez Haggard. That clever actress. Miss Laura Wall, was admirably suited as Mary Haggard, and Miss Alice Ward made Nellie Preston as miserable a person as tho author no doubt intended. Miss Adelaide Bootbby,waa pert and pleasing oe Polly Perkins. But tho buffoonery of Mr UnISUK Wray as Long was ovordono. The best sketch given is that of Zackary I’cgg by Mr Baft. Wallace. Onoo mors Mr Sanford demonstrated that ho ■, has brought to Now Zealand ono of the finest portfolios of stock scenery that has been exhibited in Wellington for soma years. The storm at sea was nearly convincing, '‘Tempest Tossed - ' will be produced again this evening, HIS MAJESTY'S. Every part of His Majesty's Theatre was filled hint nignt/ and Uio ticket boxes wore closed I ong before the eoiammuoomont of tho entertainment. An entirely new programme was given by a fresh set*--of and both tho programme and tho artists deserved tne measure of appreciation they received. Of toureo, tho principal "turn" was mat given by Loanon, Hyman and Lennon. It waa clever and hovel,-and tho trio has lost nothing in me art ot entertaining since its visit to England. Then there was >v ill Stevens, the comedian; tho Steele Sisters, with an original musical sketch; Misses May Mar- i low and Boeo Belmont, edd-tiroe favourites 1 at the theatre; Miaa Dolly Lornont, with her “motto” songs; and Messrs Joo Rocks and Ben Menzies, who sang comic songs. To-night tho programme will be repeated i MADAME COPE-DOWSING’S CONCERT. A grand oonoert by Madame Gopo-Dow. sing and her pupils is announced to lake place in the Sydney street Schoolroom on Wednesday, evening next. Careful preparation has bocn maoe for the event, and the programme embraces twenty - two items, which promise a treat to lovers of good music. In three numbers f Madame ; :i Cope-Dowsing is to take pail—singing "Remembrance" (Tclma), with violin obligato by Miss Zita Cope; the oporatio duet. "Of Fairy Wand," from "Man--tana," in conjunction with Mr hr. Hood: and tho laughing trio "Pvo mot the Queen," from ."The Rose of Ciu-tilo," m conjunction with anss E. House and M.r A. 'Boll. Other high-class and attractive items include the recitative and aria, “Arm, arm, ye Brave;" the "Angelos” trio and chorus from "Marttana,* and the descriptive scena, “The Desert.” Tho instrumental items for pianoforte and violin are also well choeon; anu on tno whole a most enjoyable and meritorious performance may bo expected. Mr Maugham Barnett will giro the first of three pianoforte recitals on Taureday, June 16th, in St. John's Chnroh Hall, Subscribers of one guinea will receive three tickets for each recital. 'The plan for reserved seats is now open at the Dresden rooms, where subscribers' and single tickets can be obtained. A concert and “social - " in aid of the Sisters of the Poor and the Homo for Incurables will be given in the Drilishod next Wednesday evening, ihc committee is to meet to-morrow afternoon at the Creche, Buckle street. The annua] ball of the lierotaunga Mounted Rifles was held in St. Peter's Schoolroom last night, about eighty couples being present The hall, tricked out in bunting, lanterns and greenery, with relief of arms, waa a credit to Sergeants McMillan and Bird, who attended to the decorations. Music waa supplied by Miss Hawthorne’s orchestra. The M.O.'s were Sergeant-Major O'Brion, Quartermaster Sergeant lalbut and Sergeant MoMHlan, and the committee comprised Captain Levin. montenaats C. Morris Watts and Komber, Sergeant-Ma-jor O'Brien, Quartermaster Sergeant Talbut and Sergeants Smith, Newman, McMillan and Bird, with Sergeant McMillan as secretary.