ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5734, 1 November 1905, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE BIIOUGH-FLEMMING COMPANY. “The Walls of Jericho” was played for the last time yesterday evening. MRS BROUGH AS NIOBE. Tho Brougii-Flemming season will terminate at the Opera House to-mor-row night, as the company goes to Christchurch for the Carnival Week. It would have been a keen disappointment had the season closed without Mrs Brough being soon on the boards, and how much her reappearance will tonight be welcomed, can only he gauged by the interest evinced by all playgoers since tho announcement vyas made. No actress enjoys greater professional or private popularity in New Zealand tlian Mrs Brough. It was a happy thought to select “Nioho” for the occasion, and the distinguished artiste’s rendering of tho part will assuredly revive happy memories of the past. “Niobo” will he played to-night and tomorrow. Mr Brough will, of course, once more be seen as Peter Amos Dunn, and the supporting characters will include nearly tho entire company. HIS MAJESTY’S. It would bo difficult to conceive a more extraordinary exposition of contortionism than that given by Ajax at His Majesty’s Theatre. Air Leonard Nelson’s comic songs are heartily appreciated, and ho is nightly compelled to respond to numerous recalls. Miss Beatrice English is also consistently encored. There is abundant evidence of approval of each item contributed by Fu 1 ler’s Kn I ertairers. WELLINGTON SHAKESPEARE CLUB. “KING LEAR.” The "Wellington Shakespeare Club is a. flourishing institution that in these clays of rare Shakespearian productions upon the stage has clone a good deal in a quiet way to inculcate a love for tho Bard’s works. Members gather once or twice a week during the winter to read and discuss the master’s works, and thereby do themselves much benefit. Tho study of Shakespeare’s works is tho first duty of the society, and its public readings, whilst forming a pleasant interlude, are quite a secondary consideration. Nevertheless, it is tho ono opportunity tho public have of marking the progress of tho society, from tho point of view cf interpreting Shakespeare’s characters as far as is compatible with the reading of tho subject matter. Such a reading was given at tho municipal concert hail last evening, when ‘’King Lear” was road. Generally speaking, the effort was highly commendable, but it is very questionable whether such a trying work is the class of play that should bo selected for a public reading. The onerous task of reading tho aged King’s lines was given to Mr J. W. Joynt. who. while investing the outraged monarch with due dignity, failed to thrill where thrill was to ho expected. His deliberate utterance lacked light and shade in tho, first two acts, but stood him in rather good stead in the concluding scenes, when Lear, cruelly broken in health and fortune, expires after tho murder of the faithful Cordelia. Miss Cederholm read Goneril with capital emphasis, and Miss Butler, as Regan, enunciated clearly and with good expression. Miss Palmer read too slowly as the faithful Cordelia, and lost her naturalness in the pains sho took with her pronunciation. Among tho gentlemen, Air W. K. Bock was a vigorous Earl of Kent, Mr Baldwin infused a good deal of character into Edgar, his simulated madness being very cleverly convoyed to his auditors. Mr John R. Palmer was summoned to read Edmund at tlio last minute, in tho absence of Air Marcus Marks, and spoke his linos clearly and intelligently, with not a little sardonic inference. The Fool of Mr J. V. Solomon might have been brighter. Tho other characters were as follows:—King of France, Air AY. F. Kennedy; Dube of Burgundy, Air J. Mowbray; Duko of Cornwall, Air H. C. M-uston; Duko of Albany, Air F. J, Jones; Earl of Giou'ester. Air B. Allen; Curan, Hr J. Murray; Doctor, Air J. Mowbray; Oswald, Air W. E. Fuller. The Fool’s songs, “Ho that has and a Tiny Little Wit” and “Tho Rain, it Raineth Every Day,” especially composed for the occasion by Mr J. V. Solomon, were very creditable compositions- They were nicely sung by Mr J. F. Carr behind the stage. Air H. E-. Nioholls acted as stage manager.

Miss Jessie Maclachlan will give two farewell concerts in the Opera House on November '9th and 10th.