ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5735, 2 November 1905, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

BROUGH-FLEMMING COMPANY. ‘NIOBE.’" Tho flint appearance this- reason of Airs Brough with the Brough-’Flemming Company, which was made in “ Niche ” last night, doubtless accounted to a large extent for tho crowded state of tho Opera House. Airs Brough received a demonstrative ovation at the outset, and her subsequent performance added to the esteem in which she is held. Harry and Edward Panlton’s farce .asks of the onlooker little .save sheer abandonment to the influence of the ludicrous. The collaborateurs have taken to heart the truism that

A little nonsense now and then Is relished by the wisest men. The outcome is n deliberate storming and 'rapturing of the citadels of gravity. One must laugh at the piece. It allows of no option, gives no breathing time, nor time to think—is, in short, ridiculously funny. .If, as many people believe, tho theatre’s true sphere is to amuse, then “ Niobe"" exactly meets requirements. . Last night it was received with no more bubbling over of merriment, but shouts of laughter, the audience over and over again being convulsed to the verge of hysterics. If the farce was clever, so, too, was the noting. All's Brough, in the title role, showed that she had grasped all tho humour that lay in the part, and expressed it with most merry results. Ay the Grecian statue restored to life by an electric current, who by her partiality for “ Petramos,” as she calls the first man her eyes rest upon, gets that elderly gentleman into a sad scrape, the actress depicted precisely what, for farcical purposes, a “statue” so placed naturally would do. Her embarrassing love-making, her fits of weeping, her wonderment amidst modern surroundings, and her calm, frank manner of insulting everyone she did not take a liking to, were remarkably good comedy, Air Brough, as Peter Ain os Dunn, was not only amusing, but was so in an artistic way. His work all through was finished low-comedy, and absolutely free of the “ clowning"" that might have marred the impersonation in less able hards. Drollery of action and of facial expression characterised what was in every respect an exceedingly laughable pourtrayal. Miss Emma Temple was excellent as Dunn’s wife. As the Hero© ruler of the house, Helen Griffin, Miss Bessie Major was a study in grim humour. Miss Gordon Lee and Miss Mary Alilward were very suitably cast as Hattie Griffin and Beatrice Sillocks, 1 both acting with much capability. Mr Cai-ter Pickford as Cornelius, Mr NorH) ar L AlcKeown as Tompkins, Air John F. Ford© as Sillocks, and Air John Fault on as Phillip Innings, all took important shares in the fun of tho evening. Tho farce was handsomely mounted. and deverly stage-managed. Niobe” will ho the attraction again to-night, when this highly popular and talented company’s season ends.

HIS MAJESTY'S. At Hm Majesty’s Theatre, Ajax, the marvel of flexibility, is rewarded nightly with prolonged applause for hie unique contortion act. . Mr Leonard Nelson sings his Budget of new with easy grace, and is an established favourite. The last two nights of Mr John Fuller’s season are announced. Miss Beatrice English, who has a well-cultivated voice, contributes welcome numbers. The programme will be repeated to-night. HARRISON’S AND JURISS’S GYMNASTIC CARNIVAL. ’ The annual gymnastic display and assault-at-arms, to be hold at the Opera House on Tuesday and Wednesday nest by pupils of Messrs Harrison and Juriss’s gymnasium, Cuba street, is being looked forward to with keen interest by the pupils, their friends, and the general public. This school has a reputation for organising excellent exhibitions, and the forthcoming demonstration should bo no exception. All itojns of the display are in active prepare tion, and include many new features. The box plan is now open at Holliday’s, and tickets oan be obtained from Abel’s, Davidson’s, and Innes’s.

The Premier and Mrs Seddon provided their annual concert at the Missions to Seamen _ last evening. The programme was highly appreciated by a crowded audience. Capital items were rendered by Misses Heimah, Daniel, Hamilton, McKay, and Sandbrook, Messrs McLaughlin, Hoyland, Donaldson, Foote, and Carr. The Missioner, Mr James Moore, took “Opportunities’’ for the subject of his temperance address. Miss Seddon replied to the hearty vote of thanks, in the unavoidable absence of the Premier and Mrs Seddon. Hospitality was dispensed af ter the concert. Five men signed the pledge. An exhibition of lantern slides depicting New Zealand birds is to be given by Mr E. F. Stead in the •Museum on December Cth. ’ The Philosophical Society, which has arranged the exhibition, is making preparations for a largo audience.