ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, 12 September 1907, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

THEATRE ROYAL. Puller's Entertainers, a company which seems to be able to fill the Theatre Royal with interested spectators no matter what the weather may be, presented its programme last evening to a crowded house. The performance of George Sturm, who as racquet spinner is quite out of the common, won hearty rounds of applause. Zemphy, the “lightning blindfold artist.” Dunbar and Blake, and the clever exhibition brought on the stage by Herr Klaer, in which his little troupe of dogs and monkeys go through many remarkable tricks, also won great approval.

“ME HOPKINSON” TO-NIGHT. In view of tb© very great popularity of play and players, the members of the Wil-loughby-Ward Company, which includes Miss Grace Palotta, will no doubt be warmly welcomed at the Opera House this evening. The season, which is limited to nine nights, will commence with a very recent success in "Mr Hopkinson," which recently captivated the playgoers of Sydney and Melbourne. The piece at once achieved an enormous success at the Savoy Theatre, London. It is a laughter-maker of th© best kind, and not the least of its merits is its freedom from anything coarse or vulgar. The plot seems to have been suggested by Thackeray's “Joames,” of immortal memory, The play is full nf very humorous situations, and is pungently ana wittily written. The dresses form a notable feature of the production, being stylish and elegant, and the scenery and general mounting is superb. The management announce that the box plans are rapidly filling at Holliday’s. To-morrow evening will be a Vice-Regal night. MADAME ALBANI. ' His Excellency the Governor and Lady Plunkett will attend Mdmo. Albani’s concert thlfl evening. To-night's programme will bo an entirely new one. Madame is singing another of the great Handelean arias as her opening numbers, the “Non Temer,” with obligato for the violin by Mr Haydn Wood. Her second number in importance will be Handel's incomparable sacred song, “Angels ever bright and fair," and as a bracketed third number she will give “Daffodils allowing/' a sterling favourite with present-day concert-goers of England, and the magnificent waltz from “Borneo and Juliet” (Gounod). Miss Mildred Jones, the contralto, will give as her individual items the beautiful air, “Lungi dal caro bene” (Seechi), and "The Gleaner’s Slumber Song 0 (Walthew). Mr William Green’s solos are the romance “Salve Dimora” (from Gounod's “Faust”) and Liddlo’s "A Farewell,” contralto and tenor, also beng heard in the grand duet from Verdi's “II Trovatore.” Mr Haydn Wood will include among his violin contributions his ovm “Variations on a Caprice of Paganini.'’ The violinist’s other offerings arei the "Witches’ Dance” of Bazzini and the duet with Miss Myrtle Meggy, the finale of the Hinton suite for piano and violin. Miss Meggy's items are Chopin's Scherzo in B flat minor, “Des Abends” (Schumann), and “An Intermezzo in Octaves” Leschctixaky), MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT. On Tuesday evening tho St. Thomas’s Mutual Improvement Society completed tho. last and most successful of their socials,, which was held in the St. Thomas's Hall.. A largo number of th© members' friends were present and enjoined in th© various games and amusements. In opening the proceedings, th© Eev. Mr Walker dwelt •upon the beneficent work of mutual society* and expressed a wish that at the next session it would continue its present succaes. On Tuesday, the 17th inst., a smokeconcert will be given to honorary members and their friends.

The Yorkshire Society held a very successful meeting last night. Mr Helliwcll gave a very interesting budget of Yorkshire news, and games were afterwards played.

The anniversary social of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was held last evening at the Druids’ Hall, and proved a most successful affair. There was a very large attendance. The music was supplied by McLauchlin’s Elite Orchestra. The Missions to Seamen Institute was crowded last night, when a concert was arranged by the Misses Kirkcaldic. A temperance address was given by Miss Murcutt. F.E.G.S., and twenty-one men signed tho pledge. Th© fo 1 lowing contributed items to the programme O. Kirkcaldie. Hall. Young, and Mirams, and ST ‘'ssrs Mirams, Wylie, and Kirby (E.M.d. Athenic).