ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6315, 16 September 1907, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. A large audience assembled at the Opera House again on Saturday evening to make the acquaintance of “Mr Hopkinson." The audience included the Bight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward and party. The audience followed th© satirical and epigrammatic dialogue with keen relish, revelling in th© witticisms and sarcasms with which it abounds. This breezy laughter-creating comedy will be presented this evening, and should again draw a crowded house. On Wednesday evening and for tho last four nights of the season Messrs Willoughby and Ward will stage “The New Clown," of which an exchange says:—“The managers might have, dignified the production by announcing a musical comedy, but they wisely retained a description which exactly fitted/it. Accepted as a three-act farce pure and simple, ‘The New Clown' fully carries out the design of the author a a a mirth promoter, and its premier© was received by a crowded house with something approaching uproarious hilarity." Th© box plans for tho farewell nights of the season are now open at Holliday’s. . , ; V THEATER ROYAL. There was a large and appreciative audience at the Theatre Boyal on Saturday evening. Several new artists made their appearance. Salmon and Chester, gave a comedy sketch entitled “Is Marriage a Failure?” and sang several laughing songs which the audience highly appreciatedSterling, Stewart and Dunbar also gave _ a comedy sketch called “Matrimonial Discords.” introducing new songs and dances and a one-stringed fiddle. Misses Amy Sterling and. Tilly Dunbar sang a Dutch yodelling song. Bonita gave a new act in which she shot the garments off Cleopatra: In typical outback style "Salt Bush Bill" cracks stockwhips ranging from 12ft to 62ft in’ length. Miss Ida Berridge’s songs, "Waiting at the Church" and “I Told His Missus All About Him," wore, of course, loudly applauded. Harry Linden, the witty comic singer, gave “You Do Keep Popping In and Out" and a song entitled ‘‘Lazy." Jim’s Apprenticeship," a new biograph film recently imported from England, was shown. Miss Kitty Delavale, A. L. Cropp, George Sturm, and.J. W. Kilner also contributed to the programme.

“MOTHER GOOSE." PREPARATIONS FOR SEASON. Mr J. C. Williamson is concentrating an unusually large force in Wellington for th© production of the successful pantomime, “Mother Goose," next Monday. On. Saturday the touring representative. Mr Albert Goldie, arrived to act under -the direction of Mr Bert Royle (Mr Williamson’s New Zealand manager) in making the preliminary arrangements. Early in the .week a staff of mechanicians and electricians, in charge of Mr W. Slattery (of Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney , will commence work at the Opera House preparing the mechanical and electrical devices used in the performance. The management acknowledge their indebtedness 'to Messrs Willoughby and Ward for permitting them to begin work on tho stage prior to the conclusion of their season. Th© company which is coming to Wellington to present this unique entertainment numbers 130 persons, and includes all the principal artists who were imported from London by Mr Williamson for the original production in Australia. There are eighty ballerinas and chorus ladies and twenty tiny children, the remainder being “principals" and specialty artists. The company is managed by Mr Richard .Stewart, assisted by Mr Walter Monk, with Mr E. O’Dell aa treasurer. It. is stated that never before has such a complete- organisation undertaken a. tour of New Zealand/ The success of the venture is already assured, if we may judge by the following telegram received from Auckland by the touring representative on Saturday:—“Sensationally successful career 'Mother Goose* sustained throughout season; matinees equal night receipts, have turned away average 600 nightly, everything closed down at 7 o’clock; 13,952 attended first week, which will be exceeded second week; crowds waiting three hours before commencement performance.

A dramatic performance, “Sweet Lavender," is being arranged by Mies HardingeMaltby for the benefit of the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society. The entertainment will take place on Tuesday, October Ist. at 8 p.m., at th© Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Plunket, the Premier and Lady Ward, the Chief Justice and Lady Stout, the Mayor and Mrs Hlslop, the Hon. Dr Findlay, and the committee of the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society will be in attendance. Tickets will be on sale from the 23rd inst. at the Dresden rooms. ' The box plan for Miss Lynn Mills s benefit concert opens to-day at the Dresden. The committee requests all ticket holders to book early, as there is sure to he a large demand for reserved seats.