ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6493, 13 April 1908, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE,

“OLIVIA.” It wap only to bo expected that tbo an nounocmcnt that Mr Herbert Flemming:’! Dramatic Company were to produce, under tno naino of •'Olivia/' a staff© version ol Oliver Goldsmith’s "Vicar of Wakefield” at tho Opera House ou Saturday night would prove sufficiently intcrestm" to attract a very larg? audience. This agreeable antp cipVtion was thoroughly realised, for the house was well filled in ovory part, and tho maimer in which tho play was pro* seated was in every respect worthy of the oatronago. In fill the pieces which have seen produced, under Mr Flemming’s diroo .iou, there has been no room for anything lave in the way of compliment in regard #o the manner in which their staging haa 3©on carried out. Indeed, hie name U jynonymous with efficient mounting. But aia company excelled itself in the presentation of “Olivia.” It has boon tho pood hap of Wellington theatre-goers to gnze upon many beautiful stage pictures a< the Qi'oia House, but wo can recall iw> thing more charming than tho scenes in which this play was enacted on Saturday DvoninThe opening sotting scenery was a splendid representation of a corner ol rural England, truthful in all its obarao* toristi's. Tho attention paid to detail ifl remarkable. With such effective backgrounds there is little wonder that tho oocupante of tho stage in their groupings and in their attire wore in accord with thoi* surroundings, and adequately completed and animated tho picturoe. Tho drcesco were those of th© period—l766—and werfli faithfully copied even to tho least comfortable trifles. Thor wore artistically ho coming to all tho ladies and gentlemen whq take part in the play, and indeed there is nr‘.lnner in tho mlso on scene but that which delighted tbo eye and loft pleasurable recollections when tho play was over. The work of tho dramatist is, in a general way, satisfactory. The hook, aa given to tho world by Goldsmith, should not be a very difficult one to make suitable for stage presentment, for tho story is told in If-.nguago and in scones that readily admit of stage adaptation, and Mr Wills, who is responsible for the play, had been careful to interfere with tho dialogue 04 little as possible. The pathetic tale is unfolded coherently and naturally. If fault could be found it would bo in tho comEpiaint that more of the book is not heard on the stage. But tho play as produced is a very long one. and it really included practically all the striking features of tho story. ‘ , . Mr Flemming, playing as the vicar, was seen in on© of his host roles. The softhoar 3d, kindly old cleric was always a welcome occupant of tho stage. Mr Flcmtaring’s reading of tho part had nothing stlltc 1 nor artificial about it. It woa warm and instinct with naturalness. Mil A.. 6, Homowood, who took th© part, ol Gqaive Thornhill, the nuui-aboutrtown, roue, and profligate, was not nearly as well uitod as in any of tho characters in which wo have previously soon him. Ho was neither stiff nor stagey, but ho d d not seem to fit neatly into tho action «•! the drama—and to know It. On tho other hand. Mr Winter Hall’s impersonation ol Sir William Thornhill was not only n care, ful piece of acting, but was a good part made tbo more acceptable by tho atmosphere of earnestness which was associated with it throughout. Mr H, W. Varna’! farmer Flomborcmgh was also an effective study of th© candid old country bumpkin, Mr M Mlalleu had but little to do as Moses, the studious and innocently absent-minded son of tho vicar, and, indeed. Ibis Is q character which one would imagine could hare rsooivod more attention at tho hands of the dramatist to the advantage of tho gen oral construction of tho play. Mis* Beatrice Day woe somewhat colourless and lacking in warmth of sentiment in the part of Olivia, but in her scene with he* husband in the third set she quite rosq (to tho occasion and entirely earned th! ‘plaudits she received at tbo close of the scene.. Miss Elsie Olarens made a good deal , r the pleasing little part of Sophia, And was winning and natural. Miss Nellie Mortyne, as the grandiose Mrs Primrose, was perhaps a little more dignified and unbending than was absolutely neoesaaryi but it was an intelligent impersonation. As Mary Plamhorough Miss Guildford Quin gave every satisfaction. The rest of tho characters were well taken. "Olivia” will be repeated this evening.

THEATRE ROYAL.

Itf Is seldom that Puller's. VandevilU, Company appeals before other than a crowded Ijonse. and, Saturday night's an. dienco was quite In keeping with the beat traditions of the theatre. A very fine programme was presented, and the frequent hearty applause showed that It was well received. The principal ‘'turn” was that of Hugh Lloyd, the marvellous slack-rope performer. In connection with Ills per* / formanco a special competition is an-' nouncod for three nlghte of this week, commencing to-morrow. Competitors will bo required to walk across his rope and back, and £2 will bo given to every per* son ’"ho can accomplish tho feat. / Eva Lee and her piccaninnies were received with a warmth which showed that they have established themselves os firm favourites. Eupert Christie sang a couple of songs in a manner which showed that his voice is losing none of its power. Jack 'Willis, a Sootc) comedian, and Kelvin and Prawley and Lonctta and Williams, comical sketch Sairs, supplied tho necessary amount o| amerr, A very fine series of biograph viowia was also shown, tho best being that of the now French milUary air-ship "Vfllq dc Pa’■is.” To-night the company will be reinforced by the addition of T. Jlryant, a Tncnipulator of swords, knives and axes-

ROYAL PICTURES.

Tho iloyal Pictures have boon showing in His Majesty's Theatre so long now that they have become a regular institution and are visited by tho some people every week almost as a matter of course. On Saturday night it was impossible for late* comers to get cron comfortable standing room, so largo was the audience.. : The pictures shown were all now and thorough* ly up-to-date, many of them being instructive os well ae amusing. Tho series of pictures of scenes and customs in Tanglers was an education in Itself. One view, chowing the primitive method employed by the natives in unloading cattle from barges on tho sea-shoro. gave ample proof that many of the institutions of civilisation—aa. for instance, the S.P.O.A.—• have yet to find. p a way to North Africa. The air-chip pictures are also very pood showing well that real progress is being made hi tho contest between man and tho fore© of gravity. The programme also Includes a fine collection of humorous pictures, which caused hearty laughter. Tho programme will bo repeated to-night.

"CINDERELLA" PANTOMIME. Messrs William Anderson and John 9 m Sheridan's Drury Lane pantomime "Cinderella/' which will bo staged at tho Opera House on Saturday next, is expected to bo an Important theatrical event. There is no fairy tale more popular or better known than '^Cinderella"—lll-troatcd by her wicked step-mother and sisters, but bcfrloodod by her fairy godmother and in tho end married to a prince. The Opera Hansel production, it Is stated, will b© expensive and elaborate, and one hundred and eight persons are being brought to Now Zealand by the management to take part in it, A novel prologue has been written, where* in "Young Dominion" calls and orders a pantomime, "something good and up-to-date." Santa Gians allows him to chooocs for himself. The task Is too mnch for him. rued he calls in the assistance of hla friends. So, in a novel way, Santa Gln.na unfolds his list of pantomimes, and Guide* rella Is chosen. Tho "Porcelain March" will be a special feature. The costume* and the scenery will be on a lavish scale. Mr Sheridan will appear as the Baroness, Miss Heba Barlow, a New Zealand favourite. will play Cinderella, Miss Stella Solbourne Prince Charming, and Miss Marie Eaton Dandini. Mr Edmund Page and Mr Jack Hughes wore engaged in London , where they appeared in th© Drury Lane production. Another New Zealand favourite. Mr Chas. P. Bates, who visited tho Dominion with the Stine-Evans Com* pany. has been engaged to play the bailiff. There will bo several children's matinees given, the first taking place on Easter Monday afternoon. Tho box-plan for tho entire season will be opened at Holllday'o to-morrow morning at 10 o’clock. ORGAN RECITAL. A reminder is given of the recital to be given on the Town Hall organ to-morrow night by Hr J. Maughan Barnett. Tho programme will bo a special request one of eight numbers.