ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7866, 31 July 1911, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS. Mr Edward Bransoomhe has never yet introduced a show that wins not excellently pood of its kind. The delightful Wcbltnlutrter Gleo Singers will bo romeinbcred. But much nearer at hand, and oven more popular, are the Scarlet Troubadours. The work of Uix-oO pleasant people is at every point quite original and refreshing. To start •with, it is absolutely devoid of every clement oif offence. Its humour is as clean and wholesome as spring sunlight. It keeps sensitively away from the region of timeworn ga-tfs and musty allusions, "Whatever it docs is worth while. H may feem that this is vary moderate praise. It is, in point, cf fact, the highest. Wc have for ever with iw the clever people who fill us with laughter that leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. There is seldom or never a musical comedy or other humorous play that has not in it somewhere lines hotter omitted. Wo are in no way hypercritical in this regard. Nobody really sane objects to a strong dramatic situation when it is inevitable. Conversely, nobody really pane can quite excuse the too frequent habit comedians have of introducing stuff that would not be tolerated in the ordinary conversation of decent people. There is no taint of that sort of thing in the delicate work of the Scarlet Troubadours. The company is different than the ,company wo lust saw and liked, because in this’ new presentment of the Scarlet Troubadours all the ladies arc different. For which reason scores or hundreds of good people who only think superficially in llio front af their heads will bo faying that tiuv'O ladles are not (alas!) as good as those were. In plain fact they are quite as good, although at points they may be somewhat dissimilar. Miss Laly Fitzgerald ha« a charming little soprano voice, and uses it always adroitly, to the best advantage. In this class of work, Miss HiUi Fitzgerald is tho soubrette .wc have seen in New Zealand. Miss Winifred Birch has a litre gift of spontaneous subtle humour. All these ladies have lull endowment of the quality that is after all the shining quality of this excellent combination; they all do things just-so. There is nothin# forced, and nothing discordant. They a.re whimsical and coquettish.- they bridle a little and strut a lot; but it is ail natural, and all convincing. Of the men, Mr Fred "Waltham easily maintains his deserved popularity. • Ho is so umiffccted and so naive that people are apt to overlook his exceptional qualities as a bass. 'The voice is musical and smooth, ctf admirable timbre, wonderfully well produced. Like his associate friends, ho enunciates perfectly. You hear every woi»u when these Troubadours sing. Bo many tvf tlio singers wo hoar merely make a meJ<> dious noise; with those folk, every song a story, as every song should be. Thus, Mr Alfred Cunningham's realistic renderin" of the famous Toreador song is devoid of° all suspicion of extravagance. Here, indeed, .U an admirable. singer. Hq has abundant temperament, but die does not .make himself its slave. He Is always interesting, because ho never talters m ms fine artistic restraint. Mr Edgar Warwick in a monologue man who does all things daintily. Wo-know, much finer artists m that specialty, but wo know none more pleasing.' His work is crisp, and the audience is entirely in his confidence, rhis is the friendliest possible show. It lias the flavour of a perfectly comfortable drawingroom. It la a striking object-lesson to the crowds of painstaking people who labour to develop or obtrude a small accomplishment. Mr. Warwick's rather, silly story of a burlesque railway-guard vim directed frankly to the gallery, and to that extent, was a discordant note. The thing is below his standard; but even that is rather a mistake In judgment thmv : a, fault* One ’ laughs. but ono has not quite tbo justification for Laughter that this organisation generally furnishes. Mr Sydney Mannermg, the tenor, is at timoa a trifle strident, bat his work pleases, and his vain© as a factor iu tho general good effect there is no mistaking. In the second, part, whore the men are dressed as cavaliers of the period of Charles Second, / and join in praising the Restoration (as surely is mostmeet). Mr Moanerdug scarcely acts os well as he sings.' The male quartette formed by these tfour is responsible tor what is, from the musical standpoint, - the most charming work of all- It is better than the Lyric Quartette of tend that, wo-would have you believe, is high praise. With deliberation, wc pretend no detailed summary of Saturday night’s entertainment. Everything won very good. If you were not present on Saturday, and go to-, night,.you will agree with ns fully. If you were present on Saturday; night, you agree with us already. The house on Saturday was full in every part, and from every part of the house the cordial applause came constantly. "Wo hope that Mr Bran®combc. who will bo along himself - present: ly with Sousa,, will, continue to provide us with entertainment: so genial and eo clean. r THEATRE ROYAL. Thor© was a numerous audience at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, when ■every item by Fullers' Vaudeville Company ■was greeted with enthusiastic applause. Among the most popular performers are Mr Harry Sadler, Mies Marcella Gray, and Missy Ruby Rubira. A new programme will be presented this evening, when the Alton trio of Chinese acrobats and. Mr Ohas, Heath, tenor vocalist, will , make their first • appearance. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The' excellent .scries of films shown for the last time on Saturday, evening at His Majesty's Theatre was witueated by a very large audience, which applauded heartily each picture screened. For this evening a very good programme is to be provided. It does not seem long since the papers ooaitained cabled accounts 'of King George a coronation, yet to-night there will lie shown what- is described as being a really excellent sot of views of the historic spectacle, ’ Numerous other pictures will also be exhibited. ■ MUNICIPAL MUSIc/ The Municipal Orchestra and Mr Maug* han Barnett, organist, will perform in the Town Hal! to-morrow evening. Tho programme includes the overture "Merry Wives of Windsor” (Nicolai), . Handel's seventh concerto, by, Mr Barnett, with orchestral accompaniment under the leadership of Mr Herbert Bloy. Beethoven's andante, "Con Mote," from the fifth symphony, and a valse from tho ballot “Dorarosohen” (Tschaikowski). , The organ portion of the programme will include Bendcl's “Dornroschen.” NICOLA AND HIS COMPANY. Nicola, tho magician, is to appear at the Opera House, commencing on Saturday next- The * Nicola entertainmeoit is claimed to bo the biggest of its kind - that lias visited New Zealand,- and. is said to present more illusions than any two similar shows extant. Although illusions and magic are the principal port of the programme,, it is not wholly a magic show, some leading American .variety artists present a vaudeville programme that is well spoken of everywhere. 1 Nadolny is an extremely funny and elevor eocentnc juggler, who is described as a whole show iu himself, and canoes special scenery for his act. .Sandow and Hercules, the impossible strong men, tho Misses Whipple and Adams, and Dobsky, make up the balance of tho vaudeville programme. The box plan opens at the Dresden on Wednesday morning, and Day Bale tickets will bo at Christeson’e. NEW THEATRE. The current set of films at the New Theatre attracted large crowds to this popular house of amusement on Saturday, and in the evening oven standing-room was difficult to obtain. The Theatre will be open os usual to-day from 11 a.m. till 11 p.ra. At 6.30 p.m. for tho first time in New Zealand 'will be presented a magnificent collection of picture® of “The Coronation of King George V/'. In addition to these there will be other items. J -