ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7974, 4 December 1911, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

RICKARDS’ VAUDEVILLE, A FIRST-CLASS COMBINATION. The public can always bo relied upon, to give patronage to a good vaudeville combination. In the larger centres of population. there is no more consistently; popu-. lar form of entertainment. .Music-halls at Home pay the biggest -dividends of any theatrical concerns, and vaudeville “star" artists draw salaries equal to the Melbas* the Butts and tho Tebtrazin.s. Of recent years iwo have witnessed the descent to tho music-hall stage of many great dramatio stars, even of the great Bernhardt, or, perhaps it should be said the music-hall has teen elevated, to their standard, for it iti admitted that many of the old characteristics of this form of entertainment have now vanished, aiida wholesome public taste has to bo catered lor with good, legitimate talent. America, the homo of new ideas, has of late been drawn largely, upon for vaudeville fillip, and, therefore, it la not surprising to find that in the Rickards' combination which opened in tho Opera House on Saturday evening—a combination of particular excellence—American novelty has considerable prominence. The old i Rickards' traditions aro well upheld by this company. The crowded audieuco (many were turned away) were not disappointed in their expectation of something good. Mediocrity had small representation.

On? of the first to appear was Mr Sydney Bach, a clever young gentleman from Wales, a eocety entertainer with new methods, now ideas, new songs, and a’ considerable amount of talent as a pianist; though in this last respect it was not so much what he did. as the funny way he did it. Ho burlesqued Mark Hambourg, with quaint originality, strummed out tv piano solo with hi# ■ nose, and also whilo Binging to- the audience, accompanied him,. : sell behind Ills bock. The words of the' ! song “Kelly” were adapted to its aaitij thesis, 'The Lost Chord,” and the appeal ■as to “Kclly/s” whereabouts was continued when, the laughter had. subsided in the j rousing strains of a Salvation Army march* iOf the laughter-provoking imitations -of /Mr Alf Holt, of America, the audience had only to receive a sample to make them clamorous for more. Mr Holt can imitate most common sounds. He is not an ordinary mimic. He can produce a whole dog-ilght. pick out tho 0010 instruments in Sousa's Band, or lilt sweetest notea of almost any bird, give the noises of tho farm-yard, the workshop, the harbour, and (other places. A more versatile or better j imitator has not j'ct performed In Woli Hngton. Ho is also a clever whistler, and has a store of American funnyisms at ready comma-lid.

One of the cleverest turns of the evening, was that of Mdlle. Aicido Capitaino, an American gymnast, a little lady with a perfect figure, , a delightful grace of movement, and a rare capacity as a trap zo performer. Her turn is notable for physh oai grace and strength rather than of nerve-wracking feats, and it is one of the prettiest exhibitions of this hind a musichall could produce. Carlton Max is a ventriloquist above the average who gets a lot of- personality into his coster “automaton, though he has not departed very Ja.r from the beaten track in search cf material. ■ Still, his “turn" docs not by any means lag. The vagabond musician® and comedians. Bins and Bins, follow a i popular role,: with soxn© originalities of their own concocting. They don’t supply much music, but what they do is good. Tnoy are .two very quaint figures whose object in j life is to taste of the joys of irresponsibility. and in playing up to thi® character they quite fill the hill Miss Fanny Powers, last time here a popular little girl mimic, now a prim and dainty young lady with a quiet, winning way ana a pretty face and figure, sang some acceptable songs and gave clover imitations, and received her share of applause. Clarke and Mostol, who came direct from London, seem to be able to - step-dance just about ah quickly as is physically possible. Their turn otherwise also has a delicious smack of humour about it. Pastor and Merle amused with singing, dancing and tumbling and various eccentricities. Old favourites reappear in the Marlowe Sisters, who sing and dance gracefully; and Mlsa Camille Cornwall, a high soprano, renews old acquaintance with , ■Wellington. Mr Godfrey James, a big man with a high tenor voice, termed "the singing collier, contributed "Navana". and "Songs of Araby.” Mr Tom Lawson, who has been hero before, sang enjoyable comic songa and danced. Tills completed an excellent programme. Music was supplied during the evening by the Tivoli, Orchestra. The performance will be -repeated thtr evening. - FULLERS’ PICTURES. The Skating Rink was well patronised oa Saturday, night, when the current programme by Fullers’ Pictures was screened for the last time. The baby jhow picture attracted attention, and cause of much * criticism, as each competing member of the' coining generation - was thrown on the sheet. The remainder c i the films' -were, to all appearances, thoroughly enjoyed by the most apjireclat:ve audience. The Main Trunk tram arriving from Auckland to-day has on-1 ward the pictures Which will constitute to-night'® programme. Chief among these are "For Love and Glory” (drama), and "Intrepid Davy” (corned jr). KINEMACOLOE. Considerable interest has been aroused I* the firs’- display of, kinemaoolor, to be given at the Theatre Royal this evening.jThe first exhibition in Australia was re’ ; cent T y g'.vea in Melbourne, and an Austrahan paper, commenting on it, said;— "There is no confusion of tints in the film I picture. The effect of colour photos is convincing enoughs The picture produced by klneraacolor art might be a fine chromo of a masterly oil painting. In comparison with the best clack and white jmat'igraphy, there is a great gain oi 1 realistic •impression/* This appears to b® the consensus of opinion whenever kinema* color has been preseated The fact that all objects axe reproduced in their naturaJ colours make the new-process very attractive. Messrs John Fuller and Son have prepared an excellent programme for the j inaugural exhibition to-night, and a sue. cessful result is assured, It is stated that 1 kinemaoolor must not;be confused with any other form of coloured cincmatographv Klnemacolor is a natural colour, procem while all others are obtained by han* f painting or stencil work. \ THE NEW THEATRE. * The New Theatre continuous picture m tertaimrent drew big attendances on s” in-day. The current eerie, will he shown for the last time today and this evenine The customary change wii/bo JntroduciS