ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11224, 1 June 1922, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

ROSINA BUCKMAN FIRST CONCERT TO-NIGHT. To-night at the Tom* HaU New Zealand’s Queen of Song, Miss Rosina Buckman, will make her reappearance in Wellington under tho direction of Mr E. J. Gravestock. Although news of the splendid work Miss Buekman has don© in opera and on tho concert platform has come through from time to time, only those in close touch with musical matters in Europe readily appreciate what a wonderful position she has won for herself. A decade ago Miss Buekman went to Europe to seek fame in the musical centres of the Old World. To-day she returns to her homeland covered with honour and glory, acclaimed and recognised as the greatest dramatic soprano of the day. She will be heard, with her talented husband, to-night in some of her greatest operatic and concert successes. A feature of the programme will be tho duets sung by Miss Buekman and Mr d’Oisly, notably the dramatic duet from the fourth act~of Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet." Miss Buekman will lie heard in Ned da’s celebrated "Bnllatella" from "I Pagliacci," and in compliance with numerous requests the ever-popular "One Fine Bay," from Puccini’s "Madam Butterfly." Outside the sphere of grand opera the famous soprano will contribute some of songs which have made her name a household word on the English ooncert platform. Among theeo will be the delightful "Evening Piayer," by the Russian composer, Modeste Mouseorgsky, and Granville Bantock's "The Lament of Isis." Mr Maurice d'Oisly will sing the great tenor aria "O Paradise," from Meyerbeer's 'TAfrioana." He has earned a grejat reputation os a singer of French songs, and to-night he will be heard in the oM French chanson, "Eintendez-vous le carillon (lu Verre?" Emile Pessard's "Adieu du matin," and "Sombrero," by Mde. Chaminnde. Miss Adelina- Leon, the talented English ■'cellist, whose playing was a feature of the Auckland concerts last week, will be heard for the first time in Wellington. The accompaniments will be pdayed by Mr Percy Kahn, who will be remembered as accompanist with Mischa Elman. The box plan for the four concerts is at the Bristol.

J. C. WILLIAMSON

"BABES IN THE WOOD/' Said to be the very best pantomime achievement by the J. C. Williamson firm for many years, the 1923 extravaganza, "Babes in the Wood/' will make its first appearance here on Saturday (the King's Birthday), dt the matinee. Of the exceptionally fine array of talent displayed, the critic of the "Sydney Morning Herald" writes :—"lt would be verv difficult to get a more sprightly and alluring Principal Boy than Non* Delaney. She is naturally made for the part of/Robin Hood/ and plays and sings with a delightful abandon that is most refreshing. Miss Delaney is easily the best Principal Boy we -have had for at least a decade. Much laughter was caused bv the comedians Naughton and Gould. They are a clever pair, their synchronised dancing being particularly smart, and there was a' capital act as the robbers in the forest where their boxing match and ’ duel with knives brought down the house. W. £?. Percy started off amidst cheers with 'I am the Baron Bold/ but his funniest effort on emerging from eclipse was 'The Mistaken Toreador/ This popular artist was hflumorously associated with the row Dame Jack Williams, in a scene during which both these quaint »old parties toasted each other, and the Topical duet 'ln the Old Town Hall* resulted in a double enoore. Mr Williams (Dame Prodgers) is a genuine humorist, and kept up the fun splendidly with the children in the schoolroom ('The Child is Right!') George Willoughby was a prominent figure as the imperturbable Lawyer Graball. Audrey Thacker makes a fine and dashing "Littlejohn," and Florrie Alien, a captivating "Made Marion." The 'Babes' are played by Marjorie PoWrJe and Nellie Barnes respectively, and played excellently; The solo (lancing is safe at the feet of Josie Melville, and also with her clever partner, Frederick Mackay. Bobbie Jackson (Scarecrow) and Charles Howard (Mutch the Miller), and the clever Amery sisters also do remarkably well/'

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

A POPULAR PROGRAMME. Seldom has there been a better and brighter bill than the one which is to be seen at His Majesty's this week. All the artiste are stars in their particular lines, and some of tho turns are unique in vaudeville history. Davey and Ritchie, the clever juggler and his dainty partner, are seen in some turns revealing a phenomenal amount of judgment possessed by the popular juggler, and nightly delight the house. Bradley and Hamilton are an accomplished English, comedy duo, who have made a popular hit. Their sketch, "Never Tell Your Wife," is a bright and pithy concoction, and the Sprijrhtley Sisters have sbme extremely amusing things for all in their rendering of "The Seaside Girls" and the ever-popular "Ladies' pugby Team." Newman and Wynne are back again in some humorous team work of high standard; Carr, "tho modem Hercules," has some remarkable feats of strength ana skill to show; and Alberto, the magician, is &9 humorous and as mystifying as ever. Boh White, the whistling doughboy, astonishes the gallery nightly by his feats of imitation; and Videau and Kirby , arp seen in a clever little skit which cannot fail to please. The programme will he repeated this evening, and intending patrons who don't wish to’ fight for a seat may book at the Bristol.

AT EVERYBODY'S

"THE MARK OF ZOERO." Tho return of Douglas Fairbanks to the screen should now-a-days be of sufficient importance to warrant a more than average amount of interest in the story, which is adapted from the "Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley. The scene is laid in California during the beginning of the ls#t century, when oppression and graft, were rife; Spanish administration ruled, and tffe priests and natives wei*e continually being beaten and robbed by those in power. No one dare resist this state of affairs but the mysterious Zorro/' who, like a veritable willro'-the-wisp, appeared here, there and everywhere, driving terror to the hearts of the oppressors, and marking them with his sword in a manner which, left no doubt as to his meaning. Fairbanks is ' Zorro, and he enacts a dual character, both the direct antithesis of each other, and calling for exceptional versatility, which he certainly possesses. Every foot of film is highly interesting, and much of it diverting. There is a real and coherent continuity*- a pleasing cast .of characters, and scenery that will make any picture. The groat super-feature will be accompanied by an. exquisite musical score played by the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr M. Dixon. The box plan is now open at the Bristol.