AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11934, 7 January 1901, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

STANFORD DRAMATIC COMPANY. The final production of "A Soldier and a Man" was given at tho Princess Theatre on Saturday night in the presence of a large audience. Tho piece went off as successfully as on former occasions, and appeared to be greatly enjoyed by all present, the principals being'frequently recalled during the evening. To-night a melodrama by Mr G. Darrell, entitled " When London Sleeps," will be staged for the first time.- The cast of characters will bo . distributed as follows;— Captain Rodney Haynes, Mr C, R. ■ Stanford; David Eagleheart, Mr W. Taite; Sammy Blythe, Mr Frank Hawthorne; Mark Blackwood, Mr Geo, Chalmers; Furnaby Fuller, Mr J. F. Cathcart; PC. Stone, Mr Edwin .Campbell; Bertie Broomhead, Mr C. B. Westmacott; Professor Jonesio, Mr-J. P. O'Neill; Stephanio Mordicani, Mr Frank Harcourt; Queenie Carrut-hers, Miss Ida Gresham; Hilda- Carrode, Miss Rosa Conroy; Mrs Jones, Miss Roland WattsPhillips; Carrie Jones, Miss Katie Towers; Maudi Do Frcre, Miss Hose Holloway. The Sydney Morning Herald, in its criticism of the production, said; "The play abounds in intensely dramatic situations, and affords 'remarkable scope for all shades of dramatic talent. The characters are so widely different from one another and yet blend so fittingly togetker, and are so charmingly interwoven with an extremely clever and well-developed plot, that there is .not the faintest- trace 'of incongruity, ' and - nothing is strained in any way. The play is splendidly staged, and the effects, especially in the burning of the house in which Queenie Oarruthers is living, and the mechanical change to the sleeping city and the cscapo upon the wire, are remarkably realistic."

' • ALHAMBBA THEATRE, The Dix Gaiety Company submitted their usual weekly clmnge of programme on Saturday night to a good audience. The entertainment opened with national airs, sung by the company. Mr Alf Fredo followed with a comic song " It was mine," which had to be repeated ia response to.the demands of the audience. The De Vella. sisters appeared to advantage in a song and dance " Last train yet," and their turn was warmly received. Mr Arthur Halin chose'is his item " The.deathless array," a song eminently suited to his big bass voice, and which was admirably rendered. Mr Frank Yorkc's turn, entitled " Kock and roll me," was highly original, making as he did pointed allusions to all the chief' performers in. turn, which caused roars of laughter among the audience.' Miss Ethel Clifford sang a medley of popular songs; Miss Annetta Bodin gave a song and dance; and Mr Alf Haydon gave an end song entitled' "Jerusalem." All these items were good, and in each case encores insisted on. In the second part of the programme Mr Connie Moveni, who claims to be the champion triplebar performer of the world, gave another exhibition, which was greeted with prolonged applause. The clever Fau3t trio also scored another success with their acrobatic feats, some j of their efforts being remarkably good, and ■ were recognised by the audience accordingly. The Wingatc sisters, who have become great favourites at the Alhambra for their' daring Irapeze work, brought the entertainment to a close jvith {heir sensational act, "A slide for life." The same programme will be repeated to-night.

WIRTHS' CIRCUS. .' The attendance at Wirths' Circus on Saturday afternoon and evening was fairly good, and the applause was frequent during the performance. The programme in the evening was much the same as that given on Previous occasions, but 'there were a few additional items. Tho introduction into the arena of the two bears was something new, and Little Alick did a hurricane hurdle act- very cleverly, and won loud anplause for his olucky riding. Mr Clare showod, for the first time, a pack of very clever dogs, which in obedience to their master did everything that was required of them. A young lady was announced to enter the tigers' den, but she was not apparently present. M. Soukic, however, put these animals through a number of exercises. A slight accident occurred in this part of the evening's performance. While if. Soukie's attention was attracted towards two of the tigers which were fighting, the third crept round behind and bit him in the leg. The top hoot he wore was torn, and the skin of the leg scratched. The keeper promptly attacked the animal through the bar of the cage with an iron, and it was quickly brought into a state of subjection. The circus shows at Oamaru this evening.

WILD WEST EXHIBITION. , There was some delay over, the starting ol the exhibition of horsemanship, etc., by Broncho George at the Caledonian ground on Saturday afternoon, it being quite 3 o'clock before the proceedings commenced; but once begun they were of a most interesting description. Broncho George first gave an exhibition of the methods of lassooing in use in the Wild West of America; and also picked up from the ground articles even as small as a threepenny piece while galloping along on horseback. The three-mile race between Broncho George, who. was allowed three horses as remounts, and Professor Nelson on the bicycle fell through after the cyclist had gone one lap, tile professor unfortunately hurting himself. and being unable to continue the contest. Mr A.'.F. W. Hill entered the lists in a similar race-of one mile,.and won without much difficulty;, and repeated his success over a longer distance later on. George Hewitt mounted a horse which, although it bucked and plunged all round the ground; failed to unseat him, or, in.fact, to cause him any trouble to sit it. Hewitt and Broncho George als'o gave an exhibition of horsemanship, tho animals ridden' by'them entirely failing in their efforts to unseat the riders. No competitors were found for the high-jumping competition, and the event had, to he left'out. Broncho George was unable' to fulfil his promise to give an exhibition of handling and riding wild cattlc, the agreement to supply the animals-not.being carried into effect. ,In response to an expressed desiro on the part of some of the public for a further exhibition similar to that of last Saturday, Broncho George will, icircunistances permitting, show again next Saturday, and will make sure of being in a position to carry out the programmo in its cutirety.