AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14211, 12 May 1908, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Patrons of uuiseal comedy, who appv rciitly constitute a fairly largo proportion of the community, were again afforded an evening's solid enjoyment at His Majesty's theatre last evening, wild" "The Isle of Bong-Bong" was repeated, to the manifest enjoyment of those present. Mr Chariea Albert, as the Sultan of Bong-Bong, aoluvved a f„|i Jne asuro of success in what appears to be a congenial part, and Master JJert Aicholsoi, evoked much merriment by Us clever acting and quaint drolleries. In hiß ho was ably seconded by Mr Harry Qucaly, and between them they managed to convulse the audience. The graceful minor parts were ably sustained, ; nd stage grouping and scmr ana ffl ™ artistic .and well-eonceived. * A worH pra. ? e isi alto due 1o Mr Brahms tho dtrcctor whoso orchestra roTndsolf a most enjoyable evening's entcrtainmen the Wo o Bong Bong" will be r "[ to-night, and g lV es way to "BlucbclP o l'rulay night. A matinee of the hitter s announced for Saturdav afternoon To suit tho convenience- of suburban theatre-goers, late trams have been arranged for to-morrow and Saturday evenings 'PRINCESS THEATRE. Fuller's vaudeville company continues to attract large and most appreciative audi, dices to the Princess Theatre. The prin c:pal attraction of the week is Miss Eva Leo and her precocious picaninnies, whose eccentricities and absurdities arc sereamWlv ud.crous Other, artiste are Tod Calloway (comedian), Melvin and Frawioy, Gcrtir MLecd, Bonnctta and Williams, Maud Perman, Cliae. Moody, and Master Byron A number of new bioscopio pictures arc shown. Iho Company will appear arain this evening. ALHAJD3RA THEATRE. The programme submitted by the Royal Picture Company this week is an up-to-date one, quite a number of films hitherto unseen in Dunedin being; included in the exhibition. Tho attendances keep up wo ll and on Wednesday evening tho usual weekly change of programme takes place. OHRYSAKTHT-SIUM SHOW. For this show, which will be tho last of the season, splendid entries in all the sections aro to hand. Included among tho oxhibilors are several debutants and keen competitions are assured. Entries in the fruit section have been received from both north and south of Dunedin. There will bo a firic oxhibi 1 - from the splendidly cultivated garden at the Seacliff Montal Hospital. The display of largo flowering violets should ba worthy of special attention. A special feature of interest to horticulurists will bo a display by tho biological branch of tho Department of Agriculture. A very fine series, of exhibits of plant diseases, carefully mounted on glass and preserved in formalin, will bo shown. There will also bo ap exhibit of honey collected from- all parts of Now Zealand, and this shoidd bo of special interest, as it lonstitutcs a replica of that to be shown by the department at the Anglo-French Exhibition. Another interesting display by the department will be a ollcctiop of ladybirds, the natural enemies of the aphis, which hal caused so much damage in southern plantations. The«o useful as well as beautiful little insects will bo shown at work in breeding cases. ENTERTAINMENT IN THE GARRISON HALL. "An Evening of Recitals" was the title of an entertainment given in tlie Garrison Hall last evening, and a larger, more attractive, or more appreciative audience than that present could scarcely have been desired. The main feature of tho entertainment was tho recital of tho Rev. Thomas Tait, M.A., 8.D., of selections taken from the writings of many eminent literary men, both past and present.. It is a method of entertainment most difficult of successful accomplishment, and but few could hope to secure the close and interested attention of an audience as Mr Tait did last evening. He is an elocutionist of exceptionally brilliant' talents, and is equally at home whether his subject be humorous or .pathetic. It is not ah uncommon thing to find an audicnoe become restless under recitation, especially if it happens to be lengthy, but it is quite impossible to conceive of an audienceexperiencing any feeling of weariness, or its attention flagging when listening to Mr Tait. It may be said with perfect truth that an audience could, with the greatest pleasme, and thorough enjoyment, listen to Mr Tait for a whole evening, without any such bueaks as wero', made in tho programme last evening. The subjects are all memorised, and tho scenes and incident* described in a most graphio manner. Mr Tait's first recital wa6 Robert Browning's story of "Tho Pied Piper of Hamelin," which was told most effectively. He thou gave one or two scenes from Dr Norman Macleod's Scottish story, " Tho Starling," with which the audionco was greatly amused. The pathetic story of "Enoch Arden," by Sir Alfred Tennyson—or rather portions of it—were related with great dratnatio power; Mr Tait's recital of the death scene bcinjr most realistic. The humorous story of the fato of " The, Black Poodle," by F. Ansley, as narrated by Mr Tait kept; the audience in a, perpetual stale of amusement, and then a change was made to a different class of writing by tho recital of JohD Strange Winter's "Houpla, tho Circus Waif." Mr Tait's closing recital was "A Frenchman's Dilemma," an intensely funny description of a Frenchmans' -visit to New York, which was cleverly given. Several musical items wero given between Mr Tait's appearances on the stage, jyid all proved very acceptable. They consisted of a pianoforte duet (" Spanish Dances") played bv Misses Paton and Popplewell, songs by Miss Margaret May (" Love in a .vsdley," sung expressively), Miss J. Crawley. Mr Harrison ("I'll sing thee songs of Araby"), a violin solo by Mi : G. Thco Schacht (" Tarantelle," by Ardita), and a couple of vocal quartets by Messrs E. Eagar, J. M. Alexander, J. H. Oliver, and Alt. Ibbotson. Several of tho performers were encored, and all 'received hearty applause. Mr J. Loudon presided, and at his invitation a-hea-rty vote of thanks was accorded tho Roy. Mr Tait end those who had assisted him.