AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14278, 29 July 1908, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT. I'll® complimentary conccrt lomlcrcd Mr Irank Y. Blandford in His Majesty's Ihcutro lust evening, prior to his departure for Wanganui, was, considered us a whole, an exceedingly enjoyable one. Tlio programmo Was somewhat lengthy, slid was much extended by reason of the frequent encores which were lavishly showered upon tile performers. The attendance was unfortunately not* such as Mr Blandford deserved, but no doubt many had taken tickets atld bad Ijoou prevented from according their personal patronage by tlm class of weather Duuedin is experiencing just now. I lie concert; compared more than favourably with- tiio ordinary run of benefit concerts, many of tho items being* exceedingly Nell poi'formed. The Hmid. muter ils conductor (Mr G. B. Laidlaw), gave an exceptionally. good rendering; of selections from " William Toll." The band can always lie relied on to give a good account of itself, but its playing last evening"' was* even butter than usual. Mr Blandford, of course, occupied a prominent place in the. programme, and was called upon several times. He gavo three musical sketches, find was iu every instance successful in securing the emphatic approval of his audience. He was entertaining and humorous m a high degree, and never failed to obtain an enthusiastic recall. Mr Arthur Harrison sang "I'll sing thee songs of Arahy very pleasingly, and gavo a pretty little ballad by way of encore. One of the finest performances of the evening was -Ur J, A. Wallace's violin playing. Ho played a composition by Sarasato with very great skill and taste, and gives promise- of developing talent of a much higher order than is usually met with. Mrs it. Power ?. a <y° a " acceptable rendering of the song ' Sunshine and rain," and Mr Noel Smith " Sergeant of horse" successfully, Jliss Aett.io Bundle was good in a humorous recitation, "I and my Father-in-law," and i r i?T H- Osborn e g <ivc a dramatic recital ir r ,i a *- Tomb of Napoleon." 1 .Mr T. do Spong recited "The Bells" by request, in which he creatod a most favour, ablo impression. The hockey jjestette, iiiiined by Miss May Black, appeared in a coon song and dance, "My ladv Lu"• ' "ssDorotliy Gard'ner, Mr C. J. Gray, and Mr Mai tin nd Gard'nor santr the solo and trio ' Tis jolly to hunt ' and "The Haw. • thorn in tbe glade," from Bennett's "..iay Quoen"; and a male quartet contributed a couple of items. The accompaniments wore nlavwl by Miss E. Hartley ami Mr - bKincy Wolf. ■ THE REV. R. S. GRAY'S RECITAL. 1 This entertainment' was, in the vote of ' thanks that concluded it, aptly described in' throe, words—" an intellectual treat." Con- . stdowng the reputation that the Rev. R. 8. Gray of Christchurch justly enjoys as > a reciter and,a racontour and tho rareness of his visits to Dunedin, it was hardly surprising that in spite of tlio weather a vey : large audience assembled at the Hanover Street Baptist Chutch to hear hiin, • Tho Rev. W Hay, who presided, explained that though their visitor was secretary of the Baptist Union he also had a good deal ' |o do with tho Baptist Women's Missionary j society, and that he had come on that society s invitation to give this recital, the proceeds of which wore to go towards mis- ■ sionary work in India. ' t The J ßc , v ' -^- , S \ Gray °PMcd by reciting i Jca,n Paul Rioters "Dream Vision of Infi--3 nito .Space,"' wherein, by his talent, ho transported his hearers, along with the V angel, and the human stripped of all gar--1 nionts of flesh except "tho human heart ■ that weeps and trembles," up through tho awful mystic mazes of Infinity; and having s shown them tlio unresting fearsomeness of - it all, where there is no end, dashed them m \t - i k' ll ™ ®ga-in with the angel's answer ' Neither is there any beginning." His ? next piece was the scene between David • laugloss and Dick Dowlas. "I may inform 1 you that the letters LL.D. are affixed to my name, signifying Doctor of Laws, also 1 the letters A.S.S., signifying Associate of - tho Society of Scientists. And I have (by s my tailors) the letters DR affixed to my - name, signifying 'debtor'; also the letters ~ Sl d,, 1 being the old Roman equivalent tor pounds shillings and pence," The rev. gentleman's .rendering of this 6eene never f for a moment fell short of being delight--1 r> • . the c J nio ' s from "The i Lonnio Bnar Bush," he • convulsed his b audienco with laughter, and reduced many r to teara with the quaihtnesses, tlio secret, j and the death of Jamie Souter. With Sheridan 6 " Wliere tho Cameron Men Are i , , . t<x ?" 1,0 straight to the hearts of his hearers. The Rev. R. S. Gray dis--3 played an excellent sense of proportion, ; and after stunning his audience with his heavy ordnance took care to revive it with ' ® mo ™ tI S! li&W. such as "The- Bashful Man and "Tho Bashful Bachelor." A masterly effort was his scene from " Kin" s » ?' ■ u ' )Cr ' ; ( ' e Burgh and Prince Arthur lived, moved, and had their actual being; and when he commanded, "Heat me those irons hot" his intent listeners could almost hear tho hiss of fanned embers. His voice and gesture carry with them great descriptive power, and' many were visibly astonished at the telling force behind Tennyson's words as this man toolc them up tho hill, into, and through tho Russians with Scarlett and his three !V mdr ? d '„ ijl ' ,Tho of tho Heavy Brigade. As an encore to this, he gave Tim Charge of the Light Brigade " quite as effectively. Tho rev, gentleman eoncludod his recital with "A Rat or a Mouse," a lesson to married folk. Between Mr Gray's recitations were sandwiched several capital musical items. Part song, "Par away" choir; vocal duet. "The wings of a dove/' Messrs A. .15. Bono and R. Shrimpton; Sunshine and rain," Miss Sangstor: violin solo. Mr D. Wright; son g. Mr A. E. Bono s and . Good-night," by the choir The , organist and accompanist was Miss Aitken, "hero was not a dull moment, and t.lio j recital should bo considered one of the successes of the season. ( Mr Gray gives another recital at Mos- _ giel to-night, and returns to Christchurch ® to-morrow morning. ORGAN RECITAL. First Church, so far. has been extremely fortunate with the recitals arranged for the new organ, and Mr Henry Wells (of Christentirety, a gentleman known all over the Dommion as an able performer, wi]l give another one to-morrow evening. Mr Wells has been resident in the Dominion for over 20 years, and for many years was organist rfu Christchurch Cathedral a.nd St. Michael's f Church. Pie hius acted as musical judge in many competitions, and last year judged all the mUsic at the Invercargili j Ho is now to act there again, and on his , way will break the journey for the purpose of giving this recital. We arc requested to state that this recital has been changed from Friday to Thursday, to avoid clashing with Mrs Blanche Levi's piano rocital, MR CHARLES SAUNDERS. There is probably no tenor singer in the ,f world better known or appreciated in the O d Country than Mr Charles Saunders, 3 who, with the assistance of Mrs Saunders a (Miss Clara Rolxson), very popular at Home 1, as u contralto vocalist, and Mr Max j Schorek, pianist, will give three vocal e recitals and song cycle conccrts at lli< i. Majesty's Theatre on Wednesday. Tlmrst day, and Friday next. Mr and Mrs £ Saunders have beoji specially engaged to sing with the Christchurch Choral iWoty . this week on the occasion of iho opening t of the city organ, and also have engager monts. with the Wellington and Auckland e Societies. With the first-named he sings in I, "Judas Maccabieus," " Stabat Mator.'^and c "Faust," and most probably "Samson" t and another in the northern city. In It oratorio or ballad Mr Saunders has no ■, superior in the English-speaking world, and f his concerts have invariably proved pheno- - mindly successful. Mrs Saunders is a very s fino singer, and. lieing to the manner born, v sings Scotch songs splendidly. Tn Mely boumo and Tasmania she ci' Kited quite a e stir in Caledonian circles: and local lovers e of the songs of " Auid Scotin" may antif cipate a treat. Mr Max Seherck is well o known as a capable pianist and :l accompanist. :1 ■ PRINCESS THEATRE. Tho Wide World series of cinematograph 0 pictures now being produced attracled an- • other large and appreciative audience last - evening, It is announced that a comnlete 1 change of programme will be introduced • to-morrow. o I' SARGOOD'S FACTORIES SOCIAL. ;• I Some 500 of Messrs Si.irgood, Son, and ' ; lvwen's factory employee and their friends ' j foregathered at the Art Gallery last Salur- , j <lay evening, the occasion being a complimentivy social eveciiiff tendered I>j M* E

R. Sargood. The proceedings opened witti a brief cpeeeh by the host, who bade everyone wnloomc, 'iiie first item on the concort programme "J'*,'}, pianoforte solo ("Tho lielle of New xork") by Mr Donoliue, whose' playing aroused iho enthusiasm of tlio audienco. Ml' A. E. Bono then .=anp Branscombe'c setting of "The Lowland Soa" ill si. liiMincd inanner, after which Miss A. Baker ga\e a nice rendering of "Love me, and tho world is mine," This was followed i l! 6 ?r'"V w:ls dreaming," which Mrs ,1. B. Holt: sang to the entire eatisfaction oi those assembled. Tho next ilein-a comic song "Tlioy ii(\ver do tha 1IU Uuliodlll — was successfully interpreted by Mr H. Stubbs, who Jespondod to an ciiipliatie enwjic. Mr D. A. Ewcn followed Willi a Jiuniber of items on his recentlyimported gramaphoiif, and tlio audienco were treated to. selections by Melba, Uruso, iettrazini. Harry Lauder! ar.d Dan Lc-no, which were thoroughly appreciated, lilo ballad fluting" was 6un; , vcry nicely by Miss M. P, t(? her. who was followed by Mr ,1. F. Ivwen, whose rollickini; nautical song, lour jolly eailormen," eroatcd a furore. Miss Bwen next sane 1o my first love," and "An April song" and in both numbers gave an interpretation I hat, was much admired. A little varietv was Riven to tho programme when Miss Hod nek recited "The Round of Life" exceptionally well. The old English ballad ' Li cellar cool" gavo Mr ,T. Dixon an opportunity of demonstrating tho excellence oi his baritone voice. A Highland dance in costume (pipe music by Mr .1 Grant) by Miss J. Clarfcson evoked loud applause, The accompaniments were efficiently played , by Mr J. Donoiiue. Before the supper adjournment Mr A. E. Bone, on behalf of the committee, thanked Air Sargood for tho splendid entertainment thai ho had provided there that evening. In the course of his speech. Mr Bone mentioned that whilst rumours of strikes and industrial warfare seemed to be ill tho air tho employees of the firm of Sargood, Son! and Ewcn were a happy family. The past relations between the firm and the employees had ever been of an amicable nstuio, and ho felt sure that the present . conditions would long continue. After ■ir Sargood had been musically honoured he briefly thanked all present for their good wishes 'and trusted that' thoy would thoroughly enjoy the evening. The guests then irelired to tho supper room, where a host of good things was provided by the caterer,, Mies Murray. After supper a dance was held, and a- pleasurable evening .waxed merrily until midnight, wnen tho gathering regretfully dispersed. Tne arrangements were in the callable hands of Messrs J. F. Ewcn and C. S, opaul, who were abl.v assisted by a committee consisting of Messrs A Paine W Barker, M. Russell. 'H. E. George, J Dixon and J. B. Holt. For bronchial coughs take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.' Is 6d and 2s 6d. •