AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14380, 25 November 1908, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE GREAT MILLIONAIRE." ' The second production of " The Great Millionaire," by the Bland Holt Company at His Majesty's Theatre last night was witnessed by u crowd which left no doubt'as to the nai uvo of the expectations which are invariably aroused by Hie advent oF\ this popular org-cinisa.tion. Nor were those expectations unrealised, for the largo audience was alleniiiitely thrilled and amused as tho plot developed itself, as well as impressed by the magnitude of the scale on which the drama, was staged. Nothing remains to be added to the account of tho play already published. When it is tmid that it is in. Bland Holt's best style, both as to production and presentation, sufficient has been'' ■stated. The management has arranged with tho Railway Department to run a-late' train lo Port Chalmers on Wednesday and Saturday evenings during the season. PRINCESS THEATRE. " Miss Lancashire Limited," now boiig staged at tho Princess Theatre, with Miss Florence Raines in the leading role, is described as a. musical farce, and the description is not inapt. As such it is, of course, not to be taken seriously, and, indeed, n more broadly farcical production of the kind has not. been presented at a local theatre for a Jong time. The aim of "Miss Lancashire Limited" is to create laughter—by no means necessarily discriminating laughter,—and the fact that it undoubtedly succeeds in a rather remarkable measure in achieving this result is mainly due to tho efforts of Miss Florence Baines, who, as the impersonator of tho wealthy lady of tho title, is the life.and soul of tho production, which her infectious humour and versatility carry hilariously along to a finish. Miss Baines is not, or in this case does not choose to he, a comedienne of the subtle order,'evidently preferring.the more aggressive methods 'of comedy, and to kick over the traces of

oonvorition in her desire to .provoke amusement, but sho has unquestionably a dominating personality, and takes her audienco with her. Ample evidence of Hint waa forthcoming last evening in tho demonstrative merriment among those present, which AViis the persistent accompaniment of lier presence en tlic stage, tho audience thoroughly enjoying the boisterous humour of the piece.' To her cleverness and abandon as an actress Miss Baincs adds the possession of vocal ability considerably above the average in quality, 'and is equally successful in a. drnwingronm ballad or music hall ditty. The members of the company givo their principal capable support, some, of tho characters being clover, if superficial, studies,, and all keep tho pace of the comedy, in animation. "Mies Lancashire, Limited," will be repeated this evening. WEST'S PICTURES. The country vreidents of Otago in Dunedin for the summer show will be interested in a lino lilm nightly unwound at the Alhambra Theatre representative of modern Tho pictures are of sterling' interest. Herein aro shown machines of' which tho • motive power_ is neither horse nor steam,' but electricity, and the wholo furnishes a striking example of farming a. la. mode. Homerio wood-chopping' contests and exhibitions of rough-riding should also appeal'to visitors from tho country. All tastes art catered for on the usual generous scale. The present ■ programme will be presented till Saturday night, when an entire change of films will be. made. Tho - attendance lastnight was good. , ■ . • LONDON PIERROTS. The London Pierrots gavo another of their popular open-air concerts at Caver-, sham last night. It was their first appearand the largo crowd which gathered re-' ccived the. various items of the programme with evident enjoyment. Miss Woodhousc, in her soprano solos, and Mr 'Jf rimrose, in his humorous songs and sketches and clever banjo solos; were again most successful, as they have been elsewhere, while. Mr Wallace's work. as tho pianist of the troupe was all that could be desired. Mr .Primrose announced that he intends to (hold a singing competition for' boys under. 12 ,-years'oi age, the first, prize to bo a watch. , .;..'' .'■ .SAILORS' REST/. :■■,-": An entertainment tendered by the Civereham Presbyterian Bible Class to the-fro-; qucnters of the Sailors' Rest attracted a full- house 'last night. Forty sailors : from? various ships and a number of city friends spent ah .enjoyable evening. Bound games, were freely, indulged in, while wlos, banjo and mandoline items and recitations in the intervals added'to the pleasure, of the occasion. ' Tea and cakes' having been passed) around, .the Rev.'.-N A. Davis briefly addressed the, men, and the.closing hour sent everyone away afer a happy tjme. ';■:'' HIGHLAND FOLKLORE. . A leoture on "The Fairy Tales and Folklore of the Highlands of Scotland," by tho Rev. D. Maclennan,. M.A., of the' Gaelio Church, Dunedin, should prove an attraction sto. .visitors to Dwiediri this*week ( \ As advertised, the lecture will be delivered to-night' in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart; street. .• . ;, Mr.'Maclcnjian is leaving Dunedin at the close of the.year, .and this is his closing mooting in. connection with tho Gaelio diss, which has been conducted for tho past three years in Dunedin. r 'i . ' MADAME MELBA.; , i Mr John Lemmone, .the eminent flautist and imprcssario, arrived in Dunedin yesterday -from .Melbourne to superintend tho 'preliminary arrangements inconnection; with the .visit to New Zealand of'the famous, diva, Madame Slelba. Two concerts will bo given in this city, and' tho dates fixodl arc April' 15 and 17 (Kaster week). The, toiir-will/bo a memorable one, as the, greati est''singer ■ of the day comes to us in the noonday glory of her fame. Accompanying Madame Melba will to one of Uio finest combinations of artists 'that 'has. visited thiepart bf world, including l the famous ! young. Irish baritone, Frederick Ranalbw, who lias recently created-a wonderful impression, in Great Britain. Mr Lemmonu -will also,appear at the. concerts as soloist,'and in conjunction with Madame Melha. in several'of the famous arias for soprano and flute. , Madnroe Melba'-s Antipodean 'tour commences ; atMelbourne in March, through. Tasmania and New Zealand. .'' ORGAN RECITAL. ' This evening Mv Charles hi Tendall will give his first organ recital at All. Saints' Church. Mr Teiida.il, as assistant organist at Christehuk'h Cathedral, was trained' iii the best .traditions of organ playing under his father, the late Mr G. F. Tendall, Mus... sac., Oxon., and under Dr J C. Bradshaw, organist of the Cathedral. . The programme will include Handel's Overture to Mendelssohn's War March of PriestSj-Batiste's Offertoire in F, Chopin's Nocturne'in : , Ep, Lemare's Aridantino in. D flat. (by : request), and .other popular num-'-hers.-'. A/collection will-be taken- up 'for' the choir fund. . i ' . DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY.','/'. Tho'Dunedin Choral Sooiety will give a concept, on Tuesday evening. The principal item op- the programme is Gade'6 dramatic musical story, "Comola," in .which' the sooiety will hi assisted by Mrs R. Hudson,' Miss F. Grant, Mr? Glover, a.nd. Mr. Guit. ~ Another item will be' " Lord Ullitt's Daughter," set to music by Hamish M'Cann.' This is said to be a niasterpicco of composition and orchestration. ' The committee will supply subscribers with additional tickets at the customary feo. . GARRISON HALL CONCERTS. Among the leading attractions on the two show nights will be the condsrts promoted by tlie Dunedin Pipe' Band and the First Railway Pioneer Corps, Both of these 1 institutions are,,exceedingly popular with the public, and as the programmes liaTe been selected with a view ..to meetthe wishes of.both local and Tisitmg/eon-ccrt-goers,. large audiences may be confidently expected. Further interest in the concerts is given by thei fact that the Kaikorai Band will, on tho Friday evening, mate its first public' appearance since its return. The recently-formed Taieri, Pipo Band'will also -make its first public appearance, on Friday, evening. v Splendid '-programmes have been arranged, and no less

than four bands will tako part-viz., Kaikorai, Garrison, Taiori Pipe and Dunedin •Pipe Band.;. . fc BAND CONCERT. Visitors to the show should not fail to hoar tho band' concert in tho Botanical Wardens on Friday night. A splendid pro. gramme has boon arranjred l by the Garrison, Citizens, and Mornington Bands, who givo their services gratuitously and willingly. Tlie ground will be illuminated by electric light. A collection will be taken at the gates in aid of the Hospital Saturday Association. , DUNEDIN ORCHESTRAL SOCIF/TY. Visitors to town, aiid, in fact, everyone who is fond of music, should not miss thd opportunity which the Dunedin Orchestral Society's concert to-night will offer for hearing bright and pleasing, and at tho sumo time good, music, both vocal and instrumental. The Orchestral , Society's' concerts are always attractive, ami the' programme for to-night has been specially designed'with 4 yiow to giatifyln K 'those who are. fond of music but have hot mado it such a study as to prefer the more solid o,r classical compositions. Therefore composers such as Rossini, Sullivan, Gounod, buppe, etc., have been levied upon, and in the " Semiramide" overture, " Gondo-' jers, and "Faust"- selections, -etc.; listeners, will. find pleasure without weariness and. enjoyment-without ■'satiety.-. The vocal items also or«i such as cannot fail to delight tlie audience, especially from such finished vocalists as Mrs R. Hudson. and Mr .lames Jago. : Tlie full programme is published inanofher page 'of this issue. Although not included in the advertised 'programme,. the ".Turkish Patrol" march will, by special ■ request, "be played by the orchestra.