THEATRE ROYAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12474, 10 September 1904, Page 4

THEATRE ROYAL.

■"" MR WATKIN MILLS' RECITAL. There was, considering that the weather was most unfavourable, a very good audience at the Theatre Royal last night, for Mr Watkin Mills' concert. Had they come under even far worse conditions of .weather, they must have been fully re- , paid for their trouble by the rare musical ■ treat given them. Mr Mills made a most favourable impression from the moment he .appeared on the stage. He is a large 'man, and his smiling face showed his good nature at once. Later the audience found -him'to be most friendly,' and heard his speaking as well as his singing voice. He announced in each instance what his encore songs wfire, and added a witty remark about each; nor did he in any way spare himself. He gave the impression of being just as fond of kinging •as his hearers were of listening, and when the ajiplause indicated that an extra song was desired, he wasted no time, but selected a song. He would appear to have some powers of endurance, too, for after singing altogether fifteen songs, he was apparently not the least distressed. A striking featuie of Mr Mills' 'performance was the very apparent sympathy he has with the song he sings. \ His face, his hands, his Tvhole body, all help his voice in curry;,ing.out the idea of the words. A man was selling booklets containing the words of. the various songs, but at the time these were quite unnecessary, for Mr Mills pronounced all his words mosS clearly, and it would be a severe critic who.could find fault with him on that 'score. ..The programme included songs ■ so widely different as "She alone Charm-i'-eth" and "I'm a Roomer"; "Crossing the Bar" and "The Wedding of Sbon McLean";. "Plymouth Hoe" and "Still is-, the Night.'.' Each of them, however, was' treated in the most fitting manner, with humour, sadness or the combative . spirit prevailing, and all the songs were ■equally popular. It is hard to select any better than others. " She alone Gharmetb my Sadness" and "0, Ruddier than the Cherry" were much appreciated as the more classical items ;. and " I'm a Roamer " was vocally a show piece that was much liked for its unusual features and for its brilliancy of execution. To these three an encore was demanded, and "The Pretty Creature," an old English ballad, made a very interesting. ■ change of subject. "Still is the Night," "The Curfew," and "The Two Grenadiers," were his next group of songs. The first, a- sorrowful reformed a strong foil for the next, which has a much lighter vein. "The Two Grenadiers" gained a most powerful effect from a sudden change towards the end into the "Marseillaise." Again an S encore had to be given, and took the shape of a love story in twelve verses, in. the Somersetshire dialect. "Crossing the Bar'" came next, and was decidedly very much liked. " Plymouth Hoe," .or "Drake's Drum," was a song full of the defiant spirit of the old English sailor, appealed very strong'y to the audience, and fairly brought down' the house. This and. the two other songs of the programme i were followed by encore items, the last I heing " The Sweetest Flower that Blows.'" Thus there were ten songs and five encores—quite unusual liberality on the, part of a professional singer. Mr Mills sang in' a most pleasing and natural manner. His voice is of beautiful quality and of great volume and range. In technique his singing is as nearly perfect as in any way necessary, and la every way his recital was a musical event to look back upon with the pleasantest recollections. He had the very able and valuable assistance of M. Eduard Parlovitz, the celebrated Polish pianist, who added much to the interest of the programme by his fine playing. He gave Beethoven"s "Sonata " and Chopin's " Grand Polonaise ' in E flat, and for a triplet of lighter pieces he was encored. He responded with a selection well calculated to show off his wonderful powers of execution, and every item was fully appreciated as of the highest merit. M. Parlovitz accompanied all Mr Mills' songs in a very tasteful manner, and in every way showed himself a meet companion for the great singer. So far no suggestion has been given that Mr Mills intends to return to Timaru, but if he should do so, it can be confidently said that he and M. Parlovitz will have a very warm welcome from music-lovers.