THEATRE ROYAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13657, 28 July 1908, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

■•THE MERRYMAKERS." A eouplo of hours were pai-:sed by I lie large audience in the 'lheatre Royal lat-t night in witnessing the brightest ard most humourous suateller; from tlie many varieties of the -world's playhouses, the L,ena-> Wing culled from higli tragedy to melodraiiia, from oratorio to light opera. The. Merrymakers amply justify the adoption of the title, for nothing -was allowed ti> lag, and their bright patter, pretty and vivacious dances, tuneful _sintC"»g shmr all round excellence that. improved and was more appreciated as ihc evening waned. The company, to the r.i.mber of right, all earned their place in the combination. and the humour was ' f the nature thai gripped but left no unpleasant taste. The part hinging of the f.ill company was* well worth hearing, and their buricMpie of the club, in "a liieii dominant individuality roughly broke tin.* delates of harmonic i eriuiremwits, made many ii hide aclie. Mr J. M. lampb.-ll as a comedian, has few equals; 1 i» i-ii of Mrs Wizzrn. the lady who 1 ;■!;<,> ion mueli tea on the anniveiwiry of her tkar departed in "tremendous delerims" «as a masterpiece. As Harry l.auder, his sn g ing took hold of the house, and even t.'ie pathetie tact that he had lot-t twr bro tbelt*, oni' dead and one in Invei.mru'H, faded to keep his audience hol.-.-nui. As a pianoforte h ailii-t.. Mi" Sim M nod a few remarks on mitM'-, :n:d later "A Melodrama in Mn.-i." : th- Mm- v. • i.el, ver. (lie lodiama. pal t i.-ularly The ba.-so of the pally, Mr (iavin Wood, ">:uidy Mct'hi&ky" and "Drinking." were artistieallv rendered. Mir>s Dorii- 1..!i>1 Item. "T'liP Main I'am- I'ilt-'- l'Mt-r." and El>ie Williams' "Kln ii Kmnid I Ii" ! Ilon-v l'ot." were bol h . t a k ilig iI-mhs. c,ie!i ! '.'•"•.■alisi. being f-:iU'j»>rted bv ! i;.- r'r i ti. and the songs being brightened by \ anileville Hide work. Ohls, who 11at-. a light soprano voice and a. vivaciouis man-

Ncr, g;ive a neat little French song which got. a tin., ivn-pijon ; she also To SlK'p" and all American school girl sollg-tllollologlh.'. ill' I'.l'ic I'lorc -.1 cnlllic numbers were will received, Ilk best- bi ing

"The Sun i.si Still .Shilling," tin; being in-.ed a* a palliative of every inn.ginary ill. The entertainment and tin' in t.crniiiigling of all that iis light in the art with music, song and istoiy, niadw the hours lly in keeping with the title, on the programme. 'I iie- company will ci.mu.de their season 10-night ,aud another good house i.s expected.

CHARLES SAUNDERS' RECITAL. The wonderful thing übouli Mr Saunders' singing comments an exchange, apart from his magnificent voice, is the weffding of the words to tho tune. There is no divorcing of the one from the otilier, but while getlting the full beauty of the music one realises that ono is listening to a finished elocutionist- This splendid trait was noticeably in evidence in his song "The Milkmaid," 'which was indeed a triumph. Another distinguishing feature of Air Saunders is the w;liole-lieartcd Way ill which lie enjoys his task. Do the audience appreciate his singing? If so, he will sing again! He was programmed three times, yet ho generously responded each time to tho vociferous appreciation expressed from all parts of the hall, actually revelling in the manifestly whole-hearted enjoyment of *iie audience. Not tho least pleasing of these "extra tiurns" was his first encore " Molly's Goin' a Courtin," a song in the droll Devonshire dialect, with which Mr 'Saunders .has evidently more than a London acquaintance. His last song was simply perfection, the singer getting a pianissimo high note in the concluding line in a manner that brought: down tho house. His response with Sullivan's favourite from the " Gondoliers/'

"Take a pair of sparkling eyes," well rounded oil' his magnetic singing throughout, tho concert;. Miss Clara. Robson simply charmed everyone by tihe beauty of her singing. There i.s all in her efforts the rare element of "soul" which so quickly wins popularity for her wherever she appears. Mr Max Scherek, who is a very fine player, will act as pianist and accompanist-. Tho box plan is now open at the Dresden, and musical enthusiasts should book early. Second Beat's may be procured at Kingston's.