AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13939, 26 June 1909, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

PERRY'S BIORAMA

It was a thoroughly appreciative audience that assembled in the Theatre Royal last -night when Perry's famous liiorama Company showed a line collection of pictures besides providing a musical programme. The visit of this company to Timaru, and indeed to any New Zealand town, is always looked forward to with ■ pleasurable anticipations by reason of the excellence of the programmes it pxits on. Ye«irs ago it established an enviable reputation and it is still living well up to it. The stage manager, in thanking the audience for its patronage last night, said that his company had had overflowing audiences in Australia, hundreds being turned away just before it left, and Australians were anxiously awaiting the company's return. It was a varied programme that was put on last night, the lirst part being devoted to a miscellaneous collection of films, conspicuous among which weresome very fine views of waterfalls nnd picturesque country, and some highly amusing comic scenes all well worked out, and clearly depicted. The second part of the programme (the entertainment lasted over two hours) was devoted to a series of views depicting the hard life of the Scottish Covenanters, notable scenes, of persecution in the strenuous Ji'dit for religious liberty being well pourtrayed. These pictures were taken among rugtied, mountainous country in Victoria. I»v Mr Perry himself, after a full and lengthy study of the history of the covenanters. " This entailed a great .(.-at of work on the part of :i lot of people, and it. must also have entailed n nreat <?.-al of expense. At intervals between the miscellaneous collection of ni'-tnre-- -siuiit' vocal items were given b~ ditiL-ieut meiiibeis of the- company;

and these, together with the music by the orchestra furnished a pleasing variety. This afternoon, a matinee will ho given; to-night the company will show an entirely new set of pictures, and to-morrow night they will show again after the church services, when a scriptural subiect will be dealt with in' a film 5000 ft. in length. "THE MERRY "WIDOW." TiOCal theatre-goer are looking forward with pleasurable janticipation to Monday night's production of this remarkably popular comic opera by Mr J. C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company. There is said to be no difficulty 'in accounting for the nounlarity of this opera. The story lias been compiled with an abundance of dramatic interest and the composer's music is always charming, an unceasing How of rich melody, and haunting refrains, and ravishing harmonies. 'I o interpret such music satisfactorily artists of more than the average calibe are requisite and that Mr Williamson is fully cognisant of this fact is shown by' the remarkable array of talent revealed by a glance through the cast. Miss Florence Young's glorious soprano voice should do full justice to the soarkling music allotted to Sonia (the merry widow.) and northern critics are unanimous in their enthusiastic praise of her rendering of the part, while Mr Reginald Roberts the tenor earned some very superlative expressions of approval, and the new baritone Mr Andrew Higginson creatid a profound impression, as the fortunate possessor ot a tine stage presence, an excellent voice, and remarkable talent as an actor. Mr Victor Gouriet, Mr W. S. Percy, and •MiArthur Hunter also - win unstinted praise for their fun making, which is said to be of the brightest order, keening the audience in a simmer of hilarity throughout the performance. Miss" Nellie Wilson is also praised moct highly for her singing and fascinating acting, while Miss JVanny Dango who makes her first-New Zealand appearance is said to be a fairy hKe dan.ieu.so, and has established herself a strong favourite everywhere. In speaking ;.*' the " Merry >V'idow," the New Zealand Times, says: —"In all respects she was found to be an agreeable disappointment lor it is not alwa.xs tout realisation tqliins uiiticiwawi.... in tins case tile actuality is miimudy si:per lor tu anything luiic eouiu nave bee;, looked forward t>>. ■ The opera, lor 'l is ijince Mutiny of tue wormy to lie ciassed with tile works .1 Unenoacn, J-iecoq - , \'on touppe, an i otners or the scuool of upt-i a-bouue whose works will live wnen most ol too musical comedies if not alt of them aiv completely forgotten. > The piece is niounu;d 111 Mr J. <J: YMlliam.loll s best style, the rich-and elaborate dressing is au .outstanding leattuv of tile production, wnu-h' lias rarely, if cvt'r been equalled in New Zealand."'

Prepared by Dr. J. C. Aytsr & Co., Lowell, Mass., U.S.A.