AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9810, 31 March 1910, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

* HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. HALS. POWKRFUL'S CONCERT PARTY. There was an exceptionally large audience at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when by special arrangement with the Patho Pictures management a concert was given by a party from H.M.S. Powerful in aid of the funds of the Christchurch Society fo.r the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The audience was an enthusiastic one, and the various items given by the warship's company were heartily applauded. The ship's band, .under! the baton of the bandmaster, Mr C. Riscam played the march " Tho Gladiator's j Farewell" (Blankenbure), the overture I "Sou- D Automne ' (Bouillon) a so- ■ lection of airs from " The ' Merry' | Widow '' (Lehar), a descriptive fani tasia "The Phantom Brigade" (Mvd idleton), and "The Teddy Bears Picnic Two-Step" (BrattonY The . band which is a combination of brass, string and reed in ; struments, played its numbers in a ! very artistic and pleasing manner. One of the bandsmen, Sergeant Goocb of tho Marines, played a piccolo solo "Silver Birds," in a manner which i showed that he was a master of the technique of his instrument. Comic I

songs, in character, ivere contributed by Private Gillett (Marines), Telegraphist Tiller, and a humorous patter sketch and comic duet were given by Private Gillett and Telegraphist Bonner. Sergeant Dooley, of the Marines, gave a very funny stump speech in the character of an itinerant vendor of patent medicines. At the beginning of the entertainment Miss Martinengo ; sang "Rule Britannia." At the close I of the Powerful party's programme, the Mayor (Mr 0. Allison) thanked Admiral Poore and the officers and men of the Powerful on behalf of the Society, and moved that a hearty vote of thanks should be accorded to them. The motion was briefly seconded by the Rev E. Eliot Chambers, and carried by acclamation. A short programme of pictures was then given by the Patho Pictures Company. After the entertainment the performers and other members of the Powerful's crew were entertained at suppor by Mrs Townend, president of the Society. Miss Freeman, in a brief speech, thanked the performers on bohalf of the Council of the Society, and Sergeant Dooley, in replying on behalf of the performers, said that if the people of Christchurch treated animals as well as the Society treated the men of the Powerful, there would he little need for the Society's existence. He then called for three hearty cheers for the Society, which were given with much vigour by the Powerful men present. PATHE~PICTURES. j A special selection of films was i shown by the Pa the Pictures mauageI ment last evening, in connection with | the entertainment given by tho Powerfill's concert party in His Majesty's I Theatre. The ordinary programme | will be repeated this evening. Tho j impression is said to have got abroad i that tho Patlic Pictures will bechangj ed on Monday evenings, but the management states that it will continue to effect the change every Saturday. I OPERA HOUSE. j The popularity of the entertainment provided by tho Empire Vaudeville Company was again demonstrated last evening, when a very large audience j was attracted to the Opera House by j the week's programme. The various turns were all well received, and numerous encore numbers were given. The same programme will bo given this evening. I FULLER'S PICTURES. The week's programme of Fullers Pictures was shown at the Colosseum last evening for the last time, when it provided entertainment for a very large audience. This evening the weekly change of programme will be made, when the principal attraction will be a lengthy film based on tho opera "Faust." The picture will bo accompanied, by a number of the better known selections from the music of the famous composition. Another series from Victor Hugo's " Les Miserables," entitled " Cosette ; " will be shown, and other pictures will be " Her Terrible Ordeal, "A Gaiety Duet," "Foolshead Preaches Temperance," and a film illustrating the cocoanut tree plantations in Singapore. ■