ENTERTAINMENTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9711, 5 February 1910, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

-'GEORGE HACKENSGHMIDT. 'There v;as a large attendance at the Town Hail, last evening, to wit<kc? the entertainment given by the seorg« Hackenschmidt Company. The series of athletic displays given -were of a high class character I hose present were given a splendid opportunity of seeing this, great athlete, and his remarkable muscular dpvt-;op sment was universally admired. An offer of £ls is always open tor anyonj Hackenschmidt fails to throw in fifteen minutes. Thin challenge was accepted by a local wrestler, Moaiia Paritene. The contest was a very interesting one, and although Paratene only lasted 3 irinutes 45 second?, he gave a good account of himself, and •the plucky way in whicn he stood mp to the rr.ampion was greatly aprplauded. The Russian showed great 'strength and agility in a lively bout ■with Gunner Moir, which resulted in -Hackensrhmidt taking 3 minutes 7 ■seconds to throw the boxer. Alex. Bain provtd a tougher opponent. Some splendid wrestling was seen, interspersed with a great variety of ""holds " and eventually the Scotchman succumbed after 6 minutes 10 ••seconds on the mat. Later on the Lion" posed on a turning pedestal to display his magnificent development, and the perfection of his form evoked considerable applause. He also gave some interest-ing-exhibitions of weight-liftir-g and physical culture, and illustrated some of the methods he uses to attain the degree of rouseularitv which he dis-, played. .-1..X- * Gunner Moir gave an exhibition oi skipping, and certainly showed great -ease and capability. He claims to -hold a record count of nearly six thousand, done in the fast time of twenty-seven minutes nine seconds, and is willing to meet any local skip- ' a match. -«§ he athletic display was suppleWnted by vaudeville items and bio•graph pictures. The vaudeville turns were rendered by Mark Osborne, a, musical monologuist, who was encored for each of his pieces; Madame Blanche Corelli, a soprano, whose one item "Spring is Coming" was deservdiy encored, her second song being "Killarney," and Clifford Eskell, who was described as "the mysten--ous man in white and his Burmese Bong." His conjuring display was clever, and his performances were watched with keen interest. The biograph pictures were a good series, and inrluded films of Swedish Free Exercises," "World's Wrestling Championship between George Hackenschmidt and Joe Rogers," "Wrestling in Japan, showing the famous exponents of ju- . jitsu at work, and the "World's Boxing Championship between Tommy Burns and Gunner Moir.'

POLLARD'S OPERA COMPAY,

"THE BELLE OF CUBA" TONIGHT.

The members of this much-travelled combination will arrive this morning, and will renew acquaintance with, their hosts of admirers this evening. It is almost safe to prophesy a crowded bouse, as players, prices piece are popular. A strong feature in the visits of the Pollards is the marked improvement shown each time they come round. ; Surprises are being continually sprung on playgoers, as the chorus girl or boy of one tour is probably playing lead in the next. To-night the management will Introduce several new people, and an entirely new piece. In opening with the two-act operatic extra4a|anZa "The Belle of Cuba" good judgment is shown, as the moat glowing accounts regarding the tunefulness and mirth-provoking qualities of thiaycung lady have been filtering through for weeks past from the Southern towns. The piece is frankly announced as being produced for laQphing purposes only. it contwenty musical numbers, 'which include several charming ballads, a clever sextet, original duet and dance, a sketch entitled Shopping" and an eccentric song and Sance trio, "Off to Santiago." There are several novel dances and ballets, while mounting and dressing will be up to the Pollard standard. On Monday night we are promised the sensational record-breaking musical comedy "Mise Hook of Holland. For weeks the Pollards have been rehearsing this long-expected work. It was ready for production a weekago and it was originally intended to ; stage it in Invercargill. After due consideration the management decided that as the stage of our Town i flail had every auxiliary required tor ■ a big production the first representation would be given here.