ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17751, 1 July 1929, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GRAND SUNDAY CONCERT

A FINE PROGRAMME. f IN AID OF EARTHQUAKE FUND. In spite of the inclemency of the weather last evening, the Theatre Royal was full for the sacred concert arranged in aid of the Earthquake Relief Fund. The programme, featuring a high standard of local talent, was one of the finest heard in Hamilton for some considerable time, and was a credit to the organiser, Mr W. Hopkins. The large audience were not slow to show their appreciation, and each artist in turn was tendered an attentive hearing. From a remunerative point of view the concert eclipsed anything of a similar nature held in Hamilton in the last two or three years. The Right Rev. C. A. Cherrington thanked the large audience for their support, and announced that the sum of £33 4s 6id had been taken at the door. He briefly outlined the object of the concert, and appealed to the audience to show their appreciation of such a fine programme by further contributing as they left the theatre.

Miss D. Clapham captured the hearts of her audience with “June is in my Heart," the sweet appeal of her voice earning a well-deserved encore. Her recall number, "The Cuckoo," w T as artistically rendered. Another vocalist to meet with a warm reception was Miss v Mary McKenzie in her two numbers, “Down the Vale" and “My Prayer." Miss McKenzie, who has been off the Hamilton stage for some time, was tendered an enthusiastic welcome back to the circle of popular vocalists. The fine quality of Mr T. R. Jones’ rich baritone voice fully justified his popularity. He took for his numbers "Lead Kindly Light" and “My Task.” Mrs N. Anderson’s warm contralto voice made an instant appeal and she was obliged to repeat her appearance. Her first item, “My Dear Soul,” was followed by "I Love." Mrs J. S. Prentice in artistically rendered pianoforte solos proved a popular item, and her fine reception was a tribute to her capable renditions of “Au Dem Carnival" by Greig and “Peer Gynt Suite.” Ever a popular artist with Hamilton audiences, Mr R. Braithwaite, in “The Lord is My Life" and “Duna," was given a rousing reception. He was followed by Miss Iris Andrews in elocutionary numbers. Her “Bannerman Rode the Grey” and “Little Jeane" merited her cordial reception. Violin solos by Mr Roy Crompton were a feature of a good programme. Mr E. H. Quill needs no introduction to Hamilton music-lovers, the artistic baritone quality of his voice in “Out of the Deep I Call" and “With Courtly Grace" inciting loud applause. The programme was interspersed with musical and vocal selections on two Columbia Kolsters, specially synchronised. This type of entertainment proved a popular innovation. The machines were kindly lent by L. V. Martin and Co., Hamilton. The collection at the door, going out, amounted to £3 10s 2Jd, which, with a further donation of £2 brings the total up to £3B 14s 9d. Another concert with change of programme will be held next Sunday evening. THEATRE ROYAL. Using Joseph Conrad’s masterpiece, ' "The Rescue,” as the vehicle for his first appearance as an individual star for Samuel Goldwyn, Ronald Colman will appear before his public in a new light when “The Rescue” comes to the Theatre Royal to-night. The hero of “Beau Geste” and “Two Lovers” now has a role of the sea and desperate intrigue among the natives of the Malay archipelago. Lily Damita, Samuel Goldwyn’s new Fr ench find, plays opposite Colman as the beautiful Mrs Travers. There is every opportunity for beauty of setting and matchless drama in the plot of “The Rescue.” Ronald Colman is said to have never appeared to better advantage than as the daring wanderer of the sea—“ King Tom,” in this thrilling, romantic drama. STRAND & FRANKTON THEATRES. “Ginsberg, the Great,” with George Jessel, is th.e Warner-Master Picture attraction which comes to the above theatres to-night. In the cast are Audrey Ferris, Gertrude Astor, Douglas Gerrard, Jack Santoro, Theodore Lorch, Jimmie Quinn and Stanley Sanford. ‘“Ginsberg, the Great,” details the astonishing adventures of a tailor’s apprentice who joins a carnival with the intention of winning fame and fortune. He inadvertently witnesses a robbery, knocks out the crooks temporarily, wins a reward, and in the end, the lady for whom his ambition flames. “Spotlight," the second picture, features Esther Ralston. It is a happy snappy story of stage life that starts with a laugh, continues with a gasp and ends with a surprise! THE ALLAN WILKIE COMPANY.

“Much Ado About Nothing,” one of Shakespeare’s three most popular comedies, will be staged by the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company on their welcome return to the Theatre Royal, Hamilton, on Saturday next. Although the other two, “Twelfth Night" and “As You Like It," are probably far more familiar to the general public—do not they both figure ad nauseam In the school curriculum?— “Much Ado" is every bit as effective on the stage as either, and from the very fact of being less well-known gains immensely in interest. Swinburne praises “its absolute power of conception, faultless balance and blameless rectitude of design,” w’hilc yet another critic describes it as “an island of tragic sorrow circled by gay and glancing sides of comedy.” The play is dramatic—even melodramatic at times—and yet scintillating with jest, badinage and comic dialogue. Mr Wilkie is to 'be congratulated on having added this brilliant comedy to his already extensive repertoire, and playgoers have reason to felicitate themselves on being given the opportunity of seeing it staged for the first time in New Zealand.