ENTERTAINMENTS.

"WOMAN AND WINE." THE HAMILTON-MAXWELL DRAMATIC COMPANY. "Woman and Wine," a spectacular melodrama, in four acts, by Arthur Shirley and Benjamin. Landed;. Cast— ■Mary Andrews Beatrice Holloway Jlarcel Rigndont Nellie Strong Janet Jlarlow Muriel Dale "Ln Colombe" Vera Remce Madame Permct Mabel Kussell Dick Seymour (a young stuilent) Max Maxwell "Caliban" S. A. Fitzgerald Professor Sawter, P.R.G'.S. Charles Brown Alphonse Beaudet Godfrey Cass Charles Sawter ...: Sydney G. do Vine Hugh Seymour Wallace R. Riley l'mnens Collins Eichd. Bellairs Mark Parkins John Bruce Bob Tipton ■...: Lancelot Vane

The Allan . Hamilton-Max Maxwell Dramatic Company commenced a season of melodrama' at the Opera House on Saturday evening before a very large audience. To those whose tasto. in theatrical entertainment runs to melbdrnma, the adveiit of this company will be welcome. The show is, a well-appointed one, the players aro capabfe, and. as melodramas go, tho play mors than passes muster. Further, the ensnmblb is graced by the beautiful scenery of tho late John Bruuton, whoso facile art will be missed from tho stago of Australasia. Sometimes melodramatic audiences are absolutely insulted by the wretched daubings of those whoso work is proof that they do not know the A B C of tho art of scene painting, and whose shortcomings in draughtsmanship and incorrect colour sense servo as aids to disillusionment instead of tho reverse John Brunton was always artistic, and in tho drama under notice there aro several bits of the dead scene-painter's art at his best, notably the countryside extent in the first act. This is an admirable study in perspective—a front drop representing a park, strongly reminiscent of Hagley Park in early summer (where the late Mr. Brunton was known to havo sketched a good deal), and, in set scenes, tho gailycoloiired Japanese ball and the Parisian flower market scones.

Tlie play is not unknown to Wellington playgoers ■of mature, years. "Woman and Wine" was played here some ten or twelve years ago by Mr. Bland Holt, when it was received with considerable favour. It tells the story of a weak-headed young Englishman named Dick Seymour, who is easily led down the broad red way by Marcel Rigadoul, a Parisian adventuress, and her confederate, Phineas Collins. Coming into a legacy, Dick leaves his quiet English home, and the usual sweetly innocent sweetheart, to plunge into reckless dissipation in Paris. When his money is gone Mnrccl deserts him for Alphonse Bcaudot, a malevolent gamester, who sticks at nothing. This person is also loved by another crimson creature, who flaunts the name- of "La Colombe." The two women meet in a enfe, and, after vile recriminations, fight a duel with knives in tho adjacent (lower-market, a site made available by the custodian, Caliban, a human beast, who sees nought .but comedy in deeds of blood, and who gloats horribly when "La Colombo" kills Marcel. This ghoul suggests throwing the onus uf the deed oh to Seymour, who, drugged and stupid,-has reeled into the market and fallen asleep there. Tlie fata! knife is placed in his hand, and near him the corpse of Marcel is laid in a fiower-crate, and lightly sprinkled with blossoms. Who should discover tho body but Mary Andrews, Dick's little country sweetheart?father she has fallen out with fortune, and has come to Paris to pick up a livelihood. . Mary has turned a flowerseller, and it is while she- is selecting her stocto for the'day that she uncovers Marcel's cold, dead face. Then tho police- arrive—Dick, still half stupid, is arrested and tried for tho murder, and is about to be sentenced to death, when "La Colombe" rushes into the Court and "confesses her crime, and is, with Baudot and Caliban, arrested. With- Marcel out of tho way Dick returns to Mary Andrews and straighter paths, to the great joy of an anxious audience.

"Woman and Wine" is a play without a hem.' The pseudo-horo in this drama is tho biggest cad and deepest wrongdoer in tho story. Through fastliving and evi! .companionship no fails in his luw examination, and, on inheriting .a fortune, deserts his Mind father and sweetheart, to lead a life of , reckless and degrading pleasure,"- while liis mouth is ever full of virtue. Ho is a personage who does not desorvo any of the happiness tho' end. of thts play promises him. The part was assumed hy Mr. Max Maxwell, who has been seen in Wellington before in heroic roles. Mr. Maxwell lias youth and a good appearance to aid him. Ho is apparently sincere and earnest, but those qualities arc partly obscured by his mechanical acting and a certain "proachiness" which characterises tho delivery of his lines. Ho was at. his best in the flower-market scene, where his simulation of semi-stupor and horror at his supposed crimo approached the truth.

• Miss Beatrice Holloway, petite and pretty, suggested the piquancy , and freshness of youth char.minglv as Mary Andrews. Her scenes with Hugh Seymour, Dick's blind father (capitaliy played by Mr. Wallace Eyley) were among the best in the drama. Nellie strong as Marcel wore a succession of gowns in keeping with her garish laugh, and, lacking tho subtlety and chio the author intended the actress to convey, exhibited herself 'generally. in. a light that would repel rather than attract a properly constituted Englishman. Miss Vera Remee, as "La Colombe," was another female of the same colour, although, perhaps, , slits presented a rather more.enticing bit -of ferahiinity. The fight with flower-knives between the two was ono of the thrilling mom-ents-of tlie play. Mr. S. A. Fitzgerald .was sufficiently gruesome as Caliban {the character originally played here with much force and conviction by Mr. Arthur Styati), but he did'not appreciate fully tho repulsive subtlety in tho scone with Beuudet, where he'pictures what a joke it would be to accuse Seymour of Marcel's murder, and to see the head of the wrong man roll from tho guillotine into tho basket—they the only two in the joke! Caliban "is a character of a typo that would havo lent valuable aid to the French revolutionaries of 1792. The deadly intensity of Mr. Godfrey Cass as Alph'onse Bcaiidot was rather overdone, but it was'a convincing performance on the whole. Mr. Charles Brown (for nearly a quarter of a century with Mr. Bland Holt) was capital as Professor Sawter, F.R.G.S., exhibiting all his old-timo comedy spirit. Mr. Sydney de Vino was well suited as Charles Sawter, and Mies Muriel Dale was charming as Mrs. Sawter, inn. Woman and Wine" will bo played until further notice.

THEAIRE ROYAL.

■Rollicking Frank Ynrko sang and jested at Mic Theatre Royal on Saturday nrglri, .and to-night will be entertaining pleasure-seekers in another centre. A hearty reception was given him on his farewell appearance. 'Hie other mirthful members of Messrs. Fullers' Company kept laughter alive all tlm tlm-.. rimy held the boards, and tho musical Shirleys, the novel instrumentalists, Athos, tiio skating artist, and Fred Harcoiirt, illustrated bal■ladist, were good, in their respective iif.ln. Tlnii'c will bo a iTomplcte change of pi'ugiammo to-night.

KING'S THEATRE. The matinco at the King's Theatre on Saturday attracted a largo attendance, and in tlie evening again tho excellent programme of pictures now being shown was appreciated by a full house. The film which illustrates tho big gameshooting adventures of ex-President Roosevelt in Africa is a specially interesting one, which picture-lovers should not miss, and "The Pineapple Industry," "Fonlshead on Holler Skates," and "Tho Love of Lady Irma" are other interesting series The programme will bo repeated tonight. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The brilliant and varied programme of moving pictures which had proved so popular on the preceding nights, was repeated at His Majesty's Theatre at the usual Saturday matinee'and again in the eraiing. The theatre was full on each occasion.. The programme will be repeated to-night. "Roosevelt in Africa," "The Brighton Aquarium," and "Foolshead on Skates" are some of tho most interesting films. STAR PICTURES. There were largo attendances at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, at the matinee and evening displays of the Star Pictures on Saturday. There will be a change of programme to-night. SKATING. Both active skaters and onlookers gathered in force at tho Olvmpia Rink" on Saturday evening, and eacli section oi tho assemblage appeared to bo equally satisfied. The management have now done everything possible to enable the expert skater to enjoy himself thoroughly while the spectators nnd the night of the more proficient exponents of the graceful art, a rather exhilarating and interesting thing to watch. ORGAN RECITAL. 'The City Organist (Mr. Maughan iiarnett) gave a recital on Saturday evneing, the merit and enjoyment of which warranted a larger number of listeners. There were nevertheless many present, who appreciate tho powers of the Town Hall organ as drawn upon by Mr. Barnett, and who would not readily miss the opportunity for hearing such an able execution of the works of masters in music. Ono of the most enjoyable items was the rendering of Bach's lreludo and Fugue in A minor, and iilr. Barnott also played, with good effect, a march from the cantata, . llie Song of Empire," written by luiusolt for Van Wellington celebrations m connection with the sixtieth year of -the- reign of the late Queen Victoria, llie other items of the programme were: "Gavotte in E minor" (from ttamcau's "Les Talents Lyriques"), ■'Communion" (Devred), "Flute Solo" (Rinck), "Dornroschen" (Bendel), and "»eim Tode Siegfried" (Wagner). At «ext Saturday's recital, Mr. Barnett will play the Prelude and Angels' l'arewell from Elgar's "Gerontius."