AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 16 July 1910, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

MA.C&IAHO:S PICTURES.

The films at His Majesty's Theatre last night were added to 'by an excellent representation of the fight between Johnson, and Ketchell, which took place in October of last year. The announcement that these pictures would be shown attracted, a great stream of people, and long before the curtain went up the management was turning would-be spectators away as there was no room. The film is a .first-class one of its kind, and the display from a boxing point of view was well worth recording. This evening the contest will again be run through the machine, and the dramatic film. "For the Term of His Natural life" will also ibe repeated. The season closes thia evening, and those who have not seen the programme should make an effort to do so. The general selection is as good as we have had in Auckland for a very long time.

OBERA HOUSE. Messrs. Puller have a really fine programme for their many patrons this evening. The principal film is '"Esther," a Biblical story, which has been represented with wonderful effect. The 'bill includes the race for the Derby of tho present year, and another star film is "Tom'bolin's Duel." The general subjects embrace a wide selection, including the following, which speak for themselves: — "The sardine industry," "A deal in I broken China," "A phantom ride from Aix-les-Bains to Mount Kevard," "Tho sculptor's easy task," and some comio items are "Foolshead forced to marry," "A rich revenge/ and "A crowded hotel. ,, Burkes orchestra, which is such a popular feature of the Opera House entertainments, will play selections from "Madam Butterfly," the "Gondoliers, ,- the "Girls of Gottenburg," "Bienzi," and "Bronze Horse." THE TIVGLI. The feature of the entertainment at the Tivoli this evening is the appearance of Dayne's Mammoth Minstrels. Tho combination is a strong one. Mr Haldimand Dayne will give some distinctive monologues, and 2Vliss Aloys Dayne is down for several songs, which have won her much favour in other places. The company includes Will Walker, "Marlin the Cord King," Miss Say Sullivan, the McDonald sisters, Miss Marguerite 3foody, Miss Millie Batee, and some excellent vocalists. WEST'S PICTURES. A "budget of attractions is announced in the new programme to-night at the Royal Albert Hall, and promises to .be oj exceptional interest "GEnipSCS 6? 1' ' J "H li] ,,, <]non)oJiQ ter."" the 'border and —xhe"Si<i Stevedore." The comic nims imJIMO "T3ie folly of cliil<±ren," "Monkey Khowmen in Eiry-pt," *Tteal in '"broicen Chinru," and "A .baffled .bandit, ,, toy Max Lindcr. -4. special matinee -will .be gdven on Wednesday af terriopTi, -wiicn only scenic and .industrial, •pictures will lie sTiown. ■ EKXsrars kdjk. Roller skating still attracts large attendances to the above popular rink. The children's carnival on the 2S>th inst. is being eagerly anticipated. "aPAOLO AND FRA2JCE3CA." There was not room for a single other person in the Lecture Hall of the Leys Institute last night, when tho Ponsonby Shakespeare and Rhetoric Club gave a reading of "'Paolo and 'Franceses." This wonderful story of love, jealousy, and revenge, as told by Stephen Phillips, was splendidly read by the members of the dui>, who showed a 'fine appreciation of the beauty of the lines, and of the intense passion and .touching pathos of the story. Paolo and Giovanni were two wealthy young nobles of Florence, in the days of that city's might. Giovanni loved a 'beautiful lady, and -when the time for the "wedding arrived he sent his 'brother Paolo to bring his prospective bride from the convent where she had been cduca-ted. OnT.he journey tack tho two became enamoured of each other, but the wedding between Francesca and Giovanni proceeded. Soon afterwards Giovanni falsely suspected his young wife of infidelity, and his brother of perfidy, and he slew them both. Professor Maxwell Walker read the lines spoken by Paolo with fine effect, particularly in those scenes in which he and Madame "Wielaert as Francesca were associated. •Madame Wdelaert shoved herself <to 'be fitted to take her difficult part, and always appeared to appreciate the meaning of the lines exactly and fully. Mr Harry Hemus "was cast in the role of Giovanni, and read his lines with much dramatic force. Mrs Forsyth was admirable as Luerezia, and Miss M. Stubba, ■who impersonated the Wind Angela, recited her part without the aid of the scrip. The btlier parts were allocated as follows:—-Valentino, Mr Otway; Corrado, Mr W. H. Graham; Imigi, Mr Kealy; Marco, Mr "Wilfred Manning; Pulci, Mr T. U. Wells; Carlo, Mr J. H. Gregory; Tessa, Miss Eileen Cotterell; Nita, Mies Alice Gillett; Mirra, Miss Jessie Dewar; first girl, Miss Hilda Kings well; second girl, Miss Hill. Herr Wiijlaert's quartet played music incidental to the reading, and so added to its dramatic effect, and also they played two other items in interludes. A song by Mr Wilfred Manning, "A Clinking Toast, was also interpolated, -and it also provided a welcome addition to the programme. "THE VAGRANT KING."

At the Northcote Athenaeum Last evening a cabinet representation of Mr. Maurice R. Keesing"s historical and poetic drama, "The Vagrant King," was given before a large and most appreciative audience. The drama is in three acts, and depicts the murder of King Godebert of Pavia by Grimvald, Duke of Benevento, and the expulsion of King Ber--tarid of Milan, followed by Grimvald\j usurpation of the whole Kingdom of Lombardy, and the imprisonment of Queen Rodelinda, Bertarid's wife, and her infant son, Cunibert. The Court Jester, Onulf, follows his master, Bertarid, into exile, and they wander amonothe Huns and Avars, till Bertarid becomes anxious to return, and to gain the freedom of his wife and child. Onulf dissuades him in vain, and a plot to assassinate Bertarid is formed, soon after his reappearance. Garibaldi a traitorous Minister, is the moving spirit in all the villainy, but Onulf saves his master's life, and enables him to escape, by a fope, from tne walls of Pavia. Rodelinda and her son are again, imprisoned, but .Garibald is iurprisoned. and tortured,

for .his improper behaviour to Grimvald'a fQueen, Berta, the sister of Godebert and Bertarid. . Eventually, Bertarid is restored to the throne, on the death, of Grimvald by poison, and the last scene shows Bertarid's noble, refusal to betray Wilfred, Archbishop of York, to the Anglo-Saxon- King, Egfrid. As Queen Rodelinda, Miss Isabel Hunt displayed much grace and tender feeling, and moved the audience to sympathy. Miss Violet Hunt as Lantberga was ,)piquante and pleasing, and enlivened I the atmosphere of the play at her every apearanee. Mrs. Ca-vaye as Berta, (showed, appropriate jealousy, and as Qualdrada was really alarmed in the raurder scene. The gentleman who took the part of Bertarid gave a dignified and convincing tone to his scenes, and as : Onulf,, Mr. A. W. Potter had tho opportunity of illustrating the wise and clever fool, with the heart of a gent'eman and i the genius of of an improvisatore, and : took advantage of the chance to display ius powers. As Grimvald, Mr. Horace H. Hunt gavo a fine delineation of a tyrant, but an admirer of devoted service, even when Hindered to his victim, and,, in the last sec;. >, as Wilfred, Archbishop of York, his dignity and graciousness were excellently brought out. Mr. R. Gordon Hunt acted the part of the polite Count Baudo, as if to the manner born, and his First Hunter was a sufficiently gruff pourtrayal. Mr. Arnold E. : Harrison was 'wily and insinuating, as Garibald, and generous and frank, as tho Second Hunter. Mr. E. J. Tremain as Count Adalbert, acted his pleasant part with due effect, and Mr. W. H. Glover as Godebert showed youthful pride and confidence, and died under strong protest; later on, as Chief Ambassador, he delivered his lines in effective style.