AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

I THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN." This evening at eight o'clock the curtain will rise on the first performance here of the new comic opera by the J. C. Williamson New Comic Opera Company. "The Girl in the Train." -The Girl in the Train" comes with so good a reputation that more than the usual interest attaches to its presentation this evening. There is little doubt J , that the company that will elucidate the! ramifications of the brilliant comic opera is J an excellent one, embraciug many of the best known names in the realm of comic opera on the Australian stage. To-night | will make first appearances here three not-| able English artists, in the persons of Mr j Talleur Andrews, Viss Vivian Talleur. aud Miss Sybil Arnndale. Each is an artist of distinction. Other principals of a long oast who will appear to-night are Messrs W. S. Percy, Ueginald Roberts, Victor Prince, Fred. Winn, rharles Albert, Edmund Sherras, Dick Shortland, Misses Celia Ghiloni. Dorothy Brunton. An increased and specially selected orchestra will be under the direction of Mr vTctor Champion. Mr Charles Wenman will personally superintend tbe production of the play, the stage management being in tbe hands of Mr Hedge Carey. In tbe second act Miss Vivian Talleur will execute what is said to be n wonderful dance. "The Girl in the Train" will be played until further notice, and will lie followed by another new ooinu opera. "Nightbirds.' the music of which is by .lo!::inn S'.rauss. OPEP.A HOUSE. An entirely new company of imported artists will be presented by the BrenuanFu'.ler management at the Opera House this evening. At the bead of tbe programme will be Fred. Rivenhall, who some years ago left New Zealand for America to obtain fame as a comedian. How wed he succeeded both in America aud England is now public, history. Mr. Ben. Fuller managed to secure him for Australia on a long contract, and from rcparts to hand he has met with success everywhere. Eva Mudge (a talented American artist!, Morris and Shand isenf.irinnal tumblers), the De'.roys (comedy jugglers). Victor Ui? Great iven-n-iioquist and magician), the Fontenoys (lady duettists and barmonisers). Phillips aud" Merritt (American performers), Les Rinch (Continental artisti. and others wili also appear. On Christmas night the management will present a grand sacred concert. QUEENS THEATRE. A large number of Christmas visitors swelled the rauks of those attending the Queen's Picture Theatre this morning and afternoon, when the usual new programme was presented. The series is an escellent one. appropriate to the season. The first is I a scenic, "The Beautiful Isle of Corsica," i the truth of which title can be gathered I from the screen. "White Roses' is the title of a very touching story. A young bride, lon the day of her marriage, is moved to I pity by the sight of a criminal being taken jto gaol by two detectives. She gives him I some white roses as an emblem of hope. This kindness proves the turning point of Ms career. Years later, the bride has be ! come a widow with a little daughter. The I daughter is ill and she is unable to pay her rent. She visits her landlord to plead against the order, for her eviction, and dls- • overs that he is the prisoner to whom she w-as kind in happier days, and who has since become a rich man. He shows that be has not forgotten her roses, and becomes the means of bringing happiness into her life once again. The star picture is o I drama in two parts entitled "On the Thack lof the Corkscrew Gang." an unusually inI terestirg detective story. It contains many ' exciting situations, and works out through , a complicated plot to a very satisfactory denounement. A' number of comic items are included among others, and the whole series forms a very happily chosen programme. The management have just installed two large l.onvre windows at the back of tbe dress circle, thus improving the ventilation of the hall. GLOBE THEATRE. A new and highly interesting programme i was shown at the Globe Picture Theatre's ; usual sessions this 'morning. The. afteudjunces during all sessions was quite "seasonaide," and -appreciation of the fare sub-. -mined, was ..very marked. In "Tbe Sphinx, or Mrs Carter's Necklace" and "Broncho. Billy for Sheriff" the management have a couple of pictures that stand out prominently. The former is chiefly a study in expression, that of the butler's inscrutable countenance while he is acting the part of good angel to his master's .friend, who is ruined, but possesses ten supposedly worth • leas shares of stock which, had he known I it. his master would give thousands for, as I they entail the control of a certain company. The frieud breaks into the house, planning to steal a valuable necklace. He is disturbed, and tbe butler claims as bis own the incriminating hat with the bonds in it. Ho makes a good bargain for the latter, and takes the first opportunity of restoring the hat with the cheque instead of tbe bouds. It is enough for most picturegoers to know that iv the second picture ;Mr G. M. Anderson plays the role of ! Broncho Billy iv his own inimitable fashion. Among other items "Oaumout Graphic" is as usual, full of variety, while "Tbe Life of the Favourite Horse" depicts a thoroughbred's career from a foal to the racecourse "Sammy, the Fool of the Regiment" and "A Pie Worth While" are in lighter ve'n and the budget is made complete by an industrial showing the coalfields of Decazeville, Fr-tnee. j JANSEX. THE ILLUSIONIST. I On Boxing Night, the 26th inst., at the | Town Hall. Mr. Chas. Kuight will present ;to the people of Aucklaud Janseu. the ; illusionist and wonder-worker. Janseu is acknowledged to be a compete master of mystical methods, and creator of his own -act*. He presents nothing old. He is supported by a company of vaudeviie ! .artists.. Among them is Miss Edna llerr, who is described as "the world's foremost escape artist." The "Sydney Sun" says Mi.st> Herr's performance is alone worth the admission money. Miss Adelle Montague is a charming American soubrette and a beautiful dancer. Mr. Leslie Kates is styled uAtnerica-s somewhat different comedian, and ho brings some very clever gags. Mies tier- ! trude Leona is said to be marvellous in her ! miud-readiug roe. The box plan for the ! season was opened at Wtldiuan and Arey's i this morning. There will be matinees on' Saturday, the 23th, and New Year's Day at 2.00 p.m. *' PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. To-night at the Royal ALbert Had an j entirely new programme, especially su.tabie for the Christmas period, will be presented. • The pictures will include: "Alone in Pans." ! "Pathe's Gazette," "Birds of a Feather," ! aud other subjects of a diversified nature. I The weekly change of programme wlLl be j made to-night at the Kiug s Theatre. A i more than usually attractive series of tilius I will be sereeued. great care haviug been paid to the selection of the subjects. | The sessions at tbe Newton Picture Palace I on Saturday w6re all well attended. A change of pictures will be made fo-uight. On Saturday evening at the Lyric Theatrethere was a very large attendance, which was most enthusiastic. To-night a new set of pictures of au entertaining description will be submitted. ST. MICHAELS FAIR. I St. Michael's Christmas Fair in the Royal Rink was thronged with people on Saturday i and the promoters have good reason to feel satisfied with the success that is attending the venture. In the afternoon the children were present in strong force, and Father Christmas had a busy time presenting all of them with toys. The stall-holders did great business, especially iv the evening, when their time was fully occupied iv attending to purchasers. The side shows were •well patronised, and the entertainment provided in the evening, when a number of new' dancing turns were presented, waa thoroughly enjoyed. The chief attraction was the third round of the tng-of-war, in which the contestants were Marist Bros." Old Boys and Cosmopolitans. The teams were very evenly matched, and both strained every effort to snatch a victory. Marist Bros.' Old Boys won the first pull by six Inches, but the 'Cosmopolitans were successful in the second round, although their margin was an almost infinitesimal one, a fact which indicated the evenness in the strength of the two teams. When, tbe third pull was reached great excitement prevailed. Gradually the Marist Bros.* Old ooys began to wear down their opponents. With a great effort, they slow'y, but surely, hauled the Cosmopolitans over the line until they had a margin of three inches to spare, and amid great enthusiasm were declared tne winners.