ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"HIS HIGHNESS ■■THE-BEY." • Pollard's Juvenile Opora-. Company concluded their, season at tho..Opera'"House on Saturday night with a final performance of the bright extravaganza "His Highness the 80y..". The season, has,been..a very'suce'esst'ul pne, and the local'public' willlpng rotein very pleasant memories of the wholesome enjoyment provided by Mr. Tom Pollard and his company. ".'..*..' THEATRE ROYAL. Ono of the "star" performances at Fuller's on Saturday night was that "of Lesso and ltcxo, jugglers and comedians. • Theso clover entertainers departed .considerably from the beaten path, and kept tho audience keenly interested during the all too brief period of'thoi'r "turih" They are'the latest and .a . strong ■ addition to a well-diversified programme. Stewart and Lorraine, musical specialists, who .made a reappearance, produced tuneful music jn imitation of organ notes and chimes,- and also contributed vocal items that were above tho average. Clever wire-walking and balancing feats wero displayed by the loleens. Shooting with a pearifle at clay objects from all positions on a tight-ropowas'ono of the performances. Miss .Nellie Power, soubrette, added to■ her usual vocal contributions a "begging" song "Only a Penny,',' and the'shower, of coppers that came in response was.pleasantly reminiscent of the old-timo "Absent-Minded Beggar." Tho money so obtained will'be donated to tho "Home of Compassion" Christmas tree. Now and. interesting biograph films were substituted' for those of the previous evenings. -To-night there will be new appearances, and on Christmas night a grand pictorial sacred concert will be given. WONDERLAND. Wonderland; "the Mecca of.Merry Souls;" was visited by largo crowds on Saturday and Sunday. All tho'side-shows were extensively patronised. During the holidays, Wonderland will bo open in tbo mornings as well as for tho rest of the day. ... ■ THE BLUE MOON. ■ A brilliant prism of' Oriental hues, bevies of dainty Burmeso maidens, clad in the shimmering robes of the silken East, sparkling music,' and dancing, in which delightful novelty holds sway, strango and: grotesquely fashioned gods, and a strong current- of excellent comedy—this is the setting in which "The Blue Aloo'n" will bo introduced to the Wellington public by Mr. J. C. Williamson's Now Musical Comedy Company on Boxing Night at the Opera House, This latest' of Mr. Williamson's ;organisations is a largo one, numbering over ninety pcoplo, who will arrive on Christmas Evo from Sydney. All tho scenery, properties,,..arid accessories for the'opening piece reached Wellington by last week's steamer, so thero' is. nothing to prevent a perfect' production on' Thursday' evening. Tho reports which have preceded the company go to 'show that it is well equipped in all departments. essential to the success of musical comedy. Among tho many attractive' features •of "Tho Bluo Moon", is tho dancing of the. Misses Vera and/Zehpyr Evans 1 in their pas do deiix, which-has won them such wido' popularity in Australia. .' Amongst so many new faces woaro pleased to welcome back such artists as Miss Cclia Ghiloni and Mr. Pat. Bathurs't, also Miss Amy Murphy ; On Boxing Day the plan of resorved"scats will.be on view at Cliristeson's, opposite the Opera House, i .'./.' MADAME ABOMAH. On Saturday afternoon arid evening, largo numbers went to see Madamo Abomah, tho Amazon giantess, who is on exhibition in Manners Street. Her story of her wonderful growth is invariably listenicd to with interest, as is her singing of ballads. •_ In conjunction with Madamo Abomah is Princo\Oiriic, the " human volcano." Tho exhibition will-bo open, again this afternoon and ovening. WEST'S PICTURES. " , ~ 'Tho reputation of' West's Pictures is so firmly established* that it is. safo to predict for-their reoponing to-night at the Town Hall a cordial and hearty welcome, as the entertainment is to bo presented in a slightly altered form, and, with a niuch greater number of items on the programme-.than was the caso on previous visits. Moreover, tho animated scones selected for production are to bo entirely new to Wellington, and mil comprise tho latest and most advanced examples in all branches of animated photography. Theso, it is understood, will cover a wido rangoof interest, tho picturesque, dramatic, romantic, sensational; fantastic, aiul comic, besides including somo lieautiful creations in colour animation as illustrated in various strango and amazing dovices. Amongst tho moro prominent subjects to bo shown tonight are': — "Tho Corsican's Daughter," " Visit from Mpthor-iu-law," ." Tobogganing in Switzerland,". -"'Fancy Pantomime..Cinderella.,".." Tho Charmed fjmbrolla," "Daniel Boon-q,", Story of tho Pioneer Days of America." Ail ,tho 'views .are- to be>cc6inpanied by full orchestral effects supplied by Do Gr'oon Vice-Regal Band, which will also contribute an overture and incidental selections. There' are to be matinees oach Wednesday and Saturday during tho season, in addition to this evening performance. MURITAI SALE OF WORK.' .'■,-.. Tho Muritai Tennis. Olub" Fair and Salo of Work was opened on Saturday afternoon by tho Mayor of Eastbourne, Mr. G. F: Bolton, who, in his opening remarks, explained that tho object of tho l'air was to provide, funds for'the erection'of a pavilion for'the Muritai Tennis Club. There was a largo attendance A tho general public, and brisk-busihoss was dons during tho afternoon and evening. The various stalls woro tastefully decorated, making tho schoolroom appear like a bower of fairyland. Tho stallholders Were: —Fancy stalls, Mesdames Bolton, Shortt, Avery, O'Sullivan; Radcliff, Sanson, Wright, ■ Misses Lowe, Smith, and Duignan; tobacco stall, Mesdames Wills, Wood, a'nd Savage; sweets stall, Misses Butler (2), and'.Hutchinson; produce stall, Mrs. and -Miss Johnson; tea kiosk, Mesdames Lowe, AVeybourno, Misses Foley and Lowe. During tho afternoon solo dances wore performed by' Misses . .Doris Guise and Elsio Ross, and several dances wero given by ' a band of children carefully trained by Mrs. E. Dodd. In the evening a concert was'given under.the direction of Mr. E. Shortt, ono of tho many enjoyable items being tho conjuring performance of Mr. Major. Tho Fair ' will reopen 'on Boxing Day, and continue until tho following Saturday evening!

■There was a large attendance at the.Missions' to Seamen Institute on Friday night, whan the usual ambulance chat took place. Tho JJissioner (Mr. James Moore) gave some useful instruction in connection..with fractures, accidents,'and health affairs. A'competition relating to • suffocation .was won by sailors from the Arahura and the Avon. Miss M. Barnard provided an attractive pn> gramme of music, tho following contributing item's: Misses Barnard, Barton, aiid Hazelwood, and.Mr. Bland. Tho performers; were accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion of tho meeting. '■■■■■■ . At tho Sydney .Street Schoolroom this ovoning Mr. J. Heard will deliver a lccturo on "British Poetry and Poets,.',' Tho lecture, which'is u'ndor tho pafcronago of Archbishop Redwood, will bo followed by recitations.