ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE POWER OK TIIE CRQS^.."-j Those who ventured--out—in the. dreary drizzle last evening to .-.witness- tho/produetion of "Tlio Power' of *lho" "Cross"' at the Opera Houso-had theirs hoi Tors.of no ordinary,-.character, iiot for an instant were - they Kept-, in -tho. slightest, suspense as to .where' 'viliaiiiy'' I :lurlicd" , j''or virtuo blossomed white,' fbr the fine roiriane'ds; oi social life were swept"dompletel,r;aside.>'iiv the opening chapter of-.the fearsomeisboryy and thereout, horrors. I'llcd.,. : thick_ in tho track of amazing imaginings. '"Playgoer#"fMU, ciato the type of play 'pr'6sfent'ed; 'wlien-'it is stated that "Tho Facc at-.tlie' Window"--is a cheerful' little , domestic - play;, besido :\-"Tho Power of the Cross." w i<r

■ Tlio drama opens witk a ted by. Gerald , Fairfax ..'to.,;.ot>taii.C",XPP nqy,, to .purchaso continued gpa9}pusftpssy,from ; the brilliantly-frocked but jeoto.mon, Rita Lascblles, who, has" fiorce. explptivps,.at .eYery/iVadyerse ! ;;.tuni..'iu,'' her devilish games. Gerald';.is',',a.ho'ut..to turji.i. oyer a .new page, and, marry "tlioVinoneyed girl.who loves him, wlien.'Rita"muv,der3,',flie;, postman tt;hq. is. bringing,„tbe 1 " cbeguifj; (per registered letter) to'Jhe' person, whose' name has been forged,:. Gorald's brother.;Leslio' ; .happeiis {o l .blp,.hcari when tlio body is found," aiid'..Rita^,. banded, 'calmly, accuses. him ; .ni,ujrcli;r,; and tho necessities of the. pliiy'exact ,'tliaV lio shall. he proved gui)ty r and ihroi)',u riiito - durance vile. But the'm.urilsr lia-s been seen by one Baron .Wolfe, Giirjiolay tilled blend of ashen, fleshless face round, .by 'a palp. gceen'- light, to lend a' supenla't'il'r'ill 1 ifir to . his 'supernatural niisdeSdsv,. ' 'Ho : t .rclates that his raco had. been pnb'Bf linlmaii Vaippjros' and that because, of an''unmeri®nable-"crim'o, committed by the last^CufzoKv-Vtlie'-curse of sin had fallen upon liim. i 'His paftifcuTar bout was to hypnotise, all who'st'66'd ; Tn •.lns r way, and thou insert. a"ctelicatp instrument into the jugular-vein. in'stWh'-V WatitfeS aS''ton cause a gentle' internal ..-bleedingi; l associated : with complete loss 'of 'niembryr_- : ;- ; ;iHe .'had! practised his''ttrt'°'so.^uccpaifully' ; in "his .Dalmatia that .it li'ad bfeeii" regarded?as a'ivepidemic, that, defied/'tb'e ifacultyvt'O"check.'■ This . ghastly 'creature' 'lias nion'ej' by forgery from Kingsley, ; ."ah<l, Kingsley dies; then he'*ifays :i -aftcnt'i6n :r t'o: Blancho Kingsley, who becomes ill, but. does uot die., • When Leslie ' 'escapes 'gaol" and seeks to fathom ithe he, ; too, ; falls under. Curzola's spell,; but l is finally 'restored through'' the power-of 'a! tlilisniiiiiic cross, .which is the oiilyarticle] Capable'of .bitting:back, and .whenever it is-'wavedcti'loft the satanio and.; briiiges' .abjectly. 'The cross".is originally-LcslieJg? but ho, passes it" on "to his lad^''lo?e,'''front whbttf! Rita steals it, -and; it. is; n(i6 ,J>y tho good people in. the play until shortlyboforo the curtain :finally;'-fall3;r-Bpfore.thii.t happens Rita, and her ..'accomplice (B.cnjamiti ; . Hawke) havo been, through the aid of a comic Irishman, who blows about tho play); tlio"former, has re--'ceived her death mark from the DilmatifliU; who receives his congo by. .i. series-.,0f dagger' thrusts from tho ,fascuiatins,-l)^t. :V fixpiriiig, advonturitss. A subsidiary 'interest is' created in the : fortunes. of Gordld";Fairlaxl' and/liis; rich but unloved wife. / under Rita's'- dtiiik;f i An'd'' ■knocks, his; wife.' : abons.-'','RitS, 1 "duritijg"ittlib of hor pheasant- visits, .with aiwhisky.1 dq<»nteF"/-a'nj-',' dead,-, 'induces , tho ' drftik-sodd'e'ii ''Gefii'ld - to' believe lib. did''.the deed,y aiidV off"tlifey'flee; together under tho oi*il ' iL proteip : tion to. far Dalmatia,- wliSrß*' f 3[rs. T FairfJx' turns safe and sound ;. t;)ie crbV^dbgs'' sterling work, and' air'is I ''as ! vrpse»tintcjl I ';iis i-sun-tipjjed mountain; tbns;-'6f 3 fair? ; Piilmatia.Absurd as tlio,; liielodraiifa -must' 11 b6'' : ac- ! counted,, it was.far;ifrom"^,uiiuitei'ostiri|','.Wheii viewed as', something _,uriit'iiie'''in :l 'thd;Hrical' extremes,' and triith. to tell'"thei;e' ; W9r6^|ust i as many present last evctfin^ ; frho%mdi:rbw.jvas' thrilled : by : ';tho' fhrcisfuß'aet;iiig x 8f 1 Ulrif Diver,,as Curzoli,' (is 'who' recognised tho morbM iriipo§3ibilities presented .to.' the accomptfiiinieijt o of', a senii-' :clarlcqii.ed:. stpga''" 'hifet jng'' of] : tlio (ien th-owl;. • 'Jtr;. Differ "is. 'r'&lways'.carnest' ■ and convincing where Ifb'S.Siblbjrand tlio.sus-' tained '• effort. to . preseiTe- an • : individuality impressively jir -Sail : re-, snectsj a highly .'meritofiooSf isrib! burdotte, as Rita, created pKp6^' ; ft;blifi^ v of utter repulsion that' tlio role induced;-aim': in doing so, Exhibited vitfj pl'e-r senco, and a' fine faculty-'in'-Jlepictii'lg gtago. r horror.; She died, most artisticaHyr.'-l Jlifi' Ki : . Huntor cut : an aittraistiToi^figures^s&( Dr. : - Leslie, Fairfax, and aeted^vithnio 1 ' littltf ftirbe' m the intenso scenes.RfrS: as Gerald,' was best; in iis!'drankonsßays I ,''{fiid ;i his wife was • satisfactovilyaHnrtejsaiiAtfid'-Jby-' Miss Rosa' Brbwnrkg.' cGooclScliai-afctpt yfoVk'' was, done by slr.'''AV. i 'jWe!ch' ) ;; «s'-':Bchjhmih ! ' Hawke, and Mr. E;; Greon-VandTjWiss'iMabel* Lyhnb . oxtracted plentyok)f J fun ! . but. of-'tlig i parts; of Mr. and'- "O^Dowdr l i-Tlfb'.-' Sconory' was quite ,'adbq.uate,; cffcct'- mado demands'upoii'<i£b imagination. - Th.o shuddei'somo incideiitahannsic Wept the; orchestra busy duringtlio''entire lerfgtlvi-o'f tho play. y-i ■ ; 5 !o '«'•» "Tlio,Power of_the Cross';will-b'e : repeated' until furthor notice. • -r;: ?• ; •' ; : ''v> "•' '' '6lnORGAN RECITAL 1 BY.;MRi.iiIis : BAItNETT , Mr. Maughan : Barnett's'.;-.prgan recital,'■) iiv, the Town ..kail, last ovpning.' b,(uj>..unniisjtak-., 'ably.- the •popular". <ims^&,*aMj. •perniientj. ir ,fet^®ci; u 'gicjli.jj-jftv: suited- TOrjr... iti<ipigpoiafaoa to. bo: judged: by appkuso". .fOiitiVj'ot -piglitpiccesj four were encored, and ifcseemed; as; it' tho repetitioii; of the .BJas!!'• ovettui-cj would also .not havo gpiiei sijiis^.j, Tho programme jlighteicompositions, of tho ' 'delicai<v> orck'i'i-.pnrThe opening: pieco was aGrand; .Ghiiaufc"rf(by(tlio French composer - Dubpis,simple;, in! turo,rwith a protty centre;-fjigal-treatment, and . effective work'in-.tEo bass thrbiighout?.'; It was followed by : an' exquisitoi littlbiriielodyi. "Lo Soir'' .(Gounod),the.feature;,.of...which'was; skilful solo work on tho ::W'itlr' carefully ; subdued, aecompnniniikitr v-foThis" short contribution wasj coi-ed,'and : it will not bo surprising. >if it ap,pear on tho programftie tof ,-tho : hbSt r'i' by;-request"-concert."- A' dainty"rmimrot'''! by' Boecherini; piquantly suggestive bf-'ligh't? : toes and graceful dancers, was 1 also'endored 'arid; repeated, though' the-repetition to;, sulfer by contrast froni. being a:Jittlb hurried.Bach's toccata and fugue'iri'.D, ; iniuoi-;wa§;tllb' csntropieco of'the'programme; and-'-recbived'-tho careful, and'' skilful. trenttaenii'.'tKis,. cb'riiposer's works' 'demand. .' This'"-iVas-'-itom perhaps that did "riot come'.strifc'fly.fun.T 'der tlio designation "popular-,"' though" it's inclusion no ono,couldixegrefc.;^-A-fantasia in A flat by Guiraud, comp,r'ising].a,Jiyjnn-liko theme, and. three simple v'ariat.ioiis'ytho last disclosing ,a delightful combination of - light stops, met with! popular, acclaim. . Following, caiuo tlio eyer-fayouritb'','; , Ruy; by Mendelssohn,; conspicuous''forßpiutiiful melody, .and its dasli;and inipet-übsity and. striking contrasts,, .'features'.that : require' a■ good deal, from' tho 'organist:'.'®fre'!'oT®ftnro 'proved.to'bojono of tlio'nbst'cbi\tri.6'ii.tions. -of, tlio evening. - WitPtho termezzo.' from. Mascaghi's' l ''CaveUerialtii'stiv cana," ' whicty ! could..naWly/bo. i "Ssp'bcted-,''tp'-' escape an encorb,, was' 'bracketftd'; tirf. gi'etto • Cautabilo'' (by. W.ely);' : alsd 'dpHeato' lijf. .charaoter and havinga" 'clover' a'ccpmpani,-,' ment, to the' solo .melody,.; of'distinctly tinkfi ing bells, .produced. by :hapjiy;' ; c6mbiiVatibhst A characteristic fosta.l' 'inarclifby''Calkin," aiv. English, composer, recital. Though tho..htferidaiicb. Was." tho causa' was no douljt suddon downfall of, raiiy ancl not'to;aiiy"jack of interest, in tho. weekly pVent.; jV , ; Next Wednesday, the jecital inll;b'bi'li()l3'at' [four o'clock , p.m. This' ehaiigb'ffi-pm.'iythp .usual hour ; is necessitated, by tli^,pjreVi oi;s" booking of tho Toto HflK Jfio'^foning^.' HIS MAJESTY'S: '.THEATREy' rras* ; Despite the inclemency of the. weatji^rj' a_ good audience, assembled ;iiv His ' Majesty's' Theatre last evoning;' . when -, tlio'y e.^cel-' ■lent sories of kinomatographic films, selbete^ ,, •for . the current week by tnif'Royal' PitstureS Syndicate, was, greatly 'linjofe^','A)id'''addi-'' tioniil attraction is tho B'imericliGß"nip6JitioiY, iJ which is- still ,in . .higb: '' favoilr. 5 -:'THo a pfo?' grammo; will bo reppated this evening,. Tho;; usual-prize matinee will bb.'glven fiii'-Siitur-' ! day afternoon, when every «liHtf ; 'wlU'''bo' > 'pi l cBouted with, a prize.

; • THEATRE ROYAL. . - - • The-vaudeville fai'b provided by- Messrs. Fuller'--at the Theatro Royal this week -ishaviiiß'a very'popular'run. i The programme is well up -to tlio standard: of previous combinations, 1 and f-tho' biography-pictures ' aro quito*. exceptional.--; Tho : .programme will be <V • repeated''' evening-. ~i • ' ... ■ "WfiLLtNCjTON LIEDER-TAFEL.' ■ Thb .ipublic are -again irenlinded of .ilia -J/eidertafel.concert,to .bo tendered to.Mr. R. [Williams this -^evening;:^-Anr ; . attractive ,< ■ programme- lms .-beenrpreparcd,-and' \vill-. -in- • • eludei tvpeal: itonis. May'-;Newman, , 'fltfr.; ! L'w..BucKeridEOj--.aiid ) i ; Mr.f'Ji.r', ;liaijis_.;,;■instrumental;•■itims by.,;Mri.VHqraco Hunt (piano). and^HeJr.Max'.Hoppe .(Yiolin). - • :The members .of .the.Liedertafel nave actively-; rejiparsed; a-, number , of -part'- songs ;and . gleesj 1 .. including-, two - numbers, which ;> have always-. -hooit-Ti- pppttlau?/.,tKoir?«-• audi-. 'fc'ricesyHnamelyi I••■".Ill b:. Little,; Baltung" -.and,,-. , v.'TJio.'.Old: Supbcrb"<.,from,..Staiif(Jrd'S;. ".Sea '■ ■„■ -Soiigsi!'-'.rMi:.:J:\V.iiliaTns..lias; always' been-, a,... .;; public./anil at ( orie*,time was often heard on the Wellington. ' -■ concert platform. Of late years his, appearftneps havo not -been' so frequent, and'his" old friends and admirers will n'o doubt welcome ..' -'t-His l ''qppOr'tiiiiity;' 'of''''iigain." hWing'.'-'Uim. 1 - -. •^ibk6®,%ji"btt.!^lp^t'''|t!ie v ol :^enftffid l jbh?' ! " , .V' .\^ellM^a..i^|io.gp,;*f'f;:- -i : : ._; V'.. V" 1 ./r f " S PICTIPi^ picture.-.show;. ;t :,- .imoonjunctionrwitlv the'Bresciaijs' entertain-;!-v-' succrasful that- hb paid the''J<ew,; Zealand.' Government income'itas;on-a-'profityy; of £18(000, -fforj'.a -.tour, l:\sthigj eight- InionthV'#' '. has; inoivjio isis shows *nnder,Vhis .management.''y^Largo'-.consignments of; the '". '. ;', very.' latest ! l;iiicmatograpli''.novelties,, are rej^. coivedi.by.- him-.'-froimEngland . arid"tlio- Ooft- V.'W tinonfaby ovory-mail. , On.'Saturday;noxtv,Mr.'(..w company, ;assisted.' by.-D. -De Gro'enls '.Xico-RegaL.Orch'estra, .will; commcnce a'.short *-.: :rqturn„.'season;rin',t.he. Tewri- Hall; r prior.; to'-V s'aiHngv.for ;i '• .bring-'; ■■. : pic--|tures,;;;thatyiialthougha tho season Av>ill, bei-.a; r .--. ;0i)0,,-;s'evcral .programmes, will b'e. pr&y '?» "'sttntedr'inoluding'picturesiof'-ailivariotiesi'.No; l ;;'.« .picture/exhibited! during .the -'. previous visit •will, btrishowntegaini -.The "box.plan'is.at, the : ' Dresden. V ■•■;::■ MISSIONS TO' SEAMEN A capital.,.coiiccrt.:WßS .givenv last: itight '»".. 'the';Missibns.to-:Seamen. Institute' to mark tho';''. "; 'home-coming of; Mr. Jamt-s Mooce, the'mis--'":-.; ;si'oner, and. Mrs.-' Moore' after'-their (annual .«•*»«.. 'holiday;;. - . The; concert. , was.,. organised>'-by, .Misses-,Dcmont-and Boyd, two. valued'ihelp- <i •&y. of.;,,the ■'Mission,';and .despitoi'the' wet weathori-tho halliwas crowded.-.'-The various •peyformm;..were'-'rowardcd''-with'vOyery. mark-1"." - .of- 'enthusiasm, were '-.frequent.. -■;• Tho ~ programme ,comprised .tho following . .» •items :r~Ov.oi;tur6 and ; various ;selections 'by Miss ■ R6binsbn J s lorchestra; 'songs by. Miss > ■ D. ,i; Henry; ■■■ ..and ijJMf;,;(lvnowles. : (s.'s. Oswestry. Grange), " (Mr.-Gobdiiia^;accompanying) pand recitation ' by 'M-iss-'Siuclairi'.";Miss Collins was accom-' paiiist/', Several: choruses,;' led by -Mr; ; Moore; •' ; were isuiigjin rousing style-by the men/- Mr.-' - Mooro also gave an . impressive temperance i address; n A. r cpnundrum' competition .wis; won - 'by sailors ; 'of 'the Oswestry Grange;: At. the 'closovofv the; f c.oncert;-a.;.hoartyi,'Voto .of. thahka :••: : -'fl'is Misses .Dement!,.and ;Boyd ' <a'lfd ;sio .i-Rbfreshmentsi'Wcie ;'th;on,,h.anded,;round.r' : ttVW

' HOME OF COMPASSION. , ~:.Tho;,fete;;at .the' Home;, of Compassion , was;;,. ; 'opeiijfigaiyC.yest'ersfoy. aftprnoon and evening,; ~.. ;• i nnd iiij spite ;of ; tho,--wet;-, number 'of. peojjla'jr.went r,out r ;in .>tjie. afternoon; !;wh'oni:',-: :;every|.lyng...wfls;iu, full, swing,' J.and:good,busi'.ness |Ty-.!is Al d6ue, It; is, long,- and. on.-;'; 'u-:night like., last,!a ypry wet.jway.-.fromVtho • , 'tram; i ;to,,.thp so .that-the,few -people' ;.;who .ftrjivjedtncro .in - the, evening ■- wore. ex- • , ".pttessions jof,;, almost apainful.,';,'virtue, fAvhieh-iuj:'' ,iip jwrtlib .discis^oi^U'i'l '"of' tlipirv'd^(up. ! clo,^hing,l!( I Thproi;w'as,:n'b oott<(o fi cert,,,a,S;.thc audipjico ; -wasrso-small, and,the ; ontei:tsiun}entt)resolved itself, into a-series of., amateur)" vauctioneer'd - '■* '■ - jclßaritig^the^=Stalls - of;'' ■ the. goods jleffef overir.'-nßyj.-tho-. close of; the , evening-;.tho»profit! onitleifeteiamounted to' £a 0.'., . :,. \ , , : ;yn-. ; ;5:;;:;;-

)( SVILORS' PCST 11 'Tho-.,inclement,,weather.; last'.,night-did .not ; s ..very, large.-.audipnqo.- of i sailors' from ,;'atte4'ding;-;the., cqhce'r);.-. given, iby.-.t-he ..Welling- ■■ 'ton- Bai'jp.oMajidplin; -and : -'Guitar.;. Band.'-.-..:' ;T|ib yjcpiiceri ; . ..dirQCted.- >by ;:;,Mr. ; > v' ,3vyrncr,„.assiftcd byo tlie.-.ilisßes; F. Barker," • and.;Ra§'ch;-'"and,M;essrs; Barry, ?: i' ;Reid;;indij\);. c aud-E. -Turnerii/At the:close.'of' : ,' ' an eiijoy'able';.;ei{fei4ainmentj\-a -'''>■ tJ.iAnks„was.; passed:to..-tlio contributorsj-auiid';' ;SlieerS. t ' i;'..O'rr,- y

u THE " ZOO " CONCERT | "^&|^|KS£o"^lifc^Ms 1 -b'^nJ';prepi.i^-\''V-'Cp/.j ffio' - (llti»)n^.','boj)(iieE|i' ui. .aid'- Zoo-„.,.„- . lpgica.i;.;Gard'ens should ensure' a-,large..attend- - ajice, ■ quite apart from .the obicct. for which. -- • 'be' no.tabla. featureoor,f r , the. .joiipert''should;'be"-' Mr.T Alfred Hill's singing V..' ; of'his own poi song'.;, The t same .composer's " M.v Fairest Child " will bo rendered uv Mr. .Ai'thur.ißallaucCj'LwhoijWill-havo the support • $f, the:piaiioi •yiblin:,^and''^^d"tfrgMl r! Ai^6ng' > '' , y'' ~t!10! other..performers '.'will 'be' Mrs- E." N-'" ■AVorsley, Miss. Gertrude' Hunt," Miss -Mini' Simpson, Miss Amy'Roming-' : ''' Ion; inndfiMossrs. <lir»nk • -Johnstone,- - Max : Hoppc, Horico F C\n, T Scarle, ? and rHftlley;'T The - cbiipei't {iSI 'ebtit;. 1 '. 1 ;''; mence;-a'jt-:8 o'clctk.' ; '.Pbp'uliir.':piiiCcsfarb : irig: chargedi'.'and tickets; can-bo 'Obtained:'at.;;,;.;, .tho; Dresden.

if.!-The Mountebank-'Drnmatic-Society ?.is to" .perform Byroh's -"'fairious * comedy,' 13pys," at the Opera on.. Tuesday, 1 Wednesday; and Thursday of : next week; in aid •'pfrthb'VdJoran&'j Hiine. ItehearsalStaro -in-.fulli,< is^vihgyViftT'cN-ery"effort' is being mado to insure succcss'. The; object" is ' worthy of. support,.'.and plavgoers, .apart- from; - •hol[)ing-''a--wbrtliy 'instit'utiqn',,' may : 'rest as.siired of an enjoyiblc.tentertainment. - .The;'.. .ca'st 'arranged ! is a strong lone'.lt'. .'Mcssr'S'.' i 'W'Bdstiiij P. Lanipeu; .R. Sell-. ~ ijrs, ; »©.;!-«:• • Miffs,"'"M.-• -team,•.and . P., .H; •. AY.oodWari^- M.\' . Pollock',.; . .o';,;', •^o6'^ 3 Z

;yy;.Tho'. : ;sc»on"d;; afinii'al 'co'iicerb, and - , danceun-,- . fder; and Waiters' "Union 1 ".Was;'held ''in.; tlio .* Druids'../ Hall: lasty,;'-' flight,\MienjV despito .' the.' "t!iere''wKfe a l'argb' '.'attendance. .; .Among -the -'.•- ■visitors'-werb tlie T. W.. Hlslop)-.••'••• and Councillors-Hindmnrfil) and IM'Laren, also the; niembers of. the.%abbur' Representation Coiin'riittbo. . About ,100 ;couplcs waited .for .i .- tho; da)i^'''the..ijiitosic , was'. suppU.ed,s"i; by | Miss 'Hawthorne s .'orchestra. y-j:,;',"