ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 175, 18 April 1908, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. Every seat and most of the standing room in-the Theatre Royal was occupied last even-' ing when an entertainment consisting of biographic pictures, interspersed with songs, ■was presented. The pictures wore all new to •Wellington, and' were of a high order of merit. One cannot but help admiring the maimer in which, many of tho pictures' are "acted." There is a fino vorvo and naturalness about tho heartiness thrown, into the action that largcJy'accounts for the fascination which the biograph exerts over theatregoers., "Tho Breton's Promiso," was a splondid example of the;lino degree of perfection which is being achieved in. the preparing of the .animated picture, and. the Toreador's ' Love , Affair " was ,• another equally .as;attractive. *• Other good, pictures projected last evening were " Tno Avaricious Father," Three .Sins of tho Devil," "Tho Little Cripple," " Tho Angel of the Village," and "Two Little Sweeps." Songs wore contributed by Mr. Rud Peterson and Miss Jeannio Johnstone. , .

An • attractive programme has .been • propared for this , evoning, when Mr. Tom M. Burrows, champion club'-swinger,- will mako his first appearance in New Zealand. Mr. Burrows comos with a great reputation for endurance and dexterity, and his advent hero should bo of particulaj interest to those interested in calisthenics as a fino art. Other now performers will be Dr. Rowb, magician; Salmon and Chester, skotch artists; and the Vantells, horizontal bar performers. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' The Royal Pictures were tho causo of a packed house at His Majesty's Theatre yesterday, ,both at; the matink) and again in tho evening. The new programme comprises some highly,, interesting .seriesvof: biograph films, some of whiob have never before been seen i in" Wellington.-. Memorable among'these was tho " Drama in Seville," a very picturesque story, which enlisted tho general sympathy of the 1 crowded' auditorium. " The One-Legged Man " was ari irresistibly comical sketch/and made the house ring with laughter. ,".Tho Irish Blacksmith ".was one of those stories of gallantry : and humour which' are such , certain favourites on thei stage. "When tho hero, was .trying; to .-dodgo. the gaolers, and sentinels, young voices in the gallery might be heart! (so strong was;the illusion) exclaiming, "I do hope he'll escape." One particularly realistic and popular film was that which showed Hackenschmidt and Rogers wrestling Jor tho world's championship. To see it was 110 poor substitute for witnessing the,historic strugglo. itself. A',largo; number of other .films, humorous,' picturesque, and interesting,- wero shown. The programme will, be repeated tonight', and there will, also bo the usual Saturday afternoon matinee.

CINDERELLA PANTOMIME^

; Messrs. William Anderson and John >F. Sheridan. have combined forces to cater for the playgoers of ; New Zealand, and'the resuites that their' successful pantomimo "Cinderejla''. is to be staged at tho lOpera House to-night. -No. expense has been spared to mako the -production one of the most Lavish of its kind.'.over'seen in New- Zealand.: Mr. John F., Sheridan is already very popular throughput Now, Zealand, but. there aro others, who are .making their first bid for favour in pantomime here.,, Amongst them are Mr: Charles P. Bate's, orio of tho foremost of American comedians';, Mr." Edmund' ;Page, an eminent English comedian; Mr. Fred. Norris, champion trick and comedy.' skater. . Others well, known are: Messrs; Morris' arid ; Wilson, Jack Hagan, John Steele, A. Hughes, and many more. A grand opera chorus of over 70 picked voices is carried, with the company.' Among'the most beautiful scenes are: The fairy glade, •tho yale of Mephistryon, the';palace' scene, the enchanted wood, grand transformation scone, and "Toyland." , Tho performance terminates with a harlequinade. Tho box plan for the»ontire season is-ori view at Holiday's, but as Monday is a public holiday scats may be secured at Abel's. The inaugural matineo will -bo held on Easter Monday.

' Owing to 'the : length' of tho : performance, the overture:will commonc'o' at 7.so'sharp. 1 ' CATHOLIC BAZAAR, . • The Catholic bazaar, the "Dominion Carnival," will.be oponed in tho' Town Hail tonight by. His Worship tho Mayor, the Hon.. T. W. Hislop. Active > preparations have beon under way for months past,, and, the bazaar, which will have a run of 13 nights, promises to be the biggest yet held in Wellington., The proceeds are to go towards liquidating, the debt on the Thorndon parish. The great attraction in collection with the fete will.be the , "Dominion Ballet," to be performed by 15 young ladies trained by tho composer, Signor Borzoni. There will also be a fine programme of fancy dances, ballets, gavottes, marches,. and' tableaux. Miss May Moore, of ' the Rembrandt Studio, Willis Street,, will sketch patrons throughout the feto in pencil,, pen and ink,; charcoal and:watercolours. An art union will be hold in connection with the carnival, tho prizes including a £25 gold nugget. ORGAN RECITAL... ' The Town Hall held nearly two thousand people last evening, which showed much appreciation of Mr. Maughan Barnett's efforts to entertain with a programmo .of organ mttsie of . a sacred'character. Standing room only was availablo to late-comers. The recital was 'vory much enjoyed,' and the audionco would have had several repetitions, ;but only in the caso of Schubert's " Ave Maria" did. the organist respond to the applause. Tho majority of the seven items were noted works. Chopin's funeral march from'the pianoforte Sonata Op. 35, the striking "Good Friday Music." from "Parsifal" (Wagner), with its lovely melodies;- the Funeral March and Hymns of .tho Seraphs (Guilmant): which works out a beautiful theme; and Gounod's "March to Calvary," in which is introduced the grand music of " Forth the -Royal Banners Go," all received very fine treatment from tho organist, who seemed to bo at his best. Tho other programme items, were the well-known " Quis est 'Homo" and " Inflammatus," from " Stabat Mater " ; and " Ho was Despised " (Handel). It is announced that no further recitals will bo givon during tho present month, owing to tho hall being engaged.