ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 242, 6 July 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

$ THEATRE ROYAL. Tliero was an absolutely full house at Fuller's on Saturday night, when a change of programme was given. The first item consisted of biograpli films, and some very interesting pictureis <}f South Sea Island life were shown. Miss Beatrice Butler, balladist, then.sang "The Link Divine" and "The. Dear Littlo Shamrock," for which she was oncored, and gave " Killarney." Mr. Jack Knowles, who won the recent competition as comic singer, made his first professional appearance, to tho delight of the audience. The clover little soubrette, Miss Dorothy Swift, made herself very popular with those present. She sang "Mate-Hay while the Sun Shines." Mr. Bob Lloyd, comedian, gavo a number of excellent items, to tho decided appreciation of tho audience. The illustrated song, "New Zealand's Welcomo to Uncle Sam," sung by Mr. AVilton Swift, was a very acceptable item. Mr. Tod Calloway's turn was a very pleasing one, and lie received-a merited recall. Ho sang "If I were You" and " The Pushful Young Man." Miss Nellie Power, serio, was quickly en rapport with the audience, and she met with decided applause. Shdf sang "Kiss the girl if you're going to" and "Won't you come to Canada?" The sketch artists, Wilton, Dorothy, and Amy" Swift, rendered an excellent farce, entitled "The Tramp's Chance," introducing " There goes my soldier boy," with side-drum solo. Miss Blanche Carelli, Carlton and Sutton, and the Armon Brothers were also very well received. To-night, Miss Maud Perman and Mr. Chas. Moody, comedian, will make their appearance. ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. Quite an enjoyable concert was given by tho Wellington Professional Orchestra in tho Town Hall last evening. There was a largo and appreciative audience, so large, indeed, that quite a number could only obtain standing room in tho gallery portion. The concert was free, and its quality showed 'that the orchestra is in a very promising condition. It fills a distinct gap in local music, and although its members get their living out of their various instruments; they are by no means diffident about assisting gratuitously, l in the attainment of some 'charitable object when work of that nature requires to bo dono. By way of return, tho public will, 110 doubt, tender its patronage should it bo invited to do so on some future occasion. Last_ night's concert was given under the auspices of tho City Council, which will no doubt see its way to subsidise the orchestra, as it does various bands, for municipal recitals.

Tile programme was, in some respects, a fairly ambitious one, including, as it did, a Wagnerian selection from "Tannhauser" and Lohengrin," which was capablv rendered. Fucik s Trioraphale March," and the wellknown "Turkish Patrol" (Alicbaelis), wore popular numbers. The "Turkish Patrol" was very[.well played, but the climax, where the soldiers aro supposed to bo at the point of passing, seemed to lack the characteristic' vigour and "crash" associated with the pomp and circumstance of troops on the march. Wallace's ever welcome overture to "Maritana" was muoh enjoyed, as was also a dainty httlo entracte, Thomas's " Gavotte," from ' Mignon." Another selection, which was much appreciated, was Mozart's "Gloria," from the "Twelfth Mass"; the concerted items concluded with the inspiriting march, .Joyce's "Seventy-first New York Regimental" (Boyr); In the solo items, with orchestral accompaniment', Mr. Harold Onkes, trombonist, gavo a very fine rendering of Sullivan's Tlipu ft l assing Henco," 31r. Salvatore Cimino, coriiQt soloist, selected "TII9 Ilqsary" (Niven)-, and "Violets" (Wright),"whiqh'hq played very tastefully,- and Mr. Johjv Woodward, in Roff's "CAVatina," showed that he possessed artistic skill as a violinist.' MACMAHON'S "EXOUISITE" PICTURES.' Considerable interest will attach to the popular season of living pictures which Messrs. MacMahon will inaugurate at tho Tcivn Hall on Thursday. evening next. During' their recent four weeks' season at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, "the New Zealand Herald" said: "In these days of the remarkable progress of the cinemhtographic art, it seems more and more difficult for the composers of livins- picture stories to hit upon something new. However, that the end of their measures has not by any means been reached is abundantly proved by tho wonderful series of subjects exhibited before a crowded and demonstrative audience at His [ Majesty's Theatre, last, evening. Additional '•interest attached to the presentation of tho pictures owing to the-complete absence of flicker, and the whole entertainment was of a really delightful character." The Auckland season is stated to have jiroved a record. The same comprehensive programme will ;bo presented on tho opeuiug night in Wellington. It-is announced that tho box plait for balcony seats will bo opened at the Dresden this morning at 10 o'clock. OLYMPIA 'RINK. As a healthy recreative amusement, roller skating has become very popular this winter', and the Olynipia Rink claims a- largo share of the- credit for this slate of things. All sessions on Saturday were well attended, and tho presence- of the band and also the toboggaan greatly added to the enjoyment of both spectators and skatcis. The polo tournament will be continued to-night. Tho Olympia competition on "Why did the roller skate?", closes on July 13, and a poster carnival takes place on. Wednesday week. ORGAN RECITAL. ' Mr. Maughan Barnett's weekly organ recital will take place to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock. . Some of the items of' the programme'aro as follow:—Choral song, and ftigue, by Wesley, which, ,to be worthily rendered, require more than, the'ordinary resources of a chamber organ; Handel's "Organ Concerto No. 4," which stands preeminent in the list of this great composer's compositions, and an intermezzo by Maughan Barnett. The admission charges aro sixpence and one shilling. .:

PUBLIC LIBRARY LECTURES. A free lecture under tho, auspices of the Egyptian Exploration Fund will be ■ given n tho Town Hall (Concert Hall), to-night, at 8 o'clock, by Mr. Joliu Gammell, 8.A.; on "The Tel el Amarna'Tablets, a Story of Ancient Egypt." MAORI ENTERTAINMENT. The following Native weapons will be used in the Maori entertainment to be held in tlio Town Hall on Wednesday:—The towhatewha, which is shaped like a tomahawk; taiaha, a staff with a tongue; mere pounamu, or greenstone axe; patu paraoa, axe made of whalebone; and huata, pointed spear; ' The songs and dances should be exceedingly interesting.

"The Guv'nor," which is to be staged by the Wellington Dramatic Club on July 14 and 15, promises to be a great success.. Everything is being done to make tho production the most successful performance tho club has yet undertaken. , Jupp's Band will give a performance in the Town Hall to-niglit.