ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 296, 8 September 1908, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

> « OPERA HOUSE. ! Thero was a largo attendance at the Opera House last evening, when "Tho Little Bread Winner" was r' B >eated for tho last time. Tonight "The Stepmother," a drama by Arthur Shirloy, will make its first appearance. ! Tho play is said to.'bo one oj tho strong and vigorous typo, replete with well contrived situations and fine character studies. A feature of tho immediato production will be tho reappearance of Sir. Ernest Leicester, the popular English actor, who appeared in Wellington some twelve months back. Tho .performance of Miss Holloway,Jn another of her woll-known boy impersonations, is highly spoken of. Tho plan is now open at tho Dresden Rooms, and day sales aro at Abel's. Tho performance will commence at eight o'clock punctually. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Crowded houses nightly greet tho Royal Pictures popular entertainment at His Majesty's Theatre, and the success of tho company is an established fact. The scries of the American Fleet in. Sydney continue a featuro of tho bill. Sensational, dramatic, scenic, and humorous subjects are excellently interspersed in tho programme, and each evokes much commendation. Perhaps the "star" picturo is tho domestic subject "Baby's Playmate," which nover fails to bring loud applause from the audicnce. Tonight the programme will be repeated for tho last time, and to-iuorrow tho usual change will bo made. . ' THEATRE ROYAL. Tho Wide World Pictures at the Theatro Royal attracted another large attendance last evening, and appreciation was loudly expressed. The present progrannno can bo continued for only two more nights. THE MALLINSONS. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mallinson, two artists who have sealed the heights of their profession, will give an extra- recital to-morrow at the Town Hall by general request. There is an intense simplicity about the Mallinson recitals which is very appealing. The entertainment's charm and simplicity lies in the unaffected manner of tho two musicians. One feels unconsciously that bore is the artist unadorned. Those who aro fortimato onough to have been present at the'Mallinson recitals given last week .will know what a pleasure it is to listen to the composer and his gifted wife. It is the performance of. artists whoso souls aro in .their music, and it is rare indeed that two such sympathetic artists appear. together. The bos plan is at the Dresden Piano Company. , , MISS IRENE AINSLEY. Miss Ireno Ainsley, tho famous contralto, who commencos her Wellington season next Thursday at the Town Hall, has been experiencing crowded houses in tho North. Tho Auckland comments aro particularly favourable, and tho young New Zealander -is expected to bo greeted with crowded audionces. Tho box plan for Thursday's ooncort opens at tho Dresden at nine o'clock this morning. 7 ORGAN RECITAL. ' Mr. Maughan Barnettl will continue the municipal sories of organ recitals this oventing. ' ' ' ; SAILORS' REST. Tho concert held last night at tho Sailors' Rest proved to bo ono of the most successful of tho entertainments each Monday night held,at this popular resort of tho sailors in port. The concert was arranged by Mr. Apperley (chairman of entertainments of tho Wellington''Working Mon's. Club), and was supplied by the Orchestral Band (under tho direction of Mr. M'Comish), assisted by the following vocalists: Misses Bland and Reeves, Messrs. Hobman, Twoohill, .Martin, Watkins, and,.Charles. Each item on the long : and varied programme was most enthusiastically received, and led to tho superintendent (who acted as chairman) having to prohibit.- any further - encoros, so that tlio entertainers might reach their homes in reasonable time. The concert for Monday liight next is being arranged by Mr. G. Anderson. , BOYS' INSTITUTE CONCERT. Those who organised the entertainment in aid of tho Boys' Institute last evening had .every reason to congratulate themselves, not only on the cntiro success of their, efforts to pleaso, but also on the sizo of their audieneo and its appreciative, humour. His Worship the Mayor, (Hon. T. W. Hislop) presided, and in a few prefatory romarks referred to the object of th» entertainment. Tho, programme, which was more or less burlesque in character, was, in its first part of a miscellaneous character, the contributors being all of tho sterner sex.. Mr. W. R. i Watts . opened with a solo on the "bones." Mr. T. W - Brown executed a clever smoko picturo at express speed, and earned a well-merited round of applause. Mr. T. R. Cooko contributed two violin soli. Most enjoyable wero two humorous songs by Mr. Morris Fox, "0 Memory," and "Waltz with mo, Willie." Mr. A. S. Ballance was in vory good voice, and sang "In the Heather, My Lads," and "Eyes That Used to Gaze," with fine effect. But tho most successful effort of. tho evening was, beyond a doubt, tho item by Messrs. Dykes and Kenny.' Tho "Great Scott 1" duet was simply irresistible. Messrs. Watts and M'Beth, lightning sketch artists, then gave an exhibition of thoir powers, showing somo clever. work. A humorous quartet by Messrs. Widdop, Newton, Twiss, and'Kenny concluded tho first part. 1 Tho second part was given over entirely to the ladies, who had organised tho production "of an amusing burlesque, "Tho Court of the Future." ; Tho ladies wero depicted as being involved, in a lawsuit l arising out of charges of bribery and corruption in connection with the election, of Miss Olga Toosweot (defendant) for the , constituency of Tuapekapoka: Mrs. Dykes took tho part of Miss Olga Toosweet, and interpreted her .rolo admirably; Her opponent, the plaintiff, Miss Tabitha Covey, was successfully impersonated by Miss Van Stavern. Miss Phoebo Watson, as her Honour Mrs.. Justitia Affidavit, held tho scales of justice with appropriate'dignity of mien and severity of voice, ultimately finding for tho defendant amid the wildest disorder. Counsel for tho ] parties wore Miss Charlonia Buffott, K.C., plaintiff (Mrs. Krceft), and, defendant. Miss Sixiinato Goldsnatcner (Miss Fraser). Among tho cloud of witnesses wore Miss Picot, as Mrs. Norah Boodle, and Miss Clara Volublo (Miss A. Samson). On the motion of Dr. Chappie, M.P., a hearty voto of thanks to the performers was carried by acclamation. THE BURNS-SQUIRES CONTEST. That tho coming latest cinematographic achievement, the reproduction in detail of tho famous Burns-Squires encounter, bids fair to excite general interest is abundantly manifest by the demand for seats which set in yesterday, whon the box plans wore opened at the Dresden. Tho picture, tho success of which in Melbourne and Sydney is of a sensational, character, will arrive in Wellington, by tho s.s. Maheno to-morrow, and tho first public oxhibitioii will take place at tho Theatro Royal on Thursday evening next. ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BENEFIT. • Tho Mountebank Dramatic Club is busily engagod rehearsing the comedy "Our Regiment," which it intends performing at the Opora llouso on September 28, 29, and 30, in aid of tho St. John Ambulance Association. The net proceeds aro to go towards purchasing a now wagon. A strong committee has been formed, and tho undertaking promises to be vory successful. OLYMPIA SKATING RINK. An unusually largo number of patrons attendod tho Olympia Rink, last evening, tlio fail- sex being in tho majority, as it wan a ladies' complimentary evening. Tho rink will bo open to-day as usual, and tlio fourth and final carnival of the season takes placo to-morrow. A good programme of events has boon prepared, and the function should be most successful. Tlio final act in the skatiug drama takes place on Saturday night, when the rink will close for tho season.