ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 304, 17 September 1908, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

/ —-—» : *l -r OPERA HOUSE. "The Fatal Wedding" was produced finally last evening by the ileynel and Giinn Company at tlie Opera House. This evening the company is to produce for the first time iir Australasia J. A. Campbell's drama, "The Old Folks at Home," a domestic drama, said to bo rich in human and dramatic interest. As will bo gathered from the title, the play has a. strong American colouring, .and one scene represents a cottonfield in one of the liouthern States, ' advantage of which is taken to introduce songs and dances in keeping with the scene. A cottonfield sccue without staging "niggers" would be like "Uncle Tom's Cabin" without Uncle Tom, and the management do not contemplate attempting such a daring innovation, especially when it possesses a clever lot of people, young and old, to do what is rer quisito.- The company has been strengthened for the production, which is to bo given un-der-the,direction, of .'that capable actor and producer, Mr.\C. ,R. Stanford.'The last five nights of the season are'announced. ' THEATRE ROYAL. : Tommy Buriis never seems to tire of knocking Bill Squires out ,at the Theatre Royal. Ho has "delivered the "knockout" blow on tho Australian's chin six evenings in succession i before crowded houses, and the management cannbt see its way to allow the offence to be repeated after to-morrow evening. The picture will be presented at Auckland for the first time- on Monday. .'THEROYALPICTURES. If anyono doubts the hold that the kinematograph has attained over the amusement- , loving public he should visit His Majesty's i Theatre in Courtenay Place. If lie does not ■ wish to stand he should make a point of getting thero as soon after the doors open as ■ possible, for delay in this matter entails 1 stauding through tho entertainment. Thero were no seats to sparo last evening, when the management presented its weekly change ' of programme. Pictures dramatic, comic, ro- . rnantic, historic, and mechanic followed one another in quick succcssion, and all wero received with hearty applause that denoted per-: fect.satisfaction with the fare provided. Those interested in the mastery of the air should see the Curtis-Baldwin flying machine in actiim and repose. It makes, a, flight of some distance within view, and alights in a corn : field, where tho. skipper's hand is warmly ! grasped in congratulation at the triumph achieved. Another fine film is a Tyrolean , drama in tabloid. A young-buck has asked for tho hand of the beautiful daughter of a Tyrolean mountaineer, and it has been rc j • fused with contumely. Maddened by the refusal; tho young man follows tho stern ' parent to the* mountains, and when tho kt- ' tor has. lowered himself over tho cliff to rescue the victim of his trusty rifle, he cuts tho rope, and tho mountaineer is killed. The ■ girl, horrified at tho deed, is-handed the 1 knife of her lover as proof of who committed the crime. She summonses him by let--1 ter, and even while she is receiving his protestations of love over the dead body of the man he killed, stabs him with the very knife that so fatally severed tho rope. Tho picture is vividly "acted," and was greeted with vociferous applause. Among the humorous films none is funnier than "The Duel with Dynamite," which is a scream from first to last. Other entertaining comedy pictures are "The Braggart," "Tho Harmless Lunatic," "Buying a House," | "Troubles of a House Agent," while for exciting realism tho Grand Dieppe motor-ear race is most exhilarating. MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. Despite tho wot weather, the Missions to Seamen Institute was crowded to the doors last night, when a concert: was provided b.v Mrs. 11. Blmulell. The' chair was occupied by Mr. James Moore, the missioner. Vocal • and elocutionary items were contributed by tho following:—Mrs. 13. M. Wilson, Miss Robertson, Messrs. E. J. Hill, Hicks, and Bluhdoll. Miss Kirkealdie acted a.s accompanist. Mr. Watts contributed several clover lightning sketches. Several popular choruses wore sung by tho audience, Mr. . Goodman'(Osweetry Grange) presiding at the . piano. The missioner delivered a short temperance address during tho interval. Twenty-five men subsequently took the pledge, of. total abstinence. j