ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 322, 8 October 1908, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE BLAND HOLT SEASON. Hundreds' had to be turned away from tha Opera House last evening, when tho Bland Holt Company repeated tho performance of that strong melodrama "Tho Great Millionaire," . "The Great Millionaire" will continuo to charm crowded houses until Saturday,' when it will bo replaced by the Australian drama "The Breaking of the Drought." . . v THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS. .... Tho Scarlet Troubadours gave another performance last evening at tho Municipal Con* cert Chamber, which was crowded. Messrs. A. Cunningham and F. Watham intoned tho old-fashioned duet "Ladies Fly from Love's Smooth Tale" (Balfe) with fino effect. Mr. Sydney Mannering hit tho public fancy in a lightsome lilt entitled "Tho Telephone Girl," ill which he was assistcd'by Miss Maud Fane. Mr. Watham was heard to advantage in •"Good Masters, if in Love Yc Be," and in 'response to an imperative encore had to sing that stirring lilt "Tho Song of tha Anvil." _ Miss Gertrude l'arkcr's chic stylo was admirably suited to the naivete of "Two Lovers in the Rain," and she responded with "All on a Summer's Day." The fooling oi Mr. 15dn;ar Warick in "Tho Sailor's Bride" was good fooling, but as a number it was eclipsed by the pert patter song "The Lady in tho Little Black Hat." Mr. Cun ningbain introduced Edward German'i fine • song " Tho Yeomen of England," which will bccomc popular with tho gemn baritone, and on demand sang " Beloved, it js Morn," in a delightfully artistic manner. Tlio quartet began comically with the lugubrious " Weeping," of Carney Grain, and .'became quite serious in tho familiar "Lovely Night" glee. Bright little Maud Fane sarig "The Caterpillar and the Rose," for which . she was encored. Mr. Percival hung up the banjo and took up tho violin to further demonstrate his versatility. Braga's "La Serenata" is frayed with much use, but lie played acceptably, and was encored. A funny coon song burlesque was followed by tho inter- ' val.~ In tho sccond half the quintet gave a character sketch, "The' Popton Parish Pump," that reflected the importance of municipal trivialities ludicrously. Mr. P. Mackenzie's coloured crayon sketches wera . very smartly done. Mr. Warick told new stories crisply, and sang a song'illustrative of .how " Good-night" is said uiider varying circumstances. The costume interlude dis- ■ covered tho Troubadours as'pierrots, in which guise Mr; Cunningham gave an impressive, rendering of the dramatic prologue "I Paliacci" (Leoncavalla). Miss Parker sang "Come and Hoar the Crickct Sing," and Miss • Fane. "Mr. Gollywog Good-night." Messrs. Warick and' Watham caused much amusement in tho comic interlude, "Very Well, Then," and Messrs. Mannering and Watham woro equally mirthful in their street singers' burlesque. "They Pushed Him Through tha Window" stands out as a humorous classic empty of all meaning, but full of laughter. Finally, the company went " Motoring to Brighton," and the audience went home sighing with satisfaction. WIDE WORLD PICTURES. If the reader has not been to sunny Madeira, and really regrets tho omission, ho should make amends by absorbing its island beauties, per kinematograph, at the Theatre' lloyal. Tho film is a capital one, which 'faithfully reproduces scenes and incidents racy of the soil. Other good pictures include "A Free Pardon," "Weary Willie Steals a Fish,", "Tho Ayah's Revenge," and . "Tho Brokeu Violin." Tho usual chango of pro-, gram'mo will bo presented on Saturday evening/ V . ' WEST'S PICTURES. ' West's -Pictures, in combination with Da .Groen's well-balanced orchestra, attracted another largo audience to the Town Hall last dvonhig>!i!To-i)iglit a completocohciiigo of programmo will bo presented, which :will include ''An- Ascent of the Famous'i'Matterhorn," "Winter Sports in Norway," "The Grand Canal at Venice, I '. "Scandinavian Fiords and Waterfalls,'''' 'and ' the "Cat- and Dog Show tit the Crystal Palace." ■ Many humorous subjects will be' shown, including "The 'Lady'Barrister,"'"The Magio Dice," "The Troubles' of a Flirt," and "Beware of the Bull." A beautifully-coloured reproduction of the funny pantomime "Puss in Boots," and r ;'two" stirring dramatic studies entitled /.'Brigands" of Calabria" and "The Gamekeeper's Dogs" are also on the programme. .This series of pictures will only be displayed till Saturday. . ;;V'- ; ROYAL PICTURES. His Majosty's Theatre was crowded last evening to . witness . the Royal Pictures. Syndicates' now programme. Tho high standard of'the films run off was fully maintained' by the showing of last night, tha : pictures being of an' exceptionally interesting nature. Quito half the programrao was de- . voted to comic scones,' this class being of . unusual merit. A filature of tho entertainment ivas provided by tho coloured films, the specimens shown being gorgeous to a degree. ■ The first item was of the amuse*, mcnt variety, entitled "Lovo at First Sight," which depicted the misfortunes attending a young man whose excess of zeal and persistence caused the most entertaining fiascos. A trick film, ; "The Magic Album," was next on the list, and by ii magical enchantment.' tho people in tho album were given life and motion, and. faces,' grave, gay, and ridiculous; ■ followed one another .'ill rapid succession; A pretty and instructive film was next run off, entitled "Dragoons Crossing tlio Elbe." The smooth but swift river was quickly forded by horpes with dragoons on their backs, a forest and rural scene in tha background making the wholo a very attractive picture. "Amateur Brigands" was tho title of a dramatic film, concluding tho ■first half of tho programme. After tho in- • terval, the first picture-was an excellent coloured one 'entitled "Puss-iu-Boots, a Story of'a. Legacy and some Miraculous Consequences.' Pathos was fully and somewhat painfully expressed in a dramatic sketch entitled: "Bad Spirits," in which a father, driven mad with drink, ends his days in a cage at a lunatic asylum. Other films shown were: "Catch Mc if You Can," "Oscar is Kidnapped," "The Cowboy Baronet," "Tho Son's Crime," and "A Hypnotic Policeman."

ST. MARK'S BAZAAR. The annual sale of work ami social gathering of St. Mark's Church will be held today and to-morrow, in the afternoons and .evenings, in aid of building additions to tho infants' Sunday school, for which more spaca is urgently required. Tho arrangements for the social gathering have been carefully made. Tho programme for litis evening will include a maypole dnr.cD, and several glens and part by members of the choir. Tha piogramnie for to-morrow evening will include maypole and fancy dances by tho pupils of Miss Deere,, tableaux, and several items by tho choir boys. There will also be, on . both evenings, an exhibition of cookery, a Christmas tree, bran tub, workstnlls, fancy work stall, and stalls of flowers, con-, fectionery, and refreshments. : ; . CONCERT AT ISLAND BAY. ■Tho concert organised by Mrs. M'Ewan in aid of tho funds of the island Bay Volunteer Firo Brigado was held in the Assembly Hall at tho Hay last evening. There was a largo attendance, and tho duality of tha vocal and instrumental faro provided can be estimated by tho fact that every item was 'encored. Songs were contributed by Missea Evatt, Henderson, and Baker, Mesdames Colley and Mueller, Messrs. E. J. Hill, E. Parkes, W. :J. Robbins, and. R. Hallcv. Contributions were also mndo by Mr. Alf. Hill, and Mrs. Sutcliffe recited with fine elfect. Mr, D. Konny accompanied artistically. At tho conclusion of tho concert, tho performers were entcrtainod at supper by Mrs. M'Ewan, A highly-successful social and dance was held in O'Donnell's Hall, Kilbimie, last cvoning, in aid of tho Catholic Church Building-Fund.