ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 October 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. "The Breaking of the Drought" was produced at the Opera House by the Bland Holt Company last evening before an audience that filled every foot of availablo space long before 8 o'clock. There is nothing to bo enthusiastic about in this play, if one excepts tho scenic features provided by Mr. John Brunton. Mr. Styan's delineation of an outback settler promises well in tho first act but tho part falls away badly in 'favour of unhealthy frippery that is not exactly edifying. On Saturday evening a dramatisation of Hall Caino's novel, "Tho Bondman," will bo staged. WEST'S PICTURES. West's Pictures attracted another liugo audience to the Town- Hall last evening. Among the interesting films displayed is a series of views in Sorvia, a country that is in tho public eye at present. There are pictures of King Peter, the palace, types of Servian soldiers, and the people of that lit-tle-known country. Tho aquarium pictures are another feature in a programme that is all features. Do Groen's Vice-R-egal Orchestral make good music while the reel whirls. WIDE-WORLD PICTURES. A good series of animated pictures are being shown at tho Theatre Royal this week. Among tho most remarkable of these are Shakespeare's "Macbeth," "'Slid Southern Seas," "The Chinese Imperial Canal,".and in another and lighter vein "Pleased Astonishment," "A Case of Spirits," and "The Squiro's Rights." The Wide-World Pictures are weJl worth a visit. THE ROYAL PICTURES. His Majesty's Theatre was packed to tho doors last evening, when the Royal Picture Syndicate presented its usual weekly change of programme. The views were equal to tho very best Wellington has seen, and were shown to the. best advantage by the operator, and, though few may know it, that has a good deal to do with the success of a kinematograph show. Beyond all question the star picture in the programme is "The Tale the Searchlight Tola." In the first instance an olevated platform on a tower (in Coney Island, New York), on which is erected a searchlight, is shown. Farmer Hayseed is visitiug America's great amusement resort, and is taking a look around with a spy-glass. A capital view of Coney Island, taking in its maze of fearful and wonderful amusements so dear to the New Yorker, is given in daylight, and the same track is pursued at night, when all the principal buildings aro outlined 'in electric lights. Then the pictures take a humorous turn, and couples aro discovered 011 the sands and elsewhere, and become fiercely irate when exposed by the searchlight. Finally tho enraged couples mount tho tower, capture the man in charge of the searchlight, and, taking him down, souse him in the sea. The picture is quite I'eniarkable for the excellent impression given of America's great fun city. Americans say: See Coney Island and die. Our advice is to seo the Royal Picture film of it—and live. Another good film gave expositions in the demolition of big chimney stacks. Among the story..pictures none was bettor than' "The Dumb Hero," which is really a big retriev.er dog, who rescuos a little girl from a drifting boat after an experience. "Tho Face on the Bar-room Floor" introduces something new in kinematography. It is the representation of a drink-sodden man telling the story of his life to a lot of young fellows in a bar, every change of picture being alternated with 1 a verse of poetry. The comic pictures are as good as usual, and there aro a couple of medieval story pictures in colours for those fond of pictured romance. MISS IRENE AINSLEY. New Zealand's contralto, Miss Irene Ainsley, is to make her final appearance before the Wellington public this evening at the .Concert Chamber, of the Town Hall. Miss Ainsley charmed her audience on Tuesday evening, and-it musiclovers of Wellington will attend in large numbers this evening: Tho opinion has been freely expressed that the Melba protegee has improved very greatly even while on this' tour of New Zealand. Be that as it may, it is certain that the programme on Tuesday evening provided a feast of good' things. This evening's programme is also lavish' in fine numbers. Miss Ainsley is set down for "Divinities du Styx," amongst other numbers, and in this sho is said to be heard'to exceptional advantage. Mr. Hamilton Hodges is to sing the celebrated Figaro, " Largo al Factotum," from " The Barber of Seville" (Rossini), and several other numbers. Mrs. Ernest Quoree, the pianist, is set down for Chopin's " Berceuse" and " Valse." Altogether the programme forecasts a rare treat.

FAREWELL ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Norman Collie, a young. Wellington organist of great promiso, being about to leavo for England in ordor to completu his musical studies, will givo a farewell recital at the Trinity .Methodist Church, Newtown, to-morrow (Friday) evening. . Mr. Collie, who will bo assisted by Miss M. Bennett, has chosen an admirable series of items for his programme, including, as it does, the names of such composers as Bach, Saint-Saens, Batiste, Chopin,. Wely, Schubert, and Wagner. Batiste's " Grand Olfertoiro "is an admiral concert piece, as also is Saint-Saens's "Lo Cygne." Wagner's famous " Tannhauser " song, " 0 Star of Eve " (Wolfram's song), is another number of undoubted and classic beauty. Miss Bennett will sing the Mallinson song " Snowflakes," and "The Last Milestone" (Pontet). The recital commences at 8 o'clock, and thero will be a collection in aid of tho church funds. MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. A picnic was held at the Missions to Seamen Institute yesterday, when a large number of sailors ere present.., All kinds of parlour games took place,- under the direction of Mr. James Moore, the missioner. Tho prize-winners wore as follow: —Miss Payne, Captain Fletcher, Messrs. C. Ralph, Birch, Elsbury, W. Littler,- Hill, It. Harris, Savage, A. Cooper, T: Hart, and W. Hansen. A tug-of-war competition between teams representing the Home boats and coasters was won by tho former. During the afternoon Mr. Lawrence gave a performance on the sidedrum. A grand' concert was given in the evening by Miss Kirkcaldie in the institute, before an enthusiastic audience, which crowded the. building to every part. The missioner presided, and during a short interval delivered a temperance address, which resulted in several men taking tho pledge of total abstinence. A conundrum competition was won by sailors from the Maheno and Riwaka. The prizes, which we're donated by Mrs. Aldous, were presented by Miss Kirkcaldie to the winners. Several very popular choruses were sung by the audience in grand style, and a mouth-organ competition was won by Mr. Hodgsen. The following contributed vocal and elocutionary items to tho programme:—Misses- Taylor, Kirkcaldie, Parsons, Gill, Messrs. Wylio and Parsons. Miss Kirkcaldie presided at the piano. The lunch for tho picnic was provided by friends and the congregation of the mission, and light refreshments were dispensed at the conclusion of the concert. Hearty chcers wero given to the performers and to all who assisted.