ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 336, 24 October 1908, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE BONDMAN." Another largo audience greeted the rising of . the curtain for the performance of "The Bondman" by the Bland Holt Company at the Opera House.;last- night, and the play ~ was staged with all the success which attended its earlier productions. ■ This-evening will witness the final performance of "The Bondman." The custom of the management has hitherto been to change, the bill on Saturday evening, but as more than thf , usual tune is required to-prepare:the stage for the sensational melodrama, "A Great Rescue," and 'particularly for the arrangements for the striking mechanical illusion, • "Motor-car-v. Express Train," it has been decided to repeat "The Bondman" to-njght, and present the new bill on Monday night. THEATRE ROYAL. ' One of the pictures to be shown to-night at the Theatre .lloyal is from the'island of St. Kilda. It shows life on a lonely island to the north of Scotland, where the mails are delivered only twice a.year. The customs and mode of living of 300 isolated people are peculiar, .and the picture gives a splendid idea of the place. Another. good, film shows prairie life in America, with out- . laws in all their infamous' activities. Prospecting for gold in Abyssinia provides the subject for another interesting series. Among the comic items to be included in the new programme, there are "Waiited a Son-in-law on Trial." and one of Jidison's,latest and ' funniest called "Flypaper."" The' management wish to announce that the reseating of. the theatre has now been completed,' and patrons have comfortable seats' to enjoy fullj;' one of the best of picture entertainments.: ROYAL PICTURES; ". ; A matinee is announced at His Majesty's Theatre this afternoon. The .management display sound judgment, in selecting ..their films, and patrons are'assured of _ seeing the very latest and best in-the .moving (picture line. The .entertainment .will be repeated to-night. . 1. : "MRS. WIGGS •OF THE -CABBAGE v PATCH." ' i All who have read that quaint. American, novel. "Mrs v Wiggs .of the Cabbage. Patch" will look forward with' pleased' expectancy, . to the production. of the comedy based on that story, which is. to be produced at " the Opera House .on Saturday evening next. The play is-peopled with a queer Jot of cciientrio characters, who. revolve. rouild .tho kindhearted philosopher Mrs., Wiggs, which _ charming character-is impersonated'-by_ clever-actress Miss Ada Dwyer. The com.pany is as American as the .play, and. sue!cess has been its lot wherever the comedy' has been-seen; ,*< • •' . '

' WEBB STREET CONCERT.. . An.enjovable concert was held in the Brim-, itive ■ Methodist' Schoolroom,-,'; Webb. Street, -j A last night. It was arranged- by Miss Belle . f Luke, and most of those who took part .belonged to .Trinity Church, Newtown.. ; m,. Iri the first part, of which the title was b(i"Japaucse at Home," ..th6 following itema;;;,-,, were contributed: —Prologue,- "Maidens are iv .. : We," Japanese- maidens; ,chorus, "Clion : Kina," . Japanese maidens;, trio,. '.'The Gold,, Fish," Misses. R. Martin, R, .Marsh, and.,J. Williams; solo; "A Japanese Love-Pong," Miss I. Bennett; ; duet, Misses 6. Fathers .. 'and W. Wilson; recitation, 'U. Lesson with a ,|'' Fan," Miss B. Luke ; trwj . "My , Japloo, . . Baby," Misses L. Brown, S.. Heath, ana ,F. Lay; chorus, "Chon Kina," Japanesei maid- , ens; recitation, "HowJßilly ,wentVcourtw," ~ Miss B. Luke; soli, ,;>• "If no one ever marries;•nje,^.''Miss M...Bennett; chorus,. "Nice Young ..Maidens''.; 'piano solo, Miss R.-Richards'; dialogue;-Misses B. ' Luke, R. Marsh, I. Henderson, I. Bennett, and G. Fathers; song, "When I a Boy"} ... also two violin solosy Mr. Sewell. ( The secßnd''^Srf'iffis'SJtitffid';Garden'"., Scene." Itfems were given as Hinder:—Song, <- "Birth of Morn," Miss E. Boxall; song,i"May Day Morn," Miss G.-Fathers; recitation, "Carnations,"'Miss B: 'Luk^; r Song,'-"A May Morning," Miss-E. Boxall; song; "Primroses," Miss M. Bennett;.chorus; song; l ' "The'•' Violet,"' Miss M; .Beniietb; : chorus,;"';1 At.tie conclusion a hearty, vote of thinks was accorded Miss Luke and the' other performers. ■ : "

' SACRED CONCERT.),'.a . ■ Despite tlie unpropitious weather there was a' large attendance at_ the sacred concert . , .given in,the .Congregational,. Church, Constable Street, last night. ~ Following' is"a "list, of'.the items given:-' .Organ selection: (a) "JPastorale," . ,(b) • : ."March (Marcbraont), Mr.J.y.,': Hayes: song, u He,was despised.(Handel), t Mrs. Phillips; anthem, "There is.a Green Hill" (H: Somerset): song, "Promise of Life," Mr. R. L. ,Johnson ;,;'-cello solo,, Sfo. ;■ Dick. Subsequently Guonqd's " Messe.Solennelle " was performed by a full orchestra'and ' choir. : A feature-of the production; was the,; 7 singing of the choruses, in particular Credo,".-/' ad Agnus Dei." ' The soloists—Miss G.'Mason (soprano), Mr. E. Anker (tenor),' and L. Johnson'(bass)— acquitted themselves ere-.-ditably. Special mention must' be made' of the' ■ fine rendering-of the-difficult trio-passages- in the first number. Mr. J. H. 'Johnson- was conductor, whilst Mr. F. R. Lankshear presided at the organ. : ' ' '' 1L MUSICAL UNION. On Tuesday next the Musical Union giva. ~s a concert in the Town Hall. . There will ba three conductors—viz., Mr. T. F. Dunhjll (at. .■!. present .in .Wellington examining candidates . ...; on behalf of the Associated^Board of-cthe. Royal Academy and Royal College, London), -■.» who- will conduct his own y .composition, ■ " Tubal Cain "; Mr. Leslie Peck (Wanganui), . who will .conduct Grieg's Concerto: in. .' A Minor,' with Mr. T.- F. Dunhill:;at the piano; and Mr.' Robert Parker, who .will con-, duct Stanford's "The Revenge." Mr. Parker will also conduct the orchestra , in-. the scena,: " Ah, Perfido," with Miss Phoebe Parsoris.'. as soprano soloist. Mr. Charles H. Stephens, an English visitor, will sing] a soug-cycle, " Songs of the Wrens," other-items. The box plan is on view at'the Dresden; THE HELLER COMPANY:. , :t ' On Saturday evening next Professor G.' W. Heller,-assisted by Mrs. Maude Heller'and Company, will inaugurate a ] brief season in the Theatre Royal. It. is about eight years since these clever entertainers visited tho' Den minion. They'have been in liiany parts of the world, and claim to bring Everything new in novelties and illusions. ■_ Some of the items will be "The Bridal Chamber," "Big Gun Practice," and " La-Phantom." WELLINGTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. -. ■ This evening tho Wellington Orchestral So- ■- ciety is to accompany Mr. Mark Hambourg - in a-pianoforte concerto by .Beethoven..- -The honour conferred upon tho local musicians is . 110 small one, and doubtless every effort "will be made to justify it. Founded in 18S9, the ' - society has in tho past dono-much useful and crcdit'ablo work, and its re-inauguration, - at this juncture, when musical taste in tho Do- .- minion shows, such satisfactory signs -of advancement, • should be attendc-d with every condition of prosperity.- In-its ranks are to be found several instrumentalists who took part at its inception, and its ' members have been furtlier recruited from the ranks of well-known professional players and capable amateurs; tho full strength being between . fortv and fifty performers. The first concert has'boon fixed for November 12. The programme will include Schubert's unfinished symphony, overtures by _ Beethoven and . Weber, and several otlior items. Practice has been in progress for several weeks, and it is tho aim of tho. society t-o render the various numbers in a mu.sicianly manner. Under tho baton of Mr. Alfred Hill, this amy . bo reasonably expected. . What may be tormed a "working acquaintance" with tho constituent instruments in.the orchestra is of immense advantage to the conductor of a society such as this, and in this particular Mr. Hill seems to be eminently the right man 111 the right place. •