ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 409, 19 January 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

. OPERA HOUSE.' Belasco's striking western drama, "The wrl of the Golden West," was .staged for the second time at the Opera House last evening by the-members'of-'Mr. J. C.Williamson's "Tittell Brune" Company beforo a large arid, deeply attentive audience. The chief attraction of the piece is, of course, the. : Girl," as impersonated, by Miss Tittell Brune. Missßrune's fine acting'holds the audience; her.presence animates every scene of the drama. Mr. Thomas Kingston, as the road-agent, ■ the "bad man; , '"admirably sustains his part as the gentlemanly villain, the awakened sinner,'the self-confessed desperado, and the hunted and finally captured quarry-of the sheriff's posse. • Mr.' Ueorge Bryant though hardly the kind of sheriff Owen Wister, or: Stewart White-would lave presented,- was nevertheless "equal- to the impersonation of Jack Ranee, a-saturnine car-nivorous-looking individual. Mr. Lbring Fer™J.. M "Sonora Slim," Mr. Leonard Willey (.Nick ),' and the rest of the cast, each in his respective part, contributed to a finished and artistic performance. ■ ■' '■' BURNS-JOHNSON PICTURES. : Just as the Stadium in Sydney was'orowded to excess on the occasion of the boxing contest for the championship of the world, so was the Theatre Royal occupied last night, when the now historic battle was refought en the screen. It is safe to say also, that quite as much interest was taken in the reproduc-was-evinced by the thousands who considered themselves so fortunate in having the opportunity of witnessing "-the actual struggle. Among the numerous crowd who edged and elbowed their way-into the biiildmg last evening were :. persons of many nationalities, and occupying;various positions in the social scale.. There- were Ministers of the Crown, members.of both branches of the .Legislature, professional fmenj and tradesPeople, as -well; as representatives of many other walks of life, right down to the humble Celestial who supplies-his more enlightened; <3rethren with.vegetables. A-fair number'of ladies were.also present, and appear to:take as much interest.jn the battle as the male Wilt. ... ■.-■,-■• ~ ■-.'•. ;.. . -'. '

. After f,n excellent, curtain-raiser in the form of a,film, depicting the/wonderful movements of ,a sijuad of .Italian cavalry in rough and uninviting country, the preliminary events, in with the; great struggle . between: the. white champion, and' the black champion were ■ delineated:;; Quite a , ' treat ■in themselves are .:.the; films ■ showing the' contestants undergoingrpreparation-, for the con- ! test. It is worthy of note that the applause which' greeted :the appearance:of famous rivals last night varied-but.little in warmth. The course/of .training adopted; by;' Burns proved to be much more. elaborate, than that affected by the.ultimate'conqueror:. On the one hand, Burns; uses, his outmost .endeavour ■ to bring, to. a state of "the. highest perfection ! all the muscles :of his., body; whilst,- Johnson contents himself principally /.with, running , and sparring.': It. is noticeable ■ that Burns indulges in much more strenuous- sets-to with ; his partners, but. his display ■of ■ball-punching .could not be /compared with" that given, by ; Johnson, who seems to be.'a: perfect adept 'at the art.? '..;\- ! ! ; \ ■'..:..,-.

. Of the actual- contest/ much-has .been written. ' Certain',"it is,'>that onlookers' . last night.were surprised .at , ,-the apparent evenness; of the'.battle;' after-having read. so ■much newspaper comment' to the' effect .that ,it ;Had-Bnrns a .possible chance, as. he, has stated;'since.the contest ? .- When, the' item to that effect was ! cabled, it was pooh-poohed in -most quarters, ,but many of. those who saw. : the. pictorial te/ presentation; last': -night must... no;W -have • another, opinion.' /Throughout, Burns' showed indomitable, pluck,,-and"./although he 'experienced one or two severe-blows—the-first most unfortunately-for him in the initial round—ho- was nearly always'on,the sive.: It is: true that the ex-champion showed 'signs of wear and tear.'in;the - . , final rounds, but' he was by no means' disposed of when .the contest was brought tea close.: Undoubtedly, his :foot-work,.notwithstanding the'.injury which he sustained to" his ankle in the , earlier stages of the f contest, was! a- feature of. the-battle. ;: ' '•-: .-,: ■'"■ /■::/>.' .•■"■ . ;; ; ■.■::■.::■

Viewed from "the business...side, ' '.•.■Puller, and Sons are fortunate, in having'se- ''. .cured for "presentation in . New Zealand' this admirable series, depicting ati .event of -world-. .wide 'interest. .Their operators.'were fairly ! .successful last night, more ! particularly in , connection -with. the - latter portion of the film. i . The. pictures' will be .repeated ,■ to-night, and .patrons are reminded, that" special booking arrangements are provided. ! ,;.;.',' - ; ' , .: THE ROYAL PICTURES. ■. '. ! . Another.good attendance witnessed the excellent kinematogiraph ' .pictures'. at His Majesty's. Theatre, last.-., evening; 'The:programme will be repeated this evening, and a change, will be made, to-morrow, wheii a special programme will be submitted ix). ibrate the.' of J. the ,Royal-Pic-ture •_■ Syndicate. ;'which will-conclude its twelfth month of continuous exhibitions at ■;His;''Majesty's .Thep.tre. ; ; To : : mark 'the' occasion,' each lady 'patron will receive a< souvenir. On Friday (Anniversary Day) ; ihf rnnWarrp:" ment will hold a special matinee for'children, when the little,ones, who hayobocn consistent patrons of- the. Royal- Pictures/will receive gifts./ ■'•':■ -'■'..,■.,■ -•■. ■'■■;. ,■;■■. -:■.: .,[" i : -ryr '■■•-"'■': ';;CLBMENT. t. WRAGGE.:: , i; ':.'-.. ' The series of scientifio entertainments • to be given at the Town "Hall; this week by the astronomer ..and meteorologist, :Mr.:.Clement L. Wragge,. will include "Meteorology, and how to forecast the weather"—-a most interesting subject", during which Mr. "Wragge' will impart a fund' of valuable information. He will treat \ the 'subject "in a very attractive form, illustrating the .whole with magnificent lantorn slides,. which , will /enable :the : Jeast scientific. mind to- understand his. remarks, a'nd_ explaining i many things about whichi'the audience' may. hot have troubled themselves before.' The entertainment'will embrace the latest photographic- views from, the leading observatories of ;the" world, including pictures of. our. fellow planets, giant, oan.storms, the birth and death of "worlds,, sunrise and sunset .on the moon as revealed' fthrough ~ the gigantic, telescopes of the. Paris and . LH Observatories. The reserved seat plan is now, open, at tne Dresdeu. : . .■: -.'■. '.■■.•"- ■. .' •

,-■■.. ./; /■ SEAMEN'S CONCERT.' \' ;\ Members of the -Wellington.Catholic Seamen's Conference , gave an. enjoyable concert at the Sailors' Rest ; last' night,.': There was acrowded house, and all'the items'were very well.received, the lcindness of those taking part; and those who, organised the concert bbitig warmly appreciated.. • The following contributed, to : .the programme:—Misses Burne,; Pare'll, Casey, Rosengrave," Murray, and Jameson, Messrs. O'Eane, Levin, Cole, Findlay, Pfaff, Batten; Collins,' Fitzgerald, and Barr, and the ."Royal Acrobatic' Comedian Troupe." ; ".'; -'•'.' ..■'.; .•'.. :■■'■,''\ ! .■'. ■'..'