ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 542, 24 June 1909, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CHUNG, LING SOO. Mystery on mystery. Berved to thoroughlj bewilder'the larse audiences which assembled at the two perionnances of the Rickardf Vaudeville Company yesterday, and watched Chung Ling Soo, as be calmly brought something from apparent nothingness or changed the fonn of Beemingly stable matter. At tlx matinee there was a largo. proportion of children in the audience, and no doubt thev will talk for days on the marvels which have baffled the elders to solve. In addition to the star, performance, the entertainment was contributed to by other melody or novelty producing members of the company. Special applause was deservedly given to the two Wheelers,', trick cyclo riders or no ordinary degree of merit. *. . • THEATRE ROYAL. Varied and striking films are showing at the Theatre, Royal. The best is probably the somewhat remarkable and awe-inspiring one—"Judas's Kiss" —now produced for the first' time. in Australasia. The singing pictures also have their particular admirers, and a very good one is the song, "Dear Heart," as given by Madame Eleanor Jones. Of music-hall songs, ono of the latest London successes, as sung and acted by John Charman, requires to be seen and heard to be fully appreciated. The same series will be presented this evening. ROYAL PICTURES. The four hundred and fiftieth performance of the Royal Picture- Syndicate was given at His' Majesty's Theatre last -night, when a new programmo was: submitted. The. fare provided was right up to the company's high average, and the attendance was such that admission bad to bo refused ■ a number of would-be patrons, even after'the accommodation at the side of the stago had been filled. A Football /Warrior, one; of the last films on;tho bill, tells a story of one' "Strongheart," an Indian College - student, who Ts the idol of his football team. Being the rival of a. fellow-member of the team for the atFcctions of a young lady, two attempts are mado on, his life, but they;fail, and, finally, the 1 hero wins both, his life and tho lady of his lore. "The Gold Piece," another fine film,, depicts an. old beggar soliciting alms, and f his subsequent tragic . dealings with ' a member of a fashionable club,: who has tnrned him away from the club door. Later, after an unsuccessful ' gambling bout, the | clubman steals a gold piece from his dead body, and rebuilds: his broken fortune.' The final scene ' shows the police removing the dead_ body of tho beggar,, and the sudden rteath of the remorse-striken clubman. "A Life for a Life,"-.a strong dramatic subject; deals with a period when Italy was struggling to free herself from Austrian domination, and the choice of the other items wsre,.?'A-T n o to tho Scilly Isles," . and Chineso Pastures.". "Man's Worst Enemy, a'story of drink, is a tragic film, with a moral attached, and the comic series is as strong as usual. •

POPULAR, CONCERT,

The weather last evening was distinctly uninviting, which circumstance probably accounted for _the somewhat thin .audienoe whion assembled to hear,the weekly popular concert given under .the auspices of the Wellington Professional Orchestra, lie programme was a very good one on the whole, the .outstanding feature being, as usual, the reftJJy excellent items 'contributed': by Mrs Orr-Loring (soprano), one of the roost Ijghtful singers to listen .to in- the-ranks of , J .vocalists.. , Her nnmbera ineluded IJ lollop s classic. "Bid Me Discourse," which she sang really well; the old' English' "The Minstrel ( aa en core item), and Kathleen Mavourncen." Mr. F Rob-ertson-Suggars'flat® of the Norwich Cathedral 18 latent tenor, to appear,on the Wellington concert, platform. Ho , sing i *^ aD l 9 ' s VThora," and, as an eccore, My Pretty MrJltobortsoh-Suggars has a pleasing and cultured voice,, and, .to judge _from bis singing last evening, should be it distinct acquisition to local talent. • A celio solo, "Rustic Danbe" (Squire), by Mr. J. W. Dick, was a successful item, .the musi-' cwn bemg heartily, applauded. Quite ,a featureof tflie-evbnmcr's enfertoin-mejTt was tihe dancing by four of Miss Estelle Bcere's"pupils —."Danoft Madoa,p' ( '(Miss DorisiGrevilJe), a , a ™ (Miss Doris Guise), and .a graceful minuet,by,Mies Peggie Reeves and Master Fergus. Ah entertaining ;'item was Mt. Charles Gray's humorous recitation, ,'Snprkms" (Spiirr). The' orchestral' items included Eilenbcrg's "March of the BorsagI ]?"' ~!^ >ro ' I '' ®f 'tli® Mountain r Gnomes;" the Mignon" gavotte (Thomas), the C?Mi "Torok,M&gyar," and Lacombe's for two oboes (an encore number). The singing contest* were advanced a further stage .by the." appearance of six new competitors; Norman Dontice. (Sussex Square Convent School); song; • "Bendigo": Delia Thirkeil (RoseneatH School), "Captain BaJ>y Bunting!? ; .TohnCuni'ming (Marist, Brothers 1 School), "Silver; Threads Among tho Gold": Eva Manley " (Brooklyn' School),' "Starlight" •• £H*' Anstis (St. Mary's . Convent School), Skylark ; and George Wynne (Iferist Brothers School), " 'Mid the Hush of the Corn." Thei accompaniments were played by Mr. D. A. Kemay. s -' ; -

.HISTORICAL LECTURE. A history oi Jerusalem from the tim 6 oi the cave-dwellers until' the coming of the railway comprised tlio Rev. J. J. • North'i lecture; delivered to' a large audience in' the Vivian Street Baptist' Church- hist evening* for two hours the speaker kept his audienoe interested, and a number of lantern views representing sacred art, wer'o : shown by Mr.' A. Whitel&w. Mr: C.' Collins, (organist) played a voluntary,.; and''Miss- Ullis and llr. H. 1 abetter, contributed solo items.; ALFRED, HILL. CONCERT. j 4 s evidenceof the wide esteem in which Alfred Hill is held, the secretaries of the beueht concert committee report the receipfc of, a- cheque for; £15. from friends in Auckland. The cheque was received . through agency of Mrs. .Ernest H. Queree, of Wellington, ,who . was associated with Mr. Hill in musical matters in Auckland. In the concert to bo" held at'the Town Hall'on Monday next, 'Wellington will bo given a pleasant- vehicle'with which to convey its sympathy : with, and appreciation of, the musician who has'been 'iaid aside for so long by illness:' A., magnificent' programme, including mimy excerpts from Mr. Hill's own compositions, has been arranged, and there is., little, doubt':that,■ there wul be anything less , than a crowded halL. Holders of 3s, tickets are requested to book at the: Dresden at once. •

STUDENTS': CARNIVAL. ' To-night and to-morrow'night the annual oarnival. of :tho Victoria College students is to* be held in tho Concert Chamber of the lown HaU. ':Tbe programme'.to be presented is bright and brisk. Some topical students' songs; items: by the. College- Glee Club, and one or two solos, will act as a short introduction to the' main' part of the "evening's amusemen,t:: ' "Shackfeton • Out-Shacked." This is a sketch depicting the amusing adventures of several Wellington notabilities in an expedition to Antarctica. The party is seen before: the start, en route in their specially : designed motorcar, arid, finally when they have reached the farthosb south. J he sketch includes several topical songs, to such popular airs, as Tosti's "Good-bye " While the element of ;burlesqne is relioved by three dainty "Spirits of the South," who sing Sir Edward Elgar's "Snow" trio with appropriate poses.. The final rehearsal, held Inst evening, : 'was highly satisfactory. The box plan for the carnival is at the Dresden. . "MISS HOOK OF HOLLAND." In this delightful musical play we are said to bo getting the best work that Mr. Paul Rubens has yet produced. Con corning tho Australian production of I'Miss Hook " a well-known critic writes: "After'all tho'boredom and occasional nausea of the ■ musical comedies we have suffered, 'Miss Hook' comes with- largesse of gaioty and cloan enjoyment inher dimpled hands. ITjo cleamicss ofi this pleasant comedy stands for some part of it* aovelt};. a.ud charm. There u> tuit a dull moment ia: it, nct"an episode;

strained or banal; but throughout t&ere is nothing to moke anyoce of refinement look askonoe. The librettist has got right away from that atmosphere of the pavement thai has latterly been; so wretohedly popular. 1 It is the daintiest and merriest of thu>£s —firm comedy set to music. It is rich in laugherprovoking sanations j but there is a novel quality of dolicato tenderness in the sustained mirth, and there is nothing to provoke a wry mouth or leave a nasty aftertaste. . It-is distinctly a play to see at once, and afterwards as often possible." "Miss Hook" will comm'enco hor, fascinating influence at the Opera House on Saturday next, and if the accounts from tie box office are imy assurance of its . success) then "Miss Hook" is in for a merry, run. SOCIAL. TKb annual "social".of the Tramway Employees' Benefit Society was ■ held in the Druids' Hall yesterday evening; about 60 oonples being present, including his Worship, the Mayor (Dr. Newman), Mr. J. P. Luke, and the traffic manager'(Mr. James). Messrs. E. Patterson, G. Robinson;-, and • S. 'Mann acted as .masters of ceremonies.' The music was supplied by Miss Hawthorne, and the catering was done by Mr. Stair. ,