ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 572, 29 July 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE ROYAL PICTURES. Thoro was nioro than one "star" film included in tho excellent programme presented at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. .. The Patho art picture thin week is'a forcible little playlet, entitlcd'Thb'BanJc Note," which is "powerfully acted by M. Honry, -M. Trcvillc, and Mdlle. Chapelas, of the 'Parisian'stage. It'is tho ,story of a workman, who, with his wife and family, nrc starving. ■ Tho man goes forth to seek work, when a message, comes from a former admirer of the wife s a forger and coiner, who ofl'ers her wealth if she will go In" him. Unable to see her children-starve she consents, and whilst iiiotoring with , her lover she sees u man grovelling for a crust , in tho dirt. Sh° "rgos her lover to pve- I'iini"nionoyV Ho thrusts-a bank-note into the hand of tlie man, who proves to. bo the deserted husband. Overjoyed at his. fortune, the.poor wretch buys food and driuk to take home, only, to find that his wife has flown. Tho ..bank-note proves to bo a forgery, and tho presenter is arrested. Then _tho wifo, haunted Ijy the idea that the man in'the street was her husband, returns home, hoars of his arrest and repenting, gives such information to the police that leads to his release, and to tho discovery and arrest of the gang of forgers. Such .is the story, the bald relation of which hardly conveys tho intense interest that thp picture creates. An"V 1 ™ . tllrillin S' Picture recalls tho 'brave decde of i) Artagnan and hie gallant men in the romantic days of France, so dramatically pictured in Dumas' novels. This 1 is "The Man in the Iron Mask, or the Prisoner of the Bastille," and relates the story of the'substitution of the King for Ins,brother,:'with the aid of Jesuit P r r, " ts - Thfl fraud is detected by Mdllc. do la Valliere, who,informs DJArtamian, who speedily sets matters.right, and has the pretender-con-lined to the Bustille, masked in an iron helmet. "AMimic Battlo at Whalo Island"'-is'a reproduction of the impressive naval • manoeuvres arranged for tho edification of the deleRates to the Imperial Press Conference at Homo. Another,-topical picture shows 'scenes at the Koyal Ascot races, with his Majesty the King as the chief actor. . "The Historical,Medway is a kincmatogiaphic trip down the River Medway, whoso-banks are .studded . irith old castles, baronial halls,, and some of the most beautiful homes m'that part of England. The industrial film-of this week's .programme conducts the audience.through a.tannery, showin? the' process of leather-making from the'fresh hide, torn from the-.warm carcass, to tho fiyished article.: Other notable pictures are: m O.nly.a.Tramp, v "His, First Girf," and "The Trials of a'Billposter," the first being dramatic/i and the last two ccmic in character. , <

..;!':■'„;'..,,. theatre;eoyal. ;:;;; ■;';; ■.'Toilers Pictures" aro.-good ," pictures, as every patron of the Theatre Royal knows. In the present, programme., a ■ fine variety of subjects t most artistically, treated, provide mirth and instruction for a pleasant two hours. One ofihe most fascinating'films is entitled "The Busy Nature Study." It shows" at close range the honey-makers at work, in their colls : storing up'the sweetnes's of the flowers against the season when, there are none. Other KPod pictures are ."The Arctic Sea," "Hunting Big" ; Game,"-.and","A Home at Last." A capable orchestra; and some good cinephone records lend -additional variety to ,tno entertainment.

■■■-■,/:;;.>■;,:.:: ; oltmpu. ;'; : -;,\. ■',■•.:'■•':: -On .these sharp winter" days and evenings there are few pleasures that equal a few rounds on the rollers at the Skating Rink. It sets the blood tingling and..is ,an, exercise at once healthy and entertaining. Tliese sessions daily are given.at: the rink, where the-public is splendidly catered for. '' : ■ " .

'.■';. vaudeville; entertainment.';,. .-, /A-. vaudeville entertainmentvwas given in Victoria ;Hall: Harry >R«dway's Company., Thp, performers were, most of them vaudeville' artists who ■ have appeared in, : Wel■previous, , music-hall companies. There wai-.varietyj.m'tlie.pbgramniß,:. which comprised " btfnjuririg by' Xanthias, sketches''by Lucas-and : Lansd6wne,''and'Loftus"and'LansdoAvne; ofiid; songs "and.•■■'ballads by 3fr.-. Cfeiuonesi; Mr.vFrcd Lucas - ,! the ■■•Misses Eva, ■ Alice,' and-Lily.'Loftus.,, Tivo.of- the best-Items werd "Just Plain- Folks;".-by Hiss.i Lily. Loftus, aud "Captain , ; Baby,, .-Bunting,''-".,; by,- -Miss • Alice LoftUS., ..:■:.,;,• -,-;;.!■ V,,; r , ■): ■~":■.:;" ,■;. :,'-,-j--.^

•VOCALv AND :SNSTEUirENTALv RECITAL;'' ■■.'There was'a'fair'.httendance'at'the'vocarand' insJruhfeMl- recitnr fiven? lasPtfigfit' in St. AnV^ , Sc7Molr6om; r ' , !^v v fe^h. , >'llSo Bucter-' ■ldge,' Stuart'rMTiean.'and -BJ Tbmbsi-'and-'Mrs. HusJodrW/; liouse,-'bufclliougli.'-the:audien"ee i 'Vas-'not-largev it was exceedingly appreciative, and,-listened' witli evident pleasure to each item on the programme. Miss Hurstliquse, Mrs. Tombs, andSlessrs. Tombs aMMXeaJifgOTo a,quartet tor piapo, viola, vjolin, and 'cello,, and this was t'ollo"wed;:by ''a.'song , by. Mr; : Leo ! Buc!;eridgo ("II Lacorato" Spiritb"), '■ which was"'"encored," \vh'en"'-he- responded '.\dtU-' "In 'a-■: Beauteous Gardeh.";--.:JIr: Miioan received an encore'for' his,'cello ;.splo,,'a Sairit-Saensi''Romance,'i and for pnqore ho,pave a Liebersbitng, -, by .'.Hugo Bpcter. ~f . Slissi Nora:Natusch's, fine 'Voice: was heard'. , .to■/great' advantage:.'in-.the Indian- lovp lyric,' "Less 'than ."the,Dust,"■ and, '.as,an : encore, sli'o :sang". "Rose' in the" Bud." '." Jlr. Tombs ployed, a violin solo, a Legende -:by Wieuiawski,' an'd/.fdr'qricorej a gavotte by Rameau. Mr. Leo• Biick'eiidge.. sang A Gladness',' very elfectivcl.v indeed, and received a-hearty: encore,:.'responding with:f..\Vlicn'.l'm pld-;i;il-,be:n Sol'jier," and, ris -the last- item on..',th'e' s programme;' he gave "The'King's/Min-: strel." ,Two-.'ce!lb soli by. Mr. JrLean r ,-nn Abenlied, : and "minuet, were much .appreciated, and: for. encore he played : David-,j'tßbpper's' "Berceuse." : Jfiss Nora Natusch' sang "Love ■is ,'a' Bird delightfully, 'and "To-morrow"-' as an : encore; and Mr.. Tombs' ' gave' as ;a ! violin sblo"a ; Mbzartminuet.■•■■ ■■''"-. -" .-.-..■;' ','■:.":■ =:

-.- " WELLINGTON MUSICAL UNION. ;' '■- 'V.A special interest attaches to the concerts' to be given by. the Musical Union oh August 10 and 12. This is the. centenary year of Mendelssohn's, birth, , , an anniversary; which-'has stirred a.deep and wide interest in the musical world generally. ' The Musical' Union will ;■ preon' tlrfe occasion a performance'-of , the ."Elijah,".-with' augmented- chorus and- orches't'ra,:!'and will give ,also a • miscellaneous- concert, consisting of 'songs, , part-songs,-' a. pianoforte concerto, and other items illustrative; of Mendelssohn's diversified- genius. ,-.:.- ;■; .'..'. ■:''.'•