ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 595, 25 August 1909, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"SWEET NELL OF OLD DRURY." There are few more fascinating stage stories than that of Nell'Gwynne, the orange girl of Drurv Lane, who subsequently becarao one of London s most famous actresses, and tho favourite of the "Merrie Monarch," and theve is no artist who can play the part with the same charm as Miss Nellie Stewart. That is chiefly why the Opera House was'crowded to the doors last night, when "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" was staged for the third time this season. Not only, does Miss Stewart herself, appear in the star role, but the "support," taken all round, is excellent, and the whole production one to be remembered. The plav will be staged for the last time to-night. THEATRE ROYAL. , This week's programme at' the Theatre Royal is one of the best that has yet been shown there. A star film is that depicting tvpical scenes from the life of Napoleon tho Great, and there are many others of a high order. The cinephone records are also excellent.. The same programme will be shown to-night. : HIS MAJESTY'S; THEATRE.' iLast night's picture show at His Majesty's Theatre was well attended. A special selection of Pathe Freres' studies will be included in to-night s change of programme, namely, an art study entitled "The■ Trappers" (dramatic), A Faithless Lover" (dramatic), "Across the Bosphofus ' (scenic).: ■ These 'films are beautifully coloured. "Cow Boy Exploits" (scenic), .Mr. Durant' (comedy), and " Your License, Please! Come and Fetch It" (comedy). J OLYMPIA SKATING CARNIVAL. •Interest in the'popular pastime of roller skating continues undiminished, the attendances at yesterday's sessions, being very satisfactory. The special attraction for this evening is the second fancy dress and poster carnival of the season, which, judging by the interest ■ being taken by those concerned, promises to bo another notable success. A varied and attractive programme has been arranged, which includes exhibition games of push-ball and polo on skates and a ladies' hoop race: A full band will be in attendance to enliven the proceedings. The prizes won at the last carnival will also be presented. Reserved seat holders are notified that they, may enter bythei side door. <"' _ BENGOUGH. ' ■ The man who can, draw well, who adds'to his artistic abilities a keen sense of'humour, who recites, well, and sings comic songs well, is a man who can entertain any audience. Such a man,-judging from'the Australian press reports, .is Bengough, the Canadian entertainer, who arrives from Australia this morning, andit ~c ? m menco nis Kason ot thr <>e nights at' the Wellington Town Hall on Friday, August 27. Tho Sydney "Referee* comments on his entertainment thus:—"An instantaneous success was achieved by Bengough, the Canadian cartoonist, reciter, and burlesque artist, who I opened his Australian tour on Saturday. Bengough gets going at a good pace, and succeeds in keeping his .audience wide .awake and amused, whether he is dashing off things at his ease or spinning little tales of innocence-and mirth between the pictures. He is a combination of. many enviable qualities and accomplishments. He is a clever • artist, with a method as sure as it is swift, a.free-and-easy humorist, and at all points a smart showman who has mastered his business, and who understands the value of time." .. Bengough will be assisted by Claude Allan (tenor), Borneo Gardiner (the unique whistler), and Dora Carroll (pianiste). The plan is now open at the Dresden. ■ , •.- . ■ COMBINED CONCERT.' ' - . ' „The combined' efforts of, 'the Wellington Garrison, Band and-the New Zealand Shopkeepers Association to help the cause of .the unemployed- by organising ,a 'musical''entertainment have, not been altogether so'■'successful as the promoters would have liked to' see. Ihe ] concert, which w.as given at the .Town Hall last evening, was a very good one, varied ami bright, but it was not very weir attended. After' paying expenses, it is anticipated that there will be a small credit balance. As for the concert itself, those who attended spent an en]oyable_eyening. The programme opened with a descriptive fantasia ".A.Sailor's Life" (Cope) by the Garrison Band (Lieut. T.'Herd). This W. T^}l y ; an excellent number, finely played while the storms and stresses' of the sailor's life were given dramatic emphasis by a num-.ber-of-•incidental ■ effects'.•; As an encore' the band added 1 "The Darkies' Frolic," and; later a selection, from Auber's "Gustavus.",.' The' soloists were Miss Randell (soprano), Miss Lor(contralto), and Messrs.-J. Connoil, Irank Morrison, Ch'as. Read, and' — Kam. Mss Randell's items were '-'Love's Echo and "Dear Heart" (Mattei), both of .which were very sweetlv sung. ■ Miss ,i?? Ble Jl ™B Charmingly Wallace's aria, ,A as,, those Chimes, 'with organ, piano, and oell accompaniment, "Annie Laurie" (an encore number and Tosti's. "Good-Bye."' Mr. J. Unuell (baritone) -pleasingly interpreted Squires s "Go to Sea." Mr. Morrison selected for his_item Tosti's "My Dreams," which was succewfully. sung, while..Mr.\Read's rendition o Adams s'Tarewellm the Desert" was another good item. Mr.' Kain introduced a. flavour-of comedy to the programme with his item One and a .Penny a Dav." A pleasing number, was theinstrumental trio "Lo, Here the Gentle Uik" Bishop) by Miss Grix (piano)! (Clarinet). The performance concluded with'a ten minutes entertainment bv the "Frolics" ;p " ty ir° f ? T mate n r ß. directed bv Mr. Thee. Tresize.Mr.H. J Barrett played the accompaniments. ■ • . , . .

1 ';■•'■..-• "NIOBE." nl™ Tw d fK Ppea - r from J ho state of the box plan -thai there is something specially attracMnmi UJ m P? rf onpances of "Niobe": on Monday and Tuesday next, and this may wel be so considering.the object of the' perform-ances-and the popularity of the ptajraTiJi will, be :B M p «ne W acquaintance wfth the humours of Mr. P. B. Sharp (who proved so apob o am refreshing an actor when touring the Dommion wjth ■■The Professor's wf >tory and "VVh.t Happened to Jones"), and Wr I- >{°K { , ulenm "Z is-promised. His Worship the Mayor and the Mayoress will bl present on Tuesday ' evening, and on each evemugthe curtain will n« S promptly at «5 , A meeting of St. James's.i Literary and Debating Society was held last evening, M? W Mbowan .presiding over a large attendance' debat<i to *.Pl«»" on the sut ject-of Sunday concerts, which the societv decided ought to be discontinued. ' ?