ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The Nellie Stewart Company concluded their season at the Opera House on' Saturday night; when "As You Like It" was produced before a crowded audienco. THEATRE ROYAL. A selection of pictures of all classes constituted i» very evenly-balanced programme on Saturday night. . If anything, there were more humorous'films than others. Of. scenic and travel pictures there were but few, two of the best being "Gotta Canal and Trolhatten Falls" and "In Mysterious Africa." The latter was descriptive of the life of the Arabs, and showed how they camped and travelled through the lonely desert regions of their native lands. There were three eineDhone records, "Come Into (ho Garden, Maud" (sung by. Edward. Lloyd), ".Good Company" (sung somewhat indistinctly by Peter Dawsoji), and "Heard in Court." A very interesting film was "The Fighting Top of a Battleship," showing the scenes witnessed from one of the tops during big gnn practice. A very pathetic little drama was "The Gold Piece." It showed a beggar in Paris searching' in '. the depth of winter for work, warmth, and food. There are; none to help him, and, so, tired' and despairing, ho sits'in a snow-covered sent in'the park and falls asleep. While he eleeps a little' girl, passing with, her mother, takes compassion.on him, and puts a gold piece in his hat. He sleeps on, and his gold is stolen by a gambler, who speculates with it at the gaming tables. The gambler wins," and goes to return -the stolen mosey, but finds that he is too late— the beggar whom he robbed has never-wak-ened from his 6leep, the'sleep of death. The thief returns homo in a delirium, Imagining everyone he sees to be the beggar he robbed, till constant torture kills him., "The Girl Detective" was another good picture of a serious nature. Of humorous pictures there .were many—"Carlo and the Baby," "An Embarrassing Present," "Mr. Feary does not like Policemen," and "A Tax on Bachelors," being the best. •..-■■ • ' . ',

..HIS MAJESTY'S. . A : halo has been placed by many round'the heads .of bush pioneer's, and stirring tales have been written of rude hostelries beyond the line which limits genteel civilisation. One of the best stories of' this type .is told by kinema'tograph at His Majesty's. Theatre this week. It is called "The Trappers," and, although the motif is not altogether extravagant, it causes one to regard the old bushranging disorders as tame by comparison.. Another length o? film shows cowboys curbing a wild broncho; they follow relentless methods. The other pictures,', together with the above, make a fine series, which will.be shown again this evening. ■ SKATING RINK. '•■■ . Tim days of tie skater are nnmiered, and the principle generally followed by patrons of the Olympia Rink is skate, skate," and waste no time.' In a few weeks the rink.jrill be closed down for summer. At present, however, the evening are chill enough to continue to induce'young and old to'choose the wheeling pastime. A children's carnival will ,be held shortly, and meantime the rink, is open each afternoon nnd evening. ' ' , . /BENGOUGH. • There is no need now' to ask: Who is Bengoughf. His sketching, storyettes,, recitals, and musical burlesques are sure to be favourably remembered here. On Saturday night the clever Canadian gave the second of his enjoyable entertainments in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, ;which.was quite crowded. Assisting Bengough are Mr. B. Gardiner, a promising siffleur, and Mr. C. Allan, a pleasing light tenor singer,.' whilst Miss Dora Carroll proves an efficient piano soloist nnd accompanist. As ; the programme was mainly on tbc lines o£ the.opening night, it will be necessary only to touch on the new features.. Bengough scored a-great success with his "Touch of , local colour," the subject being a capital draw-' ing of the Prime Minister making across the deep'/blue sea for "Home, Sweet; Home," laden with bags of gold. "A man you know'!; turned out to bo the genial Mayor, Dr. Newman, engaged at his. well-known, hobby—tree-plant-ing. An original recital, "The visit of tho Yankee Fleet/'' and a Whitcomb-Riley verse, "Grandpap," were, perhaps, the most popular of his other items. Mr: Gardiner was heard to great-advantage in his trilling: of "The mocking -bird," but, piece, "Cavallieria Rusticana,".■ was not so good. .In the second half he was greatly applauded for his rendering of "The Carnival." Mr. Allan delighted the audience, in the first'hdlf with his; singing of "Time,.'was I Eoved the Mountains," and was recalled, and, during the second portion of the entertainment, he contributed, acceptablyV "She is Tar from'the Land." . For to-night, the last night of the Bengough •season, there will- be a complete change of programme. ; Bengough will make' new cartoons, sing new songs and tell new stories. Mr; Gardner and Mr. Allen will bo heard in. fresh whjstling and singing numbers. ;'

JACK AND JILL. Mr. J. C. Williamson's premier attraction for the year 'yick and-Jill" will embark upon its Wellington season next Thursday night, and the box plans are announced to open at the Dresden at nine o'clock this morning. Work; has already commenced at the Opera House,, where extra electric cables, etc., have to'-.be. installed to provide the great , current necessary for dazzling electric effects, which are aspecialfeature of the production. ■" The spectacular beauty of the production, coupled with its lively wit and the graceful movements of hosts' of artists, has been the subject of much praise in the .other New Zealand centres. Mr. J. M. Campbell has won great popularity as Widow Cobble, and the same may be said of Miss Stella Gastelle as "Jack," and Miss Betty Ohls as "Jill." Mr. Fred. Leslie, who appears as Baron-Bounce, is a great favourite with Wellington audiences, and is .said to have, ."discovered himself" in panfomime work, in' which' his admirers have long urged that he should be given , a chance. His creations in musical comedy; r and with the Royal Cornier Opera Company are 'weHireniembered. jlr. Rupert Darrell, Jliss Stella Selbourno, Mr. Victor Loydell, Miss Olga Grey, Miss Nance Maher, are among the principals, all appearing in their original parts.. Included in the long list of "special features" are Mr. Walter Stantoiv ("the giant rooster"), and Messrs. Morris and Wilson, as the "Enraged Bull." They.also.appear in.remarkably natural imitation of bears and other animals. The "Teddy Bear Picnic" is also said to be ;a v.ery popular feature, .as also are the faceograph, the xylophone octet, the' "Scottish -.Cavaliers," the "Change of Seasons," and a number .of beau? tiful and novel ballets, while the comedy scenes are said to be more than usually-divert-ing. ;■■■.''.■ ■■■.■' "NIOBE." ', The state of this box plan has made it necessary to suspend the free list entirely, in. connection with Miss Hardinge-Maltby s production of "Xiobe" to : night and to-morrow night. Their remains little to be said of the performance. Jliss Hardinge-Maltby promises pretty scenes and pretty dresses and fair women, with Mr. F. B. Sharp as Peter, Miss HardingeMaltby as Niobe, and adequate support: It is to be noted that the performance, which is to be'repeated to-morrow,. will on both evenings commence sharp nt 7.45 p.m. The band will be under the conductorship of Sir. W. M'Laughlan.