ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 675, 27 November 1909, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE JULIUS KNIGHT SEASON, : "MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE." 'Monsieur Boaucaire," a comedy in four acts, by Booth. Tarkington. Cast, ■Mondew-Beanoatei Mr. Julius Knight . g ,lk<l ° f Wintcrsot ...... Mr. Sydney Stirling Beau Nash m r . Winter Hall Major Molyneaux: Mr. Aubrey Mallalieu Mr. Eakell .......... Mr. Eoynolds Denuißton \ Francois (Beaucairo s eorvant) _ . ■-, „ , ■ , Mr. Leslie Victor. , Captain Badger, Mr. Stanley Walpolo Francois (Beaucairo's servant) Mr. Lesio Victor Luoy-Eollerioii:Miss E.- Guildford Quin Lady Bellerton Miss Katie Towers • - Countess of Greenbury ... Miss Mary Marlowe Lady Mary Carlisle ...... Kiss Beatrice Day ' Booth protty comody "Monsieur Beaucairo," revived'lost evening by the Julius Kmght Company, • attracted a very largo audionco to tiio Opera House.' There aw amplo reasons, for tho 'marked, popularity ot this play. l Tho dramatist has had tho fortune to alight-upon a charming theme, whioh' ho has handled with tho most dclicata appreciation of dramatic requirement, whilst ■idealising it with tho fascinating airs and graces of a period altogether picturesque. It is not necessary: hero to detail £ho'plot by which the debonnair Due d'Orleans, masquerading as 'Beaucairo and tho Due do Chateau Rienwoos and wins the beautiful Lady Mary Carlisle in tho face of the perfidious Duke of Wintersct and all; Bath. ■ Suffice it that Mr, Julius Knight as tho French nobleman, has not lost, a tittle of his power to; charm iii th'b role. In contradistinction to; his Lieutenant Eeresby,--his performance of last evening is evidence of the popular actor's versatiliij-. Jis to- tho . reigning of Bath, -Lady Mary Carlisle,... it is difficult to- eliminate from the .memory tho' stately grace of Miss Maud Jeffries in the part. Miss Beatrice Day, T?ho-essayed, the role last evening, hardly realised the lofty distinction of manner and pos© of lior predecessor, assumed without any'loss of womanly charm, but, succeeded in presenting a very amiable arid cut-: tured lady' of the .period.. Mr. Sydney Stirling made the Duke of Wintorset a. smoother, and moro Buavo scoundrel than wo have hithorto seen, : and lent the part a proper polish and distinction. . Mr. Aubrey Mallalieu is hardly heavy, enough metal for Captain Moiyneui, and' l Mr. \ Stanley ; -Walpolo ; • blustered aud bounced effectively as. Captain Badgor. Among the minor parts, the Francois, of 1 . Mr.' Leslio Victor was admirable,- Mr. 1 Reynolds Denniston made a lively: Eatollj and Mr. Winter Hall a dignified Beau Nash. Tho scenery-was all that could bo desired, and tho: drosses parti- ■ cularly those - worn', ;by tho ' quests of Lady Rellerton's rout,. transformed-tho'stago into a fair garden, and the situation at tho termination of Act ll,';whcn Bcaucaire, escorting the. agod Duchess, is greeted with a shower of red roses, created .'the- usual istorm'of. applause! .

THE SIGN OP THE CBOSS. ' ■ The hold.that "The Sign of. the, Cross" lias upon the public 'is .demonstrated by tho appearance of the box plans/ -Notwithstanding! Chat the .performance,-. this., evening is tho' fonrth 'revival of this favourite play within only a for? . years,. the anxiety for : adv&nco booting that has obtained;is remarkable.'..Tho interpretation of Marcus . Superbus iby Mr. Julius-; Knight is 'always! a striking. perform:. anoe, and.it is said that his. playing< of- the. port of late years is an .even better effort.' Miss Beatrice Day will ' be soon to-night , for tho first time ih .Wellington Asi tho Christian maiden Mercia., The songs' and music incidental to the play will lie rondered by an operatic :: chorus :'#nd augmented ..orchestra, whilst the several dances will be executed: by a complete corps do ballet. "The Sign of tho Cross" will be. played to-night ; ; and Monday 'and Tuesday. 'On .Wednesday' "The Scarlet ;Pimperr.el"-will bo presented. The box plana to-day will be at the Dresden till 12, after at Cliristerison's, opposite Opora .House/ ." KOYAL PICTURES. ; large]httehdanCo was .'present' at- His Majesty's Theatre- last:'• evening, •'i'when the fourth showing of this 1 week's torogrammo: was given by' the :Boyal -Pictures Syndicate.". Interest centred chiefly on that fine film, "Consul,- the Trained' Ape," -. whoso cleverness and ■taking..ways '.were observed with the- closest attention. Tho'usual matinee and evening performances will be given to-day." : ■■■■■■■ - >

' - THEATRE'BOtAL'..;" _ | ': At the- Theatre: It'oyal;. last night , the "final performance of. the curront ; week's programme of Fuller's-Piotjiresi was:.given; before 1 a large' and appreciative audience,' To-hightV a- complete change of programme will be presented. The principal item is entitled "The; Legend, of .Orpheus," . which, is, said to -bo -a splblldid classical study../ Another 'fine subject is called. Black Hiuid," and which i 8 reputed to be. a .-powotful dramatic series. 1 : Among \ other subjects, '"A ■ Child's'Paith" .'takes 'first place. .Thero: will: also .be 'a r numerous ' selection- of dramatic, industrial,: and humorous subjects, including "Scenes: in Cannes," : "The Banks of the Ganges," 'fTheodore's Beard," • and. "The .Little .Violet. Seller.".- all : of .which- are of a high order of merit, and should go to provide . an : ■/entertaining .'. and:, instructive ' evening's • amusement.' ?.'-W'V-...yv,.- i' STAR PICTURES. . The Star Pictures at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, claimed _ the attention of, a . large audience last .evening,: when , some .: excellent films vrero run' oS. Matinee and > evening performances will be given to-day. ' , ; TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN; EECITAIi. . Mr. Barnett's. weekly. organ recital on the Town' Hall organ, to-night will inolude the popular "William Tell" (Rossini), Bach's "Thr4e Choral. Preludes,", a unique composition , as regards form. Tho first', which-is based-on! the chorale, "Wir ' Glaiiben All': au > Einen Gott," is popularly'termed'the "Giant'Pugue.". WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY. . ■ The .box plan' is now open at the Dresden for: the coining- performance of "The Messiah" by the Wellington. Choral Society^. The public are reminded that >they can book 6eats downstairs and .upstairs. ~ The concert- takes place' in' the Town' Hall next Friday; evening,; and >it is ■highly -.probable .that this production of Han.del's great' oratorio' will be tho best rendering ■of any that has yet . been, given: in' Wellington; Mr. Maughan'Barhett .will'preside at' the. city organ throughout the performance. ■'': The soloists, engaged, are air well known for-.their solid and reliable work/ Mrs.. Arthur Mead is .to sing, tho soprano part,' and Mrs. Buckeridge will take: the contralto, airs.-■ The tenor work has .been allotted to ,Mr.' E. J. . Hill, another, established favourito with the: public, whilst' Mr. Alexander Millar,, tho possessor;, of a, deep, and powerful bass voice, ~ and the; necessary qualities for giving sympathetic and dramatio treatment to the noble bass of Handel's musio, has also bean"engaged. ;. v

Tho students at the Training College, who have during the year .bien working , under tho direction of Mr. Kobert Parker;gave a concert in the Sydney' Stre(st„Hall on Thursday night, tho programme consisting chiefly of-part-songs by tlio students themselves. They, were .also assisted. ; by. Mrs.. Cachemaille, Miss Erica Hoby, Mrs... Montagu,, and Mr;.' F; Grady.' .■ <> ■ An advertisement in reference, to' . Wonder-' land is insertedin another; column. . :