ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 769, 18 March 1910, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The series' of pictures that is beW presented to patrons at His Majesty's ..Iheatre this week is ono of the best ever shown in Wellington. About three months ago' a cable was received from London of a startling 'achievement in kmcinatography in Paris. Thi6 was a veritable battle of the bacilli' in the blood of a rat-the evil forces of the dreaded sleeping sickness ranged against the healthy red corpuscles. This film is now being shown at His Majesty's, and is of intense interest scientifically, as well as a demonstration of the utility of the cinematograph.: Another up-to-date picture is a varied assortment of views of Fans under water, taken during the disastrous floods of a few weeks ago. Those interested in ,the drama will be • more. «r? n -?i ?? etl at the tabloili « dition of Oamille, presented in picture form. « m f OO S. well worth seeing ate i Th ?, PuI P Mills of Canada" (which fW.P'y the.:, paper for The Dominion), he ,?™ ge3 of Aude," and the dramatic scena, To Save Her Soul."

' THE KING'S THEATEE. The new King's Theatre had no 6eats unoccupied at 8 o'clock last evening, and general satisfaction was.'expressed by patrons at the comfort and many conveniences provided for their delectation, ihe programme is a strong one, embracing examples of the most favoured phases of kinematography. Among the best of the pictures are "The Miniature, ; a particularly, well-mounted:, and dressed, story picture, "The Lady Detec- & ve ' o "'! h f Gor S es '° £ Ande," "To Save Her Soul; 'The Engineer's Daughter," and His Reformation." The management, announce a. grand inaugural matinee for 'to-morrow' afternoon, when every child attending will receive a present. A: feature of the entertainment at the King's Theatre is the excellent orchestra, which plays some very attractive music during the evening, under the direction of Mr. Wolfgang. ;It is an added charm to the glamour of the pictures. '•.■■■ THEATEE EOYAL.... Hassan, the Indian wonder-worker, continues large audiences at the ■Theatre Eoyal. This dusky son of the kast embodies in his quaint personality all the -weirdness and unexplamable fascination that those old, old races are invested with, and it is impossible to withdraw the gaze, when he is performing his clever sleight-of-hand' tricks, or lifting heavy weights, with his eyelid.: Ward Lear ...contributes ..considerably to ; the gaiety of nations with his. eccentric nonsense, and the Klimos are smart in their comedy business.

STAR PICTURES. The management; at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, are. now: showing one of the best, programmes of pictures that have yet been projected' in' South. "In the' White ' Sea" and '"Bobby, the Boy Scout," are.two capital pictures of decided merit, and there are many others.

BESSES 0' TH' BARN BAND. [~ The Town Hall', should have been better, filled than was the "case last evening, when.the renowned Besses, o' th' Barn Band /gave its second ' recital. In a measure the programme was of a little' better quality than. on ' Wednesday evening, and the band was well up to pitch. Instrumentalists are-aware that a band can become, stale with overmuch practicoi It develops at times' when a band is working up to n ' contest, but it would need, a very-keen ear to detect any variation in form in, the case of the "Besses,"' who.individually and collectively, appear to.:be in love with their work.'.. And well they- 'may'be. Last evening the programme ranged from the "Merry Widow" waltz to' the abstruse : theme' involved in the'bewildering music of Wagner's "Plying Dutchman." We have-in Wellington heard little-of - Wagner, and that little comes at rare intervals, but the-"Besses" gave a.ipowerful'interpretation of the intermezzo from, the' "Dutchman," and succeeded in-whetting the musical taste •for more. Another bit of the German master was ■ forthcoming in Mr. E. P. Kerry's euphonium solo, "0, Star of -Eve" from "Tannhauser," the one Wagnerian .solo .that'stands a ohance of ■ becoming hackneyed. :- Mr. Kerry's finished playing, and his rich tone, are a delight to, all bandsmen. Recalled, he played Schubert's "Serenade." Mr. S. Pyatt, cornet soloist, 1 showed.'.his quality in "Abide With Me": (Liddle).., His'sure fingering and.clear resonant tone make his playing delightful to listen to. Other selections were:—Elgar's March, "Pomp and Circumstance" (which many will remember was played by the. big orchestra at the opening'of the Town Hall), Suppe's effervescent' overture,' "Beautiful Galatea,' the selection, TWhita Lilies" (J. Ord; Hume), a "Maritana" selection, and a fantasia scored, by Godfrey, entitled of all Nations," in which the .Welsh-National Anthem ia made an outstanding feature. At, the third;concert, to be given this evening, the band-will play Mendelssohn's overture to "Rny Bias/' which has only been heard in ■ orchestral .form here hitherto. The brass band setting is saidto be. most'effective. The "Besses" will also/be heard -in "Oberon" (Weber) and a' Faust selection, r-. .. .

, ST. PATRICK'S DAT CONCERT. Even if most'of'those who attended the St. Patrick's'.Day. concert last evening had not worn the green ribbon, they' must have enjoyed.-.the programme greatly. As it ; was the patriotic audience which crowded' the Municipal Concert Chamber enjoyed it fervently. Nearly. every had to be repeated, and in the case of the majority of items this was quite explainable, apart from the mere national appeal. The pupils of the ■ Marist Brothers School .acquitted themselves well in several choruses,: "O'Donnell Aboo, ' and old' Irish air, "Erin, Beautiful Erin" (M. Sebastian), and "God Save Ireland" (Sullivan). Mr. Charles Eeid sang "Oft in the Stilly Night," and was encored. Mrs. T. Costelloe (nee Miss Kitty Blahey) 'sang "Asthbre" very sympathetically, and for an' encore number "Going. :to . Kildare." . Master Rupert Christie, who manages his voice with a good deal ■ of. art, : . sang "Terry, Your' Blue-eyed Boy/' and had to repeat the last verse. Miss May Donaldson gave an artistic violin rendering of Sarasate's "Zegineruiesen," and for an encore played a minuet by Mozart.^'Mr. lewis Walker, in "The Irish Emigrant," showed himself possessed of a good voice. Miss May Driscoll was heard to advantage in "The Wearing of the Green," and, in answer, to a redemand, "I Love • Old Ireland Still." Madame Marie Groome was'warmly encored l for her'fine singing of "The Minstrel' Boy," and responded with "Kate O'Shane.' 1 . Mr. J. P. Oarr sang "The Dear Little Shamrock".'very pleasingly, and afterwards "Avourneen (Wilton King). In the second part of the programme, Miss Mary Bannin recited "Fontenoy," and for an encore "Onlv a Simple Picture," with much spirit. Mr. Charles Hickmott sang "Father O'Flynn" in popular fashion, and Madame Marie ■Groome, and Mr. F. J. Carr were heard to advantage in the duet "Ring Out Wild Bells." Mrs. Costelloo sang "Paddy" (Gerald Lane)' in an admirable manner, and Miss May Donaldson gave a couple of violin soli, "Meditation do Thais" (Massenet) and "Obortass" (Wieniawski). Moore's touching song, "She is Far from the Land," was well sung by Mr, Walker. Miss Henderson was accompanist. A novel item which produced much enthusiasm was tho Irish pipo music played by Mr. P. Barry, who woro the Irish piper's costume—green jacket, with gilt stripes, khaki kilt and apron, and khaki cap. AMATEUR CONCERT. An enjoyablo concert was given last night in tho Sydney; Street Schoolroom. Most of tho participants were local amateurs, and they had an appreciative audienco, which comfortably filled the room. A couple of one-act comedies were outstanding features of the entertainment. The first, entitled "The Reason Why," was presented by Miss Rita Simpson and Mr. Vivian Rhind, and the second —"A Pair of Lunatics"—by Miss Elsie Watson and Mr. E. Y. Mills.: The remainder of the programme was as follows :-Song, Mr. Cyril Blundell; song, Mr. J. Morrison; song,. Miss K. Major; song, Mr. R. T. Robertson; whistling solo, Mr. B. Gardener; recitation, Dr Isaacs; song, Mr. R, T. Robertson; song,' ■Miss K. Major;, recitation. Miss M Hardinge-Maltby; song. Mr. Cvril Blundell; whistling solo, Mr. B. Gardener; «nnjj, Mt-.T. .Morrison. '