ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 772, 22 March 1910, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S PICTURES. Thoro was a large attendance at His Majesty's last evoning, when the usual weekly programme was again well received. Tho audience evinced much interest in tho doings of the cowboy hero in "The Pet of tho Big Horn Ranch," and also in the deadly work of tho triponosoines of sleeping sickness, displayed by means of micro-kinemato-graphy, and those who 20 to a theatre to laugh were well suited-in "When we called the Plumber in." The programme will be repeated tonight; and will make way to-morrow for an entirely new bill, said to be in all respects the equal of its predecessor. Seats may bo reserved at Christeson's. THE KING'S THEATRE. The new and admirably appointed King's Theatre in Taranaki Place, continues to attract crowded audiences nightly. The excellent programme of pictures which lias given such general satisfaction throughout the week will be presented for tho last time this evening. There will be a complete change to-morrow evening,-. including several kincmatographic novelties, which have arrived dirtct from Home.

THEATRE ROYAL. While picture , shows are attracting large audiences at one end of the town vaudeville is holding its own at the other. The Theatre ltoyal was comfortably peopled last evenins:, when Uio usual weekly change of programme was submitted. The' change was not. so marked,' as most of the performances havo already exhibited- theii wares at the Johnston Street theatre. Hassan, the slim Hindu from out the East, exhibits a subtle knowledge of paliniug, entirely deceiving to the uninitiated, and otherwise mixes the old with the new entertainingly. One particularly neat trick is tho' cutting up of a long turban cloth under tho noses of a committee from the audience, and yet, with a little manoeuvring the cloth is sho\vn entirely unimpaired, and its original length, whilst tho cut pieces havo apparently "vanished into empty air." The fact of lifting a massive lump of concrete with his eyelids continues to make people shudder. Two small metal cups are adjusted over the eyeballs and held in position by tho closed eyelide. A cord attached to each cup is fastened to the rope, which is bound round tho block of concrete. With his arms outstretched, Hassan throws his head back, and in so doing lifts the block from ,the stage, the cords resting aeaiust his 'body, and walks forward a couple of paces with tho weight so suspended. The management state that it is a feat, .not a trick, and there is room for doubt that it is. The Itlimos repeat thek clever act on the Roman rings, with good comic relief thrown in, by one who apparently "jests' at .scars." Miss Maud Hewson sang "The Dear Homeland" aooeptably, and Mr.; Charles Throsby was moderately successful in his songs and stories: The Martin Sisters would bo better appreciated if thoy kept strictly to the air of their songs, instead of indulging at tinies in the semi-shout ■ they affect. Miss Gertio Johns infuses "go" into her work, and Miss Ethel Preston "dashed" considerably when she/sang of "Canada." A capital little orchestra,:under the control of Mr. Frank Crowther, the facile pianist, contributed niuoh to the success of the show. ,

The. management announces that a 'special rational vaudeville concert and pictures" will be tho attraction at the Royal nn Good Friday night.

BESSES O , TH' BABN BAND. The Besses.o , th' Barn Band gave an open-air concert in the grounds.of tho Ofcaki Sanatorium yesterday- afternoon. 1 here were about four hundred people pro-sent, when a very pleasant programme was. played, which tho patients at the institution enjoyed. Although the weather was wet in .Wellington, it was quite fine at Otaki.

One of the Easter attractions to be provided fov Wellington will be- the open-air performances on Good . Friday and Easter Saturday evenings, and Easter Monday afternoon, and evening at the Athletic Park by the Besses o , th . Barn Band. Programmes' suitable to the occasion will bo rendered. On Sunday afternoon another concert will be givenj at Day's Bay. The Tramway Department has intimated its intention of running an augmented service, and tho lighting of the'grounds will ho undertaken by the corporation. Rates of admission will'he popular. '.

STAR PICTURES. . St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, was packed last-evening, when the weekly change was presented by the Star Picture Proprietary. Tho star film was "Life in the British Navy," which depicted the training of '.'Boys of the Bulldog Breed." The various movements performed by the sailors was wellwonu seeing, and the audience—a most appreciative ono —loudly'applauded. ' An excellent dramatic picture was a sceno from Magda. Tho view. screened gave an. admirable portrayal of the heroine being forced to marry against her will, with dramatic consequences. Another picture that appealed to the audience was "A Bunch of Lilac." It described two bright littlo orphan children creeping very gingerly into a park and stealing a large bunch of lilac. The little girl is caught, but the boy escapes with the flowers to his parents' grave. Tho girl appeals to the keeper, who is led to tho gfave, where the boy is kneeling, and a pathetic scene ends showing tho keeper and his _ wifo entertaining tho orphans at their home. Some of tho comic films, including "An Ideal Servant," "The Wrong Hat" and "Tho Vagabond's Adventure" caused great laughter. . "PETER PAN." ■ Booking for the. Easter season of J. M. Barrio's fairy plav will commence this morning at the Dresden, and tho season will be inaugurated next Saturday evening. "Peter Pan" has such an attraction for the public elsewhere that it has been revived in London for seven years, with ever-increasing success, and has been presented in Now York for no fower than 1400 times within tho last five years. Its success, too, in Melbourne, was quite remarkable. Tho Melbourne "Argus" said:— "As tho action unfolded, as one quaint followed another, as fantasy and reality strayed in each other's footsteps across the footlights—seeming to play' dice with each 'other, as the devil is said to have played for the soul of Faustine—the impression grew and strengthened that 'Peter Pan' would prove. a great Australasian, as it has been an English and American, success. It is a play for children, and a play for 'grown-ups.' " . The season, which commences on Saturday, is to last for thirteen nights and four matinees, the first of which is announced for Easter Monday afternoon, and promises to be ono of the most successful over experienced by Mr. J. Q. Williamson in Wellington. SACRED CONCERT.

A concert is to bo given by the choir, under Dr. Kington Fyffo, in St. Peter's Church this evening. The programme', which is a particularly interesting one, includes Brahms' "Requiem" (Mrs. F. P. Wilson as soloist) and "Tho AViJdernnss." Mr. H. Illiugwortb will sing "Kut Thou Didst Not Leave" (Handel), and Mr. J. A. Dohorty will sing Fnuro's solo, ."The First Palm Sunday" ("Los Bamcaux"). A collection will bo taken in aid of tbe choir