ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 826, 26 May 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. Fullers' Vaudeville Company attracted another largo attendance to the Theatre Royal last night. Every item on the program me was well received. The present programme, is a very decided success, judging by the hearty and frequent applause. HIS MAJESTY'S. The popularity of the pictures shown at His Majesty's Theatre remains unabated, and as the weeks go by the number e>l regular patrons increases steadily. Last evening, when the week's change was submitted, the theatre was crowded, and the pictures were received with marked evidences of appreciation. The "star" picture was a most remarkable one, giving u clear insight into American police methods. The tortures of the "third degree"—the endless fire of questions, put by relentless detectives to persons suspected of crime—are seen to bo followed by thp collapse of the suspects, succeeded by confessions of guilt. ' The picture brings home with startling clearness the effect of such a nerve-racking method of examination, even persons who may be innocent. One of the best pictures yet seen of steoplechasing is that of tho famous Funchostown event. The picture, which is included in this week's series, gives practically a continuous view of tho great Irish race, lor the camera men apparently had been stationed at numerous points along the track. Falls at the hurdles are nuiner- ■ ous, and the galloping horses, careering ■ over tho jumps, make a stirring scene. A ■ lesson in natural history, such as must ■ be acceptable to young and old alike, is i contained in the picture entitled "The ■ Romance of a Butterfly." Caterpillars of • weird and wonderful design, some protected by horns, others having coverings ■ of shell, are photographed at various 1 periods of their short but eventful lives, ! seen in actual progress. The caterpillars J of the picture are foreign to New Zea- ' land, and they belong apparently to very ' unusual species indeed. l''or those of the ' audience who are a little imaginative, ' the entertainment includes a trip on an alpine railway. Trees stand out stereo- ' Ecopically, and every charming piece of 1 scenery is outlined in the picture almost ■ as clearly as if directly viewed by the eye. Tho picture is another telling ' proof that tho eye of the camera over--1 looks nothing. Two American biograph 1 dramas are presented in picture form, > these being entitled "The Final Snttle- " raent" and "The Thread of Destiny," and the remarkable performances of dogs ' trained for a music-hall turn are shown ' in a picture called "A Clown and his ' Dog." Melodrama is represented in the ' film, "A Baby's Power," tho shadows of racing are typified in another called ' "Rogues of the Turf," and there are inj dustrial and humorous pictures which are in keeping with the high standard ' set at His Majesty's. This series of kine- ; matograph pictures will • be - exhibited throughout the week. J KING'S THEATRE. ) The Apaches of Paris, those .formidable folk whose deeds have arrested the '. attention of the" world, form the subject ; of the principal picture at the King's Theatre this week. Last evening, this 5 remarkable film made- a distinct imt pression on tho crowded audience. In r the picture, a quartet, of sightseers, con--1 sidering how to spend an evening in i Paris, at last hit upon the idea to visit - the lower-class portion of tho city, and r proceeded thither by laxicab. Arrived in the "thieves' den," they are coni fronted by desperadoes, whose black' j looks disconcert the two ladies of the i party. The visitors are hospitably, re--1 neivod, however, and, • on their footing > the bill, and drinking a toast with the I assembled outlaws, the dance ■ of the • apaches begins. It is a thrilling performance, the lady being thrown to , the ground, raised by the hair of the ' head, and swung about fiercely. The . dance'; of course, is watched intently by L the four visitors, but, when another > 'criminal-looking:' apache appears .on the scene, to claim the lady, and stabs her '. partner of the dance, the guests, with . one accord, decide to see no more, . hastening to their motor just as the i police arrive. The visitors, ■ therefore, are not present when the "apaches" and , the "gendarmes" throw off their make- . up, and receive their respective earn- • ings from "the manager of the show." The 'picture is a Pathe Freres produc--5 tion, and its interest is intensified, be-, , cause of the fact of recent law-breaking on the part of ap'aclies at the close of . Parisian theatrical performances. The t launching of the torpedo destroyer "Yarra," one of the first boats of Hie Australian Navy, is shown in a clear ', film, the vessel gliding gracefully down ' tho ways. The picture is, in itself a tribute to the enterprise of the lnanagei 'ment, inasmuch as the "Yarra" is [ only a creation of yesterday as it were, and her picture has preceded her to this end of the world. Richard Arnst, world's champion sculler, is seen, in another picture, engaged in' training on the Parramatta River. The'dances ofIndian natives, and of the people of Java, and the Celebees, aro presented in a beautiful coloured film, and "Scenes ■ in Bavaria" is a "travel" picture of ■ more than ordinary merit. The enter- • tainment includes three or four most ' amusing pictures, the best of which are • "Calino's Duel," "The Light that ■ Failed," and "A Boarding School Girl," ! and there are several intensely dramatic ■ stories, told in such pictures as , "The Silent Piano,"" Zingara" (coloured) ; "The Ticket-of-Loave Man," and "Goldseeker's Daughter." The pictures at King's Theatre will be shown to-night, and throughout the week. ■ STAR PICTURES. - The Star Pictures were witnessed by another appreciative audience last night, the various items on the programme being thoroughly enjoyed. ' LIVING NEW ZEALAND. 1 Undoubtedly the New Zealand Picture Company was afflicted with misfortune wjien it began its season on Tuesday evening in the Town Hall, through the machinery .refusing to work, but by Wednesday night the trouble had been entirely' conquered, and the films displayed were most of them exceedingly beautiful and interesting. A largo audience was present in the Town Hall, and judging from tho applause with which many of tlie pictures were greeted the audience was thoroughly interested and pleased. 1 It is not every day that people are given the opportunity of viewing tho wonder or beauty spots of New Zealand through the medium of the. kinematograph, but so: distinct and so clear were the pictures that it was the next best thing seeing them that way to being on the -spot in person. Tho films of the thermal district were most realistic, showing the weird, inferno-like region in all its uncanny wonder, most interesting to people who'had been there and to those w'ho had not. The Princo of .Wales Feathers, tho Boiling Well, with .great clouds of steam rising from it, the marvellous Crow's Nest, the Eagle's Nest, the . Dragon's Mouth, and Kerapati were shown in all their fascination, as well as an amusing picture of the way in. which the Maori women perform their laundry work in the hot pools, and of the making of the pui-pui mats. Later on the in tho programme the visit of the Prince of Wales, now lung George, and his wife, then known as Princess May, to liotorua, and the various celebrations arranged in thfil honoui by the Maiiris., hakas and poi dances, wero exhibited, the Princo wearing tho precious mat that had Iweii bestowed upon him. The faces of the Maoris came out most distinctly, Uio rollin" eyes, Hie poked-out tongues, the shaking, writhing bodies, as well as the wonderful precision of movement, makin» most lifelike pictures. Pictures that created a great amount of interest wero the celebrations that took place on Dominion Day, September 20, 1303, in Wellington, depicting tho marching ■ of the troops through the city and tho review at Newtown Park, many familiar faces being recognised among tho number that (lashed so quickly by. The review was most interesting, and was particularly clear. Tho celebrations at (lie lSasin Reservo on that day, the arrival of the Governor, of Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, tho crowd of people and tho living Hag, composed of 3000 children and more, wero greatly appreciated by the audience. Another military subject represented was the inspection of the cadets by Lord Kitchener in l)m\«din, tho boys behi» shown, first of all, at caso in various attitudes on the ground, then at meal.

:ime, and, finally, when marching past Lord Kitchener. Most beautiful views of tho fiordland in tho south were •sliow-n, some of the beet being the falls and cascades at tho head of George Sound, views of Mitre Peak and Milford Sound, and the liowen Falls and Stirling Falls. Tho Bowen Falls were particularly striking, picturing greut rocky mountain sides, down which fell most foamy, vaporous-looking cascades of sUvcr. View.s depicting our rock-bound coasts were exceedingly fine, showing the great rollers crashing over masses of rock, and throwing up showers of heavy foam. Some comic pictures were also shown. Altogether a most interesting and enjoyable evening will be spent in going .to "see these pictures, and they are well -worth viewing. SONG RECITAL. It is rare indeed that any local singet is sufficiently daring to attempt such (in ambitious performance as did Mivs Lloyd Hassell at the Concert Chamber last evening. With a praiseworthy intention of giving none but the best in song, the singer selected some of the i brightest gems of Schumann. Schubert, Mallinson, Greig, Strauss, and Wagnerfifteen songs in all—and came . through • the ordeal with undeniable credit If the uniniated might dare to cavil, it i was perhaps rather injudicious to ariV ; here to the German in so ; in aiWof the numbers, but with kindly . forethought the translations were ap- -, pended to the programme, so that all . could .follow, and appreciate the spirit . of the masters' songs. Miss Hassell is . the possessor of a cultured mezzo-so-j prano voice, which while it trends . more to tho contralto than the soprano » in quality, is, strangely enough, more L particularly effective above the middle t C, where a certain resonance adds musi--5 cal warmth to the notes.' The lower , register is not so vocally vivacious. Miss f Hassell's songs consisted of (Devotion), "Der Nussbaum" (The Almond Tree), and "Waedesgesprach 3 (Voice of the Woods), by Schumann, "Eleanore," "The Blood-red Eing," and ; "The Hindu Children's Rain Song," by : Mallinson (tthe two first-named being particularly well eiing), "Droop o'er My , Head," "Best Thee My Spirit," by ', Strauss; ■ "Traume," \by Wagner; ' "Cradle Song," "My Love was so Pure," '. and "The Princess," bv Greip; and ; "Du Bist die Ruh" (Peace), "Der Tod p und das Madchen" (Death and . the [ Maiden), and "Wohin" (Whither),' by , Schubert. Miss Hassell was finely 'draJ matic in her second Senubert number, ' which she had to repeat, and an encore [ was demanded for .her lively interpretation of the last- bright song, singing in . ' response Schubert's familiar "Who - is [ Sylvia?" Variety was lent tie pro- : gramme by the 'cello solos of. Mr. Frank Johnstone, who played Gottermann's ' d'Abbrosia's , "Canyonetta," and, as an ; encore to the latter number "Lβ Cygne" P of Saint-Saens. Miss Ursula Tewsley , was the accompanist. Mr. Wrn. Bradley will deliver Mβ " lecture on "Egypt, the Land of the' ] Pharohs," this evening, at 8 o'clock. The lecture is to be illustrated by lantern ,' slides of exceptional interest, including' 1 one of tthe Pharohs of the Oppression," . which was only recently discovered. Attention is drawn to the advertise. » ment of the concert to be given' on Fri-> t day night, May 27, in the YJVI.C.A. Hall, 3 under the auspices of the Wellington s Boys' Cricket League, when the cups and ..' trophies won during the season will be i presented. An attractive programme has. . been arranged, including items by 6oma i of Wellington's best local talent, t ' '