ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 914, 6 September 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" . "ALADDIN." In tho whirl of ballets and marches, catchy songs, bright kljui'usim and comply business in "Aladdin," now being played lo -big business at tho Opera House, ono may perhaps be excused, for overlooking that teature which is, after all,, most essential tu tho ensemble. The reference is to the scenery, iu' which the honours are shared by Messrs. Coleman and Upward, of J. C.'Williamson's talented stud' of artists. The first set—a street .or square iu Pckin—is admirably composed. Tiiero is a • iino restraint in the colour scheme, yet nothing is missing to convey the quaint atmosphere of. the Chineso cjty. . 'There is another hit which is very effective—a front cloth—a road passing under a plain-but typically Japanese arch, over a bridge to a settlement..; pn the one hand aro pictured two massive .stone- pillars, .which act ■ as .an entrance to a noble-forest plantation.' Tho Ca*» uf Jewels is very elaborate and glittering,- but it does not make, the ■ appeal to tho artistic sense, as does tho Australian bush scene, behind the-Bird Ballet, with its admirably-paintnct and fnith-fully-tinted foliago and fine perspective. Another example of broadly-cft'ectivo drop cloths is that used as a setting for tho song, "The Shadow, of the Pyramids." Against tho bold, battered Sphinx and the. Pyramids, the nicely-posed gro u P °f ligyptiaii maidens makes quite au. effective -picture The. Opera House l was crowded again last evening, when the pantomime went with-a fiuo - swing- -from beginning to end. . Thero will" be another, mutiuee performance to-inoirow afternoon.

THEATEE EOXAL. Powerful counter attractions • did not prevent the variety entertainment at the' Theatre Eoyal obtaining a'generous'meed of patrohago last evening, when a change of programnio was submitted that comprised many attractive items. Comedians' wore present, in strong force, there were several special turns of merit, and a number of vocal itenis lent further variety to tho entertainment. Of. the /comedians none was more successful than Harry Sadler, His "Comicalities," contributed in the first part, are aptly named, and with his humorous "travesty, on the Boy Scouts jio fairly brought down, the ■ house.. In', this' burlesque he'was assisted'by half a dozen "scouts" in motley garb, who rose to tho occasion. A staf'iurn'was that'of. Garden Wilson; who was responsible, for a,series of clever' impersonations 'of well-known actors and singers. In comical and pathetic representations Mr. Wilson 'wnsequally good, and his'concluding item, "The, Broken Melody," was instinct with power. The Scott Brothers, are ■a. clever pair of comedians. Their most successfulturn was an impromptu dancing competition, in which lively footwork alternated with merry quips .and laughter-provoking' jests. In-vocal'items tho Scott Brothers were again conspicuously successful. The Eogers quartet are clever little. acrobats, and their feats are marked by daring and skill. The junior member of tho quartet is by;way of being a :hunio"rist; and ploasantly ehlivens.the proceedings as.a.miniature clown. The Gibson-Girls are 'sprightly Seribs, and their song, "The ABC of Love," was received With applause.';' Another ;serio : is* Miss Nolli'e Scarle. Miss Beatrice.M'Donald is in-firm favour as a balladist, and a' vocalist whose contributions was well received 'is Mr. Albert Mather. Miss Blanche Cnrelli was applauded for her tuneful rendering xt . 'Serenade" and "Killarney." The performance terminated with a' rollicking comedy, "Irish Justice," in which Harry' Sadler was assisted by. tho full strength of the company. The programme will bo repeated; this' evening.- On Friday ' night next ambitious'amateurs are to be given another chance of Pairing, their talent on. the, boards of the'-Theatre Eoyal.'' .:

. ; ~:; : 'Patrons of His■'. M-ajesty's Theatre'this week are presented ' with a' splendid. set of-"moving'-pictures, in ,■-which'-.subjects dealing with . varied. phases. oi life are shown. , Last evening . the; theatre wifs well filled .by-, an 'appreci«.tivo ; audience, each picture as it .was thrown upon the sliee 1 . meeting with enthusiastic Among the items, special mention should be made of "A Child ■of : the Ghetto," and a film depicting the production of anowspaper . from: start- to finish. - - Tomorrow ..evening, the usual, change of - pro-, gramme will bo submitted. ■■■..-> .>• / ■'•■ : KING'S-THEATRE.; ■ Kinematography is.doing well at the, Theatre, and last evening the programme presented by the management was: accorded -good patronage. .Included in the production are many - mirth-.-provoking scenes, some of the "comics" being exceedingly- amusing. ~ . Notable among these'is "A Bolt .from the Bluo" and ."Div Smith's,..-Automaton." The, ."Animated.Gazette,": which is "published weekly," is ; .'aiiothcr attraction. Altogether the bill-presents an-opportunity for seeing the. world, without' leaving '."Wellington.. A coniplete change of programme is announced .for. to-morrow evening. ~ ."-'. .STAR''PICTURES.. -' At St. Thomas's Hall,' Newtown, last evening, a ■ change of -•: prbgrammo. was submitted to a full house.. The manage-', ment announce that they, are now obtaining their pictures'from a new source. A fine scenic film shown'last evening pic-. , turfed'beauty";spots' round Sydney ■ Harbour aud iu the; Blue: Mountains. "Ludono Lakes".'is '■'another'.' beautiful picture'-: A thrilling" dramatic study is that entitled '"The Pay Car.",'. It narrates in vivid : fashion tho nefarious schemes oi a discharged railway foreman. who'i moved. by a''desire for revenge,' endeavours to wreck a train, but has his schemes frustrated by a plucky;-'woman, ; whb' 6'verrhears- him discussing -his plans .with his associates. "Tho Call of the Heart" is a picture drama somewhat on'the lines of the-"Messenger from Mars." The hard heart of a miserly rich maii is softened in a dream,' and he" turns to ways of charity and kindness.. "The 'Barber of Seville" is a lovo drama that lends itself aptly .to pictorial display. In the "Love of a Savnge," an exciting canoe chase on the waters of a splendid river is .finely portrayed.- "I?ascalla"' pictures the, daring performance of a trapeze artist. A film'of 1 educational interest has for its subject aft annual celebration-of •school: children in Now Jersey, in which 4000 children are", engaged. Still another good ; film, illustrates the. custom's-'of the .Arabs in their encampments, nu'd in the desert. Of comic films there is an excellent variety; and the. programme as a whole repays the , patronage accorded. It will be repeated this evening,.. but on Wednesday and Thursday the pictures will not be shown, as-tho hall is otherwise engaged. On Friday tho pictures resume.

ENDURANCE-SKATING'AT " \ OLYMPIA. ■•".■' The' erase for record-breaking lias taken such a firm hold that it is: not to be wondered at that, coming at the height of a successful skating season, efforts should bo made to croato a record for continuous skating. Commencing .next Thursday evening, Messrs. .Williams, of the ' Olympia.stnit, and Bobbins, of E.H.S. Encounter, will begin their attempt, to break' the world's record of 5H hours' continuous skating at the Olympia Rink'.. A'.strong committee has been formed to attend /to ..the details, and all preparations are well forward for what should' prove a most interesting event. The skating sessions will continue as usual throughout the tests. CALVE.- . It is announced that Madamo. Calws, the great French dramatic prima donna, will give two more concerts in Wellington. On Saturday, . September 17, and Tuesday, September 20, she will appear at the Opera House, and on each occasion, assisted by Signor Gasparri, will enact a scene in costume, one night in "Carmen,", and the last night in "Cavallcria Rusticana." Having the help of accessories and the freedom of the stage, the great artist will ha enabled to .do .herself oven more justice than on Saturday night at the Town Hall. 'Ijhe box plan for both nights will open 'at the Dresden on Monday next, September 12, at 10 a.m. ' NAVY LEAGUE CONCERT. The Officer Commanding the ! district approvos of oliicers attending the Navy League- concert to-morrow . appearing in uniform. The children taking part in.-tho concert will assemble at the basin Reserve to-morrow to be photographed. The rehearsal will bo .held afterwards. The i children are to wear their school colours,