ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1026, 16 January 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

. •- & OPERA .HOUSE. After having had a.most successful seasou of three weeks at tho Opera House tho .Williamson Comic Opera Company finished '.up at Wellington witli tho'final presentation of "The Merry Widow"-oil Saturday .evening." Tho company: leave for ' llastertoh' tins morning,' and Open there to-night for a short season only. :."THE LION. AND THE MOUSE." : It: i?. stAtcd th'at' much more than ■usual interest is being displayed in approaching' season of tho well-known dramatic star, Hiss Katherino Grey. Tho season begins at the Opera 1-louso on Wednesday night next, and tho famous American actress will doubtless bo welcomed by an excellent house. Tho occasion , will also bo noteworthy from the fact-that it will introduco for tjie first time hero the brilliant romantic actor, Mr. William Desmond,. who was engaged by Mr. J. C. Williamson to fill tho,place formerly occupied by Julius Knight in the company, and it will' also signalise tho initial production of Charles Klein's famous, drama, "The Lion and the Mouse." Tho power of wealth is the '•main theme in. tho plot of "Tho Lion and the Mouse." It fascinated New York audiences' for over two years, aud its isuccess in. Australia has been great. Tho piece presents. a financial tyrant penalising an upright judge, and strong love interest is infused into tho story by the son of tho dollar worshipper falling in love with the daughter of the man "whose unjust impeachment was being engineered.' The conflict is one of heart and selfish interest, with ultimate selfrevelation on tho part of the* man who wielded the power of the purse. "Tho Liou and the < Mouso" has succeeded on its merits is a. straightforward play founded ou a bloo'dless battle between right and might. Five performances only can be given of "The Lion and tho :M6use,"' for which the plans are now. on 'view at the Dresden. . The plans for "Tho Third Degree." "Paid in Full," .aud ."The. Truth" will be opened oil Friday next. ' L ! ~i THEATRE ROYAL. A very appreciative audience was present at the last performance of the current programme at tho Theatre Royal on Saturday night. Mr.Alf.'Holt,, the American mimic, provided a, capital turn. Those' strong athletes, Jnles and Marzon, were .good as usual in their weight-lift-ing, and were loudly applauded. They :will appear in a' complete change tonight, and special attention is called to the difference of the nipscular .development of the two men, the larger man showing a' development suggesting ,tho ■ancient Goliath; and the smaller showing the fine, rippling, muscles of the modern Sandow. Among tho changes., announced for to-night ' are. the appearance of. Will Robev, and tho fi'eappearanco of - Guillaume, Baby and Co., in their-act, "The "Toreadors,". in which, they introduce their three famous ■dogs, "made up" as bulls, in a Spanish bull-fight. Tho' company 'will: also bo assisted by Solita,..the graceful Spanish dancer,-in two scenes. . HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. . Standing -room only was available at .His Majesty's, after ten minutes-to eight o'clock on Saturday evening. The star film -was undoubtedly that showing the many, magnificent buildings in Melbourne, some of "sky-scraper" proportions, also several of tho . breathing - spacs. 'and beauty -spots of. the city.. , . Tho' Yarra River was-a-revelation of shipping activity -and occan-borne commerce. The hazardous risks run by the kinematograph photographers was shown in a series of' pictures of tlifc stork family at home,. taken ;at- the top of a tall chimney. This film was an exquisite and true Study in. natural .history. The trick picture of "Foolshead" being carried to tho. depths o? the nether regions in a nightmare pursued bv demons .excited, . perhaps,. more wonder than .amusementii.being'ia skilfully' executed picture. To-night a new change of programmewill be-submitted equal at .least' in,excellence, to. that shown last week. • '•' " .. ' 'THE KING'S THEATRE.- ■ The popular King's ; Theatre, where West's and -Royal Pictures are showing, -was crowded on Saturday afternoon, when the weekly, matinee-was given. In tile evening the theatre was again filled. A change of programme -will be made to-night, when the management will introduce a fine new selection of,films, none of.-'which has--been seen in''Wellington before. The list, it .is'said, covers a very wide rango. of classes, and several American numbers are of special interest. The orchestra will provide a good programme of' accompaniments to tho performance. STAR- PICTURES. ' , Sf. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, was well filled on . Saturday evening, it being the occasion of tho last presentation of the week's programme. To-night qiiito a nbw series of pictures -will be screened, and 110' doubt; the same standard of kincmatogvaph art will be maintained.'

• WIETHS' CIRCUS. . iwirths' Circus was enthusiastically welcomed to, Wellington last evening by a big crowd of people; including many children, which .waited outside the' breastwork as the steamer Mokoia arrived at tho Taranaki Street AVhnrf. Tho circus on-Saturday evoning in Christclnircli attracted an attendance that taxed tho accommodation of tho tent. Afterwards good speed was made with the business of loading and'transport, so that'it became possible to-arrive'in Wellington by l the Mokoia at 7.30 last evening. The ship was full of animals from stem to stern, one of.the conspicuous passengers being • Lizzie,. ■ the giant hippopotamus. ■The wholo 'of' the .animals arrived in jgood- health,.-and apparently none the worso for their trip by" water. The work .of erecting the circus tent on the reclaimed ground behind To Aro Railway, Station,..and ' attendant' activities commenced ot i o'clock this morning. Everything will ho in readiness for the opening this evening at 7 p.m. The menagerio will be open this afternoon, between the hours of four and five. The plan-of reserved seats may be inspected at the Dresden.

Mr. Hugo Gorlitz, Dr. Clias. Harriss's representative, returned to Wellington by the Mararoa on Saturday, after a tour, of the South Island "in the interest of the Empire Musical Festival. Ho visited Invereargill,' Gore, Dunedin, . Oamaru, Timarn, and Ashburton, and proceeded to Auckland by the north express on Saturday to attend to several matters in connection with the Festival in the. north. The Sheffield Choir leaves Sheffield oil March 13, and proceeds to Cincinnati, where the tour of the world begins. It sails from Vancouver on May IG. The Earl of Gainsborough's daughter, Miss JJirah Noel, who is one of the principals, will be accompanied on tho tour by Iter brother, Viscount Hampden. Mr. Gorlitz hopes to be back hero on February 12 arid 13, to be present at the meeting of the general committee, at which his. Excellency the Governor will bo present. .