ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1028, 18 January 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE . LION AND THE MOUSE." ■ .To-night at the Opera House, Mr. J. C. Williamson will present for tho first' timo to Wellington playgoers Miss Katherine Groy, Mr. William Desmond; and a strong supporting company! in Charles Klef.i's famous dramatic sensation "The Lion and the Mouse." Tho news of Miss Grey's success' in Australia, and, mora recently, in Christchurch' and Dunedin, has excitod tho interest of local playgoers, arid . sho will ■ probably be welcomed by a full house. ■ The character of Shirley Rossmore, the young daughter of Judgo Rossmore, who fights earnestly and desperately through four acts of a strenuous play, for >htr father's life and honour, gives Miss-Grey every opportunity to exhibit her emotional powers. Critics elsewhere declare that Air. William Desmnd's representation of tho character of John Burkett Ryder, the millionaire, is ranked' amongst his greatest successes. The supporting company is ono of tho strongest yet sent on tour by J. C. Williamson. A'fjaturo of tho representation will bo the scenery, dressing, and furnishings. 'l'he production is* staged under tho direction. of Mr. David Burton, Mr. Thomas Foster is stage mauagor, and Mr. George' Leopold .musical director. Only five 'performances can be given of "The Lion and the Mouse," for which the plans are-now open at tho Dresden, and day sales can be purchased at Christensen's until' ono o'clock, and thereafter in tho dress circlo vestibulo at tho Opera House. The plans for "The Third Degree," 'Taid "in Full," and "The Truth" will be opened on Friday morning next. — " '■ / THEATRE .ROYAL. Bright, antf interestingj'and,; to say the least, , entertaining, '.this-.week's ■ programme at ..the The'atro. Royal has much to , commend it to lovers of vaudeville. Tho attendance last night was unusuallylarge,, and, judging by.'tho' enthusiasm with which the. different items were received, bids fair to'bo as.popular as anv preceding entertainment. The star turn of.tho evening is that of'Guillaumo Baby, and Co., eccentric comedians, in their amusing sketch "The Toreadors." Miss Lolita takes part in this turn, her Spanish dance being well received. Jules and Marzon, athletes of' remarkable prowess, wero seen to advantage in a new performance introducing some clever feats of balancing. Tho Gibson Girls, a charming duo, sang and danced pleasingly,' and Mifcs'i Jollie 1 Coleman's trapeze act was warmly applauded. Other artists whose turns were well received include Miss Cecilo Stephano, contralto; Mr. Will Robey, comedian; ami Mr. Albert Mather, baritone. " THE KING'S THEATRE. "Cup."Day in. Palmerston North" is a picture of'local interest to all follower's of the "sport of kings." 'The' programme at ' the King's Theatre also includes a fine series of . dramatic, comic, and scenic pictures,'all excellently projected. , The Lyric Orchestra is a valuable adjunct' to YVest's Ro'yal'Pictures. ~ . HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The interesting programme of 'moving pictures presented at His Majesty's Theatre last. evening attracted , a large audience, which thoroughly enjoyed the fare provided. The best of the new pictures were "The Silk Moth," "W 7 inona," "From Dawn to Sunset," and "The Little Breadwinner." Another .change of programme is announced for to-morrow i ' v . STAR PICTURES.. . : There was another good attendance at the Star Pictures.last evening. The. programme includes dramatic, scenic, and comic studies of .merit,and most of. them 'won tho : appreciation of tho audience. "American Trick Cavalry" is a descri]> tive military picture illustrating tho vnri,ous' evolutions and : manoeuvres practised by this arm of the United States army. Judging by the applauso which it evoked, one of tho most popular items of the .evening was a dramatic.film entitled "Unexpected Help." The programme also includes such pictorial triumphs as "Trailed to the Hills" (dramatic); "Glimpses of an ■ Indian Village" (scenic); and ."Wiffle's First Duel" (comic).

WIRTH'S' CIRCUS. The great whito tent on the To Aro reclaimed land was well filled again last ■evening to entertainment provided by, Wirth's and Menagerie. Paterfamilias makes a pretty pretence at. times, fancying that 110 has grown out of the appreciative mood, as far as such shows are, concerned, but ''when tho band begins to play, and the elephants walk around," he is ever to bo found struggling for .admission tickets, and applauding the many clever .acts provided'for his delectation. 'Those with a bent" for natural history will find plenty of diversion in tho menagerie, which is a particularly wellappointed department of the big show. The cages of lions, lionesses, leopards, monkeys, tho big brown bear, ' and the ponderous hippopotamus all make a special claim upon tho attention, and considerable curiosity is aroused by . the threelegged pony, the dark-sjriped hybrid zebra, anil the team of - grey mammoths from India, headed by "Jumbo"—a fine specimen of tho elephant All tho animal acts are distinctly good, and : tho admirable manner in-which they are controlled eliminates' any "''suspicion of danger as far as , the trainers are concerned. The best act in .the,.circus is provided by the Frantz Family of ground and lofty- tumblers, who are really well worth seeing. Many of acts are new and startling, and the ease'and facility which they display as head to head balancers marks them .as something quite out of the way in'that lino of business. Two members ,of the family, a man and a Tvoman, also display, extraordinary agility as jumpers, in which half a dozen barrels are used. -The Tossing Testros and the Lentons aro artists; in.jugglery, balancing,_ and hat throwing. Tho equestrian .acts' are all good, ' but particular mention should be mado of the somorsault act 011 horseback of Miss May Martin, and the accomplished horsemanship of Mr. AVclby Cook. A matinee performance will be given this afternoon, ,