ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1030, 20 January 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"TUB LION'AND THIMIOUSE." Charles Klein's interesting play, "The Lion and fho Mouse," attracted another very large audienco to the Opera House last evening. Tho play is based on one of llioso gripful American themes which, as a rule, make an appeal to both heart and head. pit a mere girl against one of America's money kings in a iussle of wits is a daring idea, which has been turned into a well-constructed plav that holds the attention. Miss Kather- . ine tircy is most; unorthodox in her manner. At first she seems rather an od< little woman, with a voico deep-laden with tears. She seldom makes any attempt to act, rarely makes a gesture, seldom gets above her low-pitchcd vocal range, yet she is always effective, and quaintly satisfying. The. part is not one that, an actress of any ability could verv well fail in, but there are many who could and would spoil Shirley Rossmore by overacting. Mr. Wm. Desmond makes Millionaire Ryder, a bouncefu], blustering man, who one can hardly conceive could rise to such dizzy financial heights. He bullies his wife vulgarly, and makes John. Burkett Ryder a very rude and altogether objectionable person. Mr. Cvril Mackav is quite admirable as Jefferson Ryder, and Mr. Leslie Victor, as tho Hon. Fitzroy Baglcy, is artistic to his finger-tips in a. delightful character sketch. Miss Susie Vaughan made a capital Mrs. Ryder, and Miss Maud Wingfield was quite charming as Kate Roberts. There will onlv be three more performance of "The' Lion and the Mouse." .

At the Dresden this morning the box plans will be opened for the four pertormances of "The Third Degree," which is to be presented on Tuesday night next. It is the boast of Charles Klein that he hits and hits hjird,.at some'"abuse" or public scandal id each and all of his plays. The "abuse" which is handled in "The Third Dc gree" is the method by which the police of the United States obtain statements or .confessions from men and women who are arrested and examined after a serious crime' has been com-' ■mifted.- The : author has given it tho 'flavour of a detective story, with' a supposed murder as tho starting point, and an innocent . man as the suspccted criminal.

THEATRE ROYAL. To-night will bo the last night of the charming Gibson Girls at the Theatre Roynl. This evening Charles Heath will inako his first appearance in vocal items. He is termed the "Singing Collier" and is an excellent entertainer. The favourite Scottish comedian, Scolt Gibson, will inako his reappearance and should be well received. Saturday night' will seo tho reappearance also of 'the M'Cormac Sisters, those dainty juvenile performers. Attention may further bo. directed to tho continued success of the Guillaume Baby and Co., Tim Howard, Jessie Leigh. .Tolly Coleman (trapeze artists), George Walton", Gus Deno, Will Tin by, and Albert Mather all excellent entertainers.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Tho mid-week chauge of programme'at His Majesty's Theatre attracted a large audience last evening. It is distinctly .a good programme and was received with every manifestation of warm approval. Now that horse-racing is in the air tho moving picture of Carbine, one of the finest gallopers Australia and New Zealand lias ever seen, must attract a gcod deal of attention. Carbine, with 10 stone, ran second in the Melbourne Cup in 1889, and with .lib. added won the big. event tho following, year in 3min. 2S4scc— time which has only beeh beaten, twice and equalled once, in' each case by horses carrying two stone or over less .weight. The famous horse, now 26 year's old, is spending the autumn of his .days on the Duke of Portland's estate in " England. He looks wonderfully well, and in the walking exercises' he is given before tho camera exhibits ah action that would grace any latter-day crack. Carbine was bred by the Sylvia Park Stud Company, Auckland, and as one of the mcst brilliant and consistent track .performers will live a long time in the sporting memory. The scenic pictures included a number of picturesque views of the San Guiliano salt mines in Sicily, and an exciting canoe trip down the .trench River in Canada. One of the outstandingly, good dramatic pictures is an Edison film entitled "The Stolen leather.' It is the story of a penniless girl who, tired of seeking work and getting none, sinks down tired and broken °i U i a i S i at ,' nil park - s °t>n after .she has taken her seat an old man comes along and seats, himself .beside her. In pulling out his handkerchief his pocket-book, stuffed with dollar bills, , falls to the ground, and is restored' to the 1 owner by the girl. Suddenly the man is seized with paralysis, ami 'is deprived of his speech. With quick intuition and her eye on- tho main chance she represents to the police that the old man is her father, and has him. taken to her lodgings, where she. nurses him' back to life. One day she reads an advertisement in a paper asking for the whereabouts of tho man she has tended ironi his son in England, and her better instincts prevailing she communicates with the inquirer, who in due course arrives. She is about to 'relinquish her charge after handing tho old man a full account of the money she has used, when lie begs her to stay, and the son makes the story complete by falling in Move , Goldsmith's splendid old comedy, She Stoops to Conquer," is enacted by a hue company of American players, recalling pleasant memories of the old English play, which would surelv ff™ " ell - ' Other Capital pictures" are •?, of the Dead," "Who was the Culprit?." "Daddy's Double," and the opening of the Prince Alfred Yacht Cubs last season in Sydney Harbour. The usual matinee will take place tomorrow afternoon.

KING'S .THEATRE. . The current week's programme' of moving pictures at the King's Theatre is attracting a good deal of attention, and last night this popular place of amusement was welt filled by an enthusiastic crowd of spectators. The subjects screened are calculated to satisfy all tastes i'cr there aro dramatic, scenic, and comic films in abundance. The "star" attraction undoubtedly is a picture showing Palmerston on Cup day, and the best dramatic subject is. a film depicting life iu an Indian camp. Tho programme will bo repeated this evening. THE STAB PICTUH.ES.. The Star Pictures" at St.' Thomas's Hall, Aewtown, last evening were well patronised. Their excellent quality and largo variety elicited no little amount of appreciation. They will be repeated this evening. WIRTHS' CIRCUS. ' ' The circus near the To Aro Railway Station had another tentful of spectator's last night. The menagerie claimed early altention as usual. All tho items of the long and diversified programme were loudly acclaimed and there was every evidence of the extreme popularity of the circus. The menagerie will be open again this afternoon and this evening tho show will be repeated. LAWRENCE CAMPBELL. Sir. Lawrence Campbell," the accomplished elocutionist and entertainer, who has met with great success in the north, has decided lo give three farewell recitals in the Concert Chamber on January 20, 27, and 28: As before Mr. Campbell will bo assisted by JI. Eugene Ossipoff the Russian baritone, and Mrs. Shaw-Mayer.