ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1033, 24 January 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. - "Tiio Lion and the Mouse" was presented to au overflowing holiday audienco last evening, and Klein's excellent play was played with commendablo earnestness and conviction'by Mr.- Williamson's capablo company.' "THE THIRD DEGBEE." At the Opera House this evening Mrss Katherino Gray, Mr. William Desmond, and J.'O. Williamson's dramatic company will stage, for tho first time in Wellington, Charles Klein's originapand interesting drama, "The. Third Degree." Tho character of Mrs. Howard Jeffries, junr., gives Miss Groy great opportunities for tho display of her histrionic powers.' The part Df -Richard Brewster,;. the lawyer, gives Jlr. William Desmond, excellent chances to display his' versatility.' Jlr. George Bryant, who last appeared here with Miss Tittell Brune, will appear, as Captain Clinton;. Mr. Cyril .Maekay as Howard Jeffries, junr., Mr. T. W. Lloyd as. Dr, Bernstein, Mr. Winter Hall as Howard -Jeffries, senr., Mr. Leslie Victor as Robert Undorwood, Mr. Boyd Ifwiu as Mr. Bennington, Mr. Ramsay Clarke as Sergeant Moloney, Mr. . George. Chalmers as Mr. Jones, Mr. T. W. Foster as Willie Elevator,' Mr. Elmo Sinclair as tho Officer, and Miss Alma Vaughan as Mrs. Howard Jeffries, senr., and Miss Alma Phillips as the maid. Only four representations can be given .of "Tho. Third Degree," as on Saturday- night next Eugene "Walter's successful dramatic work, "Paid In Full," will bo staged for the first time here. This piece 'is at present being performed by four distinct companies in England, and it has been, running consistently for over two years in' America'. Tho plans for the seasonnre at the Dresden and day sales at Cliristeson's.

THEATRE ROYAL. ', ' Last evening the -Theatre Royal - was packed by a typical holiday audience. Tho programme presented .this week is a good, one, and last evening everything went with a swing from start to finish. The usual first part, in which all the performers man the stage and come to the footlights in turn,, still holds sway. Besides giving his'comic song, entitled "And His Day's Work Was • Done," in the opening part, ,Scot Gibson was seen at his best, in Scottish impersonations. His songs and jokes were very-well received; and he was ,obliged. to respond to . repeated encores. Mr. Jack Knowles was heard to advantage in ' the coon song, "Everybody's Happy;," and Miss Cecile Stephano ,again delighted tho audience with her rendering of "At the Bottom of tho Deep Blue' Sea." Last night Miss Ruby Wallace," an attractive petite serio, made a first appearance in Wellington, and creatM a favourable-impression. '.Although her voice is not quite so tunefulas" it might be, her dancing is clever,, and her stage presence.'very' pleasing. The "star" attraction•.this.-'.week is the reappearance of those,'clever musical artists and comedians, tho "Do; Re. Mo Trio." ■ Part, of their .performance has jilready been seon'in Wellington, but part is. new.. During tho time they occupy the stage there are certainly -no dull moments. When they.are, not producing music out of all manner of' things, such .as ■ hats,. bottles, - coffee'. pots, stools, tables, bells,-and last" hilt'- not - 'least trumpets, they keep the.audience in roars, of laughter with', their eccentricities and buffoonory. Last'evening'they were'accorded ' a splendid reception, .and aro likely to continue to n'roro a decided "draw." Miss Jbllie Coleman continues, her graceful and dainty, balancing feats oh the, trapeze, and finishes, her-' turn With some very good" acrobatic' tricks'.. Several- old favourites, including Messrs. .Clias; Tfcalth and Howard 'and' Miss Lee, were heard'in now songS'to good advan-; tage.' .The programme will '''be' repeated throughout tho'.week."" ':.'■.■•:•":. { ','.. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. • 'ThO''popular picture hall in Courtcnay Place was packed to the doors last evening to witness the latest change of pro-, gramme. There is no retrogression in the quality of the dramatic pictures that aid being forwarded to this part of the world. Rather do they show an added finish in regard to the; acting;. and edge towards perlectioli photographically. Une strikingly good picture shown last evening was "The Sepoy's Wife," founded on au incident in connection with the Indian Mutiny. Tho wife has an ailing child,and as it grows worse and worse ■ daily, she summons.the regimental doctor, who prescribes • for. the child and restores ■it to health. Then follows 'the. naitiny. The barracks are raided and burnt, but the Sepoy woman, who has. become devoted to tho. doctor and: his .wife andchild, warns them, and: secrets, them in a cave, and finally guides, them, to a fort near by which!;is.'being b'esiesed by the disaffected .troop's. The. garrison., afo,in the last stage's of exhaustion, ■ when Misrah, the Sepoy's wife, volunteers to bring relief. She encounters a troop of Highlanders, advises them of-the.straits of the: garrison of the fort,, which they eventually relievo amidst great rejoicing. The acting in tho picture is.artistic to a degree, and the mounting is wonderfully truo to life. "The-Fugitive" is:another very.fine picture from tho "A.8." studio,' the Work of which is . always highly. meritorious. "Moscow," ; witji' its broad .streets'.and. city, squares,, its imr pressive buildings, and, tho great Krcmlino'is beautifully pictured, and a fine series of. mountain" views is presented in. the illustrated journey "from' Viege to Zermat't. The Paths, Gazette is as interesting' as usual, givinj; -fhe'eveuts of a week in England and-Europe in-snap-shot form. "Hindoo-Customs".is another picture of tho instructive order, and "The Slave of Carthago" takes "one ' back to ancient days. Other "excellently projected pictures ■ are: "For Her Countrv's Sake," "Jean, the :Matchmakcr," "Kelly Visits . the Country," ■' ' "Tweedledum's First Bicycle,'.' and "The Strike of Tenants." , The usual matinee .will take place on Saturday, afternoon. ... i.

' TOWN HALL PICTURES. ■ A big crowd assembled in tho Town Hall last evening to view the holiday picture programme screened by the Fuller management. Tho pictures wore all of a good standard, and the.subjects':had.been chosen' with excellent judgment. One 'of the.best pictures was that- entitled "A' Slave of Carthage." It is a powerful'dramatic story, and the interest and attraction of tho central theme are greatiy heightened by the ornato splendour of the setting. The beauty and magnificence of ancient' architecture ■ aro perhaps never better realised than in viewing such a kinenmtogrnphic representation as "Tho Slave of Carthage." Such pictures are a triumph of realistic art. Pictures of Moscow and others illustrating Hindu life and customs aro among meritorious travel films.that figured:prominently in the .entertainment of the evening. The comic clement also was well represented, and the programme included a highly in-' teresting "number" of that popular periodical "The'Patho Gazette.''

WEST'S AND EOYAL PICTURES. A holiday audience filled every seat in the King's Theatre last evening, when am entirely new programme of extra good quality was presented . The audience . were especially struck with tho artistic merit of tho incident and performance of a dramatic picture, entitled "Tho Message of tlio Violin," which is one of the best that the American Biograph Company has. produced for a considerable time. It tells of Ulo love of a, .young girl for a youth who is a gifted violinist. Unfortunately the boy's father is a drunken- sot, and Ibo girl's father annuls tho engagement. Tho boy-'s father driuks himself to death, and as his last moments are being soothed by the strains of 'his son's violin an impressario hears tho melody, aud recognising a master hand introduces himself. Meanwhile the young lady has risen in the social scale, and is drawing very near to a Baron. Tho Baron gives a reception, when he is about to declare his passion, when a familiar air, divinely played, catches the girl's ear. Sho excuses herself, and approaches the player to learn that it is her old lover, who has developed into a high-priced ."star" performer. Ho hesitates, sho shows him tho engagement ring still on her iinger, and tho old. relations ar'o renewed. "Moscow" is one of tho most beautiful and instructive of scenic pictures possible to see. Tho old capital of the Russian Empire is shown . in all its. architecturalglory—the new Kremlin, the minarcttod Mosques and churches, .tho spacious city i squares, the placid river, the historical

bell and cannon of the Kremlin, and tho somhrc-risagcd Euss moving among them oil, in his rough smcek and peaked cap. Another good dramatic picture is "For Hoi' Country's Sake!" in which a woman sacrifices her life to save her country under thrilling circumstances. Tho Australian Gazette is very interesting, and the I'ntho Gazette deals attractively with u.. number of European and English events of-more or less importance. The comic element is supplied by "The Tenants' Strike," "When rather Buys a Screen," "Tlie Cross Country Mace," and "Tontolini's Mistake." STAR PICTURES. St. Thomas's Hall, at, Newtown was well filled yesterday both in tho evening and at the matinee performance given iu tho afternoon. At both entertainments tho programme of pictures presented was a special holiday "change," and it had many features of nicrit. One of the first pic-tures-shown was a capital representation of a great elephant procession at Lucknow. The great beasts, richly caparisoned, provide a striking subject, and apart from its central feature the film has many quaint and interesting aspects. "Jiu Jitsu" is an excellent item. The attitudes and. nimble movements of exponents of this much-discussed art are so clearlyshown as to bo easily followed. "Rough Riders" 'is a splendid picture of its kind, and presents many feats of daring horsemanship which arouso excitement even in observers of their pictorial representation. "A Precocious Cyclist" and "No Followers Allowed" -are excellent films of the, comic variety which indnced free laughter in their passage over tho screen. This evening, a complete change of programme will again bo presented. Among the more important items are "The Foundling," a powerful dramatic study, and "The Red Man's Ways'," a picture of which the title sufficiently indicates tho general import. WONDERLAND. . . Wonderland looked, its gayest yesterday in its holiday garb, and its. pleasure sorts were a-humming with their thousands of happy fun-seekers.. Were there hot free rides for all on water chute and toboggan, and free entrance into all tho side shows? Wonderland still iromains' a popular place when pleasure-seekers go it-tripping.

LAWRENCE CAMPBELL.. Anyone attending Lawrence Campbell's recitals could not have failed to.-notice how. Mr. Campbell ploys upon the emotions of his audience. Besides hearing Mr. Campbell in more of his. classical, selections . from his extensive repertoire, such items as . "Lasca," "A Village Priest," : "East and West," "A Hindu's. Paradise," "The Coster's Conversion," "Tho Groom's Story," and' "Mon J Ami," "Lo.ve in-a Balloon" should bo popular. Miss Inn, Gow's inclusion in the - programme,, will ' provide special pianoforte selection's and Ossipoff sings either English, French, Italian, or Russian.