ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1063, 28 February 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

.—> THEATRE' ROYAL. After a prolonged absence from Wellington, Miss Maud Fanning, Australia's great egon impersonator, appeared last night at the Theatre Koyiil, where a packed house greeted this very popular artist. Miss Fanning figured on the n'coiul half of the programme, and her arrival on tho stage ivns the signal for much applause. She sang first a hall.-\d, "Honey, VouVo My Lady Love," and, in response to u clamorous"' recall, introduced a-lively song, "Julie." Following this, Mits Fanning fairly captivated the nudicuco by. eomo 'hurricane dnncing with tho.threo .children, Violet and Mercia Elliott, and Little Huia, the turn being one of tho best that has been seen nt the theatro for a long.time, and all sections of, the house joined in the ringing • applause that followed- the performers off the stage. Tho Elliott Sisters also supply a pretty.littla item in the first half of tho programme, Violet , opening with a song entitled tho "Leader of the Regiment," and Mercia' and Little Huia assisting in "ThoDancint; Lesson." Arthur Elliott, who is a much-improved artist since last seen here, is tho star performer in tho first part, and he had to respond to a number of encore?. His songs included "Walk Round, Eliza," and a burlesque, "Aliee : Whore Art Thou." Between times ho got through soma clever tumbling, and concluded by Supplying an amusing imitation of Tommy Burns in the Johnson-Burns fight. The Do Re Mi Trio, who leavo for Australia on Friday, will appear for three more nights. Their musical item was greatly,to the taste of last night's audience, as was "Tho Torealor," in which the famous dogs provoke unlimited laughter by their tfforts in tho bull fight. Ardcll, llio humorous cqmlibrist, is reappearing for. a few nights. His novel feats wero greatly appreciated. Another item that pleased was that of Miss Fanny Halle, an accomplished lady balancer. Miss Elino Anderson, a Melbourno contralto, who is making her first appearance in tho Dominion, was deserved lv applauded for her rendering of who Knows, Who Cores." Miss C'ecile Stephano's contralto voice was heard to ad; vantage in her . two songs, "Listening and "The Miser." -High in favour among the other artists is Wally Dawson, whose topical songs are very humorous, but might bo modified in some respects. He was recalled again and apiin. Miss Ruby Wallace,- serio, Miss. Lilian Lpftus, balla'dist, and Miss Daphne Leslie all contribute popular items to the bill. Welcome reappearances were made by Horace Dentice, juvenile dancer, who. has just completed a successful season in Auckland and by Bob Harper, who sings "Fiddle on . Your Fiddle." The pr* eranimo will be repeated until Friday, when somo of. the present performers will retire to make room for otters including Hassan, the famous Indian illusionist, Bamcei, who will introduce a comical musical act, and Will Dugmar, ead-man.

HIS MAJESTY'S TIIEATRE. A. ■ largo' audience witnessed thb pict ur «j isf 1 lo^^ler^J iX^feaUc^ ?& features on to-night programme are as follow -'Through tho Clouds, tue story' of how a younz..aviator won t e lore of.* charming young heiress; .The Telephone." a powerful, dvama. bj urn Viagraph' Company. A very fine -seenio film is "A Visit to tic- Dome of tho Cathedral at Milan." Their cathedral is tho S and glory of the Milanese, and s°rithout doubt.aVjagniacenphucuro nacles cich of which is surmounted with Tho film, which is.very ctear Ll distinct, gives a good id« of tto structure's exquisite beauty. picur" cm.nl merit nro Pathe's animated Gazette; "Toolshead on Hygiene, one-of taking its place on Thursday evening.

KING'S THEATRE. ' V Thp Kine's Theatre was well .filled last evening" when a very excellent= Sjogramme of new pioturcs was screened with ttot degree of perfection characteristic of West's Iloynl Pictures. One of tho moit iffibKnd, in the picture business *$&£" *0 ffiSss S^SrTfirAh^sStX ■la,t week Hamburg and its environments si aded pools, with glimpses of lages and old castles to lend a tone*oi humanity and romance to the scene, lleally comic p cturcs, not those winch ucpnd for laughs™ the «""»^ crockery and furniture, are rare,, hut one appeared last evening, which kept the hoiso roaring with ■ laughter. .It was called, "Wanted a Baby!"and is a pictonal representation in, ablo.d form of tho well-known comedy Jane. Ajoung couple are in want of money, and" tpget it writo to the husband's father lntormin- him of tho arrival of a tato. ■ (Instead of producing a cheque-book the old, man to tho couple's consterna ion, ieSlSstopay a,vi»H to them in town As thev really have no baby, .the wile succeeds at the last moment in securing Something in a bundle which she has not seen ' The old niau arrives, quite rieascd and excited at the prospect of s P ee?ng his grandchild, and though every wilo is tried to persuade him not to ook, be -it length undoes the clothes aiul find* a negro bnby, which, at the phsjdSlogtol moment i» loudly etaimea its Topsy-liko mother. The old man i» so wild at tho deception practised on him that ho leaves i» high dudgeon. leavin-' his son and daughter-in-law, in deletion. Heart.interest bnte bis » » good little playlet entitled T1 " la*.latherer." It'is a sceno in rural Franco, "hero tho proclamation is tea l aftei ■ e roulade on the'drum to the offect that tho tax-gatherer will bo at tho Eising Sun" Inn to receive tho taxes between certain hours. Ho comes, and is given a noisy greeting, and one by one the villagers pay up and look pleasant. One woman has, however, been stricken with paralysis and cannot pay, so the littlo daughter'takes her pet goat as a sacrifice to the State treasury. This offering is nompouslv refused, and the child .returns honie broken-hearted. After the incident the ta\ gatherer falls asleep, nnd in his dreams Tie sees tho littlo one's povertystrTcken home, and the helpless form of the paralysed woman. In fancy tho child's face becomes that of his own daughter, and so. strong an miprcssion ■does the dream make that on awaking ho visits thn homo of tho little one in thno to see her mother die, tears up the tax-paper, and adopts tho tiny orphan. Tho picture is rich in crude emotions, but there is no. (nicstioning the deep appeal it makes. "The Lime Iviln is a gruesome "dramatic,", in which jealousy leads to the death of two women. Chinese Pottery" shows tho natives of Saigon deftly fashioning all manner native s pots and pans, from tho rudo clay. Other pictures of.merit are; "Naval Manoeuvre? " "The Pointsman," Felling a Chimney," "The Anarchist, and 'Tho Mysterious ■Filopemcnt." . ■ On Thursday evening a special entertainment is to bo given in aid of the fund that is being raised to send representative athletes'to the Empire Festival Sports in England. A new programme will be screened for the occasion.

, MISS AMY CASTLES. The audienco which will greet Miss •Vmy Castlos at her first concert on Saturday night next bids fair to be a very largo one. Commenting on her first concert in Dunedin, the "Otago Daily Times" stated that "tho pleasurable anticipation of music-lovers respecting her loappearanco in Dunedin was amply realised, tho onening concert . proving from beginning to end a pronounced success, and reaching a high level of artistic excellence. As a concert singer, Miss Castlos possesses nil llio qualities indispensablo to those who would excel, and her engaging stage personality enhances tho impression created by her fine proficiency in the vocal art. As for her.voice, its natural beauty and purity of tone would commend it under any circumstances, and used as it is with all the knowledge, skill, and confidence acquired by the best training and experience, its charm is undeniable and exceptional.. She has peso-

dated with her a trio of very efficient and interesting artists." They comprise a complete concert party, and include Heir A'lcx. Catuphnusen, n-basso-baritone, wiii n Continental' reputation; HenLouis. Hattenbaeh, ono of..the finest 'cellist players;.and Sir. Win. Conway, a young VicSorian, Who is • a remarkable, pianist. The box;plan opened at tho Dresden Company yesterday, the booking being very brisk. The second concert is billed for Monday, -March C.

HIGHLAND RIFLES' 'BAZAAR. Tho Highland. Itifles , Hazaar was again well attended last evening, and the different stalls did food business. An r.ttractive programme was submitted,- and included"lliglilancl dancing 5 '>>" 31>s« s I'liva Shaw, Violet Walsh', Lizzie Rei(, Mary Held, and Master HamisU Donaldson. The City Rifles, under ColourSergeant Davis, gave a fmo military display. Comic sketches by Private M Lellan were the cause of much amusement. \n encore item was tho'singing of little. Bugler Tapps, of tho City Guards. Clara's orchestra gave some excellent selections. • This evening there will bo a special military, night, when all Territorials in uniform will bo admitted freo to the bazaar. The programme will consist of choruses, camp-fire scenes by the City Rifles, and Maori hakas and other dancing-. ' '