ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11111, 8 May 1911, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"WHY MEN LOVE WOMEN." "Why Men Love Women" wiiT 'jo the piece-de-resistancs at Ihe Opera Houeo tonight, when Mr. Allan Hamilton's Dramatic Company will stngc for the first time in Wellington Walter Howard's popular melodrama. The company have recently had a remarkably successful seasdu in Melbourne, where Miss Frances Ross i≤ so well known and her dramatic abilities thoroughly appreciated. After persuasion she accepted a starring engagement to travel, and her success tias been na !fss pronounced in the principal cities of t»e .Dominion than it was in the Commonwealth. Mr. Con way Winglicld, too, is winning distinction as the hero, his manly stage-bearing and forceful stylo bringing him into favour. Mr. Fred Cainbourne is probably one of tho best low comedians in Australia to-day, and it is said that ho has done nothiug better than, the eccentric proprietor of an opera, company in "Why Men Love Women." Mr. llill'iard Vox is the villain, and Miss Muriel Dale the adventuress. It would not be easy to assemble a stronger melodrama combination. Added to this is the interest created in the first act by the appearance of two handsome young ladies in the hnrein skirt. The box plan is at Holiday's, and there is no extra fee for booking. THE MARLOW COMPANY. The Gc-orge Marlow Dramatic Company concluded its season on Saturday evening with a performance of that time-worn, sheet-anchor melodrama "Enst Lynne," which is always held out as a sop for highly-emotional women. Twenty years ago the vogue of the novels of Mrs. Henry Wood was a strong one, and they are still read occasionally by those who prefer the three-decker solemn romance to tho breezy realism of the latter-day novel. 'Tho play "East Lynne" preserves the main points of interest in the story, and piles on tho emotion towards the end, until it becomes a flood. Candidly, the regular playgoer is becoming tired of ■the lady who quits her husband's roof with another, and returns in a thin disguise as nurse to her own children, and more than tired of the little Willie's protracted death scene. If we had a censor of the drama, one of his duties should bs to bar melodramas which had been revived more than two hundred or lines hundred times. "East Lynne,". although packed with nioth-lwlls, is absolutely mus'y. On Saturday ovenine the parts wCTp'Mlotpd as follo'w—Archibald Cavlyle,, Mr. Herbert Bcntley; Francis Levison, Mr. Bert Lindon; Richard Hare, Mr. T. Curran; Lord Monntsovern, Mr. P. V. Scully.; Lady Isabel, Miss Ada Guildford;* Barbara Hare, Miss Adcle Kelly; Cornelia Carlyie. Miss Lillian Wiseman; Joyce, Miss Ida Gresham. The company leaves to-day for Nelson and the West Coast.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. An excellent programme was rewarded with a full measure of applause by patrons who attended His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night. "The BlackBordered Letter," "Glimpses of China," "The Island of St. Kilda," and "A Brother's Redemption," were probably the best of a well-selected set of pictures. A change of programme is to bo given this evening, and the very latest and best in all the leading lines—comics, dramatics, travel pictures, and others—are promised -yf tho management. The new scries (which arrive in Wellington tonight), embraces " The Six Brompton Girls," an interesting film of the celebrated novelty acrobats. "Fisher Folk" is a stirring dramatic story by the American Biogriiph Company. "Germination of Plants" is an interesting nature study. "Bumptious as Romeo" shows the Kdifon comedian in one of his best •sketches. Other films are "P.ttho Gazette," "The Ivory Falls" (a magnificent scenic subject), and (hs "Tramp Cyclist." THEATRE ROYAL. Barnold's clever troupe of dogs and monkeys attracted largo audiences at both matineo and evening performance at the Theatre Royal on Saturday. Tho animals, dressed to suit their characters, acted well, giving an entertainment as excellent as it was novel. "Dan, the Drunken Dog," and his fellow actors will appear again this evening. Mr. Jules Garrison and his two Roman Maids did well, the audience showing its approval clearly. The other items were also well received. The weekly ichange will be given this evening, when several new artists will malts their first appearance. Ko-Ko, described as the Queen of Magic, will make her first appearance, and Deo Rowe, the Prince of Gamblers, will also make his debut here. THE KING'S THEATRE. With such attractions as "The BlackBordered Letter," a thrilling detective story. "Dahlias," a beautiful floral film, and How Winter Decorates Nature," a particularly good scenic picture, patrons of the King's Theatre were provided with an excellent entertainment on Saturday evening. An entirely new programme is billed for to-night. THE NEW THEATRE. Tho New Theatre, in Manners Street, where Messrs. Macmahon and Donnelly havo introduced the all-day-and-evening picture show, did excellent business on Saturday, the attendances all day being the largest yet reached. The theatre will reopen at 11 a.m. to-day, when Saturday night's programme will be repeated. A number of interesting pictures, including "A Royal Divorce," will bo repeated this evening, beginning at G. 30. The regular bi-weekly change of programuio will Lo made at 11 a.m. to-morrow.

SKATING RINK. Tlic coal wcnther of (he !ust few days has had tho effect of luring large numbers of natrons io Iho popular resort—Fullers' Skating Kink, where large attendances wore the order of the day at cacli session on Saturday and the whirr of the roller-skates made merry music up to ten o'clock. Three sessions are held daily, from 2.30 to 5, and from G to 7 (Iho beginner. s .' session—which is now largely attended), and the evening session irom 7.30 to 10. The Ol.vmpia Band is in attendance afternoon and evening. SUNDAY CONCERTS. THE PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. The concert which (lie Wellington Professional Orchestra gave in the Town Hall last evening was patronised by a very largo audience. On tho whole the concert was a successful and enjoyable one, consisting almost exclusively, on the orchestral side, of works of a popular nature, without any of ■ outstanding feature. The first number, an intermezzo, "Forget-me-not" (Macbeth), proved a charming little air with a very happy title. Tho strings took up the catchy melody first, and then gave placo to the reed instruments, who, in turn, yielded it up to tho muted strings, in whose care it finally died away to almost vanishing point. It was a bewitching little thing, and very daintily performed. "Tho Mill" (Raff), for strings only, was descriptive and quaint, and brief, and was also successfully played. In the "Love Song" (Taubert) tho pizzicato introduction to ■ tho oboe solo was a littlo spoiled by some of the strings onco or twice anticipating the boat, otherwise the item, which has an extremely pretty air, was very successful, and the oboe soloist, Mr. R. Kershaw, was called upon to bow his acknowledgments. The entr'acte, "Aubado Printaniero" (Paul Laeombe), though opening a little unsteadily, developed well, and was also received with appreciation. The stirring Von Suppo overture, "Light Cavalry," a descriptive military piece, brought* the evening's musib to a dost , . The vocalist of the concert was Miss May Newman, soprano, who after each of her contributions. was loudly recalled. Tier first item was tho "Hindoo Song" (Bemberg), but her decidedly pleasant voice was heard perhaps to better advantage in tho encore number "Damon" (Max Stange). Her second contribution, "Elizabeth's Prayer" (from Tannhauser), was a more difficult task successfully accomplished, and, in response to the recall, "To An Islo in the Water," a dainty gem by Mallinson, was very charmingly sung. Mr. Herbert Bloy conducted the ornhestra with his usual success, and Mr. Dave Kenny played the accompaniments to the vocal numbers. THE MUSICAL HELPERS. The "Musical Helpers" supplied musical and elocutionary items at tho Tory Street Mission on Friday night. Tho programme, consisting of glees, solo (Mr. W. Culverwell), and recitations (Messrs. 11. IS. Cooper and M'Lelland) was well received.