ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1152, 13 June 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

—.—l> "THE PRINCE AND THE BEGGARMAID." "Walter Howard's romantic play, "The Prints and the Beggar Maid," with itr,. picturesque love story, its gay uniforms, and fair court;, claims the attention and holds it right through to the inevitably happy end. Miss Beatrice Day plays Monica with womanly charm and refinement, and Mr. Harry Roberts, us Prince Cjlaf, is a veritable Prince Charming right through the chapter. Mr. ITeriivrt Leigh, as the'brusque, blunt, oUI soldier (a prototype of Colonel Sapt. in "The Prisoner of Zenda"), is finite at home, and Mr. C'live Farnham infuses a genial lovi'y into his love scenes with prettv Viola, sweetly delineated by J'iss Ethel Bashford. Mr. Prank Peachy docs not fullv realiso the opportunities afforded in the Bishop of Illyria. Mr. Kenneth Brampton is quite admirable as Duke Michel, the most difficult part in the' piece, ami his tense acting in Uie emotional struggle between love and nassion stamps him as an actor of quality. "The Prince and the Beggar Maid will be performed until further notice. THEATRE ROYAL. The feature turn at the Theatre Royal last evening was again the net by the J 1 "tig Iroupe, who equal any bicycle performers who have visited New Zealand. Iheir riding on the fixed circular table is extremely rare, but the thrilling moment is when one of the number negotiates a motor-cycle around the table as it is made to revolve at a rate of from 10.1 to 200 revolutions per minute. A false move or a momentary nerve-failure, would probably mean at least a serious accident to the' daring rider. It is almost equally as thrilling to witness the three performers also ride their pedal machines at exeijtion speed while the table revolves, llie "turn" was greeted with loud applause. Anion® the comedy performers was Miss Nellie Power, who made her reappearance after a brief absence. Her songs and characterisations were Cleveland entertaining. A Coster turn—"Sidewalk Conversations"—by Miss Ida lioslyn, and Mr. Jack Kearns, was one of the most popular turns of the evening. Miss Jf. Jandescherskev, who introduced

"transformation" dancing. including Spanish, Harem, and top-boot Russian dancing, gave a really excellent performance, and received her share of approval. A pretty little item .was .that by Misses Delwyn and Lye, entitled "Schooldays"; and Carlton and Sutton, who have a reputation for their originalities and expert dancing, were allowed to quit the boards only after the number of their recalls had compelled them to considerably outstay their allotted span. In the first part of the programme the full

"circle" of performers gave the pretty chorus "Ship Alloy"; Miss Emmie Hardie, a serio and dance artist, sang "When a Fellow is Twenty-one"; Mr. Jos Mullaney, termed the spruco comedian, "I Can't Keep My Eyes Off You"; Miss Vera lCearns, "I'll Bo Your Paxinosa"; and Mr. Bob Lloyd, a number of hilarious comic songs. Miss Delwyn delighted many with a saucy little song, "Naughty Boy." The "Two Rosebuds" were extremely dainty performers, and Messrs. Jack Kearns and E. R. Martin, for their respective songs, had loud recalls. The same programme which last evening drew a crowded house, will be repeated this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S. The high quality of the pictures screened nightly by the Fuller management at His Majesty's Theatre, Courlenay Place, is the subject of much favourable comment among patrons. Last night s new programme v;as such as to maintain and enhance . the reputation thus indicated. Opening with the "Pathe Gazette" (which "'comprised pictures of Royalty at a racemeeting, launching of battleships, and the latest Paris fashions), a scries of dramatic studies, romantic, sensational, and comic followed. "Mexican Filibusters' is a talc of love and adventure from the scene of the late war in Mexico. The hero, a gallant and handsome lad named Pedro, is charged by his master Olivarez with the task of getting.a railway truckload of con Ira hand across the border. He sees in this the opportunity of proving himself worthy of the hand of the beautiful Franca, daughter of Olivarez. Another employee, of rather a sinister type, is jealous, and when rebuked for not helping Pedro to load the truck, he goes away and tells the authorities.' Detectives jump aboard tho train just as it is steaming out, but so does Pedro, and with him Franca, who, by a sudden impulse,' decides to share the adventure. They manage to lock up . the detectives, in one of the caTS, and when a posse of mounted men in league with the latter try to hold up the'train, they force the enginedriver to keep full steam on by pointing revolvers at his head. Pedro is wounded, but tiiev get the contraband safe over the border,"and Olivarez arrives by motorcar just nicely in time to give the young people his parental blessing in tho midst of the group of baffled defectives. The comic films include a reappearance of tho inimitable Foolshead. Natural history is represented in the very interesting "Glimpses of Bird Life," and civic life in a review of the New "York Fire Brigade. The same programme will bo repeated to-night and to-morrow. KING'S 'THEATRE. Some of .the best of. kinematograpliv went to tho. compilation of the programme which was submitted at the King's Theatre last evening, and th.! large "house" was not at all backward in demonstrating its appreciation. Among tho dramatis items was "The Schoolmarm of .Coyote County," a Wild West story of a rather novel kind. When the school-marm comes to town all the "boys," from "Big Bill" lo Hop Leo, the "Chink," tako to study—and to courtship. The rivalry is friendly, and until the new foreman "blows in" and takes the "inside track." Then Big Bill gets jealous. T'horo is a reception, and the foreman . cuts Bill out. Bill makes up his mind to "lay for him." Tho foreman soon discharges a greaser, who later robs tho paymaster, and continues to fix tho blame on tho foreman. A "lynching-bee," led by Jiig Bill, is well started when the school-marm interferes and demands a fair trial for the foreman. She herself holds court in the school-house, and acts as ]n.<vge, while tho "boys" .as jury hear the witnesses. Hop Lee knows the facts, but Big Bill kicks liim out of court, but.Hop Lo?, who loves the - school-marm in his own way, rounds up tho real criminal, and delivers him into court, just as the verdict ot guilty comes in against tho foreman. Big Bill is ashamed of himself. The school-marm decides to marry the foreman, and Hop Lee will be their laundrymail. Another good story fr picture comes from the Texas-Mexico Border, and concerns the attempted seizure of contraband of war. Interwoven in the plol we get a glimpse of the love affairs of the hero Pedro. The "Patho Gazette" is of exceptional interest, including as it does, the launching of two bin warships. An interesting scientific film shows young birds in their nests. "Lea's Express Jjotter" is a happy little comedy, with the picturesque touches that always characterise tho work of the great Italian house of Cine?. The above are but a few of the pood things in the. programme which will be repeated to-night and tomorrow. THE NEW THEATRE. Messrs. Mar.Mahon and Donnelly have already won a firm place in tho estimation of tho great picture-loving public by the excellence of the all-day and evening show they are providing at tho New Theatre, Manners Street. The programme to-day will be an entirely new one. the following items being promised;—" Girl of the Mountains" (Yitngraph. drama), "Was He A Coward?" Biograph Company. drama), "Italian Army in the Alps" (Unita, scenic, exclusive), "Cowltoy and Bachelor Girls" (comcdy), "A AVarrior's Faith" (Bison, drama, exclusive), and others. SKATING RINK. As a popular place of amusement, Fullers' Olympia Skating Rink continues to find favour with a large number of people, and tho attendances at all sessions are most satisfactory, liink hockey seems lo' have caught on again this season, and the management announce the Kin Ora v. Olympia match for to-morrow evening.