ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1201, 9 August 1911, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

NICOLA. Nicola continues to deceive the eye and puzzle the mind at the Opera House with a, maze of capitfal illusions, most of which are new to Wellington audiences. Last evening ho was roped in a clever manner by a lusty man of the sea, but despite the many clever knots which were to hold hinl tight, Nicola managed to iree himself with very little trouble. There is to lie a matinee performance on Saturday afternoon, to which children will be admitted at special rates. Nicola has accepted a challenge to get out of a strait-jacket, and to-night he will be securely fastened in a regulation strait-jacket. Nicola agrees to release himself in full view of the audience. Several other interesting challenges have been received, and one or more will be accepted for each night during the balance of Nicola's short season. THEATRE ROYAL. Without doubt, tho Potter-Hartweli trio, from America, are three of the most popular artists seen at the Theatre Royal for a long time. Last night tlnse comedy-acrobats again' performed their extraordinary feats of tumbling and balancing. Their flexibility of limb is great, their ability to work at high speed is ■equally exceptional; and their reception at the close of the turn was enthusiastic in the extr.tme. Hearty applause was also bestowal by an appreciative house on the Kavtnagh Boys, «spert jujslers. Other attractive items in a well diversified programme were contributed by Mif-s Marcella Gray, serio; Miss Ruby Eubira, motto baliadist; Miss Brightie Carlisle, soubrette; Jimmy Gaffney, acrobatic comedian; and Chas. Heath, singing collier. The British Bio.eraph was also in action with the latest Coronation pictures., . ■

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Among a number of very interesting subjects in the current programme of moving pictures at His Majesty's Theatre is the Coronation naval review at Spitbead. A series of views of Rome are also screened, and includes numerous magnificent buildings and ancient and modern bridges that span the Tiber. The remainder of the programme includes several fine dramatic and comic items, which will be repeated for the last time tiris evening. NEW THEATRE. The pictures in the new programme at the New Theatre are of an excellent quality. "The Days of '49," a-playlet dealing with the gold-rush days in California, tells how a man goes West, and, after striking a bit of luck, sends for his wife. En route she falls in with Handsome Jack, a gambler, who at once sets out to win the woman, in which he is greatly aided by his looks. Such an impression does he make that when she meets her husband she is cold and distracted,—and repulses his advances. Finally, sho consents to dope'with the gambler, at which moment tho husband appears very drunk and grief-stricken, as the fesu'c of his wife's coldness. The gambler is touched, and resolves, after the manner of' his kind, to see what tho cards have to say. Hβ cut a pock and plays the cards out, and the queen goes to the husband and only a five to himself, whereupon he resolves to set matters right, aiid decs so in a letter before galloping off to pursue other game. • Another picture, breezy of the West, is "Tag Day at Silver Gulch," which relates of the attempt of a parson and his" pretty daughter to reform the "boys" at Silver Gulch. They refuse to listen to the appeal to attend chapel, so the pnrson holds service outside tins bar-door of tho local saloon, and will only move on on condition that the "boys" attend chape! in an adjacent tent, which they do. Then comes "Tag Day." on which tags are sold for a small coin to help along the good work. . Some of the bar customers consider this is going too far, and decide to make trouble trith any who lmy the tat»s. One of the youngest does so at the solicitation of the. parson's and is being roughly treated when the minister himself turn's up. He interposes between the boy and the bully, and in\response to a challenge takes off his coat, and gives the buJly a seund beating, and threatens to treat them all the same way, unless they buy tags, which they do with alacrity. "Other pcod pictures are "Girls." "The Tie That Binds," "Odd Adventure of Foolshead," and the Coronation pictures.

KING'S THEATRE. ; There is abundant detail in.the latest Coronation pictures now being shown at the King's Theatre, and in one eecne a particularly fine view of King George is obtained. The Naval Review at Spitbead is also shown on the canvas, while further glimpses of the Navy are to be had in a film entitled "Life"in tho British Navy." ■ Current events at Home and abroad are chronicled in picture form p?r medium of the "Pathe Animated ■Uazette," while, the programme also in-cludes-several good dramas and comedies. Music is supplied by: tho King's Lyric Orchestra. SOUSA AND HIS BAND. Thanks to the enterprise of Mr. Edward Branscombe, Wellington theatregoers will, shortly bo afforded an opportunity of becoming acquainted with Sousa and hearing his works rendered by his celebrated band .of over sixty selected musicians, under the baton of Sousa himself. The band commences a short season , in the Town Hall next Monday. Sousa and his band will be met on arrival at the wharf next Sunday afternoon by the massed bands of Wellington. Tho bands will play Sousa's favourite march, entitled "Stars and Stripes." Arrangements have been made to-day with the Harbour Board by the local representative, Mr. James Dykes, for the reception of Sousa. The procession of the Wellington Bands and Sousa's Band will commence about ten minutes after tho steamer berths, and will proceed. via Jervois Quay and Lambton Quay to Sousa's hotel. The bos plan for tho season is now opened at the Dresden. A Press Association telegram states that Sousa's Band opened its season in Christchuroh yesterday, the concerts being largely attended and tho audiences most enthusiastic.