ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1224, 5 September 1911, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

, . $ THEATRE ROYAL. Change night at tho Theatre. Royal drew a big crowd to tho popular entertainment hall last night. The first item was the grand opening chorus "Tho Diadem," by the company. Dolly Courtney reappeared and sang "Moot Mo at tho Corner," and the soubretto received a very good hearing. Tho descriptive vocalist Rupert L'tithbcrt rendered "Soldiers." "Pull yourselves Together Boys" was sung very pretlily by Nellie Searle, who was deservedly applauded at considerable length. Ward Lear came on with a repertoire of comics and kept tho houso ■amused while "on." The fascinating songstress, Miss May Dnhlberg, entered on her farewell week with "Sweetheart, Good-bye. ' Her specialty clog-dauco was a treat. Jim Marion, comedian, was bille4 as "Still Tired." Appropriately he rendered "I Never Work." Miss Essie Jennings increased her popularity by singing very tastefully several attractive ballads. Leslie Shipp made his first appearance. Shipp !JU- an \ e , eccntric dancer and comedian. What Became of England" was his pro-g-rammo number. The "new hand" was given an encouraging welcome. The first part concluded with "Rosio's Young Man" by tho dainty series, the Lewis sisters. Miss Lssie Jennings opened the second part oi the programme with a catchy ballad, the chorus of which she was compelled to repeat: Rupert Cuthbert described an song tho worth of tho black sheep and tho heroism of tho men of the lire brigade. Harry Sadler introduced .ms boy Scout act, and an amusing burlesque of Powelka's escape. He also contributed comic songs to the . programme. 1 lip Lewis bisters appeared again and delighted tho audience onco more. Karle's animals reappeared. These wonderfullytrained beasts made another great hit ?' '™ buckln S Poi'J. was in his element lhe chief of the new turns was that put on by the Piquays. As tumblers, balancers, and so forth, of the drawing-room order, they are past-mas-ters, lhe man's wonderful strength skill, agihty, and grace, and tho woman's cleverness, pliability, and easy neatness were splendid. A hand dance by the man was one of the cleverest things of the kind seen on a Wellington stage. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. _ The now programme of pictures at His Majesty s Theatre last evening attracted a large attendance, which accorded unstinted appreciation to the . various items which went to make up a really firstclaw entertainment. Comedy, drama and other artistic departments of tho kinematographer s activities are each represented by unusually good studies. Of the dramatic subjects, prido of place must be §'Ji C i n a ? th S, ssns 'it"onal melodrama "A bhH-Alarm," a play that had a great vogue in America. The great feature of the drama is the thrilling fire-escape showing the fire brigado extended to its utmost in its light with a great conflagration. "The Cardinal's Edict" is a splendid historical drama of the period of Cardinal Richelieu. The most dramatic incident of tho play is the particularly hno tableaux, reproducing Meissonic/s famous, picture of the period, "La Eixe" (lhe Brave), which is introduced as a spectacular situation in tho gambling scene. A duel, in defiance of the Cardinal's edict against duelling, follows the tableaux, and upon the heals, as it were, of the tragic finale to the duel, comes tho advent of tho Cardinal himself, attended by his guards. The drama is splendidly staged, and is of a high order of merit. Other dramatic studies of note aro "Her Son" (an American Wild West story of tho mines), and "His Mother," a pathetic Vitagraph drama. Of tho comedy pictures, quito tho most diverting seen at His Majesty's for some time past aro "Soldiers Three," a laughable series of incidents which attend tho adventures of three soldiers whose cl-othes go astray while they are enjoying a bathe, and "Tho Fair Dentist," aa amusing farcecomedy built upon the infatuation of three young men who each brave the loss of a-tooth in order to admire their divinity at close quarters. Other good pictures include "The Home of the Seal" (a very fine nature study), "Agriculture ■by Motor" fehowing modern methods of tilliug the soil), the over-welcomq Path© Gazette, "Shanghai," and "Their Fates Scaled." The programme will be repeated this evening. ~ . THE NEW THEATRE. During yesterday afternoon and evening there were full houses at the continuous picture entertainment at the New Theatre. The bi-weekly change of programme. to-day will include . a special feature, "Malta, Britain's Mediterranean Stronghold." This is said to be a splendid series, showing the historic island with all its naval and military accessories. Conspicuous among the photo-plays is a fine portrayal entitled "His Mother.P. by tho Vitagraph Company. The American Biograpb. Company's dramatic study, "Smile of a Child, is an emotional episode which will no doubt captivato many. The Bison Exclusive film, "The Cheyenne Medicine Man," is a faithful interpreta- , tion of'lndian life. A pretty story of domestic felicity is related in "His Wife's Sweetheart." _ There is also to be an excellent selection of other items, theso including ■ "Tho lunematograph Fiend" and "An tfnromantic Wife" (comedies). THE KING'S .THEATRE. The piece-de-resistance of the new programme .of pictures at the King's Theatre last pyening was West's "Our Navy," a splendid series of incidents illustrative of the life of our jolly Jack Tars of the King's Navee. This series, which aggregates some 5000 feet of film, occupied practically tho whole of the second half of tho programme, and proved to bo a strong attraction, for the theatre was packed; To select but a few of the moro noteworthy of the long list of topics which wero included in tho series, ono might particularly mention the naval manoeuvres of a battleship division showing the , departure o£ the "dozs of war" upon- their cruise, tho signal for action, and all the sinister preparations which mark tho preface to a deadly conflict on the water. The views taken of tho. grey monsters at battle practice wero most impressive in their spectacular effect nnd deadly" purpose. Another series shows Jack ashore, at play, and at work, scenes at the Gunnery School, at land manoeuvres, sports and competitions, and these include soino laughable incidents. Easily the best of the wholo scries, however, are the magnificent yacht pictures produced by Mr. Alfred West, who has an international reputation for sea studies.. Hero are seen tho white-winged fliers of tho Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes, racing in a gale, and heeling over at an , angle which inspires almost as many thrills as a good hot melodrama. Of tho remainder of the programme tho most notable items of a fino selection include "Tho Cardinal's Edict," a historical romance of the days of the great Cardinal Richelieu, and introducing as a sensational tableau in the drama a reproduction of Meissonier's famous gambling picture "La Rixe" (The Brawl). "The Home of tho Seal" is an excellent nature study, showing seals in their native, haunts. "His Mother," a pathetic drama by the Vitagraph Company. Patho's Gazette, "Tontolini Finds Help!" and "Teddy Adores Musk" (two diverting comedies) complete the bill of a good evening's entertainment. The programme will bo repeated this evening. On Saturday the boys of the Amokura aro to attend the theatre to see tho naval pictures. BARTON BROTHERS' CIRCUS. Barton Brothers' Circus makes its first appearance in Wellington to-night. The show comes with an excellent reputation, and has received the highest encomiums on all sides. A first-class band discourses music throughout tho performance, and tho performers aro all artists. The programme to-night consists of 23 of the best circus acts, in which over thirty star artists take. part. There arc also performing horses, ponies, mules, etc. Outsido tho largo marquee at 7.15 o'clock Monsionr Tibell will givo a free performance of a wonderful feat, termed "Tho Slide for Life." Doors will bo open at 7.30 j p.m., and the performance starts at 8 o'clock. "THE MOTHERLEY'S LTTCK." Great pains have been taken by Miss M. K. Richmond to produce the dramatic entertainment, "The Motherley's Luck," which will bo staged at tho Opera House on Tuesday, September 12, and for the Iwo following nights. A very successful entertainment may be expected. Tho box plan will open at the Dresden on the 7th instant