ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1266, 23 October 1911, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

« "OUR MISS GIBBS." The Royal Comic Opera Company conlinuo to attract packed audiences to tho Oi>ora House, where "Our Miss Gibbs" has established herself (irmly in tho favour of playgoers. Tho musical comedy is one of tho prettiest and smartest of its class, and the uniformly good performance given by the clever people concerned assist in large measure in its jwpularity. The last two nights aro announced. Til BATHE ROYAL. The Thcatro Royal was well filled on Saturday night, and the artists carried their various turns through successfully. Mr. Charles Emeyald and Miss Maud Duprce's skit, "JJot Scotch," created great amusement, and their turn was highly appreciated by tho audicncc. A special holiday programme is to be put on to-night, included in which will bo tho first appearance of M'Geo and Recce. These artists will givo a specialty dancing turn, quite new to Wellington. Tho programme will bo considerably strengthened on Wednesday night, when Miss Millio Doris, who is described as England's greatest character comedienne, will mako her first, appearance. The l>ox plan will be open at tlio theatre all day to-day. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Thcro were good attendances at Hid Majesty's Theatre on Saturday afternoon and evening. At tho matinee a social .picture entitled "Life in tho British ' Navy" was shown in connection with tho Navy League's celebration of tho annivorsairy of tho Battle of Trafalgar. In addition to tho usual evening's entertainment, a motineo will bo held at His Majesty's Theatre to-day. Entirely new programmes will bo presented at each performance. Tho principal feature of the now programme is a long film entitled , "Tho Ticket of Leave Man," a pictorial version of Tom Taylor's famous ploy. Tho photography is very fine, special caro and attention being devoted to the staging and acting of tho play. Messrs. Pullers' havo scctired tho services of Mr. Speight, tho well-known Australian elo-"~ culionist, who will tell the stay of tho ■ play. In addition to the abovo production, an entirely new sot of films will bo presented, including "Tho Ruling Passion," tlhowing the result of a youngster's visit to the theatre. An interesting SBrica in to-night's programme will be scenes in Tripoli, tho Italian Navy, and pictures dealing with the trouble'in China. KING'S THEATRE. A special "Trafalgar Day" programme was presented at tho King's Theatre on Saturday afternoon to tho delight of a large audienco of juveniles, who manifested the keenos-t interest in pictures of our first lino of defence. An entirely new prograinmo of ujvto-dato pictures will 1» given this evening. A special "Labour Day matinco is underlined for this afternoon. THE NEW THEATRE. The capacity of tho New Theatre was • taxed to its utmost at Saturday afternoon and evening sessions of tho continuous picture entertainment. To-day a special holiday programmo is to bo presented, which, in addition to the current series, will include "She Dreamt of Ouicns" (comic), "Stolen by Indians" (a thrilling adventure), and for the juveniles will be added "Fairy Prince, Tho Mascot" (coloured fairy-tale), and "Tho Plucky Children" (an instance of child heroism). This evening the current programme \ylli bo repeated, and the elaborate photodrama "Tlio Temptations of a Great City" will bo shown for the last time. A completo change is announced for to-morrow. "NAPOLEON'S LAST DAYS." Tho last days of tile exiled captive, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, on St. Helena provide the theme of a brilliant photoplay_ to bo presented for tho first (imo in New Zealand, commencing to-morrow at tho day and evening sessions of tho New ; Theatre continuous picture entertainment. Tho production, which is by Patlio Frercs, is not merely a picture story, but a careful re-cnactmcnt of tlio episodes of the last days of Bonaparte's life. Tho actual spots frequented by tho Emperor, tho rock on which he was wont tx) stand and gazo out across tho sea aro shown with vividness. Tho apparitions and dreams of somo of the most momentous happenings in the Emperor's lifo are also introduced. ORGAN RECITAL. Under tho impression that tho Town • Hall had been engaged for Saturday ! evening, ail announcement was made a ' week ago to the effect that there would bo no organ recital by tho City Organist (Mr. M. Barnett). On discovering that tiho hall was vacant, it was decided to hold tho weekly recital, but in view of the impression which lia-t l>eer. con- '' vej;ed to regular patrons tho Saturday before, tho attendance was small. Tho programme included .Mendelssohn's popular "Cornelius March" (a festal and spirited composition written fi !• a foto given in honour of Peter Cornelius, tlio famous painter in .Dresden ii. 1H1), Bach's choral prelude, "Erbnhm dich mein 0 Horro Gott," Salome's "Offertoiro in D Flat," Capocci's little-known "Sonata in G Minor," a Rheinbergcr 'Idyll," a song from "Sea Piocos," a suite by tho American composer M'Dowoll, and Mr. Barnotfs owu "Fantasia on .National Airs," playod in honour of tho anniversary of Trafalgar Day. Tlio next recital will bo given on Saturday, November 11. THE COMPETITIONS. Tho first groat contest of tho Now Zealand Competitions Society opens on. ■ Wednesday next. Over a thousand competitors aro coming from outside Wellington, and these, with their friends and others interested, will mako a big crowd of special visitors. Happily, thero ia plenty of accommodation in Wellington, and plenty of room in tho Town Jlall. • Whilo on that matter, however, it is well to point out that the sjiace at tho society's disposal in tlit Town Hall is not limitless. Prudent folk will reserve their scats well ahead. All the night, sessions will probably bo crowded. The Railway Department makes liberal concessions to competitors.' As to this and all other matters relating to the festival, full information may be had from tho secrotary, Mr. James Dykes. AUCKLAND SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY. To-night in the Town Hall Concert Chamber tlio Auckland Shakespeare Society will present in reading form Shake(•penrc's immortal comedy "Twelfth Night." The play will be interpreted by a east of exceptional strength, and thero is every indication that tho porformanco will be largely attended. Tho visit of Iho Auckland Society t'o Wellington is evoking great interest, in local literary and dramatic circles, for the society's reputation is a very high one and Shakespeare lovers and Others inny slifely look forward to a delightful evening's'entertainment in to-night's performance. The readings aro given under the auspices of the Wellington Shakespeare Club and are under tho patronage of his Excellency the Governor, his Worship tho ' Mayor, Sir J. G. Findlay, and Lady Findlay, Sir Robert Stout', and many representative citizens. The box plan will be with the custodian of tho Town Hall all day to-day. Tho visit of the Auckland Shakespeare Society, tho. entire credit' for which is due to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. J. F. Montague, indicates tho vitality of the movement in Auckland, which lias for its end the study of the works of Shakes-peare, and other great dramatists whose works are not often presented to tho public. Tho diversity of subject matlit for study is shown in tho somewhat ' daring decision of visitors to read G. B. Slinw s fasoinating play "Captain Bra-ss-bound's Conversion" to-morrow evening. This should provo nil event of somo litlerary imiwrtanco to devoteos of Shaw in Wellington. Mr. Montague and his readers deeorve every support from tho public.