ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1320, 26 December 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE SPIX'KLKD BAND." "The .Speckled Hand" iv.-is again presented before an appreciative.audience at the Opera' House on Saturday evening. The play is one that holds the interest from first 16 lic-t. Tho atmosphere of the grim and striking story upon which it is-based.is. upon the-whole, very well retained, and all the actors engaged acquit themselves well. Some of the scenes, notably tho snake , charming, are cerio In an almost uncomfortable degree. "The Speckled Band" has the attraction and ■flu- holding force of a popular novel. It will be again staged at llic Upera House this.evening. , Tin- pl'ins for to-night and Wednesday and Tbiirsdav nights, which constitute tlio Ihrcf'tiiiul performances of "The Speckled Baud," will be on view .to-day between !)• a.m. and 5 p.m. at- the Opera House, oflico. t-liR mi trance being' by way of the Dress Circle staircase.■ On Friday and the three following evenings, Paul Armstrong's comedy drama, "Alias .Jimmy Valentine," which •throughout last year had very successful rims both in London and New York, will be presented for the' first' time in' New Zealand. It is a four-act play founded on one of 0. Henry's well-known-short stories, entitled "The* Retrieved Reformation," and is said to work out a novel idea convincingly and in a manner highly interesting to the audience. In Australasia it has so far only been presented in Sydney, where the present company produced it with much favour both.to , the critics and theatregoers generally. The plans for "Alias Jimmy Valentine" will bo opened at-the .Dresden to-morrow morning. THEATRE ROYAL. The picture programme which had been so popular on preceding nights was repeated on Saturday at tho Theatre Royal. The inclusion of several excellent examples of the new kinomacolor process was ii special feature. In spite of tho very wet weather last evening, the Theatre Koyal was again well patronised. The programme was a special sacred one, and met with the approval of the house. A number of excellent kinemacolor films were screened, those worthy of-special .mention-being: "Farmyard Friends," "The Clown's Sacrifice," ■ "The London Firo Call," and "Scenes in Paris." A complete chango of programme-is announced for to-night, and there will bo a special holiday matinee this afternoon. KING'S THEATRE. A magnificent Christmas programme and v one appropriate to tlio occasion was screened by the West's and Royal Picture Proprietary yesterday. The accommoda- | tion was taxed at both performances and the bright and appropriate- music rendered by the King's orchestra, assisted by Siguor J. Yitelta, was much appreciated. This afternoon a prize matinee will bn given, every child receiving a gift. An entirely new programme will also be screened for the occasion. To-night's programme will include Selig's great picturn "Thro' Fire and Smoke, ■ the most thrilling and realistic fire picture that has been seen for some time, showing as it does vivid scenes in and around a real burning sky-scraper—thrilling rescues, peoplo jumping from dizzy heights, tiro engines puffing, firemen battling with the flames, and woven intb tho wholo a pretty lovo story. "At Jones Ferry," "The Quorn Hunt," "Mount Kasbek," "Getting Pa's Consent," "Scroggins Wins the Fiddle Faddlo Prize," and other novelties mate up a varied programme. ' THE NEW THEATRE. The management of The New Theatre siato that something like a record was put up. on Saturday., no fewer than 2000 people having paid for admission to the theatre on that: day. At all four sessions yesterday the theatre, was cro.wded. A particularly appropriate programme was presented which included Biblical, topical, and scenic films, the principal feature being a series of pictures entitled "Cain and Abel." In addition to the usual bi-weekly chango of programme, the Christmas fairy pantomime "Puss in Bcots," will bo repeated to-day.

SKATING RINK. Special Christmas pictures were shewn at the Skating Rink yesterday. Some of the same pictures will be shown for the next two days, and the others will give place to new films to-night. Among those to be continued is "Tlio Christmas Carol," a pictorial dramatisation of Dickens's story. "The Heart of John Barton" is a story of fisher folk, with the old theme of virtue triumphant and perfidy punished. "The Visitors" is a vaudeville act, acrobatic, and a very fine one, reproduced by the camera. Other very fine pictures of the scenic and descriptive sort were: "The Departure of tho King and Queen for the Durbar," "The English Lakes," and "Bethlehem and Palestine." STAR THE\TR"3. A special matinee is advertised to take placo in tho commodious Star Theatre, Nowtown, to-day. The programme will comprise a new holiday series of pictures, and among them are several photo-plays, said to bo the best ever seen here. Altogether the pictures to bo presented are a charming set, and for those who care for indoor entertainment in the daytime, the Star Theatre offers excel [ant fare under the most comfortable circumstances possible.

ORGAN RECITAL. Despite the inhospitable weather which prevailed last evening, a fairly large audience was present at the Christmas recital which was given by Mr. Maughan Barnett at the Town Hall. The programme was suited to the season, and the various items were highly appreciated. Bach's dramatic "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor," a brilliant and imposing number, was the opening item, followed by the celebrated "Pastoral- Symphony" from Hau'dcl's- "Messiah," and the honuliful music from Act I. Scene 3,-of Wagner's "Tannhauscr." Mr. Barnett alio played a delicate pastorale from Lemare, (ho "March of the Magi Kings" (a picturesque, inarch by Dubois),, a charming "Menuet" from Bcccherini, Shelley's "Fanfare d'Orgue," and a fanlnisie (arranged by the organist),- constructed upon Mendelssohn's ' celebrated "Hark the HeiaidAngels" (from the "Festesang"). ■' . Mr. Barnett was assisted by Mr. John l-'rouse (baritone), whoso singing of Ihe items "Nazareth" (Gounod), and the tine aria, "Now Heaven in Fullest Glory Shone", (from Haydn's "Creation"), was much admired. CHRISTMAS CONCERT. The Opera House was comfortably filled last evening When Mr. Philip Newbury tendered a Christmas concert in anything but .Christmas weather. 'When two or three distinct changes of climate are packed into twenty-lour hours, it is usually a severe strain on. the singer. This was apparent last evening on .one or two occasions, but did not obtrude enough to mar what was .in interesting contort. Mr. Newbury, not in such good voice as we have heard him, sang "In Native Worth," from "The Creation" (Haydn). 'Bluiuciithal's "The Message," in which he. used . his cultured, mezzo voce charmingly, and ."Noel" 'Adams). We was ulso associated wilh Misses Agues Segrief and M'Knroe in (lis trio "(.) Memoir." In I his there was a lack of (hat perfect balance which is io ueea-Miry in Irin work. Miss Teresa M.'E'iroc, a wcll-lraincd soprano nf splendid range and power (whom Ihe ehoral societies would -profit by encouraging),' was heard to distinct .idvnntiigc in that 'difficult solo "T Will Extol Thee," from "Eli." Her phrasing, breath control, and tho admirable tone sustained in the trying runs and shakes wilh which the number.abounds, all denoted a singer of unusual Miss M'Enroe al-o sang the "Ave Maria" of-Gounod (with piano and nrgan acrompaiiimo'it), "The Birth of Day." and a melodious little Trench song of uncommon beauty. Miss Agnes Pczrief's small but cultured contralto is heard to Ijetter advantage in a small hall. She saw Niedorineyer'c "filter Noster" very sweetly. Mr. V. Lillicrap, whose voice was evidently suffering from the sudden change of temperature which took place last evening, sane "The T/ord is my f.ife" (Allitsen). "Honour and Arms" 'from "Sunis/m"), in which he was overweighted, and tho ballad "Beloved. 11 Is Mom." .