ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 62, 15 March 1910, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. HASSAN, THE MAGICIAN. Hassan, a dapper little gentleman from India, clad m the costume of his country, tho turban, the white jacket, and the velvet trousers, Mars the Fuller entertainment at the Theatre Royal this week. His first appearance last evening drew an audience Which filled every part of tho house. His role is that of magician, and eminently successful he was last night. His apparatus and outfit .ire exceedingly simple, and all his feats are performed in the full glare of the limelight in front of a scene in which the prevailing colour is the white of the East. First come a series of card tricks. Hassan shuffles the pack, presents .it with his back turned to gentlemen in the audience, who duly draw a card. The wizard then calls for a cigarette. Several, including a whole packet, fell on the stage last night. Ha6»an lights up, and then looks at his "smoke" wonderingly. "Not tobacco this," he says in broken English, and asks one of the card selectors to name the card ho took. "Ace of spades," says that gentleman, and Hassan picks open his cigarette, unrolls something which proves to bo tho missing curd. It i* very clever. He has a committee of volunteers from the audience on the stage, and mystifies them with deft money changing, slipping a ring on a etick, when the two ends are held by two committee men, and so forth. It is all neat. A wonderful feat is that of taking a full turban length of .green gauze, letting an outsider cut off portions, singeing tho ends, and then swinging it out full length and intact. Then Haesan takes on another role, and proceeds to disgorge a few handfuls of two-inch nails from his mouth. He eat 6 fire and breathes out smoke and fume?, apports two large pigeons from nowhere, and transfers objects from one corner of the stage to another with the greatest ease. His last and greatest feat is, however, no trick at all — it is the weightlifting feat with the eye, described in last night's Post. It is certainly the most wonderful thing in weight-lifting ever seen in Wellington. Quite apart from Hassan, the programme is strong. The Khmoß, with the Roman rings, mingle serious feats with tho comic. Mr. Ward Lear has a special Chinese turn, with imitations of farmyard and other noises. Ho also whistles beaiitifujly in a parody on "Honey Boy," sung earlier in the evening by Miss Beattie M'Donald. Mr. Charlo* Throsby impersonates the curate very adroitly, and as an encore comes on with the mantle of Harry Laudor, and gives "I Love a Lassie," and "Foo the Noo." The rest of the programme is quite up to the mark. The entcrtainj ment will bo repeated to-night. WEST AND ROYAL PICTURES. The joint management, Weit and | Royal Pictures, will opei* the King's Theatre to-morrow night. All arrangements have been completed by ttie management for the opening, and.it is stated twit patrons' comfort has been well studied in every way, so as to popularise the new house of amusement. The pictorial programme, it is announced, mis been well arranged, and comprises some of the latest exclusive items, all interest ing subjects. Music will be provided by an orchestra of six performeis, who will play appropriate selections from music supplied by Mr. De Groen, the Australian conductor. To signalise the opening performance the management intend to present every lady present with the programme, specially printed on patin. Practically all the uress-ciiclo seats are said to be booked, and the front stalls have been well patronised. The box-plan is at Abel's, tn Manners street. HIS MAJESTY'S PICTURES. His Majesty's Pictures, at His Majesty's Theatre, to-morrow night, will comprise an all-new programme of the latest films from all parts of the world. Messrs. Fuller, who have supplied pictures to the theatre for over two years, announce that in addition to those already notified they will screen the American Biograph Company's latest, "To Save Her Soul." This is said to be a most poweiful drama. "Paper-making in Canada" should provide diverse and interesting scenes. "When Father Called the Plumbers in," if it lives up to its title, should cause laughter. The latest Paris flood pictures will also be exhibit cd, showing the water at, its greatest height, while tho "Sleeping Sickness" set should be of exceptional interest. The plan is at Christesou's. ROYAL PICTURES. There was a large audience at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when the capital programme of the week was repeated for the penultimate time. Tonight the Royal Pictures will show for the last time in His Majesty's. Tomorrow night the new' King's Theatre will receive the Royal Pictures, under the joint management of the syndicate and the West firm, while Messrs. Fuller will control the picture entertainments at His Majesty's. STAR PICTURES. A new programme was screened in the Star Picture entertainment in Bt. Thomas's Hnll, Newtown, last evening* In spite of unfavourable weather, there was a large audience. Chief among the films was a very interesting series of glimpses of the work of trawling, in tho North Sea. Lovers of such a branch of the cinematographic art should not miss this picture. The dramatic aspect it not overlooked. There is "The Seventh Day," dealing with divorce a I'Americalne. "Bobby the Boy Scout" is of special interest to boys, as is also a Pathe film entitled ''Tlie Schoolmaster." The scenic, comic , and dramfttic sides of the art ure well' mingled in the rest of the progiamme, which will be repeated to-night. BESSES 0' TH' BARN. Tho opening concert of the return season in Wellington of the Besses o' th' Barn Band takes place to-morrow night in the Town Hall, when a very fine pioJ gramme has been prepared. On its last tour through the Dominion, this icmarkable band played to crowded audiences, and it is still olio of the leading bands of the world. Every bandbman, it is said, is an artist, und in Mr. Alex. Owen the company possesses a conductor who has his men under perfect control. Box plans are at the Dresden. A special matln»» ii announced lor Saturday afternoon.

SAILORS' REST. The St. Patrick's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul gave another concert at the Sailors' Rest last night, before a large audience of seafaring men. Items wer& contributed by —Miss M. Frith, Mr. G. Foot'e, Miss Bell, Mr. Wilson, Mrs .Allen, Mr. Croze, Miss E. Bowden, Mr. G. Bradley, Miss and Miss M. Coleman, Mr. G. Schmidt, Miss A. Coleman, Mr. H. Elmore, Master Norman Dentice, Miss Meston, and Messrs. Latto and Bayne of the s.s. Kumara. The accompaniments were played by Misses Irith, Bowden and Coleman, and Messrs. Bayne and A. Dentice. IRISH NATIONAL CONCERT. The "Grand National Concert" to be held in the Town Hall (Concert Chamber), on Thursday evening next, promises to be n distinct success. This popular concert, which is an, annual event under tho auspices of the Hibernian Societies and Wellington Catholic Club, is always looked forward to' by lovers of Irish music, and this year an energetic committee has left nothing undone to procure the best talent, so that patrons aro promised an enjoyable evening. Included in the programme- will be songs, dances, violin solos, and a selection on Irish pipes, which will be played by Mr. P. Barry, who will appear in national costume. Box plans are open ai the Dresden. An entertainment is advertised for Thursday evening, 17 inst., at Sydney-street Schoolroom. It is being organised by a strong committee, to further Miss Bodmin's candidature for the voting competition. The first part of the entertainment will consist of an amusing comedy, and in the second half musical items will be contributed by Wellington's leading amateurs. Full details will appear in tomorrow's papers. At the Brooklyn Methodist Church last evening a complimentary "social" was given to Mr. Wilton and Miss Coventry, two prominent church workers, iv view of their approaching marriage. Best wishes for their future were expressed by the chairman, Rev. J. R. Clark, and Mrs. Douey, on behalf of tho congregation, and by Mr. E. Cumming for the Sunday School. Mr. R. Lamason presented the guests of the evening with a handsome cruet as a token of esteem. Mr. Wilton and Miss Coventry suitably responded. An enjoyable programme was gone through, including tongs by Misses Doney and Bassett, and Mrs. M'Lellan, and Master Allen, recitations by Messrs. Allen, M'Lellan, and Cumming, and a chorus by the church choir. The People's Entertainers will give another performance in St. Paul's Schoolroom, Tmakori-road, to-morrow evening, when a new piogramme will be submitted.