ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 73, 29 March 1910, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"PETER PAN." Any doubts as to tho success of "Peter Pan" in Wellington have been banished by the warmth of the welcome to Jlarrio's fairy piay at the Opera House by the enthusiastic audiences of Saturday and last- night. "First-night-ers" go for curiosity, but it is not so afterwards. It is the second and tho third and tho fourth night that tell, and the telling so far is all for "Peter Pan."- It is to tho credit of the intelligenco and imagination of Wellington audiences that it should be so, as nothing like the play has ever been seen here before. "It is also to the credit of the members of the company that' they Miould interpret the dream fantasy so deeply and • troly. From the first- rise to the final fall ot the curtain there is nothing in tne performance thai in tho least degree jars the nerves. It is all delightful in its qnaintness and delicacy. The substance of the play is as dreamlike an its very nature. It is pure and ethereal, yet charged with a strange and moving sentiment of love of motherhood, of children, of tho supernatural 83 it appears to children, of fairyland, and' boyish fancies of adventure with pirates and Red Indians. This sentiment is rternal, having its root in an underlying primitive, instinct in all of v* even in these days of a brick-and-mortar, hunt-the-dollar civilisation. In its appeal to old memories lies the secret of tha triumph of "Peter Pan" over all hearts. Of the actual -performance and the staging of tho play it is difficult to speak too higlrly. Incompetent handling, a vulgar acirnt, a heavy touch, would have destroyed the doltcatc fabric, as a gust of wind a castle of cards. But the acting was wholly in the spirit of the playwright and the filay. Miss Lizetio Parkes as "Peter "an" in limply ideal* a treasure, gomething to* be cherished as a lingering memory. Good alt>o is Mifs Dolores R«>\ira* as "Wendy," the littje mother cf the lost boys in the Never Never Never Land. The children arc excellent, without a touch of the stagincss of "the infant marvel," familiar to tho public. Mr. Thomas Kingston makes an admirable Pirate Captain, looking 'as wicked a scoundrel at ever sailed under the Jolly Roger. Nana too, the dog nurnc, is splendid, white tho Red Indians and the Pirat« Crew bring home -to everyI body the idea of the true "brave" mid pirate gained from the literature of boyhood. Of the staging it ia best t* dwell on the last scene, Peter Pan among the fairy light" in his little house among the tree tops. Never has anything more beautiful ueen seen here and the audience could not have enough of it. Again and again it was revealed to thrm fast night tn response to their applause. "Peter Pan" has indeed found a home in the hearts of the people of Wellington. He will appear beforr them again to-night and during the week. THEATRE ROYAL. The magnetism of vaudeville is not abating in tho least degree. The Theatre Royal was crowded last night. Every item on the programme seemed to please. Charles Fanning, the man of the funny antics, quaint savings, and genial humour, who will be well remembered by old patrons of Fuller's, is here again. .Apparently he has grown no older — he is as hilarious and as humorous as ever. Miss Georgic Devoa helped to make the fun go. She engagud in some animated dialogues with Fanning, and otherwise helped to satisfy the appetite of the audience with the kind of fare it was looking for. "Charlotta," a mere child, contributed a couple of items in a manner which demonstrated artistic ability. The Crottons gave an excellent acrobatic turn, and Miss Gertie Johns danced attractively. One of the Crotton Brothers met with a slight accident last night, and the Brothers will not appear to-night. They hope to reappear shortly. THE KING'S THEATRE. Every seat at the King's Theatre was occupied some time before the hour fixed for tho start of the moving pictuie entertainment. The programme was an excellent one, and the audience showed its appreciation by heartily applauding most of the items. This evening* performance will be under the patronage of tho members of the Australian cricket team. To-morrow evening thcro will be > a complete change ot programme. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. His Majesty's Theatre vru crowded with an audience which showed marked approval of the excellent series of pictures projected on tho screen. One, descriptive of "Wild Birds in Their Haunts," was an admirable film, and alone is worth seeing. Yesterday's matinee was also wtll patronised. The same pictures will be shown again tonight, and to-morrow there will be a complete changft of programme. Included in tho new pictures to be shown to-morrow niglit aie "A Terrible Ordeal," "Sins of the Fathers," "Cosette," "Foolshead Temperance," "The Revenge of a Thief," and "The Heroine Maf eking." STAR PICTURES. . Yesterday afternoon and evening St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, was packed, when the Star Picture Proprietary reeled off a new programme of films for their patrons. A fine example of coloured cinematography was that embodying scenes from "Othello," the acting being especially noticeable. Another striking film is entitled "The Land of the Midnight Sun," and a scries depicting the way they haul logs in British Columbia was another. Other standard pictures were : "A Sister's Devotion," 'Honest John, the Coachman," and "The Haunted Hat" and "Wonderful Specs"- I—the1 — the last two of the comic order. A fine animal study is "Our Pets." The programme will bo repeated nightly during the week. TOWN HALL. • J The Town Hall was crowded to the doors last evening, when a particularly fine series of moviug pictures was exhibited by Messrs. John Fuller and Sons. The film that attracted most interest was entitled "The Last Muster of the Balaclava Light Brigade." This is an animated picture of an assembly of survivors of the famous charge, on the 55th anniversary of the fight. It was a vivid and touching scene. This item was received with special favour, and evoked loud applause. Its reproduction at any time would be welcome. In the scenir study "Beauty Spots from Prince- Olaf's Land," some fine enow and rugged mountain views were included. The marble quairy at St. Bert was also a fine film. There nas the usual addition ot amusing and comic items. . BF.SSKS O' TH* BARN. The Besses <>' th' Barn Band, under the tonductorship of Mr. A. Owen, gave two perfoiinaiuTs at the Athletic Paik yesterday. There were goocT attendances both nf^moon and evening and the items on the programme, both classical and popular, were to much appreciat-

od that encores were fiequentjy demanded and cheerfully acknowledged. WONDERLAND. Wonderland attracted a large number of people yeateulav, and the numerous side slio-as did a thriving business. The water t-hute and toboggan slide naturally came in for most attention. The grounds were brightly illuminated at night, and there was a line display of fireworks. Wonderland was found by tho crowds that went out yesterday to be » capital place in which to spend an afternoon, while at night thcro was plenty of life, light, and movement. EASTER CARNIVAL. The Easter Carnival, which is being held in the Sydney-street Schoolroom in aid of the Wadestown ttbmon Catholic Church Building l r und, was continued last evening. Th©. attendance was excellent, and the various stallholders did good business. Dances by children were greatly appreciated by the patrons of the baza»r, which will be continued for several more nights. Arrangement* have been made for the bazaar to be open to-morrow afternoon from 3 to 5.