ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Those children who are so lucky as to witness a performance of "Peter Pan" may well call Mr. J. M. Barrie blessed. It is a fairy story that is true, j because it is played by real children, and further, it is true in humanity. Children are far more human than are grown- ops. Pantomime is an. intentional travesty, but "Peter Pan" portrays life as children imagine it to be. It is a delight to see the Michael Nicholas j Darling of Miss Kitty Mason, such a health and appetite does the little actress bring to the volatile element of the play. Mr. Thos. Kingston does splendid work in his dual capacity of Captain Hook, the pirate captain, and Mr. Darling, the father of a romantic family. There was a very large audience present at last night's performance m the Opera House, of whom none seemed to have left their fairystory days too far behind, and their testimony to Peter that they believed in fairies was very heartily mven. The children play their parts' with an admired cleverness and a characteristic abandon greatly refreshing. "Peter Pan" will be repeated this evening. THEATRE ROYAL. "The Crottons" will reappear on Monday night next at the Theatre Royal. Their performance is original, and provides astonishment as their teats of strength succeed each other. Mr. Charles Faning is a first favourite; his appearance is the signalfor a very happy merriment, which is sustained during his turn. A lengthy bill of amusing items was presented last evening to a large and appreciative audience. The same performance will be given this evening. THE KING'S THEATRE. A now series of films was reproduced on the fine screen at the King's Theatre last night before tho eyes of a large and interested audience. The pictures shown were entertaining, aud ranged from exciting incidents to laughter-pro-voking absurdities, with an intermingling of scenic films. A picture story with a happy ending, entitled "Thb Sins of the Father*," was one of the most popularly received of the comprehensive series. "The Heroine of Mafeking," allegedly an incident of the Boer war, was presented most realistically, and followed with enthusiasm. Not the least interesting of a number of others were those illustrative of a marble quarry and a coconut plantation in Singapore. In addition, the audience is taken on an imaginative trip on an electric tramway amongst the Engandino Peaks in Switzerland. The. programme will bo repeated to-night. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. There was a full house at this popular place of entertainment last night, and a complete change of programme. One of tlio most interesting films is the second edition of the Pans floods series. The pictures give a remarkably good idea of the extent of the inundation and tho havoc wrought by it in the gay city, and were greatly appreciated. The "travel" pictures, Dutch scenes and coconut plantations in Singapore, were excellent. In the former, exceptional care has been to depict typical features of tho scenery and the quaint dress and characteristics of the people, while in the latter the audience was given a wonderfully good, idea of the luxuriant growth of the tropicß, and the methods of picking and; exporting <lie valuable coconut. This picture is interesting and instructive, besides being in many parts ; very beautiful. Another very interest- \ ing film is that illustrative of herring fishing off Boulogne. The chief features of that important industry are reprcsen ted, from the start to the hauling in of the nets, and tho return to the shore oyer tho heavy seas. The picture was one of tho most popular of the evening. Pride of place, however, was earned by the film snowing the last muster of the heroes of the famous charge of the Light Brigade. As each of the gallant veterans appeared on the screen, he was greeted with ringing cheers. The dramatic series comprise scenes from Victor Hugo's "Les AUserables," "The Heroine of Mafeking," in which exceptional trouble has ben taken to invest the various scenes with an air of realism, and "Tho Sins of the Fathers," a sensational story of a Tennessee feud. The comic pictures arc funny and original, and in one case, "Calino Goes Travelling," the scenery depicted is worth seeing in itself. All the other films are of great merit, and from beginning to end the programme was received with every mark of favour. STAR PICTURES. The Star Pictures are attracting appreciative audiences nightly to St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown. The programme is selected with careful judgment, and every type of moving picture is represented in the list. Several fine I scenic films are being displayed, and the I dramatic pictures are worthy of special remark. VICTORIA COLLEGE BAZAAR. Mrs. Newman, the Mayoress, will at 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon open the Victoria College Students' Bazaar, which is being held with tho object of raising funds necessary to pay off tho debt remaining on the students' gymnasium and social hall, and to furnish those quarters. The bazaar, which is to be held in the Victoria- College gymnasium building, will be open from 3 to 5 and from 7.30 to 10.30 on Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings. The large top floor < of the college gymnasium has been converted into a sale room, with the stalls on every side —produce, plain and fancy goods, art, sweets, flowers, doll, and book stalls. The ground floor of the building is set aside for a tea-room aud the many bida-shows, including a Punch md Judy show and toodle-um.buck — a novel fascination. The science students have arranged for an interesting bcientific display, and have been fortunate enough to procure a number of Antarctic exhibits fiom the collection made by Pro- [ feasor David on the recent Uhackleton | Polar expedition ; these should prove of particular interest to all. There is also a samplo of radium, and in addition the student* will give a continuous display of interesting chemical experiments. There will be concert items during the course of the bazaar, aud a nt ring band will be in attendance. Visiting delegates to the Conference of Painters and Decorators now being Iteld in the Town Hall were entertained last evening by members of the local union. Mr. W. Cooper, president of the Wellington branch of the Federation, was in tho chair. Toasts relating to labour and the trade and their representalivm v/ete duly honoured, and v number of musical items rendered. This evening a performance of ".Mim Cleopatra" will he given by tho |£astIvmrni' Dramatic Company at Knioii in <iid 'if the Kntnii Howling Club's funds. It was announced that the piny would lie gi\cii la«t I'vrntit'^, but »rt minimi of ihf nb<<eiirc of sui'i • ol tlio peiformors .i munuii] jno^iun\m- \'.is substituted. TicktU purchased for JMt svtaing'ipciformMK* will hold good to-ntffat.