ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. j "A GIRL'S TEMPTAIwA.- j It was mad© 'abundantly manifest at the Opora House on Saturday night that the genuine old and crusted melodrama has lost none of its charm, notwithstanding the change of public taebe in some other directions. It might be thought that the picture show and above all, in big cities at least, the music hall would nave over-Bhadowed the glory of melodrama. But it is not so when plays of this description are well produced and capably acted. Th» George MarW Company's presentation of "A Girl's Temptation" at th« Opera House on .Saturday wa* a case in point. The play resembles a shop cake— the same recipe, .the name ingrediente, the same uniform niaking, the name flavour. But an unskilful cook, no matter how good thematerials may be, cannot go on turning out % satisfactory articie that will bring increasing custom to the shop Running through "A Girl's Temptation like a red strand in a government *ope, is to be discerned that ancient, basic, and comforting idea of the drama, the temporary undoing of the good and true and their final triumph over the Innciple of Iniquity working through ductile human agente. In "A GitTe Temptation," as in all playe of the goniig, the explanatory word which conithonsense would dictate is unspoken til the last act. Obviously so ; eke what would become of the four- acts and - all vie convolutions comprised in them? It is these four acts that" the- public pays to see. It wants a lote for iie money, and "A Girl's Temptation" provides it. 1-vidently much was expected on Saturday, for the- house was packed. The play was wholly to the liking of the gods, who accepted ac eweet-smelling incense such sentiments ,as "Mesh and blood never count when a landlord wants hi©/ rent,". "I'd give up my fortune to marry th« girl 1 love," "If you went to the gat<w of hell you would be turned out." The gallery also applauded vigorously, and that midway plane, the dim circle, thoroughly ettjoyed the play if the demonstrative applause was genuine. Tho kernel of the play is the stroug love of a factory girl for the son of a millionaire manufacturer. The mill manager is aleo in love with the girl, and a titled lady hopes to win and marry the manufacturer's son — and his prospective millions. Of course the son loves the factory girl and will have none of tho titled lady. So between them all — 'the plotting, intriguing, false swearing, lying, and blundering, matters get frightfully tangled, but the girl comes out all right in the disentangling. Absolutely improbable people have to be impersonated, and this is a very much harder thing to do than it would rteem. It ifi far easier to act naturally than otherwise ; but lo faithfully o'boerve the tiuditions and conventions of melodrama is a hard thing to do' well 'enough to please those who are really 'fond of it. It was abundantly clear on Saturday that this company ojt Mr. George Mallow's thoroughly knows 'its business. The principals knew when and how to evoke cheers, and also how to arouse angry hisses. There were times when £he house was raging with singer, and timeo when it roareo with laughter. It was played upon as a lute in the hands of accomplished players. Notwithstanding that parts of the play might well be excised without imparmg its anatomy as a whole "A Girl's Temptation" was intensely popular, for which thfl capable cast wus responsible. Mifca Louise Hampton was allotted the part of Kate Stirling, the, loving factory v girl j Mr. Cecil Mannering played Guy ]Warren for the love of whom Kate Stirling 'suffertd so much ; Mr. Herbert Linden had the inglorious part of the villain, ,'Mark Klaw — v thorough-paced "bad'un" — and the frequency , with which he was hissed and hooted was high prake indeed for hi* whole-hearted interpretation of the character. Mr. J. P. O'ftelll as Sammy Sniggles and Mks Alice l)eorwyu as Jemima' Jessap, had charge ot all the comedy, and served it out in liberal helpings, keeping the house roaring whenever they appeared singly or together. Ac the supercilious Lady Constance Heathfleld, Mieß Hanie Ireland neyer played better under the glorious Bland Holt banner. The lesser partß were also well cast. The scenery was excellent and, the incidental' music uuußuaJly good. "A Girl's Temptation' 1 will bo repeated thie evening. THEATRE ROYAL. Good houses were recorded all last week at the Theatre Royal, and the various items on the Bill were evidently much appreciated. To-night the company will be strengthened by several new artiste — among those to appear being Odell and Hart, comedy specialty act; Frank Yqrke, comedian; Bella Perman, comedienne; Joseph Gilbert, Englkh light comedian. The remaining members of the company will ako appear in new items. FULLER'S PICTURES. There were large attendances at Fuller's Pictures in the Skating Rink on Saturday in spite of the bokterous* weather. Tho new programme is full of good things, including "Scenes in Mozambique," "Whaling" and the dramas "Testing His Courage," "The Imposter," and "The Cowboy'e Adopted Child." To night there will be an entire, change. THE NEW THEATRE. Crowded audiences were atoi-acted to the New Theatre on Saturday. Perhaph tho beet picture of the cunent »ories is one entitled "Nature in Her Winter Clothes, " a. beautiful eludy of the delightful tiflfo and artistic lovelineea which invariably go -hand in hand with the rigouaw of ths cold, season. "Tangled Lives" (a gipsy story) and "Th« Kid of Roaring Camps " are two pictures plotted on lines which always command a large «hare of approval. "The Wager and the Wagie-earjiers " is an Edi&M* film, the details of which are «Xc«llently carried' out. Lovers of * good tycenic picture will not fail to appreciate eoam charming views from the Islo of Man. There are- t-everal other fin© pictures, . inlJudiUg two laughable conlics, in the programme, which will be supplanted by ail entirely new series to-morrow night. SHORTT'S PICTURES. The curreat picture prograitume at Shortt's had a successful run on Saturday, when large audiences assembled all day. To-night there will be a complete change. A picture showing the "Launching of the Titanic " — the magnificent lin«r which was wrecked under HippalliiK; circumstances near Cape Race a few dayt. ago — will have aa especial uiboreat. The bill AviU also contain views, depicting "The German Emperor's VLit to Norway " Dramatic subjects to be shown include " Sheepman's Escape," "Burglar-proof Villa," "Sisters' Love," r and "A Curious Cure"; alto, "The Gaumont Graphic" aad "The Hedgehog." KILBIRNIE SKATING RINK. The chilly atmosphere on Saturday was very favourable for ekating, and was fully taken advantage of ,by skatere, who attended in large mim bers at the Kilbifnie Skating Rink. The afternoon session was very popu lar, and in the evening the chief attraction was a gentleman's handicap mile rave. Tho management states that hpi'iial provision i* buiiiij made iui

CARRIE MOORE. Much has been read, written, and heard of Mica Carrie Moore, the AngloAustralian musical comedy actress, and the fact that she* is to commence a season at the Theatre Royal next Mondaj, 6th May, under the Breiman-Fuller management, has aroused much interest. Miss Moore is recognised as ' being one of the world's stars on the musical comedy etage of to-day, and was leading lady to J. C. Williamson for seven years prior to her departure for England. Mies Moore has. 'never yet appeared before any New Zealand audience. Ferhaps the two beet pieces the- Australian public have seen her in were "Our Miss Gibbe" and the "Merry Widow. She has achieved great popularity with her audiences. ' The box plan opens 'at the Dresden next Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock. MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA. To-morrow evening, in the Town Hall, the fourth concert of the Municipal Orchestra will be given. The following items will be played for the first time : — Beethoven's First Symphony and the Turkish march from the "Ruine of Athens," a " Valse lente " by Sibelius, and Rossini's Overture to Tancredi. Two Hungarian dartcte (Bralims), Loin dv bal (Gillet), and the Dornroschen Valse by Tschaikowski are other orchestral .items 'that will be well worth listening to. In addition to the orchestral numbers, Mr. Barnett will give several items on th» organ. TOWN HALL ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Maughau Barnett's weekly organ Tecital at the Town' Hall, on Saturday evening, proved an "enjoyable one to the music-lovers who braved the weather. The City Organist's recitals included Bach' 6 "Prelude and Fugue in E Minor," Schubert's "Serenade" and "Marche Militaire," Sodea-mann's "Swedish Wedding March," and Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"—, an appropriate betting for the high winds of Saturday and Sunday. . Mr. Barnett had the assistance of Mr. F. R. Johnstone, whose admirable playing on the 'cello (accompanied by Mrs. Johnstone) of Tartini'a "Adagio" and Popper's "Hungarian j Rhapsody" was much appreciated. The { next organ recital will bo on, Saturday, the Uth of May.. THE KING'S THEATRE. The final screening of last week's programme at the King's ■ Theatre was witnessed by a large attendance. There will be a complete change of bill tonight, when the chief attraction will be a fine dramatic film entitled "A Victim of the Mormons." This item will be supported by a new collection of the latest in dramatic, comic, and educational subjects. STAR THEATRE. ' To-night them will be the usual com- ' plete change of programme at tho Star Theatre. The new fiubjecte will include "Military Air i&oute," "Billy's Stratagem," "The Sick Man of tho East," dramatic studies, and "Dupin and the Stolen Necklace," "Love in Many Moods," and "Gallant Firemen," comics. The Star orchestra, a feature of this theatre, will play appropriate selections. PARIS "PICTURES. The Paris Theatre was well attended on Saturday evening, when another complete change of progtanutto was screened. Among a good variety of films is a drama, 'entitled "Woman and Man." It is, perhaps, one of the finest society photoplays yet shown in the theatre. The film is over 2000 fwb in length, and was watched with interest from beginning to end. Of the other films "The Engagement Biug," "The Toss of a Coin, and "C,qvyb'oy and Artist," 'wore appreciated. The' comic items included "Biave Policeman," and ''Castles in the Air. 1 ' ST. THOMAS'S PICTURES. Th© exwllent picture entertaiinn<ui'L a>t St. Thomas's Hall was well paiioniscd on Saturday. The programme will Iw» repeated this evening, and to-morrow there wall bo a change. SAVAGE CLUB The Wellington Savage Club opened its 1912. season on Saturday night with a korero, held in the Masonic Hall. In the absence of tho Chief Savage (General Godley) Mr. Marciw Mark© presided over a very large ga/fcKering. In th» em<er [ tainment provided the Savage* themselve*. The orchestra, , Under the i baton of Savage D. A. Kenny, gave t\Vc» delightful ' items, much v appreciated. Among the other features of a. capital programme wore "The Mudderefield Bellringefra " (Savages Kenny, Newton, and Bland ford, t with Mr Bloy at tha piano), and items by Savages Logan, Clark, Gardner, Parsons, Queree, Isaacs, Wood, Short, House, and Marius The evening concluded, with, the old chorus, "The Tomedo and the Whale," From Planquette's comic opeTa, "Olivette."