ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 152, 24 December 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. j The new "His Majesty's Theatre." Courtenayplace, will reopen after the period of reconstruction on Boxing Night, Thursday next, 26th December. Mcesra. Fuller and Sons will then submit a specially fine 'programme of pictures, including the popular romantic Comedy, "Sweet Nell of Old DrurV," with Miss Nellie Stewart in tho title role. This picture is one of the numerous attraction* of*- which Messrs. Fuller havo- obtained the full rights for the Dominion. The story will not- be un familiar to most patrons of tho theatre, for tho play was always highly popular with Miss Stewart as "Sweet Nell." It lends itself to the eplendoure of tho elaborate photo-drama,, with its picturps of the Court of "the Merry Monarch, Charles ,11., with ite revelry and extravagance. The part of Noll Gwynne is famous historically, and histrionically it was ono of Miss Stewart's greateet successes. The picture play, indeed, represents Australia's favourite actress in the character which won her fame in one of 1 the moet popular romantic dramas ever staged in Australia. The refit of the company is said to-be excellent, and the mounting of the piece* most magnificent. During the progress of tho picture- the Nell Gwytitie song will bo eung by Mrs, Walter Fuller. 'The cup--porting programme is said to be in keeping with tho reputation of Fuller's Pictures. OPERA HOUSE. - Only one more opportunity remains for witnessing that clever com'edy -drama "On Our Selection" at the Opera House. The company is a strong one, and much credit is due to the artists for the excellent maimer in which they picture the various quaint characters created by Steele Rudd. THEATRE ROYAL. There will be no performance this evening at the Theatre Royal, but tfie management "announces for to-morrow evening attractions in tho form of a special bill, when prominent artists will appear and render monologues, recitations, and selected items. . Excellent vaudeville entertainment is promised for Thursday evening (Boxing Night) /when the artists will include Francis E. Curran, described as the "world's champion monopede," Thornton (juggler), and tho eight "Grotesques/ a costume comedy company. "GET-RICH-QLICK WALLINGFORD," For the first five , performances of "Get-Rich-Quick Wallihgf6rd" there has been a brisk demand' for" seats. The American farce comedy will be staged by J. C. Williamson's new company at the 1 Opera Housd on Boxing Night. To-day the bbx' plans will be on view at the Dresden', and/ during the holidays, seats may be booked in the dress-circle vestibule of the Opera House, where tickets' for early doorß to the stalls and gallery may also be purchased. On the fiftieth representation of the comedy in Sydney a critic wrote : "There have been in the theatre since 'Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford' started the fathers of many strange money -getting ideas. ' The man who builds you a house for nothing and then enjoys a revenue from you as long ■ as you live, nearly fell out of his clothes ! laughing at the manner Wallingford got '.money for his covered carpet tack, i Again, the man, the diamonds of whose shirt front illuminated the auditorium-"-he lends money without security — fairly chortled with delight. Company promoters have been giving theatre parties and sAvelling with pride before their women folk as' they .. watch \ the skilful manipulations of ■ Wallingford. The brilliant stage exponent of their methods is taken into account for .the fact that they .'can, drive from the theatre in large and opulent-looking motor-carsl The dealer in auctions on city property cannot ' find fault with Wallingtord's technical accuracy of procedure. • The play skits: the company promotion business with a lightness that tickles everyone. It • has, tooj in the dialogue, all the smart novelty of direct expression that gave the 'Letters of Self-made Merchant to- his Son' its wide vogue." The company will arrive by the Moeraki tomono w. • SHORTT'S THEATRE. The kindly" feeling displayed by the proprietors of Shortt's Theatre yesterday ia tendering •a- benefit to the , relatives of the little tele-i graph messenger, R. R. Jounnax, who was drowned recently in the Te Aro Baths, was rewarded with a very generous measure of public appreciation. The theatre was practically crowded at all sessions.* Chief amongst the picture's in the programme was the Nordisk Company's photo drama "Black Blood," or. "The Black Physician," a picture iv which v scheming Indian doctor is made to pay the penalty for" dishonesty. "The Ship's Husband" and "Tommy's Sifter" (a laughable comedy) are two very popular pictures in ' tho current progrnmme., From '2 p.m. to-morrow a specially-selected programme appropriate to the Christmas soason will be shown. Tho ordinary hours will be observed on Boxing Day. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. '- At. the People's Picture Palace the usual bi-weekJy change of programme was presented yas'terday. One of the best pictures in the programme was that entitled " Missionaries in Darkest Africa/ a film taken by the Kalem Company, fcho photographing of which is said to have co3t something like £20,000. Another very good dramatic study was entitled "Rose Kate." "The Renegades " (a Lubin drama beautifully executed) and " Picturesque Dalmatia ' could hardly fail to interest tho com pany's pations. From 2 p.m. to-morrow a special Christmas programme will be presented, the headline Him in the series being that splendid picture, " The Fall of Troy." TUGOF-WAR AND PICTURE CARNIVAL. < Boxing Night will see the opening at tho Town Hull of_ tho Tug-of-War and Picture Carnival inaugurated by Hayward's Enterj rises, Ltd. This event has created much interest/ owing to tho big money offered as prizes to the winning teams, and teams from outside Welling ton— namely, two from Halcombe. Feilding. two from Christchurch, and tho crack team of unbeaten Hawkes Bay champions (tho gasworks team)—- ' will try ct'iiclusions with the representatives of Wellington City. The Napior Gasworks team has beeD in existence for fifteen years, and, though its pereounel^ has been changed from timo to time, it is eaid to hold an > unbeaten record in the province. There are sovtaal Wellington, teams bent on breaking thjg run. The pr6gramme on Thursday evening is an attractive one. In Iho "all>comors' " class the Napier Gasworks team J8 to pull Munt, Cottrell's men ; the Now Zealanders have been niatehod to pull Christchurch; and the Hakombo (No. 1) will pull tho New Zealand Express Co. In the 12st class, Christchurch (No. 2) will pull tho New Zealand Ex- , pre6S Co. (No. 2) ; the Wellington Fire Brigade will pull Halcombe (No. 2) ; and Christchurch (No. 3) will pull Munt, Cottrell (No., 2). An interesting pull will ateo be furnished by the foot j bailors' pull between the "All Blacks" and the Athletic Club's team. Tho tugs , will be interspersed with many new pictures. Mr. Jamas Doyle is the refereeand sole judge, and Mr. Leslie will act ac stage manager.'

BARTON BROTHERS' OIBCUS.' Uartou Brothers' Circus, on its own woid. ( tho kugeat wagon show that has toured' Iho Dominion, has issued frqm its . winter quarters and is again on the rpad. The combination — quite a good little show — opened a brief Wellington season on Te Aro flat last eveningj when considerable patronage was accorded them. The performance, averaged up, is good value for the admission charged. Probabh- the finest, and one of the most spectacular, turns was that of Hanley, Margeurite, and Hanley, two gentlemen, a.nd lady , gymnasts, who combine to carry out difficult and stirring feats. The lady, obviously built for strength, displays a masculine virility and muscle, with a woman's gi ace, in several conscientious performances. The turn proceeds interestingly from good to better to bestwhen madame, in the loop of a looseswinging rope, one eild of which is gripped by Hanley majoi's teeth, while the other is swung round the other man's Jieck, begins to revolve slowly, increasing her speed until she becomes a pink whirl. .The performance pleased the crowd mightily last evening, and the plaudits were well deserved. Another spectacular and graceful turn is that submitted by an interpid lady, Miss Kathleen Baker, both on the trapeze and on the wire. Miss Baker's trapeze work was marked by a cool daring and finish impiessive enough, and, in addition to her clever balancing on the wire, she capped her performance with an operatic solo on a brass instrument with one foot on the slender support. Miss Mona Val uses a light stockwhip with great proficiency— for a woman. Not" only does bhe avoid cutting chips from the back of her neck with 4he lash, but she is dexterous enough to flick a cigaretfe from a man's lips and to cut the top off a bottle with one stroke. This is a novel item. Master . Lindsay displaced unusual suppleness in some contortions, as did Miss Baberino, who, should she become, tired of standing on her foet, could easily 'rest them byusing her forehead for that purpose. It would not be just either to the show or the animal itself to omit mention of a beautiful little thoroughbred pony, Silver • •King, who absolutely captured" the hearts of every small boy in the "audi ence. "The King" is remarkably trained, and with further tuition is likely to develop • into something as useful as a valet: F. R. Barton' and "Frankino"? (the latter in 'particular) demonstrated & splendid agility on horseback^ and Happy Jackles 1 received an exceptionally. j hearty hearing from tho more youthful I members of the audience. There will be another performance this evening; I' " THE KING'S THEATRE. " Falsely- Accused," with Miss Asti Neilsen in the title x'ole— such is the "star" attraction at The King's Theatre this week. . Apparently these long picture dramas, so realistically acted amid tho most beautiful surroundings^ are becoming very popular, for big crowds are always attracted by them. Last night there were very few vacant seats at The King's. Miss> Neilsen, too, is an ideal picture artist. " Falsely Accused" is a more simple and less passionate film than many of its class! It tells principally of* a sister's great love for her brother, who has got into trouble through cheating at' cards. He !s ordered out of the country, but not having the money he secretes himself. The sister pays him many visits, and her lover, who cannot understand her moods, denounces her to her parenjts. Ultimately the truth domes out, and instead of- the usual tragic ending there is a happy reconciliation all round. The favourite fairy story of Cinderella and the glass slipper made an excellent sub l • ject for another picture. The Edison Company- provide " A Girl from the Country." a most interesting " film. Pa the 'd English and Australian Gazettes l . Were also, shown. * 'Other,, films weres '\The History of a Polecat," "The Half--bred Scout,? and. several comic items. A special programme will be shown to<morrow v night, and ' there will .be a matinee on Boxing Day. , , THE NEW THEATRE. . The star attraction at the New Theatre' yesterday was the sensational film, "Between Life and Death." The plot of the story was fully described in all its exciting details in The Post, and I was responsible for capacity audiences last night — indeed, many people had to be turned away. Another fine picture in the current programme is entitled 'Ghur*h and State," in which Miss Gladys Sylvani and Mr. Alec. Worcester are seen in the leading parts. "Land Sharks v. Sea Dogs," is a really good subject, and "Broncho Bill's Christmas Dinner," and "Juggins's Motor Skates" would make a tuatara lizard laugh. To-morrow, Christmas Day, a specially selected programme will be presented from 2 piirt. Amongst the pictures' to be screened are "Though your Sins- be as Scarlet," (by request), "The Deluge," "Liic of Moses," "The Birth of Christ,."' "The Battle," and a beautiful flowerstudy. On Boxing Day the usual, hours at this theatre, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., will be observed. The bi-weekly programme will contain, amongst other pictures, ".Robinson Crusoe" and "Puss in Boots." 1 "THE teMPRES'S THEATRE. ■There were crowded attendances last evening at the .'Empress Theatre con,' tinuous pictures, when the chief photoplay was "Too Late/ -This is a dramatic story of Richelieu, the great French Cardinal. The piece is excellently produced. . The. additional subjects include "Williams's Weekly," "Tho Arrival of the new Governor at Wcllingtoq," "Her Awakening," and "Tho Poacher's t ©ash for Liberty." These items will be* repeated throughout this evening/; To-morrow a special Christmas Day'sei'ies will be submitted from 2 p.m. till 11 p.m. Appropriate music will be contributed by tho full orchestra. The leading picture will' be "Francis of Assisi," an elaborate enactment from the life of that famous saint. The new programme on Boxing Day will introduce "The Musketeers of Pig Alley," the latest (exclusive) "feature" drama by the A.B. Company. This is described as a realistic presentation of the gangster evil (similar to "pushes") as it exists in New York to-day. STAR- THEATRE. The holiday programme at the Star Theatre, Newl6wn, gives local residents no excuse for coming into the city. The principal pictures are ' "Thfe Pole Cat" (educational), "Cinderella" (pantomime), Girl from the Country," "Half-Breed Scout," "Falsely Accused" (dramas). The Pathe Gazette introduces the latest pictured ©vents in the Old Country. There is a good assortment of comic pictures also. There will b6 no matinee to-morrow, but a special programme has been arranged for the evening. On Boxing Day there will be a matinee and a well-arranged programme for the evening. CHRISTMAS ORGAN RECITAL. Visitors to the city during the Christmas season are lemindcd by advertisement in another column that Mr. Maughan Barnett, tho city organist, will give an organ recital in the Town Hall on Christmas night, when tho programme will be an appropriate one. Mr, Ma.ughan Barnett's Fantftisie on Christmas Hymn tunes. Lemmon's offertoire "Ilosannah," tho shepherd scene from "Tannhauser' 1 (Wagner), and Lemare's Pastorale, are specially interesting works. Mi 1 . John Prouse will ping Gounod's Nazaroth" and "Les Rameaux" (Foure)," The prices are popular on<?s

ST. THOMAS'S PICTURES. I'The Renegades" will bo shown at Fuller's Pictures in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtowh, this evening. "Rose Kate," -a powerful "drama, '.'Missionaries in Darkest Africa." showing whites at the mercy of savages. "The Fall of Troy," and "When Jack Comes Home" are but a. few of the outstanding pictures in a generally attractive holiday programme. "RIP VAN WINKLE." The Victoria Hall, Newtown, will be opened on Boxing Night by CharlesArcher's Dramatic Company in "Rip Van Winkle." _ The stage accommodation has been increased and flew scenery introduced. The company includes Mr. George Jamieson (late of the TaylorCarrington Company). Miss Dorothy Vernon and Miss Popo will support. An entertainment, organised by Miss Grace Kennedy, was given at the Ohi,ro Home last evening. Miss Kennedy and Master Mitchell played violin solos, Mrs. Mitchell and Mr. Oakey contributed vocal solos and duets, and' Miss F. Kennedy presjded at the piano.