AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 12101, 6 November 1908, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

WIDE-WORLD PICTURES. Last night’s exhibition of pictures at the Princess Theatre attracted an audience as large as those which have attended since the splendid programme was first shown. West’s Picture Company commence a season in this theatre to-night. OLDE ENGLISH PAYEE. Good business was done again yesterday afternoon and evening at the Olde English Fayre organised by the King Street Congregational Church. The bazaar is undoubtedly proving a success financially, for the sum of £SO was taken on tho first day. A good programme was presented in the evening, group and action songs being given by the children, under the direction of Misses Laing and Smith. The waxwork entertainment was a great success. The “fayre” will be continued this afternoon and evening. WESTS PICTURES, Retails of the pictures to be displayed at the opening of West Pictures and De Groen’s_ Vice-Regal Orchestra season at the Princess Theatre to-night are published. The management have made an excellent selection of subjects, including scenes of travel, attractive pageants, dramatic sensations, industry studies, trick creations, and funny devices. Chief interest will be attached to another of Mr West’s “Our Navy” series. This very lengthy film, which is not to bo confounded with other pictures of a similar character, depicts a recent review of the fleet by Their Majesties the King and Queen in the Solent, and, in addition to showing tho fleet as it will appear iu time of war, also includes animated photos of both tho King and Queen. Tho whole series shows the course of training which the “ handy man ” has to undergo in time of peace, and, in view of the great interest now being displayed in the Dominion and Australian Commonwealth in things naval in view of the suggestions for an Australian navy, should prove of interest. Some fine scenic studies of coastal towns in the South of France, tho Astrakhan fishing industry, customs of the people of the Tyrol, views of unknown Brazil are' also announced to be shown. The more educational pictures will bo interspersed with others of a lighter nature, amongst the comic creations being some really genuine laughter-provokers. ‘MRS WIGGS OP THE CABBAGE PATCH.’ The company imported to Australia by (Mr J. C. Williamson in conjunction with Messrs Liebler and Co., of New York, will appear at His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday next. The play has proved an unqualified success everywhere, and is at present playing to what is reported to be record business in Wellington;— “ Oh, Lord, whatever happens, keep mo from gettin’ sour.” “I put all my troubles at the bottom of my heart, and set on the lid and smile.” “Whenever you see anyone that is in trouble, it’s Sunday for you right then. It’s for you to remember. ‘ I was a , stranger, and you took me in.’” These are some of the maxims of the lovable Mrs Wiggs. Here is a play by Mrs Anne Crawford Flexner, from the stories of her friend and neighbor, Mrs Alice Hegan Rice, which render Mrs Wiggs, Mis’ Hazy, Mrs Eichorn, Mrs Schultz. Lovey Mary, Little Tommy, Miss Lucy, Mr Stubbins, Chris. Hazy, Billy and “ jography-named ” children Asia, Europena, and Australia doubly dear to those who learned to love them in the ‘cheery books, and adds new and abiding types to the minds of all who appreciate the best in dramatic art. Mis’ Hazy, the gloomy spinster, who sees life through smoked glasses, and Mr Stubbins, shiftless and ne’er-do-well, but a connoisseur in home cooking, emerge in the play more comical than in their original environment. Opulent as is ‘ Mrs Wiggs ’ >n character types, it has even been more rijTily cast, and the company are remarkable for their excellence and strength. As a dramatic force ‘Mrs Wiggs’ is unique in its defiance of technique in playbuilding and its sheer reliance upon heart interest pure and simple. Tho box plan will be opened at the Dresden to-morrow. LECTURE IN BURNS HALL. The Rev. W. Gray Dixon (of Auckland) lectured in Burns Hall last night on the subject Home Via Rio.’ There was a fairly large and extremely interested audience. Mr Dixon has the eye that secs, and the power to describe graphically and interestingly what he has seen. Rio de Janeiro, with its wonderful harbor, its rich coloring, its pomp and civilisation, fascinated and surprised him. He dilated eagerly upon the wonders of this and that over great city of South America—Buenos Ayres. How little people knew of this great “continent of to-mor-row ”! Did they know that Buenos Ayres was one of the big cities of the world, that its population increased every year by 100,000 people ? Did they know that one of the longest railway tunnels in the world cut through the Andes between the Argentine and Chili ? And did they know that a New Zealander carried out tho work? Of other places, too, even of Britain, so much described by the voluble traveller, Mr Dixon found something fresh and inspiring to say. It was a fine lecture, and the audience heartily accorded a vote of thanks called for by Dr Nisbet.