AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15704, 25 August 1911, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. Tlie Anderson Dramatic Company presented “The Round Up ” for tho Let time at the Theatre Itoyal lm,t evening before an appreciative audience, and the play was heartily received. This evening and to-morrow the company will present the latest dramatisation of Mrs Henry Wood s play “ East Lynne,” a drama thau ha* that evergreen quality of always being acceptable. The newer version is said to be a decided improvement upon tiie older style oi the piece. Ino tragic tale is worked out logically and appealingly and snows the sorrows that loilow evil and tho blessings that follow clean hying in a manner that has won praise in other centres from critics "’no have termed the dramatisation sane and possible. The season will close to-morrow, and tlie company will tiien leave for Wellington. FULLER’S PICTURES. Probably the most interesting of the new films shown at the Colosseum last evning to a very large audience w as the series that dealt very fuily with the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Carnarvon Castle. The arrival of tile Royal party at the castle was depicted, with ail the pomp and circumstance, and then the ceremony was brought close to tlie audience, giving a splendid view of the crowning of the prince. ‘ ‘ A Peace Offering ’ ’ xvas a very neat little comedy, although the story has been utilised by another film-producing company before. “ Vindicated,” the story of tho reformation of a convict, xvas interpreted cleverly, and the film xvas good. “The Great Centipede,” a scientific series, gave an excellent idea of the habits of the myriapedum, and showed a battle-royal between txvo of the kind. “What Happened to Auntie” xvas a funny Essanay comedy, with many excuses for laughter, ancl “ Tho Saxv Mill Hero ” told the story of a college bey, xvho, though disinherited by his millionaire father, makes headway in a lumber camp, only to find that his father is president of the company he has been working for. There is a reconciliation, and the father, unlike most rich film-fathers, accepts the girl loved by the son xvithout demur. The same programme will be sboxvn to-night. WEST-HAYWARD PICTURES. The attendance at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening xvas a large one, and the current xx-eek’s programme xvas repeated xvitk considerable success. Tlie picture entitled A Wild Sea and Stormy Sunset ” xvas remarkably effective, and the illustrations of the working of the great hydraulio lift lock xvere of special interest. The programme xvill be repeated this evening. OPERA HOUSE. There xvas a largo attendance at the Opera House last evening, and the programme, headed by the PotterHartwoll Trio, xvas very successful. To-night the programme will bo repeated. OLYMPIA RINK. There xvas a good attendance at the Olympia Skating Rink last evening, and the floor presented a busy appearance. The rink xvill be open to-day as usual. SYDENHAM PICTURES. Tho Sydenham Pictures wero shown to a large audience again last night. The scenic items xvere very pleasing, especially “Glimpses of Burmese Life ” and “ A Holiday in tlie North.” Tlie dramatic and. comedy items xvere also very popular. To-night the same programme xvill be shown. “ JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.” The box-plans for the first six nights and first txvo matinees of “Jack and the Beanstalk ’ ’ xvere opened at Messrs Milner and Thompson's yesterday xvith satisfactory results. The function of the modern pantomime is to appeal with equal force to young and old. A striking example of what can be done under present-day conditions in the way of pantomime is said to be “ Jack "and the Beanstalk,” to be produced at the Theatre Itoyal on Monday for a season of nine nights and txvo matinees. It is popularly supposed to be the best production that J. C. Williamson, Limited, has sent to the dominion. It is affirmed that the company excels in individual and collective talent other sirftilar combinations that have preceded it, the staging and costuming being superior to those previously presented here, the ballet being better arranged and postured and more artistically carried out in detail than any prepared in any other pantomime. In addition novelties and specialties are introduced that rank xvith the best that the vaudeville lias to offer, the comedy more genuinely funny and better sustained than is usually the case, and the whole is embellished by a setting of seductive and invariably tuneful music.