AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15923, 8 May 1912, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL,

Miss Hilda Spong and Sir William Desmond were greeted with enthusiastic applause on their appearance before the large audience at the Theatre Royal last night, and they, together with the other members of tho company, kept the audience enthralled throughout by their presentation of “The Passer-by. - ’ The humorous scene in tho first act, and the emotional seem} in tho last act, wore.splendidly acted, and-the audience wits not slow to realise that fact. The same play will be repeated to-night. - FULLER’S PICTURES. The Colosseum again proved a centre of attraction for the public last night, and a large audience was present when the current programme was Screened for the second time. The excellent films all proved extremely interesting, and were without exception accorded a good reception. Tho same - programme will be-repeated to-night: WEST-JTAYWARD PICTURES. Picture dramas were presented at His Majesty’s Theatre last niglit lie fore a large and appreciative audience, and again proved that their attractiveness for the public had not warned. The scenic films made much-appreciated interludes. The same pictures will be sliown to-night-. \ OPERA HOUSE. The House was well patronised last night, and the applause of the audience showed that the brightness and variety 'of, the present programme have already made it popular.. The-different turns were all well received; the Driscoll Boys being specially favoured. The programme will be repeated to-night. ;• ■ ;• ’ OLYMPrA RINK. The graceful art of skating was pursued by large numbers of people at all sessions yesterday and hist night, and in addition there were many spectators. Skating will be continued to-day and this evening.

•SYDENHAM PICTURES. The attendance'was very satisfactory last ' night at the Sydenham Picture Palace. There will be a complete change of programme to-night. “ The Turnstile,” “How Bella was Won,” '■'Redman’s Penalty,” "Loves and Plots of Venice.” “ Arabella Becomes an Heiress” “In Despair,” and "No Smoking Allowed,” will comprise the new pictures. • CHRISTCHURCH ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. The hooking for the first concert of the Orchestral Society’s season, which will be given on Friday next, has exceeded all. expectations, and is the heaviest since the inauguration of the Society. To avoid disappointment to new subscribers, the committee has decided to open up six extra rows of seats in the orchestral stalls at 10 o’clock this morning. The box plan is at the Dresden; CHRISTCHURCH COMPETITIONS SOCIETY. The musical and elocutionary competitions, which will commence on Tuesday liext, will bo the largest yet held l>y the Christchurch Society. The entries number over 1000, and it has been found necessary to engage, the Alexandra Hall, to enable the work to he completed within a reasonable time. The entries received from outside the Canterbury district number:—Auckland 41, Wellington 39, Otnki 10, Greymouth 6, Hokitika 3, Dunedin 109, and 'lnvercargill 26. Waikato, Wnihi, Fieton, Blenheim, Gore, Palmerston, Huuterville and Pahiatua are also represented. Competitions have been arranged for orations, recitations, piano, violin, banjo, and mandolin polos, impromptu speeches and debates, vocal solos, ducts, quartettes and a choral contest. The competitions will all bo heard at the day sessions and the three best recalled to appear in the evening. The choir contest- and the final demonstration will he held ift the Theatre Royal. THE GREAT JANSEN. A brief season of mystery will he commenced at tho Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, .when Jansen will appear at the head of a specially selee-. ted company. It is stated that Jansen is one of the most interesting conjurors yet seen in the dominion. His reputation lias been strengthened in Australia and in New Zealand by. crowded audiences wherevex he has appeared, and he has been highly praised for his remarkable feats in the " black arts.” To advertise the company the management has announced that Jansen will walk between the Telegraph Office and the Dresden Piano Company’s premises on Thursday. May 16, between 5 and 5.30 p.m. He will be disguised and the first person tapping him on the shoulder and saying- " You are the mysterious Mr Jansen ” is to receive a prize. of five pounds.