ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13467, 18 June 1907, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S' THEATRE.

"THE KELLY GANG." large audience at His' Majesty's Tliea-

tre "■ last evening ■~.■'■ spent quite; a thrilling and exciting time following out the stirring story of the- Kelly Gang as told by a series of biograph i pictures. The biograph picture has now come to be recognised as quite aj necessary : adjunct* to civilisation, and the wonder of its creation has vanished with the mystery of the telephone and the first motor-car. To such* a stage of perfection has the moving picture been brought, that audiences at.. this end of the world may have repeated for their benefit almost every detail, in actual spectacular panorama, , events that have happened thousands of miles away, and no country is sacred from the enterprising picture-taker. .One of the latest productions in this line is the. story of the Kelly Gang. In order to hare the scenes of the various incidents portrayed it was necessary, sometimes to keep employed as many as 50 people at a time, and it even necessitated the ■ co-operation of the railways and the engagement of special trains. / The story of Ned Kelly and hit* gang is as well known as the Eureka Stock ade fight, both stirring incidents in Australian history, and the representation presented last night by Messrs. J. and N. Tait was a most creditable effort to give the • story in pictorial form. '■'■;■ It is a sejries''•'of running ■', fights, vof "hold-ups," of 'bank robberies, and "of police chases. The bushrangers one minute are seen at the Kelly homestead, then fighting with the police, the next minute takes the spectator to the police camp in the Wombat Ranges, where the officers are surprised by the outlaws ;^ and a while later the Kellys are sticking-up i Younghusband's ; Station, and disguising themselves in clothes " borrowed" from a surprised hawker. ; Again the gang' is seen robbing Euroa bank, and taking the clerks prisoners, and then follow the police chase after Kate Kelly, and the black trackers are discovered at work in the Strathbogie Ranges! In the fifth scene, again, 'the bushrangers are forcing platelayers to lift a rail from the line, and the pilot engine is being saved by Curnow, the schoolmaster. •. This is followed by the memorable: fight at "Glenrowan* Inn, -and then comes the closing scene in., the capture of ' the' ' last :of ; the ;" gang. . ~ _ " Preceding the 'story of the Kelly Gang were a number of excellent sets, nearly all amusing, and several of the "chase" order, ] the turning of the tables? on two tramps . who waylay and rob lady cyclists, ana the J country farmer's exciting chase after a wandering hat, being particularly funny, j while the story of the yokel who visited the witches* cave was one of the most prettily 1 coloured " illusion!"' sets ; yet seen here. , There was also a good series entitled A , ' Wedding on Bicycles," and with: the ex- ; ception of "The Prospectors," every pic- , 1 ture display was new to Auckland. The : 1 films were'beautifullv clear, and in sharp : focus, and the audience spent a most plea- • sant evening. ~ ; *'•■' The Kelly Gang pictures will be repeated . this evening. ,' : ___^___ ' -'■■;..;■■ v OPERA HOUSE. V Fuller's Vaudeville Company again . ap- '' peared before a crowded audience last night. ' Great satisfaction was expressed at the new, departure in the style of performance, and the abolition of the minstrel first paxt. 1 Raleigh and May, two clever wire-walkers, introduced some comic jugglin b . % Cleo- ; patra gave a fine display, of .snake charm--1 ing, twining a number; of these . reptiles around her body, and'she seemed to have • great difficulty in getting them off. , Bonita, " the lady sharpshooter,*: gave a. clever exhi- ■ bition, including that of shooting out her own name in thirty ; second's. The Stag- ' pooles,; Bob Lloyd, Doris Baker, Nellie " Power, the Lewis Sisters, andVal. Newton [ also appeared. A ; fine living picture, "A r Cross Country Race," ; was shown by the 3 Warwick bioscope. ..:>>-.;.,- D ":f'-**lT'-': : ' i i !?x\''' :■*";■■£' A- : .'.'■'■<"■ ■■;'■■■?■'''■'"' 'V: "'■•'".'." : n s PERRY'S BIORAMA COMPANY. j r Perry's Biorama Company opened a sea- , son at the, Salvation Army Hall, Albert--1 street, last evening. , The.hall was filled to overflowing, and many had to be denied e admission. . A most enjoyable entertam- ., ment was given. The programme was opened with "One Day Nearer Home, " sting by the glee party. ..-.■ A magnificent ; film, Marmora Waterfalls, was next shown. fc A film depicting a trip through Jamaica was interesting and instructive and met with r more than ordinary approval. , A feature of the evening was a series of pictures show--1 ing dramatic incidents of the reign of terror " in Russia. • Lieutenant Stephens sang two " numbers, "He Was Only: a Private, and r "The Skylark," both of which were heartily "applauded. At intervals the company s 1 band played f choice selections. This after- 1 1 noon a matinee will be : given, and as the 0 prooramme is of interest to both old and I ', young a large audience should'be attracted. To-night the-company, will submit Lan ene tirely°new programme. - - j

.i * . • 7 /'• V- ' '/ „ AUCKLAND ORPHANS' CLUB. The Auckland Orphans' Club: held their third concert of ;the ; season in the - Federal Hall on Saturday evening. . - There was a good attendance of members' and" friends, and the gathering passed off most successfully. Mr. J. C. Mustin .. rendered two volin solos in splendid style, and Mr. Carter was very successful with a harp solo. Other contributors, to the".programme were Messrs. Metcalfe, Bennett, ' Rogers, McGowan, Ferriday, James, Vickerman, and the Eroica quartette. ; ; The club s orchestra was also heard to advantage. in several numbers. - , ; •

ST. MARY'S CONCERT. An entertainment in aid of • the organ fund of St. Mary's Hall, Parnell, was held last evening. There was a good attendanceand the fund should benefit- considerably by the concert. ' The first part of the programme was devoted to musical and recitations, and in the second; half a performance of " Rosencrantz -and Guildenstern," an episode in three tableaux, founded on an old Danish legend, was presented The performance was most successful. Miss W H. Kent, as Queen Gertrude of Denmark, and Mr. A. N. Jowitt, as Hamlet (Queen Gertrude's son), were especially good. ' THE JULIUS KNIGHT SEASON. Box plans for the first five nights of the Williamson Dramatic Company season are announced to open at Messrs. Wildmanaml Arey's on Thursday morning. The reappearance of Mr. Julius Knight, supported bv Mr Williamson's new company, at 11 is Majesty's on Monday next is arousing much interest among Auckland theatregoers. .1 he play selected as the opening attraction . is " Robin Hood," a romantic drama, which proved one of the greatest successes of the last London season, abounding, it is said, in thrilling situations, stirring incident, and picturesque charm, with a.liberal amount of bright, clean comedy relief. The legend of Robin Hood appears to offer unlimited opportunities to a dramatist, with plenty of scope for comedy and a really deep' national interest, for the old story represents much of our early national progress. _ The title 1 role is said to be one of Mr. Knight's finestperformances, which is a fairly heavy claim when one remembers his Marcus Superbus, Napoleon, and Beaucaire, besides many other successes. The company supporting him oomes, with a high reputation, and is 1 said to be a powerful combination. "Bri- ; gadier Gerard and "Raffles" are two other new plays to be presented during the I season, ana a revival of "Monsieur Beau- , raire " is promised. ! JESSIE MAOLACHLAN COMPANY, i Mr. Frank Talbot, formerly representative : of the Marie Narelle Concert Company, has arrived from Sydney to make preparations » for the forthcoming season of Miss Jessie ' Maelaclilan at; His Majesty's Theatre,. commencing. on July 15. • On .this; occasion the . distinguished Scottish singer will be assisted by Sir. Douglas Young (tenor), Mr. John McLinden ('cellist), and Mr. Robt. Buchanan (pianist). '/ ; \