ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13926, 7 December 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST." " Thf Girl of the Golden West" attracted a. largo audience to His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday ovening, when the splendid staging of the play earned for it an enthusiastic reception. Miss Tittell Bruno and Mr. Thos. Kingston, who wero associated pretty well throughout in the loading parts, wore heartily applauded for their efforts. The drama will bo replaced on Wednesday evening by " Diana of Dobson's," a now play by Miss Cicely Hamilton, which will be produced for the first time in New Zealand. This romantic comedy deals with the adventures of a young girl shop assistant, who inherits a small legacy and decides to spend it all " in ono .crowded hour of glorious life." This she attempts by living at the rate of £3000 a year for a few weeks in a fashionable hotel in Switzerland. In thus soeuring at least one purple patch in her drab existence, and in posing as a rich young widow, she " meets her /ate " in the agreeable form of a young captain in the Guards, and when she reveals herself as a poor shop girl thcro aro some surprising developments. Miss < Bruno appears as Diana, and others in the caste aro Mrs. Robert Brough, Miss Emma Temple, Miss Nellie Calvin, Miss Edith Lewis, Miss George O'Meara, Miss Florence Kolley, Mr. Thos. Kingston, Mr. Greghan MacMahon, and Mr. T. W. Lloyd.

THE WIDE-WORLD PICTURES. « Of the making of living pictures there appears to be no end, judging by the diversified scries which are being presented each week at the Opera House under the Fuller management. Saturday's programme, which was witnessed by a good Audience, as usual included .many films which wero humorous, this class, which consists in tho main of the eternal " cliaso " varioty, easily predominating over the more desirable and infinitely more enjoyable scenes from other lands. Tho public is just a trifle tired of impossible and ridiculous situations intended to convey the funny side of things, and also of the obviously faked films. By this lime audiences aro well aware that there is no roal difficulty in bringing about a sudden disappearance or reappearance on the kinomatograph stage, and constant repetition is apt to get a tritio tiresome. Of the educative class of pictures, however, the public will never grow tired. Truth is always stranger than fiction. Saturday evening's programme included several films portraying scenes in other lands which those present found highly instructive and diverting. One of the beat of these was entitled "The Pyrenees," and gave an admirable insight into life and conditions prevail--ing in those mountains; The methods of farming were certainly primitive, and such as would not appeal to the New Zealand settlor, or pay him either for that matter. Opium smuggling, depicting life on the desert with camels as a means of locomotion, was another picture which was exceedingly popular. Amongst the others were "A Visit to the Franco-British Exhibition," giving a good idea of the magnitude of the undertaking, "The Fountains of Versailles and St. Cloud," and "The Lefrechawn ''— latter from the land of the shamrock. The humorous subjects included "Toinkins Buys a Donkey," "The Amorous Nurses," and "The Unlucky Thief," amongst a number of others. Tho orchestra has been considerably strengthened, and the accompanying music was in the best of taste. Tho programme will be repeated this evening.

~ STUDENTS' RECITAL. On Saturday evening at His Majesty's School of Music, I'arnell, the pianoforte pupils of Mr. J. F. Bennett gave their sixth and last concert of the season before a large gathering. The programme opened with a Hue performance of Greig's "An don Frithling" by Miss Jeannie Wright, which was, followed by Heller's " Etude in D Minor and Mozart's " Sonata in U Minor," rendered by Miss Flora Maclean. Miss Mary Geddes played Killer's " Marcia Elcgiaca in D Minor," Mr. G. H. Woolley Greig's "Sonata, Op. 7, in E Minor," Misses Marion Henderson and Isabella Cardno Chopin's " Mazurka in G," and Misses M. Cardno, D. Cardno, and M. Goddes Gillet's "Pizzicato." Liszt's " Rhapsody No. 2," arranged for four pianos, was given by Misses Phyllis Mctcalf, Clare Koala, Anna Morrison, D. Cardno, K. Curtis, M. Cardno, M. (ieddes, and Nellie Rcushaw and Mr. Woolioy, and the same executants were also heard in Wagner's overture to "Tannhauser.'.' Roinocke's "King Manfred " overture, arranged for pianoforte quartette, was given by the Misses A. Morris<m, N. Renshaw. D. Cardno, and Mr. Woolley, and other well-played solos were contributed by Miss Jessie Goddes, Miss Norma Downs, and Masters W. ( and R. Geddes, and the trios " Jubel" ovorture (Weber) and " Magic Flute" (Mozart) by the Misses D. Parker. K. Curtis, Cassic Macky, C. Koala, N. Renahaw, and A. Morrison. Mis* Cottrill recited "The Picture Hat." During the proceedings Mrs. K. R. Cardno presented the 21 theory certificates gained by the students at this year's examination of the Associated Board of tho R.A.M. and R.C.M., London, and gave Mr. G. H. Woolley Mr. J. F Bennett's school gold medal ior highest marks gained in his examination. Just, before the last item on the programme was given Mrs. J. McKail Geddes in a happy speech presented Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, on behalf of the students, with a handsome silver tray as a token of tho high esteem in which they are held by the pupils.

"THE PAGEANT OF THE CHURCH." At St. Paul's parish hall, Sj-monds-strcot, on Thursday and Friday next, a spectacular production will take place, consisting of a series of impressive episodes from early Church history. This is the first occasion that anything of a similar nature has been given in New Zoaland. The story of each episode is conveyed by gesture on the part of the players, and there is continuous movement throughout to the accompaniment of suitable music. Special scenery has liecn painted, and amongst others there will ho episodes from the lives of St. Albau, St. Augustine, and Thomas a' Docket. It has been the aim of the promoters to carry out the details with particular attention to historic accuracy as far as is possible. A feature of the performance will be the music, which will be supplied by a full orchestra under the leadership of Mr. S. Adams. Seats may be booked at Messrs. Wildmau and Arcy's.

"BLONDIN." # Of all things sensational light-rope walking is in the fore rank. At an elevation of 40ft from the ground Professor Driscoll is advertised to perform his feats in Auckland, tho first performance being set down for Wednesday evening next. Tho professor claims to be able to do anything in the tightrope way that has yet been accomplished. It is a long time since a Blondin act. has been shown in Auckland, so that Professor Driscoll should be sure of a largo attendance. ■ The performance will be given at Alexandra Park. Mr. R. T. Bickorton, the Christcliurch pyrotechnist, will give a, fireworks display in conjunction with the. ropewalking, it being claimed that the fireworks excel anything of the kind yet shown in Auckland. •

LETTER-CARRIERS' REUNION. The second annual reunion of,the Auckland Icttor-carriers was held at tho Tiffin on Saturday night, Mr. F. Abercrombie, clerk in charge, presiding. Tho attendance numbered upwards of 100, and amongst those present, as guests wore the Hons. W. Beohan and W. W. McCardle, M.L.C.'s, and Messrs. F. E. Baume, F. W. Lang, and A. E. (Hover, M.P.'s. The toast list was productive of some interesting speeches, those honoured, in addition to the usual loyal toast being: The Government and Parliament" (proposed by Mr. A. P. Drydon, assistant master, and responded to by Mr. Baume); "Post and Telegraph Department" (proposed by Mr. Lincoln, the first letter-carrier in Auckland, and probably in New Zealand) ; "Our Guests " (the chairman); "Success to Progress of Auckland City" (Hon. W. Beohan, reply by Mr. Glover); "Army, Navy, and Auxiliary Forces" (Mr. F. W. Lang). Harmony was provided by Messrs. J. Williams. O. E. Farrow, McLeod, Leach, H. King, W. E. Harvey, and T. Quinn.