ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14926, 26 February 1912, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"BEAUTY AND THE BARGE."

Allan Hamilton's company reached Auckland yesterday by the Mahono from Sydney, and will this evening commence a six nights' season at His Majesty's Theatre. Tho opening production will be " Beauty and the Barge," tho clever farce written by W. W. Jacobs, whose works aro familiar to everyone. Mr. Hamilton's company has, while in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, gained the greatest praise from press and public alike, the production being acknowledged fully equal to the late Robert Brough's, and doubtless the verdict of to-night's audience will fully confirm the good opinions gained elsewhere. "Beauty and the Barge" will be interpreted by a company including several old favourites, aa well as new faces, prominent among whom can be named Miss Beatrice Holloway, Miss Lilian Lloyd, Miss Muriel Dale, Miss Agnes Keogh, Miss Katie Towers, Mr. Kenneth Brampton, Mr. Robert Greig, Mr. John F. Forde, Mr. Billiard Vox, Mr. Wilton Welch, and Mr. Charles Brown, who will appear as Captain Barley. Only three nights will bo devoted to "Beauty and the Barge." On Thursday and Friday tho the sensational drama "Why Men 'Love Women" will be presented, and the brief season will terminate on Saturday with a special performance of "A Message from Mars." The box plans for the entire season are row on view at Wildman and Arey's.

ALLEN DOONE SEASON. After a very successful season fin.. the South, George Marlowe Allen 'Dboiie Comedy-dramatic Company will commence their Auckland season at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday next, March 4, when, a series of entirely now plays will be produced, commencing with "Sweet County Kerry," which will serve to introduce Mr. I Allen Doone, a celebrated Irish singing comedian and romantic actor, and Miss Edna Kecley, a young and beautiful American actress, and a str6ng company of English and American artists, who have toured the United States and Canada with Mr. Doone. The play is stated to have met with great success wherever produced. Stirring situations and excellent scenic effects are promised. Several other productions will be selected from an extensive repertoire during the season, including "A Romance in Ireland," " Molly Bawn," In Old Donegal," and others which have been favourably received in the South. The box plan will open at Wildman and Arey'e on Thursday next. TOWN HALL CONCERT. A large audience was present at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, on the occasion of another of the popular series of Newbury-Spada concerts. An excellent programme was presented, and was much appreciated. Owing to indisposition Madame Spada was unable to sing. Miss Mabel Seccombe, who made a successful first appeuranco on the previous Saturday evening, was loudly applauded for her rendering of " Out on the Rocks" (Dolby). She received the compliment of an "encore. Mr. Philip Newbury, who was in excellent voice, charmed his hearers with bis rendering of " The Requital" (Blumenthal). He was also heard to great advantage m the aria, "Un di si ben 1 ' (Trovatore), and the ever-welcome cavatina, " Come into the Garden, Maudo" (Balfe). He was encored on each appearance, and his singing of " My Pretty Jane" (one of his encore numbers) was "one of the most appreciated of the evening's items. Mr. Harold Gregson played several selections * on the organ, which were greatly enjoyed. His interpretation of "The Storm" (Lemmens) was a particularly fine performance, demonstrating alike the ability of the organist and the ingenuity of the composer. The violin solos, by Herr Raimund Pechotsch "Legende" (Wieniawski), and "Rond des Lutin" (Bazzini), were enthusiastically applauded, and a reappearance was insisted upon. Miss Kathleen Major, who gave three pleasing recitations, also received a full share of the liberal applause bestowed upon the performars. OPERA HOUSE. The Opera House was crowded on Saturday at both matinee and evening performances, when Fascola, the clever exponent of Indian magic, and his first-class supporting company gave another performance. The programme will be repeated to-night. KING GEORGE THEATRE. A matinee was held at the King George Theatre in Durham-street on Saturday afternoon, and the audience that assembled was large and appreciative. _ In the evening the new programme was given a reception that was remarkable for its warmth. The latest films secured by the management are interesting and up-to-date, and there is no fault to find with the manner of their presentation. The introduction of two long dramatic films proved decidedly popular. The '.'''.star" picture was the problem play, " The Sins of. the Fathers," a powerful story based upon the effects of the abuso of strong drink. A young French engineer having inherited a fatal taint from a father who was, a dipsomaniac is visited after his marriage by a nervous malady. One consequence is a fit of ungovernable rage, during which he shoots his wife and is arrested as a murderer. The awesome story ;s worked out to a tragic finale, the whole being realistically enacted. Another picture screened was one- of the ever popular Indian dramas, "Young Deer's Bravery," and the repeated applause as the leading incidents were evolved expressed the delight of patrons in an unmistakable manner. The introduction of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream," providing some beautiful effects, was also much appreciated. Among the other items of a highly interesting programme was a sporting film, "The Quo'rn Hunt," a nature study, " Birth of a Flower," and three comics of the usual type. PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. A complete new series of pictures will bo screened at the King's Theatre this evening. The- subjects are of a varied character, and have been specially chosen to suit every taste. The usual dramatic creations, instructive studies and humorous reliefs will be presented. Three of the latest kinemacolor subjects, which have just arrived from London, will also be included in the programme. New musical items will be rendered by Mr. E. J. Burke's orchestra.

The Queen's Theatre was packed throughout Saturday. An entirely new programme will bo screened to-day, including "Tho Failure," a star production of the famous A.B. company; "Saved from Himself," by the same company ; " While tho Masters Dance," a splendid Cines comedy; and "Tasting the Medicine." By special request the picture depicting Santa Rosa winning tho Auckland Cup will also be shown again. The management publishes a timetable in their advertisement, showing the actual time the race will be run per medium of the biograph. Tho usual crowds thronged the Newton Picture Palace throughout Saturday. All tho items presented wero of a varied and interesting nature. Large audiences attended both exhibitions of West's pictures at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, and received the excellent programme with marked favour. Tho series is of considerable educational value, besides. imparting sound entertainment to each and all. The programme to be submitted at the Lyric Theatre, Symonds-sireet this .even.ing for the first time contains a well-as-sorted selection, including " The New Superintendent," describing a terrific fire in a California oil well. A picture of great interest shows scenes taken at tho Auckland Bowling Club's jubilee on Grafton green on February 10. Other films are "Old Toledo," a fine coloured travel picture; "Making Silk Hats," and "A Passing Cloud." The humorous section contains " A Cheap Holiday," " Wanted a Humpback," "The House of Mystery,"' and " A Matrimonial Muddle."

Prince's Rink was well patronised on Saturday.