ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14950, 25 March 1912, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"A GIRL'S TEMPTATION."

His Majesty's Theatre was full again on Saturday night, when another performance of the melodrama, A Girl's Temptation," was given. It will repeated to-night and the next two evenings. On Wednesday next will be produced a dramatisation of Bret Harte's well-known story, "The Luck of Roaring Camp." This drama, it is claimed, is full of action,* and is told in good dialogue, and contains many interesting incidents and situations. ' The scenery, it. is stated, has been painted from photographs of the actual and identical localities, so as to complete in every particular the actual details of the life in those mining towns of the early days in California. Only four performances of the drama can be given. . .

NORWOODS' HYNOTIC COMPANY.

Another very large audience attended the' mystifying and amusing entertainment provided at the Town Hall by the Norwoods on Saturday evening. A number of very interesting tests in telepathy, which constitute much of the programme, give evidence of the unusual gifts of the principals. .- ■ .'.'•' TOWN HALL POPULAR CONCERT. i Last Saturday night's popular concert, given by the Newbury-Spada organisation, proved to be quite as attractive as any that these capable artists have submitted . to the Auckland public. The large hall was well filled, although not overcrowded, and the programme was entirely interesting, though prolonged by encores, which did not always enhance its musically educational value. It was opened by Mr. Harold Gregaon, who gave as an organ solo the overture to Auber's now forgotten opera, "The Crown Diamonds," which is an excellent specimen of the French school of music of the composer's day. Mr. Gregson, later on in the programme, was heard to still greater advantage in Bendel's charming morceau ' " Dornroscheu," a melodic fragment '. .which has made, itself popular with concert organists the world over, because of its artistic coherence and sweet tunefulness. Miss Phyllis Mills appeared for the first time as ' a solo pianiste at these concerts. , She is to be congratulated upon the fact that her playing of Chopin's "Ballade" in G minor was so excellent that although the piece is not one of the composer's shortest, the audience Would have gladly listened to more. Miss Mills also played most of the pianoforte accompaniments, and acquitted herself artistically. Miss Ina Bosworth's violin solos were also features of the instrumental portion of the programme. De Beriot's " Scene de Ballet" and Hubay's "La Czardas" were admirably played, They went to show that this young lady is making Tapid advancement in her art. Madame Beatrix Marksted, who is the possessor of an excellent contralto voice, sang Teresa del Riego's " Slave Song" very acceptably, and when, encored gave the popular Irish ballad, "The Dear Little Girl," with all the artlessness that is required of it. Madame Spada's numbers were the Bach-Gounod Ave Maria," and a Scotch song, " Hame," by Walford-Dayies. In response to an imperative recall, "she added " Killarney." Miss Kathleen Major gave two recitations, one humorous, "The Sale of Bachelors," and the other, "Don't Cry," which was exceedingly pathetic. It was hard to say in, which she most excelled, but the applause of the audience showed clearly that each was appreciated. Mr. Philip Newbury's contributions to the programme were very acceptable. He sang beautifully, "Ah, si ben —one of the best of Manrico's solos in II Trovatore" —to a, pianoforte accompaniment charmingly played by Madame Spada; also " Yes, Let Me Like a Soldier Fall," "There is a Flower that Bloometh," from " Maritana," and "For You Alone" (Geehl). Mr. Stanley Pritchard, a bassocantante, whose voice is full and resonant in its lowest register, although its production is somewhat uneven, gave a very leasing rendering of RoockePs well-known ramatic solo, "The Storm Fiend," and in response to a recall had to repeat the last verse. The song is very reminiscent of Will o' "the Wisp," which, although more than half a century old, would have been more acceptable, for it is better music, and would have better suited Mr. Pritchard's voice.

LIEDERTAFEL POPULAR CONCERT.

To-night the Liedertafel will present a popular concert to celebrate their opening performance in the Town Hall. A programme of exceptional merit has been arranged, including part songs by the male choir of over 60 voices; organ '. solos by Dr. W. E. Thomas, the society's conductor. The vocal soloists are Mr. A. H. Ripley and Mr. T. B. Rowe, whose items aro ever popular with the public, and the favourite Lyric Four will be iheard in numbers which will give ample ecopo for these talented vocalists to exhibit their artistic • musical abilities. Tho booking has been exceptionally heavy for this concert. The box plan is at Wildman and Arey's, and day . sale tickets with right to reserve are procurable from A. Eady and Company, Queen-street.

KING GEORGE THEATRE. One of the finest programmes that has been presented in the King George Theatre since its opening was screened before a very large and appreciative audience on Saturday evening. The new series includes up-to-date pictures of a strong educational value, as. well as absorbing dramatic films, and an amusing collection of comic absurdities. "The Hermit's Gold " is the title of a film that is intensely interesting, and full of appealing situations. The story, though not a new one, is well worked out, and capably acted in a realistic fashion. A film that was also warmly applauded is "The Heart of Silverleaf."- Tho tale is of a North- American^

Indian, and the feelings he inspires. The scenes are frequently exciting, and the subject is not without its pathetic side. "The Fan Industry" and "Sacred Elephants " are two fine pictures for instructive purposes. The nest humorous film is, perhaps, "Jane's Ante-fat Cure," which caused roars of laughter among the audience. The ' selection will be presented again this evening. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Enormous crowds attended Messrs. MaoMahon and Lodder'e continuous picture entertainment at the cosy Queen-street theatre throughout the various sessions on Saturday, and on Saturday evening hundreds of disappointed ones had to be reluctantly ' turned away. One of the attractions was the. sensational dramatic picture, A Victim of the Mormons," one of the most powerful picture stories yet screened before an Auckland audience. It is full of exciting incidents, and the acting is .clever. The story deals with a girl's infatuation for a Mormon, an elopement, and the pursuit of the" Mormon by the girl's brother ■ and her fiance." The two men follow in motor cars, express trains, cabs, Atlantic liners, and taxi-cabs, and yet the Mormon always manages to elude his pursuers by a hair's-breadth. Amongst the great features of the picture is a great struggle between the Mormon and the wireless operator of an Atlantic liner- • There are also interesting scenes in the Mormon Tabernacle, and the final scene of the rescue of the girl by her friends,' and the death of the Mormon, is an exciting climax, Mr. Lan Llewellyn, the famous Welsh tenor, rendered items between the sessions, which were much appreciated by the audience, " A Victim of the Mormons" will be screened again to-day,-besides a number of new pictures. OPERA . HOUSE. 'There was a large audience at the Opera House on Saturday night. ' Eva Lee and her pickaninnies made their last appearance. Miss Winnie Bond, a clever skipping-rope dancer, was introduced to the audience, and met with a cordial reception. This evening two Japanese performers, who' are clever exponents of jiujitsu wrestling, will appear for the first time and the whole• programme -will be changed. •' "

.-:■■■>• EMPIRE THEATRE. •' Thanks to the capable efforts of the management, and the excellent series of films supplied by Messrs. Hay ward and Co., the Empire Theatre scores continued success. Though a suburban theatre, the picture hall is in all respects on a level with the city picture houses, and every endeavour, is made to maintain the high, standard which the management, hast achieved. PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS. . Messrs. John Fuller and Sons have received a letter from the committee of the St. ' Patrick Day's sports congratulating them on the success of the picture depicting the events of the celebrations held on the Auckland Domain on March 16, • and the committee stated that they would attend the theatre in a body to-night, accompanied by , Ppstle, the champion runner of the world. « A complete new change of programme will be screened. 1 A new programme of pictures will be shown at the Lyric Theatre to-night. Of treat local interest is a film called (< Our Soldiers in the Making," showing: numerous scenes in the. camp at Pap'atoetoe last week. , The Governor's inspection of the camp is included in the series. ' '■'•• ■.•,.• West's latest pictorial sensation, "A Victim of the Mormons," ■ was : screened at; both shows at the -Royal Albert Hall on Saturday.. '. The story t never loses its' interest, and the dramatic scenes! presented make a deep impression. on the beholder. "The, Octoroon" id.' another film which, tells a capital story of the slavery days in America. Other excellent pictures provide a fine ' ' evening's entertainment. "Madame Sans Gine, a fine Napoleonic picture,'is the next star attraction, - ■ The Palace','Picture Theatre ',! attracted large audiences again on Saturday! and the entertainment provided by the numerous excellent films was much enjoyed. A' %<W programme will bo given to-day. PRINCE'S RINK . * There were large attendances at thai Prince's Rink on Saturday, and skating is evidently maintaining all the• popularity due to that excellent pastime.