AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14898, 29 July 1910, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

ALHAMBRA THEATRE.

. In accordanoe with the managerial announcement, a new departure was made in tie maimer o£ presenting entertainment at tho AJhambra Theatre last evening. The programme was comprised of vaudevilla acts and biograph pictures, and with tlm change and a reduction in the priccs of admission it is hoped to attract much widar patronage. Last evening's audience was not a. large one, but the fare submitted apparently found ready favour. Tho various vaudeville acts were all above tho average,' and tho pictures exceptionally good. Two new artists made their appearanoo. The first was Avdell, an equilibrist who performs some exceedingly -difficult feats and effectively introduces some quaint humour. Tho oflior new arrival was Miss Fanny Halle, who appears in a ladder and lamp balancing act. Miss Halle is a graceful little lady, and in the course of her performance introduces somo charming pesos. The Gibson Girls have promptly established themselves favourites, and it is not'to be wondered at. Tliey sans well together, ami danoo with a grace and abandon that quite captivates the audience. In their skipping rope medley they were particularly successful last evening. Mr Honry Sadler submits a budget of coiirio ditties which prove most acceptable, and Mr Scott Gibson, in some of the songs whioh Harry Lauder has made famous, is decidedly entertaining. Miss Boryl Gilman, soprano vocalist, and Mr Percy Foster, tho latter iin illustrated ballads, contribute in no small measure to the sueocss. of tlw vaudeville portion of tho programme. Among the biograph films presented it may be fairly, said that one of thorn ranks among the very best ever shown hero.' It dopicts an incident which dates baok to tho American Civil War, and bears on the part taken in this groat struggle by guerilla bands who wove tho pest and the feat of both north and sou'h. The home of tho colonel of one of the southern regiments is invaded by some half-dozen desperate guerillas during his absence, and tho colonel's wife and daughters are at their mercy. At this stage a faithful negress of huge frame plays a humorous though determined part, The youngest girl succeeds in stealing from the. house and.jaces ol? to obtain assistance.- A sentry attached to her father's regiment obsorves her running and makes tho awful mistake of shooting her down. Just as he discovors his mistake the colonel and a number of his troop gallop along tho road, and tho wounded girl ds ablo to acquaint her father of the presence of the guerillas in the home, 'flier® is a wild race to the protection of his family, and the ousting of the guerillas ooncludes with a- hand-to-hand encounter between a member of the troop and the leader of the guerillas, the latter being despatched after a desperate struggle. The liltte girl recovers from her wound, and the incident, which is most realistically portrayed, and; is in all detail true to the period, "terminates happily. "Courtdng a Merry Widow" is a delightfully humorous study. " Bradford's Claim " is an exciting incident, oentred in tho goldfields of North America, its special feature being a wild •ride on horseback by a; young lady to the nearest township to register her right to a claim. Hotly pursued by a band' of desperadoes bent on the same object, she overcomes every obstacle, and one of' these ; is a clean jump made by horse and rider from the hillside about a hundred' feet above into the river below. "Beautiful Benares" provides an interesting study of Indian life, and the concluding film—" A New Hat for Nothing"—provokes uproarious laughter. The new programme, which is entertaining, wall be submitted each evening until Thursday of next week.

FULLERS' PICTURES.

The weekly change vras presented last evening in the Prmoess Theatre to the usual good' house. All of the. 12 films com.priesd da tho programme) maintain the customary standard of merit set by. the firm/ . An ambitious effort is that giving the attractive story of Esther from tho OM Testament. The acting- in this is undertaken'by artists of Parisian reputation, and, making allowance for the stago difficulties in tho way of reproducing all tho detail of ancient ■ days, it has to be admitted that the result is as successful as can be expected. The film, which is of considerable length, gives a very ; faithful representation of tho selection by King Anasuerus of a. queen in the room of tho deposed Vaehti, and then delineates the warmings convoyed by Mowleoai to Queen Esther and the saving of the King's life by. this intervention. Then comes the incidents of Hainan's pride and his ultimate humbling and Mordecai's reward. The stage presentments lraye plainly been underthe direction of master hands, and the result is to convey a Jiving impression of some of the features of ancient life. Apart from- this "star" piece,'a most meritorious filmi .is " As it is in Life." This is the work of the popular American Vitagraph Company, and the work of the clever actress is as well done as is all of hers. The plot ehows how thejathor (a widower), finding his means insufficient for a. wife and. his child, sacrifices his, happiness and devotes his life to his young girl. The contrast is that when this damsel ■ .returns from school and realises the sacrifices ,of her father she says she will "never leave him again." Sho doesn't—till a. young' man comes. Then the choice is : taken— •naturally the young man ! Reconciliation is effected in tho end- through the child, which " no • one • appreciates " but. the mothei and the grandfather! This film is full of good work, as also is "a, Rioh Revenge," where the same actress shines. " A Sardini Sandwich" jhows: the development of that luxury from. Nature. "A Deal in Broken China." is a story-of successful roguery; " A- Phantom Ride from Aux-les-Baine to Mont Bevara" is a gem of stereoscopio pieturesqueness; "Foolshead Marries Against His Will" contains many langhfer-provooative situations. Some clever work is contained in "The Sculptor," " Across the Plains," " Tambolino's Duel," and "A Crowded Hotel." Altogether the programme contains as mucn interest in all departments of life as usual, and is of undoubted merit. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' "In London Town," presented for tho second time at His Majesty's Theatre last night, again gave general satisfaction to aiv audience which, considering the weather, was numerically strong. Tho acting presented tho powerful story in vividly convincing colours. . Mr Max Maxwell extracts tho frill value from his parf as Hargreaves. The character of Alice Dalton found a particularly. able exponent in Miss Beatrice Holloway. As on the initial production of the piece, the scenery and stage management Were alike excellent,, among tho particularly' striking representations ibcing tlm Serpentine by night and the London streets and roof scenes. Acting, sccnery, and spoken lines hold the attention from orchffctra to curtain, and the crudenes9 too often assccilited with melodrama is) ejntirely .absent. . The audience enjoys itself for the spaco of three hours. " In London Town will be again presented to-night. \ BRYDONE SKATING RINK. Athos still forms a powerful attraction at the Brydone Skating Rink. Last night his exhibition of fancy skating was admired by a large number of people. He 'concluded 'lis: performance by .leaping over 12 chairs. Athos appears for tho last time ,at the Brydone Hall to-night. The rink is extensively patronised by many accomplished skaters, and the accommodation 6et apart for spectators is usually fully occupied. An efficient orchestra adds .to the general enjoyment. . SOUTHERN MUSICAL SOCIETY. A very pleasant evening's music 'was given- by the Southern Musical Society, assisted by a number of ladies and gentlemen, in the St. Kilda Town-. Hall last evening. The attendance was large, tho hall being comfortably filled. The choir, ; which numbers about 30 voices, has for its conductor Mr E. H. Eagar, under whoso tuition it is making progress. Last evening it had allotted to it seven glee?, ■and in all these it gave a, very fairly good account of itself. In the earlier part of the concert two of the items wore specially well rendered, and these were "In this hour of softened splendour" and "Four jolly smiths." There were quite a number of soloists, and all acquitted themselves more or less satisfactorily. Mrs Taylor sang " The Star of Bethlehem " very creditably, a fact that was fully recognised Mrs Taylor was not, however, by any "means the' only singer' to win the good opinion of the audience, which greatly appreciated every one of.the 18 items. Mr Morrison gave a very fair rendering, of " The Kind's minstrel," and tho other singers wero Miss Mahoney, Miss Parker, and Mr Berry and i Cameron. Two quartets were givetc during the evening, the one being sung by Mrs M'Galium, Miss Parker, Messrs, Niven and Berry, and the other by Misses Mahoney

' and Sim, and Messrs Harvey and Cw bell. Mr Cameron and Miss Eagar saJlB a duet, Mr AV. Morrison played a flute solo, and Stokes's Mandolin and Guitar Band rendered a selecticji in capital style, lite accompanist was ilr VP. M. Book, win*' carried out his duties satisfactorily. CAYERSHAM PRESBYTERIAN . CHURCH CONCERT. N concert.-was held in the Cavers]), nit t rjshytorian Hall last evening, the 'proceeds tang in aid of tho church funds. Nearly nil tho items Tvcro contributed by tho Sunday school children, and tho -amount 08/ labour and time- expen<fed on their train-' n was . amply repaid by tj» orediUbla ," CI wJl 'eh they acquitted themcliihWn c. worn by same of tho ■ of Hw,' "uich, also, far liho ingenuity! ?™-, n- J,t l tnictors - Tho opening item)' TWo, IIIO^ 0 (,uot b - v . Ms »s E. and T, • "The "' vo ' l '"W follows:— • To a,d,of%l,n To<id^ ai,,o l i Jaso i Carson- "Titti Smioiß, Powell, audi Hendcreon and r' 3 S Hunting-. Sang," /ngkh Storey, Souness, JraSS?' " The picaiunnies," c! H Alaster W. Glasse- 'Muh; Ml 011 iu * )l Ate Gardner, Huut m jobn, Heads, Brown ' a $j§,.' coach and four," Misses Cowin l'i'i , Howard, and Snowball, ftn d \Ws n *' nor, Clark, M'Gregoi- Hill ' Good-night," Mipcs Rutherford lands, Mav, Bate,helor, Wilson, and Domrv, stor, awl Masters Briggs, Hanrahan, Wu! son, Itennard, Murray, and Simons r ~. tations were-given by Miss V. Wikon ami Master J. Duncan, a club-swinging exhibi■J°il by Miss (Major's pupils, a.- chorus by he members of tho Girls' Club, a Maon haka by Masters J. and A. M'lndoe, and) selections by Do Lautour's orchestra amd Misses M. and B. Paino awl M. H. Paino A sketch in throo acts, entitled "Dumml ling, was also wry successfully-presented, tJie following taking part:—Misses Hm. dorson, Rutherford, Gardner, Town™!-'■ Cardno, and .Masters Tow-mow, Cakhvell,' 1 ?£•.' i Henderson, M'Gregor. Clark and Wifeoh. TJio kill was crowded, and tho wero far beyond expectations, ' m'k 1S ,n ' oll d <K ' to repeat tho coricorli on luesday next. Tho arrangements worn in the hands of tho members of the Girls' Club, atrd Miss A. Barron made a capable ana.energetic secretary, OIIAL-MERS' CHURCH SOCIAL. The: Chalmers Church Young People's n • , A Tory sueoessful social in, the Oddfellows Hall, Stuart street, on Wednesday evoning. In spito of the inclemeooy ot the weather there' were upwards of 70 present. After a few introductory remarks, in whidh the chairman; (Mr J. A.Thomson) explained tho aim .itwl -work of tiro society, a. prograumio of musical and elocutionary items % members and friends ■ was successfully carried through. An attractive feature of tiio evening's, entertainment was a mock trial, the result of whioK was that the prisoner was found guilty an 3 sontenced to 10 years' banishment.