AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15184, 1 July 1911, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATER His Majesty's Theatre was packed Inst night, when the penultimate performance of "Tho Arcadians" was presented to a delighted audience. The splendid singing and acting of tho loading character}, tho chorus work, tho magnificent staging of the pastoral soanes, and the gorgeous dressing of tho ladies all combined "to make a thorough success of this fine musical play. " Tho Arcadians" will bo presented for tho last time to-night. "The Belle of Bmttaxt." With the production of "Tho Belle of Brittany" next Monday night tho Clarke and Mcynell "Arcadians" Company will enter upon its last appearances in Dunedin. The initial performance will bo rendered all the more attractive by tho first appearance of Miss Winifred O'Connor, who will appear as Babetto. The Sydney Morning Herald says:—"Apart from her artistic singulis, tho loadins lady of tho Clarke and Meyncll Oomio Opera Company acted in a manner -which marked an advance on her appearance in ' Tom Jones' and ' Miss Hook of Holland.'" ICING'S THEATRE. There vras a very satisfactory house at tho King's Theatre last night, when tho company appeared to advantage in tho protrrammw which lias been running all this week. Tho Kelso boys were quito successful in _their juggling'turn, and the jokes and "Sidewalk conversations" of Jack Kttons and Ida Rcslyn wcro much appreciated. The programme will ba st&sct! for the last time this ovecving,' and a complete change is announced for Monday night.

HAYWARD'S PICTURES. Tho past week's programmo of pictures at tho Burns Hall received its final proforrtatton last evening before an excellent house. An entirely new eorics will bo screened at_ a matinee to-day, and again in tho evening, when patrons may .depend upon another first-class programme, The humorous element is again strongly represented, and a th-roughly hearty iaugh is assured at such as ".Bill and tho Ureas)- Polo," ".Toto wants to Got Thinner," "The Two Beans," and several others. " Glimpses of Bird Life" is said to bo a beautiful scenic subject, while a very valuable, educative study is delineated in "The- Story of a Mantis." "By Order of the Emperor" is a splendidly-executed Ranan drama, while " A Dead Man's Necklace" is a tragic story of shrilling interest.

FULLERS' PICTURES.

Tho Princess Theatre was crowded to the doers last night, when the now programme was submitted for tho second time. Tho oictoricil adaptation of Dickens's novel, "A Talo of Two Cities," easily takes pride of plorc'in the series, and stands out as tho paramount attraction. Tho nctimr is magnificent, and tlhe eecr.orv and ►ottin«s aro superb, and tfc picture surely marks a step forward in this branch of the cinematographic art. There aro some other very lino pictures on tho list, and the series is one which can be enjoyed bv all. It. will lw shown against this evening and at a matinee performance Ihis afternoon, and the tisucl change of programme will tako p!o<» on Monday night. ', ARCADIA PICTURES. Tho comfortable little hall at Carffill> Corner was well filled last evening, when tho Arcadia Picture Company presented an entirely now scries of cinematograph pictures. The new prograniTOo quite equals, and in some respects oven excels, its predecessors, nr.d certainly contains all tho elemonfp which go to mako up an entertainment at onoe intcostins, educative, and amusing. Tlio fresh scries of Now Zealand

views, of which the company makes ai specially, again proved most interesting. Tho views included a number of photographs of a pig-hunting expedition, and then wont on to show a Maori carver executing some intricate work on a wooden figure. Maggie Papakura, the lamoua guide, was then introduced to the aiidienco. and this was followed by photographs or the destructive kca, seascapes at Lawyer's Head, and a dredge workinj; on the Molynoux River. "In the Heart of tho Sierra," a Western drama, was worked out with, accuracy and minuteness of detail. ' It showed in a graphio manner how a girl with horoio courage repelled an attack by Indiana on the of which her lover had charge, but who, with tho rest &t lis ecoit, .had fallen under die inn'wnco of a previously-administered drag. Uinbria" was aa Italian scenic, and by its agency on* visited a numbar of tho historic ohurehes of tho world, while samo beautiful waterfall and woodland scenery also passed before the eyes. " Tho Banker's Daughters was an excellent dramatic film, showing how a number'of robbers gained admission to a house, but have their purposes foiled by tho presence of mind and promptitude of a young lady aided by her convalescent sister. "Lovo's Old Sweet Song" was a tale of love, courtship, marriage, domestic unhappiness, and final reconciliation. " The Tout's Remembrance" was another fine drama, while "Her Winning Way," "Aunt Tabitha's Monkey," and "Forty-five Minutes from Broadway" provided a strong- undercurrent of humour. Mrs Mnrtinolli-Roggiardo played appropriate and tuneful accompaniments throughout. The eamo pictures will be shown at a matinee to-day and again in the evening.

DUNEDIN PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY. As usual, ._ the attraction of ono of the Dunedin Philharmonic Society's periodical concerts drew a largo gathering of musiclovers to tho Garrison Hall last evening, attendance being amply xecompen?cd by the excellent quality of the performance listened to. The Ftiilharmonio Society is firmly establishing its reputation for conscientious, reliable, and meritorious orchestral work. The programme submitted on this occasion was in keeping with the society's characteristic line o£ study, and was interesting throughout. Ono of its outstanding features was tho Symphonio Poem, "Finlandia," by tho Finnish composer, Joan Sibelius, sriven as on orchestral performance for the first time a. Dunedin. This composition is said to appeal so keenly to'the national scntiroent of the Finlamlers as to be a positive danger at times of political conflict. In any case the appreciation of a symphomio poem 13 probably largely a matter of temperament and understanding. The members of the Philhanmonio Society demoiistrated Hhat they had studied tho work to considerable advantage, and their interpretation, as far as could be judged in unfamiliar music, gave a very satisfying, impression, the instrumentation boinff confident and effective, and tho various themes clearly oxpressed. Among the other heavier orchestral selections given were the overture to ' Tannhauscr," and one of Liszt's Hungarian Khapscdies—No. 2 in D minor and C major. All things considered, tihe Wagner overture, despite the demands it makes. was very successfully essayed, and reflected credit on the society. Tho opening with tho chorus of Pilgrims was characterised by some weakness and hesitancy, but aa oxoellont measure of justice was done tho impressive music when tho full orchestra got to work. The Liszt Rhapsody had also its stimulating moments. The remaining orchestral selections were Tschaikowßky's "Coronation March," treated with a breadth and vigour befitting its character, and in popular vein the Intermezzo from •Mascagnfs "Cavalleria Rusticana," fof strings, piano, and organ, and tile very dainty Pizzicato Gavotte, "Heart to Heart," by Latnnn, both of which latter items had to be repeated'before tho audience was satisfied, The vocal soloist of the evening was Mr J. Leech, whose light and tuneful tenor was heard to advantage in suclh suitable numbers as Amy Wood-fords-Finden's lyrics, " Kashmiri song" and "Till I wake," and "0, lovely night," by London Ronald. Mr Leech's artistio singing earned him a recoil on each occasion. It was a somewhat unfortunate circumstance, though ono by no means unusual in such an' environment, that at the time he was rendering "0, lovely night," tho external air should have been most ironically rent by various martial a.wl other penetrating sounds. Signor Squarise, as usual, wielded liho conductor's baton, while Mr W. E. Taylor acted as accompanist.

- :■■ . STEVENSON'S PICTURES. The weekly bhango of pictures was effected whqii Stovonscn's, pictures. 'were screened at Out-ram on Thursday evening. At Port Chalmers last evening this programme was again shown, and was very favourably commented upon by a largo and enthusiastic audience. The films finding most lavour wore " His Trust" and the ssquel "His Trust Fulfilled." Other Alms finding favour woro " Jim tho Ranchman," "The Cattlo Show in the Argentina" and "A Fight for a Million." The comic element was quite up to, th« standard, and, altogether, this week's programme speaks we?i for the future success of this very popular combination. This series of piotures will bo shown at KJaitajigata to-night. NORTH-EAST VALLEY RINK. Tho North-Eaet Valley Town' Hall will bo open for linking this afternoon and evening.- This popular suburban rink ia enjoying the fullest popularity, and at tho evening session it is simply crowded A fine brass band at the evening's session adds considerably to everyone's enjoyment. CONCERT AT DUNDAS STREET. Tho member? of the Dundas Street Literary and Debating Society were favoured last night by a concert arranged by Miss Mitchell, L.A.B. There was a good attendance and tho itcius throughout were thoroughly enjoyed. Songs were rendered by Alisses K Williams and L. Williams and N. Parker. Messrs Rodgers and J. Drake, ¥. Drako (tenor solo), and' songs were given by Miss Mitchell herself. A pknoforto dust was also given by Misses Mitchell and Black. Most of tho items woro encored, js wa* also a recitation by Mr M'Galium. GLASGOW THEATRE. (Late South Duncdin Town Hall). A private rehearsal of the" initial programme was given latii evening, there being about 80 people present in response to invitations by the management. The programme was divided between a short display of'pictures (four films in all being shown) and vocal and .'elocutionary items contributed by friends present. The pictures submitted wero in every respect admirable, tho breadth, of picture, Clearness, steadiness, and precision with which the-y wero tfisplaye.-l bespn'.-e tho thoroughly up-to-date apparatus, together with carofnl operating, eo n-coeamry to produoo a good caloot. Tho short insight given into the stylo of entci'iainm-ent which will be produced nightly in this thc-at-rc- shows that the entertainment will bo. popular. Tho -opening programmo for to-night is advertised this morning.

"THE PRINCE AND THE BEGGAR MAID." Tho New Zealand season of Mr William Anderson's Draniatio Company opened in Auckland to a splendid house with tho Lyceum success '"Ilio Prince and tho Beggar Maid," a play thaC has all tho qualifications in the sliapo of setting, raiment, and highly-o'j'.ouied romantic oltocta to ensure its popularity with a Krgo section of thcatro-KOsrs. Tho playlover for w'eom Mr Anderson cators can always rely on a dish well spioed with stirring incident and coated with good, wholesomo morals of the easily-detected order, in which respcos "The Prince and tho Beggar Maid" fulfil, all the essentials. Miss Beatrice Day and Mr Harry Roberts are too we'll known to New Zealand playgoers to. need any further brush. Mr Kenneth Brampton comes as a stranger, and as a tbrangor Ik> is worthy of our hospitality The remaining members di?tingtiHh themselves. The box plan v/W be on view this morning at tho Dresden.