AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15820, 19 July 1913, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

KING'S THEATRE

The King s xnea-tre was crowded last evening, and everyone ur&em gave clear indications of 'be.ng tnorouguiy pKuotd wun the contents ol the most rucont programme put lorwaru. lucre are two tptciaiiy good turns, we one being given by AUas Vio.ei Laiueroii and Air Ad. d Lawrence, aud the other by the seven Mungtaus. Ine tunnel' provide a musical entertainment tiiai is I'iuily clever, aud the latter are as clever a combination oi aoiobaw as anyone could wish to see. Other members ol uie company lend valuabjL l " assistance, and several good pictures are exhibited, the same ptogramme will bo> put un uguin tuis evening.

HAYWARD'S PICTURES.

Last evcnui-j •' liio uctagou" was not capable of containing the pnauiis wiswng to sec "Les Mkierabiu," evwy seat being deposed ot Ixloro B o'clock. T'he tamu programme win be tiispiayeil this aitenioon anu oually to-night. Tne plan will oe at Hogg's uu 1 p.m., and liout Z p.m. till o o'ewek at " liif Octagon." On iitonday a pictorial adaptation ot Charles Dickens's " I'ickw.ck lapurs" win bo presented, 'the part oi i'lciuvick will bo sustained by Air. John Jiuuny, the popular Vitagraph player. Ine various bcenes throughout tno fcuOUit of him are acted on the actual spous inaue lamous by Dickens and Cruickshauk. This leading conifcdy will bo strongly supported by a d«hgiitlui scenic, "Ulq ltorne,'' an industrial linn, " Making Lager Beer," three dramas, wi excellent coiiieuy, and the latest Gauuiout Graphic.

FULLERS' PICTURES.

The star attraction, "Des M:serables," has been largely responsible lor lull houses at the Pntiueto Theatre during tne past week, and tne .building was agaui filled last evening with a highly appreciative audience which followed the varying misiortunee of Jean Valjean with ken wcere&t. 'the film depicting the grandeur ot the Colorado mountains, and the other supporting numbers provided a.pleasant variety to an excellent programme. The same pictures will be shown mis afternoon and also to-uighl.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

Picture-lovers attended the Queen's Theatre in very large numbers yesterday aiteiuoon .and evening, a wea varied and higuiy attractive series being screened at each session. The programme contains several specially interesting films, notably " The Sign of D'our" and uie cluld romance entitled " Buttercups." These pictures, together with several others of scenic, and topical interest, will be sUov.'n this afternoon and evening lor the last time.

BRYDONE SKATING RINK. The skating rink was (riven over last evening to Jiwsqueradem attired in gailyco:oured Japanese costumes, their graceiul evolutions being strangeiy contrasted by tile sedate peregrinations ot a grotesque ana learsomo-looKing dragon, Irom whose capacious mouth weird -growls and rumblings were emitted at varying intervals. Tne rink presented quite a gaia appearance, and tlie ever-changing movements of the skateis were watched with keen interest by a verylarge number of spectators. During an interval a half-mile skating handicap was contested by a large number of entrants and was run off in two heats. In the first heat Mr L. M'Grcgor was placed first and Mr L. Potter second. In the following heat Messrs J. Anderson and R. Smith were similarly placed, and the final .will bo decided this everting, when also tho result of the voting for the best costumes and most graceful couples will be announced.

CONCERT AT ST CLAIR.

A most enjoyable concert was given lost evening in the St Clair Pavilion "m aid of the funds of the St. Cluir Congregational Church. The main hall, which had .been tastefully decorated, was comfortably fihed with an audience composed largely of members of the church and their friends. The programme of elocutionary and musical items, though a lengthy one, pioverl most enjoyable. From beginning to end the performers and their audience were-on the best of terms, and the artists had no reason to complain of a want of appreciation of their efforts to amuse and entertain, the items almost without exception being warmly applauded, and calling forth demands for encore numbers. The openintr item was a pianoforte- duet, "Caliph von Bagdad," of whiolran acceptable rendering was given by Miss P. Grant and Mr W. Fraer. Mrs A. Black sang "Mv hero," from "The Chocolate Soldier," 'and had to accede to a demand for an enooro She also contributed a vocal solo later in the evening in place of Mrs Power, who, through indisposition, was unable to appear in the second part of the programme. In the first part, however, Mrs Power scored a distinct success in her singing of "My darling," to which she added a further selection before she was allowed to depart. Miss F. Grant sang "Wniata poi" creditably. It was a treat to hear "An evening song, ' interpreted by such a thorough artist as Mr E. Drake has proved himself to be. In response to a clamorous demand for an encore, he gave a beautiful rendering of "Then you'll remember me." Mr Colin Gray delighted the audience with his singing of "Mother o' Mine" and ''Molly Bawn." His humorous song "My word," created a yre-at deal of genuine merriment, Mr Gray was associated with Mr Mayer in the duet, '"Watchman, what of the ni<rht." of which an able intcrprction was given. Mr Peterson was heard to advantage- in "Mountain lovers," and' had to contribute an additional number. Mr W. Fraer made a decidedjiit in his humorous song "The Frenchman.'.' Ho a'so give a short humorous address on " Man," which proved to be of a. highly diverting nature. In the course- of his remarks he advised the ladicr, "to stick to single blessedness and avoid double cussedncs«." Miss Darling was successful in her recitation, "How Tom Sawyer whitewashed his fence." As an encore number she gave "The bride's first order." Mr Dempster recited "The Dandy Fifth" in a finished and effective manner, and had to make a further contribution to tho programme. Miss F. Grant occupied with ability the post of The entertainment was a distinctly pleasing one, and the audience went away evidently well satisfied.

"I'ATJST."

The pronounced success attending tho recent performance of "Faust" ,hy the Southern Musical Society in the Town Hali, has resulted in the society announcing its intention to repeat the programme in the Burns Hall on Wednesday 30th inst., when it is anticipated that a large number will avail themselves of the opportunity of hearing the many favourite lyrical numbers chosen from the oocra bv Mr Sidney Wolf, the conductor. On tin's occasion the music of the church scene will also be sung, an addition which should prove dec:dedly pleasing. The solos will be in tho hands of the artists who sang them so effectively at tho initial production, and tho same oroheslm will assist.

KAIKORAI BAND CARNIVAL.

Something unique in the way of entertainments promised in connection with the Kaikorai Band Carnival. In order to give the public an attraction unique and pleasing the committee looked far afield to engage a professional, and came to the conclusion rhct in Owen Cardston H, would have the right man. As a director of carnivals _ he had wonderful success in the dominion, and many of the leading bands have been justly" pleased with his services—in fact, Mr Cardston hta been made, a life member of several of them. Wanganui City. Palmereton Town, Hamilton Regimental, Auckland, Gisborne,. and Blenheim are only a few that have held successful functions under bis directorship, and demands for his services arc so great that he will be fully engaged till next May. The entertainment to be provided on the present occasion is "A Dancing Tour of the World," and comprises j n all the services of some 200 pupils. These are now in active rehearsal, and bid fair to become endued with the professorial touch, as marked in all Mr Cardston's performances. The band is to be congratulated on the steps is it taking to pay off tlie amount still owing on its new instruments. The various ladies and gentlemen agisting the bazaar arc working energetically harmoniously, and the stock of articles being collected promises to tax the stall aecom" modation to be provided at the Garrison Hall. "PUSS IN BOOTS." Each succeeding pantomime staged by the J. 0. Williamson (Limited) ma.ngaeme.nt scenv, to /-.HlshipA its predecessors. "Puss in Bc-'s," which is to bo staged at His Majesty's Thentre for a srjisrm of seven nights, commencing on Saturday. August ?., is said to cc! ; Kc all nrevious efforts of the management, in tlie direction of spectacular effects, billots, marches, and general excellence. Two eomp'pte sels of fcniery ami effects have been brought for the dominion lour- so that, while the pantomime is being [K-rfonned in one centre the outfit not' in iii-so is forwarded on to the nevt town, in charge of the advance army of mechanics and electriciflns. a fact which guards against any chance of ,i nrsli.in on the night of tltp oponinc production. The pantomime has hwn written by those two clever librettists— Messrs J. Hicljorj Wood and Frank Dix,

and 6 feature of the. book is the prominence given to the' humorous side. Miss Minnie Everett lias invented and arranged some striking ballets and. marches. Specialty attractive is the music composed by Andrew MacCimn, and the musical side of fcho pantomime is. also noted for the inclusion of some, of the biggest song successes of tho year, many of which will feature the " ragtime" or "hustle music" at present the craze. For tlio greater part of the ycdr Mr J C. Williamson and Mr George Tallis have been on the other side of tho world securing the cream of the theatrical productions there, and aj a consequence there will ba presented a succession of attractions and specialties representative of the best obtainable in London, Paris, Berlin and New York -Tho two acts of -iixton scenes embody a gorgeous procession of brilliant features, together with the \vorld-renowned specialists " Collins nnd Hart/' America's meet famous acrobatic comedians, and "The Gaudsmidts," celebrated continental clown acrobats, with (logs. Owing to the brevity of the New Zealand tour, only eight performances can bo given in Duncdin, including a matinee on Wednesday, August 6. The plans will ba opened at tho Dresden -on' Thursday, iluly SI, at 8 o'clock. A queue 'will be formed from 7 a.m.