PALMERSTON NORTH NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3114, 19 November 1913, Page 61

PALMERSTON NORTH NOTES.

November 14. Dear “Pasquin,”—Mr Philip Hereford, who has been in charge of Fuller’s local picture theatre, has gone tq Wanganui, where th«

firm have opened another new house. Later on Mr Hereford will take up the management at His Majesty’s, Wellington. Mr Raw-don Blandford succeeds Mr Herefo.rd at the local house, Mr Blandford having just arrived from Sydney, where ho was associated with the J. C. Williamson firm.

Owing to the strike upsetting the ferry service, the Clara Butt concert has been put off till next week. The box plan has been opened, and booking to date is very satisfactory. “80-peep” was duly presented at the Opera House last w-eek. The combination is a very even one, all the principals showing up very well. Miss Kathleen Mack, the principal boy, is a finished artist, and makes the most of her part. Miss Mack s baton-swinging is a really fine performance. The dame of the panto, is in capable hands —Mr Bruce Drysdale, who puts a deal of energy into the role. Miss Esme M‘Lennan, as 80-peep, is a graceful little actress, and is the possessor of a sweet and tuneful voice. The tumbling and contortion act by the Andcrsdn sisters is a wonderful piece of business, and brought forth rounds of applause. A strong feature of the panto, is the dancing, which ranks easily with the best presented locally. A transformation tableau representing the four seasons is a work of art. The scenery and dressing are of an elaborate order, no expense having been spared in tins direction. A capable orchestra assists to make the production the success it has proved to bo. "Mr Geo. Stephenson informed me that he was j leased with tho business done, notwithstanding the wretched weather and the strike trouble being in the air. In my last notes crcd t was given to Mr R Stewart in connection with a benefit concert by the J. C. W. Opera Company. Since writing I have been informed that the whole arrangements were in the hands of Miss Grace Palotta. I would like you to dulv note this fact.

Mr Harry Muller, manager of the Bren-nan-Fuller vaudeville house' at Adelaide, will in the course of a few weeks pay a visit to Now Zealand, Barton’s Circus showed to fair business. Since paying a visit to this town the compact little show has added several good turns to the programme. ‘‘Tiny Town” opens on Tuesday next at the Opera House for a short season. The Amateur Operatic Society are still hard at work on “Dorothy.” Scenery to the value of £3O has been prepared for the production.

FULLERS’ PICTURES. The reappearance of the great pictorial representation of Victor Hugo’s “ Les Miscrables,” which created such widespread interest here a short time ago, drew a large audience to the Princess Theatre on the 17tli. Previously this splendid film, or, rather, series of films, was divided into two programmes and shown during separate weeks, but this time the whole absorbing story was presented complete to its close in a programme that lasted for full two hours and a-half. As for the story itself —the masterpiece of one of the greatest novelists of any language—it is too well known to require repetition, and the fame of its marvellous ingenuity, pathos, and power has long been permanently established beyond the reach of any.further criticism. In commendation of the picture more need not be said than that it does the story justice. Carefully selected classic music by Martinelli’s Orchestra adds not a little to the enjoyment of the evening. All things considered, it may well be doubted if any finer and more completely successful example of picture dramatisation has yet been produced. It should not be missed by any who have not yet seen it, and many who have done so will doubtless seize the opportunity of witnessing it again. “Les will be shown again as usual this evening. KING’S THEATRE. At the King’s Theatre on the 17th, in consequence of the artists for this week's programme not lieing able to reach Dunedin before as a result of the dislocation of the shipping service, the performers who appeared throughout last week gave a special programme of new items. The Tenka troupe of Japanese illusionists and wonder-workers; St. George and Dayne, and other members of the company made a last appearance. • QUEEN’S THEATRE. The Queen’s Theatre continues to receive a large measure of patronage from picture theatre-goers, and its popularity is no doubt largely due to the high standard maintained' by the man igement is the choice of good films and in the efficient manner in which the pictures are screened. The new programme submitted on Monday morning contains an excellent variety of subjects. The outstanding feature of the series is a sensational crania entitled “The Parting of the Ways.” The picture takes over half an hour to present, and included among the many exciting incidents in the story is the rescue of a girl from the top of a burning lighthouse by means of an aeroplane. The Russian military manoeuvres are shown in a fine scries of interesting pictures. A cavalry charge of Cossacks in the face of artillery / fire provides an impressive spectacle, and views are also shown of a military kite under fire and the work of the ambulance and signalling staffs. “Edwin’s Badge of Honour” and “ Tweedledum Stuck to the Saddle ’-’ are two very amusing comedies. A new edition of the Eclair Journal completes a most entertaining programme.