WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 61

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Bt Peter Pan*.

November 21. In a few days there will be nothing left of the old Theatre Royal. John Fuller and Sons have sold the building- to a eontractor, ami his men are now demolishing the old edifice in quick order. There is a particularly strong bill at His Majesty's just now. and business lias been splendid. The closing- of the hotels has had a marked effect on the attendances at all the local shows. "Tioutt and his Mermaid " are the headlineis at ll's Majesty's •and their feats under water make one hold the breath Though the Opera House is still empty, the town to-day is full of theatricals. The members of the Genee Company and the Royal Comics have been enjoying strolls in the sunshine They are all passengers by the outward bound Sydney beat. Frank Talbot and Charles Berkeley called arid said farewell. Mr Tom Pollard, who has been ooaohing the Amateur Operatic Society in "The Geieha." returned to the West Coast this week. He will oomc back vi time to put

the finishing touches on before the production on December 4. FULLERS’ PICTURES. The programme that was screened at the Princess Theatre on the 24th on the occasion of the weekly change was in every respect calculated to maintain the prestige of this popular picture theatre. Besides possessing all the attractions with which careful selection and wise disposition could endow 7 it, the series included os its “star” film a magnificent dramatic story entitled “The Venomous Bite.” The picture is well acted and magnificently staged. The film which shows how the purification of Pans is achieved is one of those clever series that demonstrates the educational value of the kinematograph. It indicates very clearly the immensity of the scheme and the complexity of the processes which finally turn the sewage into valuable irrigation waters, or a limpid stream that adorns some pretty ornamental gardens. “ The Melbourne Cup, 1913,” conveys a vivid idea, such as no amount of writing could do, -of the size of the meeting, the fashionable crowds, and the “ vulgar ” crowds, and above all, of the great race itself. For obvious reasons the picture must bo seen to bo appreciated. Other good films are “ The Silver Cigarette Case.” and an instalment of the Gaumont Graphic. The whole fine series is shown to the accompaniment of choice incidental music by the Princess Orchestra. Especially agreeable was the rendering of Barcarolle,” from Tales of Hoffman The pictures will bo screened again this evening. HAYWARD’S PICTURES. The wonderful story of the “ famous victory ”of Waterloo —a victory which crushed the power of Napoleon as effectually on land as Trafalgar did at sea 10 years before —has been told and re-told by writers and historians all down the succeeding years. Many different accounts of the great battle are extant, but all paint the terrible carnage, the desperate cavalry charges of the French —a point especially emphasised by Victor Hugo,—and the fierce artillery duel in vivid and picturesque language. Waterloo, with its crushing defeat of the Imperial army, provides a standing monument to British bravery and generalship, while the pre-eminence which it gave to arms has been the charter of the nation’s liberty for close on a century. The story of the battle has never previously been told by means of the kinematograph, and the picture dealing with this that was screened for the first t:me at “ The Octagon” on the 24th attracted au audience that crowded the building in every part. The film was accorded a most flattering reception, and as many of the well-known incidents of the famous fight appeared on the screen —notably the charges of the Scots Greys and the Gordon Highlanders—the applause culminated in outbursts of cheering. Napoleon’s final attempt to snatch thd victory by launching forward the Old Guard is seen to end in dismal failure and the arrival of the Prussians under Blucher at the critical moment gives the death-blow to the hopes of the French general. All these scenes and many others are depicted with a highly creditable degree of realism, which greatly enhances the educative value of the film, and makes it a picture that should be seen by all. The connecting links in the tale arc admirably supplied by Mr Barry Marschel, while the national and patriotic music played bv the orchestra aids materially in inducing an atmosphere worthy of the great subject dealt with. The other pictures screened comprise an interesting and varied selection, judiciously blended. Some fine views of Cup Day gt Flemington are shown, included in which is a remarkably clear depiction of the great Melbourne race itself. ‘The Spirit of Envy,” a drama by the Thanhousor Company, teaches a thoroughly wholesome lesson of contentment, and is a film of a good type. A Pathe Gazette, a John Bunny comedy, and several other sub-, jects of a uniformly high standard complete the series, which will be shown again to-night. KING’S THEATRE. The popularity of the artists who have been appearing at the King’s Theatre during the past week was abundantly evident on the 24th, when, notwithstanding the fact that on account of the failure of the Wol-lington-Lyttclton ferry service to connect on Saturday,* no now artists appeared, the usual large Monday night audience put in a/i appearance. Most of the artists contributed new numbers, and farewell performances were given by La Perle, Foolish fiord, the lira Comedy Four, Neil Oa«t, and Desperado and La Rose.