AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13334, 24 March 1911, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC

HAYWARD’S PICTURES. LYCEUM THEATRE. Tlio benefit performance tendered by the management of Hayward's Pictures attracted an overflowing audience at the Lyceum Theatre last evening. The fine programme of animated pictures which was screened was (he subject of much favourable comment. The Vitagraph Company's version of “The Two Little Waifs’' 13 indeed a fine production, and is quite up to the high class films turned out previously by this popular firm. “Love and the Law” (American Biograph study) is also another fine production. Two other splendid studies entitled “Jean and the Calico Doll” and “The Lime Kiln,” were well worthy of their inclusion. The scenic films depicting “Ostrich Breeding” and “The Silk Work Industry” are very good, as were “African Industries” and “The Museum of Sovereigns.” The comedy element was well supplied by “Max Linder and the Puzzle,” “Marguerite’s Birthday, and “A Flat to Let." Hayward’s Orchestra contributed the incidental music. TO-NIGHT this fine programme will be screened for the last time, as the usual week-end change of pictures will take place 10-mor-row night. A matinee will be held to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 2.30 o’clock.

ANTONIA DOLORES. The New Zealand Times (Wellington) says in a recent issue;—“ The popularity of Dolores, long assured, suffers no diminution. Last night again the audience was large and appropriately cordial. People came very early to the cheaper seats, and would plainly have stayed with full contentment the long night through. It was a remarkable thing that so far as observation could go there was not a bored person in the house. We have tired brothers and dutiful husbands that will weary of Paderewski, of Calve, even of the superfiua Melba; but Dolores wearies no one. Least of all does she weary herself. Her freshness is delightful, her vitality compelling. She is an artist not only by instinct, hut by enthusiasm. Nothing in her delicate work is ever slurred or scamped, nothing is ever a shade inferior to tho best she has it in her to do. Moods may vary,but tho conscience of the artist makes no compromise. For English audiences Dolores is at her best in the quaint or delicate English songs that please her so. Last night, when she came to tho stock of the Arnes and the Purcells of yore, she came right homo to the hearts of her hearers. In ‘I attemnt from love’s sickness to fly,’ she gave us a most characteristic example of Purcell’s exquisite simplicity. In ’shepherd, thy demeanour vary’ (Brown), tho note is of a rippling blithesomeness that sinks to a suodued warmth of tender raillery and then flowers sweetly in a gladsome joy. These two songs were given in tho inimitable Dolores manner, with all the inimitable grace and delicacy of Dolores; but it was in ‘The lass with the delicate air’ (Arne) that she was entirely and irresistible bewitching." The Wanganui concerts are fixed for Thursday and Friday next, and the box plan opens on Tuesday.

"SEVEN DAYS." Mr Hugh J. Ward and his companr of comedians make a farewell visit to Wanganui on 'Wednesday next, with the fares “Seven Days.” Part of the riotous fun of this play comes from the allotment- of housework to a dinner party of fashionable folk, who are quarantined in a riverside house. The servants have fled, and so the running of the house falls upon men and women who have never had to do it, and know nothing about it. They draw lots to see who shall be butler, cook, laundress, lady’s maid, and so on. A girl who has never cooked anything except fudge, wins the breakfasts, and a policeman draws tho lady’s maid slip. Hut the fun and laughter have started . long before this. Mr Ward recently staged this play in Sydney for the latter half of his season there. The Sydney Press and public agreed that in ‘“Seven Days" Mr Ward has secured a play not before equalled in farcical comedy as a laughtermaker. The company’s appearance here is a farewell one to all its members.- Mr Ward retires from acting in June next to enter into a partnership with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Miss Grace Palotla returns to Europe, and the other artists to their various headquarters. Tho season is for one night only. The plans open to-morrow morning at H. I. Jones and Son’s.

PPEEA HOUSE. FULLER’S PICTURES - No better evidence that the drawing power of Pullers’ Pictures is undiminished could have been furnished than the audience which assembled at the Opera House last evening, the building being filled in every part. The programme submitted must be ranked as ono, of the firm’s best efforts, practically every picture being first-class. The dramatic clement was strongly represented, while the comedy film, which must not be confounded with the “slap dash” variety of comic,' was much in evidence. Two splendid industrial pictures were also included. One of the last-mentioned showed the natives of Java employed making hats from bamboo fibre. Every phase of a hat’s evolution was shown, from the cutting down of the canes to the packing of the finished article. A fine idea of tho work done in glass and pottery factories at Carlsbad was giyen per medium of a lengthy film. A picture which would have interested every farmer was ono depicting scenes at the great bition recently held at Buenos Ayres. It gave a capital notion of the magnificent sheep, cattle, and horseflesh produced l in the Argentine. Among tho dramatic? the productions of the popular Biograph Company predominated, and each was capital in its way. The best were “The Touch of a Child’s Hand” and “The Lesson.'J’ story being based on the fifth command, ment. Other fine pictures in this section were "On the Mexican Border” and “The Cow-puncher’s Glove,” a masterly production by the Edison Company. The humorous films were most laughable, the begt being "A Royal Wishbone,” "While Roses,” and "The Sheriff and Miss Joneg.” As usual, the Symphony Orchestra provided capital incidental music. v We give a final reminder to thosa interested in the Hipango Park excursion of. the meeting to-night in the Council Chambers, at 7.30, when all arrangements will he made. Ladies are particularly ipvited to attend.