AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

j The usual Monday change of programme at tho Opera Hcuso was postponed till last night, when a large and appreciative audience witnessed a varied performance. Ford and DaviSj operatic vocalists, presented a musical comedietta entitled "After the Show, introducing some excellent comedy and several fino vocal numbers, the whole act proving most enjoyable. Big ioni McGuire, tho Irish singer of iJcotcn songs, proved himself immensely popular with his Harry Lauder imitations, and his final number, "Dear Little Shamrock," was enthusiastically received. Paul Jeacle, the whistling Bowery boy. was very successful in his songp, ocarina solos, and whistling specialities. Tho Croydons introduced some very clever dancing, and Johnson and Conway, Australian serios and dancers, were well received. Keldino and Speed, comedy cyclists and acrobatic comedians, kept the audience in roars of laughter, and introduced somo very clever trick cycling. Hilary Long, j the American upside-down phenomenon ; Miss May Brilliant, the English comedienne, and Peg and tho Limit, comedy artists, repeatod their successes of last week, and completed a good programme. To-night tho items will bo repeated. FULLER'S~PICTTTRES. "With Scott to tho Pole," a pictorial record of Captain Scott's uttemist South journey, was tho big feature in tho now programme screened at the Colosseum last night. Tho pictur.es were taken by Air H. G. Pouting, camera artist with tho expedition, and gave a remarkable insight info €he work of the party and the hardships and difficulties endured and overcome. Tho landing of the sledges and the setting off of the different sledging parties, including the one to reach the Pole, made up a striking series of pictures. Tho scenic films, including Mount Erebus in eruption, were magnificent, - while the views taken of tho scientists at work aroused much interest. Other pictures in the programme were tho latest "Gaumont Graphic," showing among other items tho aviator Pegoud somersaulting in the air. and tho King at tho Army manoeuvres; "Making Incandescent Lamps." an interesting industrial study; "Mischievous Monkeys," animal comedy; "On a Broad Stairway," detective drama; and "Solitaires," comedy. The same pictures will be shown to-night. HAYWARD'S PICTURES. Tho ever-popular castaway romance, "Robinson Crusoe," was presented in picture form at His Majesty's Theatre last night before a largo attendance of spectators. The adventures of thewollknown hero wero faithfully pourtrayed and made up a most entertaining film. A good drama was "The Coastguard's Sister." This is one of Edison's, English series, with English scenery. Tho story concerns a young sailorman who joins the smugglers to get a diamond ring for tho girl ho loves, who happens to be the coastguard's sister. "Checkmates" was another well woqked-out dramatic study, in which tho questionable- business methods of two American finance sharpers are nipped in the bud by a clever girl. Othor entertaining films were:—"Panama Hat Industry," showing the making of Panama hats by natives; tho latest Pathe Gazette, and "Tho Lady in Black," a burlesque drama, in which two remarkably pretty girls appear. The programme will be repeated to-night. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Madura and its Pagodas," screened at tho Queen's Theatre yesterday, was a remarkable travel picture. In the film was shown the splendid palace- ot Tiruaulea Mayak. a rajah of Madura m the seventeenth century. The walls are carved with exquisite workmanship, i Several imposing examples of pagodas arc- shown,,' including the.entrance of the great pagoda destroyed by the Moslems in tho fourteenth century, and restored by the priests of Siva. Some wonderful views are ehown of the Indian gods, including the elephant-god, Poulear, and Darga, the wife of Siva, who is the goddess of wisdom, and who is always represented as having ten arms. Consecrated animals, who play a very important part in Eastern religions, include the sacred elephants who are ornamented with quaint designs painted on their hides. These animals go through some curious rites and ceremonies. The inner courts of tho pagodas are also shown, and prove as interesting as their attractive exteriors. The sacred lake and the 6anctuary are shown, while as a climax the fakir, or holy man, appears upon tho screen, his skinny, powerful face forming a striking contrast to the beautiful temples where ho officiates. Supporting films were:—"Freed from Suspicion" (drama), "Max as Snapshotter" (comic), "Influence of the Unknown" (drama), "Eclair Journal," "The Letter with the Red Seals" (drama), and "Zeb's Musical Career" (comic). Enjoyablo music was played by the orchestra, violin, clarinet and piano. Tho pictures will be shown to-day from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. "The Panama Canal" is announced as the "star -, film for Friday. GLOBE PICTURES. A love story, "An Unwritten Chapter." headed the new programme at tho Globo Theatre yesterday. The. plot was on approved lines. After a long discussion with her collaborator, Phillip Morbray, concerning their next novel, Ruth Sterling offers one thousand dollars wager that within a month she will have found a new sensation. The bet is made. She goes to a small fishing village in Maine, and stays at the house of one of the coastguards, David Skelton, and his mother. David falls in love with her. In order to hasten his declaration of love. Ruth one day pretends to sprain her anklo, and al- ! lows him to carry her to the houso. Tho next day she receives a telegram from Phillip, saying that the month is up. She asks him to meet her at dinner next day. David, watching through a window at Ruth's house, sees her meet Phillip, and hears her tell him of how she fooled the coastguard into loving her. He enters the room and denounces her as a false and heartless woman. When Ruth sees David, she realises that, in spite of the way in which she has used him. she really loves him. The other films screened were .-—"Priest of the Temple" (historical drama), "Out of tho Past" (drama), •'Won by a Skirt" (Keystone comedy), "End of tho World" (comic, and "Warwick Chronicle" (topical). The programme will bo repeated to-day. MRS ERXEST FIRTH'S RECITAL. Mrs Firth's solos at her recital in tho Durham street Church to-morrow will include "I Love Thee, Life" (Liddle), "0, Thou That Tellest," "Ho Was Despised " "Return. 0 God of Hosts" (Handel); "Daybreak. Morning, (Landon Ronald); "Song of Hope" (Wood), "Unmindful of the Roses" "The Three Fishers" (Hullah), 3lr Ernest Firth, solo organist and accompanist, will play selections from 'The Flying Dutchman" (Wagner). "Polonaise in A" (Chopin), "Prehide ,, (Rachmancouinoff), "Grand Choir" (Guilmant), "Intermezzo" (Hollins), "Hnmoreske" (Dvorak). A double quartost trill accompany Mrs Firth in one of her solos. SYDENHAM PICTURES. To-night will be the last night of screening "With Scott to the Pole" at Sydenham Pictures. Supporting items include the "Gaumont Graphic," "Making Incandescent Lamps, 1, "Mischievous Monkeys," "On the Broad Stairway," and "Solitaires."

GRAND THEATRE. Tho Grand Theatre was again crowded at all sessions yesterday, when tho new programme was repeated. To-day the samo pictures will bo shown. '•80-PEEP." . To-morrow night will see the opening performance here of the R«yal Pantomime Company, which recently arrived from Australia. Tho production will be "80-Peep." and it is promised that it will be staged here on an elaborate scale. The company, with a few exceptions, is entirely new to Now Zealand. Tho stage spectacles will bo unique, and some, striking ensembles will take place in special scenic sets. A guarantee that the scenery will be on a lavish scale is that it is painted by that clever arti&t, Mr Harry Whaite. Tho principals of the company include Miss Katljleon Mack (an English artist who line played principal '-boy" in many pantomimes in tho Homeland), Miss Rita Webb (principal girl), Miss Cora Terry, Miss Esme McLeilan, Fraulein Hertles (principal danseuse), the Anderson Trio, and the (•reshnm Four. Victor Leydall. Walter Cornock. George Harper," and Bruce Drysdalo.' Mr Harry Taylor, th* musical conductor, is responsible for the music and lyrics which arc claimed to be much above the average heard in Pantomime. The Pantomime is etuddoo with dances and marches of an original nature Altogether there are over fifty performers. A matinee will be hold on Saturday afternoon, and the box plan is now open at tho Dresden. MR SIDNEY WILLIAMSON'S SONG RECITAL. Tho last recital of this season (1913) will be given by Mr Sidney Williamson, assisted by Miss Audrey Gibson, in tho Choral Hall to-morrow, at 8 p.m. Mr Williamson has chosen a largo number of songs from the works of Edward Qriott for special illustration. Henry T. Finck, the well-known critic auu authority on Grieg, says: "His songs contain the very quintessence of his genius—a world of musical thought, fancy, emotion, a lavish abunaance of fresh melody, novel harmony, ravishing modulations, enchanting tone colour. Strange to say, most of his wings are still unknown, to professionals as well as amateurs; they are buried treasures, music of the future." The box plans aro at Milner and Thompson's. Y.W.C.A. CONCERT. A concert will be given in the Choral Hall on Mondny, December Ist, at 8 p.m., in aid of the Young Women's Christian Association. Contributors to the evening's prosramme will include Mrs J. Newell, Miss S. Murray, Miss MacNeill, Mr J. McLean, and Dr. Crooke.