ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PHYSICAL TRAINING SCHOOL. ANNUAL CARNIVAL. The first night of the Wellington Physical Training School's annual carnival was hardly so well attended as the merits of the entertainment deserved. The programme was well arranged to overcome the risk of monotony almost inevitable from a performance of this nature. The entertainment opened with a very fine display by the entire school. A smart bout with the foils by two youths came next, followed by Swedish drill by the girls. Iron wand drill by men and youths, rings and rope drill by men, youths, and boys, and dumb-bells by the girls were alt very attractive items. The ball-swinging by the girls was an exceedingly effective display. The Lilliputian drill by the little ones was well done, as also was the wand drill by the boys. The two most attractive items of the first part, from a popular point of view, were the grand tableaux ana pyramids, and the running maze. In thp second part some very striking items were introduced; among them might be mentioned the staircase and chair-balancing, the illuminated clubswinging, the figure-march by ladies and girls, and the grand finale, the last mentioned being a most brilliant display. The .electric light club-swinging, already referred to. consisted of two items, the first by tho ladies, and the second, double club-swinging, by Mr. Dovey, the instructor. The horizontal and parallelbar exercises proved very popular items. The boxing bout by the boys was a willing contest, tho juveniles displaying considerable science during their brief sparring match. Another attractive item was tho sword drill by the ladies.

The Trophies for the season just ended have been awarded as follow:—Class Challenge Trophies—Men's Class, Mrs. G. L. Weston's Cup, Mr. Warwick Weston; Ladies' Class, Mr. E. G. Pilcher's Cup, Miss Callow; Youths' Class, the Flunket Cup, Mr. Guy Eonaldson; Boys' Class, Mrs. Girdlestone's Cup, Master Martin; Girls' Class, Mr. Aitken's Cup, Miss Girlio Smyth. The Wallace and Gibson Challenge Cup remains in possession of the school. The performance will be repeated to-night. MOONLIGHT EXCURSION. An attractive programme has been arranged for the excursion and concert at Day's Bay this evening. The musical arrangements are in the hands of Mr. W. J. 'Mianchlin. The grounde and pavilion will be specially illuminated for the occasion, and the water-chate and side-shows will all be in full swing. The 6.5. Duchess is to leave the Ferry wharf at 7.45 p.m., returning from the Bay at 10 o'clock. 1 ull particulars appear in another column. ■• THEATRE ROYAL.

Before a packed house at the Theatre Koyal last evening the clever members of Fuller's Vaudeville Company gave an excellent entertainment, which met with, due appreciation. Miss Nellie Jlaher, Australian singer and dancer, confirmed the good impression made at her first appearance. Swinging shots, wheel shots, and screen shots of the brilliant riflemen, Barnard and Barnard, made the pnblic doubt their vision. The musical Chromes delighted-with "concord of sweet sounds," and all the other contributors to the programme, met with marked success. The same bill will be givon to-night. ■ ( WONDERLAND. Some hundreds of precious souls, like Cowper's heroes "all agog to dash through thick and thin," found plentiful excitement on the water-chute, toboggan, and other sensatibns of Wonderland yesterday. This afternoon,-and - On each succeeding Saturday and Wednesday afternoon, the management will hold toboggan races for prizes./ Such contests became very popular at the recent exhibition at, Christchurch. , . ■ .

"HOME, SWEET HOME." ' Mr. Allan Hamilton's new dramatic company inaugurated their Auckland season on Monday night, when they met with a ' big reception from a crowded and enthusiastic audience. The domestic drama " Home, Sweet Home," which formed the opening attraction, was received with distinct tokens' of approval. The company will appear at 'the Opera House on Tuesday, November 26. "Home, Sweet Home," to be produced on the opening night; will be a pleasant • relief from the average "blood and thunder" melodrama. This is what a; Sydney contemporary has to say about the piece:—"Favoured by fortune in regard to the large the.new'conirjany' was absolutely lucky in l the' selection : of"' Home',' Sweet Homo' as their opening piece in' Australia. To say that Mr.. Frank Lindo has given the world a great play in this stage story of an English fishing village would be ridiculous overpraise, but it is the due of the author to acknowledge that the 'domestic drama,' as it is styled, has admirable strength and simplicity, with the added attractiveness of sentimental charm. There is always a welcome for clean, healthy, and straightforward plays of this class. The saving of a baby girl from a wreck", the bringing up of - the child as his adopted daughter Joan, by old David Armitage, one of the simple fisher-folk; tho marriage of the girl to the fisherman's son, - Stephen; discovery, after eight years of married life, that Joan is the daughter of the proud Duke of Ancaster'; the flight of Joan from her husband and. the littlo child Dora'to the ancestral-home of the.Ancasters, and the return of Joan, to the humble cottage by the sea, as a true wife and loving mother—these are the materials out of which 'Home, Sweet Home' has- been built." The box plan opens to-morrow morning at Holliday's. /

.. Theatre-goers aro reminded of the performance of "Dr. Bill" to take place at the Opera Houso to-morrow evening. The'comedy is one of.'the brightest in the sphere of farce-comedy, as was demonstrated when it • was played through the Colonies by Miss Jlyra Kemble and the Brough and Boucicault Companice. Arrangements have now been made to repeat the performance on Friday and Saturday next, the final performance to be in aid of the Shipwreck llelief Fund. The programme that is being arranged ~b~y Miss Bose Blaney for her popular concert, to bo held in the Town Hall, should prove a very attractive one. Miss Rose Blaney's abilities are well known. She will be assisted by leading local artists, as well as by Miss ■Madolino Knight (of Auckland), and Mrs. T. F; Castelloo (nee Miss Kitty Blaney); who' is now a resident of this city. The complimentary -concert which is to: bo tendered to Herr Max Hoppe, one of Wellington's leading violinists, on Wednesday next, November 27, .promises to be a great success. A very successful rehearsal by the orchestra was hold last night, and went off very well. A further rehearsal will be held next Monday evening. The box plan'will open at the Dresden this morning. Great interest is being taken in tho dramatic to be given in the Sydney Street Schoolroom, at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon, and on' Friday evening, under the auspicDS of the Girls' Realm Guild of Service ■The piece de resistance is an amusing comedietta, styled, " Freezing a mother-in-law," bv a Government House party, at tho head of which is the Hon. Kathleen Plunket. There will also be two other pieces, entitled "Shattered Nerves," and "A Pair of Lunatics," by leading amateurs. As these performances nre being given in the cause of charity, generou"s support is expected from tho public.