ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 January 1909, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. . • Tho pictures .• of Messina . and tho other ■■j towns in Southern Italy which .wero so recently dovastated by earthquakes form the chief feature at tho Theatro Royal this week. These films will bo. shown again to-night . . for tho last time. " • V ► HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. • • .Tho second night ! of tho .new programme ;of 'Royal Pictures-was. patronised by. a.largo audierico ■ yesterday. In - tho comic portion 1 of > tho programme is an. amusing-film en- ; titled ."The.-Fortune Toller. 1 ' It shows how •{}, a. man who was not content with his first • " • • lovo foil; into/.difficulties ■ through "mistaking ■' ■. . an' address, ajid thus visiting' the; home _of a'.VinystiCi instead'of the house " of hio new> love. ■■ A pretty littlo film ,of the ■ dramatic class- is, entitled • "An Enemy in i' the Camp;" and describes how a little child, • having witnessed" an assault ;, made by a . ' military spy, who wishcd t-o securo valuable plans and papers, saved tho situation , by - promptly telephoning for. aid, and then helping-in the, search for the jobber. Al- " ■■■ together the seloction of pictures is quite up to" tho standard maintained hitherto, and should- not fail to-draw tho crowded'houses which'havo beenattraoted T>y. previous.proWEST'S PICTURES. ' Tho ever-popular AVcst's Pictures continue ' lo find favour in ; Wellington, and last night j. : : ' hey drew another large • audience to tho fown Ha 11.." The " programme is / largely ' nado up of scenic and travel films, and pa- , • irons 'seem to fully, appreciate this method •: of-- acquainting themselves; with tho mature - - : ;of , 'picturesduo-, and distant , lands without ; bavingtb' face thr; expense of .. travelling.- . : : The descriptivo part- of the programme is '■ / net;'' howeVer, allowed to grow monotonous, as it is suitably interspersed . with clever illusion and comic films. _ .Tonight's pro-,. . : . - gramma is; arranged in conjunction with that . - 1 . of,tie-earthquake relief fund.'; Included in , to-morrow's - ; change of.- . subjects at .the matinee a very interesting and comprehengive'series of pictures illustrating that, part, V of Sicilly where they have'boon'experiencing : . such' terrible- disasters lately wiU.be, shown. They show : a splendid bird's-eye. view of .the •' • city of Messnna before tho earthquake, and ' also sh'ortrthe Sicilian-fishing fleet off the - " coast of Catania; which.Buffered so severely. ■'. during the upheaval. -.These pictures should ■ prove doubly interesting, as they are, the • ' only moving picture record showing Italy's •■ : southern' provinoo before the 'qualco. A ; full range -of j other 'scenic, dramatic,, and humorous subjects will be submitted. A will bo given 'at 2.30, iwhen, children . - [ . will 'ho admitted at 6d. to.all parts, r EARTHQUAKE BENEFIT CONCERT. .The/following excellent ' programme has ' n'; been prepared for the bonofit concert in aid - .of.'th'e,ltalian.Earthquake Fuiid, to be.given iir'the Town Hall :to-night: — Overture to, ■ Rossini's " William Telli" by. .Do- Groen's ■ Vice-Regal Orchestra, under the personal conductors!?ip of Mr; L. Do Groen; selection -■ ■: of West's Pictures; organ solo, "Fantasia"• ' (J.'g. Barnett), Dr. W. Kington FylToj song,: Mr. E. J. Hill; harp silo, "Polnische Tanze" Op. 12,, G. Vitetta: song, T. . Robertsonviolin solo, Miss Helon--Walker, i' L.A.B. of Dunodin) ; character sketch, .Miss ; Nellie Desmond; trio,' harp, .'violin, and ■ flute,La Traviata," Verdi, Vitetta, Eros.; song, Mr.: E. H.- Parkes.: In view of the ob- --, -ject and quality of-the entertainment; a large ; • attendance should: bo. assumed. AN ENJOYABLE RECITAL. MR. REEVES AS BRIGADIER GERARD.

- .. The gallant, volatile;- laughably vainglorious officer of Napoleon, who oad "fought the • -men and kissed the women in fourteen diffcr- •. ent; kingdoms": is as attractive a hero, as any - Corian'Doyle has drawn, and Mr. Edward ~ Reeves, in his recital last evening, lost none- : ' of ;Brigadier Gerard's effervescence, i Certainly V'V'thev brigadier/ 'went /through/:soine|./ sprightly • ■ adventures,in- -hie .day r and .-recounted' themin> an /inimitable '; fashion;:- In nono of- them -do" we admiro more his ■■■-, audacity; <' -tremble;; more -.'■ often - for: .his i .safety,and' enjoy more his triumphant es- . ' capades than in- the- exploits -which Air. Reeves.' takes : for his;: subject • "How ' I , . Brigadierheld 'the King," , and "How tho - King, "In ■these stories, 7"! /.';;; also, .'there» Added to th'o ordinary interest which'the lively frenchman inspires, tho-at-' -; '■...traction -of 'his-'naive .impressions, of 'things • English. Mr. Reeves caught the jaunty spirit :■■■ of the brigadier-from tlio start, and depleted hisfquick'-changes' oPmood with'/cohsiderable: ■ ■ • hisironio . ability.- >. The exciting-scene where ;* 'Afi:.-:the; Frenchman falls' :ihtp/the/'hands of Spanish' ' v.,;;.';. guerillis^and : rierves himself to meet, a 'dread? : fill death until' escape comes in a. new cap-: tivity, under that tporting English' officer - - '-'Alilor the Hon. Sir'llassell, Bart.," was very dramatically described.-. The game ■of ecarte, played for tile prisoner's freedom, and tho Ku-// /discomfiting/intervention of the Iron/Duke, -.- Mr: Reeves to. display, his talent in • . another kind of description, and the amusing / / ■ story of the Frenchman's encounter with the. ■ "Bristol Bustler,"-after his escape from Dart- ;■■ moor Prison, had tho audience convulsed with - . Vr. The' author has 1 hit .'off .with Xeffectiveness :/thei; contrasts? in the. national :/ ' . mannersj as they might, impress a Frenchman . -■ •. Ending himsoliin England; and Mr., Reeves j::"//::wis/duly;;£orioUs'in::thci interpretation Jof/tlie i.-.ws Englishrexpletivo .•'which is the ;■•;■■■/.-same as. when we say 'Mon. Dicu.'" ;. /.Thanks-lb the variety .of tho elocutionist, as. much as-of the/glory tho two hours' recital did not pall for a.momont, and applause ..- ■ was generous at every break. There was a Urco attendance.'. ' ■- . . ; :;To-night _Mr. Rfeeves i will give: his-.last recital m Wellington,-the subject being "The Sky Pilot," by Ralph Connor, i .The synopsis promises a very varied and attractive story. NEXT SUNDAY EVENING—HAYDN . BECK. The Opera House.has been secured on Suni ; day . evening: next 'for a return: visit of. littlo . . Haydn Beck,: the wonderful child violinist. , "While ho was' passing through Wellington • , • after a successful tour'of. the'south, a 1 request | ;/ :^;-': was'; made for -. another, opportunity of- hearing him.- The Dunedin "Evening Star" agrees : ' - that he is "really remarkable,- and (unlike the usual prodigy) has tho gift of temperamentaud expression." - It further 1 says that I - . "the ovations accorded him were a' sincere j : C / tribute to his playing, and' not merely expressions of. sympathy on account of hisyouth.". He will be assisted on Sunday with I 1 > other , new. attractions,: and a : silver, collection ; will be taken, to contribute to his funds. /■. ; v V v■'•/: y-l' v':.// : ";-/ : ;'' , "THE 'SCARLET TROUBADOURS." j . /Amongst the lady vocalists included' in I Mr.. Edward Branscombe's costumo. party. ■ -i -. Scarlet Troubadours," who' pay a ,return visit to this -city, 'commencing in' the I . . Town'.Hall to-morrow night, is Miss Gertrude Parker, a young ladj; who has "made , rapid strides- in ber. profession. - She was born in ~// ' . London, and until she . was sixteen years 01 age was in a Convent 1 school. She. was taken to Australia, whence she jouriiej'cd to ; i ! .'South:Africa, andithere commenced he.rtheat-i rical career., with Mr. Leonard Rayne in . ; V'-. v '-,.Siaina';. : ' and soubrette parts. Then she joined Miss /Kato Vau- ■ ghan,;: and - later became connected with - Mr. George Edwardes's Companies in London. Miss Parker has played "•Dudley, in "San '. ■ Toy," Miss Robinson in tho "Shop ■ Girl" (Katie Seymour's.. . part), /..Lisette :inthp ■Duchess of-Dantzic," Rosa in the. "Messenfer Boy,". Sophie in "The Country Girl," lilian ,Lee in "Tho School Girl" (Edna May's part), Ada in "Threo .Little, Maids" (Ada Reeves's part), Susan in "The Toreador," Peggy in "The: Cingalee," and Angela in "Floradora." It is'expected that a . crowded houso. will welcome "The Troubadours" at the Town Hall on Saturday next.

.Mr. Branscombft's «ther concert,;party, tlie Cherniavskis, mil, give a special matinee in passing through Wellington on Saturday, January 16.