ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 414, 25 January 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"DIANA .OF .DOBSON'S," "Diana of Dobson's" is a play typifying tlio revolt of the shop-girl with ideas.'Diana having been the daughter of a country-doc-tor, attained a oertain culture which, added to a natural refinement, gave her the ideas which caused her to rebel against the humdrum ' meanness of life in Dobson's shop. Thousands of girls working for "five bob a week" have their dreams, Dμ! if suddenly transferred to smart society would be even more miserable than in struggling against the monotony of life at Dooson's or any other establishment of the kind. Diana (for the purpose of the play) can conduct herself as a ..-lady, but one cannot imagine her Cockney friend (who says "Isy, you do; sy funny things!" as_ a habit), doing the same thing, or being in any .way equal to a novelette romance if it chanced by. So "Diana of Dobson's," if it does preach a prosaic little : sermon against those evils of the economic Bystem common to all the big centres of.the world] can only be set down as a pretty story, well-conceived and brightly written. The part: of Diana is well within' the scope of Miss Brune, who is gentle of' speech, soft, clinging, with an appeal that well across the footlights. Mr. Thos. Kingston drops the walking gentleman style for once, and gives us a, clever character in Captain •' Bretherton, a spoilt ex-army man: Mrs. -Brough , is'quite charming -as Mrs.: Cantelupe, and . she .managed her big. scene" with Diana with fine humour and , a , , commendable degree of subtlety. Another "excellent sketch was that contributed by Mr. Gregan M'Mahon as Sir Jabez Grinley—a draper baronet who- is not a little bit ashamed of his 355. "Paris models" made at Shoreditch. "Diana of ■ Dobson's" will be .played for the last time this evening. Tomorrow! evening the. company, will appear in the'popular drama ."Sunday, the name part of ■ which' is generally -admitted to be' Miss Tittell .Brurie's best.part. .'. :■ ■ '. BURNS-JOHNSON PICTtfEES.There was another large assemblage at the Theatre Royal on Saturday'evening, when the story of the Burns-Johnson, contest for the boxing' ch ampioriship was again told by the aid of the bipgraph. A noticeable feature of'the attendances, /which have" been extremely, numerous : nightly, ■..■ /been. th? .'steady increase. in the proportion of lady patrons. .In view'of the fact , that; the contest ..fllustrates. to.'■'. perfection .the latestmethods of boxing 'in vogue, more, than 'ordinary, interest,is' being, taken in. the pictures'-"by--students of boxing, many of whom' have' already been twice or a greater number.of times.. The film, which is supplemented by; others of an interesting character, will' be: presented again this evening, ;■ . ; "-: ROYAL PICTIIEES. ;'.;': Both the matinee and the evening :.exhibition of the Royal Pictures on Saturday were exceptionally well patronised. The most interesting film in the'eurrent series is .the pictorial representation of "Ali Baba. and the-Forty Thieves." Other pictures cover, a wide range of interesting subjects. | The; programme will be repeated this evening. ■ ,'•-' . : GLOBE PICTURES. ' The sacred concert at the .Opera House last night attracted an; audience which filled the commodious building to its utmost i capacity, and hundreds were.unable to gain ,ad-. mittance. . Chief among the.items, on the programme were two exhibitions of the Globe Pictures, which comprised scenic views; taken in; Spain,, Switzerland, Italy,: and Canada.. During tho evening a number, of vocal items) which were greatly appreciated, were, rendered,- the numbers'being as under-—Mr. W. A. Robyns, "The Pilgrims of : the ■ Night" and f'Tho Mighty Deop"; and Master Fred.Byron, "The Old'. Hymns".'; and "The Chorister:"'. . Mrs.. Mixne'r acted as. accom-' panist. .There .will be another sacred concert at-the Opera House next Sunday.even-, ins* • when an. entire.' change:'of • programme Will :be presented, and the .vocalists 'will'in-, elude. Mr. H.Dunn. ■...-.- ~.;.: V ■; ; . ; : : •: :

; ' r ; concert:at town, hall/

Hall was packed; last nighty when a.sacred concert was given by the "Wellington Professional' Orchestra, Mf;' D.' .A. '■ Kenny : (organist), assisted by Mrs.\Reg. D'Att and ; : •Mr. Nelson Ulingworth. The orchestra played ■ the well-known . march ' "Light Cavalry". (Suppe) as as overture, and rendered 60me other equally popular selections, concluding with Myddletbn's ■ march "The Last Stand."A pleasing number was that of Mrs.. Reg; D'Atlvwho sang "Nearer My God.to Thee,", and was encored. Mr. Nelson two selections, "Nazareth"' ■ (Gounod) • and /"Thou -art Passing Henoe"; (Sullivan), werewell''delivered, and , secured him-well earned, applause. Tho organ soli "8.8. and CJV , (Ord-Hume) ' and Andahtino (Lemare) were' played by Mr. Dayid Ai Kenny and much appreciated. The last; sacred concert of the. sories'•will;be held'in the Town- Hall next Sunday, when ,Mr, Claude Solomon, violinist, froni Melbourne, under special engagement to the Wellington Professional Orchestra, will make his final appearance.'. ..-,:. ■ : X:. ■;! MR. CLEMENT WRAGGE. ''[■'[ Another scientific lecture was delivered by Mr. Clement Wragge in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday .evening. Mr. Wragge, as an exponent of his,own branch of science, in his own; way, has'achieved considerable distinction, for he has a style which is entertaining, while bare facts become, items of popular, interest when he handles them. - On Saturday his subject was "The Majesty of Creation," and in the course of a two-hours' talk Mr. Wragge dealt ex-, haustivelv with' matters of concern to all who are interested in tho problem of-, "the first great, cause." rThe lecture was. .flhis- ; trated .by a number of excellent ..lantern -.1 views .of the.'.solar system. / . . . ■: ; -To-night at' ; the New Century. Hall, .Mr. Clement L; Wragge,. the-well-known scientific entertainer, will give his_ first public lecture on' "Radium." . "Radium" has , already upset many well-established'scientific theories, 'and.'.-changed ideas regarding the sun's energies. Everyone is permitted to handle the instruments, which. display . the continuous fiery" particles ceaselessly flung off a tiny grain of the substance invisible to. the naked eye. Admission tickets at the , doors only. ■■'■-:..: " '■ '' •., .'■ ■•':'.' - ' ;.'' ■■■ ■ - ■;• '■• ' -THE MALLINS'ONS. ''■' '/■'■":■ ■]. Mr. Albert Mallinson, the famous English song-writer, : and Mrs. Mallinson, .who interprets her husband's works so. beautifully, will give their , first return-visit recital in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Friday evening nest. Mr. Mallinson's songs are wonderfully.originali in many case;? very daring;'.■ a'rid yet' they have a strange beauty and fascination. "The" composer's" wifeis' the ideal interpreter :of her husband's .work. Asis natural to suppose; she knows the'Mallinson song-literature in and' outy and thoroughly identifies.herself with the exposition of Mr.'.,Mallinson's , songs; The Melbourne "Argus" says:—"Mrs. Mallinson has a soprano: voice- of : a pure aind■'lovely, quality,' , and, as her exacting programme shows, of a wonderful staying' power. • She wont: through that programme without turning a hair, as the phrase is." She sings as though she loved hor work—which there ■ is . not the slightest reason to.- doubt she'' does 'thoroughly,." On this occasion Mr. and Mrs. Mailinson: will have the assistance, of Mr. John Prouse, , New • Zealand's well-known baritone, who will sing- a number of songs composed by' Mr. Mallinson for male voice. The box plan is at the Dresden, and early .booking of seats is desirable. .'.' ■ EDWARD REEVES RECITALS. Mr. Edward Reeves has just concluded a successful season of elocutionary recitals at' Ch'ristchurch and Dunedin, and, before his return to Australia, be will again visit Wellington, and will commence a short series of recitals in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, noxt week. On Monday evening, February I,': Charles Dickens's charming story, "The Cricket on the Hearth," will be given,- and on Wodnesday evening, February 3, Ralph Connor's great Canadian story, "Tho Sky Pilot," will bo repeated. :