ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. The fine programme of pictures being preeented by the Messrs. Fuller at the Theatre Royal this week attracted an appreciative audience last evening. The favourite films reeled off included a tramway ride through Gothenburg, a fine representation of a bear hunt, and several excellent story pictures mBtinct with the spirit of melodrama. lne cinephone films included a "turn" by Miss Jflorrie Forde, the popular vaudeville artist. THE ROYAL PICTURES. His Majesty's Theatre has been crowded every night for the past week, the present ' programme having proved, a great draw. Tonight will be the last opportunity of witnessing it, as it must then be withdrawn to allow of tho usual change on Wednesday. Some novelties in the picture line will be included in the new list. MISS JEAN HOWISON. At the Concert Hall to-night, at 8 o'clock, BBss Jean Howison will give a- dramatic recital fo-om the works of lan Mackren and Charles Dickens. '■ The Mowing notice is from tho Melbourne " Argus ":—" The redial had a charm about'it that appealed to' the finest feelings in human nature. Miss Howison is not a declaimer; is graceful, modest, unpretentious and refined. She loves the poets with her whole soul, and tells the story of them, as she interprets it from close nnd enthusiastic' study, with simple grace. Her style is conversational, but is winsome in a high degree." ■ ' THE WOMAN PAYS. At the Theatre Royal on Saturday next, the Edwin Geach Premier Dramatic Company will make a welcome -.appearance after an absence of twelve months, when the combination will stage Frank M. Thome's dramatic success, "The Woman Pays." This play is of the emotional order. 'It is at present the great "draw" in the English provinces, whilst the Sydney season at the Palace Theatre proved a record for the managoment. Included in -what is said to be a very strong cast is Mr. Robert Inman, an actor ever dear to local lovers of the melodrama, and one who has been absent for some years. Miss Ethel Buckley will also make a welcome reappearance with the company. The box plan is on view at the Dresden.

THE URBAN PICTURES. The new programme of pictures at the Opera House, under the Urban Pictures management, is a very satisfactory one, inclnding some fine specimens of animatography. "The Nymph of. Fontainebleau," "Modern Metallurgy," "Tho Merchant of Venice," "Frolics on Coney Island,"-' "Paris Park Under Snow," and "Champion Skaters," are exceptionally good,, and were JoudJy applauded. The programme will be supplemented to-morrow evening with a'picture illustrating! "Life on Board a Dreadnought," and several others. WEST'S PICTURES. To-morrow evening will witness the Teturn to' Wellington of Mr. West's popular combination of pictures of high-class standard, and music of equal quality. Since their last season here the company have had a very successful tour of the South Island, where thtir reputation has always resulted in a j warm welcome. The success of their tour was mainly due to the number of '"art studies" that_ they have been submitting. These studies are of exceptionally excellent quality, and contain the most advanced developments in live-motion photography, besides introducing, per medium of the camera, some of the world's best dramatic artists, including tho incomparable Sarah Bernhardt. The first series will include the famous love drama by Alphonse Daudet, entitled "L'Arlesienne," the story of which never lets the attention of the audience flag. Other instructive and interesting subjects will bo presented to tho accompaniment of appropriate music by the popular musical coterie, Do Groen's ViceBegal Orchestra. WEST'S NO. 2 COMPANY. A bright and entertaining programme of pictures was submitted at Lower Hutt last night by West's Pictures No. 2 touring company. Tho subjects embraced a large variety of scenic, dramatic, and humorous iihns, and . wore received with appreciation by a large audience. Tho company will present a complete chango of programme tinight, and on \Good Friday they will submit a suitable programme at Petono. "THE MERRY WIDOW." Tho box plane for tie first six performances of the popular light opera, "Tho Merry Widow," to bo presented by J; C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company on Saturday nert, at the Opera House, will bo opened at the Dresden this morning. An exceptional demand for seats is expected, as an unusual number of inquiries 'have been made at tho box office during the past week. "The Merry Widow" has met with great success in the cities of the Old World, and throughout America, wlrilo the Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide seasons have established records which would be very hard to beat. Tho. music is of attractive quality. The composer, Franz Lehar, is said to have imparted an irresistible gaiety to the musical setting, which finds its highest oxprossion b tho" Waltz Duot."