ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 483, 16 April 1909, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Tho comic opera, "The Merry Widow/' was [gain the cause of a paoked attendance at the )pera House last evening. . Tho attractive lances anil the catchy music were duly approbated by the audience.' The pieco will be releated to-night. , i THEATRE ROYAL. , _ There was again ,si large attendance at the , rheatre Royal last night to witiiess the periormance of "The Woman Pays," by the Geach Dramatic Company. To-morrow* evening the jompany will produce for the first-<imo in Wellington'a picturesque and exciting aramanc piece, entitled "Lured to London," by Edward Thane. One of the most sensational: inin the drama is the great dive which iVntty, a hack slum child, takes into Re»ents Park Canal to rescue an old man from The soene is pronounced to.be one Df tho finest water acts yet produced. The audience is held enthralled by the-daring intrepidity with which Miss Ethel Buckley, who represents the slum hero, takes exciting dives, The tank used for the purpose of this act is one of the largest ever fitted into any stage. Ins scene will be produced in the same complete manner as when recently staged in Sydney. The dnyna also includes a firo scene and much other interesting detail. The entire company will be utilised in the interpretation ' of the drama. . 1 • THE ROYAL PICTURES. \ ' The second exhibition of the week's series of pictures was given at His Majesty's Theatre last night in the presence of a very laTF<) attendance. • The pictures,were of'exceptional inerit and met with the decided appreciation of those ■ present. The programme will'bo rc- • peated to-night, . 1 • • ,' • . "WEST'S PICTURES. programme was presented at the' Town Halt last evening by tho'management of West's Pictures —a name which stands for the best in kinematography. Of life and . scenes in foreign lands one scarcely ever.tires, and tho fins views of St. Petersburg, the stately capital of ' "All the Russias," and ; Benares, the sacred city of India, * were fascinating to travelled and untravelled alike. ; rhe Thunderbolt on the Mill" js a picture descriptive of a disaster which wrecks one of the picturesque windmills of Holland. "Clearing the Mountain.Railway" is a graphic picture of the dangers that beset a railway system that traverses steep grades. Other pictures.of interest—of the humorous, dramatic, and narrative order—were "The Mehnaid," "Animated Matches// "The Crafty Usurper," "Tilda, the : Lion-J.anier," "The Alchemist's Daughter," 10 Zulu's Heart," and last, and perhaps best, "The Red Hand." TO-NIGHT'S CONCERT., Mr.'Hamilton Hodges, the well-known baritone, makes his last appearance in New-Zea-land at the Town Hall, Concert Chamber, tonight. So much has been written about this fine singer that it is sufficient to say .that in. to-itieht's programme ,Mr. Hodges will be heard in some of the great items that he has made so noticeable. He will be supported by his talented.wifo. ' y ■ MELBA. ' Private advices received from the south state that Madame Melba has quite recovered' from ■her mishap on the steamer during the voyage from' Melbourne, and that she is singing delightfully, and thoroughly enjoying her visit to New Zealand. The members of her company, which is a strong one, include Mr; John Lemmohe, the cultured flutist, whose artistic work is well remembered by concert-lovers in Wellington. The box plan for <the guinea seats for-tho concerts to bo given in Wellington on April: 27 and 29 is; now open at the Dresden Company s warehouse. , PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. Members of the Wellington Professional Orchestra foregathered' at the New Century Hall last evening to wish one of their number, bon voyage and generally to indulge in a pleasant relaxation from sterner pursuits. The guest of the.evening \Vas-Miss Elsie Hennah, one of the • £ v ,\ olins >" with- her mother, is leaving Wellington shortly on a four months' holiday trip to Australia, mainly to recruit her health. The evening was spent in.misic and dancing, with an ■ excellent little supper appropriately sandwiched in the' middle of the programme. About-forty couples were present. i Mr.'.rß. M'Lean officiated .as' -M.C:,-" and;' was assisted by Messrs: 1 Avery' and O'Brien. 'During the evening itenis were rendered by the orchestra, Miss Nellie ■Simpson (flutist), Miss Elsiei Hennah (violinist), Mrs. Amy HydoWood/Vard (soprano), Mr. Ernest Parkes (baritone), and Messrs. p. A. Kenny and Cain, who the spice of humour, which added a zest to the programme. During.the supper Mr. i. J. Oakes, conductor of the orchestra, proposed the toast of "Our Guest" in a, felioitous spseoh,■ which wag responded to, on behalf'of .the lady,.by Mr. J. W. Dick. ' - ST. PETER'S CLUB. , ■ An enjoyable smoke concert was' held last night by the members of St. Peter's Club. A large number of members and friends were present. During the. evening Mr. Berry, on behalf of the committee, presented the president,'the Rev. Or. P. Davys, with a token of esteem as he is leaving, shortly for;Eiigland on an extended holiday. )'i'he following contributed to a successful programme: Messrs.:P. Archer A Bartlett, G. Beft, R. G. Blow, J. Connell, G Dcslandes, G. T. Hall, and A. G. Williams. Mr. Bell acted ,as accompanist. ' WELLINGTON .SOUTH CARNIVAL. . Good 'business was demo at tho Wellington South Carnival last evening, when the Rink was again crowded. A largo number of tho olergy visited the carnival. Among them! were his Grace the Archbishop, Very Rev. Rather Renault, S.M. Proy., Very Rev.'Father Clune, £$S.R.; • y.*7 ■■??*• father ■ O'Shea, S.M.V.G.j and Dean Grogan, S.M. To-morrovf afternoon special displays of fancy dancing will bo given.