ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 521, 31 May 1909, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"IN THE BANKS." A fine houso greeted the second production of Geo. E. Sims's melodrama, "In tho Ranks," by the Allan Hamilton Dramatic Company at the Opora Houso on Saturday evening. Tho excellent and highly-dramatic story was followed with interest—on' occasions with something] more than interest—and, from beginning to end, the. play went with a'swing that reflects credit on-the stage. management. The bulk of the work fell on Mr. Geo. Cross as Ned Drayton, Miss Ada Guildford as Ruth Herrick, and Mr. Wilton Power as the rascally Gideon Blake— sound performances all. Among the susidiary parts, Miss May Hcsi'ord makes a distinct success as Mrs. Buzzard, and Mr. H. EUison, : thongh he fails to indicate that Belton was an educated person though a scoundrel, gives an interesting character sketch of an ."bad oharacter." Other little' bits of work • worthy of , mention are the Mr. Timmins of Mr. Stuart Clyde, and the Polly Timmins of little Alice Whittle. Highly-commendable indeed is tho scenery of Mr. Harry Whaite, who excells himself in the painting of Dingily Wood, and the second village soene. "In the Ranks,"'which should run well through the present? week, ia a fine, healthy type of melodrama, and a revival of such pieces is'always welcome. In coni nection with the season a matinee has been announced for Thursday afternoon. •'

FULLERS' PICTURES. • ." Cinephone pictures, to be successful, require no little: care and forethought in their preparation for tho. critical eyes ,and ears'of the publio. The cinephone is an ingenious combination of tho phonograph and the Ifinematograph; whereby, coinoidentally with the reproduction of .a singer's performance by the former, and a pictorial representation of the actual performance by the latter, one is understood to be witnessing nnd; hearing a musical, event which may have happened a thousand miles,away. The idea, is good, but its materialisation is often '■ very far from being ■: so. It is obvious that, unless the singing machine and the picture machine start, so. to say, "from scratch," the result must be ludicrous. The singing machine may be soaring away in the heights of some sublime burst of song at' tho very moment that the man or woman in the picture, having managed by some misunderstanding between the respective operators to secure a comfortable lead, is bowing his, or , her, acknowledgments. At' the' Theatre Royal, on Saturday ovehing, Messrs. Fuller' included in their new programme, for the current week, two or three cinephone items, at least two of which were produced very creditably-Mr. Burt. Shepard in his "Laughing, Song" and Messrs. .John Harrison (the fine tenor who was here with the Ada. Crossley party recently) 'and Robert Rudford, in the duet "Excelsior." The third item, Madame During'? singing of "Ora Pro Nobis" was somewhat inaudible.. The idea is, as has already been said, a good one, and Messrs. Fuller are to be complimented on their persever,ance in tho direction of perfectrog it. Among the kinematograph pictures proper—and there Vas a liberal series—special mention, must '.be given to the excellent representation of tho Oxford and Cambridge University boat race, an exciting film, which, was deservedly applauded. This picture alone is well- worth a visit of inspection. "The IMohawk's. Ring" is a thrilling depiction, full: of incident, of adventures among .the Red Indians. : '."Mr; Jones's Shopping" and "More Milk for Baby" aro two .farcical films, which are irresistibly funny, and brought down the house on Saturday night. Two striking films. are the "Sunset" coloured pioture, and another which : depicts i scenes in the Nile Delta. The new programme is as good, and in some respects better, as any 6eries 'yet presented by" the enterprising firm which caters for the public entertainment... at the Theatre Royal. ' ;,'V ''

THE ROYAL PICTURES. Large attendances greeted both performances at . His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night. This week's programme is of exceptional merit; and those present were well pleased Avith the pictorial selections run off by the Royal Pic- • tures .Syndicate. ■ There will be a complete change of programme on Wednesday : night. | : PROFESSIONAL' ORCHESTRA'S WEDNES:'v- DAY "POPS." '■ The. best, concert oompanies that perform in our cities are those': that, come from abroad, and, after giving, a series of about three'.or four concerts, pass on-to other lands. As'an educa- ■ lion in,the irendering .of hrtistic - singing and playing these companies. {are..useful, trat.'-our towns invariably-hhvo ;to, pay heavily .for those advantages. ' ' Hence :: : the Wellington "-, Professional <Orctfestra -has.j by ;6tarting: their winter evening popular Icohoertsv endeavourcdUo "keep tho money in -.the family"; and still • educate and interest the' piiblic'..;.l' l ine,: tal«nt- haß s.been. obtained'iat and it.is command commensurate'' I ':'support.- • Mrs.' 1 ;Orr-Loring, sopranoi . of .:D,nfledin, .'•h'as'."beeh'« Specially ; engaged'by 'the; 6rchestra;!fdr:'„thcso concerts.'. This lady on• each:;occasion on :which fshe has; ap'pearedin this'city lias'proved herself a .successful artist. Mr. J. F. Carr, tenor, is. always welcome .'on our' concert platforms,; and this will be his Erst appearance with the Wellington Professional Orchestra. Mr. Parkes,' baritone, will; also appear, and Mr. Charles Howard, magician, will 'give an attractive, "turn" entitled "Magical Problems." ', Mr.-.E. ICain,' humorous artist, Mr. B. Gardiner, .sifflonr, and Mr. Vernon. Mack, hand- 'balancer and comedy artist, ,irtH;also perform. Prices of admission will be Gd. and Is., and plan is at the Dresden. ■ ' „ -ORGAN RECITAL.:, A specially fine programme of orcan music was interpreted by Mr. Maughan Barnett to a-large audience in:the, Town Hall on' Saturday night. ; Among"th- items were'.Handel's "Concerto' No. 5," Bach's "Toccata'and Puguo in' C Major," and .Wagner's Prelude, Act I, "Lohengrin," which' wore splendidly played ;by the organist;' Lighter selections wero/Andanto from in E Minor" (Sullivan), Pizzicato from "Sylvia" (Delibes), and "Offertoiro in G" (Wely). SACRED CONCERT. ' ' The last of the series of Sunday, concerts by the Wellington Professional Orchestra was given in the Town Hall last evening to an audience which left very few seats vacant., The concert was of excellent quality, both in selection and interpretation. The orchestra'was; heard to .good effect in Von Blon's march "The Light Horse,", tho over-popular overtiiro- of "The Bohemian Girl,", and Starke's "Sword and Lance." A couple of organ soli by Mr.. David; A. Kenny,- "Traumerei" (Schumann), and "Andantino" (Lpmare), exemplified 'the undoubted talent of that musician, and Mr. W. 1 A.. Robyns'won much'applause by his singing of a sacred song, which, replaced his programme ; item of Faure's "Les Kameaux," and "The Pilgrims of . the Night." An entr'acte, for.- two flutes, Von Blon's "Serenade d' Amour" was : artistically played by' Messrs. . T..-Thomson and . A. Wilson. The programme was well received from first to last.