ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 524, 3 June 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. - Last night witnessed tho last evening performance of "In the Ranks," and it was produced to an enthusiastic audience. It wilt bo staged at to-day's matinee for tho last time, when tho doors-will bo open at 1.15, and tho curtain'bo raised sharp at ten minutes toitwo o'cl«ck. To-night, "A Mcssago from Mars" will bo woduoed, by special arrangement with Messrs. Charles Hawtrey and James Curzon, of London. Tho. fantastical comedy-drama with a moral, teaching kindness and good-fellowship, never fails to draw largo audiences. Mr. George Cross as Horace Parker (the selfish man) will be supported by Mr. Wilton Power as the "Messenger," and Mr. Hesford, as the 'Tramp," whilst Miss Ada Guildford will apJiear as Annt Martha, Miss Rosemary Rccs as 'Minnie Palmer," and Miss Chetwynd •bb "Bella." The cast is an excellent ono, and special dynamic effects have been introduced to invest "Mars" w'ith proper effect, especially in the vision scene, whore Parker is supposed to hear everything from his friends' anent his own selfish character. "A Messapo from Mais" will only bo played to-night and to-morrow night. To-day being a-holiday, the box plan will be at Abel's, tobacconist, as also day sale ticket^ THE ROYAL PICTURES. There was the usual crowded house at His Majesty's Theatre last' evening, when tho weekly, change of programme was presented. The faro this week is as diversified as the most epicurean taste in moving pictures could desire. Tho programme opened with a fine set of animated viows depicting tho process of making paper pulp in Canada. Of particular interest is this subject just at present, as it is only a few weeks ago that the Government notified by Gazette tho reservation of a large block of bush land on tho West Coast in order that the timber may bo conserved for paper pulp operations in the future. In the picture under notico the audience is taken away back in the Canadian woods, where tho logs are seen floating down stream, impelled by the hardy rivermen, whose duty is to guidd tho logs through tho weirs and keep them from jamming. The logs, 6ome of them four or five feet in diameter, are hauled out of tho rivor by a powerful endless chain dovice, run into a sawmill, cut into chunks, and fed into crushers I of enormous 1 power that masticate them into a pulp. This is fed between great rollers into cakes, which , aro compressed and packed into bales, and in that stato is shipped away to the paper-mills proper. "The Two Sergeants" is a rather exaggerated French story of tho devotion of two gendarmes. "A Day in Washington" gives one an excellent idea of tho, beauty-and lmpressivcness of the architecture of tho American capital, '. Among tho favourite pictures is an emotional story founded on the Tom Hood's poem "The Bridge of Sighs," the linos of which aro shown in between tho pictures. It is tho old story of deserted lore, .the' despair of tho girl, and her tragic end in the river. It was finely, filmed, and found great favour with tho audience. Something a good deal brighter was forthcoming in tho second part, when in a long film entitled "Life on Board a British Battleship," Jack is seen in a natural setting. Among the ships shown are somo of the Dreadnought typo, (lie chief characteristics of tho deck view being tho eriormons guns, that project from all points like quills upon tho fretful porcupine. Many playgoers will remember' Madame,Marzell and her trained birds, who visited Wellington with a Riclcards's company somo four or fivo years ago. Sinco then the act has been filmed by -Patho Freres. and tho result is extremely interesting. There will be a matinee this afternoon. ■

THEATRE ROTAL. . ' At tho Theatre Royal this week are being shown sorao very interesting animated picturos of the recent Oxford-Cambridge boat race, wllioh lont itself admirably to kinematography of a high-class. The film snould be seen, by ail rowing enthusiasts. Among the ringing pictures is Bert Shepherd singing his infectious laughing song, the duet "Excelsior"' by Mr. John Harrison (tho tenor recently here with Miss Ada Crossley) and Mr. R; Rudford, and "Ora Pro Nobis," sung by Madame Deering. . POPULAR CONCERTS. Under the designation of "Wednesday Pops" tho 'Wellington Professional Orchestra inaugurated a senes of pppular 7 concerts;at ,the Town Hall last evening,- there boing n ''fairljp good attendance of the public. Tho programme consisted: of < miscellaneous items of entertaininent r-orchestral music, songs, comical-ditties, conjuring feats, juggling, and acrobatic "turns," andja singing competition for school childron— the whole constituting a pleasant evening's relaxation. ' The principal soloists were Mrs. Orr-Loring (of Dunedin), and Messrs, J. P, Carr (tenor), and E. H. Parkes (baritone). Mrs. was in excellent voice, and sang the Rossini recitative and, aria, "Bel. Raggio" —a somewhat florid composition—very well.indeed; her later items were, "Songs My Mother Taught Me" (Dvorak), and the charming Mallinson song, "Gloriana," which were treated with commendable taste and' expression. ' Mr. J. F. Carr's delicate tenor voice was admirably suited to his two items, "Wind of the Western Sea" (Johnson), and "Maiden Mine" (Storndale Bennett). Mr. Can's singing is always, agreeable to listen to, tasteful, and artistia, but, 1 if anything, it lacks tho savour of animation. Mr. Ernest parkes sang D'Hardelot's "Because," and, as an encore number, "An Emblem" (Jack Thomson), 'in his chai-ec-teristio way, his full rich baritone being especially fino in his first number. Mr. Parkes's repertoire might, with some distinction to himself bo extended to include compositions of the bravura type; Mallinson's "Cavalier" song, for example, should afford him excellent scope. Other soloists were Mr. E. Kain, whose comio songs, "A Minute to Seven .Last Night," and "I m Going to Sing a Song,''' indicated a somewhat tawdry, repertoire—Mr. Kain might, with profit, study better songs, in better taste - and loss feeble in wit; and Mr. Borneo Gardiner, a really fine whistler, whose items, "Whistling Rufus," and Cachuia air from the Gondoliers", (an encore number), were heartily applauded. Mr. Charles M. Howard entertained the audience with a display of clever conjuring feats, enlivened by the usnal ingenious : "patter," while the ■ orchestra eoftly "dled through the strains, of "Tho Merry \\ idow incidental music. Hand-balancing and comedy acrobatic feats by Messrs: Vernon and Mack, with more incidental music by the orchestra, provided a diverting pi?ce "£ entertainment, the performers being heartily applauded, A feature of the concert was the singing contest by four school children, all jrom Island Bay School.' Elsie Mvers sane Captain Baby Bunting," Edna Colley "Down the Vale," Leonard Shearer "Bobby's Spice," and_ Rupert Christie, "When the Fields are White-with Daisies." The adjudicator,was Mr. F. J. Oakei, conductor of the orchestra. At tho conclusion of each night's competitions the points awarded by tho judge to the competitors are' scaled up and handed to tho chairman of the Orchestral Committee (Mr. Rowe), and will not be mado known until the last night's performance; tho final award will then bo publicly, announced and- tho prizes presented. The prizes (medals) are:—First, value .€5; second, value ,£3; and third, value The orchestral items were, the overture to Balfe's "Bohemian; C-iirl," Amer's Highland patrol,, "Wee Macgreegor" (which was repeated in responsa to an appreciative encore), Volshedt's exhilar- .• '^°! ly Fellows >" and the march Wadiators Farewell," which concluded the entertainment. The orchestra seemed to lack body, and probably suffered from' being placed below the platform, in a level with the audience. Mr. 13. J. Kenny played the accompaniments, and in his association- \vit'> Mi's Orr-Lonng, picked most tastefully. Mr. n. .l' lutliscliky was leader of the orchestra, in tho absence of Mr, J. F. Woodward.

. ROLLER SKATING. The popularity of roller skating seems to increase with the lengthening of the evenings and a. glance inside the Olympia Rink' anv mght should convince' anyone that a lot of pleasure can to extracted from the little rollers. Last night the second heat of a boon race was won by P. Killcan, with F. Olsen mi ft- V' 1 - 1 oonl P I!to in the final tonight. The Rink is open to-day as usual, the band being present afternoon and evening.. WONDERLAND. . Wonderland will be open all day to-day, as a spcciul holiday attraction. All the shows will be available, nud hot water will be provided for picnickors. '