ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 557, 12 July 1909, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. > "Cinderella". said farewell to - Wellington with•; a record attendance at the matinee on Saturday afxnio'ouj.auc. a. crowded' House at night. So great were the crowds at the'matinee, that the management were' compelled to refuso, hundreds admission, as a', result of which a special matinee of-"Cinderella" is announced for Wednesday next at two o'clock. This evening Messrs. Meynell and Gunn's , popular company will enter on. the last four nights of its season, with the first production in 'Wellington of the musical comedy, "The Belle of Mayfair," which has been produced with: conspicuous success in Melbourne and Sydney during the past year. Besides this! the piece has. had long runs in Loudon and English provinces, and has additional interest from the fact that the famous Gibson Girl. (Miss Camille Clifford) Erst won-notoriety, when Miss Edna .May was playing,the "Belle.'' The-musio.is by Leslie Stuart, the well-known, composer of "Florodora," and is said to be in his happiest vein. The book is'by. .Charles Brookfield and Cosmo Hamilton. The piece is of a much higher. type than "Miss Hock,"., and its musio is fever melodious and catchy. All the popular prinoipals are admirably cast. Mr. Edwin Brett - will appear .as Sir John Chaldicott, Mr. William Cromwell as Hugh Meredith, Mr:. Harold Thorley, as Raymond' Finchley, Tom Payne; eto.; Miss Ruth Lincoln as-the Princess Carl Ehrenbreitstein, Miss' Emmaline Orford as Lady Chaldicott, Miss Alice Bennetto (her first appearance-this sea-: son) as Julia Chaldicott. Miss Essie Perrih. as Pincott (Julia's maid). Miss Daisy Belmore. as Countess Mount Highgate, and. Miss Heleno' Rose. Among the many delightful features of the, production will be the famous Gibson' Girls and a burlesque on the ;r Mcrry Widow Waltz," danced by Mr. Cromwell and Miss Dickenson. The opera will be staged under the direction of the London producer (Mr. Charles F.. Wonman).- The booking -for the opening to-night is exceptionally heavy, at the Dresden. •■-,-' ' '.;•' THEATRE ROYAL. ~ "■■'•"'.'.■. Messrs' Fuller and Sons presented_ a bright and varied .programme of moving pictures at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night. Many of the films shown were of a high-order of merit." One of the most interesting displayed a. spirited boxing. bout between England's two youngest amateurs, the Masters Corrie, aged seven and six years respectively, sons of Mr. Eugene Corrie, the reteree'. ot the National Sporting' Club. After three spirited and lively encounters, the younger contestant is adjudged the on points, and-is presented by Mr. Charles Urban with a silver cnp. Of quite, a different character, but equallv good in its way,was the story of how a child saved her father's life by means of a telepathic warning. The acting tor tms film was particularly good, and the touching/ story was so vividly presented that the more susceptible part of the audience was visibly affected. "Behind the Seines at Punch and Judy" was. a very interesting revelation of the inner and outer working of a time-honoured apparatus of amusement,, which is rarely if ever seen in-this country. The series entitled "Ma-in-Law's Hard Life" was a bit of rollicking farce, which fairly brought down the. house. Another excellent film showed in most realistic style tho breakers on a rocky .coast lashed by storm. Most of the other pictures, came pretty near to the high standard of those described. The cinephone was again. successful,, with its songs and moving pictures of the singers. The same programme will bo {repeated ■' to-night. . '-. ' OLTMPIA RINK. AH the sessions of the Olympia Skating. Rink were well attended on Saturday. Great interest is being taken in the black and whito costume carnival,'* to be held on Wednesday night. The programme will include a grand march, musical chairs, an exhibition polo match, a. waltzing'competition, the final heat of tho skating championship, and a display of fancy and trick skating by Professor Keegan. WEST'S PICTURES. A faithful condensation of, Victorien Sardou's tragedy, "La Tosca,'' is the premier film now being'shown by West's Picture Company, at the Town Hall. After being spurned by the beautiful Floria Tosca, Baron Scarpia, chief of police, imprisons her brother, Angelotti. Floria and Mario, her lover, successfully plan the escape of Angelotti, whoso hiding-place is revealed only, after Mario has been cruelly tortured. Having obtained the promise of Scarpia that the rifles which are to shoot down her lover are to bo loaded with powder only, and that she herself will have a safo journey from the country. Floria, fatally stabs the ill-inten-tioned chief of police.' At daybreak she learns that Scarpia has given other orders regarding the execution of Mario, who is shot with ball, and so overwhelmed, with griof is she-at the discovery that she throws herself from the battlements. It. is a fascinating story, enacted with remarkable dramatic effect. "The Return of Ulys-:fs" is a powerful French dramatisation of the old f-tor.v. Penelope, still faithful, although it .is ten-years, since Ulysses departed, is urged to choose a husband to rule the kingdom. Sin finally aire« to atrcs. MM fli'lutf..

five suitors when she'has finished her tapestry. • Then she is caught 'undoing the tapestry, and, sorelv pressed, consents ;to' marry the man who can bond Ulysses's bow.' The'giant himself returns' disguised,'and proves his- strength with:tho bow.. A film of more than ordinary interest, "Raised from , the Ranks,"., is; .in-, tended to-tell-the story, t of-"ragging .-in: tn «- army. Other pictures which-will be shown again this* evening., are:—" Paper .' Mills '■'■■ in Fabriano," "The Red .Girl.V "Scenes in Bombay," "The Puritan., Maid," and "Foolshead. Pays His Debts." .-;.-. .-..■■ : :. : - '. -' , •.' ■'■'.-. "LUCKY DURHAM." '■ ■:■ The plan for the season of "Lucky Durham" will be .opened at the Dresden to-morrow morn-' ing at nine o'clock, and the season of Messrs. Meynell am! .Gunn's new, English company is limited to e'ght. nights oily. The Australian success of this powerful combination, with I the -well-known and favourite .actor. Mr. Harcourt Beatty as "star," has already reached New. Zealand, and play-goers are pleasantly anticipatingV the -advent -of this' company, which includes so many notable English favourites,, as well as several artists who have already appeared in New' Zealand -with conspicuous success.- Tho English artists comprise Misses Gladys Harvey, : .s Emily -Fitzrby, Kdith Reverell, Messrs. J.-W. Deverell, Frank Randell.and J. E. Gardiner. They have all. achieved an individual popularity with Australian audiences. "Lucky, Durham" attained a' run of eight-weoks" when: produced for the first time in Australia ~at , the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, and is described as one of the most powerful plays of this decade. ' ■ BOYS' INSTITUTE NIGHT AT 'THE 'TOWN HALL. '■ ',;' A ,good„ lecturer, a .popular, causey- a firstclass and unique programme, combine to give , the committee of,tho Boys', Institute ,the-pro-mise of a packed house to-morrow evening at the Town Hall. The lecturer for the evening is the Hon. T. Mackenzie, F.R.G.S., Minister for Agriculture, and he has chosen a subject that will appeal to.', every patriotic member of the community, "Now Zealand: Our Own •Land, Brightest and Best." We can justly and proudly claim that no country surpasses our own Dominion'for grandeur, beauty, and; variety of scenery; and, apart altogether from the ability of the lecturer, no lover of the natural beauties of. New Zealand can be/indifferent to the-magnificent collection of views that will be thrown on the screen to-morrow night. The wonders of tho Hot Lakes, the beauties of the Wanganui River, the splendour of tho Southern Alps,, and tho grandeur of,the New Zealand Fiords have all been laid under contribution to add to ■ this collection. .The kincmatograph, with its pictures of water-: falls and geysers in. motion, and the film of tlie • recent Webb-Arnst sculling match, has also -been requisitioned to add realism to tho picture portion of.the entertainment. Thereis, perhaps, no. man better qualified to speak on,such a subject than the Hon. T., Mackenzie. For many, years past he has done valuable exploration work in the inexeoessible and little-known regions of New Zealand; par-, tioularly in the mountainous portions of Otago. . .V, ■•,'•'.' In addition to the lecture and - the views,; the committee, have been fortunate in getting the consent of the Hon. A. T. Ngata to recite, "Scenes from the Past." The many people who were disappointed at Mr. Ngata being prevented by illness from giving his-recita-tion at a recent concert, will be gratified at this fresh opportunity:of hearing him. The Garrison Band will, also be present, and contribute to the programme. ''.''■' \ Seats may be booked at the Dresden; children's scats may be booked without extra charge. The committee desire to express their appreciation of the action of the proprietors of West's Pictures, who, in view of the exceptional nature of .the entertainment, very generously withdrew their claim, to the hall, which they had previously booked for that date. . ■'■ '■ . '■' •' .