ENTERTAINTEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 575, 2 August 1909, Page 3

ENTERTAINTEMENTS.

.. ; "•■ ■'■■ THEATEE'ROYAL: The new selection of films put forward by the; Messrs. Mler at . the Theatre. Eoyal on Saturday , evening was. enthusiastically received, the undoubted.merit of the bill being appreciated to the full. The' pictures were well chosen and perfectly screened. -The audience commenced with a "Tram Ride Through Boin ! bay," and proceeded thence to a dramatic peep into the life of Henry 111. "A Living Reflection" I brought the house far from the serious .side,, the ludicrous plights into which an inventor's over.stucly carried him in" a dream being veryamusin?. "A Friend in the Enemy's Camp "told .the story of the kidnapping of.a little girl by Indians, and her subsequent liberation by, an Indian maiden. An idea of Britain's.iiaval strength was given , in tho review, of the warships at Spitheadpa film which ap'pealed'-.stronglytothe audience, and showed its miles'and miles of battleships. Tho performance of a "King of Jugglers," whose stock-in-trade consi?ted principally of three hats and a cigar, was another remarkably good picture, whilst "The Lakes of Balathon" and "The Champagne Industry" also commanded attention second only to. the._presentation of Marie Corelli's "Vendetta." -There were numerous other films. With an occasional layer of comedy sandwiched in between the dramatic and industrial subjects, the whole, entertainment,' judging"from .the way tho audience welcomed, it,.seemed to show that the management have gauged exactly -what was wanted. The .'singing pictures varied the programme, tho : roost'successful of the series being "Won't You : Waltz the Merry Widow Waltz?" The programme will •be repeated. this evening. '. ;! :his : majesty'stheatee. - ■■;■ 1 ! Witlr such' a ; programme of pictures as that being/shown- at His Majesty s Theatre this week,, it as little :wonder that the two exhibitions of the pictures on Saturday each drew a crowded house. . The bill' provides .ample variety, enough to suit all tastes.' "The Bank Note")' is', a good dramatic pioture, "The Trials oO a.Billposter," a good example of the comic series, and /.'Historical Medway", is another film well worth', seeing. . . : ?% >:■}', -KSEATING EINK.■:,, .•;.•' Saturday night at the' Olympia Skating Rink is a time of. much merriment. The strains of the band music and'the.rhythmic sound of-the gliding skdtes \seera to make all the patrons of,'tlie.rink joyous, and desirous of-getting-as much fun as they possibly can, so that they '■'do "hot regard;'falls'.-: AH are; at present preparing, for-next week's; poster carnival, ':. ;■;■'.■:■,■■■■"'.;■ t ;'.-'-.qRGAN-BECIT-AL v / There, was.an encouraging iattendance at the recital given .by. the city organist (Mr. Maughan Harriett) .at Hhe on Saturday evening. The'programme was as varied as it was interesting—alr'tastcs'being'catered: for in- tho half-dozen numbers played.. Bach was represented ;by ; the'first movement of his Concerto'in A-mirior :(onginally. written as a violin concerto, by Vivaldi).' "The: composition has been invested by the spirit of Bach, and little save the bare'the'me is left by the original composer. The-piece'do. resistance .of; the recital was Widor's Symphony, NoV'2—pastorale, andante, ■and, finale, finely interpreted by -Mr. Barnett. Schubert's: melodious' air,. "Am Meer," as adaptedfor the-organ, has become a faTOurite with regular attendants' at the, recitals, and was welcomed ras v an old. friend.' A new one turned up!in the "Triumph" Fantasia of Mr. Lawrence F. Watkiiis, of Wellington, quite , an ambitious effort, that expresses tho inter-rela-tion -between joy ,and : ;sorrow. The fantasia opuis with';a chorus 'of , .triuniph.;in celebration of" a viotpry.'.conducted in a series; of'full, festal chords, which: changes quickly to a minor key, in'"which.'low; tones of and mourning are"nicely cadenced. -This is followed by a return to the joyful strains-of-tho introduction. :Mr.\W.atkins-is; ! to be 'congratulated >on his.new fantasia: , ' The" prn{T'?;,p-"n concluded with a ..lopular;fantasia., on-Verdi's. ".II Trovatore."-

.; ; .';■• ■'.•■ SACRED RECITAL/ , /: v . -An organ recital, in aid of tho funds of St. Vincent do - Paul' Society,. was given by Miss May Putnam,-at the Basilica, Hill Street, last night,' Mr*, John -.Prouse and Mrs. Blythe assisting; as .vocalists..': There was. a very large attendance, '■ the '"Oh'uroh , being crowded. The programme was as follows:—"Grand Choour" (Hbllins)';' "The Curfew" (Horsmaii); "Toccata gn • A..-Major"; CBlakelv);r' v 5010,.. "0 ,God Have Mercy" r '(Mendelssolin), Mi , . John'Prouse; "Chant Sans .Paroles" (Leinare); "Elegy , * , (Leniai'e); .":Vorspiel";. i '.(Wagner); ,?.'-Andaiito;. Cantabile" (Wider)';'soprano'solo, ''O;-Divine Redeemer" (Gounpd), Mrs. Blythe; "Lβ . Cygne" (SaihtSaens)r/'AllegTe'tc6'' (Wolstenholme); "March Sollenellee" .(Mailly); "Pomp and Circumstance" (Elgar).' The collection (which realised .£l4 JOs.) was .followed by the Benediction of : the Blessed , Sacrament, sung by the choir. I ■;, ,)-,:■' A LECTURE. ,' : - :■: Under the 'auspices of the City Council's Libriiry'Conimittee, a lecture, will I .be given\in the Town Hall (Concert Hall) to-night by the Rev. D. Kennedy, D.D., rector of St. Patricks /College.- Dr. Kennedy's scientific attainments and.his? gifts-as .a speaker created such a favourable 'impression when", he last lecturod > in Wellington that a large attendance niay be eipected to-night; Ihe subject , will be. "The Honey Bee, and there will be lantern illustrations.:., ■' .-• , r . . . -". ■...-■'' . ■ ij.