ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 584, 12 August 1909, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL, j : ,' ; A good .programme of : ciuephono and- kinematographic items is attracting, large audir enoes -to the-Theatre Royal. this week. A popular cinpphone item is ."Father O'Flynn," alnd a fine descriptive picture" is ciie. illustrating tbo beauties of the-Rockies,as seen ;froin 'the' Canadian Pacific'-Railway. - . THE ROYAL PICTURES. . . _--V His' Majesty's Theatre was densely crowded 'last night, and tho regular weekly change in the programme of. th.e' Royal Pictures fully satisfied-.'the. anticipations, of patrons. Always up-to-date, . tho entertainment began with a picture-story:of an aerial, elopement, in which, tho'possibilities of tho aeroplane as. a.factor'in ono particular kind , of, romantic episode were vividly illustrated;. A travel film, "Colombo and its Environs," came next, afforded a fascinating insight into the habits of the people of'Ceylon-in- business and, recreation... "The ; Terrible Brazilian" was ■ a'. coniedy of the bright,-, swift-moving character always associated with the name of Pathe' Freres:. ' ! A Little Tyrant" was a superlatively spoilt child, and the representation of the grown-iip ■ people making selves ridiculous as the slaves of tho small but imperious creature was calculated to have a wholesome "effect in any quarter where such a piece of; mordant social satire may be needed.' A star film was that entitled - "A Street Waif," a drama acted by clover Parisian, artists. The "waif" is a girl who, after being struck and insulted in a drink-ing-bar,,is thrust out into tho wintry streets, wanders a short distance, drops exhausted in.the snow,-is picked up,by a kindly motorist, and launched eventually upon a highly promising stage career, notwithstanding the efforts of a- companion .of 'her old life to drag her back. ;' The acting was realistic, and •the" little drarhai was" keenly appreciated by the "house." The sceno .of "A Man and His Bees" was typical of tho English countryside. A rastic,.unversed in the. of bees, gets himself arid a miscellaneous'crowd of people into all sorts of comical trouble in. trarelliii< r with his newly-purchased sflwm. A very, pretty , comedy-of Piorettb. and Wiiham, is that entitled' "Ruses-" "A Dash for Help" is a thrilling, incident in India; The industrial .film of the new programme takes one to British Columbia, and graphically illu-strates-the .various operations of seeding, •harvesting; and _ cattle-ranching. • Two "comics"—"Teaching a Husband- a Lesson" and "Professor Puddenhond's' Invention"— and a dramatic film entitled, "The Love of a ■RoTn&ny.-Lass,*'■ complete . this ■ . popular programme,, which: will be • repeated to-night. .-„ ; . ,' .. j . FANCY DRESS AND POSTER ■ > '.--.CARNIVAL. Last night the piympia Skating Rink was' crowded "to"its fullest- capacity, whenj the grand . masquerade, fancy dress,' and 1 poster.'i was' hold, the keenest, interest being displayed. by tho spectators j'n. the various events. BMng a poster' carnival .there *!** n°-Jack of colour . in ; 'the' scene, and some 'of the costumes were extremely gay i: and bizarre. ■,The "evening operied: with'a' grand march, in which all-the costumes.were'i •'displayed to. tho • best' advantage. , The floor was in excellent condition,, and some really • wonderful skating was to-be.seen., The win--.'of the .competitions, wofa ".as .follows [ The potato race, Mr..A; 1 Morriss, ..who also won tno musical .ohairs competition ,and thegrand national hurdle ;race;-.cigarette .race, ' ~ ,A.latersoii i best, poster costumc, for Jady v .3kuss A. Olver,:'.who,represented the' 1 Oram . lamp; ; best poster.- gontloman,. .Mr.i 1 Soott,; as. the Swan fountain ,pen; best fancy ' costume.for ladies,. Miss Stutter';, best fancv i costume, for. genelemen,. Mr. Cook,. who ; rc* i presented a'coon ; best-dressed, couple i Miss Griffin - and" Mr. .Warner; tho most comical costume, -Mi:. P. Crocker, .who v went dressed as'.a baby'.;,the best sustained character, Mr.' G; Foley, as. a Maori-woman; most graceful skaters,, Miss thirties arid Miss Crocket; most original costume (an extra item), Miss Tril-. ford,'who .went as Topsy. The most grace-- 1 ful couplo competition was 'won 'by Miss ' Swanson. and Mr. Jacobs. ; • . 1 - WELLINGTON MUSICAL UNION; : '- 1 , Intending visitors to ..the.second of "tho Mendelssohn Centenary Concerts, to bo given 1 in tho Town Hall this evening, 'may look' forward to . !in exceptionally': attractive' programme. t The.: charming overture to tho "Midsummer Night's' Dream." wduld.bo"iii itself, .worth " going 'to., hear. .'.Mendelssohn' wrote this- overture originally for" four hands on the piario, and afterwards'arranged it for orchestra, the-form in which it will bei performed this evening. ■ Tho music illustrating the life-of'the fairies in'tho forest is.of exceptional grace and delicacy. Besides this the' orchestra will perform the overture to the work familiarly known as the "Son and' Stranger," and a beautiful adagio from one of the best of Mendelssolin• s ' symphonies. Mrs. E. D. Cachomaillo will play' tho piaiio part, in a concerto for piano and orchestra.Songs, will bo sung by tho Misses Phoebe. Parsons ' and May Driscoll and Mr.' Johir Prouse. Tho chorus, which did .such fine work in the "Elijah," will bo heard in somo of tho most popular of Mendelssohn's' part'songs. A good house would bo a fitting closo to this interesting centenary celebration. THE NELLIE; STEWART SEASON'.- / If evidence .were .wanting to illustrate tho estimation in ' which .Miss. Nellie Stewart i 3 hold by "Wellington, playgoers, it was forthcoming at tbo Dresden .yesterday, when the plans opened for her coming season. A queue-was forluod as early ; as.7 o'clock,-and was kept'in .formation until long,-after , 2 o'clock ;iu -.tho,'.--aftoriioon.. -.Of., course, "the" booking was'well .distributed throughout the season; andYfhere. are still numbers of ..seats in- good positions for any. night. "Sweet .Kitty Bdllairs x \' which is ..t0.,b0 staged for tho first time hero on Saturday, night: next, received most : liberal attention.' not : only. for tic first . performance, but. for: each - of ttLe

other'five representations to be given. Tho four- performances'- of "Sweet- Nell' of Old Dru-ry," which 'take place on Saturday week, and. the three* following nights, wexo also well .patronised, and. judging by the booking,'for the last three nights of the brief season, the revival of Shakespeare's famous comedy "As Von Like It," should • witness the Opera House taxed to its utmost capacity. In order that "Sweet Kitty Bellairs" may be staged on the 1 samo. complete manner as in. Melbourne and Sydney,, the whole of. the effects have to be.sent on at least a day ahead of the company. The"final tableau is said to be most realistic. It presents Miss Stewart (Kitty Bellairs) standing in pouring. : >ain, "for_ which effect, real water •is used. The; period of. the play (George III) l§nds itself to elaborate dressing and rich mounting, which, it is stated, have been .taken full • advantage-of by Mr. "Williamson..'. "Siveet Kitty Bellairs"' has boen built by that master craftsman David Bslasco, and' it is said that it bears, the trace of his skilful hand everywhere. It teems with fine situations; and bright dialogue. • • A CAJRTOONIST, ENTERTAINER. Among the passengers to arrive from Sydney by tho "Ulimaroa .yesterday were Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Shipman, well known through-out-New Zealand. Mr. Shipman, the, theatrical entrepreneur, was the proprietor of' "The Piled"' at "tho New Zealana Exhibition, and claims that his was tho only side-show that made money. Subsequently he brought to New Zealand Miss Marie. NareUc and Miss Jessie M'Eachlan, both vocab'sts of- note. On the present occasion, Mr.'Shipman comes to arrange a tour, through New Zealand of Bengough, the famous Canadian cartoonist', singer, and entertainer, who, it is . claimed, is one of the best artists' in his line in America, and certainly ono of the cleverest and most entertaining that have been seen in New Zealand. He is a rapid black-and-white man, who does net select two or thrco well-known faces of great men, but chooses subjects in each town he visits and reproduces'them with life-like fidelity. Ho is also a raconteur and'humorist of excellent repute, and Single-taxere will greet.hinv-SB.a brother, he being an ardent' supporter of that system i of' taxation,_ and he' has written pamphlets and books ;in-support : of hip .views.' Be'njjough, who is completing a- highly, l successful tonr of Australia, is .to leave Sydney-for' Wellington on Saturday week. - Mr. and' Mrs. .Shipman are . staying at the' Grand. Hotel. .