ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 610, 13 September 1909, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

, "JACK AND JILL" Two performances of "Jack aud Jill" were given by Mr. Williamson's Pantomimo Company on Saturday, aud on both occasions tlrti Opera House was packed to tho doors. Students yearn for seasons of Shakespearean, musical peoplo-rave of Wagner and Oscar Strauss, nnd not a few,would welcome n return to the highest (lights of Georgian comedy, but it is contended that all three put together would not total thoso who get solid satisfaction out of modern pantomime. Pantomime has been described as elaborated vaudeville, but even such arguments canuot kill the public taste for the clever nonsense and brilliant stage pictures introduced to picturesquely elongate a simple nursery rhyme. "Jack and Jill" will go up tho hill for tho. last time on. Thursday.'even-' ing, and tlio final matinee will bo given on Wednesday afternoon. , 'theatre ROYAL. "Bleriot's Flight of tho English Channel"'is still the star film at-Fullers'—and worthily so, whether it is judged by the excellence of the picture, its, live topical-interc-st, or the enterprise, of the management in placing sojnteresting an event so soon before the eyes of Wellington audiences. All the rest, of the programme was new on Saturday night. Particularly new' it - seemed to have", a domestic drama from Germany. Films,of-this character usually emanate from a certain great Parisian firm, but in the story • which ; was billed as "Romance of Life," the, baokgronnd_ was, obviously German, and it was interesting to ob-serve-the-,slower, less pantomimic gestures of the people, let they told their wordless- story quite clearly, and the pathos of it was quite sufficiently expressed. Java is not so far away as Germany, but it is much more- foreign. The coloured film, which showed how bamboo, hats are-made in that tropical island,'was as picturesque as it was instructive. It did not much matter what-part of the world one was in while following-the adventures of "The Would-be Champion." Youth is bellicose, and crockery'fragile under all'skies, and the,movement and fun of the, story, could not fail'of its mark anywhere. Of-like calibre wero "A Makeshift' Postman," and "A Cold and its Consequences." Fortunately the - consequences of u cold'are'not always, so disastrous/but ono -could wish they were always as amusing—when it is the other fellow's cold. The picture story of "Miss Faust" proved." that kinenlatograph faot.can be much stranger than fiction. It was a: very clover trick film. Equally skilful, though with quite' a different artistic result, was the'film, entitled, "The Angel Child."' Tho cinephone. distinguished itself - with a couple of 'humorous songs, and thoro wore several,other-^films just as good as thoso which, have been'mentioned. The same programme is annousced for to-night. : 1 , THE ROYAL PICTURES. . Both tho matinee and evening'performance was well attended at His Majesty's Theatre oh Saturday. Tho programme i 3 rich in novelties, and particularly strong in well-acted play pictures, chief among which are "Tho Eaga; muffin's Marriage," "Tho Waif Heroine," ana "For Her Sake," A remarkably interesting film is that descriptivo of an inspection of the famous Wedgwood china factory. "The' Chess Players" and "The Adventures of Vidocq"-are also, pictures that should be seen by all lovers of the kinematogrnph. 'OLYMPiA SKATING' EINK. On- Saturday, afternoon a children's' fancy dress carnival, was '• held at the 'Olympia Skating-Rink. Alli through. 'tho -season a number of children, have frequented the rink, and, as the adults, had had their carnival, the managemont .promised the children that they should have one,, too. Quito a number turned out in fancy dress, most of them choosing some costume that was picturesque, and -pretty, though: thero were,ono or : two jvho introduced an element of broad comedy, into the scene. A child who represented Spring, Flowers, and in'doing'so'advertised a:drapery business,'was adjudged to'have tho .best and/prettiest and-best-thought-out costume, and oho of the most effective, while,at the same time ono of the simplest costum'cs, was worn by. a little. Col- ' leen.. ' The prizes'. wero' awarded as ' follow :— ' Best costumo girl, M6na . Anstis. ("Spring Flowers," Warnock and Adkin); Original costume, Olive Arthur. '("Suffragette");' comical character, W. . Manson ("Tramp");' special prize,. Nellie • Stanbridgo (lllanghter- -of 'the Empire"); .most',graceful, skater, Ivy Eittenberg; girls' race, Gladys Aitken; boys' race, W. Burrows. - - . , -. : CHAS. MAURICE'S YAUDEV-ILLE .. ■ V ; COJtPAiSY ' Air.' Cllas. -Maurice's- Vaudeville Company will makS'thfeir'-initial appearance 'in this city at tho Opera Houso on hriday evening next, September ,17/. The company have , been-'speci-ally selected by ' Mr. ,Chas. Maurice i from , the leading - theatres and music-halls; in Australia, and are at present playing to crowded' houses in ; Auckland, yhere both press and: public speak of their' performance "in ' tho ..highest praise. The company consists of fifteen artists headed by. George SPrlife, : .coon.', impersonator and', champion! baton manipulator, , and. sup; ported by. Hcadlam; musical humorist,: Mis 3. Florenco Hayward, Scottish vocalist; .Madame' Blanche Carelli, 'soprano; Shaw:\and, Ariiier; knockabout comedians and' burlesque boiers; Miss I'carlie Golden, serio and dancer; Walter Jamieson,' actor-vocalist; Daphne Sisters, iorios 'and dancers; and Miss Thelma,- Wood, descwp-. tive balliidist. The box' plan will be open the Dresden .Company; on -Tuesday noxt. -'cf ORGAN RECITAL. ,-. V Somewhat thinly attended, tho .organ recital given at tho Town. Hall -by ' Mr.u- Maughau Barnett- (city ': organist) '.jva's,: nevertheless, thoroughly enjoyable;' As a graceful tribute to tho memory-of l the late-Mrs. T.-'W. Hislop, tho :organist opened'; with ' Chopin's "Marche Funebro." . Bach's .brilliant "Prelude, and Fugiie in'D:.Major" was the:, next - number. This magnificent work is among the chief of the; classic, productions of- the great master. A graceful berceuse of Schntfs succeeded the im-. posing strains of the Bach prelude.' Following upon that was-played,a selection ■ of. three movements from Widor's Triurth. Symphony— "Andante Cantabile," "Scherzo," and "Finale" —the organist's interpretation of this nno music disclosing instructive oyidenco' of tho composer's original-' and' versatile style. Dvorak's "Largo" (from "The Now World" Symphony) -andvWply's ever-welcome "Storm Fahtaisie' wero ; the concluding, numbers. 1 The programmo for' the' organ recital on Saturdaynext'will includo works by Bach, Guilmant, and, Rubinstein, and a "FantaisieVon Bizefe "Carmen." ' • • .{ . SUNDAY CONCERT. ' : ■ The .Wellington Professional Orchestra' was in-'top form,!.last- evening, when a particularly bright programme of good lifht music was presented to . a very large audience.".; The.'orcnes- ' traJs tonal quality has. Vastly; improved, and there was a commendable verve' and finish about its work that, has not hitherto been so noticeable,.;and 'the marked' improvement- was' appreciated. The programme included Suppe's sparkling overture, • "Piquo Dame," Lottor's pretty waltz, "Rouge ,et- Noire." an: interesting paraphrase of "Adesto I-idelis" by Langey, and ~a -. nniquo' gavotte-. for'-'-strings. There were two attractive .match numbers, "The ~. .Bersagleri"-: 'Eilenberg), . and "Abeschied : ,der Gladiatorem",,. (Blankenberg), tho ; .intermezzo,. . '"Forget-me-not" (M'Betli) and the -evergreen "Turkish Patrol," of Michaolis., The only .soloist was Master Rupert Christie, a remarkablp boy soprano, ivith a'sweet soprano, under'admirable control, strong enough to fill- the big' Town Hall.. He sang the somewhat hackneyed song, "Daddy," very well indted, and'was ac-corded-a hearty' encore. One is frequently forced to call attention to,thei defects in enun-ciation-of vocalists, but in tho .case of Master Christie no such' charge can- be" made. Every word was given its full, clear value,, and could be heard in the remote corners of the big hall. Mr. : F.'J. .Oakes conducted the orchestra.: ...;- ' PUBLIC LIBRARY LECTURE. ; lecture under the auspices of ' the : Oil j Council will bo given this .evening by Dri, Tudor Jones, -in tho Concert Chamber of .the 'Town Hall. The subject is "From the Cell "to the Solar System," pnd admission,is free. GARRISON BAND CONCEET. ■ The Garrison .Band,' under tho conductorship of Lieutenant T. Herd, will givo a performance at the Town Hall to-night The concert is under the auspices of tlio City Council, a'iid admission is free.. - PIPE, BAND CONCERT. ' ■/, .'A..concert .under : the auspiccs of the Wellington, Pipo Band and Dancers' Linb is announced to take place this evening in Hall, I'cfone.' ' ' ' * .