ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 677, 30 November 1909, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■ ~ "THE SIGN OF THE CROSS." An audience which, filled, qvery 'seat-in tho Opera House witnessed the second production of "The '. Sign of . the ■ Cross", lust •-.'■ evening. -Mr. Julius Knight in the gallant role of Marcus Suporbus oncomore justified his title to bo accounted ono of the finest actors seen in New. Zealand in recent years, playing tho somewhat melodramatic.part with convinoinff sincerity and earnestness. Hiss Da.v made a sweet .Merciu, acting with -high intel-' ligence nnd refreshing repose. Others who played to advantage wero Hiss Elsie Wilson ißerenice), Miss Guilford CJuin (Daoia).' Mr.. Winter Hall (Tigellinus), and Mr. Goorgc Chamlors (Glabrio).'. -The play. .will, bo' performed for.the last lime this evening. . , To-morrow evening and Thursday "The Scarlot Pimpernel," the eiouisite , play by the Saroness Orczy, will be played, with Mr. • Juliua Knight ae Sir Percy Blakcncy—the chivalrous Englishman, who rescues tho French aristocrats from tho hands of tho Revolutionaries. Miss Beatrice .Day will, bo seen, for the first time hore as Lady Margaret Blakency, a .pnrt in which it is said ssho has won golden opinions in Australia. On Friday two plays of'a remarkable ■ natnro Hill be given for the first time in Wellington. "Tho Sacrament of Judos" -a one-act drama that goes before "An Englishman's Homo"—is spoken of as being of an exceptionally high ' order. In it Mr. Knight ns Jacques Bernez, tho apostate priest, is said tobo .it his very best.. Of "An Englishman's Home" much is anticipated, a special feature being the introduction of the patriotic song, "■What Wo Have We'll.Hold,",:composod by Major. Conrteneyj of Wellington, and by the full; J., C Williamson chorus. Friday's performance is under the patronage of the united military in and around Wellington. . ■ ;. ',■";.'.•...■'■ v ::. v ."thEATEE EOTAL., ;,./'■'' ' For: pictorial: instruction or amusement the Theatro Royal,' with tho programme of pictures now being : £hown, is .well'worth a visit. ."A Naval : Review" is. a film .that should appeal to all who: know the importance of Britain's, supremacy on tho sea. Thero are shown a parade r.f.toipedo boats, with their covering ■battleships of the Dreadnought .and similar, types, a. paraded..of;"a. large-, liumbor.of ■submarines and other, of the component units of the fleet. . "Street Scenes in. , Cannes"- is a pcenio picturo of much interest. Other good films, are "Tho "B.anks , of the ; Ganges," ■'"The Legend of Orphons/' "The Electric' Street Fani" .and "The, Little Violet Seller.". .■';.:.' h:~\: ,-'-, HIS .MAJESTY'S; THEATRE. ■ : , ;:/ : : With, such pictures on the programme' as ."Picturesque Pyrenees," "Tobacco Growing," and."Consul the Great," it is.not to be wondered at.that the .Royal Pictures maintain their reputation for popularity. There is now only one more night on which' the.present programmo, will be snown,' the wcokly j change taking place to-morrow. ■ ; : .■''■; ■■"•■ '-: C; ■-;/;■; STAR PICTURES./;;.. "'.'■.' .' ' r .Tho most remarkable film shown' this week, by: tho - Star Picture Company at' Sti, Thoinas'e llall, Newtown; is entitled "Tho -Lady of Monsoreau.". It is a romance in. high 'places, "and.ends tragically after much sword play on "the 'part of tho principals. When tho. combatants '. actually engage,: every . thrust,. lungo, and parry is followed ■ with breathless interest.' In the ond,:the, lady is.boroft of all, her kinsmon and lover ■ having fallen . at. tho point of 'tho sword, and her■ husband poisoned.:. Tho happenings were, pnly'.'possible in another age,but a reasonable glimpso of tho doings of court ladies' and men in knightly garb is very..; interesting, and this picturo is ono of tho best of that type. Berlin through tho lens of the camera ; is quitoan interesting city, .as -was shown-last ■ evening, the picture covering most of, the sights of tho; Gorman capital. : Three dramatic series: are called "Tho Poor-Man's Daughter,"; "Tho Goatherd of tho Alps," 'and "Why Should There ..be: War?" ;.- Humour bulked large in the programme, and tlie comedy, was always in good taste and highly acceptable. "Follow lie for a Good Dinnor" probably the most diverting, and others which proved amusing' were: "The Cripples ,, Race," "Absorbed in Politics," "A Family-of Cats," and,"Here I Stay." ~Tho:Star Pictures'will not.Ao. shown' again until Saturday afternoon and evening;/Alter next week, when there aro a' couple of prior bookings of the .-hall >a the pictores will six nights alweok.' , '.'.' : -.-: ..'•'. '.G ~i- '.'■;,""•• ■'..'. ■•'.■- "■ .'•'

'''!The,'b(iokißg -for. the- "Messiah" : performance by the :.Choral,Society is. , .stated to ',be- heavy,) butJseatsi : .tuay"-still' be reserved at the'Dresden./Another practice was held last night, and it that'this production W01. ; be the best rendoringof tho"Mo3siah" that! has'been givpn in, Wellington., The chorus -work 'is' well in v hrind,: this being Hh'e tliircl -occasion in. which_ the members havo mado a study., of tho oratorio. Handel's "Messiah", is -rigmly described as the , grciteat of oratorios—. ovorrneir," always popular.' Mr. Alexandor Millar, who takes the : bass role, has not appeared before the Wellington public.. Ho comes with a reputation for oratorio singing, and lias met witbi -enthusiastic receptions in ChristchuTch; In "Why, Do the Nations?" and "Behold,. Darkness shall 1 cover the Earth," Mr. "'MillOT.wiirMittve ample : opportunity for , the ■displfty'bf-h'is vocal powers. The soprano work: will also be an enjoyable feature. Mis. AHhur Mead will sing/'Rejoice Greatly," and "I Know that My Eedoemer Liveth." Ilia contralto and. tenor pai'ta have been allotted'to Mrs. E. B. Buokeridgo and/Mr. E. J. Hill respectively. A final 'full rehearsal takes -place in the Town Hall on-Thursday evening'at 8 o'ojock. ; . ■ . ' ■'• A smoke concert to entertain the, delegates. now.attending the conference, of the. Ainnlga-. mated Society of. Engineers, will bo held at the '.Hotel Windsor, : Willis .Street, to-morrow night. ■'.■; '. ■'■:;'.■.■■ '.y ; '.\'j--' •."-..• ":■'.-.",■.■..;■-.'