ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 697, 23 December 1909, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■ ; yV;-:; ; : '■ ~■;'. ■'~ '■—*—, ; : '-;\ .'..'■., ■ ;. , ; : y. : THE ROYAL. PICTURES. / '-' .' . Every ■ seat ': was occupied at; His Majesty's ■Theatre Inst evoning. to witness the weekly '.q'hange of programme. Tho lunuagcmont succeeded, iii. presenting a pragrammo which has all the essentials of popularity, and one whicti Shuuld attract large houses,throughout Christmas week. " In ndmirablo keeping with the season.'ls : the' Christmas ■fantasy .'entitled "Noel."' The story is" tho , experience'of .a poor mother : and: her child on' a" snowy Christinas , Eve.''With ! no means to buy oven, bread, the two Venture" forth from their garret-.to beg hi tho- streets. .As they pass along, the child runs to peep into a lighted'.window, it is a Jiappy home, fullof dancing girls, who romp round a most .magnificent .Christmas tree. As they cuddle the toys plucked for . them from tho tree,-the wan:face of the poverty-stricken child "is . eeen : at "the window, whoreupon tho huntress of tho house motion's the children away and' draws the curtain. . .The famished mother and child, are then seen: outside the ohurch door. They appeal to the Iworshippcrs in vain/ and finally full asleep in the snow. As they sleep the'form of the Saviour, material-■ ■fees-but .of space.'-. With infinite grace and compassion He:enfolds them , in .His robe, and carries them back to the .'bare-walled' garret.' Then He creates'a. Christmas tree' and a sunlptuous repast," and vanishes. On awaking, the mother and child are delighted with'■■■, this ■wondrous manifestation of divine aid, and offer up thanks-fpr the good things provided. No time is lost' no\v in making tho kmeniatograph the ..abstract and brief chronicle of tho times.■".-. For "instance/; a. long film /shows' tho LoroV Mayor's/Show, ivhich only took place on November'..'.9 ; ,.ldst.. : Anothor interesting pioture . was. ', : a. review, of the . : rulers of Europe. , ' The monarch of nearly .every.. Euronean nation is, shown ;taKing part in some ttate' function' .or - pthiT. "Kiog : EdwarJ '. VII is shown taking his, feat in a carriage, as is also President FrtllierPs, , and lung Haakon, pt Norway.. The'.Raiser.-'is shown "on shipboard, and.ino Emperor Fran'.. Josef 'waiting in u procession. Tho late King of the Belgians, a' .bis-framed:patriarch with a full white beard has. been "caughtf" in a pavilion'on. a sports ground,: and.' Alphonso of Spain, ;'still : boyish in-carriage and figure, is seen disembarking from a vessel: r Oao of tliomcit pcpular pic-: turcs with tho%audience -.reintroduced-' Nick Carter,'- tl.o dofciivo, wh> is callot': on to unravel a mystery/concerning thefts in'a'railway Roods' shed."' '.To, locate the thief, heVami his - friend stovr themselves; away.iri: a : large crjse,•! which is placed : in tho shed just before closing time.-V Thi->. is really.'an emulatiji', of. the : thief's idea, ■ for thoy quickly : discover, the culprit.us the inhabitant of a big:basket.'; Ho is soized and .placed''in the case," whilst ..Nick's frieni'ohfers the bisket,; in .which 'manner the. whole of the gang is captured. "Lpathor. stocking".; is an. excerpt "from- the ■■pages-'.ot Fenimoro' , Cooper, , dealing-with this fight made by''the trapper; and his friend (the last of tho Mohicans)'against h horde.of hostile Indians, who-seek; the scalps'of tho parties under their protection; "Eat Your Soup": is'a merry pic-, lure, depicting thu-efforts of a.father to make lm infant:.son.:tako' soup; ■• nourishment' that 'thii-ehilit,'appears to-hold- in'. particular, de.tebUirtn. -sTlie i>f: thp infant is ■thcoUt.sbindinff^WLturp^bf'the-'pictiire;' Other i!wV~. ini'turcji iiicludeV ; ''The'.< •fo'c'sey." ■■"The • Clock f Jndustry,"i: , -"The -^ -"Circumstantial.:' Evidence,- -r.nd'V"His:-Wife's i Wirie.'.'-t.iThe -"management'-announces a ;: prize matinee 'for Christinas afternoon;', when every child, attending-' will'receive a toy. ■'.'. : .

:-'::,■ ;>.;;;THEATEE.EOYAL..-;: ; Xi ;■■;:.' ;••.' There was. , .again- a- good ;audiohcp : at the vaudeville pntertainment at;tho Theatre Royal last night. : Mr.■ Tom :Armstrong 'is quite out of the common run of coinodians. He is really humorous, and thore is a very acceptable' fresli-'nes's-'.about his jokes. The'-ballad :singing of .Miss.Meryl Lawrerico is notably good;'and-the performances of the: Tossing Tostros, Deliuo (on tho slack :wifo),.'and, tho three Starrs, and other-;;artists..aro-very;:accoptable;. :;Tho, progrnmmp.ijwill! bp.-repeated .'to-night,:and 'thorp ,will;,bo | .a-'matinep;.pn.;B()xing. "Day.','.', V ' ' . ■s:t^" ; -■:o^i^sTAß'■PlCTU■l^ES; ;: V:^^^ • o.St, l ,Th6nine's Hall : wasl.well.'.filled last.night, ,ondV:eyery'..picture', was- well'-screened. ..-The "Burning -Oil'.'"Works • in.'-.Paris'.' , .: is; a- most realistic piotufo, and is one that 'is received with applause nightly; 'The Star Pictures will show in , the' To'wn.-.Hall' (Concert ,Chamber) t bri Christmas Night. ,-Thff box. plan is now open af\3hristes6n's, Manners Street; ■ I; C; WIIiEIAMSON'S -DRAIIATiq COMPANY -,'. Mr., J. :Cv AVilliamSoh's now Dramatic Com-; panyi iwill'• arrive „' in/ \V J ellingion "'\ .oil. Sunday iuoi-nirig.' :: The 1 : scdnefy,''eto.,V:foi'':'the'opening 'prbductio.n,-'-"a I he Gheat.C-, 'arrived..' by.':• the. Afarurotr j'esterday! uibraing, "and ' th'erft-will .bo busy doings at' tlio-'Dpfird'''House. , -to get. everything .ready for; Monday; night's opening; ."The Cheat!'./was. received":''tt'ith marlied , . enthusiasm' in Sydney, and ia. said ••' (o ■ be. .not only well constructed, but to contain a.wealth, b£:incident which'holds'tho'attention of tho audience,-from, start to finish. ..The story is a niiUtaryone, in,.whch.therefore;inany'thrilling events. ai|d :■ uheipected.. deyelopnient?. „ The herpine EtHel-Hardy,; impersonated."by, : Miss ,llth'el^^yafwiok,i-lias-good 'chances.to,.display "her.'artistijf.skill.'': Miss^JNelJiejCalyin-'has. been .»; greatj§ucMsX.;asjJ6an.r'PMdin£",'\vhile Miss cjlarjorie , ;Murray,-;.-andf Miss- Maud Wingfield are'isaul7:,to-be "seen..t'o advantage:jri 'the char-'-:actcrs-, pf.-ilarjorie 'Voiland ;.a.nd : ;.the',.,widow,' Van-;Stardt. -• Mr..'..Geo. Tithoradge ,is : cast as. . General Blanchard,. and is.,said,.to invest ; the part with.'a striking personality. 'Mr.'. Thomas iKingston,..as.Captain. James, Blanchard, has •proved- a popular .'hero wherever ..the play has been"produced. -Mr.. Harry■'.• Plimmer,';- Mr. Cyril Mackay,' Mr, Beardlcy Turner,•;:and.Mr' •Boyd 'Irwin nil .have .important';, parts,., and have' won great praise - for-. , their: artistic work. Box-plans wero opened at thb':Dresden yesterday; , .when .the booking gave-: every indication of a successful-season. .Tile season , : will also include.'."Browster.'s .-.Millions," -:.::?'Sherlock■Holmes,"..'"rhe' Flag,Lieutonaiit,";and "Silver King".in ; ihat order. . :v ;> : /; ; -;;;;..: ; ,:: ..,■-...

f!; ; 'T*HE-rroiiISHinE: V NiGHTINGiLE."'v.'. ' Enos Bacon, described- as "The;. Yorkshire Nightingale," is a speaker and-eiugcr of cousideratye -parts. , His repertoire inoludee songs,, ■recitais,; .and monologues. 'He;. will,,.make. his .bow'-lfo,tho. public of-"Wellington in the Concert '!Chamber, -Town Hall; on.;Sunday,..at. 3 p.m.; and also, at 8.15 p.m. His ■.programme is outlined iii; ari announcement; wnicii appears elsewhere. 1 ;; ./■'./- ".■■'':■.■■'■'..': ''.-' .-'.' ; : i'- y ". " :;^;- v - y.\ : ./;WE : SrS:HCTraBS.';: : y : ' v v;r. ',(: AVestV Pictures Proprietary promises,-some, particularly .fine scenic studies, industrial productions i ot absorbing interest,.pathetio stories :and dramas; : and; oleyerly-con-■'structed- comedy devices at .the. opening-, performance at'the. Town. Hall, pn Boxing Night, with "pbpuldr. overtures' and \ iueideiital.; music by.:/a : t'uii-orchestra. plan is;ajtr the Dres■den;,;aiid;.popular :priciis will be; charged. '-.-..■-

CHRISTMAS NIGHT:AT THE TOWNiHALL. v The AVellington ': City. Council has arranged an , 'appropriate-musical renterta'inment-at '■". the Town^Halrori/Chrietmas. Night.. ...A Joint-carol ; w)ncert:.:and':orgau.recital will be.^giyetf-at 8 p.m.- by.-'the' Wellington : Choral Society-.and the City Organist"( Mr- ■..Maughan.V.Barnett). The /'programme' will be'composed of wellknowu carols^'rendered by the chorus, and Mr. Barnett will'.play the overture from Handel's "Messiah,"; an- Offertoire- on two, Christmas themes (including .'■.. the well-known "Adeste Fidoles"); the "Shepherd" scene from -.-"Tanri--liauser," and his own fantasie on the Christmas hymn tune, "Mendelssohn.": The ordinary prices will tio'oharged. -The chorus is requested to.attend-a rehearsal;at the Town Hall this oveniug,-at':8;:;. -,;.'•■ -;iy .'y : ..' : '- : '' .'■''- ''^' :■•

-"'/ ■; :•' JcdNCEBT' ATBEBHAMPOEE. V,: .; :; ' 'A.-very- prijqyable Christmas':ibohcort -'. was giveri'fn tho Borhamporo Baptist Church, last night, ; by the church choir, ■_ assisted, by ..the Lyrio Male Choir and ; other, performers, and a" special orchestra'. The .Lyrio Choir is a now body, and made its.first public'uppcaranco last night. It had been felt for some time that,:thero was an opening for .a really good male choir, and Mr. H.' Gladstono Hill and a few : friends stepped into' the. breach and got together a band of 40 vocalists,, who have-now been in training-for '-,• a'•■ considerable time. Their ■ first item at - Inst •'• night's. concert ,w. ; is the: descriptive part song, "Hark! tho Merry Drum," which was very well rendered. Their sqcond item, was the part song, : "Comrades in Arms." This mot with a.splendid reception, which it ■dosorved, .although the first tenors were rather weak towards the end. This was .probably duo to the. heavy "exertions- they ; had already boon called upon to make. The best itenby tho church choir was'the* anthem, "The Haditmt Morn" (Woodward),-but they woro also heard to great .advantage' in the '"Hallojuh Chorus" from Jlhudol's "Messiah." Their other contributions were: Mendelssohn's "Itoy-Lovely ard tho. Messongors,". and the chorus, "Tho Glory .of . the. Lord" (Handel). Miss- Mabel .-Peek's., solo, , "Oh I Best in tho 'Lord"' (Mendelssohn),- met , with an oxcolldnt reebption.' The oi'clinstra was successful in Mascagni's "Cnvallorin Busticana." "Mr; J.. C. Stubbs, 1.5.M., gave two violin solos, and rooltations, wore contributed by': Miss.-.Grace' Ewenv.and'Mr. George. Peek, ""yhe final item.

was the vocal octotto "Good-night": (Schumann),, sung, .by Mrs. Bott, Misses/rA...J3wenv Mabel. Peek,, and L. Osborne, Messrs: A. Porter, Ji Osbornc.A. Nees, and A. Kelly.' Much of the success "of -the concert was; due: '.to : Mr. -H.. Gladstone Hill, who had-the dual responsibility of conductor of tho church choir and of the ■Lyric Male .Choir. 'Mr.- J.-'-C. Stubbs. con-' ducted the orchestra, and Mr. J. N. Duncan ofliciated at the organ. Mr.' A. Whitelaw presided, in the absence of Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.,. who had been announced as chairman, but was kept away by liis . Parliamentary duties. 'He. scut an' apology. Refreshments were handed round at the close of the. concert. The proceeds will be" devoted to ; the organ fund, .which will benefit substantially. Mr.. Charles M'Mahon, of: tho ,woll-known theatrical family, , k arrived from Sydney yester-. day, to make arrangements for a tour of the kincmatograph ■■ picture, "For' a Term , of' His ■ Natural Lifo.".. The. film is -said 'to bo 8300 ft. long, and'embraecs all tho essential incidents in. Jlarcus Clarke's fascinating story of the convict days. in Tasmania. -. Tho tour will probably start at luvorcarjjill,' ■ , .. , ; . ,