ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 730, 1 February 1910, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE KING OF CADONU." That gorgeous stage decoration, "The lung of Cadouia," which affords the new Comic Opera Company an excellent, opportunity to display its aggregate talent, attracted another, crowded audience to the Opera Houso last evening, when the applause bestowed on the various numbers and extraordinarily beautiful scenes was as pronounced as on the first-night. Tho production is one no playgoer can afford to miss. All that art and an exquisito fancy can deviso has been lavished on the ensemble, which for theatrical magnificence could not very , well be surpassed. !For the first act Mr. Coleman,, has painted a beautiful.scene—tho Duke of Alasia's gardens, which look out upon a necklet _ of, lakes, emerging into a larger one, with'a snow-capped mountain in the .back-ground. The' second act-scene isadreain of marble halls — tho throne room of tho Eing of Cadonia T-bare, save for the throno and a chair or two, to give full play to the wonderful toilets of the court ladies, in the' grand. reception scene at the end of the play. Mr. Herbert Clayton,.tall and: debonnair, looks every inch King, and acts and'sings, in a bright manly fashion, and few Indies who have witnessed the play will find- , fault with, the taste of tho Princess Mario (Miss Dorothy. Court) in falling in lovb with,, him., at first sight. The lovers': scenes would bo. more' interesting,, perhaps, if -Princess Marie would show, a little more warmth. Mr. Bert Gilbert,' as the.Duke ofAlasia, is excruciatingly: funny; whether it bo as a horticultural , critic or. a' discoverer-of in-, fernal machines, but somehow or other tho part does not:swing l along with the piece as it should, and if Mr. Gilbert was not" such a capital comedian,-.the comedy would suffer by: this technical deficiency. ' Others who help- or binder the King, in his endeavours. to rule" the land as.it should bo.ruledareßlan (Mr. Victor Prince), Malitza , (Miss Lottie Sargent),. ; and' Capt. Laski (Mr. .Prank Greene. ■■ "Tho. King of> Cadonia". will bo played up-till next, Tuesday- night,-and judging 'by .the, ..booking.'-'there, will be. few empty seats during, its rnn. -.-■:: A' matiucs*performance of "The Kin? of Cadonia" will be: given, on .-Saturday afternoon:' '"Havana", is underlined 1 for production on February 9.; - .' • , :

r : ; .VAUDEmLE;;(X>.\:'C-:-Fiilleis' bright little 'vaudeville.'., company submitted , a■ change:of programme;: including several'new. , artists, last evening, in the presence, of a -good audience.' Amongxthe ne\yiomers was. Will Eobey, described most-aptly ns the "narrer fellow." He is about six feet-of. the .thinnest; man ever ;seen. on tho ..stage of tho; Royal, and; : his comic 'songs .',gain V: ..in humour ; from, the fact." ' Another,".old friend: who made &' successful reappear- , anco was Miss Bella'Perman,;.one,of the". ,'noatest lady::clogjdancersVseen. in Wellington for ; a long.time.. She has-fa won-, derful variety; : of''steps; ; and incomplete mastery .over;:tempo. -Miss Permaii:.also contributed: an "Arriet". song --in 1 'approved style.'Prof.-Godfrey added a dosj that sneezes' and'sings, and a-'cat thai jumps with marked, agility';-. The ; ,c'ocka-'' tbos: are Vas .clever'.and the monkey : aa funny ,as- ever; '■ The' Three Starrs sang.Float Me",invitingly,-and appended on*; of their exhilarating dances. ' Miss May -NarellG ,'sang- that , well-worn.b'allad,:"The Song that Reachcd-My Heart,", and"Bobbio.; Burns -"broke : 'away-frpm '..the -kilts' and' bagpipes to clatter-.cleverly- in.- the clogs, as .an ..epilogue' to : a , 'song -of the ■Zuyder'iZee;", --Alberto,. came forward! with hew-, jokes and' tricks; ' tho Scott pattered .amusingly,..and •' Lerona and the Levartps , provided clever acts that aro now-.'well "known." -. to -. the - regnlar •patrons'of the.Royal..! '..;':: : : .? . • .; To-night ;the •lers; : Jack. Russell,.; descriptive vocalist"; " Charlie: Smith", .comedianji and. lticardo,..ondmah,: will : -m!)ke'' theiri first appearance,'in .Wellington'.':/,... ' : -.

iris .MAJESTY'S THEATRE^::' i •The present ; programme- of ; ipicturesj : which, has - given .' huge delight : to ; lai-ge audiences throughout the week, will he .projected at. .His for the last tiuio this-, evening.■'■' '-'The Cowboy Millionaire," "The . Theatre'..■ Pass/'' and ..'The. Dunlop Road Race" are tlireo good; pictures of a 1 class '■' not: seen every' day. A complete 'change of-, ; programme will be' presented' to-morrow- evening. : - :

'V' ': '^ ! ;STAR^PICTURES. :',' ; -; ; :\ v - : -.-, A. packed:,house: greeted .the'chanse : of programme .at tho, Star Pictures, ,'at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown,'" last evening.' This ; . week's series of pictures is perhaps the. most;attractive that', has- been"'' exhibited at; Newtown.: Tho star- item is aboautifnllyTColoured:' film,'.entitled-; "A' Nobleman's', Dog," and portraysta, touching littlo .drama in-Franc'e..- Aubrey do •Montedidier and ; Maci>iro ase' rival's, in lovo andrivals for glory, ; and the former,', after triumphing'in love, is summoned to tho court-to bo rbwarded.for.Jiis.valorous exploits: .Macaire,' mad..with'rage,■ determines 'on vengeance, and' hires a /couple' .or,.lena'ves:'; to,;.ambush:,Montididior.V As the latter rides p.way for, the court, his dog struggles to follow , 'him, , .but'is detained, by, aservnnt. Moutedidier' is lurod 'from' .his mount, by. a ;, treacherous ■ device, stabbed'ih tho backhand : buried"iri" a 'lonely spot in.;th6 forest, of Bbndy.. His dog .eventually- breaks loose, andSnds'his .master's grave, .'and. then,' returning", to his. friend, Succeeds by his sagacity m> bringing him:to the grave. .-Lateritho dog detects Macaire as r tho",' murderer,, and fflics at him-' beforp thij court assemblage.'. It, is thon''decided that the murderer and ■ his. accuser shall'.fight—the dog.;to be killed if beatenj and conversely;the-mur-derer to ; be hanged if defeated by the dog; -Ma'caire-faces the dog armed with -a club, ; 'hiit, in a.'few' , minutes the .weapon iswrenched from him ahd'he is overpowered, ■by- tho- animal,-and- 'so has 'to pay the .death penalty. : Another: dramatic picture ■entitled . "Andria Chehior" '. describes a scene' in the ..French .Revolution; , -"The Territorials'tJs an interesting camp.scene, ; showing how'-.'LohdonJ.'toilers .servo, the -Epipire.' '■ "Only... a<.Mouse,''- and :"Lovers'. Souvenirs": are comic pictures that cause ■: great amusement. All the. films. 1 are as .usual-very clear.. Patrons aro.'.notified that tho pictures will not show on "day,•...Wednesday; or, Thursday, but will. :be; screened again on. Friday; - ; .-'■ :

,; ; ;HACKENSCHMipT.: ,/ ; ; . '! Following on'a successful tour ofAuck■larid and tho- chief North' Island -towns, George. ■ Hackenschmidt,.. .the, : famous. Russian' athlete, and, champion wrestler, will, commence a brief., series. ,of exhibitions of his ..marvellous physical .powers, at. tho Town' Hall next Saturday evening, when a big', attendance will no doubt bo present to greet "Tho. Russian. .Lion." Supporting :'Hackensohniidt. are .Gunner Mbir, Alex. Bain, and King Morgan. ■'; As a inattcr :of 'fact, Cboth of 'Hackenschmidt's'.: lvrestling .partnerspowerful riien and clover at'tho game— ■ give hini, tho. opportunity of ''extending" himself, so that the exhibitions: presented are not. likely to bo tame :at' any' time. Hackenschmidt's. : remarkable . muscularI dovelopmoht 'is well revealed': in , liis culture exercises, weight-lifting, V and; posture p_osing, will afford the public an ; opportunity of seeing" how; far physical culture ' I can 'bo " carried.' Bioscope, 'pictures ..reproduced the >. Russian's ■achievement.: in beating Joe ; Rogers for : tho , championship of the. • world; and. other'interesting athletic contests and ovents. -Further interest is added, by. tho conjuring feats of. Clifford Eskell and the musical sketches of Mark Osbornc. . The •box plan opens at tho Dresden to-morrow . ■•:■-.-. "' ■-■. --.' ' , ■'.