ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 732, 3 February 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. . . ■ "Tho King of Cadonia'' Teigncd over a happy band of subjects at tho Opera House last ■ evening. The seating accommodation had nil been taken before tho curtain rose.. The excellent setting of tho musical comody was tho subject of general comment.. The leading comedian, Mr. Bert Gilbort, succeeded admirably as tho comical Duke of Alnsia, and Mr. Herbert Clayton as the King was also capital. Miss Dorothy Court, the Prmoess Mario, did excellent work.: "Tho King" will hold the boards until Tuesday next, a special matinee 'performance being announced for Saturday afternoon. The company's second production will bo "Havana," a,new three-act musical comedy, in which Mr. Bert. Gilbort will be seen.as Nix, tho Bosun. Mis? Olivo Godwin" and Mr. W. S. Percy will make their first appearance in this piece, which will run. for six nights. . • His Excellency tho Govornor and Lady I'lunket will attend'the performance this evening. . THEATRE ROYAL.' ' The vaudevillo faro provided at tho Theatro Royal last evening was relished by a largo audience, which quickly recognised; the. merit of tho performance. The Gastellcs, comedy tumbling artist?, did some excellent work during their all too short stay beforo tho . curtain, and Mr. Will Eoboy, billed as "The Narrer Follow," kept, tho ho'uso in a state of merriment throughout his stay. Mr. C. Smith, an eccentric. comedian, made a special hit with his acrobatic dancing, and shiwed:"form" such as only an athlete could appraise at its true value. An? other delightful "turn" Was that of Miss Bobbie Burns, whoso clover Dwtoh clogdanco -was one of the successes of the ovening. . Otlier items of high morit were tho contributions of Messrs. Jack Russell, descriptive vocalist, Wally Ricardo, the Scott Brothers, and Misses Bella Pernian and May Narello. ' , . ' ROYAL PICTURES.

Every available seat and every inch of standiug-rooin was occupied •at His Majesty's Theatre, last «venius, when- the weekly change of programme was submitted. That it met with approval goes without saying.- Kmetaato^rapVpictures have becomo a-habit with a'largo section of the community, and wc-ek.after week tho same faces can be seen, glowing with'delight at the. varied and highly interesting portfolio 'of new. piotures presented.' They aotually get to know, the kinematograph actors by name and sigM, and 1 are delighted'when" the scrcen announces that ".Mr. Foolshead" is going ,to do something or other,- or that "flick Carter" will. oiit-Shcrlock' Sherlock Holmes. Theso ■ are. popular . favourites. Last eve-ning "Joolshead gavo a Christmas party,- or was going to, but-his troubles in getting lionio tho essential Christmas tree were such that tho patty ends in chaos with tho audience convulsed at his ridiculous exploits. "Tho Quarrym«.n*s Daughter" is'a.littlo'draina of. great hsart interest. . It concerns a pretty girl, who has been deceived by her lover, and cast out .by her'father. Distraught, sho resolves to end her life, and attempts to do .so by throwing herself under a motor-car, which is »not exceeding the speed-limit. Those in tho car lift tho injured girl,into tho car,, and nurse her back to life in a palatial home. There the son ahd heir falls in love with her, and, after a tender scene,, -is accepted, by th® girl in the presence of her parent, to the:joy of all concerned.. Another dramatic, picture which makes a strong apr peal is an Amerioa-n ' conceit, -entitled .'Across the Divide." It is a, raining story, -in which 'a miner. goes iito .the settlomont to sell his gold-dust, and is deprived of .the,- lot ■ by' a professional gan'ibler. "'-A "littlo '.later."the- gambler shoots a man. in cold-blood,'and is pursued by tho sheriff-and tho boys. He is found wounded and by the miner's sister, and is concealed in tho 'hutvfrom his 'pursuers, 'i'here ho gives up his -illgotten gold and a neoklet, which -..-the foolish' miner had. lost to him in the saloon, and dies. The picture has a convincing,; setting, and is remarkably well acted.' 1 Other.godd pictures are' "Brittany Lasses," . The Two. Mr. Whites," "Tommy, My Lad," "Making Sherry at Xeres," "Tho.Kindhcarted Cripple," and a fine moving 'picture oi'King' Leopold's (of Belgium) ' tunoral. His Majesty's Theatre should, house' . large audiences durinslho current week. .

STAR PICTURES. The Star Pictures Trill resume, to-mor-row night with a programme of-excep-tional'merit. A bcautifullv-coloured study entitled "A Koblenz's Dog" is at tho top of a list which goes to mako up a most enjoyable r evening's entertainment. ; . - WONDERLAND. . The ■ diversity of amusement at Wonderland is such that many city residents, who.do not desire, to go far out of . town with their - families, make a point of visiting Miramar frequently. - Tliey find that the tram service is. convenient and the journey rapid, and,', once inside tho gates of Wonderland the children may be left to themselves. They will eiijoy themselves in perfect safoty. - In the cool of the evening tho grounds are specially attractive, the hundreds of electric' lights adding a charm to the water chute, the lake, tke : toboggans, the fernery, and all the other .side-shows. Last, night the grounds wore open and large numbers of people. spent a couple of merry hours among the laughter-booths tvnd novel amusement places. . HACKENSCHMIDT. . . After a highly 1 successful tour of the ■ northern province, Geo.' Hackenschmidt,, the great wrestler, together with his com-1 pieto Loudon company of vaudeville art- 1 ists and athletes, will appear at the Town i Hall next Saturday evening and follow-1 ing evenings. " Hackenschmidt's posing, i which he has only done in Melbourne and ! Sydney, is a. treat in itself. Ho was a I Graeco-Roman. wrestler originally; he is novf an exponent and a finished artist.'at the -more popular Lancashire, or catch, hold (commonly called catch-as-catch-cau style).' The great athlete gives a most entertaining, show of different exercises, and with .which ho positivoly asserts are all tliat'is required, to'develo-p strength and suppleness—a rare combination, as already stated. . Messrs. Baker and Talbot, who are managing the Eackenschmidt tour of Australia, are still hopeful of bringing Gotch our hexe to meet tho powerful Russian, and s/fcate that they haye good reason for beliovin.g the match may bo arranged to take plaos in April-or November next. Box plans are * now open at the Dresden for the reserving of seats. . 1

'. BENEFIT PERFORMANCES. " . The benefit concerts inaugurated by the Wellington Professional Orchestra, in aid of the widow aud family, of the late Mr. William Crawford, who was drowned on Christmas Day, will he held, on Sunday, nest, Fobruary. G. ■ The orchestra have enlisted the .sympathy of tho following bauds:—Wellington Garrison, Peton©Citizens, Tramways, Petono Brass," and the Wellington Pipe Bands'. A. fine programme will given by: the bauds at tho Newtown Park at 2.15 p.m., and will include a mass bands performance of the contest march, "Newcastle," conducted by Bandmaster ClaTcburt, of the Tramways Band. In the ©veiling, tho. Professional Orchestra, assisted by visiting musicians, will ■ give a special programme at tlio Town Hall. It will includo Chopin's "Marcha Funeb're"-and Snppo's overture, "Light Cavalry." As the la to Jfr. Crawford was one of the Wunders and drummer .of tho. Professional. Orohestra, and was nell "known as a momber of the Opera Houso Orchestra, the financial results should be satisfactory. ' : At St. Thomas's Schoolroom. Newtown,last evening, a benefit concert was held, .tinder-the auspices:of. the. Independent Order of. Grand, Templars,. in. aid. of a member stricken witli illness. Mr. A.' B. Thomson, G.C., presided over a .large and appreciative audience. A most enjoy-, aiblo .programme of .Kings, glees, and reci-' tations were gono through by the Musical iHelpers, tho following contributing:— Messrs. A. P. Wing, H. B. Cooper, F. A. Noes, Komslcy, E.- W. Burd■, .C. F. Jacouscii, .W. Ei Howe, and Bennett.