ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 779, 31 March 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

•,• "PETEE PAN." , - ,-' The delightful story of "Peter Pan, or the boy who would not grow up," continues to attract large , audiences to the Opera : House • nightly. When the curtain fell at the close of the final' act last night those present seemed lothe to leave—so thoroughly had they enjoyed the performance. Prom the door of his little house on the tree' tops under countless vari-coloured stars, -"■ "Peter Pan" waved 'his adieux in a manner, which showed that he was sorry that his. many new friends had to go-away. Of course, the audience responded whole-heartedly to "Peter Pan's" plea to them ; to indicate that they believed in' fairies in order, that his special fairy • "Tinker Bill" might not die. Miss Lizette Parkes once again. filled the title role with ■ great credit to : herself, whilst Miss Dolores Eovira earned high encomiums for her personation of ''Wendy Darling." Undoubtedly one of the most popular parts' was that of Michael Darling, which is so capably pourtrayed by little Miss Kitty Mason. As , Mr. Darling and Captain Hook, Mr.- Thos. Kingston found plenty of. scope for his undoubted' talent. Miss Valentine Sydney, as Mrs. Darling, was also very successful. The manner 'in which the other parts were filled also reflected great credit on the performers. 'Peter Pan" will make another appearance this evening. . - ..J.:. '•■■'. .'..', . THEATBE EpYAL. The Fuller Vaudeville Company at the Theatre BoyaliContinues. to please " large . audiences. . The "star" performers this week are the "Crottons,". men of mighty thew,'and sinew, who give a splendid exhibition', of weight-lifting and other tests of abnormal' strength, besides showing a wonderful agility as acrobats. An old .favourite is Charles Faning, whose comic songs axe a feature of the programme. Miss Georgie Devoe, the Klimos, and Miss Maud.Hewson also contribute acceptably to a bright programme. :.'. ; THE KING'S THEATBE. Week after week the • attendance at picture shows keeps up, but: that can hardly be wondered at when one understands the field of interest opened'.up' , by. the: b'iograph—views of foreign lands,: acts of 'dramas, tbpical events of the day,' humorous items,'all pass daily in review before the camera and are projected nightly for the thousands of, pictureloving people. In .the forefront of the picture world WesFs ■ Eoyal Pictures, with the",wide;.extent of'their enterprises in the Commonwealth' ' and England, occupy a prominent position. Last night's change of pictures;, shown-to'a crowded house, included some of the' latest and best subjects specially ordered by Mr. T. G. West for hie.Commonwealth and New Zealand patrons. A judicious ; blending of dramatic, industrial,,and humorous items made up a programme equal toany of the previous series' shown by the joint firms. The dramatic, section was ~exceptionally strong,! , and .'included . some fine biographic studies. "Sins, ■. of .the Fathers,' a thrilling drama, has a. sensational fight between the , villain and hero, in which virtue is triumphant. ' "Her Ordeal," one "of. the favourite American biograph stars, is a dramatic episode of great power, splendidly acted by first-class . artists. "The Hero of •Mafeking" describes an incident in the late Boer War, and incidentally shows out the heroism of a highborn English lady., Other dramatic items of first-class calibre were also projected; Nothing .finer in the way of scenic pictures has yet been , shown than, "Coconut Plantation in Singapore,", beautifully coloured,and stereoscopic in. detail; The tropical foliage, forms a -pleasing ■ background, and lS'very refreshing to.the eye. Other good scenic educational items are "The Engandine Peaks;" a trip on an electric' railway in. the Swiss Alps, with a'view in the distance of the famous Leaning ' Tower. "A Marble. Quarry" is also good. The humorous portion of the programme has been-well selected, and includes the famous 'Calino at the Seaside," "Sorry 1 Cant Stop," "Country Servants," and others of a laughable nature. The same programme will be shown all' the weekand on Saturday a matinee will be held. 11..I 1 .. ,:- HIS MAJESTY'S. ■'■■-'■. A: good audience assembled at His Majesty's - Theatre, Courtenay Place,' last evening, for the fostnight of the new picture, programme presented by the Messrs. x''uUer. The selection' oi items tor jtho current 'week' has 'been a happy inspiration, Each one of the- new series pi' pictures, possesses its special point of interest -ana artistic; excellence. The opens with an amusing sketch, entitled: 'Calino Goes Tarvelling." A leature of : the pictures are some very nne, views of river, waterfall, aud seascape scenery, /beautiful stages for the burlesque adventures ,of Calino. Of topical, interest is a second instalment of pictures of the recent devastating floods ill Paris.' A , most absorbing picture drama is that entitled, "Her Terrible Ordeal,'wherein is told, with vivid realism and/ excellent, 'dramatic power the story of a girl who was locked in. a sate by 'a.miscreant, and of the- efforts of her friends to release: her-the only man who knew the combination lock number was not to be found. A'beauti-fully-coloured pathe picture is. that entitled. ','Dutch Scenes"—it really should have been 'entitled "Dutch Characters" ihe Heroine of. Mai'eking" is a thrillmg'picture. narrative of the Boer War Among \ the special star items, is the splendidly-acted' picture-play, adapted trom Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," and entitled "Cosette." Another is the celebrated arm -showing the last muster of the heroes of the Light Brigade "The "V^i 0 * In 6 Fathers " is a dramatic story pi the . lennessee feudists, a whole entertainment. in itself. Other noteworthy productions are: "Cocoanut Plantations of. Singapore" •(a • beautifnlly-coloured Pathe picture), "The Beautiful Island of Jersey-' (a; very, fine series), "Herring lishing off Boulogne" (an industrial falm of special interest), and the comic sketches, "The Eevengo of a Thief" 'Foolshead Preaches Temperance," and .Professor Zanikoff's experiences in Grafting." - . ■.■■•■ STAE PICTUEES. . Animated pictures of sights and scenes in all parts of the world (to'say nothing of tho make-beliove world of the drama) are becoming just as popular in Welling-, ton South as they are in Wellington Central. Ihis weak's programme of Star Pictures at St. Thomas's Hall is well up to tho standard set by the city .halls, and from. the standpoint of production aro really excellent. The programme is varied to suit all tastes—dramatic, scenic, and comic—and forms an entertainment that can be recommended without any prospect of dissatisfaction. Owing the inability of certain members of the Eastbourne Dramatic Company to reach Karori last evening, the perform-' ance of "Miss Cleopatra" could not be given, and a miscellaneous -programme was substituted. Tho performance will bo given this ovening, when last night's jackets, will hpld.sood.