ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"PETER PAN." "Peter Pan" was produced once more last evening, before a large audience, at the Opera House. This afternoon there will be another matinee performance, winch will be attended by the inmates of several deserving institutions', to whom "Peter," from his house in the tree-tops will speak words sweet and will assert his authority over Nana and lose his children nightly for the rest of the week..

THEATRE ROYAL. ■ The hew programme for this week goes gaily on its way at'the Theatre Royal. The Brothers Crotton are in a high rank as acrobats, some of their feats of strength and ingenuity being almost marvellous. Their turn is entirety novel, and keeps the audience in an 'excitement of expectancy as to what can happen next. Parker, who defies the custody of handcuffs, furnishes another striking . "turn." Miss Blanche Oarelli has a fine soprano voice' and Miss Gertie Johns is also an. attractive ' performer.,.There..,is, no lack :of laughter, while . Mr.. Charles Fanning, coloured comedian,, holds, the stage, and all.the: other, members of the. company we're' successful in theif?turns last evening. The programme will be repeated to-night.- • • /"-'-'-■ HIS MAJESTY'S PICTURES. . There was a large house •at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when the New Zealand Association of Veterans were the guests of the management. To-night being the weekly change night, an entirely new selection of pictures will be* presented, all of them for the' first time in New Zealand.. These include a very fine series of.pictures illustrating the famous grottoes of Lourdes. "The Western Maid" is a tale of the breezy prairies, with plenty of incidents exciting enough to please any sensation-lover. "The Call," a biograph. production, is a tale of the sawdust ring, the white-top' tent exemplifying the almost irresistible fascination that "the ring" has for anyone who has-once' trodden the sawdust. 1 A topical picture, "The Opening of Parliament by His Majesty King Edward VII," and the comic films "Calino Plays Billiards," ."The Cheesemonger's Dog," and "Foolshead Goes, to a Ball," are other items in a remarkably strong pro T gramme. Seats may.* be reserved at Christeson's.'':. . '.. . , THE KING'S. THEATRE. . There was another good attendance at' the King's Theatre last evening, when the . current week's • programme was shown, for the last time. To-night a special picture, for' which Mr. T. J. West holds the solo Australasian rights, will be shown; entitled "Scenes in Melbourne," also the Patho studios, "In Pursuit of Flying Dogs" (sporting), "The Egyptian Maid" (dramatic), and "Beneath the Gas" (comic). Other pictures of note are "On the Reef" (a story of a fatal mistake), "The Opening of the British Parliament by-their Majesties the King and : Queen,", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Shakespearian comedy), "Pali" (an animal study) r , "Winter Sports in ■■Norway'' (scenic), "The Troubles of a Pedlar.in Turkish Carpets," "Tho Professor and the Tom Cat,", and "Foolshead Goes to the Ball" (Comic). During the performance the King's Theatre Orchestra will render special selections and accompani- '

STAR PICTURES. ■ Good-business is being done nightly by the .Star Pictures at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, and the new programme is evidently quite as popular as any that has'.gone before.' The pictures, which pleased a large audionce last evening, will be shown again to-night. • ; PIANOFORTE RECITAL. • The concert' season was , inaugurated last evening by Miss Beatrice Richmond, Wellington's talented piahiste, who was assisted by Mr. Frank Johnstone ('cellist) and Miss May Donaldson (violinist), late of Dunedin. The recital was.really a gem in'its way,-demon-strating what can be done by. earnest and capable students gifted. with fair ideals,, and the capacity to work up to them. ■ Miss Richmond adjusts, with the nicest perception, the'whole.'rahge i of musical "expression to , her power.' She plays with easy, confidence, and reposeful grace—from the ' wrists,, not the shoulders as is the case with sledgehammer pianists of another school. Her touch is clean, crisp, and delicato. She plays Schumann delightfully, and of tho ; other small gems;.that jewelled the programme the "Arietta" of Leo and Chopin's Prelude (A flat) were particularly well played. Miss Richmond established herself ,in everybody's good graces by her sterling performance of Beethoven's Concerto' in B flat major, (in which she was assisted on a second piano, by Miss Constance Leatham, . whose performance was creditable), of which she gave a performance that was technically correct, and which did not lack that poetic feeling which permeates tho pianoforte music of.the great master of symphonic art. In ' strong contrast Miss. Richmond played."the. all-demanding pianoforte part - in ; - Tchaikowsky's ' 'Trio in A minor" (Part II)—(1) "Tema con Variazione": and (2); "Variaziono Finale e Goda"r4n which she ■ was associated'

with Miss Donaldson and Mr. Johnstone. The trio.is magnificent, and'was played really well, , although the Scla- ' vonio fire inherent in Tchaikowsky's music could have stood some poking up. That, however, must not he taken as a reflection on a capable and thoroughly enjoyable performance. Miss May Donaldson, who not so long ago studied at Brussels, was rather unfortunate in her debut as a violinist. She essayed Tartini's "L'Art de

l'Archet," but had hardly compassed a dozen bars, when her accompanist, who was evidently nervous, lost control and_ there was an awkward break. The incident unstrung the violinist, who dashed through her work without much regard for anything—tone, tempo, or tune. Miss Donaldson, in the opening bars, bowed'with delightful freedom, and produced a fine full-bodied tone. ; Her playing in the Tchaikowsky trio was; quite good, and on that showing the writer, is :.sure that music in Wellington will be the-richer for Miss Donaldson's coining. 'Mr. Frank -Jolmstono is a 'cellist of known ability. : His most Acceptable contributions to the programme were a "sarabande" and "gavotte" by Klengel. The combination would be welcomed in a series of-concerts such as the one which gave pleasure to all present last evening.. ; EMPIRE PICTURES. A treat ; is.in store for picture-lovers on Wednesday night at the Town Hall, as the Empire Pictures, which will be exhibited there for the first timo, promise to be of a very interesting type. The star film "Napoleon," of over .2000 feet, is said to bo brimful of interest, and has been everywhere received with enthusiasm. It has been prepared regardless of expense by the well-known firm of Patho Frorcs. . A full house is expected. "FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE." Much interest is being aroused in the Wellington season, which will bo inaugurated at the Opera House on Monday evening next, of the remarkable cinematographic reproduction of Marcus Clarke's famous Australian convict story "For the Term of His Natural Life." To the enterprise of Messrs. M'Mahon and Carroll is due what has been declared by the Melbourne and Sydney,

press to be perhaps the most notable living picture achievement of the time. Tiie story has been reproduced in its most minute detail from the murder on Hampstead Heath to its thrilling conclusion, when Rufus Dawes and Sylia Vickers are washed ashore from the wreck of the ill-fated Lady Franklyn. The well-known actor Mr. Alfred Boothman narrates the story throughout its cinematographic progress. The box plan will be opened this morning at the Dresden. Popular prices will obtain, and there will be no extra charges whatever.

CARNIVAL AND FANCY FAIR. The Sydney Street Schoolroom was again crowded last night and excellent business was done at the various stalls. A feature of tho evening's entertainment was an Irish jig danced by Miss Guilford which will be repeated each evening. The following are the winners of the additional prizes raffled:—Challenger stall: Gold heart and chain, Julia 0. Fuller; pair pillow-shams, Mr. B. F. Hayward; silver teapot, Miss Kcehey;. gentleman's umbrella, Rev. Father Peoples; doll's bed, Miss M'Oarthy; box of chocolates, "Mac" G.0.P.; pipe rack, Eric Reeves; scent bottle, Miss V. Nathan;. cake, Mrs. O'Donals. Amokura stall:—Pipe, Mr. T. Parnell; chair,' Miss Riordan; picture, Mr. M. Oleary; silver hand-mirror, Mr. Cullunder; silver teapot,. Miss O'Malley. Encounter stall:—Set glove boxes, Miss M'Grath; silver matchbox, Mr. Warer ham; painted panel, Miss Coady. Powerful stall —gentleman's dressing case, Miss Scrimegour; gold brooch, Dorothy Gibbs; gentleman's walking stick) Mr. Hansen; table centre, Mr. J. J. Gibbs. On Friday night at ten, o'clock the grand art union will bo drawn.