ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 785, 7 April 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"PETER PAN." ■ - "Peter' Pan" and his'merry associates, who have been enjoying heart-to-heart chats v;ith the Wellington theatre-going public _• for nearly a fortnight, strutted their little hour before a strangely, mixed audience at the Opera House yesterday afternoon. It was a.-special matiiiee arranged by the management for tho entertainment of those people—young and extremely old—who happened to bo resident l at tho local charitable institutions, hospitals, and others in indigent circumstanoes. There were nearly COO present 1 in all, occupying. nearly the whole of tho stalls. The front row's on one side aocomiuodated a contingent of old, and in some cases - decrepit, people from the Ohiro Home, who strained forward in every conceivable attitude to > try and catch the drift of the, play. Behind the old men:were rows 'of tiny children,, almost babies, many 'of them. ; "Where are they from?" was asked. "They are from the children' 6 ward in the hospital," was the answer. "Hospital! But is it right to bring them .here?"

"Oh, bless you, yes; they're all right —most. of; them are convalescents. Nothing infections, of course." ''Do you think it good for them; to be here, when they could be out in tho sun?" —

"Good for them! I should think so. 'Peter Pan' will cure .'some of them. There's more bottled' sunshine in "Peter Pan' and the'lndians than in half a dozen autumn afternoons." - . , ■

And really'thfiy 'looked as if they were all "doing well." They looked so funny, too. Each little tot with a seat for herself; some of.them, almost too small to look over the back of the seat in front, stood up, others did not trouble the stage much—they- took a look at.it every now and then to 600 if the ; "picture" was changed. They awakened to the.fascination of-tho scene when the Indians appeared, and tho Lost Boys romped about in their underground home—that was all sheer delight, and-it was pictured in every little face. :

Miss ICirk, of' the staff of .tho Bene-, .volent Trustees,, was. instrumental in placing a 1 great number of; -tickets, and Mr.'George Willis, in conjunction with Mr.'Bert-Boyle, manager for Mr. J.'.G. Williamson, superintended the general . distribution' of ■ tickets to the various bodies'; The matinee . was a kindly, thought, and the sunshine it carries,will be - a bright light in the lives, of those who accepted Mr. Williamson's hospitality. V ;• ' At the evening performance the usual large' audience, which .filled the : house, was very appreciative all through. ."Peter Pan" will. be continued throughout the week.

" THEATRE ROYAI,. ;. : There ' was ... a ; capital- attendance at - the' Theatre -Royal last- night. Parker, the Escapeological • Mystery, has accepted; a'challenge from Mr. T. Pawson, and it will be decided 1 to-night. J, The challenger .will place Parker in a box, nail the lid on, and then, to make doublysure, rope it round. The box with its living freight will 'then be placed, inside, tho "cabinet, when Parker will make an escape from his. confinement. The box, rope, and" nails, will bo provided by tho challenger, Mr. Pawson. Especially in .view ol' tho challenge thero should be a crowded hou& to-night. .. .. .

KING'S THEATRE. ,'. Owing' to' the, non-arrival of. the Sydney boat until : last evening, the, films' necessary'for the change of pr.'grammo announced by adveitiiemeut c.iuld not be got.; possession of until .top late for last .evening's.: .perfor/Bftnce. A complete change will therefore be made this evening. This will include: "A Midsummer Night's Dream,": "Scenes in Melbourne," "The Opening of the British Programme" (u . very fine picture that was shown last evening), "Winter Sports in Norway," "The Call," "Foolshead Goes to a Ball," "Pals," "Th 6 Egyptian Maid/' and "On the Reef." ; . '

. , HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' ..Every seat ; iu~i.His.7 Majesty's Theatre was"-filled "last .evening, ;wlien "the. .usualcomplete change of programme was presented. There is. no. room for two opinions about the. programme—it is one of the/most'interesting seen in Wellington for ,some time.. The pictures include a most beautiful series of pictures representing Lourdcs, showing 'the vast as-, semblage of pilgrims who are convinced that, by visiting the sacred spring in the famous grotto and partaking of its. waters their ailments, will'.disappear, like the motning mists, before, the sun; A legend relates.; that, in the year 1858 the Blessed Virgin appeared, to a peasant girl Bernadette • Soubirous, : and disclosed, to her the "wonderful virtues of the spring, since which .time many ..millions have visited the old town in 'search of relief, and, strange to. relnte, : in many cases, have -. found it. "A Western Maid" is the story of-'.a brave girl of the out-West in .America, who outwits and captures highwaymen who have; robbed, bound, and gagged' her father. A'study in natural colours is presented, in "The Egyptian Maid," in which 1 ; a dramatic story is splendidly, acted, in an Oriental setting. "The Call" is another drama in pictures. It is the . life story , of a circus dancer/ who breaks down through ill-healtli, and is dismissed, not, however, before she has captured the heart of a young : . farmer, who offers hor a home and his heart. She accepts both, and is quite happy until the circus comfls. into the town I once more, when she is seized with the old passion for the ' ring, and writes to her husband that she is leaving him to return to her old life. She is induced .to return to the ,'drcssing ; tent, but, disgusted i at the freedom and manners of the old life, . she returns , home just in time to secure her letter before her trusting husband secures it. Those who know Sydney will be delighted at a series of pictures illustrating the Beauty and., business bustle of the great Australian centre. "The Opening of the British Parliament" shows the enormous interest that is taken' by London's crowds in the event. Other piotures well worth seeing are: —"Winter Sports in Denmark," "Pals," "On the Reef," and a "Foolshead" comic film.

--. STAR. PICTURES. The cinematograph entertainment provided this week at. St. Thomas's' Hall, by the Star Picture Company, has drawn crowded audiancbs, for the very good reason- that the programme contains a I'umber of, novelties, and is thoroughly satisfying. The. pictures will be shown again this evening. : . THE EMPIRE PICTURES. . ; Yet! nnothcr picture show opened last evening in the Town' Hall Concert Chamber for a short season of .three nights.. The films presented arc.for the most part representative of the : best kinematographic art, and "The Empire Pioturos" deserve a fair share of public patronage; Perhaps the best film is that which por-trays-a series of'the most striking incidents in the life, of Napoleon. The acting and Staging in this series have been •very carefully thought out, with a result of great historical, dramatic, and pictorial merit. Tho retreat from Moscow, the scene between the, Pope and the Eni•peror. > Napoleon's abdication, some incidents it ."Waterloo, 'arid the exile and death'of the great-soldier at St. Helena are some of the principal subjects. Last, night's audience expressed its appreciation of these scenes in an unmistakable manner A truly realistic picture-story, vet romantic withal, was that entitled "Mr. Muggins, V.C." An uncouth yokel in a smock, who is discovered at the rise of the curtain leaning on the village pump and munching an apple, accepts tho lung's shilling, and after a while goes out with his regiment to a frontier war. Ho carries off a wounded comrado on his shoulder, and after a hot pursuit by several of tho enemy, turns to baj', shoots down most of them, and is rehoved just 1 in time by a party of British. There are great rejoicings whon the news reaches the village.- Muggins, V.C., gets there almost as soon as his letters and the newspaper with tho account of his honours. In addition to the rejoicings, there aro kisses, and two people appear likely to live happily ever after. "Tho Prince of Kyber" is also a drama of frontier warfare, but of a different type, Tho dusky prince demands the wife of a British officer to be his'queen. Refusal is followed by an armed attack. The lady i 9 caried off, and her husband and little boy are thrown into prison. A compassionate princess enables tho cap-

tured wife to reach her husband and child, and the three together niake'a clash for freedom. A cbaso and a number of exciting incidents end as the audience would have wished. It must not be thought that the programme is'wholly military. There are many other interesting films, comic and serious, including "The Tragedy ,in the Snow," "The Lost Heir," "Juggins on Motor Skatos," "Love's Duct," and others. The cntertainmont 'will be repeated to-morrow, as per advt.

CARNIVAL AND FANCY FAIR. The popularity of the carnival shows no sign of waning, tho Sydney Street Schoolroom being well attended cvory evening. Tho children, who have been carefully trained in their various dances, are well received. Miss Guilford, who dances an Irish jig very prettily, also makes a very favourable impression. To-night tho bazaar will open as usual from 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. To-morrow night the art union will be drawn at 10 o'clock.,. DR.. IIARRISS'S EMPIRE FESTIVALS. Mr.; Hugo Gorlitz left for Christchurch last night to . attend an important meeting of the Canterbury Festival Committee, He. intended to go further south, and thence. to Australia, but an unexpected decision of the Wellington Corporation Finance Committee with regard to th 6 lease of .the Town Hall'for Dr.. Harriss's Festival will necessitate a general meeting of. the Wellington Festival Committee: Mr. Gorlitz will return here at an early date. Dr. Harriss is at tho present moment in London preparing' for. his monster Empire Concert, to be held on Empire Day. This year's concert is to eclipse, all .previous efforts. The. Sheffield Choir recently sang at tho Queen's Hall, London, and created a regular furore.

MISS AMY MURPHY. . Final arrangements for tho recital to be given by ,Miss Amy Murphy at the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Monday, April 18, aro now to hand. Miss Murphy will be assisted by Mr. Ernest Parties, and . Mr. Horace Hunt, and a brilliant programme is promised. . . ESPERANTO AT -.THE • SAILORS' '' MISSION. ' A very enjoyable, entertainment, , arranged by Captain King, took place at the Seamens' Mission . last night, a ■ large .number of people being present. The feature of tho evening was an ■ address upon Esperanto, given by LieuteuantColonel Pollen! president of the British Esperanto, Association. Mr. Moore, who presided at the gathering, introduced the visitor , of the evening to .tho audience, remarking that ho was not altogether a stranger to some of those present, as they had had the. pleasuro of hearing him speak on'the previous Sunday. Colonel Pollen said'how very glad, bo -was to be present, and, how admirably tho work was conducted—that they bad the right man in the right place, lie then drew attention to the Esperanto flag that was hanging on the wall behind him, bright green, with a-small square of white in .the'left-hand corner, upon w'hich was a groen star, and- explained what it stood for peaco and' brotherhood among all the nations of the world. The'learned people' of different! parts of the world were 'able, to. communicate with one ' an T other, but up to the time when Esperanto came upon ,the scene, those of little education had small chance of coming into any sort of contact. Dr. Zameuhof, a Russian Pole, 1 and an oculist by profession,'was so convinced of tho tremendous benefit that would be gained by humanity at large if a language common to all nations could bo invented, that he devoted all his energies to the work of bringing ono into existence. To do so he studied different languages and found out the words common to all, gaining in the process a very extensive vocabulary. Tho language was simply an international one, and none could bo devised that could be clearer, moro reasonable, and more absolutely necessary to the progress of the world._ There had been a great, many prejudices to be. fought against. The ridiculing stage had been passed, and now they were at thp'discussion stage,soon he .hoped they would reach the adoption,.stage all over the Worhl. Very great, appreciation was expressed at theend 'of- tho .address-by those aiid'lator in the evening'-Colonel Pollen had several conversations, in 'Esperanto with some of the audience,. among them being.a small_ boy of about ton. Those who.took part in the concert were: Master Wilson, who played a pianoforte solo; Mr. Cornish, who gave an .. Esperanto recitation, "To Be or Not to Be," part of which Colonel. Pollen afterwards gave in English; a band march was played on a turnephone; song, Miss Frith; choruses were Sung by those present; a song, Mr. Sweeney; recitation, Master Wilson; song.' Miss M. Frith; recitation, Mr. Sinel; and another recitation, one of Kipling's poems, followed by one'in Esperanto, given- by Colonel Pollen, brought a most interesting evening to a close. Dr. Kemp. and Dr.' Pollen proposed a vote of thanks- .to Captain King and all who had taken part that evening in providing an.exceedingly pleasant time.