ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 797, 21 April 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE NiGHT OF THE PARTY." That bright, farcical comedy, "The Night of tho l'arty," drew a large secondnight audience to tho Opera .House last evening. The "party" is just a little affair among tho servants, arranged by tho butler- when his bettors' are a way; from. home. The master of tho house returns home unexpectedly one night, when proceedings aro at their liveliest; complications follow, of course, and explanations ore called for. It is then that the butler, who has been having a merry evening, wakes up to the seriousness of his position, and, in. doing so, becomes most amusing. The acting throughout is good, and, in one or two particularly elfectivo scenes, tho principals excel themselves. Mr. David James has a very suitable role as Crosbio (the butler), and Mr; George Willoughby appears as Flambert (a retired butcher). The ladies and other members .of the company fill their respective parts capably. "The Night of tho Party" will be staged again this evening. THEATRE ROYAL. The variety programme is always popular, but constant changes are necessary if a long season is to be successful. Realising this fact, Messrs. Fuller introduce new ideas and fresh artists every week at tho Theatre Royal. Wise and Milton, a pair of clever dancers, who mako up as an Indian and his squaw* made a first Appearance this week, and were warmly welcomed. The other members of the company continue to entertain in their several.capacities.

HIS. MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' His Majesty's Theatre was well filled last evening, when the weekly change of programme was made. The quality of the pictures shown are well up to the standard, and gave entire satisfaction to everyone present. , Among the dramatic pictures, "The Spanish Girl" stood out as one for particular commendation. Lola Gonzales, a Spanish dancing girl,' falls in love with "Bud" Wilson, foreman of the Circle "A" ranch. Bud, however, loves Martha Allison, the daughter of his employer, and Lola, learning of this, vows in her jealous rage to break up tho affair'. To this end she arranges with Pedro Mayos, her Mexican admirer, to be in the orchard with Martha at' a qertain time, and she contrives to meet Wilson and insure, that ho sees his sweetheart apparently lovemaking with tho Mexican. Bud vehemently denounces Martha, and ™ rns away, to be met in another part of the orchard by Lola; who makes love to him t'o such purpose that ho is just going to take her in his arms when they are interrupted bv a messenger, who brings Bud news of his appointment as doputy. sheriff. Pedro, on learning how Lola really loves Wilson, smacks . her face. Al lthe blood of her ancestors wells up. at the insult. She informs her father, who arouses his men, and they chase the fleeing Pedro, who is caught, and about to be strung up, when Wilson, as deputy-sheriff, arrives and saves the lite of. the man. ho utterly despises. Pedro tells him that Martha' is absolutely true, to him, and that he has been the victim of a ruse. This clears the air, ami "Bud" rushes back to make amends in the manner' of every white man's, country in the world. "The Woman frqm Mellous" is another piquantly-acted picture' . from the' Biograph Company's studio.. A smart young man woos.a maid, and gains her father's consent to marriage, when he is ruined on the Stock, Exchange.. Fearing that his daughter will elopo her father writes to a detective agency to send a reliable woman to guard her.,'. As.it happens, the, lover has accepted a position at the agency, and begs to be allowed to play tho part, of the duenna. This he does so successfully that the girl's father falls in love with him, and is about to propose marriage, when the young .man elopes with the daughter, and tho foolish father is brought to his senses by the knowlodge this his son-in-law is the ".woman" of his choice. One of the finest, scenic'.'pictures shown in Wellington is tho Matra Rapids (Finland), which present s'nch, a. rush of galloping waters that, one would think''that-such rapids .could' supply electricity for the whole of tho kingdom. .Other good pictures' are "The Flirt," "Attentive Listeners," "The Brooklyn- -Navy Yard" .(a .remarkable .film), "The Cloister's Touch," and."The Triumphant Hero." KING'S THEATRE.)- . Every seat in the King's Theatre was occupied last evening, when a completo and very admirable change of pi'ograirirao was presented. Although an occasional scenic. or industrial picture is still included ill kinomatograpli programme the trend is to impinge more and inoro on tho acted picture, be it comedy, tragedy, or drama, which is not altogether to bo wondered at in view of the vast trouble and expense that must be incurred in semiring pictures in out-of-the-way parts of the world, and in arranging the complete viows of industries in places never designed for the camera. With dramatic pictures the case is different. Completo companies are kept "on the premises," and specially-lighted theatres are erected in tho grounds of the big film-makers of the world, and all that is necessary is adequate rehearsal before they face the camera. What is a matter of wonder is the clever stage management and the completeness in detail that characterises these pictures. "The Cloister's'. Touch," presented last evening is a capital instance of the cave .mid trouble lavished on the kineraatographic drama. It is a tale of olden days, when the overlord could demand anything, even to the wives of liis serfs. The Duke, in this case, is told of tho. charms of the wife of one of his peasants, and shaking off the lassitude of Court life, he ventures to the cottage, is pleased with the wife, and sets her in a high place in his household, while the peasant, broken-hearted, seeks solace as a postulant in an adjoining monastery, taking with, him his little son. The woman,,who takes kindly enough to the Duke and her new life, at last feels the want of her baby's love, and witii the Duke's consent searches for him without success. Other, children are submitted t<, her to. relieve her distracted mind, but in vain. At last her reason goes, and finally she dies.. The Duke, whe has learned to lovo her devotedly » so shaken with remorse that he decides to do penance for the rest of his days in a monastery. There he meets the wronged peasant, who is about to kill him, when a procession of monks pass bearing a crucifix. He lowers his weapon, and the two.follow tho procession into tho little chapel, both content to let bygones bo bygones in a life devoted to.the Church. The acting is of a bigh order, and the interest is well sustained throughout. "Artistic Plates" is a beautiful idea. It shows a little Dutch girl dusting the plates, which are subsequently shown in a magnified form, and the scenes on the plates become animated. They are all pretty Dutch scenes, and the effects are most: artistic in each case. "Cleopatra" is it beautiful film in natural colburs, telling a thrilling story in a beautiful setting. ; A very line scenic etudy 'is that of the Hawkesbury River (N.S.W.). showing delightful glimpses of Australian scenery, the magnificent bridge, arid glorious stretches of the river, photographed in natural tints. Other god pictures are • "The Girl from Meltons," "After the Snowstorm," "Cnpid and a Motor-boat," "Calino's Wedding Day," and "Hercules."

STAE PICTURES. A bright selection from the latest kinematograph films is being shown this week at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, and as the. Star Pict.ires are recognised as one of the entertainments of the city, largo, audiences are pleased nightly. The current programme includes several coloured films, and all of llie pictures are distinctly good. In one of them flora Kitchener is seen inspecting coloniu' troops. The pictures will be exhibited this evening." The games tournament of the Boy?' Institute was continued a stage yesterday evening. The ,-enior grade draughts was won ,by .1. Kean, and the quoits by 'J'. <!. Caroline. In the intermediate the quoits was won by G. Hill, and the following were in the semi-final:—Blair, Buck, E. Manson, M'Carlic. The junior quoits were won by F. Af'Farland.