ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OI'ER A HOUSE

s The sensational melodrama, "The Wedding Ring," was repeated at tho . Opera - Hougo last night by the i George Marlow Company. There was a t large attendance, and the striking situ- ® atioiis and remarkable scenic effects ■ wero keenly appreciated. Tho last nine nights of the company's 3 season will bo entered upon this even- } iug, when "The V/edding Ring" with its series of dramatic situations, including tho realistic railway smash, will be seen, for tho last time. Tonight the company will introduce "As Midnight Chimes," by Edward Marris, an author whose plays have achieved great success iu England. "As Midnight Chimes" is said to have a plot of striking incidents and strong j dramatic qualities, while the scenic . effects are above the average. There l are ten scenes in the four acts, and j these embrace Stannard's cottage at , Barryhaven, waiting-room at Rockley 1 Station, a platform of the Paddington l Station, London, warehouse on the 0 wharf at Shadwell, Luke Dezzard's ® house in London, a street in tho great ' metropolis, and a vault in St. Nicholas' , Churchyard, where a very striking scene 5 is enacted by Dezzard, and where the j midnight chimes add a greater solemn- . ity to tho situation. Luke Dezzard is . a dealer in contraband goods with Ezra e Gamble, but their nefarious calling is 1 suspected, and as the Customs officers arc about to raid the hiding-place in the cliffs, realistically shown, the culprits throw suspicion on Dave Stannard, ; a young fisherman, and his wife is used t So unconsciously aid the villains. A _ Customs officer is shot dead by Dfizr f zard, and suspicion of this crime is also f diverted to Stannard, but a child plays - nn important role in this scene. There j ensues a series of striking situations. ' big. scene is where Stannard escapes s -from a chained gang on a railway platj form by jumping into a train as it is leaving the platform. This scene alj ways .evokes a demonstration for its 1 realism". The company has been augr men ted for this production. "As Mid--0 night Chimes" will only be staged on - Tuesday, Wednesday, 'Thursday, and . Friday. Next Saturday and Monday ' evenings "That : Woman from France" j wi" be produced, and for the last two : nights of'the season, May 17 and 18, a "East Lynne" will be staged. The box j plan for the season is at the Dresden. 1•. ■ ' • KING'S THEATRE. Full houses, denote the popularity of. this week's programme at the King's Theatre. The most attractive pictures displayed are"The Talk of the Town," "Under the Stars and Stripes," A ' Sugar Plantation in Sunda," the "Liverpool. Grand National,", and 'Love Ye One Another." A complete change of programme will be presented tomorrow evening. ■. THEATRE ROYAL. . The Theatre Royal was crowded last night, on the occasion of.'the .weekly change ,of programme. The fare pro : vided in the new bill is' right' up to the highest standard set by the Fuller Company, every , item being excellent in its own particular line. The programme opehed' with a series-of animated pictures, showing the famous 'monkey "Consul!' on. shipboard. The antics of the monkey were clever, as well, aj amusing,, his efforts at roller skating being - particularly -good." The programme included one new performer, in Miss- Ivy Goodwill, a graceful ' little dancer and singer. Miss Pearl" Smaill, I the' Klimos, knockabout comedy acrobats, and Raleigh, wire walker and | cyclist, all,'made their reappearance, i and were warmly welcomed. Tho . "turn" .of ■ Armstrong and Verne:, was a whole evening's . 'entertainment • in j itself; and some excellent new business ■ was introduced. Notwithstanding'this, | acceptable as it was, the audience would . not be satisfied until the popular pair had repeated tho old favourite, "Re- , g'ards to Broadway." Mr. Frank Yorke . kept the house in a constant state of laughter with his loud comedy, which 1 .included an exaggerated parody on "Marguerite." Miss Cecile Stephano 1 sang "Sunshine of my Soul" in a manner which won her ail/ encore.. She | gave "Sleep, Sailor, Sleep" as her encore, ' and sang it with "fine effect. "Victor thei Great" gave a clever display of the veqtriloquial art, but the cleverness ■ of the artist's efforts were discounted ty the grade of humour put into the mouth, of one of the dummy figures. Mr! Joe Lamb's rich baritone voice was heard to advantage in his , rendering of "Alone on the Raft," and ; "Love's Sorrow." The programme finished as.it started, with some excellent biograph films. . Two new appearances are announced for next week, when Mr. Ranee Smith, an American dancer, and .Mr. Warwick Lumley, comedian, will make their initial bows. ' STAR PICTURES. It says much for the popularity •of moving; pictures that despite the cold and rain last evening thero was a large attendance to view tho change of programme at St. Thomas's Hall, - Newtown. The first set. shown was a comic series, entitled "Art Collecting." A couple of youths make free with-the property of a dentist till he gots ono of them in the chair and makes him disgorge. A gcod dramatic story is conveyed by the picture "The Lost. Heir.". The heir is stolen while his nurse is love-making, and becomes a strolling minstrel. In courso of time he comes to play beneath the walls of his parents' castle, and is recognised and recovered by them. An excellent coloured film is entitled "Romeo Turns Brigand." The film opens with a lovers' meeting, which recalls the balcony scene in "Romeo and Juliet." The girl's father is .not favourable to the suitor, who persuades two friends- to mask themselves,' pounce upon the old man, bandage his eyes,.'and tie him to a treo, while the young roan makes off with his love. Before leaving her father, however, he drops beside him a note stating that at a cortain time his daughter will be 'at the "Black Rock," and that her abductors will restore her to him thero for a ransom of £500. Afterwards the lover calls on the father, and hears from him the story of the treatment he has undergone. The lover says that he will do his best to restore the maiden to her father. He goes on ahead to the "Black Rock" at the'time appointed, and.after firing valiantly in the direction, of his two confederates, one of whom is seen to fall, he restores tho girl to her grateful father, and is rewarded with her hand. A very naturally-coloured film gives a good view of an Algerian stud, containing some thoroughbreds. Other attractive series are "Redwood's Gratitude," a dramatic Red Indian story, "A Pleasant Walk" (comic), "Lily Bolieme" (dramatic), and "Cycling Excursions" (comic).. The programme will ■ be repeated to-night. THE ELLWOOD TRW. ' 1 This talented combination, assisted by Miss. Winnie -Nixon,' will give a > special concert on Wednesday at the ! Town Hall, Lower. Hutt. Further ar- { rangemonts will bo advortiscd in to- J morrow's paper,, as many requests have been received to give- more-opportuni-ties to hear these phenomenal artists. • £ Thousands of' people waited " outsido f tho Town Hall -on Sunday night, but i were obliged to go home disappointed. ( Mr. Gorlitz regrets this occurrence, but a felt in loyalty bound to postpone, tho I concerts to next Saturday and Sunday, e