ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 819, 17 May 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"EAST LYNNE." The George Marlow Dramatic Com* pany will enter upon tho last two nights of its season this (Tuesday) evening, when the world-famous and evergreen drama, "East Lynne," will' bo staged, and repeated to-morrow evening, the farewell night of the company. The version is Baid to be a new one, but tho essential features of the drama hare been retained, while the scenic effects are said to bo very fine. The company will make its final appearance in Wellington to-morrow (Wednesday) evening. A' season in Dunedin follows. There was a large audience present last evening when "That Woman from France" was repeated for the last time. The box plan is at the Dresden, and early door for tickets at Christeson's. THE. GRAND OPERA SEASON. An American critic, writing of opera in his country, complains that outside the Metropolitan and Manhattan Opera Houses of New York, dramatic music in this form is practically unknown. That the big' cities in America are so much ia artistic outer darkness is hard to understand by the' average member of the public. Only the theatrical expert, who knows the risk attending the staging in proper style really grand opera can appreciate tho fact that managers are •so chary in the matter. New Zealand gets ' its opera at long intervals much for the same reason. It is very costly to produce, the royalties are heavy, and good artists need special inducements to leave the musical centres of Europe. The orchestra is an overwhelming item. Notwithstanding risks, however, gTand opera has once more been ventured upon by the J. C. Williamson management, and on Thursday, next "Madam Butterfly," by Puccini (described as a Japanese lyric tragedy), will be given by a company that upon the face of it appears tc be a remarkably fine one. This harmonious organisation has just completed a wonderful season of eight weeks in Sydney, and comes to Wellington heralded by the very best of reputations. Public interest in its appearance on Thursday next undoubtedly runs higb- i That the operas are to be rendered in English will not lessen their popularity. Again, the fame of Bel Sorel, the brilliant French prima donna, and tho equally ' excellent performances of Amy Castles in the name part have travelled across the Tasman Sea. This, with the magnitude of the undertaking—the splendid orchestra—and the number of artists engaged, promises something in the way of a high-class musical nature that bids fair to eclipse anything of the like heard and seen before in Wellington. THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Royal was crowded last evening, when Fullers' Vaudeville Company presented its weekly change of programme. The constitution of the company has not been materially altered since last week. A new-comer, Warwick Lumley, made a favourable impression as a comic singer and a dispenser ■of lively patter, and was accorded a good' hearing. l''::om a sporting point of . view the new kinematograph picture of Barry, the champion English oarsman (who is to meet Arnst on the Zambesi in August), at his training, was of. topical interest. Physically, Barry does not compare with tho New Zealanden. He u spare-limbed, and lacks Arnsfs impressive depth of chest. He _is pictured . skipping in a. back yard with .the "old Father Thames" in the background, and also in action in his wager-boat. On this illustration of his powers he does not compare with the Titan of Taitapu. He does not come forward sufficiently to make the best use of his slide, and the powerful leg-drive was missing. Hi 9 oarsmanship compares with- that of Webb rather than the man whom New Zealand will pin its faith to in the coming struggle for the world's premiership.. "Victor the Great" appeared in a clever ventriloquial act, and the Klimos repeated their daring comedy Roman rings performance. Joe Lamb, the singing collier, sang "The Bedouin Love Song," and "It is the Men" with good effect, and Frank Yorke's stentorian humour was received with enthusiasm. Miss Cecile Stephana, contralto, sang the "Song of the Lighthouse Bell," and (with pictures) "In . Dear Old ■ Colorado" • effectively. •■ Ranca Smith, a coloured performer, reverted to tho old stump speech line_ of comedy,' and rattled his mobile feet in an extraordinary clog-dance. Ivy Goodwill also appeared in new songs, and a pictures, including a battleship series, evoked applause. On Monday evening next Theatre Royal patrons are promised new turns by Ouden Wilson, monologue comedian, and Pearl Hellowich, a dainty soubrette. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. There was another big audience at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when an addition to the capital programme of the \ week was presented in a series of kinematograph snaps of Barry, the English sculler, who is to attempt to wrest the world's premiership from Arnst on tho Zambesi in August. The Englishman is depicted in some harmless skipping exercises, and also in action on the Thames, where he is' being paced by a treble sculler pulled by Tom Sullivan (ex-cham-pion sculler of New Zealand and England), Blackstaffe, and another. Barry rows cleanly and gracefully, but the pictures do not suggest that Barry has the driving power of Arnst. The rest of the programme is absorbingly interesting id character. KING'S THEATRE. The programme at the King's Theatre was supplemented last evening with an interesting picture showing Barry, the' English oarsman, undergoing his' preparation for tho big sculling race for the championship of tho world, to he rowed against the New Zealander Arnst on the Zambesi in August. The oarsman is shown at his skipping exercises, and also doing a sprint on the Thames, paced by a treble sculler, manned by Tom Sulli-. van (Barry's ex-trainer), Blackstaffe, and . another. Barry's physique is hot impressive, and he will have to paddle better than pictured if he is to beat Arnst for. the championship. '. OLTMPIA ROLLER RINK. Everything points to a most successful opening of the skating season at Olympia Rink.next Saturday afternoon. Tho attractions of a new floor and the newest pattern ball-bearing =kates ,are such that no enthusiastic rinker could easily resist. The general details of the rink are also to be carefully studied this season, and no stone will bo left unturned to make the rink a popular resort.' Season tickets will bo. available for the whole of the season at reasonable rates., STAR PICTURES. A full house greeted with enthusiasm the new programme of Star Pictures presented at St. Thomas's Hall last evening. .A dramatic interlude that must appeal to all lovers of "canned drama" was that entitled "Btfi'i'D llu> Must." It is a tale of a lover and his lass, and a stern old father who wishes to bestow his dinghter on an objectionable captain of a "limejuicer." The girl naturally makes objection, and is clapped under lock and key for it. The lover, learning of thisT- contrives her escape,' trnd the two tire married before the father and would-be husband' arrive oil the scene. Thirsting for revenge the captain has the young man kid- • napped, and taken aboard his ship and away to sea. There he is so maltreated that he jumps overboard and is picked up by another vessel. When he at length reaches home again his wife is at death's door, but the roses return with her lover, and nil ends happily. Of the other dramatic pictures, "Nclla Delorendo, "Iwo Women and a Man," and "Into the Shadow" are fine of histrionic kinenmtography. ''The Gulf of Sehmo is a vcrv beautiful coloured film, and "Diversions" is a hilarious comic incident in which a diver who cannot reniovo his helmet is the chief actor. Theprogramme compares favourably with the best that have been screened at bt. Thomas's.