ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 844, 16 June 1910, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The Hamilton-Maxwell Dramatic Company is having a. successful season ill the Opera House, and their latest production, Henry Pettitt's drama, entitled A Woman's Hate," has proved a powerful attraction. Tho melodrama has a particularly telling theme, and it is presented by tho company in a finislied manner. "A Woman's Hate" will be repeated again to-night and to-morrow evening. On Saturday, the military drama, "Kevenge," will be staged, and it will bo presented for three nights. THEATRE EOYAL. The star American clog-daueers, Brown and Wilmot, continue to provide a most attractive turn in the vaudeville entertainment which is presented nightly at the Theatre Royal. Ward Lear, an old favourite, shoivs every evening that he has lost none of his ability to amuse, and acceptable contributions are also given by Athos (the trick skater), the Martin Sisters, Miss Beryl Oilman, Miss Nellie Leslie, Miss Ivy Leslie, the Scott Brothers, tho Musical Shirleys, tho Kelso Boys, and Fred. Harcourt. The entertainment will bo repeated nightly during the remainder of the week. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Neither, bitter rain nor searching southerly winds can check the public desire for living pictures. This was proved last evening, when a la.Tge audienco was present to witness the change of programme presented at His Majesty's Theatre. That it was a good programme all regular patrons would oonccde. Tho changing of a Colorado desert into an Arcadian Elysium by means of irrigation is depicted by a series of pictures of rare interest, depicting the fruit-growing operations in the Grand Valley. A stretchof bare country similar to niat blossoming under irrigation is shown, with the water being led into trenches. Thai i whore only the cactus and spinifex reared I their malicious spikes is se'cii long avenues of apple-trees in full fruit—a glorious sight. That they are carefully tended is demonstrated by the pictures. One shows the thermometer being read by one of the hands. The temperature lias gone down, and frost is imminent. He rouses cut all hands, and they light flaming heaters α-t regular intervals along the avenues, and keep the temperature above freezing point. Pruning, spraying, gathering, sorting, and packing operations are ali practically demonstrated. "A Lesson by the Sea" is a sketch of American seaside life, in which, a foolish woman finds herself compromised through a snapshotter. Tv, - o men try to blackmail tho woman under a threat of showing the portrait to her husband. The latter sees the letter, and after a. scene with his wife, believes in her innocence, and through a ruse is able to giro the blackmailers a severe drubbing. Another fine dramatic picture is "Tommy Atkins," a picture representation ot Shirley's melodrama of thai nanne, played here about twelve years ago by Mr. Goo. IHgnold. Another ■ breezy dramatic sketch is entitled "The Ferno on tihe Bar Z Ranch," involving an encroaching fence, a riflo shot, and happiness for the disputants in the end. "Duck Shooting in Ireland" is a very perfect example of scenic photography, and "A Trip Through Wa.los" is [mother gem hi "canned tours." "Gold is Not All" is t'ho old tale which has for its moral the aphorism that all is not gold that glitters. It is a story of contrasts, in which the rich woman loses her husband and child though surrounded by every luxury, while the poor peasant girl over the way is as happy as a queen, with her quaint children and lovin-g spouse. "Making Matches" is a fine industrial picture, ami "The False Friar" is a laughter-pro-voking flight of imagination. Other good pictures are "Faithful," "Rags and Old Iron," and tho "Raman Ga-rciu Troup." KING'S THEATRE. "The Life of Christ," as presented in kiucmatograph form at the King's Theatre last evening, is a remarkable instance of what thought and marvellous attention to detail is given to .the preparation of such subjects. Tho film is 3302 feet in length, and takes just short of the hour to reel off. It is a very beautifully acted and superbly mounted series of incidents and tableaux, illustrating tho life of Christ, from the coining of the Wise Men of tho Hast to tho lowly manger where.lies tho Messiah, until the crucifixion, burial, atic! ascension into heaven. Special music by an -augmented orchestra, under Mr. Wolfgang, was provided for the picture, the selections played including Mcsart's "Gloria" (Twelfth Mass), "Nazareth" (Gounod), "Calvary" (Rodney), and the "H&llelujah Chorus" (Handel). "Tho Fence on the Bar Z Ranch" is perhaps the best dramatic picture of the series. Rancher Graham has had his property surveyed, and has discovered that comely Widow Brown has an cuoroaching fence. . He orders his men to ask her to shift, and if she will not, to remove it themselves. AVidow Brown, bowover, makes objections, and when the men start in to shift her fence, she raises her rifle and threatens death. The men report tho position, and Graham declares he will do the job himself. He has just started to.chop down tho fence ivliou the widow, true to the warning she has posted on the fence steals down on the destroyer, and fires. Graham is not hit—but there is a cry from the other side of the fence, and on investigation the widow finds that she has shot her own child in the arm. Graham binds the wound, and then carries the child ou horseback to tho doctor ten miles away. The little- girl recovers, and the widow is so beaten down by Graham's kindness that she signifies that ho can , do what he likes with tho old fence. Hi> then got a sudden idea that it would be reasonable to turn the two properties into one, and at the same time take in the widow with the land. The widow makes no objection, and sn the feud ends sorophically. The Biograph Company send along a good picture entitled "The Smoker," a fine satire on the woman who will not allow her husband to smoke. "His Hundredth Birthday" is a parody (not without a modicum of truth) on modern journalism. An old man has attained his huudicdth birthday. The. fact is communicated to the press, whochargD down upon the aucient in battalions, accompanied by photographers and medical men. until the poor old man is well mgh distracted. Finally, when the papers have, done their deadly work, the centenarian is serenaded by a brass band, and presented with an address yards long during the reading of which lie falls asleep Other good pictures,aro "A Lesson by the Sea," ;"fho Rivals," and "Fishing in the South Sea Islands." There will be a gift matinee on Saturday afternoon. STAR PICTURES'. Views of the. Otira Tunnel, now in course of construction on the Midland hnilway line, constitute one of the features m this week's picture programme at St. Thomas's Hall, JVewtown Tho remainder of (ho pictures are calculated to interest and amuse everybody, and another exhibition will be given this evening. THE ELLWOOD TRIO. The Ellwood Trio, and Miss Winnie Nixon, : gave very successful concerts at Uannnvirke on Monday, and at Hastings on Tuesday. They will appear at A'apier to-night and to-morrow night, and then come to Wellington via Masterton, where an entertainment will he given on Monday next. Iho larewoll concert on Tuesday next, June 21, promises to bo a great success. Tho committee interested in the concert now numbers considerably over 50 ladies and gentlemen, and in chides all tho Cabinet members and their wives, the Mayor of Wellington, Archbishop ltedwood, and the lending musicians of the town. Those who have not heard these wonderful instrumentalists nnd Miss Winnie Nixon should not miss this opportunity, us it is the last one. Those who have heard the parly will find special inducement to go again for th'e children have gained experience on the Iciur, and have ,workcd well since they left Wellington. The box plun is at the Dresden. SKATING RTNK. All previous records have been broken this week at tho session provided specially for learners at tho Olympia Skating Rink. Those who are not .practical exponents of the Inws of balance here have opportunity to test their powers on wheels, and the winter pastime ie boinv

taken up enthusiastically by a largo number of young people and adults who have not previously indulged in ; the pleasures of skating. Tho rink will be open for the usual tJireo sessions to-day.

PIANO AND VIOLIN EECITAL. Music lovers aro reminded that the Hunt and liloy recital takes place (iiis evening, in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. As notified iu our issno nf yesterday, the following fino programme will Iμ presented :—Jtr. lioraco Hunt will play Beethoven's Sonata in C Minor, tho Prelude iu C Sharp Minor, by'KachmanioiT, Schumann's "In Der Nacht," Chopin's Ballado in A Flat, and tho "Caprice Espagnol" by Jloskowski. Mr. Herbert Bloy's numbers will be tho Andante and Finale from the Mendelssohn Concerto, the celebrated "Devil's Trill" by Tartini, Wieniawski's "Legcnde." and the "Fantasia Appassionata" by Vicuxtemps. The vocalist of the evening, Miss Agnes M. Segrief, will conribnte Mcrcadante's "Ah Scstinto Ancor Jli.Vuoi," and "The Spirit's Song" by Haydn. A full house is expected. Those'who ha\o not yet secured tickets will be able to obtain thorn at tho doors to-night.