ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 881, 29 July 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MACMAHON'S PICTURES. "Tho Kelly Gang" and other pictures of equal interest continue to attract largo audiences to the Opera House. The interest attaching to these old-timo Victorian bushrangers is extraordinary, and the pictured portrayal of their wild career is followed with breathless interest. Only three more performances avo to bo given, including a matinee tomorrow afternoon. THEATRE ROYAL. The vaudeville- entertainment providod by tho Fuller Proprietary at the Theati" Royal again attracted a numerous audieuco lost evening, and recalls were frequent. The clever acrobatic aud contortion act of the Eogers Quartet mot wilh considerable! favour, and the diminutive clown of tho troupe claimed special applause for his amusing antics. Ward Lear provoked laughter with his coon songs and witticisms, while the Colenian .Sisters sang and danced with their usual attractiveness. Keilderson, tho quickchange artist, Rupert Christie, the boy soprano, and Rimtu and Mee worn nlsr, successful. The company will appear u.t tho footlights again this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Tho picture boom continues, and the excellent change of programme presented this week at His Majesty's Theatre drew a crowded house last evening. The film "Isabella of, Aragou," interwoven as it is with- its romantic, dramatic, and tragic situations, is a picture worth seeing. Tho acting throughout is good, and the costumes worn are on a superb scale.' "Scenes Round Boberg" contain beautiful glimpses if Danish scenery, while the l'luvioso disaster is also screened, showing views of tho French submarine, which recently collided with another boat and sank, causing the death of her crew of twenty-seven men. The pictures arc well diversified, the humorous class being of a decidedly entertaining character. They will be 'screened again this evening. KING'S THEATRE. The King's Theatre was crowded last evening for the second display of the new change of programme, which is full of interesting and amusing kinematograph films. A dramatic legend by a wellknown French writer was admirably portrayed in a picture, entitled "The Brido of a Haunted Castle." The colouring and setting wero exquisite, and tho picture evoked much applause. Another appealing dramatic film was "The Gold Seeker," which is full of exciting incident. Other appreciated films were:— "An Embarrassing "Hunting Wolves in Russia," "The Hand of Fate,' "C'alino at the Bar," etc. The programme will again be presented this evening. SKATING RINK. . The popularity of rinking is'evidenced by the largo uumboi- ol patrons now visiting the Olympia daily. The floor was taxed to its full capacity yesterday. There are daily sessions, .2.30 to 5 p.m., 6 to 7 p.m., and 7.30 to 10 p.m., with an extra session on Saturday mornings between 10 and Vi a.m. "THE GIRL FROM RECTOR'S." The prospect of a new comedy always excites pleasurable anticipation among a host of theatregoers, especially when it is associated with the name of Mr. Hugh J. Ward, which is so pleasantly reminiscent of "A. Bachelor's Honeymoon," "The Man from Mexico," and other amusing productions. "The Girl from Rector's," to be staged for the first time on Monday, 'at the Opera House, by Mr. Ward's Comedy Company, has everywhere attracted audiences that have tested the capacity of tho various theatres where it has been produced. The play is an adaptation from .the French; though cleverly Anglicised, or, more strictly speaking, Americanised, since tho sceno "is laid in New York. The situations in "The Girl from Rector's" are laughable, tho dialogue is smart and crisp, and the action never flags. The excellence of the acting is a feature of the production. The names, indeed, of many of tho members of Mr. Ward's company are a sufficient guarantee to that' effect. Tho staging of Ibe piece will be on a very complete scale, and the costuming cannot fail to interest an important section of the audience. The box plans for six performances are on view at the Dresden. ■

MAORI ENTERTAINMENT.. Tho Town Hall was crowded again last evening, when the Jlaori entertain; racnt, consisting of songs, quartets, poi dances, and hakas, was repc.-vtt:! with great success. A new feature of the entertainment was tho contribution of, tho Boy Scouts, who gave a practical demonstration of brush-hut building, ambulance work, bugle-blowing, and-signalling. Mr. E. J. Hill's singing of "Waiata Poi," assisted by a troup of clever poi dancers (from Otaki), led by Guide Maggie Papakura, was a feature of the evening, and had to be repealed. During the , evening, Mr: H. N. Holmes, secretary of the Y.M.C.A., expressed his cordial thanks for the assistance that had been given by the Hew, Fred. Bennett, of Rotorua, tho Hon. A. T. Ngata', and his Maori friends from different parts. So great had been the success of the entertainments that it had been decided that a , final entertainment would be given in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, in aid of tho mission work at Otaki and Kotorua, when he hoped to see the*hall even more crowded than it then was.

. LIFE IN RUSSIA. ' -On Sunday evening in His Majesty's Theatre, Courtenay Place, a lecture will bo given, dealing with economic, industrial, and political life.in Russia, by Mr. IV SI. Koonin. 8.A., F.Z.S. Mr. Koonin is lecturing ior the purpose of placing the truth before the British public, with the object of enlisting sympathy for his down-trodden brothers. SUNDAY CONCERT. The Wellington Professional Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr. Herbert Bloy, will hold its next concert on Sunday next, in the Town Hall. The programme includes the. exquisite overture to "Raymond" (Thomas), Grand Fantasia from Gounod's "Faust," the .overture to "Oberon, , . 1 and the. "Yeomanry Patrol," by Mr. W. 11. Squire (first public performance in New Zealand), with vocal items by leading artists. ORPHANS CLUB. Tho next function of the Orphans Club will be held on Saturday evening. A. programme of unusual excellence, comprising vocal, recital, and musical items, will be submitted for the entertainment of "Orphans." The Hon. J. G. Findlay, K.C., will be "Most Orphan" for tho evening, and will supplement the. evening's enjoyment by contributing a short lecturette on some favourite topic. _ The orchestra, under tho baton of Mr. H. Bloy, have prepared bvo very fine selections, i BENEFIT SOCIAL. •. ' Tho members and friends of tho Wellington Naval Artillery Volunteers held ii successful social gathering at the Boat Shed last evening, in aid of Gunner Payne, who has been incapacitated through serious illness. The attendance was large, and the proceedings were of an cnjoyablo na,ture. Interspersed with the dances, musical items were given by liugler Tavendale, Master ami Miss Armstrong, and several of the crew from H.M.S. Pioneer. Miss Hawthorno presided at tho piano, and tho arrangements for tho evening were in the hands of Gunner J. Sinclair, secretary. "PRINCESS CHRYSANTHEMUM." The young people of St. James's Presbyterian Church, Newtown, gave a bright and interesting performance of the operetta, "Princess Chrysanthemum," in tho Library Hall, Wellington South, last evening. The entertainment, which will be repeated this evening, is in aid of the noiv Sunday School Building Fund, in connection with St. James's Church.

Mrs. Orr-Loring. tho Dunrtlin vocalist, who is about: to visit Australia, bus arranged, to give ft vocal recital in the Concert Chamber on. Friday next,