ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE HUGH WARD COMPANY The Opera House- contained a largo and merry audience last night, when the clever farcical comedy, "The Girl from Rector's," was staged for the tenth and last timo of the Hugh Ward Company's present season. / . • . "THE-FENCING MASTER." To-night "The Fencing Master." will be prouuccd for the first time. The play is a powerfully-written comedydrama by Herbert Hall Window, and has earned highly eulogistic notices from tho Australian press. Mr. AVard will be seen in an entirely new environment, which ritforils unequalled scope for tho display of his inimitable talent as a character actor. He will impersonate an Italian nobleman broken in fortune through tragic circumstances and forced to flee to the United States, where he becomes a fencing master. Tho old aristocrat is accompanied into exile by his son, in whom his fondest hopes are centred. The I son falls in love with a beautiful heiress. A rival appears and trumps up a oharge of forgery against the young lover, and as the plot is skilfully unfolded tho old fencing master discovers the father of the designing rival is his own life-long adversary, who brought about bis ruin. Miss Grace Palotta, as the heiress, has a most congenial part, and the other members of the company are all admirably cast and afforded the opportunity of displaying their versatility. THEATRE ROYAL. There is plenty of variety in this week's vaudeville programme at the Theatre Royal. Yaldare and Yarno are trick cyclists o£ quite uncommon skill. It is hard to imagine more difficult feats in their own lino than thoso which they achieve- with apparent ease. . The Royal Sisters are a pair of dainty children, whoso performances are highly appreciated. Ardell, the equilibrist, gives the audience plenty of thrill, and other meritorious performers are Charles Reeves, the Two Rosebuds, Gortie. Johns, Will Robey, Rupert Christie, arid Ward Lear. The programmo will be repeated to-night. i KING'S PICTURES.' The King's Theatre was crowded last evening, when the weekly change of programme was given. "Over Silent Paths," one of the most notable of tho new films, is a fine example of tragic melodrama as interpreted by the kinematograph. An old miner and his daughter livo alone on a. far western claim. A strange man steals upon the miner as he is fingering his largest nugget, kills him, and makes off. with the plunder. Tho girl, as' she digs her father's gravo, vows to find his murderer, whom she had not seen, and bring him to justice. She sets forth in: a. wagon for the long journey across tho desert, and in the course of it finds her father's murderer, who has lost his way and become almost mad with thirst. The girl revives s him, not knowing who ho is, invites him to accompany . her .in the wagon; and, whon lie falls in love with her, apparently returns his affection. They reach a settlomont on the- confines, of civilisation, and the man declares his passion. In doing so he reveals the nugget stolen from her father, which she recognises.' The girl conceals her sudden revulsion, manoeuvres round the man until she is ablo to snatch tho revolver from his belt,' and then forces him to go before the sheriff, who causes him to be arrested for the crime. "Buffalo-hunting in Indo-China" is another very fine film. Tho hunters go out on horses and: elephants, with a long train, of nativo "beaters." The buffalo, in this case, proves rather easy game, arid the elephants aro used to drag the body back to camp. Other admirablo films are "Tho Knot in the Plot" .. (dramatic), "Nick Winters" (comedy), and 1 "A Trip'to the Jcnolan Caves,. New South AVales" (scenic): The programmo will'bo repeated to-night, .'.']■ : ' >' : - ; HIS. MAJESTY'S. - -; ' Standing room, only was-tho rule-, last evening when the-new programme was introduced at His Majesty's Theatre. One ■of the most. attractive- of ;the - new films >sets forth a Ohild drama entitled- "Tho -Call of -tmvHeart;" The'central'6haraoleris a. rich' old. miser, who refuses to listen to the.appeals of.the .helpless ;and needy. A poor widowed mother is taken ill, and being near death she" instructs her little daughter to trust .Providence to. direct her, and pins a-note.to the child's dress telling of her mother's death. Tho child leaves, and : the mother dies. 'By somo strange disposition of fato the child is led to. tho house of the old. miser, whose conscience is aroused, and who takes her to his heart and. home. , "Race Day at Heliopolis" gives an excellent impression of horse'and camel racing at Cairo, tho contrasting costumes, of Europeans and natives being a picturesque, feature. Some remarkable bull-fight scenes are presented in '"Tontolini as a Toreador." "Knot in 'the Plot" is an-attractive love comedy, of which ithe scene is laid in tho Southern States of America. A swaggering cowboy and a grave and jealous Mexican are rivWs for the hand of "the belle of tho camp," a very charming coquette, and exciting incidents occur. Tho part of the girl, who makes a lot of trouble for herself by behaving in too pleasant a manner to both men, is unusually well noted. "Over Silent Paths" is a moving story of the American desert, "Buffalo Hunting" and."lslands of Lngoons" give excellent glimpses of life in foreign lands, and there is tho usual instalment of comic films. The programme.will bo repeated to-night. -, - STAR PICTURES. The pictures which are being exhibited this week at St. Thoinas's Hall, Newtown, by tho Star Picture Proprietary,, are decidedly interesting and attractive, and drew a well-filled house last evening. The dramatic ■ film entitled "Adventures in Golden Valley" was heartily applauded. Other pictures of merit qro "Gambling with Fate," "A Jump to Death," "The Land of' Eternal Summer," and "Picturesque ' Switzerland." This evening's receipts tire l to be handed over to the trustees of the Children's Hospital Fund. A special programme of new Pathe films, will bo submitted. ' ' . SKATING RINK. Skating enthusiasts were present in large numbers at' the Olympic Rink last, evening, arid proceedings 'were enlivened with spirited music from tho Olympic Baud. There are three. sessions daily, learners being admitted-at 6 p.m., but not after 7.30 p.m. SCOTTISH "INGLESIDE." The "ingleside" held last night by tho Scottish Lowland Society, in St. Peter's Schoolroom, Ghuznee Street, was a very enjoyable social occasion. There was a large attendance, and dancing, ' inusicj and cards made the hours pass pleasantly. Songs by Mrs. Collins and Mr.. T. Newton were encored, and the Highland dancing of little Miss Dnisy M'Lellan was enthusiastically received. Miss Hawthorn officiated as pianist, and Mr. James- Collins as M.C. Tho secretarial duties were in the hands of Mr. AV. A. Allan, and Mr. House attended to tho catering. Numerous members of the Highland Rifles and the Pipe Band were present in uniform, and the kilts were also worn by a number of other gentlemen. Tho president (Mr. A. B." Thomson), in a short speech of welcome, drew attention, to some of the advantages of membership in tho society.