ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 913, 5 September 1910, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"ALADDIN." "Aladdin" ran its courso at the Opera House on Saturday before crowded audiences. Tlioro was never a break ,iii tho flowing 'tide 'of .admiration with which the gorgeous scenes of tho pantorairao were followed as they 'appeared in quick-changing succession. Itegarded merely as a spectacle, "Aladdin" is. of the first rank, and tho lively lines of its. running dialoguo is at all points bright and cleverly sustained. ' But there are in addition many attractive items more or - less loosely connected with the central- theme, which add greatly to the beauty, and charm of the pantomime. The musical numbers, 'are varied, and each has its : individual claim to recognition. One of tho prettiest of-all'is. the-song, "Can't You See I. Love; .Yon," .sung-by Aladdin to the Princess. Sliss Eaton's soprano voico is of,just the right quality .to give full and rich effect to the pretty air of gallantry, and Bliss Moore, as tho Princess, is an effective foil. "Trie' Shadow of the Pyramids" is a pure and flowing t melody, sung by. Miss Ericsbn with fine power and expression. The supporting chorus, too, is well up to .its work and greatly, heightens the effect. . Of quite another order, but equally successful,: is the'.song ""Taxes," contributed .by: ,Messrs.",'Phydoren .and Campbell. _ It is,a comical patter, item, full of pointed local, allusions" that, provoke abundant laughter... In ".tho various' ballets many clever, dancers engage, but ..-:pridb . of, place hero belongs to Miss J\..Sutherland, tho solo:dancer,',.'. She. merits every demand of .her graceful art,-, with'agile, dexterity,, and !lier performance at all times lends .meaning to the phraso that dancing is the .poetry of motion. Amid the wealth of .scenes that the.panto-' mime..- presents it -is difficult to ■ select any dominant in point of beauty, but -one that was particularly well..receiyed was t-hb:'-'Australian'. Bird v Ballet." In this there is a setting of pretty bush scenery, in"which.the. dancers appear: clad ,irl-the plumage of ,Australian„jbir.ds,' : Black swans, emus, lyre "birds, parrots, cockatoos; and-.the. resplendent, bird of paradise,mingle: and produce a'strjkihg. effect. A little troop of juveniles, clad as -parrakeets, Join prettily ..with their bigger; contemporaries. -There is again a lovely, display in- the-.chrysanthemum 'fete. This takes. the. : form of. a grand march, - with,; many -: beautiful flowers carried aloft in an harmonious display. Tho culminating tableau is , a feast., of. colour. '.- . •-'■-. '.' .; ': ■ -'..'.-.

1 1.The-pantomime will be. again staged, this evening and on following On' Wednesday a matinee performance will be given. ■..: ■-.■■.■ .':,....',.. ; Box-? plans ■ for the,last; seven-nights of tho.pantomime'and for.the Wednesday and Saturday matinees will. open this morning at: the Dresden. ■ V ' y; THEATRE ROYAL: - i ;"Fitz," the buckjuroping pony, r mado his final appearance at the Theatre' Royal" 1 on Saturday night,'amid, great applause. , All-comers, were invited to attempt riding him,, and tho ensuing competition evoked much .merriment. Mr. Harry Sadly:, sang somo new comic song's very acceptably.. and .a i-.umbsr of other clever people helped to make tho, evening pas's 'very pleasantly. A,com-, plete change of programme is announced for to-night.! j. ■' pi ,.', : ;;' RING'S 1 THEATRE. :'.''■.- :' .The/'matiiiee .at, the "King's"Ther.t-ro, on' Saturday, and.' the evening, display of West's and; Royal'. Pictures., were.' largely, attended. The! gramme includes, besides a surprising, variety of kinematograph films, some appropriate and w,ell-exccuted . orc))o3' 'tral music. The .whole entertainment will be repeated to-night, and the weekly change p'f programme \vill take place on Wednesday. ~.••',•<.. -• . ...!_■ .-,..' ■

' ; HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE'. ; . , A full house is the regular thing'at His Majesty's Theatre, where Messrs. John Fuller and Sons are running a'-' series of • high-class i picture entertainments. Matinee and evening exhibitions were given last-Saturday with the 1 greatest success,; to which the "Sym-. phony Orchestra''- was.; a substantial contributor. .The current programme,''which is a■ particularly, good'one', 'has' .three more nights to.run.-' ' STAR PICTURES. ■.. At St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, on Saturday evening, patrons of the Star Pictures had the last opportunity' of .witnessing the week's programme'. 'This form of amusement is a pleasing adjunct to,the social side of life in Newtown, as is evidenced by the patronage accorded.. -To-night a complete change of; programme is announced, .when., a splendid series' of 'pictures will bo shown. '■■';■ -' ■" '■ '",'..' -•'„;•" ..,;. SKATING/RINK. -'•'-,'■ Saturday was an : ideal day for skating, and opportunity 1 was .taken :to visit tho rink' in Vivian' Street by crowds of skaters. At-all' sessions the floor-space was filled ;by a happy gliding, throng,, proving -ithat this form, -of winter pastimo is "eagerly sought after by niimbfirs of the Wellington public, fho rink will be' 1 open as usual, to-day. ■ ■'■-.■ : . SUNDAY- CONCERT. ' Especially strengthened in numbers,, the . Wellington ..Professional Orchestra, an institution "of .which' Wellington might feel proud, gave'a very,, excellent concert last evening in the town Hall, which was crowded.to its utmost capacity. '.Under the able conductorship , of Mr., Herbert Bloy, ;tho .orchestra played the overture',, to Balfe's "Bohemian .Girl,'.' the admirable instrumental balanco, breadth of treatment, and precision in attack giving new life to'the charming airs, of tho old-time opera. It is, however,' a far cry from Balfo to the difficult music of .the Norwegian master, Grieg, whose justly celebrated and always, .welcome "Peer, Gynt", suite-was' .played,.by the. orchestra, . but in this difficult, work,..with., its bizarre, liar-; monies and subtle changes of key, the Professional Orchestra made an,excellent showing,. the .fine body of ..strings doing conspicuously good , work. ■'„• The final movement, .wildly .-grotesque! in character, with its gradual accelerando, was capitally managed. Another high flight was essayed, in that Wagnerian excerpt "The Ride of, the Valkyries," which would be improved with ' a stronger section of brass. It was a-fit-ting climax.to a very fine performance that redounds .to tho credit of .the orchestra and its. enthusiastic' conductor'. The soloist of, the. evening was Mrs. Orr-Loring, who, in excellent, yoico, sang "I Will, Extol Thee" (recitatiyc and aria), from "Eli,"and. the aria "Come Unto' Him," from , Handel's"Messiah." .... .■-■■■■ •■■•":

. BENEFIT CONCERT.;'- . . On ■ Thursday' evening next'there is to bo hold in. the Town Hall a concert in aid of the Brooklyn Children's Homo. Lord Islington will attend theconcert, and deliver a short address. Also, there will ,be items by. popular artists, and an action song by . tho children from tho homo, who have been carefully trained by Miss Stall. There- is a .work being done in. this homo by Mr. and Mrs. Mills amongst tho children under their care, which merits the sympathy of all interested in. tho welfare of the young generation. The main feature of this home is its "homeliness." The children attend the public school, and are in no way made conscious that they are being brought up differently from other children, and' bo are trained to.become citizens.