ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 932, 27 September 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MOUNTEBANK DRAMATIC CLUB. "The Snowball," a comedy in throe acts by bydncy Urundy. Cast: Mr. John Thorncycroft ... Mr, A, 0. 0. Stoveils Mr. l'olix loatherstone ... ilr. Frank Lampeu . Air. Harold Prendergast , r ' , Mr. Bentley • Russell* Mr. Saunders Mr. Frank H. Woodward Mrs. leatherstono Miss Mollio Marshall Ethel lliss Lottio Ogbomo Penelope Miss ltuby Scott "The Snowball," one of tho earliest of oydney Grundy's, comedies, way bo said to have been written when, ho was serving his apprenticeshij) as a writer for the stage. Its fabric is just a trifle thin in the supports, yet in tho hands of clover people it can bo made a very amusing entertainment, and as it needs but u small oast and little scenery, it -enjoys , with the same author's "In Honour 6 reat popularity with amateurs, 'lhe Snowball" was produced by tho ■Mountebank Dramatic Glub last evening at tlio Concert Chamber, which at length boasts some semblance to a stago. 'lho club has some' splendid material, and is quite capable of, giving delightful performances, but the element of uncertainty a,nd hesitancy brought about a somewhatunsteady opening,,which wore off to some 'extent as the comedy , proceeded,, and some of tho characterisations quito .redeemed the performance from . the mediocre, Mr. Ji'rank Lampen was particularly happily cast as Mix featherstgjie, who gets into a: regular stow of compromise in an endeavour to work off >-• a simple joke. His personality-.is. nicely suited to such roles, : and his fino comedy sense is nover at fault. Another highly creditable performance was that of Miss Buby Scott as Penelope, the demure housemaid, who, in tho whirl of petty intrigue between • her master and mis- ■ tress, becomes autocratic, without knowing the why or wherefor of anything that is going on. Miss Scott made Penelopa quite ' an. attractive young person, ' and acted ' with brightness .-and ■ aplomb. Mr. A. C. 'C."Stevens was well, cast as John- Thorneycroft, ■ and ' Mr. Bontley Eussoll filled all requirements as -Harold Prendergastv, Miss Mollio MarshaU looked 1 quite charming as Mrs; 1' eatherstono, but: was. inclined. to commune with' herself,. and speak in a manner altogether tpo subdued .for the matr iS person , impersonated. / Miss Lottie v Ogborne was iucely_in the picture ■ as' Ethel, and Mr. F. H. Woodward made . an excellent Saunders. • •/'Tho'Snowball/' which will'bo 'fepeated ' , was followed by the comedietta Diamond Cut • Diamond/' a : brightlyconceived little triiie, smartly playod by .Miss .Ogborne and Mr. Lampen.. JOHNSON JCETCHELL PIGH'I; /The Johnson-Ketchell fight pictures at- ■ tracted another '.largo audience to tho Upera House * last- evening; One thing' is made evident in every , fight' picturo that" has been shown in Wellington, .that is piei growing tendency, tq . get into clinches,' and there practise ; the-.artificial ..trickery. tL rl^ 2-^" in-fighting, instead of.the . free : open' advance and retire style of fighting which tho giants of the ring ■ in other days Sometimes tho men-are m clinches for qnite/a third of 1 duriug which time thero is t little or nothing for the 1 public to see, 1 however closely they watch. Tot twelve' i to twenty rounds ia the limit '" of latteri day fightk whereas the old-time pugil- '' ists went |into the ring prepared: to thump " and be thumped for fifty or sixty rounds. -there are -several very lively, bouts in p the Johnsbn-Eetcholl fight as pictured,' ■ and,the,end, where Johnson springs from I the floor (where he is being counted out) 1 and floors ICetchell with a terrific blow, is dramatic enough to please the taste of tho keenest ring-sider. .., . . ;A fin® lot of'pictures; of miscellaneous, interest are -produced apart • from 'the fight. film.-\ 'The -King of the Ring,"';a dramatic picture, deals strangely enough with boxing. ; A young! man away from V home has developed sporting tastes - and ; becomes a very lino athlete, attributes •i which make no appeal to his father, who' { turns him from his door. ; Subsequently t the old man Is . threatened with ruin, and . ,has to humble, his pride to write to his' ~ son for assistance. -Tho-; young man re-' ■ ,coiyjss;yth'6 - letter? 'on tho day on *'which he is matched to -fight' a notorious boxing...champion for '25,000 dollars. - Ho !- .writes to his father to call at tho club' 'at .10 p.m'.; and he will-be h'anded 'the . money he requires.'- The fight comes off— •* and -the' hero-_wins, ;of-course," and .the • end is reconciliation and joy.- Other good pictures'.furnisli .a. programme -of great; interest. '- ■ - ' : • -THI(ATRE ROYAI,. • • - i" . -There, was,-again, a- large ■ audience, at |the. Theatre Royal last night, .when,\tho :• usual .weekly change of programme, iwiig ■ -presented by : the management. Tho /'star"' attraction.' of this splendid 'prb- .. gramme undoubtedly is Mr. Nat' Clifford; whose merry patter and eccentric 'dancing .quite .took-the house,.by .storm; . His • scene depioting an / eseaped convict from. Dartmoor-is a powerful pieceof work.; His other" numbers,: "You, You; 'You,". ■"The Grand Hotel," and liis serio-comic ; -sketch "Mr. Poverty," evoked much ap- . -plausa. _i'Mastar ' -Bernard' . M'Cormick -made his first professional appearance last: night, scoring" a great hit-with'his rendering'- of ; "Harrigan." In her two' special numbers, :; "Wilhelmiria"' and "Sin- : cerity," the- fttvonrite;; lyric soprano/ Madame Blanche Carelli, wa9 /encored, when she gave "Killarney" in : a , most . pleasing;, jiianhei;:- ;• That, popular duo, '.The Gibson Girls,"'quite captivated tho : audionce l 'with -their ' pretty songs '' and clever - dancing.,,; 1 The '"Grand. Minstrel' 1 .' .first part", l included among others Misses NeUie leslie, Beattie M'jDonald,-Nellie Paul, Messrs. Bob and Les Soott, Chas. Lund, and Jack ICnowles, the whole concluding • .with;. Scott Gibson, the —olever'l Scotch comedian, ~ whose two clever songs, V'-Cluskey"- 'and :"Tam o' ' Shanter," evoked much enthusiasm.' The same'propamine will be-repeated to-night and following evenings throughout the-week. . . • • KING'S THEATRE. ,v.l The attractive programme of, pictures at the King's Theatre will be repeated tonight, and a complete change of pro-; ; gramme: is announced. for - to-morrow ■ : night.' There is matter to suit all tastes. . in the programme at the King's, and the : views. entitled, "With the Territorials," . and "A Regatta -on the Mekong" ai-o . especially popular. .. ,' HIS MAJESTY'S'THEATRE. , ' . - The excellent'programme which' is .being presented at His Majesty's Theatre is at.traetinj large , audiences, -'and the film describing the martyrdom of ■ Adolph ■ Book, who was wrongly imprisoned and received King Edward's pardon, - is well' well- worth seeing. The present pro- . gramme will be jepeiited for .tho last time this evening, a new-programme being arranged'for. to-morrow night. ; ~ .: STAR PICTURES. Notwithstanding ' counter . attractions, - St. Thomas's.-' Hall, Newtown, was: well filled.last evening, on- the occasion of-the usual weekly change of Star pictures, dramatic, scenic and oomic pictures being well ropi'esented. Of, tho dramatic pictures, the most attractive item thrown upon. the sheet was "Mary, the Coster Gii'l." Pictures showing this side .of life were also represented by "A Tale of the Baokwoods," "The Tyrant of Jerusalem and Marie Antonette," The customs and manners of the Chilluks, an-impor-tant tribe in South Africa,. were descril> ed per medium of an excellent scenic film of great beauty. The scenic part of the progr'ammo also included a picture of particular excellence in "The Fete at the lluins." Comics were not forgotten in this new programmo. "How Bertio Won His Bride," "A Now Divorce Cure," and "Woman's Wit" evoking much laughter. The programme will be repeated every evening throughout tho week. OLYMPIA .RINK. 1 Patrons of tho winter pastime of skating continue to throng nightly to ~ tho Olympia Rink,"although the summer is fast approaching. Yesterday all sessions were woll attended. Quite a large number of' learners attend tho rink daily, and the management provide special facilities for beginners anxious to become proficiont. ,

To-morrow evening, in St. Peter's Schoolroom, tho unnual danco of tho Poneke Football Club will bo held at 8 ,

. LECTUEE ON ASTRONOMY. , On, Thursday next a popular lecture Will bo given in the. Town Hall (Concort Chamber) on "Astronomy,'' by Eev. Dr. Kennedy, F.fI.A.S. Tho leoture is in aid of tho Observatory Fund, and the box plan is on viow at Lankshear's, Lambton Quay. Tho annual suioko, concort of the Southern Football. Club will bo held in the Hotel, Windsor to-morrow evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. All members, supporters, and friends are cordially invited. At Wainui-Ormata -Schoolroom on Saturday ovoning last a very enjoyable concort and danco was given to the residents of the valley by the "wharo anglers." In a short address of welcome, Mr. Frank Dyer, tho oldest Wainui fisherman, traced tlio growth of tho settlement back for a period of twenty-seven years. Dancing, interspersed,with songs, was tlio order of the evening, itoms bfring contributed by Messrs. Wiffon, Scott, Tingey, Carroll, -Hendry, and Blick. The succcss of the evening, was in a large mcasuro- duo to the efforts of Messrs. Soutor, Garfield, - and Wiffen. At ■ the close of tho proceedings a hearty,' vote 'of thanks was accorded the visitors on tho motion of Mr. Burdan.