ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 970, 10 November 1910, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

fr HIS MAJESTY'S. Not only was every seat in the. auditorium at His Majesty's Theatre filled last evening but upwards of one hundred people were accommodated on the stage behind the. screen. The change programme submitted was good in every particular. So well balanced in point of merit were tho various pictures that it is a little difficult to single out the best. In a fine series of.dramatic studies one of tho best was that entitled "The Vestal." It is a story of early Borne. In the opening scene a young Boman captaiu is seen bidding his lover farewell as he leaves her to engage in some warlike enterprise. During his absence the high priest of the Temple of Vesta Jails in love with the girl, deceives her by a false story that her lover is dead, and induces her to enter his temple. The later_ scenes nre dramatic. The young warrior, returning, assembles his comrades and endeavours to carry off his lady by force. At first he is defeated and driven out of the temple, but returns with reinforcements in time to save the maiden from a terrible death at tho hands of the angry priests. Of quite another order is a picture called "A Cowboy s Stratagem." It is a comedy drama of Western flavour. Lumbering in British Columbia is finely illustrated in a picture which shows the fall of trees in the forest, the hauling of logs on skidways to the river, and their progress to the mill, where, by the aid of various giant appliances, they are handled like fo many chips. Other good pictures are Wilful Peggy," a romance of the early days in Ireland, "Heart of a Sioux," a breezy prairie drama, with a strong love interest, nnd "Italian Cuirassiers," a splendid film showing tho Italian Royal buards engaged in various daring feats of horsemanship. In "The Melbourne Cup of 1910," tha great Australian sporting event is clearly pictured, and the accompanying pictures of the ' lawn, stands and paddocks are full of interest. 'Her First Long Dress" is a picture cast m lighter vein. A yo-ung lady pestered by would-be lovers is relieved of their impertinent attentions by her brother, who masquerades in feminine garb and carries dismay and disaster into the ranks of tho gay cavaliers. "Foolshead in a Bank" is quite as funny as in previous escapades. The programme will be repeated this evening.

TEEATKE ROYAL. The new programmo at the Theatre Royal is promising to become one of the most popular staged'by Messrs. Fullers for some considerable time. Last evening quite a. holiday audience assembled, and, judging by the frequent applause, vera delighted with the bill. The reappearance of Harry Sadler is the star item. He drew prolonged applause in his inimitable "I'm always Doing Something Silly," and to the encore gave several excellent numbers. Miss Cicile Stephano,. sang "High as the . Stars anil Peep as the San in good style; .Mr.George Dean, the well-known descriptive character vocalist, gives highly diverting sketches of the final scenes in the different classes of dramas. Miss Berl Gilman's singing of "Tell Me" and "A Faded Picture" met with its usual success. Mr. J. 11. West's daring aerial feats of balancing arc very skilfully carried out, and given strong approval by those present. Other good turns ate those of Mr. T. Vivian, Horace Dentico, and Nellio Searle. To-morrow night is set down as an "Amateur Trial Night," when local artists aspiring to vaudeville honours .will have an opportunity of bringing forward tiieir claims.

WEST'S ROYAL PICTURES. The spacious King's Theatre accommodated an overgrown holiday "house" last evening, when accommodation 6tood at a premium. There was no question as to the quality of the programme, which is always of a pretty even quality at this' favoured picture palace. / Admirers of scenery were enchanted by an excursion up-the classic Nile, whose placid waters sustain a nation and save a country from denudation by the sand fiend. It was indeed beautiful to watch tho graceful dhows, with their great foresails, floating ''dreamily up tho great broad, river, past ancient palaces and fortresses, which gleam staring white in the African sunlight. The cataracts were, shown stormilyV noisily over their stony beds, tho Granite Islands rose clean and clear from the quiet tide, and now and again a picturesque palm grove gave a pootio I touch to tho changing scene. This picture may be classed among the best scenic. views ever shown in Wellington. The strongest dramatic picture camo, as usual, from the American Biograph Company's studio. It was entitled "The Usurer," and most probably had its genesis in Bernard Shaiv's play. "Widowers' Houses." The leading part, anyway, is a prototype of Sartorious, and he'rackrents his tenants with the same relentlessness and as his agents forgot all traces of humanity, Sartorious himself is shown at a. winc-bibbing orgy. ■ Retribution conies at last. He is in his strong room looking over his rent vouchers, when one of his women victims, who comes to beg for time to pay her rent, falls against a table, which accidentally closes the strong-room door. Sartorions realises his position at once, cries for help in vain, end after a long struggle seeks solace in a cigar, but to his horror the match hums feebly, and then goes out. Only, then does he-realise what is happening— that.the air is becoming exhausted. Ho struggles again, only to fall exhausted into a swoon, from, which he never awakes. "The Flag of Company H" is another stirring dramatic picture, in which a wonderfully-trained dog plays an important part. Smart Max Linder appears in a clever comedy, entitled "The Boxer," which is one of Hie best things he has done. Other good pictures include the Melbourne Cup of last Tuesday week.

STAR PICTURES. . The Star Picture programme was discontinued last evening owing to the hall being required for other purposes. Tonifrht, however, the entertainment will be given again as usual, and continued throughout tho week.