ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1004, 20 December 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

.. • — 1 ♦— —— - "THE DOLLAR PRINCESS." It-is-possible- that. New Zealand is going to follow tho example of Australia in regard.to its appreciation of "The Dollar Princess." The musical play is said to have so much that is new to recommend it—delightful music, a thoroughly interesting story, elaborate costuming, and a particularly strong interpreting cast. As Harry Q. Condor, the American multi-millionaire, Mr. Bert Gilbert hasj it is said, a part .that- entirely suits his, stylo of humour. Mr; Herbert Clayton and Mr. Frank Greene have important singing and acting part", as have also Sir. W. S. Percy and Mr. Victor Prince. Of the ladies, Miss Florence Young, Miss Olive Godwin, and Miss Lottie Sargeant aro three names in the musical comedy world to conjure with. A special feature of the New Comic Opera Company is the excellence of its orchestra, which assumes, it is said, almost opera proportions, and is splendidly conducted ,by Mr.. Fritz Hart. The season of t.'uo Now Comic Opera is scheduled for 18 jiights, "Tho Dollar Princess"- will bo staged for the first six nights, and'will Ira followed by "Tho Waltz Dream," "Tho ■ Merry. Widow," and "A Knight for a Day.' "The Dollar Princess," when "The Merry Widow" was withdrawn from Daly's Theatre in London, was the worthy successor there. Leo' Fall's haunting music is said to be.most appealing and convincing light opera scoring. Seldom has such a collection of beautiful -and up-to-duto gowns bccru seen in Australia.

THEATRE ROYAL. Probably no better programme has been seen at the Theatre Royal for some time than that .which Fullers' v audeville' Com-' pany presented last night. The principal new attractions were 'the items of Martinetti and Grossi, freak musicians, and Miss Nada Moret,i,who.combines comedy business with sentimental singing. From the time they appeared until their final exit, Martinetti and Grossi held the .attention of the ■ audience with their extremely novel'music playing. Every article of furniture on the stage. proved to bo a musical instrument. Some fine bellringing was ' heard in the opening and then a figure of Salome was .'changed into a skeleton from which harmonious strainswere produced.. Next: a bicycle was dissected and the handle became a Ante, the lamp" a trumpet, the seat a violin with but one string, while a pot plant was made to play the part of 'cello and on the two last-named instruments the performers completed a capital turn with the playing of a beautiful duet "Roses Bring Dreams of You." Nada Moret made some very clever hits in a character medley and then proved herself tho possessor of a sweet voice by her singing of . "Annie Mine," a piece ,of- her own composition. There were some, dramatic toucfes.in the sang, which is written- round a military Incident at Dargai, in .which the Gordon Highlanders played a prominent part. The turn-was very well received and *the artist was recalled. That popular and clever comedian, Mr. Nat Clifford,' introduced new items last night, including "The Living Picture," "At the Gate," a coon burlesque song and daifte, and "The Burglar and the Moon," and by special request he repeated "The Costermonger's Romance." The artist was again splendidly received and the audience persistently recalled him, but on account of .the lateness of the hour, the house had to derive satisfaction from the, four items, which Mr., Clifford rendered in ! his best style. Other contributors to the '• pro : ' gramme; included the Anderson trio, ;who did some clever and amusing w-ork with the boxing gloves; Miss Beryl Gilmah, who had to respond to an encore for-her singing of "Dear Heart"; Mr. E. Martin, coon.bass;.the two Rosebuds; Miss 'NelV ;lie Searie; and Miss Lily. Th' 6 programme Will be repeated to-night 'and during tho remainder of the week. .

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ; The approach of the holiday season, was: evidenced last evening at' His Majesty's I Theatre,' by the crowding' of every sec- J tion-.of the building, for the; first, iion-of. a, neiy programme. The selection, of- films' presented was the.-variety and-, excellence of "fhc ' scenio subjects. .The., first picturo put on the screen -was an interesting series of views of "lJeligious. Fetes in Thibet.'.'' Processions, of-priests, young; and old,' clad. in quaint'flowing robes, .pass before the camera on their, way. to tho temple, and appear later visiting- the Dalai Laraa. Two long films are devoted to depicting Oriental, life. . The first deals with Ceylon, shows types of Cingalese: natives, and .gives a'clear, idea of-the usefulness!', of the elephant as. well. The huge beasts are seen carrying trunks of heavy trees .ahd loads of. brushwood with the'greatest ease. Another interesting scene is provided by a nuniber.-of elephants taking their morn- . ihg bath. The city of Madras is graphically set forth in another eastern' picture. The; onlookers are - taken . through , the' ■ .streets, city - markets, and bazaars;' "in which crowds 1 of natives of bewilderingly numerous type, pass quickly in a living panorama. The l-eligioiis enthusiasm- of Eastern is again strikingly illustrated, in ' this film,' by a view of-the crowds going up to the temple for the daily prayer.-' The "star" item of the 'scenic subjects, is a continuation of-the views -of 'Sydney- shown last week.'- - A Magnificent .viow 'of tho harbour with numbers of busy.ferry boats flitting across its surface, panoramas of the.; city and suburbs,'surf bathing at Manly!" campers at. Freshwater, and crowds of: sightseers at tile numerous bays around'the' harbour enable those present to form an idea of -life in the New South Wales capital. Several . well-screened '- dramas form a pleasing section of' the' programme. The subject of a very clear .film' is scenes from Goethe's famous tragedy ' "Faust." Another dramatic film tells a story of the ! days of Napoleon. The Emperor, on his 'escape from the-little island ofElba, .which had been assigned him as an "empire" by the Treaty of Fontainebleau,-in 1814, returns to France at the head of a small party of grenadiers. He'-takes up his headquarters at a woodman's cottage, and desires to send a. message ,to one of his faithful retainers,, a 'Colonel at Grenoble. The woodman's' little son volunteers to carry , the . message!, and, on receiving • the letter, secretes' himself in a load of wood which is going to Grenoble. On the way an inquiring French sentry prods with his bayonet the load-under which the-lad is concealed, and wounds him, but. fails to evoke' a cry. . On reaching the city • the plucky boy safely delivers the message, ■and, upon his return, is'rewarded by the ! Emperor,, and sees, as the 'result of his effort—Napoleon once more at the head of an army. The theme of Moore's pathetic poem, "Loves, of the. Angels" is weir told by anothiir good dramatic picture. The usual number of. "comics" have their' place on the programme, and, judging by tjio hearty laughtcr.which they provoke, are highly appreciated.

, THE ICING'S .THEATRE...... , Although the mail connection robbed the management of the King's Theatre of tho opportunity of. presenting its latest new programme last evening, the large reserve stock of films enabled an entirely new,bill to bo produced. The selection of pictures was distinctly attractive, and the audience showed its appreciation of the fare in no uncertain manner; Probably the best of the productions was-that representing a gala day at Henley-on-Yarra. The start and finish of several four-oared, and eight>oarcd races, and the manoeuvring of the horde of elaborately-decorated boats and launches made a whole which was interesting and' refreshing. Hydraulic sluicing was, a picture which appealed to 'the house, and gave an' excellent idea of this branch of industry. Other Australian pictures' showed R.M.S. Zealandia leaving Sydney wharf, and ; the handling of a record wheat shipment. On the comic side, "Tho Cripples' Race" provided the bulk of the amusement, but it was closely followed by "Father's' Baby Boy." Tho other items on the programme were' all heartily applauded. This-.evening, latest new programme will be produced.

STAR PICTURES.. There was an. exceptionally large attendance at the Star Pictures 'last evening on the occasion, of tho weekly chango 'of programme. The pictures ■ screened were well selected, and >■ were also .. well received by. patrons. SdSrie very .- good scenic studies are included in the programme, tho chief, amongst theso being 'Scenes on the Border of the Sahara Desert" and "The'C-anadian Rockies." The dramatic studies . are exceptionally- bright and entertaining." "lii the Claws of the Revolution" is a powerful. stoYy of tlio terriblo times-in'France in 1793, and of a daughter's sacrifice to save her father 1 from the guillotine. "Tho. Sleepwalker"'" .ia another- good dramatic .study, with ■ a

rather unusual setting/'"The' best 'picture of this section of the programme, however, is "His Last Duel!" -A father and soutile father an officer of Napoleon's Grand. Army and his son a Royalist —fight a duel without, recognising cacli, other until the father is lying mortally wounded. "The Man Hunt is a Wild West picture of a very, sensational order. The comic section is not neglectcd. There swill ho no performance to-night on account of the hall being otherwise engaged, but the present programme will be put on again on' Wednesday night. '

LAWRENCE CAMPBELL. ' The advent of M. Eugene Ossinoff, with. Mr. L. CampUcll, is looked forward to •with expectation and curiosity, on', account of his style, I 'which could almost be terintd "copyright." He has been most successful- in Sydney lately. Lawrence Campbell comes with a very high' reputation as an elocutionist. His training in London at the Polytechnic School, in the hands , of. the best masters and teachersof tho profession, has. it is stated, produced a most .finished and brilliant .exponent oi the aft.

' OPEN AIR PICTURES. On Boxing Night, at the Athletic Paris, Wests and Royal. Pictures will give an open air .entertainment in', the Athletic Park. Open air pictures are very popular in Australia, and this new departure of Wests and Royal Pictures' management will no doubt meet with hearty ap-proval-from picture-lovers. To.adjl variety to the entertainment'at this.seas°o. of the year, the management Jiave decided to give a fireworks display. A full brass band has been' engaged, and the prices of admission- will grandstand one shilling, and to the. ground sixpence.

' SCHOOL.CONCERT. > " The annual concert, of the Eastbourne Public School, hold on Saturday evening,, proye<l a,s u cces S ..ln.theirc.diojisongs and other items. the pupils captured the ap-. preciation of their audience, Miss'Haslam, assistant mistress, being " responsible for ,wh;\t niust have-been"a -very >-fine training. An effective item, in which' nearly all the pupils" engaged, was an action song based on'nurSery rhymes of ,™ standing. A boy or- girl placed an illustrative part in- each- rhyme as it was reached in : the.,song,- ; and all the parts .were'capitally borne. . Another good item : was an exhibition of dumb-bell drill given by the senior boys and girls. It. was done in almost perfect, unison. Graceful additions to the programme were contributed by the pupils of Miss Tabuteaii, who an- ; peared in "The Ribbon Dance", and "THe Cachuca." Assistance was lent the children, by Messrs. E. W. Grant, R. ' Ei Kcenan and E. B.' Short., Mr. 'Grant is a clever amateur comedian and Mr. Kcenan proved _ himself an. elocutionist of pfir^s.A series.of excellent' selections was played by the Eastbourne Orchestra under the leadership of Mr. J. Morris.