ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1007, 23 December 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■ —❖ r— . WILLIAMSON'S COMIC OPERA COMPANY. Mr. J. C. Williamson's New Comic Opera Company will appear at the Opera House on Monday next in Dr. Leo. Fall's charming comic opera "The Dollar Princess," which experienced a wonderfully successful run in both England and America. In England the modern musical play has been especially successful, it being now in its second year of continuous production at, Daly's Theatre in London, while Sydney and Melbourne playgoers are reported to have made the play in those centres an established success. That the present production under the J. C. Williamson management will be a fine exposition of elegant staging and up-to-date costuming practically goes without saying, alu: there can be little doubt that the company that is to nerform the opera is of the best, including as it docs Miss Florence Young, Miss Olive Godwin, Miss Lottie Sargent. Mr. Reginald Roberts, Mr. Langford Kirby, Mr. Herbert Clayton, Mr. Frank Greene, Mr. W. S. Percy, Mr. Victor Prince, Mr. Charles Albert, and Mr. Bert Gilbert. The performance 011 Monday evening will be under the patronage and in the presence of his Excellency the Governor and suite. The box plans are now open at the Dresden. On Saturday seats may be reserved till eight o'clock in the evening at the Dresden. •

• THEATRE ROYAL'. .. Th ®, of the programme at Theatre Royal this week has been responsible for big bouses. The company was strengthened last night, by Mr. Bob Harper, a comedian with a very pleasant voice. He sang a couple of songs in good style, and also scored with his dancing. -Hie Seyllcr Twins, a pah- of juveniles, that were making their first appearance at the theatre,' gained favour by their singing of .''Monkey Doodle Dandv." while their_dancing was marked.by precision. TVelcomc reappeaamc's " were mado by Tom Vivian, baritone, Miss Jessie Lee; serio, and Mr. Tim Howard, comedian, the last-named having to respond to several' encores. Other contributors to the first part were the Anderson Sisters and Miss Lily Loftns. The second part of the programme is a collection. of capital items, including Martinetti and Grossi, musicians, Nada Moret,_ entertainer, the Anderson Trio, and Nat .Clifford, .who will onlv appear for another couple of nights. On Monday next, Mr. Alf. Holt, an American vaudeville artist, will make his first appearance in Wellington. He is'spoken of as a mimic with a lively sense, of humour, and has received' tremendous receptions in Australia. The reappearance Peilros and the Gibson Girls is also announced.

s HIS. MAJESTY'S. The promise of an entire change of programme attracted a large attendance to His Majesty's Theatre last evening, and any reasonable anticipations' formed by patrons * must Have been amply satisfied by the splendid range of pictures screened. iMic star iilm —or one of them, for many were good, and it is difficult to discrimin- ■ entitled "Pride."' It illustrates the story of Nebuchadnezzar and his golden image. . The story is given a magnificent setting, and the thronging retinue of the great king is splendidly apparelled. The famous monuments - and stately public buildings of Palermo are effectively, presented in a film that, for all-round merit takes high rank among those of its class. 'Indian Haiders" is a , dramatic • picture •of • a character clearly indicated in its title. There, is, of course, a charming heroine, a liberal array of cowboys, Indians, and "United States cavalrymen, and a "bad man/' who provides the motive for an exciting chain of incidents. "Crossing the Equator 1 ' pictures lively incidents in on old-time sea cere-, mony that, will soon be altogether a thing of the past. In this case the antics or a part}' of negroes are associated with the customary , ; revels of King Neptune and his court. "The Foundling" is a tabloid drama chiefly remarkable for the impassioned acting of, the lady who, bears the. principal .part. She appears convincingly m the Tole of a wifo. cruelly ;deserted by a worthless husband, and put to desperate straits to provide for her infant child. Remarkable feats of horsemanship are portrayed in a film showing the guides of the Italian cavalry at expraise. "Rock Climbing in the Black Forest," apart from .the sensational climbing feats which it pictures, presents many beautiful vistas of mountain sc . en "J,- picture full of interest is one of cuttlefish in their native element. They are seen pursuing their prey, and exercising their peculiar power of discolouring the water in their neighbourhood, so as to evade pursuing enemies. The programme includes* an' amusing array of films of -the comic variety. The s.-ime pictures will be screened this evenin".

KING'S THEATRE. Broken weather did not'.prevent a full attendance of patrons at the King's : Theatre last evening, when an entire change of programme was screened. The selection of pictures was good- in every particular. Of the dramatic films one of , the finest was a. historical study, entitled "Henry of Lusignac." It details the story of a young cavalier who turned aside from the path'of duty for a moment, but gloriously expiated his offence by sacrificing his life in a desperate assault on a fortified' city.' in the picture the sceivss of conflict are vividly portrayed. . -"Lest we Forget" pictures very different scenes. It deals with the" oft-repeated, story of the little/ beggar girl who' wanders out into the world to see. what charity it will afford. In later developments of the little drama there is a'charming.adaptation of an idea embodied in that well-known • play, "The Message from Mars." A rich woman and her daughter, who have carelessly passed the little beggar in the street, arc troubled as they sleep in their luxurious house, by a dream that they have themselves descended to her pitiful plight. Awakening, they hasten to relieve the Jittle beggar girl and her mother. "Necessity, tho Mother of Invention" is a clever comedy sketch. An artist and his model dupe the public by setting up a clay figure to represeht a blind man soliciting alms. Misadventures follow, but all ends happily at last. "A Holiday in the Highlands" is a scenic film with many • features of interest. Apart from beautiful glimpses of mountain scenery, gorges, lochs, and waterfalls, there are included some! fine studies of birds and animals. Comics' also wero shown. The programme will be repeated to-night. STAR PICTURES. In spite of the unfavourable weather, there was a very fair assembly at St. Thomas's Hall last evening, arid the current programme of tho Star Pictures was accorded a'good reception. In addition to tho usual nightly performances, there will be a matinee to-morrow afternoon. ' QUEEN'S' PICTURES. The Queen's Pictures, at Victoria Hall, Newtown, were shown a»ain last night to a very appreciative circle of spectators. The presentation was admirably clear, and evoked considerable applause. The programme, which is an excellent one, will be repeated to-night, and will bo changed on Saturday night. LAWRENCE CAMPBELL RECITALS. At the Opera House on Christmas Night. Mr. Lawrence Campbell will give a recital of Charles Dickens's "Christmas Carol." Mr. Campbell received his training from the Polytechnic School of Elocution, London, and it is stated that he can justly claim to have greatly helped, and raised the standard of 'elocution in Australasia. In a matter of finish and delivery his style is said to leave nothing, to lie "desired, his powers of characterisation are exceptional, and his voice is flexible and harmonious. ■ The fact of Mr. Campbell's rendering of "'A Christmas Carol" having been compared very favourably with the Rev. Charles Clarke's recitals should be a good guarantee of Mr. Campbell's ability. On Monday night, at the Town Hall, Mi'.- Campbell will give "Scenes from Shakespeare," and also humorous and dramatic items. M. Eugene Ossipoft', a Russian operatic baritone, who assists Mr. Campbell, will sing the prologue. from I'agliacci and the Toreador song from "Carmen." The box plan is open at the Dresden.- .'

ATHLETIC PAEKT" Through the enterprise or' West's Pic. tm-cs, Ltd., management the public will bo treated to a very fine entertainment ou luesday evening next at the Athletic ... rhis will take the form of -a magnificent fireworks display of speciallvselccted subjects for this time of year and a first-class programme of pictures of that standard ot excellence for which West s Pictures are noted. The • nro-. gramme will consist of items of snort ' dramatic studies, scenes of travel, industrial and humorous subjects... The music will bq supplied by the Tramways Band and an enjoyable evening's entertain-' incut is promised. FIREWORKS AT DAY'S BAY.■ Mr. R. T. Bickorton, who is giving a large display of fireworks at Day's Bin on, Monday evening next, will make a special feature of set pieces. ' Amongs.' these will be a very pretty set represent, ing the Star of the East." The mail, agement state that wherever this piece lias been shown it has been greatly ad. mired, and no doubt it will be we'll T6. ceived at next Monday's exhibition. The Harbour Perries Company are making, special provision for the conveyance , of' the public, and special steamers will leave the ferry Wharf, returning immediately after the display. : '