ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1011, 29 December 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE DOLIjAB .PRINCESS." -. The' Opera House was packed to the doors again -last evening;.- when "The Dollar I'rincess" was once, more presented by the new Comic "Opera Company. ..The dainty music of this bright musical, play' gains an ' acquaintance 'which is not generally characteristic of this class of work and such numbers as "Olga Alaska," the "Inspection," and "Typewriting" ducts, ttic charming "Hansel and Gretel" duet (sung by Miss Sargent and Jlv. Frank Greene), and the splendid finales of Acts I and II are good examples of. theexcellent work that can bp put' into such, numbers. .MiSs Young has never failed to secure a double encore.'for her ' infectious opening solo; Which is so humorously embellished: by the comedians, and her Olga is quite ,a- delightful performnace. Mr. Bert Gilbert, Mr. Herbert Clayton, Mr. W. S. Percy, and Miss Olive Godwin all contribute lo a sound' performance. "The Dollar Princess" , can hardly fail...to attract, large audiences for the rest of the week. .

| ."A WALTZ DREAM;" ; . The . plan's for "A ; Waltz Dream," "A Knight For a, ; ' Day," and "The .. Merry Widow," to be played by the hew, opera company during , the' last., twelve, nights of tne Wellington season will be opened at the Dresden this morning at nine o'clock.. "A Waltz Dream," . a.; comic opera-, which the management state excels anything in" musical importance staged for years, will be presented by Mr: J.. C.'Williamson's ,Company at the Opera House ■ on Monday evening next. It is said to be an epitome of all that-is fragrant in music and : song—the Waltz, a lingering memory that -holds the senses in a delightful tnrall. The- story is stated to-pulsate with love and youth, and to throb with romance and adventure. - A fine opportunity' should be afforded ■ Miss. Florence Young ,in the part of the Princess Helena, while Mr: Reginald Roberts as Kild will .be in a characterisation that he." has mado famous in Australia. Mr; Lahgford Kirby will make' his first appearance in the Doinin- ;. ion as tjio important. Count.' Lothar,' a part, that, Mr. Kirby was the original of in England,"and'-has 'played on the Con-, tiiient of Europe and- through America. The important-part/of . "Franzi"* will doubtless' be artistically tested by Miss Lottie 'Sargent. 'Mr. Frank Green as "Moschirii" is- said, to have several good opportunities. "A Waltz Dream", will bo staged for six, nights. . ■ ■ THEATRE ROYAL. ' The bright and varied .programme now current at the Theatre .Royal attracted another -largo-attendance last night... • Mr. Alf. -Holt, the-clever impersonator,-mimic, and Whistler; from: Chicago'; had a magnificent reception.. Miss fresh and merry; patter.'and: , singing. held the delighted attention of the-whole "house." .'The -Flying- Pedros," and Martinelle and Grossi, .and other'-performers', repeated their previous successes. The same programme is announced for to-night, and until further notice. " ■ His MAJESTY'S THEATRE. • The-programme! at :His Majesty's. Theati'e . ivas witnessed by a lafge audienco last, evening, -the-pictures being clearly, shown, -and- received with. great-:applause'. Therewill be a complete/change: of. pictures to-night, : and it. is, interesting tonbte t-hat. chief amongst a,:very fino selec: tion ;iS a lengthy 'film depicting scenes and .incidents in tho'life of :Cplonel .Cody, the': original "Buffalo Bill."' ' In -the, list of celebrated, Americans, no, matter ,what sphere-of life,- prohably-'-no one 1 has-.bebn' more "written up" and: paragraphed .than "Buffalo 'Bill.'' ' The pictorial r'epr'eseuta-.ticuv'-'of; the wild''West of this celebi.itjv.ari'd his comrade,, "Prairie" Bill," will doubtless be received with great interest, and. a good'idea of life in the far west should result. Supporting:'tho "Buffalo Bill" series are several excellent films,' the subjects beirife .well' varied. "CHiaggia" is a splendid scenic study, and "Daisies," one of tho ,latest':productions by, the Vitngraph Company is said to'be one of the finest- examples of- the moving picture art turned out by this company. "Tha Duke of Aries" and "A' letter to Father ; Christmas" are two' high-class dramatic subjects, ..and amongst a .good selectioiv'of "comics" are: "Bill as .Oper-' ator" and' "Up-to-date, Servants." The first "Buffalo Bill", matinee will he given on Saturday afternoon. ,

- KING'S THEATRE. The picture entertainment at tho King's Theatre again attracted a "house" of full dimensions last: evening, when tho selection of pictures submitted-included scve'ral -tinted, films--of exceptional - quality. "Semiramis,' Qneeu' of Babylon," presents • ■scenes of stately pageantry. There are .a number of good .dramatic studies, a,nd the rirograiiirho is' pleasantly- lightened by .tho.introduction-of- amusing, films.o£.the comic variety; Tho: same .pictures yill be. screened this evening;' ' ' STAB PICTURES, - The new fare provided bv the-manage-ment of,the. Star. Pictures at St. Thomas's RtJl .is drawing eood . houses,,, for . the holiday , season. The pictures .are\well Rflected. and liro screened- in': a, manner which shows them oft to tho best,advantage..' QUEEN'S PICTURES. • A new programme of exceptibnal excellence was shown to a crowded house at the Victoria Ha 11,,. Newtown, last evening. The pictures were well screened and patrons were, so well pleased with the entertainment that it is likely , that the' [irogramme will run for a week without, change. . . ~ • liAWRBNCE CAMPBELL'S REciTAL. The- .closing ■■ recital of, Mr., Lawrence Campbell's season at ;the Municipal, Concert Chamber was given last night, and it' was evident from the heartiness of the reception, accorded to every membervof the company, and from ' the |greatly'. increased- attendance that the Wellington public was waiting up to a 1 realisation of the high merit-of-these entertainments'. It may be confidently predicted that'on the return 'visit, bri'January, 20,. 27,' and 28, there will bo much' liirger audience's. The special features last' night . included Mr; .Campbell's fine rendering of the first scene: of , Shakespeare's"• '-Julius Caesar," in w;hich the two tribunes,harry ,tlie holiday-making artisans. ' Mr. Caiup--bell was also very successful with'-the two* musical monologues, -".Crossing'. the Bar" .(Tennyson) aiid "The-. Truest Friend". (Ogilvie), the music for which was arranged and played by Mrs..W. ShawMayer. : Mr. Calnpbcll's -other. contribu-' tions" included two capital stories—"How w>; Beat the Captain's Colt" •' and ■' "Not iii'-.'tho.-,Programme" (a'stage incident)— and '.the humorouscoster. sketch, 'Enery 'Awkins,'" besides . a number .- of encore items. Among/ these last, such, artistic bits of character reciting as his "Yawcob Strauss," .. "Jim ' Bowkor," aiid "The Funeral, of the. Late Mrs. Hodgson" are of particularly delightful memory. The final .item , was his charming and original rendering, of "Tho -House - that Jack Built." Mr. Campbell is an' exceptionally natural, versatile, and powerful elocutionist, -and ho has . the .gift , 'of making friends wherever he goes; Mr. IJugcne, Ossipoff's songs .were again received with enthusiasm, and the pianists, Mrs. Shaw-Mayer and Miss Rence Lees, were also thoroughly successful.. .WONDERLAND, . Tho numerous joys of Wonderland wero sought byjn large number of young people yesterday, when tobogganing..water-chut-ing, ctc., were the order .of the day. The pretty grounds and the fernery enabled the adults to , enjoy . themselves, whilst the juveniles wero extracting the full measure of enjoyment from the side shows. 1 The grounds were brilliantly illuminated yesterday evening, :when the side shows were again in full swing.

A private telegram from Christchurch states that the American actress Miss Katlierine Gray created, a most favourable impression at the. Theatre : Royal last evening by her brilliant'noting 'in "The Lion and tli'e Mouse." ■ The action of the play Was watched with intense interest, and as. the story developed so the enthusiasm increased. Upon the teririinatioii of >;the- drama the audience, wMcll filled -every'part'.of-' the theatre, stoo" \m and cheered Miss Gray again and'again Mr.-Desmond, who was engaged bv Mr' Williamson to 'fill Mr. Julius - Iviiight's place, was also enthusiasticallv cheered The whole.theatre.is stated-to have been booked for-the balancfl of the season. -