ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1012, 30 December 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE; DOLLAIt ,PBINCESS/'. • "The /Dollar Princess", attracted an-' other packed audience to-the Opera llou?o last evening.-; The public have recognised tho merit of, the work ana "its penormanco by . a" more than capable. company, and arc flocking 'to.'tho Manners Street playhouse. "The Dollar Princess" .will be presented" to-night, and, finally, tomorrow night. "Trip' WALTZ DREAM." - The feature of "The "Waltz Dream," ; to; be . presented for- tho first tiiiio in. .the.- Dominion ,hy. Mr: J. C.Williamson's ■ ■ Company on Monday liext, is - tho- music, and although the number which will . become most popular is tho haunting, dreamy, languorous, irresistible wallz, thero are ihaiiy other gems in the opera which will appeal to theatre-goers. 'Tho plot, which -is of exceptional interest, is'briefly as follows: A had .to. 1 be founded from Flausenthurn,. and Princess,. Helona, having to marry someone; chose a. man she ' loved—Lieutenant Niki. x Niki,. however, does, not -know-that the princess loves him," and thinks it is, a marriage of- convenience.. Being a romantic and impetuous young man, ho was led away on his wedding night by tho "agents of .a political plot Niki falls desperately in love with. Franzi, the beautiful loader of a Vienneseiband,, and, for the nonce, it looks as'if the dynasty is in. danger. However, Franzi's heart has to be broken, and she finally' teaches .the princess to learn the haunting melody, and to win back a husband who was only, too;ready to .return. It is said that tho company has never been seen to better advantage than, in "The Waltz.: Dream. ■' Mr. .liegiria'ld'.'Roberts,; it is affirmed, surprises rhis' most ardent admirers by his perform: anCo' of the recalcitrant Niki. Again, it is admitted that probably Miss Florence Young - has' dsne nothing quite so. artistic as the Princess Helena. ' While'. Mr. Langford Kirby, who will make his flrsi appearance. .here, has-; earned golden opinions, both-. in>.England ..and America for- ■ his performance .of Count Lothar. Mr. Frank ' Greeno willbo." seen in the important'role of Moschini, . and Mr. Victor Prince in- that of-Joachim XIII. An item of decided .'interest should bo the appearance of. Miss Lottie Sargent as tho enchanting but ill-starred Franzi. "The-Waltz 'Dream" will be played for six nights. The box plans for the , remaining nights of tho. season are now open at the Dresden. ', '

... THEATRE ROYAL. . - , Notwithstanding counter attractions, the Theatre Bo'yal was.,woll. filled', last evening, when the current "week's programme was again presented.. - Oiie of the best turns is that of Sir. Alf. Holts, and his mimicry' aiid impersonations ,w;ere greeted with -rounds of ■ applaiise. Special mention should be made of Miss Nada Moret, 'for this clever artist has become a'.firm favourite' with Messrs." Puller's patrons. Martinetti and Grossi seem .to w.ork better now than tliey did at first, aiid'there is riot 'a-dull .'moment the whole time they occupy,the stage;; Their comedy business is indeed 'entertaining.. The various' other members" of' the company acquitted themselves capably. The same programme will be repeated this evening. .

■.- HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The. sale oi. tickets lia'd to be stopped at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, 'so great wasvtho rjish for, seats., to witness the second change of programme presented this, week. As usual, the. diversity of subjects, was excellent, and many of them reached a N high artistic standard. ~ One ,o!.' the finest-of. medieval, .; picturcs screeucd for. some tiDie is ontitled "The .Duke. ..of- Aries."' It relates' tlie progress of 'an affaire: de coeur, in whicxi' the'.Duke plays a leading pai't: .. He. pre-' sentiy insults'the -object of'his"'passion, and she repels:him'with ecorn, but, with 'the persistence of his class, lie invites her . and her husband ■to - supper. \ On being Ishown the invitation the woman refuses to go, and tells her .husband why, and he, furious, at thtj tears up the letter,' arid.:'sends J 'it. back. . This so enrages'the. Duke that,; lie hires two assassins to murder his,.-friend, and. af-. terwards bas the body placed up at the table, and invites ;the to meet her'husband. there;' .; Other.details of tho story-may be .imagined, .suffice ;it to say that mad'.with, hoh'oi\- and rage, she seizes the candelabra and sets tire to tlie curtains, and the end is indeed tragic. A much-heralded picture is that of Buffalo Bill's (Colonel Cody) Circus. This picture,' wliich is i disappointing photographically, shows' the great show 'on parade—lndians, "greasers," Japanese, Arabs, Siamese, and cowboys—and, then depicts many , of'the acts wliich the various' sections "of .the performers 'go through.' A~ui6ng the'se is'an- fexhibitiori of s rohgh-riding and buck-jumping, a company of Zouaves at. drill; a team of Japanese balancers and tumblers, who perform a marvellous Kisley act; a team of Arabian acrobats; and'a company of Siamese dancers.. "A Letter to ■ Father Christmas" is a- pretty incident appropriate to the season. A little girl in humble circumstances; writes a letter to Father Christinas begging him to' send bread and .broth 'for -her.sick mother, instead of toys' for herself.-'. She. throws'.the letter out of the 'window, and it is found floating in the ether by a company' of angelic spirits, who are (for the purposes of-the picture) the guardians of all good people., .-The letter. •-is -presented .. to Father Christmas,- who .works in mys- . terious ways. In visiting a : palatial home' he -deposits the- letter among the child's -toys,- and .enjoins the little-'oiie that she is not to touch her ,toys : until ishe succours tho'little one':in, distress. In tlio morning'the better, is found, and the child .tells lier mother what. Father Christmas .told: her- in- a dream..'' .The mother', acting on the-.impulse,, seeks.out the poor, child' and her- ailing mother, 'and ' showers ' good tilings' upon .them. Chioggia,' a,quaint Italian 'seaport, -is admirably pictured. One curious feature'of this/series is;a sale ,of ..fish, by auction, in , which the, buyers whisper their bids, in tho'.ear of the auctioneer .in the'.most-humorous manner, imaginable. ' - ■ ' • y -, - ';- There -will:be, a "Buffalo Bill" matinee to-morrow afternoon. , . KING'S THEATRE.' Tho-current-programme at-the King's Theatre attracted another, full hbuso.last night. ' "Someiemis, Queen- of' .BaJjylon," is; a particularly interesting.; film, andworthy to bo described as a piece of gorgeous historical pageantry. The' special Christmas picture ,-is deservedly, popular. Comic and scenic films, . and ■ some of those well-acted dramas in little which are always such a "draw" at picture shows help to',make up this meritorious' programme. '',

. STAR PICTURES. . Good business continues at St. Thomas's Hull,'Newtown, where th?\Star Pictures munagement is-showing atu excellent programme of moving pictures. Some of tho scenic films, are . particularly. ■ good this week, 'and -tho dramatic and comic items are cmite ud to the usual standard. The programme "will be repeated during the remainder' of the week. ' ' QUEEN'S PICTURES. There was a good attendance last night at Victoria Hall,-Newtown, where ' the Queen's Pictures are showing, nightly. Among the items on the programme arc a vivid picturo of.tho "Melbourne ' Cup," and two nretty scenic films entitled "Picturesque "ICieft" and "Visits in Japan." There are . also, several excellent dramatic and comic pictures,. The programme will be repeated to-night, and there will bea matinee to-morrow afternoon.