ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

* THEATRE ROYAL, On tho oceasiou of tho weekly change of programme at the Theatre Royal last night, the house was packed to the doors, and the bill was greeted with enthusiasm by the largo audience. Tho opening portion consisted of .a minstrel first- part, which served to introduce two new artists in George Walton and Gus Deno. Tho former sang "Right on My .Doo-Dah" in good style, and.also danced cleverly. Ho had to respond to an encore. Gus Deno oxhibitcd some vocal ability by his rendering of "He Was a Sailor," but the feature of his turn was ■ his excellent dancing and tumbling, this being of a decidedly novel • character. Bob Harper, who is now established in favour, was accorded applause for his singing of "Virginia," and Tim Howard so pleased the house with his singing and (lancing that he had to respond to several encores. Mr. Tom Vivian,-baritone, sang "Land of Hope and Glory," and as an encore ne obliged with. "Forging the Anchor." Tho Gibson Girls, song and dance artists, wero seen to-advantage in "Palms and Pearls" in the first part, and they also figured in the second portion of the programme, being warmly applauded for their singing of "Jly Castlo iu Spain." Miss Celia Stephano, contralto, mado. a welcome reappearance. The feature of the second part was the turn of Miss Nada Moret, who was seen iu entirely new items, and she was again accorded a splendid reception. Appearing in a grotesque sample, of the hobble skirt, Jfiss' Moret much amusement by her "Ribs" song. She afterwards sang "The Shores of Ivillarney'.' in her usual taking manner. Her last nights aro announced, and also those of Martiuetti and Grossi, -who are booked to leave for tho south in a few days. These two artists continue to produce the sweetest, of music from, tho most unpromising instruments. Tho merit of their turn may be gauged from the fact that, while in London they appeared at the Alhambra before tho late King . Edward VII, while they also performed . beforo King George of Greece at the Ronachers establishment in Vienna. Among other contributors to' tho programme arc the Seyft'er Twins, acrobatic juveniles, the Flying Pedros, gymnasts, lliss Jessie Lee, and Miss Lily Loftus. Tho. programme will fyj repeated this evening, and to-morrow and on Thursday a -number of- new artists will appear.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Every -seat. was occupied at His. Majesty's Theatre last-evening, and a number of patrons liad to bo content with standing room. The change " programme of pictures screened was good in every particular and handsomely maintained tiie set in previous performances. The selection of dramatic films was both excellent arid varied. Somo beautiful scenic studies \voro included in tho programme' and the- humorous iteins were ol : quite exceptional merit. A pictu:'es(jucrdvamft was that entitled "Tho Rose of O'Salem Town." In it-s developin;:, changes there are - many ■ exciting scenes and tho adventures of its grace-, fui heroine were followed with vivid interest, A stately picture, full of inter-eslipg-detail; • is- that showing the dissolution of the British Parliament. "Ancient Castles of Italy" embodied a wealth of. interesting scenes. Many of tho oldtime strongholds pictured were of striking design, and in strange contrast to tho peaceful beauty of .their latter-day surrounding*. . "Pathe's Animated Gazette": is a never-failing source of interest to those .who witness its production week by week, and its latest edition compares vevy favourably with predecessors. "Tho Pony Express" is an American picture presenting.. in an informative way tho detail working-of a mail-system that is! fast .being,, superseded; .■where, it, yet. survives, by modern .'methods of-■transnor-. tation. Strangely , enough the arrival" of this'film at its destination in' Wellington was delayed for a week-as a result of a locomotive drivers' strike in America. ''The Sergeant" pictures the story of an American soldier who, by his valour, wins promotion and the hand of lii-s colonel's daughter amid the perils-of an Indian campaign. Some desperate skirmishes are fought in 'thei-progress of tho drama, and incidentally the natural scenery in which it is set is of great beauty'. . Great canyons, leaping mountain torrents, and imposing water-falls, and rapids are pictured'.iri. profusion. '' "A 'Woman's Vanity" is a comedy sketch in which a skirt of tho "hobble" variety plays a leading part. ' Tiring of -the restrictive garment its fair owner bestows it on an ancient negress. The' result is embarrassing to a string of gallants who do not diwover the change of . ownership until they have in ado themselves thoroughly Tidi'culous. Further escapades of the. ever-popular ''Foolshead" form, another excellent item in the comic section of the programme. It will bo repeated this evening, and tomorrow.

! KING'S THEATRE. _ - Thero was a crowded house at the King's Theatre last evening. The attraction on this particular dccasion was tiie weekly change of programme, and ■ tho new sat of pictures proved to be one of the : best yet produced 'at.this favourite, place, of amusement.. The first film of note was one depicting the many varied charms of East Anglia. Norwich is the first city visited, and here one is enabled to : witness the-sights of this old cathedral city. Then tho audience is transferred in a moment to the Broads, and'at this place the delights of yachting are seen; in'.every detail. After this a visit is paid to Yarmouth, the great" east coast resort of England. Making an expedition inland, the fine old. town of Bury, St. Edmunds—said to'be the or- ! iginal' of Eata'nswill in "Pickwick"—is explored, and finally." one gets' a delightful'rural ■picture representing a typical ■Eastern ■ Counties'. farm . wdien harvesting operations are in full - swing. This picture is an; exceedingly well arranged one, and, perfectly photographed. - Another picture of strong 1 dramatic., interest ,is one entitled "Dora Thoi-ne." A son and heir-.of an earl falls in love -with the daughter of -his father's gardener, who is much sought after by the country squire. ...The young lordling, who is already betrothed, meets the girl in secluded spots, and is found by the irate sfluiro. making- love to her., The squire forthwith procures a gun and shoots the would-be lover, and the wounded man is taken to'.the gardener's cottage. The Earl is informed of the Recurrence, and he removes his son to the home. After a lapse of a' nionth a- reception "is . held at the earl's country, seat, and the gardener's daughter, - who is seen hiding in the garden, perceives the son with hii.fiancee. .He recognises the girl, and goes to meet her, and is discovered by all the "guests. . An/explanation is asked for, but. apparently not forthcoming, and the-.young, man : is disinherited by his father, just before ho marries the girl. ■ Old age and death coming-upon hiin,..the father wishes to see his ■ son, . and , at -last everything is nut .right and the .son is installed 'in his rightful position. •-'Among other nictures which go to mako.up.an excellent exhibition'of the kinematoeraph art are "The Patho Gazette." "French Rural Life." "Call of the Blood," and "Nappo Toriano" on the scenic and dramatic side, and "How He Mot the Champion" and "The Wrong Box" of the comic pictures. The same programme will be submitted, to-night and following evenings until further notice. FULLERS' PICTURES. Several hundred pleasure-seekers rounded off yesterday's merrymaking by ail evening at the Town- vHall, whero an entertaining picture programme was presented by Messrs. Fuller and Sons. Comedv,' scenery, drama were well blended, and as the programme was unfolded the audience showed its-appreciation by applauding vigorously. Tho "Stork at .Homo" was a capital nat'uro study, and "Tho Sheriff's Capture" justified the .visions of excitement raised by the titlo of tho picture. Tho comedy strain of the picture world was reintroduced in the screamingly funny film "Foolshead Knows All," which picture kept tho house in » state bordering on convulsions. "Bertie's Elopement" also added materially (0 the-enjoyment 011 the comic side. The 'miscellaneous assortment of attractions comprised in the Patho Gazetto'v:cro welcomed with applause and tho other contributions were all well received. WONDERLAND. Despite somewhat unattractivo weather conditions. Wonderland, at Mirnmar, attracted a numerous body of visitors yesterday, and tho various shows were liberally patronised. The water-chute,' the miniature railway, the toboggan, and the

other attractions that make "Wonderland popular, each received their fair share of attention. Children were present in large numbers, and, to judge by their demean9111*, all of them "spent a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. Refreshments were obtainable on the grounds, and picnic partics were supplied with hot water free of cost. Wonderland will again be open to the public to-doy . STAR PICTURES. An exceptionally .large audience assembled to witness the usual 'weekly ! change of programme at the Star Pictures Inst evening. The pictures screened include dramatic, scenic, and humorous studies of rare merit, aiul were warmly appreciated. "The Piece of Lace" is a dramatic study with a Spanish setting, and shows how a murderer was traced by some lace which was found in. the murdered man's hands. "Black Beauty" is a most interesting study, and tolls how a man after being robbed and left for dead was saved through the sagacity of his horse. The most sensational picture of the evening, and perhaps the most appreciated, was a story of a cowboy's lovo ■ for an Indian chief's daughter, entitled "The Indian Princess." Another good film was one showing the various customs and • quaint danccs connected with a Swiss country wedding in the eighteenth century. Other pictures worthy of notice indude "Ice Harvesting in Montreal," industrial; "Abandoned," dramatic; and "Pathe's Animated Gazette." The comic studies include-such gems as "Uso is Second Nature," "Wiffles Tries "Work," and "Why Jones Could not Sleep."'. - - 'QUEEN'S PICTURES. - There was .a good attendance ,at the Victoria Hall, Newtown, last evening. An excellent programme was submitted, and'was w:ell received by the large audience. '"A Summer Idyll," "The Stronger Sex," and "Right to Labour" are very powerful dramatic stories. Other films worthy of mention are "Acrobatic 'Exercises by tho Colibrus Midgets," "Feeding Seals,"-and "Thq Patho Gazette." The comic section of tho programme is' particularly bright, including as it does "Kill the Fly," "Tontolini Wants Money," and "His First Place." ; MASON'S GARDENS. . 'At the beautiful resort known as Mason's Garden?,. To.ita, the blustering wind which .marred the Now Year holiday was much loss felt than in most places. '• The visitors were excellently catered for, lunch and' tea being readily obtainable,-and hot water being piovidetl free; BELLEVUE GARDENS. A string band added to the; pleasure of th-d'. visitors to Believue Gardens, Lower Hutt, • yesterday;'"Every facility was .provided to enable holiday-makers to eujoj' themselves, despite the uninviting weather. Th-3 grounds were looking even bettor than they usually do at this time of year.