ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1181, 17 July 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE ARCADIAN'S."

"The 'Arcadians'' was played before an audience which filled nil parts of (he Opera Home on Saturday evening. Oul.v two more performances of this merry and bright work tan be given. "The Hello of Brittany" is to bo staged on Wednesday, eveninjf. The plot of, this tuneful musical comedy is based upon an ancient legend. The rising of llie curtain on the first act discloses the old trysting tree, and, if man and maid meet under this tree and exchange vows of love when the bells of the neighbouring convent arc ringing, it means a happy marriage In the case of the hero and" heroine of "The. 80110 of Brittany," the legend of the trysting tree is borno out in the happiest manner. Tom Walls made something of a stir at the Criterion, Svdncv, with his impersonation of the Marquis in "The Belle of Brittany." Humorous in "make up" and most expressively comic in his acting, Mr. Walls has equalled, if not excelled his performance as Peter Doody in "Tho Arcadians."

THEATRE ROYAL. ' There was not a vacant seat when the curtain rose at tho Theatre Roval on Saturday evening. Miss-Essie' Jennings, a pleasing balladist and soubrette, appeared for tho first time, and was well received. She sang "Garden of Roses" very prettily, and for an encore "Goodbye, Girlie." A' number of the old favourites made their last appearance, and received a duo measuro of applause, lhero '.ill bo a complete change of programme to-night, which will include the reappearance of Bob Harper, comedian,, and Tim Gaffney, comedian and dancer. HIS MAJESTY'S. THEATRE. The matinee and evening nicture exhibitions at His Majesty's Theatre on bnturday were each well patronised. Tim programme was excellent from everv point of view, dramatic, scenic, aud comic subjects all being well represented. This ' evening an entirely new selection of. pictures will be screened, THE KING'S THEATRE. Patrons were numerous at tho afternoon and evening performances at the Jungs Iheatre on Saturday. To-night the management will screen the "Pageant of. the Empire," portraying Britannia receiving her sons and daughters from the Dominions, Colonies, the Commonwealth, and dependencies beyond the seas. Five !!' O J',P S .representing India, Gibralter, -Malta, Africa, Aganda, The Sudan,. Newfoundland, the AVcst Indies, Cevlon, Hon"Kpng Fiji New Zealand, and Australia will bo shown. The picture is educational, inasmuch, as it depicts tho various units of which our Empire is composed, and also brings-liome in a vivid manner the scope and size of tho British Empire. Amongst other new scenic, dramatic comic, and educational pictures will ho "ihe King Amongst his Troops at Aldershot," and tho Patho' Gazette. Special selections and accompaniments will be played by the King's Theatre Orchestra. THE NEW THEATRE.

The twelve-hour run of the picture feast at the New Theatre, Manners Street, provided ejijoyment for several hundred people on Saturday afternoon and evening. Two scenic films of more than averago interest are "Tho Roya Valley" and 'Scenes in Barlotta, and on tho dramatic side /The Red Avenger" and "Tho Vindication of John" contain enough "thrill" to satisfy the most ardent lover of excitement. The humorous contributions are right up to standard specifications. SKATING RINK. ,' •• The'cold, invigorating, weather of the last few days has had the effect of drawing large attendances to Fullers' Skating Rink, and each session on Saturday was well patronised. Three sessions are held daily. The Olympia Band is in attendance afternoon and evening,THE CALEDONIANS. '

AND PUGILIST DAVE SMITH. Mr. Jock Willis's . Caledonians, who commenced a brief season at the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday evening, presented an entertainment that is something new in vaudeville plaids. The Caledonians are an all-malo combination, two of whom aftect the kilts, which are not necessarily reflected in the sontrs thev sing although a rivulet of the tongs of Caledonia, stern and wild," meanders through the programme, whilst, those of another phase of the Scots character is supplied by Mr. Jock Willis, a comedian of intimate style, who revels in the comic songs of Harry Lauder, and is a competent laughmaker generally. Mr. Willis is not "a stranger to AVellington audiences, and there was nothing cold or distant in the reception he was actforded on Saturday evening or the one ho gave ths audience for that matter. He. was at his nest in the Lauder repertoire, from which he selected "Fii the Noo," "Bonnie Mary of Glengarry," and "I Love a Lassie." He also sang tho broadly comic "Keep on Domg and "The Pilgrims of the Night." .This performer was also responsible for several little funny wheezes, which he professes to enjov as much as the audience. The "star" vocalist of the little company is Mr. Colin Cameron, the possessor of a musical tenor of excellent quality, which he uses with much artistic discretion. Mr. Cameron sang "Home, Sweet Homo" very well indeed, but the choice of song was peculiar in a tenor introducing himself to a now audience with' a combination' such as the Caledonians. There are booksful of good Scots songs, which would have been more appropriate. Mr. Cameron gave a taste of his quality in "Two Eyes of Gray," and later in "Sweet Afton" and "I'll Sing the -Songs of Araby," in both of which songs clear enunciation and intelligent interpretation were 1 associated ' with a fine (iejreo of vocal sympathy. With Mr. It. Ferguson, Mr. Campbell sang the old duct "All's Well," and the pretty barcarolle, "A Summer's Night." Mr. Tam M'Lean (bass) sang "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," "Off to Philadelphia," "Drinking," and "Simon the Cellarer." Mr. Edward Headlam is a humorous monologuist and pianist, who ap-, pears to bo in a perpetual state of snr-' prise. He was quite surprised when his dress tie misbehaved itself, and looked perfectly astonished when one of his jokes raised a laugh. Mr. Headlam certainly has talents, which experience will develop. He is a good pianist, but as an accompanist has the trick of sounding a note or chord a shade after the singer instead of exactly with him. This was noticeable in the duets.

Perhaps the part of the programme the' audience (which was 00 per cent, males) was mostly interested in was the appearance of Mr. Davo Smith, of New Zealand, tho middle-weight boxer, who beat. "Cyclone" Thompson and Tapke in Sydney, Smith created a sensation in the sporting world by beating the pick of America's middle-weights, I'apke. When they met a second time in Sydney Smith was beaten, but not. by n middle-weight, as on that, occasion I'apke could not get down to the weight, anil Smith was boxing a man who rightly belonged then In another class. Smith is a- cleanly-built young man of modrrnlo. proportions. Ho is as agile /as n rat .on his perfectlymodelled legs, and in his exhibition hy displays of the various leading blows mod liy boxers he demons! ruled what grace can accompany Iho manly ait. To llm great regret of the audience he was unable, to give an exhibition of boxing with his sparring partner, Arthur Kelly (who is shortly to meet "Sid" Sullivan in Wellington), the light-weight champion of Australia. Smith announced that he had been summoned before the Court on the coast for giving this exhibition, but (ho Magistrate had dismissed the charge as frivolous. Ho was again niocceiled against, in Palmcrsion North, when he was ordered to desist. In Wellington ho had been informed by Inspector Kllison' that tlio exhibition was against (he law. Smith gave a beautiful exhibition, of ballpunchiug and skipping, and showed himself to advantage at work on a new form of developer. With Kelly, he explained tho various blows and counter.-, including Clahby's loop-fhe-loop hit, I'apko'.s swinging attack, and other more or less famous tricks of I lie trade. The exhibition was a very inlere.-ling one. The Caledonians and Mr. Dave Smilh will appear again at the Concert Hall this evening.