ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. To-night is the last occasion on which the musical comedy "Sergeant Brno," produced by the Clarke and Me.vuell Company, will bo seen in Wellington. Last evening tho audience were kept in a good humour by the numerous catchy airs and tho situations with which this comedy abounds, homo of these situations aro entirely original, as far as the comedy stage is concerned, and originality is always welcome. THEATRE ROYAL. Current week's vaudeville at tho Theatre Royal is holding its own, tho chief attraction being Mounicr and Franz, heavyweight lifters and jugglers. To-night will bs tho last occasion on which the present programme will be submitted. On Monday evening a complete chango occurs. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Again last evening there was a good "house" at His Majesty's Theatre, and tho now programme appeared to bo appreciated. A very attractive film was one entitled "l'au from a Dirigible.". This is an example of tho daring lengths to which the camera man will go to 9ecuro moving pictures. On this occasion he ascends in a dirigible balloon, and tho views thus .obtained aro truly remarkable. Other pictures of interest are "Tho Thief and the Girl," "Snapshots at Henley," and many more. THE NEW THEATRE. A chango of programme drew good houses all day yesterday to the New Theatre in Manners Street. Included in tho new pictures is one entitled "Heart Beats of Long Ago." This is the story of a girl who is in love with a man who is forbidden the house by her father. To facilitate the course of events she steals her father's signet ring and gives it to her lover. By this means ho is enabled to pass the guard and enter tho house. Tho girl's father presently gives her in betrothal to someono whom she does not caro for, and during the progress of the plot her lover enters the house. The new suitor discovers his presence, and, in endeavouring to escape the true lover, conceals himself in an air-tight coll, and is locked in bv tho. girl. Complications ensue, and, during tho time which elapses, the forbidden lover is suffocated. The girl is overcome with grief, and a dramatic situation is thus developed. Other pictures in the new programme includes "Tho Child of the Ranch," "Johannesburg," "Handsome Galliana," "Cupid's Joke," "An Eventfuf Tandem Ride," "The Unruly Charge," and others. The Now Theatre will be open all day to-day as usual..

KING'S THEATRE. This afternoon the usual prize matinee will take place at tho King's Theatre, and to-night tije ordinary programme of moving pictures will be screened. _ A change is announced for Monday evening, and a long and varied programme is promised. ST. THOMAS'S HALL. At present Wesfs, Ltd., are presenting some splendid attractions in the moving picture lino at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown. For this afternoon a matinee is announced, and this will. be followed by the usual programme in the evening. For Monday a changed programme is announcc'd. . "OUR MISS GIBBS." The members of Mr. J. C. Williamson's Royal Comis Opera Company will show tho latest success from the london Gaiety Theatre. The performance will be tho introduction of "Our Miss Gibbs" to Wellington. For the part of Miss Mary Qibbs, the shop girl heroine,. Miss Blanche Browne was brought out from Home. "Miss Gibbs" is ono of the big London Gaiety triumphs, and is in its third year in. that great city. During the Sydney season no less than 516,000 persons paid for admission, more than the cntiro population of Sydney itself. As to the costuming of the play, it is said that nothing that the firm lias ever done comes up to the display to bo seen in "Miss Gibbs." The music is by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton. The Royal Comic Opera Company has for this production been materially strengthened, and comprises such first-class artists as Leslie Holland, Andrew Higginson, Fred Leslie, C. R. Bantock, and Bertie Wright, an' English comedian, who will make his first appearance here. It also includes Misses Connie Milne, Nellio Wilson, Fitzmaurice Gill, Nellio Calvin,, and Ivy Schilling. The box plans for - tho first six nights will be opened at the Dresden on Saturday next.

TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. Tho series of Town Hall organ recitals will be resumed by Mr. Maughan Barnett to-night, when an attractive programme will be submitted. Wagner's striking piece, "The Rido of tho Valkyries," will be the "star" item, and this will bo ably seconded by Bach's "Fugue in G. Minor.' "The "Suite Gothique" (Boellmann), Mendelssohn's duetto from "Licder ohne worte," and Lo Cygne (Sait-Saens) all make up a programme worthy of execution by an organist of Mr. Barnett's capabilities. , VIOLIN RECITAL. Mr. Charles Schilsky, violinist, assisted by Miss Inga Gow (at the piano), and Mr. Charles H. Stephens, tenor, will give a recital at St. Andrew's Hall tjiis evening. The programme will include, amongst other items, Brahm's "Sonata in A Major" (violin an piano); Max Brick's "Violin Concerto in G Minor"; "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso,' for the violin (Saint-Saens).' SUNDAY CONCERT. On-Sunday evening tlie Wellington .Professional Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr. Herbert Bloy, will give a concert in the Town Hall. An attractive programmo has been prepared, including Schuliert's "March Militaire," Wagners "Tannhauser" overture, "Spring Song' (Mendelssohn), "Yeomanry . Patrol' (Squire), and "Saltarello" (Gounod). Mrs. Carlylo Free, tho well-known contralto, will "sing "The Promise of Life" (Cowen). A silver collection will be mado. PIANOFORTE RECITALS. Mr. Frank Hutchens. who will shortly give two recitals in Wellington, is still in his 'teens, but has already had a career of remarkable success. Sent to London in 1905, at tho age of thirteen, upon the advice of Faderewski and Mark Hambourg, ho at once attracted the attention of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, principal of the Royal Academy, and was placed under tho tuition of Tobias Matthay, ono of tho greatest pianoforte masters in England. From that timo his progress has been bralliant.. At tho ago of fourteen (against all-comers up to tho age of twenty-two) he won the Sterndalo Bennett scholarship, and followed up his first sue-1 cess- by carrying off the Thalberg schol- 1 arship, the Hoathcote-Long prize, tho Hine prize, three silver medals, and in 1910, the first award made of the Chappell gold medal. In addition to theso honours his public appearances in London have won for liim golden opinions, and his outstanding ability was rccognised at the Royal Academy by the authorities appointing him to a sub-professorship at tuo ago of sixteen.

'THE GKIP OF ALCOHOL." Tho International Picture Company of Australia will present at' tho Opera House on Wednesday evening nest for the first time in New Zealand, an absorbing picture drama entitled "In tho Grip of Alcohol" (by special arrangement with Pathe Freres). The programme will also include tho pictorial representation of Harriett lieecher Stowc's famous slave story "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and other new and interesting films. THE COMPETITIONS. Tho secretary of the New Zealand Competitions Society (Mr. Jos. Dykes) reports that the entries received now total 1703, a record for competitions' societies in the Dominion. Entries havo been received for all sections of tho competitions from Wellington and different parts of New Zealand, and there is indication that the festival, which commences on October 25 next in t'ho Tdwn Hall, should bo a great success. Season tickets .£1 Is., admitting persons to all ■ performances of the festival may be obtained at tho secretary's olfice. The competitions aro open t'o amateurs only, except in a few sections designated "open to all" (open to both amateurs and professionals).