ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERATIC PHOTO-I'LAY COMPANY. To-night, Tuesday, at the Opera House, will bo presented for the first lime in Mow Zealand a sensational Western drama, entitled 'Tor a Woman's Sake," which ran for four consecutive weeks at the Cilaciariuin, Sydney. "The Masked Ball" is a lovely coloured film by Pa the i'rorcs, a drama magnificently acted ami beautifully mounted. Another very interesting film is "The. Zoo," London, and one that would interest nil New Zealanders is a scenic film of Now Zealand, in which appears that piscatorial wonder "i'elorus Jack." Another powerful drama is "The Abduction Case by t.ho 'C'amorra,'" otherwise the Black Hand. It is full of excitement from beginning to end. The box plan is now open nt the JJresden for the last four nights, and there is no extra fee for booking.

THEATRE PiOYAL. Fullers' Vaudeville Company entered on its la&t week at tho Theatre Royal last night, when a new programme was staged. The sweet soprano voice of Miss Veda Harcourt won fresh applause for "Wellington's Mclba." The little girl and the, little boy who appear as "The National Duo" gave one of their most pleasing entertainments in song and dance. They sing prettily, and their dancing is very dainty and attractive. Quito a novel item ivas provided by Mdlle. Haydee and her marionettes. .It was an entertainment within an entertainment, a. vaudeville theatre within another. In her miniature theatre Littlo Tich performed his wonderful and mirth-provoking feats; two costers in their donkey cart drew up before the footlights, and exhibited the eccentricities of their steed; an excellent cake-walk was danced by a lady and a gentleman; and Chung Ling Sue gave a juggling entertainment. ' Nnda Moret is appearing again. Her turn comprised humorous stories and popular songs. Great applause was bestowed upon the Delafiores, two xylophone experts direct from England. Their music was of a quality rarely attained by artists in this department- Laughter reigned while Martinetti • and Grossi held the stago. By farce and cleverness they kept tho big audionce completely with thom. Among other things, they pulled a bicycle to pieces, and played selections on the various parts. Other artists on the programme were Beryl Nicliolls, serio and dancer; Ern Delevale, descriptivo vocalist; Will Gilbert, eccentric comedian; Jessio Lee, vocalist; Tim Howard, comedian; Lily Vockler, motto vocalist; and tho Willis Sisters, serios and dancers.

. ' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ■ "Back to Nature" is about the best of a good lot of new dramatic pictures presented at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. It is strongly American in character, and like most of their photodramas, is strong iu the eloment which they call heart interest. It is the story of a man's bitter strugglo to keep going in the city against heavy odds. His son is an idler, and a drinker, the daughter is on tho verge of spoiling her life among fast companions, the child is sick, and, in tho midst of all these troubles, the steady-going book-keeper gets notice that his place is to be filled by a younger man. The picture is domestic tragedy. Relief comes from the- newspaper—what a big part newspapers play in the making of picture plays —iu which the wife reads of a snug little farm for sale ou easy terms, ami suggests that they should take it. So they all trek to the land, and find the bosom of Mother Nature kind indeed. The boy becomes a healthy, strapping farmer, tho girl wins a farmerlover of the right stamp, the child recovers its health, and, what is better still, tho farmers for miles round ask the father to represent them on the board of directors of the very insurance offico from which he had been dismissed. There he proves himself so valuable that he is offered a position of trust in tho city, but refuses it with a smile—Nature 'was good enough for him. Another vivid American playlet, concerns a stock exchange deal by a man who cannot afford such luxuries. A friend "has whispered to buy colfee shares, and as the tape, shoivs a, steady rise, ho resolves to mortgago his houses and take a plunge. Ho.gets the' money, and sends it along: to the broker,'with a letter of instruction, theso being dispatched by the office boy. Then he watches the tape, and sees colfee stock sink and sink until ruin stares him in the face, when the boy returns to say that the office of the broker was shut when ho got there, and he had been detained playing with other boys. The boy was given the father of' a hug by botfi tho man and his wife, aud tho husband was then mado to promise to forgo stock gambles for ever. "Maid or Man" is an excellent comic picture, in which sweet Dorothy Nicholson appears onco more with all her old witchery. Another picture of intorest is tho Zambesi River, and a magnificent view of the Victoria Falls. In tho preliminary, pictures of the river, "Dick" Arnst, the champion sculler, is seen scudding down the broad waters of the Zambesi. Other good pictures shown last evening were: "Mustang Pete's Lovo Affair," "An Elevator Romance," "Bv Aid of the Lariat.' 'The Sheriff of Tuolumme," and "The Lost A splendid picture of the fire at Clifton Terrace, including a good turn-out by the Wellington Fire Brigade, ivill be screened this evening.

THE NEW THEATRE. All sessions of the continuous pictur9 entertainment at the New Theatro last evening were thronged, and the day sessions were also well attended. Puring to-day a special programme will be submitted, which will include the following items:—"The Foreman's Mine" (a Bison exclusive drama), "The Girl and the Oath" (a Champion exclusive drama), "Uncle Tom Wins" (an Edison comedy), "Mount Cassino" (a Cines scenic), "The Romany Wife" (a ICalem drama), and "Breaking into Society" (an S. and A. comedv). This evening an entirely/new collection of superb biograph surprises will be introduced. These will arrive by the mail, via Auckland, this afternoon. KING'S THEATRE. Rob Roy M'Gregor must have surely lived. No true Scotsman has any doubt upon tho point, of course;. others merely regard him as a figure in a story, but he is so real, so vital, and means so well that he convinccs one that he must have lived, and performed those deeds of wondrous valour inseparable from tho name. It is a long time now since the play "Rob Roy" was staged—not since tho part was played in Wellington by the late Mr. A. S. Paterson, with Mr. John Newton as Baillie Nicol Jarvie, and Mr. A. W. Newton ns the Dougal Cratur. That is a long time ago, and the average theatrical memory is not long. It was therefore with pleasure that a really admirable presentation of tho play by actors 'skilled in the various parts was screened at the King's Theatro l'ast evening, bofore a large "house." In the production, which was full of life and "go," Mr. John Clyde played Rob Roy, Mr. Durward Lely (who visited New Zealand some vears ago) is the Francis Osbaldistone, Miss Henries is Helen Macgregor, Mr. W. G. Robb is the Baillie, and Mr. Geo. Hunter the Dougal Cratur. Tho lino rugged old story, which breathes the wild spirit of tho Highlands, received a hearty welcome. A dramatic story with a very human appeal is "An Old Man's lolly." It is tho story of an old widower, with a charming daughter, who when paying a visit to tho city is lured into matrimony by a designing woman, who absolutely disdains the daughter and leads her ancient spouse a terrible dance. Finally word reaches the woman that her husband has been liberated from gaol, and that, she had better decamp. Unfortunately tlie wretched woman's friend encounters tho husband when plotting escape for the wife, and .he in a fit of rage seeks out the man and lolls him that lie was novcr legally married to the woman, whereupon there is great rejoicing, aud the daughter, who had left tho family roof on account of the woman's treatment, returns to brighten up the old place onco more. "Angry Nature" still continues to amaze nnd mystify. This picture of Mount Etna in eruption is possibly tho most daring picture ever taken, and it is received nightly with enthusiasm. Tho "all round" view of the Melbourne Cup is of particular interest to tho sport-loving public. Other good pictures are; "Tho Cattle. Rustler's End," "A Good Companion," "Nick Winter's Dream," and "Scroggins Has llis Fortune Told." -The benefit to tho Swifts Swimming Cluh takes place this evening.