ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1321, 27 December 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE SPECKLED BAND." A holiday audience filled every seat at the Opera. Houso last ovoning, when tho Williamson Dramatio Company produced "The Speckled Band." This weird drama, with its thrilling note of terror and originnl dramatic situations, held tbo big iiudience in its grip from beginning to end. Mr. fiaston Morvalo has a role that suits him in that of Dr. K-ylott, the balfernzed Anglo-Indian, and Miss Dorothy Dix is charming as tho young lady ho seeks to destroy with tlin aid of a snnke. The Inst two performances of "Tho Speckled Band" arc- nonjiinjfd. "ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE. ,, On Friday evening and tho three following nights, Mr. J. C. Williamson's company will present for the first timo in New Zealand a splendid comedy-dramiv by the well-known American playwright, Paul Armstrong, entitled "Alias Jimiuy Valentine," which was one of the big successes of last year's London season. Whilst there is said to bo plenty of tho lighter element in it, causing a good deal of laughter, the main purpose of the play is very serious, and that is to illustrate that under the influonco of a good woman the most hardened criminal may be brought to a sonso of his wrongdoing, and gradually emerge into tho light of a true and honourable manhood. "Alias Jimmy Valentino" hits hard with its purpose and its moral in four acts of bright, snappy dialogue, and a of striking situations. The plans for the four nights, which are tho last four of the season, will bo opened at the Dresden this morning at 9 o'clock. THEATRE ROYAL. The new programme at the Theatre Eoval this week includes four very imo studies in the kinemacolour-'Tarmyard Friends," "A London Fire Call, . A Clown's .Sacrifice," and "Scenes in Pans. Tho first-named shows various farmyard animals and domestic pets in their rustic environment, the precmcta of the farm, and, as an example of the new colour process, in kinematograpby discloses in this latest achievement of the camera artist tremendous possibilities in the future of the moving picture. The studies of cattle' were particularly good. In "A London Firo Call" there is shown a section ot that highly organised body of fire-fijht-ers, the London Metropolitan Fire Brigade, answering a hurry call at a gallop through the streets. Hero the' natural colours- of the horses and the wagons, with the dark-bluo of the men, animate tho scene in a way the ordinary black and white film never docs successfully, however full of action the study may be. "The Clown's Sacrifice" is a touohing photo-play of the period of ruffles, old lace, and silken hose—a period of cay colours and courtly fashions—wherein tho art of tho colour photographer is given ample scope. "La Belle Paris," in colour, justifies tho homage of her people, for the gayest city in Europe is shown, in a series of charming scenes, in her native beauty. Among tho black and white studies there are sovcrnl of high merit. "On Lake Zurich" consists of a series of charming views of the celebrated Swiss city, with tome rather striking moonlight effects. Drama of tho seriocomic order is represented by a capital study by tho Lubin Company, "The Couut de Ribbon Counter," in which are tiot forth the adventures of an heiress who is unexpectedly deprived of her wealth, a well-to-do young man of tho city who seeks health and renewed strength at a summer hotel, and a draper's assistant, who plays a game of bluff, as a French nobleman at the same hotel. Tho plot is clever, and the situations most entertaining. Inevitably there is an American Indian drama, "When tho Sun Went Out," in which tho crisis of the play is founded upon a total eclipse of the sun and its effect upon a tribe of hostile Indians at the ti.syohological moment when tho and tho heroino are about to be sacrificed. Other good items include rhe General's Daughtor," a story o-f tho Alahtli and tho Sudan, "Home is Best of All, an amusing serio-comic, "Picturesq j Ue -,,S unsal T'" "A-Fairy's -Present," and'- Winter i lowers and Plants." The programme will be repeated this evenlag. : '".' THE NEW'THEiTRE. Packed attendances were the rule yes™l a* the day and evening sessions oi the .Now Theatre continuous picture entertainment on the occasion of the biweekly change of programme. The elaborate picture pantomime "Puss in Boots" has been retained in the current series. J.his fairy story is well staged, artistically coloured, and the dresses are mag. nificent. The tale of tho three brothers woo inherited the mill, donkev, and cat respectively is graphically told, and tho. unfailing gool fortune of tho youngest brother with his pet cat is givon full effect. Incidentally tome bewilderin? trick photography works miracles for tho fain- queen. The sudden transformation of the gianrs doorkeeper into a real live and angry-looking lion, which.paced uneasily around the porchwiy of the castle lsnds the enchantment generally associated with fairy tales. The Cines Company excel in a sterling dramatisation of an episode in the life of "Good Queen Bess, entitled "Queen Elizabeth's Ring." Ine costumes and mountings are excellent. The plot is thoroughly interesting and attractive. Among Iho other gems of cV" ,l: , e 5J. e: '.' Betlv eeu North and bonth (a Champion exclusive drama of the American Civil War), and "A Silent Tongle (a meritorious Edison comedy) Tho ne-v. items, together with "Puss in Boots will be shwa from 11 a.m. till 11 o clock to-night. FULLERS' PICTURES. All those who would renew their acquaintance with Charles Dicker's Christmas Carol could not do better than visit the Skating Rink, where a very fine pictorial representation of the old story is being given. With impressive fidelity the miserly Scrooge is discovered ? "is office on Christmas Eve heckling dear old Bob Cratchit, freezing at his desk. He is shown in his loneliness visited by tho shade of his dead partner Marley, and afterwards by the spirit of Uiristmas, who shows him in a series of cleverly-presented visions his past life —his boyhood love, the merry days at. Fezziwiprg s, and his rejection of the girl who loyos him, because of his fancy that she will impede his progress in the world, in-en conies Christmas morning, Scrooge s delight nt finding himself in a position to ha a different man. How he showers money upon the carol singers, makes his nephew a partner in his business, and brinss joy .into tho Cratchit nouseho.d. A Christmas Carol" is appropnato; to tha reason, and there are few with a knowledge, of the pathos of tha story who can view the picture without a dimmincr eye. A very beautiful srmic picture is one depicting scenes and places of interest in the lake district of ■Eneland. It is like ?. whiff «f t!ip O!<1 Country to see the quaint cobble-stoned street* of the villap*s. tho anr.innt hosMrics. the p!ea.=ant streams, and broad lake expanses opening out like n book lx>fnro one. This is the class of picture that ni.i.napcrs would do well to enconrare "Tlie Hr.irt of John Barlow" is a drama in fivo minutes. The nrotrramnie, whirli attracted a picked nnrlionpt!, also , included som? fini news of Bethlehem and nthor •Tpiips in Palestine, "A Dead Mini's Child" (a strong dramatic pict'ive), "Timvollinj: in til? Gihciuim";." "A Quiet Hou«>," "Aorial "Thr Victors." and "TonWtni nt the Circus." ",\ Christmas Carol" will be shown every evening this week.

KING'S THEATRE. Many were unable to gain admittance to the King's Theatre la.M, evening, tho capacious building being taxed to its utmost. A fine assortment of pictures was screened, the comic, predominating. "Seroprgins wins the Fiddlc-Faddlo Prize" is a humorous piece, which captivated the «-irge audience. "Charlio Smiler" ivas another production of a mirth-pro-voking character. Charlio is much taken by ?ome acrobatic, fe.it? which he sees at a show, and endeavours to give demonstrations, of his ov.-u ability in this respect. These efforts nre very amusing, and ripples of laughter from tho audience greet his attempts to emulate tho circus artists. Tho favourite picture of the evening, judging from the interest it excited among the audience, was "Through Fire and Smoke." It is the story of an attractive-looking young girl, who throws over her sweetheart, a (ino manly fellow, a fire brigade man, in favour of the plausible young floor-boss of the faotory where Betty is employed. Through carelessness in handling chemicals, Betty"6 n§w sweetheart sots the fac-

Tory on fire, and solfshly tears from _ hor hands a life-lino to savo his own miserablo skin, while dozens of girls are Ttishing frantically about trying to escapo from tho conflagration. The firo brigade arrives on the scene, and Betty s discarded lover has tho satisfaction of roscuing her from an upper story of tha burning building, and of bringing her to safety. Whilo convalescent she is visited by tho floor-boss, who comes to apologise, and seeks to gain her sympathv by showing her a bandaged hand, but f,ho will have nono of him. and ho has to bear the mortification of beiny ignominiously expolled by the bravo fireman, who, ior his gallant action at tho (ire, is again installed as Betty's lover. Several other excellent pictures oto fhowu, SHORTrS PICTUBES. Shortt's Continuous Picture Theatre, which is open daily from 11 a.m. until U.p.ni., is being exceedingly well patronised. Tho management state that yesterday 2o(M patrons paid for admission to the theatre, and, judging by thn applause, I hoy seemed well satisfied with the pictures. Two particularly noticeable anl gratifying facts in this new picture house aro tho coolness and excellent ventilation of the building, and the upholstered Beats. "Life on tho Border" ie a very strong picture, full of life anJ originality and cleanness of acting. A number of comic, scenic, and dramatic pictures are included in tho programmo. A part change of programme will take place today, and a complete change will be screened to-morrow, STAB PICTUEES. The Star Pictures attracted a crowded audience to the popular Newtown Theatre last evening. The programme was one of unusual interest, striking a note in keeping with the season in the appealing representation of Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" and some interesting views of the Holy Land, including Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Mosque of Omar, and other places of Biblical. interest. Other good pictures on the dramatic side are ' Tho Heart of John Barlow" and "A Dead Man's Child." There wero also same first class scenic and comic films to lend variety to a particularly satisfying programme. ■ TOWN HALL PICTURES. The picture show which was to have been presented in the Town Hall last evening, had to bo abandoned owing to a breakdown in part of tho kinon)atograph mechanism. Patrons were given tho option of having their money refunded or of accepting tickets available for admission to the Theatre Eoyal or Skating Eink. . "THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER." The first of the big- programmes promised for the ensuing year by tho J. C. Williamson firm will tako shape in the form of the already extraordinarily successful comic opera, "Tho Chocolate Soldier." Of all tho light operas that Oscar Straus has written, it is said that the "Chocolate Soluior" is out and away tho best. Musically it is the most popular. It is stated that nothing in the way of comic opera since the "Merry Widow" has approached the selling capacity of tho "Chocolate Soldier." In Australia the scores of tho opera were demanded in so emphatic a manner that tho first shipments were sold entirely a few days after the piece was produced, and the big music retailing firms were in a quandary as to how they were to supply tho demand. The opera was produced in Londou eight months ago, and in Sydney as recently as eight weeks past. As in London, it immediately caught on in tho Australian city, and it is affirmed that it is customary to associate any over-smil-ing person encountered on the street with one who has enjoyed tho latest Straus masterpiece. "The Chocolate Soldier" will commence its career in Wellington on Wednesday next, and will be interpreted by the 'New English Coniio Opera Company, under the management of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. During tho season tho ono opera only will bo staged. Tho company, tho whole of which, with thre exceptions, will make their first appearance here, include Mr. Leslie Gaze, Mr. Albert Kavanagh, Mr. Nuo'i Fleming, Mr. Frank Wilson, Misses Rita Prevano, Mabel Graham, and 80110 Gorton. Miss Amy Murphy will make her re-entry into coniio opera as Nadina, a role of almost grand opera proportions. The box plans for tho first six nights will be opened at- tho Dresden on Thursday next. Tho opera has been cleverly adapted from "Arms and the Man," the brilliant comedy of Gcorgo Bernard Shaw, and is said to be the most trenchant libretto ever used in comio opera.