ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIEB." "Tho Chocolate Soldier," the entertaining comic opera which is nearing the end of a highly-successful season in 'Wellington, was again viewed by an appreciative audience at the Opera Houso last evening. As in provious presentations,, the piooo went with a swing from beginning to end. All tho parts are capably borua and the vocalisation touches a high standard of merit. THEATRE ROYAL. The Kinenincolor aiul tho black and whito pictures serving as this week's programme at the Theatro Royal are still commanding 1 a great deal of attention. Tho Durbar scenes, with the unique and historio interest attaching to them, wero loudly applauded. Tho scenes from tho Zuyder Zee, shown in natural colours, made a beautitul number. Homer's story of the wondorful adventures of Ulysses is a film of unusual kind, but of absorbing interest. FULLERS' PICTURES. Fullers' Pictures continue to attract orowds to tho Skating Rink in Vivian Street, the principal drawing-card in tho current s programme being Patho Freres production of tho "Siege of Calais." This is a picture which apparently proves that the kinematograph is ono of the highest expressions of histrionic art, for never, on any can such scenes as are depicted in this film bo produced. Among other items may be mentioned ''Motoring on Ben Nevis," "Falls of Schwarbach," "The Satyr and the Lady," "Bill Determines to Go, and the Australian Gazette. On Monday next the usual bi-weekly chango will take place. THE KING'S THEATRE. West's and Royal Pictures are attracting crowded houses. To-day tho usual prize matinee will ho held, as'well as tho ■■evening performance, when the feature film—"The Christian"—will be shown for tho last time. On Monday night the attraction will bo Selig's masterpiece, "Tho Two Orphans." This photo-play is of great length, taking an hour to run through the machine, and wherever it has been presented it has been received with unstinted praise, and its production byWest's and Royal Pictures should attract crowded audiences. In addition, another scries of "The Great Durbar," specially taken by AVesfs expert in India, will also:bo screened. Patrons are reminded that, at this house, the King's 'Orchestra supply tho incidental music apart altogether from the pictures tho musical programmes rendered by this finely-or-ganised instrumenta 1 combination provide a really excellent entertainment. THE NEW THEATRE. There woro ' good attendances at the various sessions of tho continuous picture show at tho New Theatre yesterday, and in the evening the building was crowded to its utmost capacity. The principal item on tho programme was a beautifully coloured film entitled "The Siege of which is generally regarded as the greatest kinematograph play yet produced by the noted firm of l'athe Freres. Some 2500 men and horses appear in tho various scenes, and until the picture is seen its magnitude cannot be realised. Tho narrative deals with tho ten months' siege ol Calais by Edward' 111 in 1317. Numerous now items figured on the bill at this theatro yesterday, and among them "The Inherited' Taint" was a veryfine drama by the famous Vitagraph Company. Tho story principally concerns a young man, named Harry Waring, Who has inherited from his deceased father a strong inclination'to alcohol. 110 is warned against this by his guardian, and for a time fights successfully against it.. However, on being jilted by a hearties; young woman, Waring gives way to drink, with tho result that his guaidian calls in the .services of a doctor, and has tho young man transferred to a home .for inebriates. Under, the best of ..treatment, Waring reoovc-rs sufficiently to go into the world again. ...Once more he is tempted by tile worn.fit, Vrjib.. previously brought", about his dowii/afl, but in the" - meau'timc Ire has fallen in love with his mttse, and true love conquers. The pieoe is exceedingly well acted. Other good numbers on tho programme are "An. Indian's Jlis- , take' (dramatic); "The Abnizzi Mountains": (Italian scenic), "Bill has no Money to Pay" (comic), and "TontoHni's Straw Hat" (comic). Tho theatre will bo open again to-day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. SHORTT'S PICTURES. Thero are some very fine pictures in the. present programme at Shortt's Continuous Picture Theatre, in Willis Street. Of the dramas, , "Shipwrecked" is a clover lovo story,- and "Foraging" is a good south African War yarn. Another set of, scenes at the Coronation Durbar is being put on, showing the entry , of the King and the procession of potentates and troops before tho Delhi mosque. "Didduins and tlie Bathing Machine," and "Kelly as an Upholsterer are in lighter vein. BRENNAN'S ATTRACTION. On Wednesday night Brennan's Entertaining Players will begin their starring season at tho Opora Houso. Tho management assert that the acts in their programme comprise "a constellation. of creative gems." First may be mentioned that, wonderful mimic of humanity who is billed as ".Prince, Charles." lie is an orang-outang, is brimful of intelligence, is claimed to be a remarkable simian performer, and to bo "tho biggest attraction e.vor brought to Australasia." This remarkable animal eats like a human, skates, rides a bicycle, and drives a motor-car. Eva Mudge, singer and quick-chango specialist, is a mystifying person who transforms herself with rapidity, and sings with charm. Johnson and JVells are described as "the greatest living team" of coloured comedians, harmonists, and dancers. They como from America. Archio Glen, character comedian and smger-of really funny songs, is said to ho what the vulgar lx>y calls "a ..break up." Les Petits 'Totos, "the darlings of Pans," are listed to display acrobatic ami gymnastic acts. Jordan and Harvey are described by tho management as "indisputably the greatest Hebrew character artists and comedians in the world." They aro Hebrews, aiul they understand Hebrews. ,'l'hey do not unkindly burlesque their kinsmen, but .they claim to reproduce on tho stage just such people as i"?}',. , met IV '^ l every day among tho liddish population of London. Nolle Kollo is a rather bewitching singer of the sort ,of ballad that makes sympathetic eyes moist. She socialises in male impersonations, and,is a piano entertainer. Charles Howard is a baritone singer of quality ant culture, and the other members of tho company are reliable people. Tho box plan is at tho Dresden. MR. H. B. IRVING'S TOUR. Mr. 11. B. Irving, the famous English actor, who is enjoying tho most successful season ever experienced by a J. C. Williamson attraction in the northern .city, will present "Hamlet" at tho following towns before he appears in Wellington. llis Auckland season terminates on Saturday next. On Mondav, January 2U, Shakespeare's famous tragedy will Ix 3 staged al: New Plymouth. On 1 no-day, January 23, at Eltliam, on Wednesday, January 2-1, at Wanganui, and at ralmerston North 011 Thursday, January 25. Tho plans will be opened for tho NewPlymouth production at Collier's music warehouse on Thursday next, for the Eltliam performance at Carman's on Friday next, at Messrs. Jones's on Saturday next for tho Wanganui representation, and, for the I'almerston production, at Colo's on Monday, January 22. "Hamlet" proved such an attraction in Auckland that the management ran it for no fewer than cloven nights, which is said to he a record run for a Shakespearean piece in New Zealand. On the opening night the whole of the dross circle anil reserved stalls was booked up, and tho gallery was filled before (1.30 p.m. Mr. 11. B. Irving, who is supported by tho same company which presented "Hamlet" in London, including Miss Dorothea Baird, will begin a brief season in Wellington on Saturday, January 27, when "Hamlet" will bo staged, and the Shakespearean play will he followed by "Louis XI," "Tho Lyons Mail." and "The Bells." Tho plans for. "Hamlet" will be opened at the Dresden on Wednesday, January 21. WIRTH BROS.' NEW CIRCUS. Wirth Bros.' Circus and Menagerie will open in Wellington on Monday, January 15, on the Reclaimed Ground, near Thorndon Railway Station. It is now twentyeight years sinco Wirth Bros, first appeared in Melbourne, ISB3. They then visitod Molbourno annually, .until 1892,

when they left Australia for a tour of to complete, returning again to Australian menagerie, which took eight years to complete, returning against to Australia in 18(H), mul since then they have never missed a Cup in Melbourne, each year presenting something new and different from their previous visit. Mr. George Wirth, on his rccent tour of tho world in search of novelties, decided to mako a completo change, passing out nearly all tho old familiar turns to mako room for tho forty odd artists and twenty, new animals which he secured in England, America, and Europe. When all tho acts on tho prograuuno mo specialties, it is nearly impossible to specify any one in particular, although tho Polar bear turn would, at first sight, appear to be tho one particular star; hut there are tho Flying Jordans, a double company of gymnasts who fly about in midair from trapeze to trapeze. Then tho Adel in Sisters and George, who starred for three seasons at tho New York Hippodrome, are very clever wire performers; the Eleven Bastiens, a family of equestrians, who do an acrobatic act on one horse; La Van Artios and Stnnip perform a novel act on three aerial horizontal bars up in the dome of the building. Alf. Tack does a remarkable performance on his head. Foy and Kitchen are a duo of athletes who introduce comedy in a sensational turn on a trampoline mattress. Tho Bastiens, eleven in number, are a family of equestrians, the ladies of which perform many wonderful deeds upon the bare-hacks of galloping horses. Harry Barge has a company of six comedians, whoso ludicrous performance in a real motor-car is a great novelty; and Herr Schmidt is tho trainer of the wonderful group of performing Polar bears. Wirths have retained their herd of trained elephants and Lizzie, the hippopotamus, etc., but have a complete stock of new trained horses and ponies. The box plan is now open at the Dresden. Tho first matineo will be held on Wednesday afternoon. -