ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1344, 23 January 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. .. .'Last night Fullers' Theatre Royal put on a special holiday programme,- which attracted a very fair audience. The kincmacolor items were, as usual, the principal draw, but the pictures in black and white, top, were good. The "stdr" picture was entitled "Egyptian Sunsets." It is a uniqufe and remarkable picture, showing several phases of the delightful beauty of the Eastern evening. In one part of the picture the sun has almost set. In the foreground are somo camels, but they cannot be seen. However, it is certain they are there because their reflection is cast up plainly aad distinctly by the lake which lies between '• tho beasts' of' burden and the setting sun. A beautiful flower study is included in the programme. Tho blooms are sweet peas, and tho picture is really delightful in its simplicity and charm. This film is one of the true' triumphs of'kinemacolor. The comic element is infused into the programme in "A. Visit to the Seaside. Here humanity young, middleaged, and old: slim, and fat, active and gouty; gay and sedate, is caught by tho camera just doing what everybody just does when they get let loose for a day by the seashore. It is a oomplete round of the funny side of a beach holiday. "A Trip up the Thames" shows many famous plaecs of interest, and in "Dandy Dick of Bishopgato" a thrilling historical drama is presented. A film which shows some clever arrangements depicts three thousand children forming the Stars and Stripes. FULLER'S PICTURES. All accommodation at the Skating Rink was occupied last, evening, this, being no doubt due to the double attraction of the holiday and change of programme. The new bill is unusual in its diversity of , subjects. There was one picture-" which would be sure to carry many of the male section of tho audience ' back to their schooldays, when, with a volume of Fenimore Cooper's "Leatherstocking Ta.les," they would creep under a hedgo and lose themselves in tile wild romances of the days when but a fringe of white people had settled on the eastern coast of America, and when the Indian was a real menace. The )<cturo showed an' incident from "The Last of the Mohicans"—that where the Major, mewed up in an inland block-house, learns-that his wife and daughter had arrived.from England. He sends ono of his officers with an 'Indian guide to escort them to-him, but, on the return journey, Magua proves false, and pretends to have lost his way in order to bring abfnit the capture of the littlo party. On the discovery of Magua's treachery the officer gives. tho alarm, aiul, to his great relief, comes aid ill the aged Mohican, his son, and Hawkeyo (who is known severally as the : Pathfinder, the Deerslayer, etc., in Cooper's novels). Magna, determined on mischief, eives the Ilnron tribe the .word about the little party's helplessness; and there >is a running fight, in which the women are captured and dragged to the Huron village. The two Mohicans and resolve to effect: a rescue, and do so disguised as inedicino "men. They manage to pet tho daughter away, and finally rescue the wife from Magna. The filial picture shows the nsed Mohican mourning over the body of liis son. killed in the fisrht. "Cain's Retribution" is a drama with Sicily for a setting. Love, iealousy, revenge, and retribution figure bv turns in this. Two men. in love with the same girl, quarrel, and one. with evil intent, gives his rival's mule a fright on a dangerous road. Tho maddened animal careers along, until both it and tho driver are thrown over an einkinkment—an accident which causes the driver's death. At the spot where he dies a ores* is elevated, and, there Gain woos anil wins the girl who so lately favoured the dead man. His suit prospers, but retribution comes. The form of the dead man appears ever before his eyes, until, finally, the shape urges .hint back and back to the edge.of the road. al-jive where the event took place. In a wild attempt to savo hiiraself, Cain clings |/> th? cress, but the poi-t snaps and he : is hurled over. KING'S, -THEATRE. A holiday audience filled every seat in the ICing's Theatre'last evening,"when nil entirely- new programme was screened. Tho chief picture of tho many new ones shown was entitled "Tho Sins of the Father." This is really sucli another preachment against the effects of the abuse of strong drink, as is Zola's "L'Assomoir," better known in,its play form "Drink." In tho ease of "The Sins of the Father," the problem of heredity is force-fully, dealt with. 31ai> col Morin, a bright young' French engineer, is tho son of a father whose 'excesses have made him a gibbering dinsomaniae, and it is tho poison in the blood which works such terrible havoc with tho nerves and brain of the son in after life. _ Marcel is a clever young man, who is doi(ig very well as an engineer, so well that 110 comes in contact with the daughter of tho proprietor of the works, but owing to tho, young man's father the manager will not hear of a marriage with- his daujrhtcr. Later on, when ho has made a, success, of big works at Chile, lie returns to-Franco, .and meets his old swootheart, and mar-'

ries-her. After marriage • tho taint in the- blood makes itself manifest in nervous headaches, horrible hallucinations, and fits of ungovernable rage, and inssnsato jealousy. In one of these outbursts, he .shoots his. innocent, wife, and for tho crime is charged with murder, and committed for trial. During a visit to. his home, his. counsel learns for tli'o first time the cause of his olient'a mental trouble and-that-the-crime for which lie stands chargcd is due to ail hereditary taint. At the .trial in tho higher court—an impressive scene—tho father is produced to support the plea of..hereditary .mental aberration, through, drink, just as Marcel, under the strain, cracks up, and expires in the dock. Tho ; picture is most powerfully'and convinc-ingly-acted and-photographically is perfect. Another striking -picture is entitled..''Tho Battle," a. tale ■of tho Ajnerican war of .1861, in which a ooward is transformed in to. a hero by tlio derision of tho girl ho loves. "A Hide for - a Bride" is one of the most engrossing race pictures seen for a long time. It is a desperate, steeplechase between two young men for the hand of the. girl they, both madly lovo. The chase is wildly exoiting, but finally tho right men wins, and the charming young lady is at tho finish to'redeem her promise. Other pictures aJ'e "El' Mona'sterio" (scenic), "Making a Six-toil [ Cheese," "The Magnetic .Umbrella," and . a. very . good Patho Gazette. \ THE NEW THEATRE. To-day is "change day" at Messrs. Ma<> i Mahon and Donnelly's New Theatre in - Manners Street. In addition.to tho stirring war picture entitled "The Battle" s many new pictures will be shown. These • include "The Mobilisation of the Amcris can Fleet in tho River Hudson," "Lone- !) star's Return," a story of the Wild West, f "To the Brave, tho Fair," and "The lleclar mation of Snarkes." The new programme > will be shown from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. 4 to-day. r I SHORTY'S PICTURES. From tho timo at which Shortt's Pic - ture Theatre in Willis Street opened un- . til it closed at 11 p.m. yesterday, a con- - tinuous stream of people were going in t and out. The management presented a i change of programme, and it turned out 3 to be a capital one, variety being its - strong point. There were excellent scenic, ' dramatic, and ooinic films, as well aa '• coloured floral subjects. The star attracjj tion was a Sclig Indian drama, entitled ' "An Indian Vestal." It was ,a pretty ' story, telling of the influence which a I beautiful white girl had over a tribe of Indians who had captured her during her ' infancy. One of tho remarkable features of the picture was tho scenery and setting. Some of the picturesque waterfall scenes were splendid. "Amongst tho j lioses" was a coloured film of great beauty, j While his study was being run off. apj plause was frequent'. Other pictures were: 0 "Over the Chafing Dish," "Speedy, the _ Telegraph Boy,". "From Quebec to Nia;l gara," and the "Gaumont Graphic." r "Flora and Nymphs" was repeated by s special request. The theatre will be open x ] from 11 a.m. until II p.m. to-day. J MR. H. B. IRVING'S SEASON.' To-morrow morning at 9 o'clock tho box .. plans will be opened at the Dresden for the first six nights of Mr. H. B. Irving's brief Ecason, which commences at the x jJ Opera House on Saturday night next, ; when Mr. Irving will appear in his " splendid interpretation, of flamiet." Tnt> management will have a staff of ushers in attendance from 8 o'clock to form a queue, which will ensure that the earliest arrivals shall have choice of seats. Writing of tho initial New Zealand production, which took place in Auckland, tho ."Herald" remarks:—"A .new page was , turned in tho history of the local stage, J when Mr. H. B. Irving appearetl at His ® Majesty's Theatre in a representation of 'Hamlet.' There aro numorous incompar- ; able features about Mr. Irving's work, and to individualise these would bo to 1 confuse the main issue. Undoubtedly the , supreme moment is tho finish of tho 7 play sceno, when, after what seems a wellnigh interminable tensity of waiting, he ? drags himself across tho floSr in everincreasing excitement to the steps of the '» throne, springs suddenly upon- it, and s points an accusing finger at the fleeing ! " fving, bursting forth into fiorce, . delirious F denunciation, which fitirs the onlookers to ® unwonted pitch. Tho demonstratiOE at ■ this stage stayed the action for an apf preciablo time. After this.fine dramatic P outburst the portrayal proceeds through ' the stirring scene with the Queen, in II which the actor shows yet a new vein and " added power on to the passionate grief of 0 Hamlet at Ophelia's graveside, and so the >" magnificontly-acted duel scene which brings down tho final curtain. Mr. lrv--11 ing will be supported by the same fine 0 cast which presented "Hamlet in LonA don, including Miss Dorothea Baird, who y , v iii appear in'the role of .Ophelia, wh eh d is saifto bo tho best thing which his 1 talented actress , has ever done. 'iiie ; s coming season is limited H.Jf "„ k nights, but, in addition to J "Louis XI," "The Lyons Mail, aud Thl s Bolls" will also be staged. BRBNNAN'S VAUDEVILLE CO. Brennan's Vaudovillo Co. save two ccssful performances vesterda} at th« Opera House- The audience in the afterk noon included a large of ch.l----0 dren, who were hugely delighted at tno : 1 sa? u ? an^ S 'h4hly ra^™usl ? d V n^ Yiddish character.... .Particularly funny was Maurice's description of how ho w.ent to work in'the mint, and tho rules that wero applied for the government of tlie institution. Miss' Eva Mudge, the light"in- change - artist,- lent novelty to lier clever turn by showing tho true inwardness of her act through transparency. It showed how simple it 9 to do a thing if you know how to do it. Prince Charles went through his amase ing performance with. tho same "jSlonj. 15 I as on previous occasions and stated, e cycled, smoked and dined with all the rl Mvoir faire of a man about town. I Tohnson and Wtlls. Charles Howard, o and Archie Glen, changwl their songs, s Miss Nt-lle Kolle sang of Ireland and the Irish in appealing tones, ana 1/09 j Petite Totos were to the fore with a new , lot of acrobatic and balancing tricks. 9 The final two performances - aro announced, and a special programme is to c be presented. Ae plan for. Thursday e night is now open at tho Dresden. NEWBURY-SPADA CONCERTS. '• \ season .of Wednesday popular con--0 certs will lie inaugurated to-morrow evens in" in the Town Hall, when Madanio 0 Snada'will make her reappearance. Ilns e gifted' lady has sung with notable success n with th° principal choral societies of f Great Britain; and on her re-entry in the " Sydney Town Hall, the "Herald" stated: ■ The great success on Saturday . night " was tho "Inflammatus." from Rossini s ; "Stabat Mater." Madame Spada sang 1 this magnificently, the perfect beauty of ' the voice, the power, the distinction of ' style, declamation, and dramatic exjjrcs- • 1 sion were above praise. The bydney 'Bul- ■ letin" states: "Madame Spada's singing 1 of 'Pnrigio Cara' with Mr- ihil. Newbury ' caused more applausive noise than all ; the rest'-of the programme, unless, pcr--1 haps, the tenor's rendering of 'Annio ; Laurie.'- Breathes there ail audience .lYith 1 soul so do;ul which wouldn't respond with : its heart and hand and feet' to Newbury's ' singing of that sweet song?" The full ' programme will appear in to-morrow'i issue. The management announce that > the prioe of admission to all parts of • t-lip hall is one shilling. Seats may lie reserved at the Dresden for one shilling extra. Mr. John l'roiisc and Mr..Hamilton- Hodges are engaged for the opening concert. Mr. Newbury and Mr. Hodges sing the "Invocation"-, scene from Goiv nod's ''Faust." . . \ ■ .

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