ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1350, 30 January 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"HAMLET." The queue outside tho Opera House! began to form between 5 p.m. and B p.m. yesterday, and by 0.15 p.m. it extended along Manners Street and down Lower Cuba Street, as far as the stage entrance of tho theatre. Needless lo say, the Opera House was packed in every part at 745 p.m., and, thanks lo the timely admonition, there were few who reached the theatre after the curtain hod ascended. from this it will he judged that Sh.'ikespeare, in combination with Mr. IL B. Irving, has fairly captured the public, and thero is little doubt that the season will figuro as ono of the most successful in the annals of tho drama in Wellington. .Mr. Irving as Hamlet is an entirely new edition of tho role. To many who are not dazzled by tho mana his" name exerts, his performance will fofm a fruitful subject for discussion, as ho breaks right away from the conventional—and the conventional lias, it must be noted, been established by an array of magnificent actors from Burbago down the ages to Forbes Robertson, and theroforo must not ho lightly, discussed in favour of the ultra-modern reading of this peerless role —and yet Mr. Irving contrives to give an interesting, if not brilliant, exposition of the part.. In some of tho 6ccnes he rises to fair heights, notably in tho play scene, and with ' the' renunciation scene with Ophelia', and he is excellent, too, in the'quiet'satirical scenes with Rosencrantz and Guildcnstcrn, .and the timeserving Polonius, who cares not a fig who the King may be so long as he can hold on to office. His elocution is sadly at fault in the first act, and where one looks for nice distinctions in intonation and emphasis ; they, are as like to bo missing as not, as is tbo case, in the.- firet act in the scenes Horatio, and the royal pair. The Polonius of Mr. Whitby is a capital performance; Mr. Henry Vibart scores a vocal success as the gliost. . "Hamlet'' will probably lap over- into next-week. • THEATRE, ROYAL. . . Messrs. Fullers' • kinemicolor pictures drew a good house to. the Theatre Iloyal last: night, .-when a, change programme was presented!., A managerial '- note on . the programme stated. -that there had been .-.installed 1 in the! theatre a liiachine to project all 'black • and white subjects,' and that this would , do away with any ■waits between projections. The new programme, is" excellent., "Constantinople and the •Bosphorns" is a very fiue picture, rich in colour, anil • depicting faithfully the. historic city and its interesting surroundings. Ono sees the Golden . Horn, the shipping, the boating, the street-' sights, the oustoms of the inhabitants, and other things of interest. The. Sultan is shown , on his way to the Selemlik; and a view is given of a Turkish lady, out walking—a woman closely veiled, only her eyes being visible. An even more interesting- film is that of Pompeii. The ancient city in its natural coloiirs and shades is much more fascinating' than pictures of Pompeii usually are. "A Run With the Exmoor Staghounds" also,'is'in kinemacolor. It is a remarkable item, ■ and shows' the hunt absolutely complete. In addition to watching the chase, there is much of ! interest to bo seen in tho views of the quaint, old-lime villages'which are passed' through; The black and white portion 'of ' the programme is well chosen and varied. Among • tho humorous numbers is a particularly good story of a stout gentleman's adventures with footpads. FULLERS' PICTURES. The change-programme screened at the : Skating Rink in Vivian Street last evening was rich in interesting and-- entertain- - ing features,- and the' pictures were viewed appreciatively by a numerous body of spectators. One of the best items was a fine tinted film, entitled "Thrown to the Lions." It deals with the story of a band of Christians in' the days of the Roman Empire. Ono of them, a man named Marcellus, succeeds in taming a couplo of lions, whom lie encounters in the wilderness. Later he is taken prisoner by the Romans and with a number of his friends is thrown to the lions in an amphitheatre. The lion sent out to devour the Christians proves to be one of those

tamed by Marcellus in tho wilderness, and he fawns upon his intended victim instead of devouring him as he had bceA expected to do. Amazed at the event, the Emperor spares the. lives of the Christians. Although the narrative is wildly improbable, the picture has many beautiful scenes, and the varjous studies of Hons are particularly good. "Told in the Colorado" details the misunderstandings and adventures of two sets of lovers. Tho plot is slight, but the developments of the story are exciting. From the standpoint of h«auty alone the picture has great merit. Rocky ravines and cliffs alternate;in" its scenes with spacious mountain valleys, and as a whole it is an admirable representation ,of hill scenery. An interesting picture is that which shows a number of Swedish torpedo boats manoeuvring. The boats are shown steaming at full speed, and the columns of water and spray thrown aloft by the exploding torpedoes are finely pictured. The "Pathe Gazette" in its latest issue ■ includes .' pictures of' motor-cycle racing in France, a flood, in Wales, a comic football match at Aldershot, and many other notablo events in various walks of life. A number of excellent comedies are included in' tho programme. "Dooley's Scheme" is an amusing tale of a policeman who attempts most unfairly to circumvent a rival in love, and is'himself, in tho final event, foiled and covered with confusion. "Tho Wager" is a particularly well-acted playlet, dealing with the experiences of a couple of lovers who are just a little too'oblivious of tho world around them and are reminded of it by a clever practical joker. Other good pictures we: "Tho City of Batoum," The Luck of Reckless Reddy," "Won Through a Medium," and "His Chorus birl Wire. The same programme will be screened this evening. TEE NEW THEATRE. The final display of the current nm gramme .at MacJlahon and Donnelly's" New Theatre, Manners Street, vostercfav was responsible for large assemblages lit all sessions. . .To-day there will be uncomplete change. In the new bill, what is described by the management- as a charming .child storv, s 4 Poorly Clad Doll," by tho CineV Conipan/' iiL ve f a .Pretty little girl an opportunity to'display rare talent. The child steals some baby's clothing in order to dress her doll, but, when others are penalised for her misdeed, she bravely confesses her guilt, and is graciously forgiven. The Edison Company aro saiil to have made' another success with an up-to-date theme in "Captain Nell " which is- enacted with this company's customar.v completeness. "Widening the River Rhine" shows an interesting phase of tho process of demolishing the rockv banks of tho great German river, and the latest pneumatic rock-drilling machinery is seen at work. The Bison Company's romantic story "Pioneer Days" (exclusive) relates the adventures. of a family of early settlers in the- pioneei' times. A Wild West coward receives a wholesome lesson from an inoffensive-looking commercial traveller in "The Local Bully." A facetious individual performs some very laimhable pranks in the comedy subject "Ivelly as Equilibrist." American office 'life-is the-theme of "Master Cupid, Detective." There arc other,enjoyable items. The new programme willbe shown from 11 a.m. to 11 o'clock tonight. 1 ■ ' . KING'S THEATRE. This week's change of programme at the King's' Theatre -was witnessed by a large attendance. > The two "star" items —"The Power of Love," and "Thrown to tho Lions"—were more than usually popular. "The Power of Love" is the story of- tho- fall and riso of a voung man with: wealthy parents. The 'voung man neglects his studies, and, with (lie help: of a few friends, spends his own time and his father's money in drinking and entertaining. One night while ho is making merry ho is discovered bv his father, who is attending n directors' moeting"""in the ysame building. The father cautions His son, stops his studio. 1 !, and placos liini in his own office as n clerk. Here tho son meets and falls in love with one of Hie typists. For a lime all goes well, and the son. altraded by the typist, attends to iii? office duties, but being .forced by some friends to drink more than lie can stand, ho gets mixed up in n slree.t. row. and hurried to the nearest police station, where lie spends UlO night in a cell. This his father to overlook or oven ford'A, rofuHnj? <n lin.vo anything wore to d« with aim. Tha tyjist, cm the

othor hand, freely forgives, and hoi pa 1 him lo the host of her power. Stimulated by her lo\o and faith, he secures employment in tho life-saving department. In tho course of his new duties ho saves her life in a railway accident, after which she promises to marry him. The father and mother, moved by their son's behaviour, beg;both him and his future wifo to como back to them. "Thrown lo tho Lifms" was also received with enthusiasm. . The classical story of Jlurcellus and tho lion will always bo welcomed whether written or depicted. Besides being a delightful story, "Thrown t» the Lions" gives us a clear view of those ancient theatres so often mentioned in books. Readers of "Ben Hur" and "Quo Vadis'' will enjoy their reading more if they actually seo' the drosses and buildings of the times of tho Caesars. Among tho othor items on the programme, "One On Reno" and "Dooley's Scheme" caused a good deal of hearty laughter, tho film of tho latter boing particularly clear and steady. To those who delight in naval affairs the picture of the Swedish torpedo flotilla will no doubt prove interesting. MtTNICIPAL MUSIC. The City Organist will commence tho year's municipal music in tho Town Hall with an organ recital on Saturday evening next. The first Municipal Orchestra concert will take plaoe in about a month's time. Many popular works, such as wellknown overtures by Weber, Rossini, and Herold will be included in the year's programmes. Tho . public will also be given the opportunity of hearing compositions by Sibelius and Jarnefeldt, which have had a big success at Home. Complete symphonies by Schubert 'and Beethoven will be . included in some of the programmes, and occasional examples of chamber music will also be given. NEWBURY-SPADA CONCERTS. A feature of the Newbury-Spada concert to-morrow evening in the Town Hall' will be 1 the selection, "Clio Gelida Manina," from "La Boheme," to be su£g 'by Mr. Philip Newbury; also the items 'Ah, Moon ot Mv Delight." from "In a Persian Garden, Blumenthal's "My ; Queen,' and Mattei's. 'dramatic. song, ''Bianco." Mr. : Newbury .will join : Madame Spada in the familiar ■ aend favourite , duet ; from ' "II Trovatore," "Home Our Mountains."' -Madame opada. will sing "Nymphs et Sylvains" •i, ~ a ' ld Somervell's "Shepherd's Cradle bong.- . ifr,' Hamilton Hodges will eing # "The HcdouinV Love Song,'".-a :new setting by the American composer Chadwick, and tho duet" "Watchman, What'of' the Aightf" 'with Mr, Newbury; The full programme will appear in -to-morrow's issue. Reserved seats may be secured at • the Dresden, and day sales at Christeson's.