ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1352, 1 February 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"ifAMLET." Though there were no cars ruiuiiug last evening, there were many who failed lo obliu'n lulnusaou (0 tlu> Gixim Uaus'v, where .Mr. 11. 13. Irving and liis English conjpauy are imiformiuj,' "Hamlet" to .sentatjmialJy l>ig biuinn.-t. The protluctiou is uiiu n-Jiich leeiiis wiib interest, niirl include; spvcriil iiniJcrVoiuitions liltely to leave an iinra-css on thu memory. "Hamlet" will he'ulayerl U p l.il! mixr .Monday evening. On "i'liesduy and Wednesday tho company will produce Sheridan's fine historical play "Louis XI," on Thursday and Friday "The Lyons Hail," end 011 Saturday and Monday (February It) ami 121 "Tho-BcU.O The plans for'the iinal six nights of the season will be opened at the Droiden Company's warehouse on fntiinlny morning. THEATRE EOYAL. Fullers' pictures nt the Theatre Eoyal this week should lie a great attraction to those fond of travel, as the kineumcolor views of Constantinople and the Bosphortts are almost like reality itself. The view of the Golden Horn and tho shipping of tho Hellespont is particularly interesting. "A Run with the Exmoor Hounds" is perhaps tho best item on the programme, as in the course of tho chaso one is through a part of rural England—and that is .perhaps tho best part of England. There are several numerous items intermixed with the more serious and swmic views, so that the spectator has no need to weary. SEATIXG RIXE. There was a. large attendance at the Skating Rink last evening to witness the fiaal scrcenipg of an excellent selection of photo plays. This evening Messrs. Fuller will present an entirely new programme of the latest khiematography, which arrived with the 'Frisco mail todav. One film will portray a very novel subject— -an animal comedy entitled "Run on the Bank," the latest sensation by the Selig Company. "The House that Jack Built" is another fino film by tho Lubin Company, showing how true love sprang, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of the untrue. Pat lie's Animated London and Australian Gazette aw\ a number of other subjects will be screened, the whole combining to make an excellent evening's entertainment. KIXG'S THEATRE. Last night, tho current series of pictures were shown for tho last time in the King's Theatre. The star items in the programme wero a dramatic picture play entitled "The Power of Love" and another film showing photographically the architectural beauties of the palaces of the King of Italy. A now prijsramnu equally attractive is announced for tonight . TIIE NEW THEATRE. Crowded attendances were the rule it Messrs. MacJlahon and .Donnelly's continuous picture entertainment at The .New Theatre, Manners Street, yesterday. The great tragedy "La Tosca," was introduced with immediate success. Tho _ escape- of Caosar Angelotti, the political prisoner, and his kindly treatment by his friend Mario Cararadossi are well enncted. Thr> terrifying scene in which La Tosea, tho beautiful young singer, sees her lover, Cavaradossi, tortured in order to disclose the hiding place of Angelotti, is dramatically performed. Baron Scarpia's insistent and unwelcome attentions to La Tosca, and his cruel attempt to deceive her'oy pretending to grant Mario, her lover, his life, are shown with perfect acting and stagecraft. The final and probably most tragic incident is witnessed when La Tosca sees Jlario face Hie rifles and, when he falls, she believes that, in accordance with Scaipia's promises, only blank cartridges were used, and that h'e is feigning death. When she realises the terribla truth and when the guard» rush to seizs her she flincrs hereelf over the battlements. The furore created by Madame Sarah Bernhardt as "La Tosca," and Mrs. Brown Potter's success in the same role with the late Kyrle Bellow as Scarpia are still fresh in tlie memories of many. "La Tosca" will be repeated at all sessions to-day and tonight. ■ .

NEWBCBY-SPADA CONCERT. Had it not been for the tramway strike there would have been a much larger audience at the Town Hall last evening than was present. That there is room for good ballad concerts at popular prices in Wellington may bo concluded by the fair patronage which has been accorded tho two concerts, so far given by the Xetv-bury-Spada management. Last evening's audience was quite enthusiastic, and, generally speaking, deservedly so. Mr. Philip Newbury, the tenor, who was in pood voice,, sang the poet's "Che Gelida Marcrta" ("Thy Tiny Hand is Frozen") from the first act of Puccini's melodious opera, "La Bohems." This is a beuutiiul iiumbci that calls for quality and sympathy more than vecal display, and Mr. Xewbury, though a distinctly dramatic -tenor, attuned his big voice to the demand for lyric treatmeat, and gave a sympathetic reading of

the number (sung here quite recently by Mr. John M'Cofmack). As an encore, he sans -ill the mezza voce the sweet old I ballad, "Oft in the Stilly Xi*hl." Anions his other numbers he sang Blumunthal's "My Queen," in which he allowed vocal hardnesses to creep, "Mary," and Liza Lohmann's recitative and aria, "Ah, Moon of My Delight" from the for.',' cycle "In a Persian Garden." With Madamo Spada, he sang the familiar duct "from . "II Trovatore," "Homo to Our Moun-' bins," and with Mr. Hedges the duet. "Watchman, What of the Xi'ght.' ' Madame Spada contributed Benibsrs's v pretty song "Xymphcs-et-Sylvains," that pert 'little ballad of other days, "So, ' Sir," and Somarvell's graceful "Shepherd's Cradlo Son?." Miss Peggy Bain, ■ a pleasing violinist, who produces the '. proper enntabile effect, and is delightfully confident in her work, scored a success in Hubay's ' difficult solo "Hejre Kati," and succeeded in infusing a food deal of atmosphere into Wicniawski's "Legondc." Shs was gracefully accompanied by Miss Madeline Webb. Mr. Hamilton Hodges introduced a new version by Chadwick of "The .Bedouin Love Son?," which does not compare at all favourably with, the original setting, desuite Mr." Hod'es's vigorous effort. His encore to this song was inappropriate. Ho was distinctly good in his interpretation of the Valentine's cnvabna from Gounod's "Faust," "E'en Bravest H?art and was rewarded with a hearty bis. It was good, too, lo hear him once nn.ro in Wallace's "Freebooter" songs. Th« ReW " and "Son o' Mine," which ho *an" with fire and freling. Mrs. Ernest II °Qu<"vee played the accompaniments tastefully.