ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE IRVING SEASON. The sixth performance of "Hamlet" in tho Wellington Opera House by Mr. 11. B. Irving, Miss Dorothea Baird, and their English company was witnessed last night by a largo and thoroughly appreciative audience. Only two moro opportunities are to be afforded playgoers of witnessing Mr. IT. B. Irving'* production of "Hamlet." On Tuesday and Wednesday next tlio famous drama "Louis XI" will.be staged. Louis XI, King of France, has been a favourite character with novelists and dramatists. Walter Scott has immortalised him in, "Quentiu Durward," and Victor Hugo in "Notre Dame do Paris." Cruel, cunning, unscrupulous, Louis XI, by his genius as a monarch, succecded in uniting Franco under his rule. At his accession lie found himself Confronted with a number of turbulent vassals, at the head ot whom was Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. By his state craft Louis succeeded in destroying the power of these vassal lords, anil the defeat and death of Charles the Bold of Burgundy,play a prominent part in the drama. In the last years of his life, Louis became a prey to the terror of death, and it is in the cruelty and suspicion of his last years that the dramatist has chosen to portray him. Mr. Irving'a performan«> a s the depraved monarch, tottering in his senility, crazed with terror of his end, but with a mind alive as ever in plotting and vindictiveness, is said to bo a most remarkable one. In England the interpretation of this part was described as "one of "his greatest characterisations." On Thursday and Friday next "The Lyons Mail" will be presented and t.ho season will close with two productions of "Tlio Bells." The plans for the entire season will be opened at the Dresden this morning.

THEATRE ROYAL. There is an. excellent programme at the Theatre Royal this week. _ "Constantinople and the Bosphorus" is a very fine picture of the historic city and its interesting surroundings. In addition, tho views of the Turkish capital include a picture of the Sultan on his tray to Selomlik. A run with the Exmoor hounds is a capital item which rattles along through rural England, and shows some of the most delightful parts of the Old Land. FULLERS' PICTURES. "A Miser's Heart" was again received with applause at tho Vivian Street Skating Rink, where Messrs. Fuller and Sons screened a capital programme. The small child in "A Miser's Heart" acts in a charming way, and never fails to gain the appreciation" of the "Tiny Tot's Exploits" are regarded with relish by those more inclined to laughter than tears—and most people go to.the pictures to be amused. First "'Tiny Tot" arrests a man who carries off a barrel of goods from a grocer's shop; this could not have been effected by a grown nian, as he would have been unable to get'in the barrel as "Tiny Tot" did. Secondly, lie hides in a coil of tyres on the back of a motor-car, and gets his man that way. In fact, all his exploits are effected by his size, so to speak j lie gets whero no one imagines anyone could get In the Path© Weekly Gazette there is a very interesting film of the Dundoo strike, and another of the, Italians en route for Tripoli crowding into the transport trains, which rominds one that war is not a thing of the past, despite the Hague Peace Conferences. THE NEW THEATRE. Messrs. MacMahon and Donnelly put on an excellent change yesterday—rather more serious than usual although, there were comic pieoes as well. One of tho best items—ia Wild West tale of horsestealing—was very well acted. The father of tho heroine steals some horses and he is detected. He then tries to buy tho silence of tho discoverer of his theft by offering his daughter in marriage. In this ho is thwarted by tho hero and eventually confesses, thus making the ending happy. One needs to remember, while watching this story, that horse-stealing out West entails lynching as a punishment. Another really good film gives us the story of two old bachelors and a pretty house-keeper who flirts with them for her own amusement, while really she loves one of her own classas tho bachelors to their disgust find out. "For His Sister's Honour" is full of fine dramatic scenes, notably the one in which the "long-lost daughter'' leaves her Indian home and departs with hor lover. The sheep-shearing contests yill prove a great attraction to many, for there is nothing pleases the farmer so much as seeing or hearing about sheen when he is away on a holiday. "'Through u Darkened Veil" is a pathetic etorv of a voung girl who, refusing a liard-work-in pr, but unattractive, clerk, engages herself to the village beau. She afterwards goes blind and discovers thtit her lover is too mean to help her financially to undergo an operation that will restore lier sight, a The* rejected clerk also goes blind through over-working at night. _ In the doctor's surgery he learns of . the girl's financial embarrassment and although it means that ho will have to remain blind himself, ho willingly gives his total savings that she may be restored to sight. The girl, her sight restored, finds out who has befriended her, and rewards tbo clerk by marrying him.

KING'S THEATRE. "Thrown to the Lions" is still very popular at the King's Theatre, and, apart from the story of Marcellus, the colouring of this film is abovo tlio ordinary, "'l'ho Run on the Bank" and "Tiny Tot's Exploits" are received with joyous laughter. The latter shows a series of arrests made by Tiny Tot of the polico force, who,' on account of his size, in able to squeeze himself into the most unlookedfor and extraordinary places. For instance, he effects tho arrest of a' motor thief by hiding himself in a pile of tyres attached to the rear of the car. Imagine tho dismay of tho thief when; thinking himself well away, he feels "Tiny Tot's" revolver pressed into the nape of his neck. The views shown of tho palace of tho King of Italy remind one tnat there are tilings that we have not and ano not likely to have for a few years in New Zealand. But undoubtedly the item which was looked at with most enthusiasm last evening was the strike series. Messrs. West have really given the public a very line topioal film. It certainly is refreshing—why, it would be hard to say—to occasionally pee pictures of .our own town.' The film follows tho strike from the tram-sheds to Nowto.vn Park. ' During tho progress of tho film frequent exclamations and laughter rnnonnoe that some well-known building cr person is recognised. The strike pictures will bo screened again to-night.

"THE BARRISTER.". On next tho Wellington Catholic Dramatic Club will stage the three-act farcical comedy, "The Barrister." in the Concert Chamber of the Town llall. Special orramjemonts have been made with J. C. Will'hmson, Ltd., for tho production of the piece, and the members of tho club have been busy rehearsing for some considerable time. Scenery has been painted by Messrs. Beck and Bevan, and a full orchestra has been engaged under the conductorship of Mr. W. M'Laughlan. The prices are popular ones.