ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1383, 8 March 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

FA SOLA. To-morrow evening ."Wellington playgoers will have the opportunity of wit- j nes-ing a renowned worker in stage j magic in the person of Fasola, the In- c (linn fakir, who comes with a good repu- j tatiou from Australia, in a stage seting of Oriental splendour he works silently and swiftly, seemingly taking no ken of the audience and its applause. The spectators are completely mystified by his dexterity and subtlety. Fasola will be supported by the Windsor Choristers, a baud of sweet singers, who sang for several months in Sydney, where their tuneful lays were much appreciated, and a company of vaudeville artists now to Wellington. The Theatre Koyal should be taxed to capacity to-morrow evening, when tho now: company is to commence operations. ' 'THE NEW THEATRE. Full houses yesterday afternoon and evening indicated the unwaniiig popularity of MacMahon and Donnelly's coutiiiu. ous picture entertainment at The NewTheatre, Manners Street. To-day and tonight the usual complete change of programme will be introduced. The new subjects will include: "Shitty's Claim' (an exclusive drama by the Bison Company), "Making Electric Cables" (inter, csting industrial), "The Feathertop at tho Fair'' (comedy), "inconstant Percy' (tji'bij. Nona comic), "Who's Who at the Zoo" (strange animals and birds); "The Carlist; insurrection" (Cines drama), "Colonel linker, Ist California" (Champion exclusive drama). The series represent the very latest, successes of Europe and America. THE KING'S THEATRE. The new programme of pictures screened at the King's Theatre last evening drew a big "house." A thrilling picture of a buffalo hunt was shown at the commencement, and then "The Great Moment" was put on. This exceptionally interesting picture-story lasts for nearly an hour. It is, in short, tho tale of a mother's heroism. The child is in the care of a foster-mother, and the real mother becomes aware of a plot to capture the child. She sends a note to the foster-mother that her (the foster-moth-er's) life is in great danger. "Take cave of the child," she adds. However, the villain gets into the house where the chihl is, and is in the act of throttling the foster-mother when a lamp is capsized, and the house set afire. No ouo will face the flames to save the child. Thefostcv-molher attempts a rescue, but tho flames beat her back. The real muther arrives, ami dashes into the flames, and the gloat moment conies when she suspends the child, by a sheet, above the upstretched arms of a man on tho top of a ladder. The child is caught, | and saved—but the mother perishes. An- | other very fine drama is one entitled "Southern Soldier's Sacrifice." "Anld Lang Syne," and "The Man in tho TaxiCab" are also dramas of considerable interest. As an irresistible comic "Whiffles as Bank Messenger" is easily one of the finest which has been shown here. "Bobby as Socialist," and "Bertie's Wooing" are extremely amusing. MIS"3 ETHEL IRVING. Miss Ethel Irving, the English actress, will m.iko her first appearance at the Opera House under the ,1. C. Williamson regime for a season of eight nights, commencing on Saturday next, in the play that led England's first critics to proclaim her a star of the first magnitude in tho theatrical firmament. "Lady Frederick" was no ordinary play, but a supreme expression of the new type of comedy and chance and fate combined to place it; the leading role an actress who by training and temperament was pre-eminently fitted to interpret the character. Tho result was an unqualified success. The critics exhausted all the superlative.; at their command to describe the consummate art of her impersonation and her persuasive prrson.ility. She had already been recognised in London as the equal of Miss Mario Tempest in musical comedy, but it was in'the more legitimate branches of her art, such as "Lady Frederick" and "The Witness for tho Defence" that she displayed that toii'h of genius which brought her her kingdom and placed her on the throne of fame to be reckoned with as one i.f England's greatest actresses. Those interested in the progress of serious art will no doubt comV'ne to make the Opera House too small to hold the audiences during the brief season of this great artist. The box plan for the full season is now open at the Dresden, mid the booking indicates that Miss Irvings fame has preceded her. MR. BAXTER BUCKLEY. Mr. Baxter Buckley, the brilliant pianist who was introduced to Wellington at the last competitions when ho won the champion recital and the Bechstein piano, is to give his first recital in the Concert Chamber on Wednesday next, March 13. He is attempting a programme that would do infinite credit to a virtuoso on tour, ami one of course that is admir- : ably calculated to produce what is in the mail as an executant and artist. Ho will ■ essay Schumann's fine Sonata in F Sharp minor—a gigantic work which occupies half an hour in the playing, and embodies 1 the whole gamut of the emotions as ex--1 perienced by the characters imagined by tho composer. The Sonata demands a 1 mastery of technique, executive brilliance, and poetical inspiration to have justice done it. Mr. Buckley will play a prelude, Elude, and Scherzo of Chopin, and ■ "Nocturne" by Dobler (set for this year's competitions in Wellington), the brilliant '■ "Etincelles" by Moszkowski. a "Polonaise" i and "Etude" by Macdowell, and a Bach i Fantasia. He will be assisted by Miss M. i CWrey-Wallnce, vocalist and monologisl, and Mr. F. R. .Tohiistone, 'cellist. I THEATRE, ROYAL. - • 1 The best item at the Theatre Royal last ■ night—"Auld Lang Syne"—gives a glimpse ! of true Highland life, set in real Highland ' scenery. The tale in itself is simple enough. : Two Highland farmers arc in love with . the same bonnic lassie, being at the time ' friends themselves. The girl makes her ' choice, and the favoured one on his way " homo stops to tell the glad tidings to his 1 friend, the rejected suitor. In a moment ' of anger, instead of wishing his friend " good luck, his companion curses him. The two lovers are married, and start n life I full of hope and promise. The breach be- ! tween the two friends remains until the J child of the married man is lost in the ' Highlands, and found by the other, who " brings it home. In the general rejoicing which follows the feud is forgotten, and. I friends again, they drink the cup of 1 friendship for "Aulil Lang Syne." Another 1 good picture, entitled "Madge of the \ Mountains," caught the public taste. : Other items wero "Who's Who," "As in a Looking Glass," "Arrah-na-Pogue," and f "Pnthe's Australian Gazette." To-night ' will be the last night of the pictures at I the Theatre Royal, and on Saturday evcJi- ' ing vaudeville will once more hold sway. \ BLASCHECK. j To-night. Mr. Joseph Blascheck, the - talented entertainer who has been delight- ) ing Wellington audiences at the Opera i House with his clever "Society Snapt shots," in which he is assisted by Miss c Mildred Wrighton, will give bis farewell s performance. I ' A notice in this week's "Gazette" pro- „ claims to all whom it may concern that a , communication has been received from s tho Secretary of State for the Colonies intimating that advice has been received {. from his Majesty's Ambassador at Rome s that the ports nt'Tripolitann, occupied by , Italian troops, have now been dcchlred s open to commercial neutrals, o In connection with H.M.S. Powerful's v last visit to Wellington, the "Naval and t Military Recorder," a London journal, a pay? a tribute to the enthusiasm "of the c Wellington citizens, in regard to the 0 Navy League. The tribute, which is con■l, tained in a report of the Flagship's cruise '''• in New Zealand waters, says: "Of all •• the ports of Australasia, it is safe to say " that Wellington, New Zealand, is the c most enthusiastic as regards naval nial- '" tors. It is the centre of a very tlourishr ing and well-informed Navy League, or- '' ganised by Mr. Palmer. Upon arrival. 0 the civic authorities paid an official visit l " to the Admiral. In returning his sincere 1 thanks for the very cordial reception. I Sir Geo. King-Hall said Hint _ wonderful ! advancements had been made in the city I and port since his last visit, which was '„ forty-live years ago. For convenience 0 and" equipment he thought few ports ,1 could compare with Wellington." For Chronic Chest Complaints Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is, 6d.'