ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1395, 22 March 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. W. AV. Jacobs's characteristic comedy 'JJeauty mid tho Barge" was again singed .at the Opera House Inst evening before a large audience. 'JVniglit will Ijo tho last opportunity of witnessing this comouy, for to-morrow night tho company will present tho draniii "Why Jicn Lovo Uoint'ii.' , Mr. Hamilton has recently played this pieco throughout. Australia "with'marked success, the members of his present company milking a strong cast. On Tuesday night, tho last of the season, tho popular comedy drama, "A .Message i'l-om Shirs," will bo revived as a farewell performance. THEATRE ROYAL. It appears to be certain that vaudeville at the Theatre Royal will remain popular, judging by present indications. Or.u more opportunity will be. given of seeing the artists at present appearing on the boards. On .Saturday evening the. bill will bo changed, and new fare provided.

FULLERS' PICTURES. Tho Skating Kink in Ingestrc Street was well filled ln«t evening, when an entirely new programme of pictures was screened. Chief among the dramatic siories pictured is one entitled "Regeneration," which, whilst bordering on the improbable, makes an undeniable appeal to the. emotions owing tj tho general excellence of tho acting. It is the story of n waster who 'deserts his wife and leaves her in dire want. She struggles on until shu can sob but one end, anil then, pinning a note to her baby, stating that Hunter Ross is its father, ventures forth into the street. Ross has meanwhile gono to the dogs, and has taken up with, another woman, with whom he quarrels in a restaurant and strikes. As the woman staggers out into the street she comes upj.i the body of a woman holding a baby in her amis. The woman is dead, and her better instincts prompting her, she takes the babv home, resolving to lead a better life for its sake. In time, Ross calls on her. She tells how she canio to find the child. Ross snatches the child from her, telling her she is not fit to be its keeper, but finally they patch up an nnderstanding, and resolve, to live the better life. An amusing picture of merit is "Deacon Dcbbs." The deacon has a pretty daughter, who is 10-.vd by a sprightly young man, who is kept in severe check by Debbs's ostentatious piety, and his abhor-rr-iico of drink and tobacco, which latter the young man is not aver.-e to in moderation. Tin-young conplu aro dragged by tho old man to a lecture on prehistoric fish, but finding things slow, the lover asks tho girl to pretend that she has lost her purse, and away they go lo hunt for it at a gala on Coney Island. This serves as an excuse to introduce a splendid picture of a magnificent carnival on tho gay island, many of the processional tableaux being artistic creations on a s«ale of great splendour. On returning to tho-lectuvo hall, the. young couple find the old man alono, and home they jog together. There, in the old man's absence, the young niaii produces a decanter of wiuo ;md cigars from behind some books, and together they are making merry when Deacon Dcbbs steps in, but their utter confusion is turned to mirth when he joins them in a glass and\ gives them his , blessing. The scenic views include soino charming views of Derbyshire, and interesting scenes in Croatia. "The Boot-legger" is a strong dramatic picture relating the hunting down of n conscienceless brute who purveys drink to the Imli-ms. Other pictures of interest are: "A Frontier Girl s Courage," "Crossing the Channel," "The Utt|e Spy," "The Magic Wand," the Australian Gazette, and "A Visit to Khasmus' County."

THE NEW THEATRE. The new programme, at M'Mahon and Donnelly's New Theatre, Manners Street, to-day and to-niglit, is headed by the fines Company's dramatisation ot "All liabri and the forty Thieves" (the enchanting story from "The Arabian Xights"). Ali Bnbit, a poor Persian woodcarrier, accidentally learns tho magic words, "Open, sesamo!" "Shut, sesame!" by which he gaias entrance into a vast cavern, tho repository of stolen wealth and the lair of forty thieves. Ho makes himself rich by plundering from theso stores, anil by tho remarkable cunning of Morgiana, his female slave, tho captain and his wholo band of thieves are exterminated. In reward for these services Ali Baba gives Morgiana lier freedom, and marries her to his own son. The story is brilliantly staged, and performed by leading Continental theatricals. The immortal heroism of the sweet old lady

Barbara Ereilcliie, which is inseparable from the history of the Amoricnu Civil War, forms Iho basis of <i touching love romance- by the Champion Company, entilled "Barbara J'roitclili'." Ollitr numbers include "Tim Jlnlionpy" (a Vitn«rai>h dramn), "An lndinn's I.ove" (a Jiison exclusive drama), "The Subaltern's Jok»," anil "While the Master Dances," KING'S THEATKK. There was a very large atteiulance at the Kins's Theatre la*t evening, when a Ijonelit performnmico was sjiven in aid of the •i:ramar Volunteer Fire liritfnelo, whoso funds should bo considerably as tlw result, 'i'he star picture oi a very excellent programme is a pictorial representation of the comedy "Jladamo .Sans Gem;," with Jladaiuo jiojnns, the groat 1-rrncn nctross, in Die title role, Jioth tliosu who have had the fortune to see the i play, or its operatic version, "The JJuchess of Danvzic, will l;e greatly interesled in swing this line artist iii the part of the charivoman who rose to be ' the wife of one of Napoleon's generals. Napoleon is actod very characteristicallv by J)iH|ue?ne, a noted Parisian actor, whb lends n iino air of realism to the personality he interprets. One of the new pictures shown last evening is an excellent luughter-provoker, "Beware of Jlagic," showing how a very immcent young man assists a magician, wluse favourite trick is to malvo people disappear by hilling I hem on the head with his marjie wand So struck is young Newlyenme'with Die wonderful qualities of the w;md, that ho tteals it, and on reaching: home tries to i lr.nko his father and mother disappear bv striking them with the wand. FinciinV this of no avail, 113 becomes angry, anil attempts violent measures, to the' utter disruption of the household. Other good pictures well ' worth seeing are: "Sc.v Life" (an interesting scientiiic picture), "liy the Zuyder Zee" (a series of views taken beside tho placid waters of Holland's inland sen), "Jealousy Foiled," "Tho Visitor," anil "An Unpleasant Surprise." On Monday next a Nordisk exclusive picture, entitled "Gipsy Blood," will be screened for the first time in Wellington. THE STAR THEATKE. Good business continues to favour the new management at the Star Theatre, Xfwtown. One of the best backwoods dramas «en on the" screen for some time in Wellington is "The Half-breed's Daughter," a fine imajinaiivo picture, worked out in magnificent natural scenery. Tho leading, character is the beautiful daughter of a half-breed Indian, who resides in his lonely hut in tho backwoods of America. Comes one day a miner to horror rations, and .seeing the girl is smitten ' with her simple charms. Tho half-breed keeps a wary eye on his daughter, who is obviously attracted by the stranger, but one day the latter brings along a mate, who entices the half-breed away from tho precincts of tho hut whilst he makes hot love to the girl, and induces her straightway to elope. On returning to the hut the half-breed becomes half-crazed at tho disappearance of his daughter, and starts out on a vain search for the girl and her betrayer. The miner soon becomes tired of tho girl, awl ill-treats her so brutally that sbo eventually deserts him, and after an exhaustive tramp through the woods gains tho hut, only to fall dead at her grief-s-tricken l'nt.lver's feet. Tho half-breed swears vengeance, and getting on to the miner's track at length meets him face to face on the edge of a cliff. A fierce fight ensues, during which the Indian gradually forces tin: miner nearer and nearer to tho edge, until he falls to his death. Other good pictures to be seen at the Star Theatre are "The Vaqui Girl" fa Wild West idyll), "The Visitor," "The Conscientious Musician," "Tho Snare of Wealth," and "Beware of Magic" (comic).

PARIS THEATRE. The Paris Prize Picture Company have arrangements well in hand for their opening on Saturday evening next at the Paris Theatre in lngcstro Street. The building has been renovated 'throughout, and every attention will bo paid to the comfort of natrons. Music will be rendered during the programme by, an efficient orchestra. A ivcll-arranged programme, to suit all tastes, has been selected for Hie opening, and the. screening will bo. enhanced by realistic mechanical effects, and should prove pleasing to patrons. Prizes to tho value of 3 guineas will be given every evening to one member of tlio audience. On tho opening night (Saturday), a special announcement will bo macle as follows: "A prizo awaits tho man, woman or chilli who attends our opening performance on Saturday night, and on entering the building submits in writing the best solution of 'How tho management of the Prize Pictures may give a prize at every performance, to one member of tho audience, without infringement of tho Gaming and Lotteries Act.'" Tor the best answer received a gold watch nnd chain, value ,£7 10s., will be given on Saturday evening. JANSEN. Jansen, tho Mflgician, who will commence his New Zealand lour at the Opera Houso next 'Wednesdn.v, is another of those clever young American conjurers who in recent years have helped to bring their profession into prominence. It is recognised that most of the present-day professors of the mystic art are American born. This is probably due in large measure to the inventive genius of the race. Jansen, in addition to being a performer, is the manufacturer, of his own apparatus. He has therefore been able to embody in his entertainment a number of new ideas without the necessity of disclosing their secrets to an outside manufacturer. Jinny of his tricks aro therefore exclusively his own. He carries with him an immense quantity of scenery nnd paraphernalia, and .presents his entertainment on most finished lines. Amongst the most perplexing of his.various feats aro those in which he is transformed in the presence of the audience into a different person. Just when the spectators are watching him most closely he proves to be someone else. Associated with Jansen in his entertainment are Do Tlollis and Valora (comedy jugglers), .Velson Story (musical artist), Jliss hdna Herr (illusionist and escape expert), 'lhc box plan is now open nt the Dresden.