ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

AN EASTER ATTRACTION. Tho box plans nncl day. sales for the Norwoods anil Yon Arx combined show will bo at Christcson's all ilay to-dav, and at the Opera House all day ou iiabtcr Monday. The season commences nl tho Opera House to-night. The amalgamation of the two shows combines two stars, ifrofcssoi , Norwood and You Arx, both of whom have, independently headed two large American star attractions. Tho full strength of both companies has fceeu absorbed. Professor Norwood, it is stated, makes his audiences laugh ami applaud at his cleverness in extracting humour out of wli.it is usually a rather serious performance. The Norwoods introduce new features nightly. The monkey scene is particularly laughable. Thought transference, as presented by Professor Norwood and Miss 'Winifred Norwood, is said to bo a striking povformnnce. Tho management court the severest ttsts, and guarantee that Miss Norwood will perioral all to the very letter of the suggestion. Von Arx is an illusionist who is claimed to be much above tlie average, and all his illusions are on a large scale. Mr. George Jlurphy is a- comedy juggler who is said to be very funny. China Wells is an eccentric dancer, and Jliss Paulino I'ord is described as the human pianola. Jliss Pearlo Mellnottc, as Princess Amota, is a sterling illusionist. There will be r. matinee on Easter 51 onday at 2.:i0, when children will be admitted for half-price to all parts. THEATRE ROYAL. For tlie last time the programme which had been running for the week at theTheatre Royal was presented on Thursday night. Last night tho company gave a special sacred concert, which was well patronised. Air. Frascr Shaw.introduced with marked success and approval his American novelty "The Old Actor's Story," and Miss Elsie Knowles was twicd encored after singing the pretty chausonnetto "By the Brookside." Mr. AVisenian and E.ricksen were both well received and vigorously applauded at thi close of their songs. The British Biograph concludes a wholesome evening's entertainment.

To-night the programme will be again entirely changed, and a number of new Australian artists will make their debut on the AYellingtoii stage. FULLERS' PICTURES. ' On Thursday evening and yesterday an attractive programme was screened flt the Vivian Street Skating Rink. ."Driven from the Ranch" is an exciting drama of Western origin, and depicts the wild ranch life and unwritten laws administered by the comity sheriff, who is generally a rough-and-ready justice. In this case fcho fugitive's emaciated condition from exposure touches the sheriff, and instead of capturing him for lynching purposes gives him a revolver lo shoot hims?lf with. "A Voiceless Message" is a pathetic story, centring round the only child of devoted parents. "The Misadventures of a Policeman" is a fine specimen of the faked and impossible in moving pictures, The policeman is in pursuit of a housebreaker, who manages to escape by superhuman methods. For instance, in headlong flight from the closelypursuing policeman he sees an advertisement, on the wall, of a large packing basket. He seizes the basket from the wall, and appears himself ns an advertisement for a tailoring firm. The policeman immediately pulls the paper advertisement from tho wall, rolls it up, and starts for the nearest lock-up. The advertisement comes to life again, knocks down the would-be cdpturer, and once more escapes. "Life in an Ant Hill" is a very instructive film depicting the ways and habits of one of Nature's most industrious creations. "An Excursion to Kuby" takes one in. sight and thought through magnificent scenery of a mountainous and ioeky nature. Tho "Australian Gazette" is full of incidents of recent pastimes, sports, and .accidents,;

.THE, NEW,THEATRE.. ... . . 'Crowded attendances'were recorded at Messrs. MacMahon and Donnelly's New Theatre, Manners Street, during the past two days and nights. Yesterday's programme was of an appropriate character, and proved most entertaining. There will bo a complete change to-day, and during the day sessions only "Pinoeehio," a lengthy picture pantomime, will be the principal attraction. Tho management state that "Pinocchio", is a whimsical story for young and old alike, told in the best and most genial manner, superbly acted, and perfectly photographed. "Pinocchio," who is a puppet of wood at the beginning, is, during the process of the tale, transformed to a hoy. His adventures are many and quaint. He is fired from a cannon, and at one point he is swallowed by a whale. The picture shows the whale and the swallowing. Tho pictured story of "Pinocchio" is very wholesome, very bright, and very human. The remainder of the programme will include "The Old Book-keeper," "Cines' Correspond—ce," "High Life Bobbers," "Her Ci" ;vo" "Gipsy Mermaid," "Bill Has Toothache, and "Bobby Pulls tho Trigger." The.new series will he shown continuously from 11 o'clock this morning till 11 o clock to-night.

THE KING'S THEATRE. On Thursday evening the King's Theatre pictures were screened to a large "house." A capital programme was submitted, the principal item being a dramatic shulv, entitled "Convicts 10 end 13." This 'is ■an exceptionally lino study, which depiets thq lives cf two convicts—one who reforms, ami attains a very high position in public life, and the other who continues to lead a bad life, and subsequently becomes a blackmailer. Another Rood dramatic study is one by the S. and \ Company, entitled "The Cowboy Coward.' A "bully" cowboy makes advances to the sweetheart of another, and professes to liayo a great.affection for her, and she during a short struggle draws a revolver and keeps the offender at hay He, however, wrests the. revolver from her and makes off, and then sends a note asking her to send her "tenderfcot" lover jo got tho revolver. The girl asks her lover to so, but lit- is afraid, and so she seeks tho aid of her lover's friend wl-o willingly offers to go. He goes,'takes the revolver from the bully, and also gives him a sound ■ thrashing. Tho girl then turns from her former lover, and Koss off with her new friend. The River Loiro in I ranee is the subject of a very protty_ little scenic picture. "Knraoure of Animal Lifp," "A Slight Mistake" (comic), Absalom (dramatic), "Uncle's Fortune" (comic), go to innko up a very good programme. There will be a prize matineo this afternoon, and the programme will be repeated tc-night. Yesterday there was a specinl Easter programme. On Monday, "Vanity Fnir" (Thackeray) will "be screened for the first time.

STAR THEATRE. On tho occasion of the bi-weekly change of programme on Thursday, a largo crowd filled the Star Theatre, at Xewtown, thus affording ample proof of tho popularity of the moving picture shows at this establishment. Tho new .writs, which will be screened attain this evening, contains scenic, comic, dramatic, and topical subjects of an interesting nature. One of tho leading items is "Absoloni," a beautifullycoloured Biblical drama. Another very h'nq drama is the "Avenging Hand," in which tho characters are played by noted artists from tlw Comedie Francai'o. Tho tho dead of night, ho steals into Daniloff's hi-i wife, and a tramp, named Michel, who resembles Daniloff in feature and build. Ivan, in answer to h>is father's dying request, leaves his wifo and family ami sets out on a long juurney to ICarabielowsku. to see his father (Nicholas Damloff) for the last time. Soon after Ivan's arrival at Karahielowskn his father dies, leaving a small fortune in notes to his son. The latter has to stay n. night at nn inn'on the return journey, and it so' happens thai: Michel, tho tramp, reaches the inn tho sumo evenina. While tho innkeeper is showing Ivan Daniloff his room, Michel conceals himself in a collar, and it is believed that ho has made o(T in order to avoid paying his small account. Ju the (load of 'night, K'. , stols into .Diiniloll's 1-OI7H and strangles him. done, the tramp drofscs in Iho victim's cloilios. throws the body out of the window, and uftenvunls disposes of it. Tiien he impersonate: Danilolf, and sots out for the tiilrrr's home. For a lime he even deceive.Danilolf's wife, but, eventually, news of tho. murder reaches the homo, end Mi<;he.l meets his doom, for whilo ho is intoxicated, he is strangled by the woman v.h-nin he has widowed. "The Cowboy Coward" is a pathetic lovo story, in which tltn hero, who is a. jnaibler and no'er-do-woli,

is in the unfortunate position of lovinpr

"without hone, but ahs! not without emotion." An amiwii',' comedy, entitled "Oh! you kids," deals mainly with the doubtful sport of snowballing. "Two Accomplices' is another comedy that provoked roars ot laughter. A remarkably line coloured scenic is "Tho River I.oing," and among other good items may be mentioned "Uncle's Fortune," "Drave and Bold," and "A New Life." SHORTT'S THEATRE. At Shortt's Theatre on Thursday a selection of new pictures was presented. Best of an even programme was "Semiramus," a coloured historical film, descriptive of tho well-known tragic story of the beautiful Queen of Babylon. Tho picture contains, incidentally, very wonderful representations of the famous hanging gardens, and of the destruction of the proud city after its conquest by the great Cyrus. Another picture of remarkable character and quality was "Tho Foiling of Red Duggan," a sensational story in an American setting by tho S. and A. Company, yesterday a special scries of pictures wero shown, including "Tho Life of Christ." ' THE MYSTERIOUS MR. JANSEN. On Thursday evening at tho Opera House Air. Frank Talbot, manager for Jansen's Company, handed Mr. U. 11. Yeale, who discovered Jaiifcn on Wednesday afternoon, the X'o prize offered by the management. The presentation was made on tho stage, and Mr. Yeale, in (hanking tho management for the prompt way in which they met the claim, said that, inasmuch as it had been decided to donate the «£.i to the Children's Hospital in tho event of Jansen not being detected, he intended to devote a portion of the money to the starving children in the OldC'omitry, and ment that was received with cheers. Jansen concluded his Wellington season last night. ORGAN RECITAL. About 2000 people were, present at tho Good Friday organ recital given in tlie Town Hall by Mr. .1. Maughan Barnett last evening; A programme appropriate to the season was selected with excellent judgment by the city organist. It opened solemnly with Chopin's great "Funeral March" fr.:m the composer's sonaia for the pianoforte. Wagner's Gcc<l Friday music from • "Parsifal," with its weirdly beautiful leit motif, and the descriptive pastoral movement which heralds Parsifal's approach lo tho "flowery mead" is, when understood, thrilling in its appeal. The programme also included Subqis's "In Paradisum," Schubert's "Avf Maria," a meditation 0,11 the hymns, "O Come, Let us Mourn" and "When 1 Survey the Wondrous Cross," and the "Inflnmmatus" from Rossini's "Stabat Mater."

The vocalist was Mr. Hamilton Hodge?. He was heard to particular advantage in the air, "God, .My Father," from Dubois'* "The Last Seven Words of Christ," and on boing encwed sang "How Willing My Paternal Love" from "Samson." He also sang Sullivan's "Thou'rt Passing Hence," for which he received an encore. EASTER ATTRACTION-TOWN HALL. A grand programme of moving pictures will be shown at the Town llallon Easter' Monday night by tho Independent Moving Picture Co., who have just received direct from America an elaborate si-ries of films, which will be screened here lor the first time on Holiday' night. THE ADELPHI THEATRE, OR ? Only a week now remains in' which to send in suggestions for a name for the above picture theatre, as.the competition in connection therewith closes next Saturday, April 13. Competitors from 'ho country, in particular, are requested to send in for their tickets without delay to the manager, Box 755. These ticke'.s'will admit tho holder to any performance other than thnt of the opening night, and are the only forms on which names for the competition can lie received on. The ticket admitting to the dress circle costs Is. Od., and entitles the holder to three suggestions. That admitting to the ro- . serve stalls costs Is., aad allows two suggestions; whilst a stall costing Gd., permits of one suggestion. The prizes are .£l7 lOs. for the most original suggestion. .£7 10s. for the second, and .£5 for the third. The names of the successful competitors will be published. The management hope that by next Saturday they will be a position to announce 'ho exact date of the opening of the theatre.