ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1408, 8 April 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. Thud! Thud! and Sfjip! Slap! For ii quarter of an hour two niuscle-pprfeeled Japanese wrestlers again and again struck the matting with rather disturbing audibility. But (here was no reason for tear; tailing down is a purl of those men's profusion— that is tailing without hurting themselves. Shitnn and Kamcda were the athletes, and their "turn" evoked tho warmest of applause from the crowded audience at the Theatre llovul un Saturday night. Shiimi opened bv showing how to fall. He would dive head-fore-most to the linor, and, just a fraction of an instant before his face would, in the ordinary course, have violently struck the matting, his hands would break the fall. Then Kameda came on the scene, and the pair gave a remarkable exhibition of holds, grips, locks, throws, falls, and breaks. The lightning-like movements, ami the effectiveness of them, demonstrated clearly what a splendid thing ju-jitsu is as a moans of self-defence. -The reappearance in New Zealand of Alf. and Bob. Driscoll was greeted with hearty applause. These two clever young patter artists sent the audience into laughter by their "small decoction of language." These items were supplemented by a number of others of a specially entertaining kind, as a glance through the following list of artists will show:—Alf. Nolan, character comedian and dancer, in "Kempton Park"; Nellie Love)!, in "What's (ho Use of Knocking At An Empty House"; Arthur Tauchent, endman and comedian; Crystal Sylvena, in "Alpine Dress"; Charles Moody, eccentric comedian; Elsie Knowles, balladist, in "I Wonder Tf You Miss Mo Rometimes"; Joseph Hurley, impersonator and mimic; Mark Ericksen. in "Let Me Hold Your Hand," and "I Saw Peter Honcry Home"; Louie Crawshawe, serio, in "Yoii Want a Sweetheart"; Frnser Shaw, vocalist, in "Silver Threads Among the Gold": Florrie Ranger, Roy Jicne, and Nolan and T.ovcll, comic skctchers, in "Tho Lady Doctor." FULLERS' PICTURES, NEWTOWN\ Messrs. Puller ant) Sons havo completed arrangements for tho permanent screening of -Fullers' Pictures at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown. Two complete changes of progrommo will bo made weekly, on Monday and Thursday nights, and these will consist of tho very latest films. The opening programme is announced for tonight, the principal attraction being a lengthy picture entitled "Margaret Catchpole," a thrilling and romantic dramatic production by Chas. Spencer, of Sydney. The story deals with (lip life of a voting English girl, who fell in love with a convict, and, dressed as a man, follower! him out to the penal settlement in Australia. The pic! lire is said to he one of the most elaborate films submitted to New Zealand picture-lovers, "Paid Back" is a' Selig dramatic story of a modern newspaper "scoop," founded on real incidents. A number of other excellent items arrive with the English mail this afternoon.

SKATING RINK. An excellent programme of pictures attracted holiday crowds to the Skating Rink on Saturday afternoon and evening. It included such notable moving pictures as "Driven from the Ranch." "The Twelfth Juror," "As it was in the Beginning," and "The Voiceless Message." There will be a matinee performance this afternoon, and a complete change of programme will bo presented this evening. THE NEW THEATRE. . Hundreds were unable.'to obtain admission at all sessions of MacMaho'n and Donnelly's continuous picture entertainment at the New Theatre, Manners Street, throughout Saturday. A picture pantomime, "l'inocchio," which was added to the day sessions provided unlimited amusement for the juveniles. The slory relates the adventures of a toy-boy carved from wood. He has many exciting experiences, including being swallowed by a whale. Thcpuppct is able to regain his freedom, and ho returns to his home a wiser toy boy. An exciting new dramatic work by the C'ines Company, "Up-to-date ■Robbers," illustrates the perfidy of a yonng chief of a gang of skilful, thieves. By his cunning he becomes engaged to a beautiful girl of a high social standing. The gang commit a bank robbery, and then kidnap the girl's parents to secure a ransom. The villain is unmarked, and due retribution follows. The A.B. Company's drama,

"The Old Book-keep?]-," depicts how a kind-hearted old book-keeper, who is noted'for his many charitable deeds, falls on evil days through being discharged by a new manager during his employer's absence on a holiday tour. The old man is without shelter, and ho goes to his employer's house to wait his return. There the old book-keeper surprises a couple of burglars, and holds them at bay in a novel maimer until help arrive/. A budget of photo-news is unfolded in the item "Chios Correspondence." The Bison exclusive drama, "Her Captive," is a Wild West episode, w'th a full measure of excitement, and is cleverly conceived. The Hepwjx comedy, "The Gipsy Mermaid," is an amusing travesty on a "faked" mermaid exhibited by a Gipsy showman. Two other laughtcr-provokers are-"Bill Has Toothache" and ''Bobby Fulls the Trigger." During the day sessions to-dav the pantomime photo-play "Pinoechio 1 ' will be shown at all sessions, in addition to tho current programme. This evening's pictures will include all except "Pinoechio," which will be replaced by a biogr.aph production. THE KING'S THEATEE. To-night West's Pictures will screen tho wonderful Vitagraph production of Thackeray's "Vanity fair." Foremost amongst the artists engaged may bo mentioned the excellent representation of "Becky Sharp" by Miss Helen Gardner. •This actress gives us just the type of character which Thackeray depicted, small and slight in person, pale, sandy haired, and with eyes cast down. Another character that appears to have step-

ped out of tho novel is tho "Joseph Ridley" of Mr. .lohn Bunny—a very stout, puffy man in buckskins and hessian boots, whoso bashfulness in tho presence of women is a standing joke with -his male acquaintances. One cannot well imagine a more perfect portraiture of the character than the ono which Mr. Bunny gives. Each of tho other characters is strictly in keeping with the author's conception. To those who are familiar with tho story, the picture will be a real delight, and to those who now come in contact with it for the first time it should not fail to provo entertaining. STAE THEATEE, NEWTOWN. A special holiday matinee is announced for this afternoon at tho Star Theatre, Newtown, when a programme of novelties will- be shown. The programme will bo repeated at 8 p.m. The star attraction for to-night's bill is tho Vitagraph production of the well-known novel "Vanity Fair." The full resources of (ho Vitagraph's picture, appliances and artists were required for this film, which is said to bo the most costly that they have yet turned out. The programme will also comprise scenes dramatic, scenic, and comic, all new to picture-lovers in Wellington, PAETS THEATEE. The Paris Prize. Picture Company will

present a complete change of programme at tho matinee performance at 2.30 today. The various subjects are of an amusing and interesting nature, and will include Uie following;—" Beautiful Venice" (scenic). "Making a. German Newspaper" (educational). "The Eose of Tenderloin" (drama), "lied Star's Honour" (Indian romance), "The Settler's Wife" (stirring Western cowboy drama), -and "Grey Wolf's Squaw" (an exciting Indian story, full _of daring and heroic deeds). "Stage Struck" nnd "How the Girls not Even" will form part of the comic element. Tho while will moke up a pro-gra-mnio likely to please the. most, fastidious. The competition for a prize of three guineas will again lie a special feature of the performance. Seats in. dress circle may be reserved, without extra, charge, by -applying at the thealre between the hours of 111 to 12 and 2 to 5. SITORTT'S THEATEE. There will bo a new programme al Shm-H's Thn.itre, Willis Street, to-day and 10-night. The new fon'os includes Ihe Vitagraph masterpiece. "The Black Chasm." "Icebergs oft tho Cna=l. of Labrador," "Paving tho Sncrial" (a r.iilway drnma,), and "The Old Book-keeper." Tomorrow- "Th« Circus Girl," <'-lu'ch ;'= said to be a masu.iflco.ut picture will be