ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPEEA HOTJSE. Once again tho Norwoods contrived by their hypnotic intlueneo to amuse a large audience. Miss Paulino Ford, under hypnotic spell, played a multitude of pieces suggested by the audience, although she herself was totally unaware of what the suggestions were. Besides being a remarkable conjurer, Van Arx last night proved himself to bo no novice in tlia art of extricating himself from 100 feet of ropo in v;hich lie was tied up. George Murphy, tho juggler, was also well received, as were the rest of the company. THEATRE EOTAL. The current programme was staged for the last time at the Theatre Royal last night. Shima and Kaincda proved tho Btar attraction,-closely followed in popularity by Stella Ranger and the DriscoU Brothers. To-night tnero will be a chango of. prorrranime, and again on Monday night a new troupe of Australian artists will be introduced to Wellington audiences. FULLERS' '.PICTURES. An admirable diversity of interest marks tho current programme presented by Messrs. Fuller and Sons at the Skating Rink in Vivian Street. "A Visit to the Zambesi Falls" was a capital scenic film, and with "Tho Ascent of the Mattorhorn" must be given pride of place. The usual mntineo will bo given to-day, and the evening- entertainment will be repeated as usual. KING'S THEATRE. That moving pictures as presented by West's and tho Royal Syndicate at the ICing's Theatre are' popular .with a large section of the community is nightly evidenced by tho large number of people who attend to view them. Last evening a benefit was given to the Thomdon Swimming Clnb.'aml special pictures were screened in' this connection., In'addition the thrilling circus drama entitled "The Four Daredevils" was put on. NEW.THEATRE. The New Theatro was filled to capacity last evening, when: ah entirely new programme was presented, which gave supreme satisfaction to all lovers of animated pictures. Of the dramatic pictures "Getting His Man," a AVestern American story without words, made a special appeal. It concerns a bank-robber and a sheriff. After the robbery the picturesque old sheriff gives chase and corners his man after a wild chase in a country hotel. After handcuffing his man, and relieving him of his spoil and revolver, tho sheriff wires tho result of his hunt to the bank manager, and then saunters into a back room, whero roulette is being played. Seized .with an nnfortnnnto desire to play he loses first his own money and then starts in on tho bank's, and finishes up by losing every penny. Ho .returns to his prisoner .broken, up at, the ruin- w'hich stares him in "the face.' Tho prisoner offers to get it bnck for him, if lio will free him. After a.reiuctant consent the man ''holds up" tho gambling saloon, gets away with the gold, and bolts for tho country. He is hotly pursued and shot, but eludes his pursuers, and after they have galloped past him struggles back to the hotel, gives the sheriff tho gold, and dies game. Another excellent picture is "The Refuge," a story vjhicli reflects a good deal of credit on the work of the Salvation Army. Other pictures of interest wero' "Their First Thief," "Willie Practices Physical Culture," "The Transformation of Mike," and "Making Gamenbert Cheese." ■....,; ; STAR PICTURES. . An unusually attractive_ programme at present forming the evening's entertainment at the Star Theatre, Isewtown, was screened again • last night. "A Child of the West" is tho chief item, and those fond of Western- subjects will find it a really exciting and well-finished story. Other items are: "His Mother;" '.'Walled up," "Thief Who Got-Punished," and the "Massed Parade of Wellington Tramway Employees" lends a touch of local Interest, and colour to a programme that is niuch appreciated by the spectators.

: THE ADELPHI, OR P The last day is announced for suggestions to be sont in for the naming competition being held in connection with the above theatre. Those still desirous of winning tho handsome prizes offered (three cheques for ,£l7 10s., J27 10s., and £5 are-being given for the three most original names sent in) are directed to at once-.obtain their tickets nnd forward their, suggestions to tho Manager, Box 785. Tho-judges in the'competition aro three members of the Wellington pressone froni.each, of the daily papers—and their decision will be final: The names of the winners', will-be published on Saturday, April 27......Attention Is also drawn to the fact .that.-.those purchasing competition tickets arc (by retaining .the bottom portion of same).entitled to admission to the pictures on any night except the opening one, "MISS LANCASHIRE, LIMITED." Miss Marie liaines, described as "England's Queen of Comedy," will appear for tho first timo at the Opera House on Monday next, in the amusing rural play, "Miss Lancashire, Limited." Miss Marie Baines is a. .versatile artist. Her popular "hits" are imitations of noted artists, mimicry of children, catchy nnd tho latest songs, and ..eccentric'dancing". "Miss Lancashire, Limited," as revised by Miss Mario Baines, is classed as typical of a broad farce nature. It is full of amusing incidents that keep tho audience in a state of merriment, throughout the performance. The members of the new Ministry havo signified their intention of being present at tho opening performance on Monday night. Seats may be reserved »t tho Dresden without extra fee. THE STORY OF CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN. Captain Eoald Amundsen was the first to reach tho South Pole. He pitched his tent on the,southern, cap of. the earth on December 11, 1911, and remained thro with four members of his staff for three days, taking observations. Captain Amundsen will tell tho thrilling story of "How I Reached the Pole" to the people of- Wellington at tlio Wellington Town Hall on Wednesday evening next, April 21, when the subject will be illustrated by .over 100 slides taken by Captain Amundsen himself in the course of his perilous journey. Tho box plan for the only ono lecture to bo given in Wellington will 1m opened nt Ilolliday's to-day. "EVERYWOMAN." There has been a very large demand for seats in each of tho country towns in which J. C. Williamson's production of tho great spectacular dramatic play, "Evorywoman," is to bo presented. "Everywoman" has been running continuously in America for twelve months, and is boing performed at tho present time by no fewer than six different companies. 'Tho piece created quito a sensation in Australia, whero it ran between Sydney and Melbourne for over four months. Tho Auckland season was notable for the enthusiasm with which tho efforts of Miss Hilda Spong were received. Miss Spong, who plays tho -title .role, is regarded by American critics as one of tho best actresses in tho States.. "Everywoman" will be staged in New Plymouth on Monday next; at Wanganui on Tuesday next; at Palmcrston North on Wednesday night; and at Masterton on Thursday, April 25. Tho company will then proceed to Cliristchurch, Onmaru, and Dunedin, nnd tho New Zealand tour will conclude at Wellington, whero "Everywoman" will be staged for the first (imo on Tuesday, May 21. "A GIRL'S TEMPTATION." A season of melodrama will bo comgienctd in the Opera House on Saturday next, April 27, by Goorgo Mnrlow's Dramatic Company. Tho drama selected for the opening Is entitled "A Girl's Temptation," by Mrs. Morton Powell, a lady whoso works hnvo been described by the English press as possessing touches of tho life led by the average work girl and woman. In "A Girl's Temptation," Mrs. Powell claims to exposo some of the ovib; which ar" claimed to beset every young girl who obtains an honest living, or (leavoitrs to do >o. Tho "Dailv Telegraph." Brisbane, recently :«itd:—"TCe hijr fieatre (Jf«r Majesty's)-was packed from floor to wiling. That" tho".sentiments expressed in tile dialogue, which at times are nioie than forceful, and the,'sensational equations will) which Ih'i play abound!-, wcro' qdite to the l.iste of the audience . was Droved by the vociferous applause .which

often interrupted the action of the iplay," The box plan will bo opened at the Dresden on Wodnosday morning next. A : SONG RECITAL. On Friday next at the Concert Chamber, Mr. Hamilton Hodces will introduce to Wellington concert lovers a group of New Zealand composers. Local interest is keenly manifest in the hearing of compositions for the voice, by no fower thnn lour resident teachers, and judging by the booking at the opening of the plan to-day at the Dresden Piano Company, thero is every reason to predict a largo audience. Inclusion will also be made of the "American-Indian" songs, and a group of songs by English composers. Mr. Baxter Buckley, piano, Mr. Herbert Bloy, violin, and Mrs. E. H. Turner, accompanist, will assist. SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY. The Wellington Shakespeare Club proposes to make a nev/ departure this year, and to celebrate the anniversary of Shakespeare's birthday, which falls on Tuesday next, April 2a, by giving a public reading of "The Alerry Wives of Windsor." Concerning this particular play, P. A. Marshall, the Shakespearean editor and commentator, writes: ''Although this comedy cannot be placed in the same rank as 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'As Yon Like It,' and Twelfth Night'—belonging as it does more to the order of farce than to that of true comedy—it will still always be ono of the most interesting of Shakespeare's plays; if for no other reason, because it is the. only comedy the scene of which is laid entirely in England and the characters of which are, avowedly, taken almost entirely from the English middle class. The Merry Wives will ever remain one of the most perfect specimens of that lighter kind of comedy which, when treated by the hand of genins, we never can bring ourselves to call farce, though, strictly speaking, it may only deserve that title." Particulars of the reading appear in our advertising columns. '