ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1463, 11 June 1912, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"MR. PLASTER OF PARIS." "Life without laughter is like a machino without oil," is the motto of the Wyke-hain-Xahle Musical Farce Comedy Company. So they make it their business to supply the tiitatre-going public of Wellington with the necessary lubricaii in. 'l'ho principals, .Messrs. Reginald Wykeham and Edward Nable, in putting "Mr. Plaster of Paris," an American farco .musical comedy, before us, should bo we]l rowarded. Tho company's season opens at tho Opera, ilonse on Monday evening next, .Tunc 17. The box plan for tho fir-jfc six nights of tho season open at tho Dresden on Thursday evening, at 10 a.m. THEATRE ROYAL. Noted as tho Theatre Royal is for attractive programmes, it rarely excels the bill which the management submitted to the public last night. Resides Kara, who is a splendid vaudevillo artist, there are at least seven other attractions which can well bo called "star" turns. Kara is marvellously successful in somewhat tho same description of performance as that which Paul Cinquevalli introduced. He is an equilibrist of tho highest order, and a most pleasing entertainer. lie who comes direct from England and appears under the rather vaguo name of "Mr. C." is a monologue artist of merit. His* - "' "turn" was ono of the most enjoyable in the evening's entertainment. Maud Courtney, nn American operatic comedienne, had the audience in hearty laughter during her reign before tho footlights. Morley lind Bates, two very fine musical comedy performers made their first appearance ii> this country; and Albert Durand inado his New Zealand debut, in his banjo ventrilonuial acts. Rftya, and Rejmi, English dancers; O'Dell and Hart, comedy duff; and Gus Harris, chorus singer and Hebrew delineator, presented new items and scored fresh successes And, besides these, a number of other accomplished performers contributed to the task of amusing tho large audience." I FULLERS' PICTURES. ! There was a largo attendance at the Skating Rink, in Vivian Street, last evening, when a complete change of programme was submitted. The pictures were varied as to choice of subjects, and all were good of their kind. "The Passing of J. B. Randell and Co." is a. bright little picture-story which teaches the good old doctrine that hope never dies. The opening scenes are gloomy. A young stockbroker, finding himself ruined, buys a pistol, with intent to end his life. On his way homo lie comes across an outcast newsboy lying asleep in tho snow. The stockbroker takes the boy to his house, and gives him food. By accidcnt the boy lights on the fact that tho man who has helped hiui is bent on suicide. Himself an optimist, 'undismayed by hardships and misfortune, the newsboy succeeds in'persuading the ruined stockbroker that it is better to go on fighting than to give up in despair. The final scenes show man. and boy labouring, in partnership, to restore their broken fortunes. "Forests in Winter" is a beautiful picture of -snow-cla'd Norwegiau forests, with lumbermen at work felling trees and carting away the logs. ! Another picture shows the amusing gambols of a tribe of puppies, who have a wonderful talent for mischief.' "Electric HouseBuilding" is a comical trick-film. A pretty villa is thrown up, as if by magic l , from a heap of rubbish, and as quickly collapses about the ears of its too .confiding purchasers. Other good pictures which find a_ place on the programme are: "Life in a Kaffir Kraal," "German Gymnastics," "Rapids of the River Ku'ma, Japan," "The Hypnotic Detective," anil "Willie on Horseback." The same pictures will bo screened this eve,ning.

THE NEW THEATRE. The leading feature of 'the new programme at tho Now Theatre, Manners Street, to-day will be tho American Biograph Company's domestic drama, "Tho Root of Evil," the story of a secret' marriage. The VitagTfmh Company's latest character study, "The Hobo's Redemption," is an excellent story of a typical American tramp. • "Detective Roberts's Peril" fells'how a daring gang of bank robbers are-outwitted. Other attractions include the Lux comedy, "Arabella's Wooing," "Bill and Bertie's Wedding Day," and "Janet's Flirtation." The new series will bo shown from 11 a.m. till 11 o'clock to-night, KING'S THEATRE. . The change programme screened at tho King's' Theatre .last evening attracted a large attendance. The best picture in a very fine selection was that entitled "Mdlle. Nitouche." It is a merry comedy, admirably produced in every way. The story deals with the'escapades of Nitouclie and an elderly music-master, who is employed at the convent school in which- she is being brought up. Nitouclie is a. talented young lady, and the ease with which she learns the music of a famous opera is an important factor in- the complicated inazo of incidents which go to make up tho comedy. Obtaining leave of absence 011 some pretext, Nitouclie journeys to Paris, accompanied by her music-master. There she is taken to the opera—the same opera as that with which she has made herself familiar at school. The prima donna, angered at a fancied slight, throws np her part, and' Nitouclie is induced by some of her friends to fill the vacant place. She succeeds to admiration, and is acclaimed by her delighted auditors. . All sorts of merry complications follow. At one stage of her adventures Nitouche is compelled to as a military recruit, and even when she returns to her convent the interest of (lie comedy does 1 not slacken. All the parts are-well acted, and the title role is so cleverly borne as to lend an air of probability to the developments of a wildly , improbable story. Another excellent picture is'called "Antai." It is a picturesque drama of Eastern life. "The Goddess d{ Sagebusli Gulch" is an American drama, heavily packed with sensations. "Beauties of Portugal" is a line scenic film, and tho latest issue of the "Pathe Gazette" is as rich as its predecessor's in interesting items. The remaining pictures arc well up to standard. The programme will be repeated this evening. "THE DANDIES." A now and entertaining programme quite up to the usual standard, was subnutted by "The. Dandies" at-the Concert Chamber last night! From beginning to end the items plainly caught'the fancy of the large audience. Miss Hilda Lane, the •soprano of the company, had an opportunity to prove anew her worth in "Carmeneita" and "Buttercup Time." The later nunibsr quite delighted the audience, and in response to a clamorous encore Jliss Lane sang "Comin' Through the Rye." Miss Evelyn Ward's contralto solos proved as popular as ever. "Song of Thanksgiving," "My Treasure," and "Home' were her choice last night. Miss Irene Vero again exhibited charm and skill as a vocalist and humour as a comcdienne. After singing in tho lirbt part "Corsican Maid" and "I AVish I Lived Next Door," she complied with special request in the second , part and sang "You 11 G'omo Hack," in which she was assisted by Mr. L. Griffiths. Besides singing in finished stylo a number ol humorous songs, Mr. George Morgan added wonderfully graceful dancing to tho bill, and rounded off his efforts with a capital recitation entitled "Th« Trite Story of Minnehaha." Mr. Claude Dampior's character work as the corals lias won the success it intrinsically merited, and by spccial request lie repeated these numbers last night, and added two new items, "Puzzlers" and "Happy Land." Mr. Gavin Wood's bass solos were not the least popular on the programme, and he received a treblo encore, whilo Mr. Oliver Peacock, baritone, was likewiso greeted -with enthusiasm. The quartet "I'm Haslit'ul," the duets, and tho trios wcro all excellently rendered, and throughout the evening the audience were appreciative ill well-won applaiwe. Without doubt "The Dandies" provido splendid entertainment. THE A DELPHI. There was a large attendance at the Adelphi Picture Theatre last evening, wheu thn new scries of films, a particularly fine selection, was screened'. One of the best of the items, although it is not billed as the star film, is a little Pathe comedy entitled "An Aku Romance," which lolls the story of the infatuation of a great, variety ilnn«eu«e for an artisan who rescue-- her from a footpad one evening. She, disguised as a '■dressmaker. tal;e< a room at his boardinghouse, anil the I Ho become betrothed, bill lie discovers her leal culling, srr- her in llie company of some yining iiicm uf fashion, anil lireaks oil' with a violent . scene, He returns then (o his loom, and

is just about to put an end to his existence when another woman who lias fallen in lovo wilk him rushes ill, and in a very few minutes the lu-illiant clanseusc is forgotten—licklo man! The star film is a thrilling detective drama, "Charlie C'olms and the Dancer's Necklace." telling of a deep-laid scheme to steal a valuable 'necklace, of the burning of the theatre. the disippearance of tin- jewels, an exciting pursuit; through His Paris sewers —huge subterranean caverns like railway tunnels, with foot-walks on either side of the turgid stream—culminating in a niofor-cnr chase. 'J'lie robber escapes, bill, of course, is caught in the end by a clever ruse. "Winning is Losing" is the title of an entertaining romance which is built upon a trotting race. A feature of this item is a very fine reproduction of the race. Other item!! include: "Deep Sea Diving"' (an interesting submnviue study), till! Pathe Ga/.etto (the budget including scenes from the Siege of Paris "Svdnev Street" Bandits), "The Telegraph Operator" (an. excellent railroad drama), "Umbrellas to Mend" (a comedy), "Cologne and the River Rhine" (a charming scenic).

MR. EOBEET PARICEK'S CONCERT. On Friday evening next tho Wellington Musical Union is to tender a complimentary concert to Mr. Robert Parker, to mark his retirement from the position of conductor, wliieli he lias field for so nianv years. The feature of the programme will be the performance of Sir Arthur Sullivan's notable work "The Golden Legend," in which a choruS and orchestra -numbering over 200 will be engaged. The principals will bo Miss Rosina Buc.kmanu, Mrs. Nellie Fieldhouse, Mr. E. J. Hill, and Mr. Hamilton Hodges. Besides "The Golden Legend" there' will be an initiatory concert programme' consisting of part-songs and the solo "My Heart Is Weary" (Goring Thomas), to he sung by Mrs. Ficldhouse, a contralto vocalist quite new to Wellington. Tho box plan (at tho Dresden) is filling vapidly-

CONCERT; AT THE HTJTT. The Hutt Bowling and Tennis Club's concert this evening' promises to be a thoroughly successful one. The. assisting artists include: Miss Rosina Buckmann (late of the Melba Opera Company), Captain Stevens, Messrs. Hamilton Hodges, ,T. M. Clark, E. J. Hill, Marcus Marcus, A. W. Newton. D. Kenny, 13. Gardiner, G. Parsons, and F. Blandl'ord.