ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1528, 26 August 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"SINBAD THE SAILOR." ."Sinbad tho Sailor" attracted two capacity houses on Saturday. Fully fiveeighths of tho audience at tho matinee were children, who laughed heartily at funny Mrs.- Sinbad and tlio silly sailors, shuddered at the wicked Old Man of tho Sea; were mystified by tho Sleedes, enraptured by the gorgeous "Valley of Diamonds," and tho distntctingly beautiful ''Lolly-pop Land." Ono of tho outstanding features of the pantomime is tho entrancing ballets with which the performance is studded. This most important department has for its presiding genius Miss Minnie Everett who has to work out every step, movement, and picture for every ballet many weeks before it reaches the public. A distinct character concomitant with the scene in which it occurs has to be given each dance, and further the ballet liavo to bo dressed in colours attuned to the scene. So we have the_ Eastern "Noutch" dancer in tho typical street scene at the opening of tho scene; tho shimmering sequin-tailed costumes for the "Snake Ballet"; tho pretty rose dresses in the "Rose Ballet," and, finally, the delicately-tinted costumes in the final scene. Miss Everett as ballet mistress is indeed a person of importance in a pantomime. Another highly responsible official is the stage manager, on this occasion Mr. Thomas Foster. To look overhead on tho stage,_ and see tho "cloths" hanging as thick as leaves in a book, one is struck with wonder that the right one is alwavs lowered when the little electric bell tinkles the instructions to the fly-men in the world of ropes overhead. There are no less than 78 pairs of lines used in "Sinbad" to support cloths and sky-borders, and it is only by having a complete "plot" carefully set out and studied that order is made out of apparent chaos. The position of the stage manager is easier in the largo theatres of Sydney and Melbourne, but where thcy are hampered for space at every turn, aa in Wellington, the nightly performance is a strain on the whole of the working staff. That the performance does work so smoothly is due in a large manner to Mr. Foster and his capable staff. SKATING KINK. The Skating Eink in Vivian Street was well patronised on Saturday when "Tho Violin's Message" and "In Quarantine" were screened for tho last time. "Tho Price He Paid" and "Down With the Men," two laughable comics, were also well received by the house. To-night tho usual complete change of films, direct ; from London and America, will be screened for the first time, and some capital ' films in all classes are promised by the ' management. ' -.. ! THE KING'S THEATRE. \ "The Black Chancellor," Wesfs cxclu- ' sive film,, to be shown to-night at the 1 King's Theatre, is said to be strong in ' incident,: bright in colour, and attractive in its details. It tells graphically to what effective limits intrigue may be" carried for the gratification of one man's sol- ( "ish whim. "The Black Chancellor" would < have, his daughter marry a man whom sho 1 iloes not care for. She plans a secret t marriage to outwit him. Then "Black ( Blood" asserts itself, and murder is the t means which tho chancellor would use to i ichievc his end. He fails in this direct iion, and while watching .the inevitable I ■esult of his own folly, falls a dead man. n rho Princess marries the man she loves n md is ■ received in state by her peoiile. i IVith such a plot "The Black Chancellor" f diould prove a very strong pictorial melon Irama, j;

3 SHORTT'S PICTURES. b Dumas's famous drama, "Camiilc," in which Hie groat Sarah Bernhardt appears . as the "Lady of the Camelias," drew large attendances at Shortt's Continuous 1 Picture Theatre on Saturday. Numerous other pictures support this fine item, _ which is very popular with the patrons. A complete change is announced for to- , day. Prominent among: the hew films will be one showing portions of tho Eanfurly Shield match Wellington v. Auckland, and , if this is. not run through by the operator at a rate faster than the actual play itself, it should give a very interesting idea of what the play in tho big match was like. Among the other pictures will ho an exciting drama—"The Four Dare Devils," showing the tribulations of four circus performers. Additional pictures nre: "The Cattle King's Daughter" (S. and A. drama), "Across Ceylon" (Pathe coloured scenic), "Gerona" (Pathe scenic), "Appearances are Deceptive" (Pathe comic), "The Old Nurse-'' (Nizza comic), and "Their Golden Opportunity" (Vitagraph drama). THE ADELPHI. On Saturday evening there was a crowded house at the Adelphi Theatre, many patrons having to bo refused admission. Two films to receive much attention were "Napoleon at St. Helena," which replaced "When Kings Were tho Law," and tho long Nordisk feature, "Love and Friendship." To-night a complete change of programme is announced. The two ."head-liners" will both be productions by the Vitagraph Company. "The Old Composer-' tells a pretty story of an old musician, who, failing to obtain recognition in his own country, leaves his life's work with his wife and daughters, and disappears. Many years afterwards ho returns to find his, name famous, but himself forgotten, both by his own kin and by the world. So, seated one night in the gallery of a theatre, he listens to ono of his operas being received with tumultuous applause, and, when the curtain is rung down for the last time, his wearied spirit hears the grand finale sung in a happier country. "Dan Farland," the other Vitagraph production, deals with a young rancher and his sweetheart. Dan has the one besetting sin of drink. _ How the young lovers fight together against it and finally succeed is well told in the picture. The remainder of the programme is promised to be up to the standard set by the Adolphi. "THE SHAM SECRETARY." Commencing to-day and to-night, MacMahon and Donnelly will introduce at the New Theatre, Manners Street, a sensational draniagraph, entitled "Tho Sham Secretary." This picture is reported tohave enjoyed unusual success in Europe, ■and this is attributed \ to the attractiveness of the plot, which is said to abound in thrilling situations. A young man, who is proceeding to take up a position as confidential secretary in a large banking establishment, is waylaid by a notorious burglar, who steals his victim's papers. The burglars successfully impersonates the young man at the bank, but a well-devised scheme to rob the bank is accidentally frustrated in a most unexpected manner. "The Sham Secretary" will bo supported by several other enjoyable; subjects. ' '