ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1613, 3 December 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

$ MADAME KIRKBY LUNN. Madamo Kirkby Lnnn, tlio famous English contralto, who arrived in Wellington yesterday, will open her season hero in tlio Town Hall to-night, and sho will sing tho well-known a.ria, "0 Don' Fatale," from Verdi's "Don Carlos," "Eternal Love," and tho "Sapphic Ode" (Brahms). Two now English ballads, "Lovo is a Dream" (Percy Pitt), and "Morning nnd You" (F. Aylward), "A Summer Night" (Goring Thomas), and tho well-known old ballad for which liho is m> famous, "Three Fishers." Mr. Andrew Shanks, tho baritone of tho company, sings tho "Prologue" from "Fagliacci," 'Pipes of Pan" (Elgar), and "King Charles" (M. V. White). Mr. William Murdoch, tho solo pianist, plays Barcnrollo nnd Berceuse (Chopin), and two modern pieces of French music, "Lll Cntlipdrnlo Eiiglmitie" (Debussy), _ and ".Icux d'eau" (Ravel). M, Andre RibaupioiTO, tho violinist's, solos will .boRondo Capriccioso" (Saint-Saons), and "Variations" (Tnrtini-Kroisler), nnd he will open tho concert with Tlcrr Wielaert, the accompanist, with the first movement of tho F Major Sonata (Beethoven). Messrs. J. and N. T«it announce that the box plans aro available at tho Dresden, whoro fivo and threo shilling tickets oro also on salo, and notice is drawn to tho fnct that two shilling tickets are obtainablo nt the.doors only. The second concert takos placo on Thursday night, nnd tho final concert on Saturday evomng. THEATRE ROYAL. Change night at the Theatre Royal Is gonerally responsible for a good audience. Last evening was no exception. The new programmo was an excellent one. As on former occasions that bright company of vorsatilo artists, "Blctsoe's Crimson Ramblers," occupied tho • stage during the whole of tho first part. Their "turn was well up to tlio high standard which these favourites have made during their stay in Wellington. Included in their "turn wero somo splendid concerted numbers. Solos were sung by-Misses Maudo Bletsoe, Olivo Sinclair, Bossie Cahil, Messrs.- Lou Vernon, Edwin Moran, Jack, Vincent, and last came Albert Bletsoe, the comical man of tho company. A' very pretty duet by Miss Maudo •Bictsoo and Mr, Lou Vernon pleased greatly, and tho audieuce called for more. Chief amongst the newcomers was Miss Bessie Slaughter, Miss Slaughter, who was exquisitely gowned, is an English contralto singer of great repute. Sho gave three songs in a manner which captured tho house. Her fine contralto voice was heard to advantage most in her first song, "Tho Magic of Your Voice." As encores she. gave "The Lost Chord" (a fine number), and a very pretty little song with a march chorus called "A Soldier, Little Man." "Black and Bronte" made their first appearance and, kept the audionce in a good humour witty, their catchy songs and fascinating dances. Some of their "gag 9" were rather old, but they appeared'to satisfy the audience. "The Jourdane > Quartet" made their last appearance, and gave popular operatic selections. As a responso to a repeated encore, "Jly Hero," from "Tho Chocolate Soldier," was given. Miss Ida Berridgo and Mr. Harry Linden also added to the evening's entertainment. -..., FULLERS' PICTURES. ' Fullers' Pictures will only be shown for five more nights at the Skating Rink in Vivian Street. Meanwhile the popular prices—sixpence and threepence—will prevail, and when the current programme has run its course on Wednesday night it will give way to a magnificent change for the last threo performances. The new subjects screened last night were witnessed by a good crowd, and proved very entertaining. One picture early in the evening showed an interesting phase of the Balkan war—the. Grecian Army mobilising and leaving for the -front. Two capital scenic items figure on the programme. One gives interesting views of the old Russian capital of Moscow, and the other shows Salisbury and its surroundings. Topical events are depicted in the Gaumont Graphic, which includes the Waterloo Cup, boat racing at- Oxford, and steeplechasinj at Hurst Park. Quite the feature of the bill, however, is a film entitled."A Helping Hand." The story is sot in a fashionable restaurant, into which an aged fiddler has wandered. He i 3 promptly ordered out, but a young man, who is partaking of refreshment with some friends, takes pity on the old musician, and renders him hospitality. There is then a hurried conversation between the young man and the proprietor, nnd the latter emiles and nods. It appears that the young man is a comedyacrobat, and has suggested that he should give an impromptu performance, and take up a collection for the old man. The proprietor readily agrees, everything is quickly arranged, the performance takes place, and tho old man receives a useful suni of money. The wonderful part of the business is the extraordinary ability of the acrobat, who gets through some well-nigh incredible feats. "Handsomer Man" is a Vitagraph comedy featuring Maurice Costello. Other good comedies are: "Detective Summer and the Rope" and "Courtship of Miss Twiggles." On the dramatic side the Kalem Company lead with the "Mexican Joan of Arc,' which is founded on a historical incident in which the Widow Tallamantes figured as the avenger of her murdered husband and sons, who were shot without trial. Other dramatic items are mance of the Icefields," "The Bustlers," and "Tho Revenue Man and the Girl." THE KING'S THEATRE. On account of the exclusive picture rights held by West's, Ltd., and Linley and Donovan, proprietors of the King's Theatre, the patrons of this theatre can look forward each week-to a varied selection of new films. It is doubtful if tho proprietors' evor screened a better allround programme than that submitted for the first time last night. At the head of the bill is "Pilgrim's Progress," adapted from John Bunyan's famous work. The attempt to reproduce in moving-pic-turo form what is, after the Bible, probably the most universally-read book in tho world, was an ambitious scheme, and the Ambrosio Company have certainly made a great success of it. The film is a truly magnificent pictorial dramatisation of the immortal worh perfect in technique, superbly acted, and generally handled with a reverence that leaves nothing to be desired. It is one of the longest picture series ever shown in New Zealand, and must inevitably add interest to the well-read volume. "Two Battles" is ■ touching drama by the Vitagraph Co., with the popular' Maurice Costello as hero. It is a story of love and war, the plot centring round the fact that a brother is mistaken for a rival. The usual complications arise, an engagement is broken off, but finally everything rights itself. "The Awakening of Jones'' is a highly-amusing comedy, in which the Vitagraph Company have placed John Bunny and Flora Finch in the leading ports. Briefly, the story is of an actor and his wife, who are unable to pay their bills, and are obliged to leave their trunk with Jones. Jones puts on the actor's sporty suit, and proceeds to paint tho town red. Jones' wife hears of this, and proceeds to town. Some amusing scenes ensue, but she eventually finds her husband, and brings him home. "EmpireMakers" is a film showing the most interesting scenes in South Africa connected with the life of the late Et. Hon. Cecil Rhodes. Other items include "An Unseen Enemy" (drama), "Sammy, the Fool of the Regiment" (comedy), nnd the Pathe Gazette (topical). This evening the programme will be repeated. _ The management draw special attention to the iact that "Pilgrim's Progress" will be shown for two more nights only. On Thursday it will be replaced by special feature items. - THB NEW THEATRE. The New Theatre was well patronised during yesterday's day sessions, and at ni"ht was packed. Two new programmes wcro presented. The feature number of the evening programme was a remarkable picture entitled "The Lion Tamer's Revenge " The play is enacted in a big Continental circus. The story is full of sensation, and tho climax is thrilling. Tho story is that a lion tamer finds that his wife is in love with an army officer, a lieutenant. The husband having.. had the- pair watched to confirm his suspicions, decides to vent his jealousy without regard for mercy. Ho has his wife and the lieutenant gagged and bound, and sot down! in tho ring, into which tho numerous lions are loosed. The lieuteunnt frees himself, and releases the woman, who escapes. The soldier, however, falls n 1 prey to the beasts, and meets his death. Subsequently the lion tamer is taken in aliMKo by the police, and puniohod; for big BAJid ia tko death, of toe lieutenant.

"Down Through tho Ages|' is & most unusual, but Quito fascinating, picture. In a party of tourists visiting the ancient temples of Egypt > s Miriam, her.fathor, tmd a porsistent 6uitor, also "Jack" Lawrence, an old lover, -whose proposal of marriage has ten rejected. On a tour to the ruined city of Thebes "Jack" makes a last effort to win Miriam's hand. Becoming separated from her party, Miriam sirs down 071 the royal tomb and falls asleep. She' dTcams, and in her dream her soul returns to tho past ages. She finds herself as Kama, a bsggaT maid. She is sought and found by her party, and on waking she look 9up and finds in "Jack's" face the hero of her dream. The day has been won for him.. "A Romance of tho Coast" ie a fine drama, which includes tho marooning and rescuing of the girl in the case. The Tescuer's chief obstacle is a rival, who, through jealousy, endeavours to prevent his going to the girl's aid. Other good films go to make up an excellent programme SHORTTS' THEATRE. The new programme presented last night at Shortts , Theatre is especially rich .in comio films. One of them is entitled "Marjorie's Diamond Ring." Marjorie is a pretty girl of marriageable age, and as it wa9 her birthday, her lover bought for hor a diamond ring. Be discovered when the jewellers had closed that he had left tho ring in the shop, and as he had decided that Morjorie must have the ring that, night, he bought a cheap imitation to servo as a substitute until the morrow. The beautiful "diamond" fell out of tho ring into a sink or some such place, and plumbers and other house wreckers were engaged to find it. They had already upset things considerably when the young man arrived with the foTgotten ring and the real diamond. A story of the adven-tures'-of a criminal with a eense of humour, a detective who had not a sense of humour, and the Paris police is also a very amuaing sketch. Tho criminal trussed up the detective, put him in a sack, delivered him at the police headquarters, said he was the outlaw with a price on his head, and then drew the reward offered for hie capture. Beautiful river scenery is shown by a film which describes a trip down the upper reaches of a mountain stream in France—a tastefully colpuTed selection of most uncommon views. Another picture tolls the story of a Japanese love affair which involved a little unpleasantness, a fight, and some grievous wounds for two of the actors. A new film to tell the story of Madame Sans.Gene will bo shown to-night. The picture illustrates some of the topsy-turvydom introduced into French society by the French Revolution,, and tells how Napoleon remembered a kindness and an unpaid bill. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The popularity of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures was again exemplified by the crowded sessions last evening, when the current programme was shown for the last time. Prominent among the new subjects to-day will be the A.B. Company's exclusive domestic . drama "The Painted Lady." This is reported to be a skilfully-conceived story of a pretty girl and her plainer sister. Another attractive item will be "Evading Justice" (a striking portrayal of a convict's noble heartedness); "An Unseen Enemy" (an exciting experience, by the A.B. Company); "Quaint and Curious Canterbury" (scenes of architectural relics of Old England); "Lucca" (travel); "The Topical Budget" (current events abroad); and. three hearty laughter-provokers, "The Electric Leg,". "Pinned" (Lubin), ond "Funnicuss is Tired of Life." The new eeries will appear from 11 a.m. to 11 o'clock to-nignt.

PEOPLE'S PICTUBE PALACE. The People's Picture Palace was crowded last night, when a fine new programme was screened. One of the most interesting pictures was entitled "Eiffel Tower."' The number consisted of a series of views taken from the world-famed tower of Paris. Eiffel Tower is 983 feet high, but what that really amounts to can scarcely be accurately gauged by the many who have never seen the structure. This picture gives what is surely the next best idea to that which would be obtained from a personal acquaintance with the great erection. From various on the way to the top of the immense iron spire-views of Pans are shown. All are very interesting, and'some are startling. From the top of the tower the largest buildings of the ;vast city are but exaggerated specks. "The Darling of the C.S.A." was one of the best films.shown. It is an alleged story of the American war. The "darling" is Ethel Lane, a clever girl spy, who conceives daring plans, and gets valuable information time and again; Her last escapade secures the downfall of one of the enemy's forts. The troops to which sho adheres have twice failed to take the fort, so she gives herself up to the enemy, in the hope that the men will make an effort to rescue her. The men, misled to think that she is to be shot within the hour, carry the fort at the point of the bayonet. "Broncho Billy and the Bandits" is a fine drama of the West. It demonstrates the strategems and courage of tho men-of the prairie, and shows how one cool, plucky cowboy dealt with a band of four robbers. "Pinned" is a screamingly funny creation, and among the .other pictures are "The Lord and the Peasant," "Holding the Fort," and "Scenes in Ceylon." SEAMEN'S CONCERT. A very enjoyable concert was given, last evening in the Sailors' Best, under the auspices of the Catholio Seamen's Conference, and was attended by a large number of seamen and others. The programme ■presented was a very good one, and appeared to be much appreciated by the seamen. The following items were contributed:—Overture, by Miss Jensen; songs by Mieses Davis, fianan, and Monaghan, Messrs. Burns, Hickmott, Johnson, Shortt, Wilson, and Wood; recitations by Misses Lennox and Scott, Messrs. Arthur, M'Williams, and-Eeade. The accompaniments were played by Miss Jensen. Mr. D. Kelly,-who presided, thanked the artists for helping to make the concert 60 great a success, and said he hoped to see them, and their friends at the conference's next ooncert, to be held on that night fortnight.