ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1618, 9 December 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATEE ROYAL. Splendid business is being recorded at the Theatre Royal, where an attractive show is being presented by the FullerBrennan management. The chief attraction, of the present bill is Hiss Bessie Slaughter, an English contralto, with a remarkably powerful voice of rich, mellow quality, which she uses with marked taste. Such is the texture of Miss Slaughter's voice that to hear her singing in her lower register one could easily mistake it for a light baritone. Yet every note is round, full, and smooth, and delightfully musical. Miss Slaughter sang "Tlie Magic of Your Voice," "The Lost Chord" (with au original effect gained by singing the penultimate phrase pianissimo), and "Little Man." Miss Slaughter is well worth hearing by all lovers of the contralto voice. Bronte and Black, entertain cleverly with sons, story, and dance, and Miss Ida Berridge is asoubrette.of much personal charm. The "Crimson Ramblers" are a merry band of talented people, with good ideas to compensate for certain crudities. Mr. Bletsoo, for instance, never for one moment allows the audience to forget that he is the comedian. In such an entertainment there are times when the fact should not be mado too obvious. Pronunciation is a weak point with the "Ramblers." They sing of "Havarna, instead of Havana, and "Savarnah," instead of Savannah, both the soprano and tenor sang "anses" for "answers" on two occasions. The defect is ono very simply rectified, and might with advantage be attended to, as the vocal ensemble/of the Ramblers is very good. A new programme will be presented this evening.. •Miss Bessie Slaughter, the principal feature of the varied programme, will be heard this evening and during the week in three well-selected and favourite songs —"The Rosary," "Never Mind tho Weather," and "An Old Romance.. Bletsoe's "Crimson Ramblers" will present another new programme of songs, duets, specialities, and concerted items. Other new "turns" on to-nightfs programme are "The National Duo,' leading child performers, who will introduce songs and characteristic dances, Harold Heath, comedian, and buck and wing dancer. Other artists on the attractive programme include Black and Bronte. English sketch artists, in London and Continental successes. Ida Berridge, Harry Linden, and the National Bioscope.

KING'S THEATRE. The star feature, of West's Pictures' new programme at the King's Theatre tonight will be a magnificent coloured drama, entitled'"A Woman's Ambition." A couple—poor, but happy—visit wealthy relations, and vain visions are excited in the wife's mind. An adventurer induces the-wife to elope with him, but his pretended wealth turns out .false, and ho .is arrested as a forger. The wife is left penniless and deserted, and after many adventures she again meets her husband (who had lost his reason through the shock of his wife's, desertion). The new shock restores his mental balance, and he pardons his wife, and she finds out that, arter all, a woman's ambition is to lovo and be loved. A number of new subjects, including two Vitagraph exclusives, featuring Maurice Costello and John Bunny in "Wanted a Grandmother," and a "Love-Sick Maiden," -will also be shown. Tho music, always a special feature of The King's entertainment, will be suitable to the pictorial display.

THE NEW THEATRE. The New Theatre continuous pictures were responsible for crowded sessions on Saturday, when the current bill was screened for. the last time. The new programme to-day and to-night will be headed.by a successful mystic drama, entitled 'The Mystery of the Glass Cofhn. ■ The theme deals with .tho resuscitation of an Indian princess, 'who has been entombed i'or.-many years. The supporting subjects comprised "A Railroad Lochinvar"'- (Kaleni drama), "the Golden City of Burmah" (travel), "The Coming Back of Kit Denver" (drama), and "Zigoto as Laundress." The' hew series' will be shown from 11. a.m. till 11 o'clock tonight. 'W.j ,-;,...,.., :•;*>;:, :

SHORTTS' pictures. "The Hazards of Life" is the title of the paramount pioture of the new. programme which is<to bo presented .at bnbrtts'-Theatre to-day. It is a domestio drama, full of interest. Another feature picture of the new programme will be a release entitled "Kathleen Mavourneen." Other new subjects to be screened are "Lost In New York" (Edison drama), "Orator Knight and Cow Charmer" (comedy), "Carbonic Acid Gas" (scientific), "Australian Gazette," and "Typist ''for the Occasion" (comic). . The now programme will be shown throughout all sessions to-day. , THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Crowds waited admission at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures on Saturday evening when the current programme was repeated. The leading sul> jects compriso "The Chief's Blankef (A.B. exclusive drama), "The Smuggler'. (Lubin romance), "In His Fathers Steps" (Edison "masterpiece' drama), "Williams's Weekly." The comedies are of a thoroughly hilarious character. The programme will be repeated for the last time to-day affld to-night. To-morrow the new series will introduce an exclusive sensational drama "A Rogue of the Turf." This piece occupies over half an hour, and is 'said to be lavishly produced. Other special attractions will be: "The Girl Reporter's Big Scoop" (Kalem drama), and "A Lino at Hogmi's (an exceedingly laughable exclusive A.B. comedy). The solo rights for reproducing moving pictures of the swimming carnival at the Te Aro baths last Saturday were availed of by the J. D. Williams's Company, and reproductions of the most interesting events will be shown shortly. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE, Saturday's programme, at the People's Picture Palace was quite as good as the foregoing programmes which the management have screened, and which have been so successful. To-day a complete change will be screened, and judging from the items speoified and the manufacturers of the films, it will be an excellent change. The star item will be "Shanghai-ed," by the Nordisk Co., and the picture should provo a great attractiou. The story includes a romantic love affair, in which the hero goes through many tribulations before he eventually marries the girl to whom he has been engaged since the beginning of the story.

"ON OUE SELECTION." The superb Australian comedy drama "On Our Selection," that will be presented on Saturday next in the Opera House by the Bert Bailey New Dramatic Company, scored heavily on being first presented in Sydney early in 1912, and has held the public ever since. The management say that its popularity in Sydney and Melbourne recalls the days of the "Struck Oil" boom. "On Our Selection is a blend of merriment and tragedy, sentiment and rugged out-back experiences, romance, and humour, and the members of the company are all suited to their respective parts. The story represents rural life as described by Steele Eudd in his famed book, ami the incidents are presented with a fidelity that makes the play seem like a piece of real life on a selection. The box plan will bo opened to-morrow morning at the Dresden.

MUNICIPAL OECHESTEA. The final concert of the Municipal Orchestra for the present season will be riven in tho Town Hall to-morrow evenin" when Mr. Mnughan Barnett, tho city organist, will make his Inst appearance before the public of Wellington. Tho programme, which is exceptionally good, will comprise the following itcms:-Sib-clius's grand love rwwm Finlnndia, Grie°'s "Peer Gvnt," Brahm's "Hungarian Dances," Jarncfelfs "Prelude," Masnngni's "TntermezM>" from Cavallona Rusticann," and others. Miss Gertrude Hunt is the vocalist of the evening.