ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1622, 13 December 1912, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

;:..'; ; ; ON ! OUR'SELECTION. In the Opera House on December 11, the. Bert" Bailey Dramatic ■ ompauy will ,ruake its'first appearance in Wellington, presenting' the', now famous comedy-. drama, "On-Oiir Selection," based onI.Steele'/Rudd's book'of tli9 same name. The dramatists; two of whoni-Mr. Bert Bailey and Mr.' Edmund 'Duggan—are members of the cbmp'ahv, have earned praise for the way' in which' they Slave done their Work in adapting' the clever witticisms of-the book, and: they add to their laurels by : their Excellent'acting in their respective parts. 'The./east is a powerful one, including two sneciilly. imported English artists, and a.notable comedian, who was the first' "Dick Dea'deye" in the comic opera, "Pinafore'" The promoters state that the bbx.'plan is rapidly filling. Tho box plan is: at the Dresden, and day sale t tickets at Chrisfeso'n's. ' •'■;. THEATRE. ROYAL. The current programme at the Theatro Royal is' a -very, entertaining oiie. The. gifted contralto,:' Miss Bessie. Slaughter,, sings ■.excellently, and ..the, Crimson Ramblers are as good'.as . ever.. Mr'.' Harold Heath provides a.clever buck-wing dance.. : .The National .Duo' is good, and-'the-sup-porting artists help to make a. strong prosramnie. .•'.-.'' •Tho five, Olracs, .who are said to- pro.vi'de the finest'acrobatic'co'medy act that, has ever,, visited New Zealand, will make their initial bow before a Wellington. audience at the Theatre Royal next Monday evening, for a. season of; one week only. Some of the" most thrilling situations are carried out with grotesque zy-play.-every-thing being.dono to a jig-jag or cakewalk, '• '~ THE' KING'S' THEATRE. ' The big attraction at the King's Theatre, is the. drama-picture "A Woman's Ambition." The film occupies nearly, nil tho second .part. of the programme and ! shows some beautiful.''Switzerland scenery'. /Amongst ..the. other pictures • are 1 : "Love-sick Maidens," and "Wanted .'aGrandmother."":;.--..-. ' : ; .:■ THE:NEW THEATRE; v ''■ -- v-j '-.. ."The Iron Hand and the White Glovell Hand," a 'strong'tfeteetive drama, was tho": chief.attraction: at the '. change of "pro- : .gramme at the New Theatre in Manners yesterday. 'The story was one full of interest; and was admirably. ■ acted throughout.■'. Detective Necker ("The Iron Hand"), on a; holiday-at' Monte Carlo; i_s_. 'suddenly-called to -Paris'tb lake up'thethreads of evidence against ."The White Glove" gang r -who--have-been terrorising Parisian society!<wlth"rt"W!ri%s'.'6f' jobbery, and arson.' Just prior to the'ar-' rival of the detective a call has gone out to members.: of - the gang that another "job" is-to-be.undertaken-at the Duchess', of -Brion's reception. The -chief of-the gaing- obtains possession of valuable jewels worn by one of the Duchess's guests.in a. clever manner, and makes his escape in a .■motor-ear. Necker, ; is on their track, however, and has a notice inserted in a paper to the effect that a rich Egyptian, has arrived.in Paris. The fish jumps at. the bait, and the chief of the gang obtains an introduction -to the Egyptian, whom he" introduces in turn to Nina, a female member of the gang, renowned for her beauty, and often used as a decoy.' The visitor makes an appointment with Nina, .and 'during "his visit the 'gang'' capture him. ; Meanwhile" it seems : that' Nina has become in love-with the supposed Egyptian, and after he is .captured' sho succeeds in settingiiinv free. Startling events follow; and in these Necker is siic-' cessful in arresting the whole gang, including Nina. A powerful ■ love theme runs through the story, and the principal actors are Nina ,ahd .Necker. Other.pictures, were '.'The Bishop s Bath," "A Tangled Web;" "Landscapes in Sicily," ."Back .at Three," and "An.Exile from Erin." The last-mentioned picture, was' taken in natural.surroundings in Ireland, -and was one.of grcat.beauty. / The theatre will be open'.'continuously, from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. to-day; - ,Sh6rTTS<- PICTURES. Quite a diversity of interest marks the new .programme presented by Shortts' Picture Co. at their theatre in Willis Street.- -The new-.series were full of scenic, 'comic,, and dramatic studies. The "star".'film; a detective, drama, "The .'Dandies Club,''-gave one a .good idea of London society life, and the .methods adapted by clever ■ thieves. The picturo : 'was full of interesting details, and held the "house" until it was finished/Another fine, picture was "The Harbinger, of .Peace." Taken all round, the programme .was a. good on«. It will be shown again ,to-day from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. . THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The final.'screening of the current programme of the Empress Theatre continuous, pictures was responsible for crowded patronage yesterday.. The new series to.day will serve to introduce .the A.B. Company's - latest exclusive drama "Tn„ the .Aisles of the Wilds." This is a - lovo story .-of the' wilds of the North Woods, in: which, two.riien woo the elder of two charming, 1 sisters'. The girl, through a foolish, whim,:accepts the one she. loves least, and' "thus. .causes a -romantic ,de:velop'ment which is said to be charmingly- portrayed. The supporting subjects will,comprise: "The White Man's Burden" (Selig drama), "Williams's Weekly" .(topical)', ."The/Butterfly Net" (S. and A. .drama), "Ancient Port of Jaffa" (travel), "Her; Convic.t .Brother" (Knlem drama), 'and a number of comedies. The new items . will- be shown! without a stop from 11 a.m. till 11 o!clock to-night. A sensational Nordisk' drama, "His Lost Memory," is .announced tor -next Monday. .' ...'.-,., .;-. the;P.P.P. ■' Yesterday, being "change day," a large ' number ,of people visited the People's Picture Palace- in Manners Street. The new programmb contained some excellent subjects, chief among which adumbrated the .'familiar .old story, of "St. George arid .the Dragon." 1 St. George, who is disgusted with, the perfidies of the Roman Court, and. who is unable to restrain his indignation against tho continual orgies, flies to Antioch. He has a long and harassing journey. On . nearing tho city he meets- some poor pilgrims, who are weeping-, on. account of an edict issued by tho priests ordaining that tho fairest arid youngest girl lie sacrificed to . the dragon Isniut; St. George spurs his horse and cntor3 the city. Here ho finds that, tho choice has fallen on the fair Angisa-. daughter of tho old King of •Antiocn. . The princess is conducted to tho .place of sacrifice, and there awaits death. Prior, to these happenings, St. George has a dream, in which he is presented with a magic sword by some fairies.. Armed with this deadly weapon, he.calls;.on the dragon to appear, and, .after,-a struggle, conquers and kills it. St. George then restores Angisa to the old King, and is acclaimed by-the populace. Another fine series of pictures presented for the first time in Wellington last evening was the latest "Gaumont- Graphic". Other pictures were "She Never Knew," "Her Polish Family," and "The Street Singer."