ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1624, 16 December 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. This evening tho public will have an opportunity of 'witnessing one of the strongest programmes ever presented at the Thoatro Royal, when. Messrs. Bren-nan-Fuller announce the special starring engagement of tho marvellous five Olracs, These clever comedy acrobats have appeared bofore Koyalty several times during their Continental travels, and recently performed at the special "command" performance at the London Palace Theatre, before his Majesty tho King and Queen. From the- moment tho Olracs face the footlights the audience is interested. They are said to be extremely clever in acrobatic feats and feats of agility and daring, and their act is combined with the quaintest of comedy. The famous entertainers, liletsoe's "Crimson Ramblers," commence the last week of their season to-night, and will present a special final programme, including the favourite mimber, "In the Shadows," by.special request of patrons; also ' Emancipation Day," one of the funniest concerted items that has ever boen attempted by this talented combination. Other favourites on .this week's bill include the talented juveniles, tho National' Duo, in new songs and specialities. Harold Heath, champion buck and wing dancer; Black and Bronte, the cosmopolitan artists, in grand new change; Miss Ida Berridge, dainty soubrette, in .two new catchy numbers, and Mr. Harry Linden, the popular eccentric comedian. "THE GOLDEN CAGE." This evening at the King's Theatre will see the first of a series of exclusivcs, featuring Saharet, one of Australia's faiT maids, who a lew years ago proceeded to England, and has since become famous as a noted actress and danseuse. "The Golden Cage," in which SahaTet has made her biograph debut, is a well-constructed story. An actress marries a wealthy Baron, and he asks her to swear she will never divulge she had been a dancer. Wealth and a quiet life pall,on the dancer, who, in the privacy of her apartments, practises the steps she loves. One day she is discovered by the Baron, to his horror, and mutual recriminations take place. Many sensational scenes are afterwards shown, and the final scene of all depicts the actress leaving her wealthy husband and his "Golden Cage," to pursue her beloved avocations. THE NEW THEATRE. . The New Theatre continuous pictures were responsible for thronged attendances on Saturday afternoon and evening. Two distinct programmes are announced for to-day and to-night; but in both. instances "The Corkscrew Gang," a sensational detective story, will figure prominently. In this picture the excitement is well sustained, and the staging is said to be particularly meritorious. "Beetles," described as a wonderful example of intelligence in insects, exhibits a strange performance by real live beetles, which fence, make love, waltz, and fight battles with almost human earnestness and skill. Among tho remaining items are: "The Brotherhood of Man" (Selig drama), "One Touch of Nature" (Vita drama); "A Mixed Affair" (A.B. comedy); "A Child's Devotion" (Lubin drama); "Scenes in Cardigan," and "Grit of the Girl Telegraphist" (Kalem drama). 1 EMPRESS THEATRE. There will be an entire change of programme at the Empress Theatre to-day, when the feature, of the programme will ba "His Lost Memory," a'drama by the Nordisk Company. The story tells of a wealthy merchant, who, whilst proceeding by motor to attend an important meeting, is overwhelmed jn a vast' wood by a terrific storm. A huge . tree is struck by lightning, and it crashes on to tho motorcar, rendering the merchant temporarily unconscious. He loses his memory, but after absolutely wonderful experiences the veil over the past is withdrawn, and a dramatic rounion with his family takes place. The supporting items will also be new, and will be screened until the biweekly change on Thursday, when "The Unwritten Law" will be a.feature item. SHORTTS' PICTURES. Among the new pictures to be shown at Shortts' Theatre to-day are "An Unexpected Fortune" and "Tho Great Steel Secret." Tho first .is .an exceedingly amusing comedy drama. Four "men find all their earthly goods gone, when a chance offers to sell otny of them a piece of land for fifteen million dollars. The offer was accepted, and tho dead-beats make the unexpected fortune out of the deal. "The Great Steel Secret" is. a : sensational story about a secret process of manufacturing steel. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The People's Picture Palace was thronged with people for most of the day and all of the night on Saturday. The programme now being presanttd is a very line one, and it.was received with general approval by the crowds. Of especial merit is the film which relates the legend of St.. George and the Dragon. ORGAN RECITAL. The attendance at Mr. J. Maughan Barnetfs organ recital on' Saturday evening was discouraging. The trial given to Saturday night recitals in Wellington has proved that without doubt the last night of the week, when everyone engaged in the retail business is busy, is the worst night in the week for such entertainments, as it is the -worst night in the week for any entertainment at the Town Hall. Mr. Barnett, who is certainly one of the most talented organists in New Zealand, should attract large audiences, and if the recitals were given on any other evening but Saturday the response would be more satisfactory. In the meantime the task of educating the people's taste in music seems a somewhat difficult one when the people are not there to be educated. On . Saturday evening the city organist played a highly delectable programme, which included Guilmant's "Grand Choeur in D," an "Offcrtoire and Fanfare" by Salome, Bach's "Prelude and Fugue in C Minor," Lemaire's delightful "Spring Song," tho dainty "Mignon" gavotte (Thomas), and Wely's "Postlude in E Flat." Mr. John Prouse, who was the soloist of the evening, fang "0 Star of Eve" (from Tannhauser"), and Gounod's "Nazareth." The next recital is to be given 'on. Christmas Night. "GET-RICH-QUICK WALLINGFORD." Until the recent record season enjoyed by "Get-Rieli-Quick Wallingford" in Sydney, "What Happened to Jones" was credited with the longest run. of any previous comedy staged in the Commonwealth, and the new American piece is now plaosd third to "Our Miss Gibbs" and "Florodora" in the list of the most successful productions, staged by the J. C. Willi-im-6on, Ltd., management. This in itself speaks volumes for., the. attractiveness of "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford," and its fascinating powers will doubtless appeal strongly to New Zealanders. It is a wellknown fact that numbers of Sydney playgoers witnessed representations of the piece over and over again, and on each occasion found it refreshing and entertaining. Tho members of the company were all specially selected for their various parts. Only a few performances can be given of "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford." The plan will be opened on Monday. KELBURNE SCOUT CONCERT. Boy Scouts were in evidence at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday evening, tho occasion being tho Kelburne Scouts' concert. The concert comprised musical and humorous items, contributed by some of tho best of local talent. Little Miss Cecil Haines, by special request, gave an excellent recital of "A Trip to Blackpool.-' Later on in the evening she appeared as a Girl Scout in a comedietta by Scouts. Mr. H. N. Fletcher, who was in good voice, sang "A Perfect Day," and Mr. S. N. Hutton, who possesses a good baritone voice, rendered "The P'jgers successfully. Other contributors to the programme were Miss Natusch ("My Ship"), Mr. Gerard Bell (humorous song), Messrs. Fletcher, Phipps, Allwright, and Hutton (quartet, "The Old Brigade"), Mr. Cyril Girdlestone (humorous recitation), Mr H. Phipps (tenor solo), Mr. J. Culford Bell (dramatic recital), Misses Cotton and Rodger (duet, "Laugh Little River"), Mr. Norman Aitken ("Svengali"), Mr. Stanley Rankin (musical (monologue, "The Auctioneer"), Miss Cecil Haines and Mr. K. Shorney (character sketch, "Jlulbert and Arthur"), Mr. C Hickmott ("Little Drummer of Gravelotte"), Mr. Zante Wood (humorous sketch), Mr, 31,. Peterson wan the nccomfanist. On the whole, the conceit was o tapital one.