ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1632, 26 December 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"GET-RICH-QUICK WALLINGFORD.'' j To-night at tho Opera House the initial New Zealand production of "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford'," which is to bo staged by J. C. Williamson's new comedy company, will bo presented in the presence of his Excellency the Governor, Lady Liverpool, and suite. This box plans will be on view from 'J o'clock to-day at tho Opera House, where tickets for the I early door stalls and gallery may also bo purchased. The thirteen weeks' run eiyuyed by "Get-Rich-Qnick Wallingford" in Sydney entitles it to rank with the most successful productions yet staged by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management. It is from the pen of George M. Cohan, an<l its ingredients .are. described' as .wholesome comedy, witty dialogue, excruciatingly funny situations,-; an<l through it all a fascinating love story.-' To-night's, representation will introduce for the first time to playgoers of Wellington a notable young American comedian, Mr. Fred. Niblo. The most artistic thing about Mr. Niblo, according to tho critic, is that he .does not appear to be acting in any of the scenes—he qommunieat-es the feeling that he is living the part, not acting it. Mr.' Niblo, it is said, has, a charming and magnetic personality which makes itself felt over the footlights directly he appears on the stage, and he immediately becomes friendly with his audience.. He- has a most strenuous part to enact, and it is promised that all the time he is on the stage ho will keep tho audienco cither convulsed with laughter or have them on the verge of tears, ill'. Harry Corson Clarke, who will make his first appearance here in the role of Blackie Daw,'comes with-a big reputation from America. He was the original Jones in "What Happened to Jones." It is said that lie shares the comedy honours with Mr. Fred. Niblo. Playgoers will also be glad to welcome Miss Beatrice Holloway as Fanny Jasper, as this talented young Australian actress has at various times given us a taste of her abilities in important roles. The scenery and effects are features of the production. The piece is staged under the direction of Mr, Fred. Niblo and Mr. James H. Manning; Mr. Sidney Smith is stage manager, Mr. Harold is manager, and Mr. Van Heck musical director. The curtain irill rise at 8 o'clock sharp. TUG-O.F-WAR AND PICTURES. To-night will see the opening at the Town Hall of the tug-of-war and picture carnival inaugurated by Havward's Enterprises, Ltd. This event has created a great, deal of interest owing to tho big money offered, as prizes. Teams from outside . Wellington, namely two from Halcombe, Feiiding, two from Christchurch, and the crack team . of Hawke's Bay champions—the Gasworks team—will try conclusions with N the doughty representatives of Wellington city. The last-named will strongly represented. The Napier Gasworks" team has been "pulling" off and on- for fifteen years, and though its 1 personnel has been changed from time to time, it is said to hold an unbeaten. record in tho province. There aro several Wellington teams bent on breaking this run—they consider.'it too much of a good thing. In the "all-comers' " class, Napier Gasworks' team is to. pull Munt, Cottrell's men; the New Zeafanders. have bean matched to pull Christchurch; and the Halcombe (No. 1) will pull the New Zealand Express Company. In the 12-stone class, Chi'istchurch (No. 2) will pull the New Zealand Express Company (No. 2); the Wellington Fire Brigade will pull ITalconibe (No. 2); and Christchurch (No., 3) will pull Munt, Cottrell (No. 2). An interesting trial will also.be furnished by the footballers' pull—the "All Blacks" and > the Athletic Club's team. The tugs will be interspersed with new pictures, including an extremely lovely film entitled "Nature Studies." The calculation ; admission tickets are obtainable all over the city, but this form of ticket will not be sold at the.doors. Mr. James Doyle is the referee and sole judge, and Mr. "Dorrie" Leslie will act as stage manager. ,-. THEATRE ROYAL. At the' Theatre Royal last night, a sacred concert was given. The items consisted of songs and pictures suited to the occasion, and the programme was chosen with the usual good taste of the management. A very fine orchestral number was opening item, after which a picture entitled "A Visit to Senegal" was thrown on the screen. "Auld Lang Syne," a film illustrative of the old, old theme was shown. The picture was well arranged, and in it the moral of the old Scotch 6ong was cleverly and. strikingly-evolved. An interesting, collection of topical pictures was'shown (the "Gaumont Graphic"), and other films were "Home Folk," "Angels of Mercy," and "Industries in Sardinia." The last-named was a very instructive item, and very interesting, but the other two had a special application to the festival on hand. The musical section of the entertainment was quite a treat, as a glance at the following names and numbers will indicate:—Song, "In the Cathedral," Mr. John Bernard; duet, "Anchored," Miss Nance Nightingale anil Mr. Arthur Ashton; song, "The Babe of Bethlehem," Mr. Mark Ericson; Dickens studies, Mr. Bert Barton. BARTONS' CIRCUSBarton Brothers' Circus provided entertainment for a very fair proportion of the unoccupied people who were from home on Christmas Eve. The performance was in no way below tho standard established on the previous evening, and it met with the approval of the spectators accordingly. Tne speciality turns of Hanley, Marguerite, and Hanley, gymnasts, of Miss Mona Val, stock-whip expert, were among the most popular, and of course the horse never fail to please. There will bo a matinee as well as an evening performance to-day. ORGAN RECITAL. As was to be. expected, the Town Hall was well filled last evening, when Mr. Maughan Barnett submitted an organ recital programme suitable to tho season. This included a Faritaisio on Mendelssohn's Hynin Tunes by Mr. Barnett, Dubois's "March of the Magi Kings," Lemmens's Offertoire,. "Hosannah," Lemare's extremely melodious "Pastorale in K," a "Carillon in C," by Faulkes, and' the music of that very beautiful part of "Tannhauser" (Act I) where the pipe of the shepherd boy is silenced by- the solemn- chant of the pilgrims passing on their way to Rome. This 6cene is one of the atmospheric gems of "Tannhauser," offering as it does those striking contrasts in tone-colours which convey with such masterly force the meaning of tho scene. Mr. Barnett has, during his term of City Organist, done a good deal towards familiarising the public with the works of Wagner by means of transcriptions of his operatic works, and it is to be hoped that the good work will be : continued by his successor.

Mr. John Prouss was the vocalist of the evening. Ho sang Faure's fine song, "Los Rameaux," and "Nazareth" with good effect.

KIRKBY LUNN SONG RECITAL. Much interest is being manifested in the return season of Madame Kirkby Lunn,. and although, owing to English engagements, : tho famous contralto can make but two app;arances at tho Town Hall on Thursday and Saturday, January 2 and 4, ait the first of these two evenings the famous singer will present one of her eong recitals. In this exacting form of art, Madame Kirkby Lunn lias becomo eminent in England, United States, and Germany, whilst quite recently her efforts in the same sphere delighted audiences in Melbourne and Sydney, and it is at tho request of many music lovers that she will submit a special ly<irrange<l programme, assisted by tho brilliant young pianist, Mr. William Murdoch. On the Saturday evening- .1 grand farewell concert will be given, at which all of the concert party will appear, and a unique popular programme will bo presented, lho box plan for both of these evenings opens at 9 a.m. to-morrow at the Dresden.

At tho Opera House tho Bailey Company, which has been playing the Australian oamedy-dranm, "On Our Selection," concluded its season on Christmas Eve. As at tho first and all' the other presentations of tho piece, the audienco was made to laugh heartily and often.