ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 1 April 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

\ OPERA HOUSE. To-night Allen Doone will produce "Molly B»wn" for the last time at tho Opera House. This pretty Irish play, brightened by Allen Doone's singing 'of Irish songs, was enjoyed by a good audience last night. To-morrow night "Sweet County Kerry" will be presented. This is the drama with which Mr. Doone opened his last Wellington season. In it quite a menagerie of trained animals are introduced. The race for the Kerry Cup is shown, .with a real racehorse, homing; pigeons are introduced, and a pretty white pony and faithful Irish donkey also contribute their quota to the programme. In the second scene of the third act, representing Dan's smithy, Mr. Allen' Doone sl\oes a horso in a most manner. Mr. Doone will sing "Endearing Young Charms," "Moreen," and "Love's Language."

THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Royal packed to tho doors last evening, and not without a very good reason. The programme was one of the brightest teudered by the Fuller•Brennan management for > soni©_ time past. The particular : attraction'which magnetised the public was the reappearance, after an American tour, of the .Four Stagpooles, who presented an entirely new and original "potted pantomime," entitled "At tho Seaside," a bit of burlesaue drollery, elaborated with scenic and lighting effects, which gives the Stagpooles an opportunity to display their talent in farcical foolery and Mr. Herbert Stagpoolo the chance to exhibit his amazing .talent as a contortionistic and acrobatic comedian. Falls which would , dislocate the shoulders of the inexpert hre a mere nothing to him. Perhaps his most surprising performance is a series of jumps in the air from which he alights on his back. How lie fails to kink his spine only the artist-can tell. Another extraordinary feat in his head-spinning—a simple dive to the floor followed by half a dozen spinning revolutions on his unprotected head. His ludioi'ous-posing and .humorous acrobatic tricks kept the audience bubbling with laughter. This clever foolery is incidental to a burlesque scene at the seaside, which concludes* with "mixed" bathing machinos""-and a stonn at sea. The Stagpooles are bound to bo a big draw at the Royal. Another weird performance of merit in its class is that of Bondo, tlio boneless man, who with amazing dexterity throws his_ feet round his neck, and on oocasi'ons his left foot under his right arm, and all without any .obvious effort. Miss Louie Duggan is a pleasant balladist of much, natural charm. Last evening she sang "Down the Vale," "Mending Nets for Father,", and "Biddy Malome," to which last-named son}; the audience merrily supplied the chorus. The Lyntons appeared in a sketch entitled "The Curate and the. Chorus which bristled with allusions of a questionable character. Vocally oho of the gems of the programme was tho singing of "11 Bacio" as a'trio by the Huxhams. Tho first p;irt of Jtlie programme was supplied by the "Serenaders," a clever costume comedy company of six gentlemen and three ladies, whose performance was received with every manifestation of pleasure. Miss Edith Huxham, a mezzo soprano with a powerful organ of mellifluous quality, sang "The Chocolate - Shop" charmingly, and in the ooncerted numbers was a~ pillar of strength. Miss Elsie Barber soored in "Doan'- Yer Ory, Ma Honey" and "Leave Me Not." .Mr. Mark Phillips exhibited a serviceable basso in "Tho Miner," and Mr. Gilbert I.auri made merry at the piano in "The Village Curate." Mr. Sam Ie Mort whistled tunefully a number of popular airs, and pave ilnitations ■of Australian birds. Tlio soubrette of the company is Miss Gertie M'Leod, who sang "My Highland Laddie" spiritedly, • and supplemented with "Harry' to which she appended a sailor's hornpipe. Mr. Norman Leslie, the comedian, sa.ug "My Bassoon," and "Blowed if I didu't Wake up." The "Serenaders" show'ed their concerted vocal strength to advantage in a pretty Japanese sketch, entitled "In Fair Japan," which was really admirably done. '

At last niglit's meeting of the Hutt Borough- Council it was reported that permission to use tho Infants' School for voting purposes on election' day had teen refused by the committee. Tho clerk reported that it wo.ild be inconvenient if a booth could not be obtained in Railway Avenue, owing to the four elections taking place on the one" day. Subsequently it /was agreed that the clerk should try elsewhere, and if not successful he should again approach the School Committee. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., will conduct a : stock sale at Shannon on Friday, April 1, beginning at 1 p.m. The Associated Auctioneers will hold a clearing sale of sheep, horses, pigs,, etc., at the S'olway Yards, Masterton, 10-rnor-row. . The sixty-fourth innual meeting of the members of tho Australian Mutual Provident Society will bo held in the Society's bend office building, No. 87 Pitt Street, Sydney, at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 6.