ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

? THEATRE ROTAL. Tlie fino array of artists at tliq Theatre Royal this week have drawn uniformly largo houses. Tlio Serenaders have become very popular; tho Stagpooles supply nn exceptionally clever knock-about comedy act; Mr, Frank Hawthorne is & bright, brisk coinedia;.; "Mysto" is a mystery, and Bendo ;s a physical puzzle. artists are to appear on Monday evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The programme at His Majesty's Theatre has been freshened by the introduction of a quaint dance film, which introduces tho English beauty actress, Miss Jfhyllis Dare, and that brilliant English comedian, Mr. George Grossniith, juii., in a playful mood. In the course of a clover sketch, the two givo a delightful exposition of tho "turkey trot" and the "Argentine tango"—two dances which have come into favour not only in America, but in Paris and London. Tho great industriiA pictura illustrating _ tho Panama Canal works has been revived onco more, and again is magnetising largo audiences. This evening a picture of tho arrival of the gift warship New Zealand will bo screened at His Majesty's i Theatre. KING'S THEATRE. At the King's Theatre the Stellar dramatic pictures "Back from the Dead" and "The Wives of Jamestown" are both of high quality, and both histrionically and photographically are well worth seeing. There will be a matinee performance this afternoon, the usual evening performance to-night, and on Monday evening a complete change of programme will be screened. THE NEW THEATRE. Business continues to be steadily satisfactory at the New Theatre in Manners Street. The star picture is "The Lust of Gold," a stirring Pathe dramatic. Other good pictures are: "A Dangerous Wager" and "The Girl of the Mountains." On Monday, "Travelling Polk" will be presented in Wellington for the first time, i. EMPRESS THEATRE. "A Chance Deception" is a capital dramatic picture among the many in the new programme at the popular Empress Theatre. Other good pictures aro "The Supreme Test," VA Man Amongst Men," and tho comic "There Were Hoboes Three." The doors will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.,to-day. . SHORTTS' PICTURES. A special programme was presented at Sliortts' Theatre last evening. It included tho Nordisk star picture "The Better Way,", a magnificently-acted play of emotional character. A splendid programme is promised to-day. "THE BLUE BIRD." One of the' most important theatrical entertainments which has yet been tourcd through tho Dominion is Maeterlinck s fascinating fairy pantomime "Tile Blub Bird," which is to be staged here for a brief season by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd.,' management, commencing on Saturday night next. For his higher ideal, as well as for his symbol, Maurice Maeterlinck has taken the phrase, "L'oiseau bleu dn mes reves," found in the folkoire of Lorraine, and woven its theme—tho elusiveness'of happiness—into his story. The two children who make the quest of "The Blue Bird" stand for man and woman of the centuries. They try to find happiness in the "Land of Memory, where they meet their, dead crandparents, wrapped in their long sleep, but who live again when remembered by the children, as people are only dead when forgotten. Further search is mado for it in "The Land of the Future," whero Time dispatches children whose birthhour has arrived to eflrth. In "Tho Palaco of Night" tho hunt is continued. Then again, tho forest is wandered through for the bird. They catch lots of birds that look blue at a distance, but fade when secured, just as happiness ; does. In the end the children find themselves back in their home, where the real Blue Bird has been- all the time,_ and tho poet's moral with it. The retinue that accompanies the little ones is Light, Firo, Milk, Bread, Water, Dog, Cat, and Sugar, all gifted with speech after their kind, according to Maeterlinck, together with the wonderful stage effects, makes a performance of appealing charm. The management'liave arranged to give prizes for essays on "The Bluo Bird," as follow:— Over 16 years, 3s. s 12 to 16 ytars, 35.; under 12 years, JJl.ls. Altogether there are over 100 travelling members in "The Blue Bird" organisation, and a number of local people will bo engaged for the representation; as over 150 people aro actually concerned in the performance. Tho box plans will bo opened at the Dresden on Wednesday morning next at nine o r clock. A special matinee performance will ho staged on Wednesday, April 23. . CHORAL SOCIETY. On Monday morning at 9 o'clock' the box plan for "Carmen" will open at tho Dresden," and from the amount of interest that is being taken it is expected that the booking will bo heavy. The prices for admission to non-subscribers will bo 4s. and 3s. reserved. A subscription of ono guinea entitles honorary members to three concerts held during the season, which works out at tho rate of 2s ,dd. per ticket. A successful practice was held last night. _ Next week's practices will be as follow, in St, John Scndolroom:—Monday at 8 p.m., chorus only; Tuesday at 8 p.m., orchestra. Thursday will witness a full rehearsal. There will be no practice on Friday, noxt. Mr. Barnett will arrive in AVellington on Monday afternoon and will tako all the practices- now till the concert, - SUNDAY CONCERT. To-morrow evening at 8.30 o'clock tho Wellington City Band, under tho baton of Lieutenant T. Herd; will give an excellent programme for its Sunday night concert at His Majesty's Theatre. Besides tho music rendered by tho band, which is now in eplendid form, Mis 3 Muriel Bennett and Mr. Hamilton Hodges will contribute songs. A silver coin collection will be taken for tho purpose of reducing existing liabilities. BAND PERFORMANCE. Tho Tramway Bind will play at Island Bay at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon.