ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1725, 16 April 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROI'AL. Every seat in the Theatre Royal was occupied last ovening when the fuller* Bronnan management submitted a capital bill to vauueviilo lovers. The Serenaders are proved lavountes, and charm as easily with their robust vocalism as »vitli tneir fresh comedy business. The Huxhams, Sam 10. Alorr, Mark Phillips, and others contribute acceptably to a bright, musical melange. A newcomer last ovening was Murpny, a comic juggler, with a "Hail. Columbia," accent, and a weirdly-eccentric "make-up.'' He juggles with billiard balls, cigar-boxes, etc., and just as often as not is fooling the audience with sham balancing feats and mock jugglery. ifis patter smacks of Yankeelawl, and raised plenty of laughter. "Alysto," Airlie and Campbell, and Mr. Frank Hawthorno also contributed to an excellent programme. On .Monday next tho Lessos, sharpshooters, and the Ulardys, gymnasts, will appear. The Seven Heraldos are duo at the Royal on Monday, April 28. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE, The leading film at His Majesty's is "Life in the British Navy." , Locallytaken films of H.M.S. New Zealand are oj great interest. Other numbers are: "On Secret Service" (an American Civil War story), "Around Montenegro," "Man and Bear," "Grandfather," "Table Turning,": "Percy's Express Delivery,' and "ltudolphi as Lady's Hairdresser." "THE BLUE BIRD." This morning at nine o'clock tho box plans' will bo opened at. the Dresden for the- first seven performances, , including the matinee on Wednesday' next, o: tue spectacular fairy play "The Blue Bird," which is to be staged for a brief season at the Opera House by J. C.; Williamson's Company, commencing on Saturday night next. Altogether, thero are over 100 travelling members ot the organisation, including tho forty children wno created quite a sensation in tne original' Sydney production of tho piece. The staff of advanco mechanics have had a busy time preparing for next Saturday's representation of "The Blue Bird," and everything is already prepared. Much has been heard and read of M»une« Maeterlinck's wonderful creation, and tho success the play has achieved since its original presentation in Moscow over four years ago has been remarkable. In London "The Blue Bird" was hailed with • unanimous approval by the critics, and tho general public followed suit by extending' their patronage to such an extent that it was retained at the Haymarket Theatre for ; six months. "Tho Times" mote of it: —"What an exquisite blend of fancy, wisdom, speculation, poetry, tenderness, and pure beauty in this 'Blue Bird.' It brings tears to the eyes, and then' chases them away witji. laughter, plunges you into reverie, and then startles you with some joyous surprise. How beautiful are tho thoughts on death. What a thrill runs through you at those lilies, and the cry that 'there are. no dead.' Here is a work that, on the one side a mere children's game, a merry romp and pantomime, belongs on another side to that best of all literature,' the literature of consolation. It is not the first time that Maeterlinck has consoled us, but it is the first time that he has done it so lightheartedly, with so airy a' grace, so fresh and pure a fantasy." The spectacular scenes, such as tho transformation in the woodcutter's cottage, the Palace.of Night, the Kingdom of the Past, and the Kingdom' of the Future, aro said to be remarkably beautiful. A of the production is tho glorious music composed by Norman O'Neill, and which will be performed by a, band of twenty instrumentalists, nnder the baton of Mr. Edward Rawlings. THE NEW THEATRE. . The present series of tho New Theatre continuous pictures will'be shown for the last time to-day and to-night. The chief attraction is the captivating love romanco of a showman, entitled "Travelling i'olK." The themo is associated with the experiences of a bear-trainer and his fiancee. "Fancy Swimming," a display by lady experts, and "A Sawmill Hazard" (Kaleni drama) are prominently popular also. To-morrow's change will Introduce "Tho Bridge of Life," a sensational dramagraph.

THE KING'S THEATRE. "The Arrival of H.M.S. New Zealand" is 0110 of the very intciestinjj pictures now being shown, at the King's Theatre. Other t'oo'd. items are: ."Views of. the British Fleet," "A Daughter of Eve," "The Awakening of Bianea," "Susio to Susanne," "Jungle Pictures in Cochin. China," "Psychology of Fear," and. "Table Turning." j THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The last day and night, of tlio current programme of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures are announced. Interest centres upon tho superb A.B. drama, "Lovo in an Apartment Hotel." The play involves a clever bit of character-acting in the case of an ambitious husbandseeking housemaid. She experiences a particular delight in tidying up the room of'a yOung gentleman guest of the hotel. This action leads to: her discovery of an armed burglar, who binds and . gags her. .Tho housemaid's presence in the guest's room', causes an estrangement between him and his fiancee, but when the burglar is found under the bed' tho situation! is saved. An impressive story of city life, 'Tha Voice of Warning," by tho Selig Company, the Western drama, "Broncho Billy's Promise," and the A.B. comedy, "The Press Gang," are among the best subjects. A complete change is announced for to-morrow. A

SHOItTTS' PICTURES. The principal attraction at Shortts' Continuous Picture Theatre yesterday was a sensational" detective diama, entitled "Flesh and Blood." The picture is supported by Buch items as "A Fifty-milo Automobile Kaee," "In An Asbestos Quarry," and "No Place for a Minister's Son." The programme will le repeated to-day. v ■ THE ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY. Great interest is being taken dn the Choral Society's forthcoming performance of "Carmen," which is to talio place in tho Town Hall on Tuesday next. Writing to a Paris paper, Pierre Burton relates What he personally remembers of tho extraordinary situation Which led to the virtual. failure of "Carmen" at its first performance—a failure which undoubtedly was responsible for Bizet's death. Tho troublo was that the manager had niiulo up his mind that "Carmen" was. foredoomed' to failure, and with this belief ho imbued all the artists, as well as tho journalists. To show how popular this opera is in these days, a French journal recently instituted a popular tribunal to vote on. tho merits of the repertoire\of the Paris Opera Comique. "Carmen" received 26,000 votes! "Man'in" 20,000, "Lakme" 14,000,. "Mignon" 12,000, "La Boheme" GSOO, and "Traviata" 5000. During the last couple of days since the box plan for the society's performance was opened the booking has been vory heavy, and already over IGUO seats have been reserved. A full rehearsal will be held in St. John's Schoolroom to-morrow at 7.30 o'clock, and the final rehearsal in the Town .Hull on Monday at 7.30. Hult and Johnsonville trains will bo delayed till after the opera. COMPLIMENTARY • CONCERT. A movement is on foot to givo Mr. Horace Hunt, tho gifted pianist, who is leaving nest month* for England, a complimentary concert. A meeting of those interested in the project will bo held at the Dresden rooms, at; 5 p.m. to-morrow.