ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1726, 18 April 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"TDK BLL'B BIKD." At the Opera House to-morrow night J. C. Williamson's Company, which numbers over 100 specially-selected artists, will present for the first lime to playgoers of W'ilington Maurice Maeterlinck's fairy pantomime, "The Blue Bird." Whether regarded as a spectacle, a poetical fairy .tale, or n philosophical allegory, "The Blue Bird" is stated to he equally admirable and impressive. It is promised that the many people who were fascinated by ."Peter Pan" will find "The 'Blue Bird" even more enjoyable. Maeterlinck makes "The Blue Bird" the symbol of happiness and spiritual insight, "and shows with the poetical imagery of a fairy tale Where happiness may. he found, not necessarily in the distant and the difficult of attainment, but in the near and the intimate, ami the homely things of life. A mest exquisite scene is said to Ik that representing "The Land of Memory." Here the children meet their grandparents and brothers and sisters, and learn that the dead live in the hearts of the living, and every kindly thought of remembrance brings happiness to those who have passed away. At the opening of this scene the children seem to be in a dark, mysterious forest, and then, like a dream picture, the quiet home of the old people is revealed, and there is a tenderly pathetic meeting. In the sunn mysterious way the vision fades from view, and once more the children stand under the shadow of the grey misty trees. A great feature of the production is the music; which 'will be performed by a band of 17 musicians. It is announced that although the hooking is excellent, there are still a large number of available seats in either the press circle or reserved stalls, which may be selected at the Dresden, and day sale's may be purchased at Christeson's.

. THEATRE ROYAL: The current programme at tho Theatre Royal will run for two more nights, and a fresh cast is being arranged for Monday evening next. Patrons of vaudeville should not miss the opportunity of hearing "The Serenoders," a bright company of musical comedy artists in costume. The Huxhams, Airlie and Campbell, "Mysto" (a dexterous conjurer), and Murnhy, the Yaukee juggler, are also star features of the bill this' week. . HIS/MAJESTY'S THEATRE. i The .present programme at his Majesty's Theatre contains some interesting scenes of the recent fete held at the Newtown Park in connection with the. visit of H.M.S. New Zealand. Many other matures of a varied nature, arc also being shown. KING'S THEATRE. A special feature of the current programme ai; the King's Theatre, is a picture depicting scenes at the recent citizens' .fete, held in connection with the visit of H.M.S.. New' Zealand at the Newtown Park. Scenes of the warship's arrival at AVellingtor. are amongst other pictures shown. The programme will be repeated tin's evening. THE NEW THEATRE. A change of programme was screened at the Now Theatre yesterday.' The "Bridge of Life" is the title of "the new star item. This picture combines the ex-convict type of drama, with.the equally popular travelling circus picture-play, so it should te successful. Tho head of the circus is really the ex-convict's brother-in-law. Of course, the fact is judiciously "kept quiet" by the manager's wife, who evidently, does not wanther family history to become known to her husband. The brother and sister are very fond of each other, and the husband, noting their familiarity, imagines that (boy are lovers, and that his wife is unfaithful. He lets loose one of the. circus bears—a ferocious animal, but the bear fh'st attacks the manager's wife and child. They have 1 a wonderful escape. The wife ll.en rushes to the rescue of her brother, ar.d shoots the bear. "Bert," her brother, is mortally wounded, and expires. The truth is then'sensationally revealed. The best of the other items are:—"Red Stain," "The Boy and the Girl," and the "Island of Java." 1 . THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The programme at the Empress Theatre was changed yesterday. Taking it as a whole, it is quite one of the best that has been screened at that theatre for some time. The feature picture is by tho wellknown A .It. Company, and is entitled "Hoist by his Own Petard." The title is expressive and fits the picture well. It is sensational, but not so - sensational as to appear ridiculous, as many pictures do. The basis of tho play is solid and ingenious. Tho supporting items are also better than 'supporting items often are. The S. and A. drama, "Western Girls," is one of the best of these, but some people will undoubtedly prefer the Cines drama, "Bread Upon the Water." The best comedy is a Western picture, "The Ranchman's Anniversary." Of the moreinstructive items, "Sicilian Industries" is the most interesting. This programme will be repeated to-day.

SHOTiTTS' THEATRE. Messrs. Shovtt inaugurated a new list of picture iiems yesterday. "Faithful Unto Death" is the best picture! . The story is woven round an English officer living in India. The plot develops a. Sepoy rebellion in which a British garrison are massacred, but the colonel's family are, however, saved by their native servant. "Their Live? for Gold" is the significant titlo of another gcod picture, and deals mostly with the fortune of two, but who learn (if the whereabout* of a rich claim from a dying prospector. The greed of gold tunis the two, who were friendsbefore, into enemies, and "developments" naturally follow. "Omens of the Mesa," "Two Sides to a Story," and "The Amateur Poisonn'" are also items of interest. SUNDAY CONCERT. The fourth of the 1913 series of Sunday evening concerts will be given by the Wellington Professional Orchestra in His Majesty's Theatre 'on Sunday evening next. Under the conductorsliip of Mr. Herbert Bby, the orchestra will play tho following items:—Overture, "William Tell" (Rossini); Vorspiel, from "King Manfred" (Roinecke); Pizzicato, from "Sylvia" (Delibes); Fantasia, "Faust" (Gounod); two Hungarian dances (Brahms) ; overture, "Rienzi" (Wagner). A silver coin collection will be made at the doors. Concert at 8.30.