ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1735, 28 April 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

I ■■ /'THE BLUE BIRD." Tlio pursuit of the illusive symbol of perfect happiness embodied in Maeterlinck's charming play "The Blue Bird" still continues to attract large audiences t.i the Opera House. There was a great rush of children to the matinee on Saturday afternoon and if the play has puzzled adults,..it appeared to be hailed with unfeigned delight by tho hundreds of happy little ones who stareil gosgleeyed at the strange experiences of Mytyl and Tyltyl in the misty realms of phantasy. Another largo audience was present on Saturday night. The play will be presented for several nights longer. THEATRE ROYAL. •At full house was registered at tho Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, when the Fullcr-Brennau Company presented a bright show. The chief contributors to the programme were the ".Serenaders," Airlie ,and Campbell, the Lessos, the (,'laryds, Frank Hawthrone, and the Harmonious Huxhams (who are also the king pins of the Serenaders). This evening the bill will be strengthened by the advent of the Heraldos (seven in number), said to be the finest performers of their class ever introduced by the Fuller-Bren-nan management to Wellington. Another novelty artist to appear this evening will bo Cnrl Merlvn, described as the Human Incubator. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Good houses were recorded on Saturday afternoon evening at his Majesty's Theatre. Ah entirely new programme will be presented this evening. It will includo as .an attraction extraordinary a fine dramatic picture entitled "Foul Day," an adaptation of Charles Reade's famous novel of that name. In order to add interest to the story so vividiv pictured Mr. Alfred Boothman, tho veteran actor, has been engaged to describe in detail tho scenes as they arc thrown upon the screen.

KING'S THEATRE. Excellent business is reported from the King's Theatre, where picture-lovers may always depend on seeiiiß the latest and best in kinematoKraphy. A.' complete change of programme will be presented this evening. It will include, sis the star feature, tho ekciting dramatic picture, "The Vengeance of Durand," a pictorial version of one of Hex Beach's powerful stories. Other up-to-date pictures, dramatic, comic, and scenic will also be shown for the first time in Wellington. ' THE NEW THEATRE. , An entirely new programme will bo screened at the popular New Theatre, Manners Street, to-day. The leading dramatic feature will be a gripping dramatic photo-story entitled "The Mills of the Gods," which everyone knows "grind slowly but tliey grind exceedingly small." THE EMPEESS THEATRE. . Two new. dramas will be the outstanding feature of the new programme «t the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures today. First will bo' the A.B. emotional drama "Broken Ways." The principals are a young wife and her criminal husband. The wife separates from her husband when slio learns his true character. Later, believing her husband is dead the woman is about to give herself to another when her husband reappears as a fugitive from justice. Tho plot culminates in a startling climax. The second drama will be the lengthy sensational drama "A Prisoner of War," a tale, of the present war with Turkey, in which a Bulgarian girl is captured by the enemy. The film occupies over half an hour. "An Excursion Jlariazel Railway" (scenic),. "Eclair Journal," and a number of comedies will also appear. SIIORTTS' PICTURES. Another attractive change of programme is promised by the management of Shortts* Pictures to-day. The star picturo will bo "The End of the Line," a thrilling dramatic picture showing tho important part the telephoue plays in tho life of the latter-day detective. l Other pictures are ."An. Affair at, Raynor's," "Diary of a Duckling," and "Raising Barley in Japan."

CITY BAND CONCERT. The Wellington City- Band attracted an audienco that filled every scat in ' his Majesty's Theatre last evening. Under the painstaking control of Lieut. Herd this band appears to bp improving with each appearance. The balance and tone are excellent, and the precision with which tlio leads are taken up, and the smoothness and accuracy of *the soloists are very pleasing to hear. Tho quality of the band was tested last evening in the big overture to Rossini's opera "Somiramide" which is, full of traps for tho unwary. The overture was really admirably interpreted, and throughout there was a confidence in execution that evidenced careful preparation. Tho band was also heard in "Mountain Echoes" (J. 0. Hume) which was a somewhat reiterative composition. The tHio effect by the united cornet was capitally obtained. The patrol "March of the Mountain Gnomes" and the bright buoyant march "Que;n of the AVett" wore also well played.

The vocalists of the evening were Mrs. P. Foster and Mr. .Tamos Dolierty. Mrs. Fester (nee Miss Mabel Fowler) is a cultured soprano with a clear ringing musical voice, beautifully produced. She sang most acceptably Reign's "The Wakening of Spring," and "Sweeter tho Year," a dainty pastorale by Charles Willsbv. Mr. Dnhertv, the well-known baritone, song "The City of Rest" and Faure's "Los Rameaux."

OEGAN RECITAL. About one hundred people were present a*t Messrs. Holiday's organ factory, Sydney Street, on Saturday evening to liear the initial recital given on the new twoliiamial organ the firm has built for the ltoslyn Presbyterian Church, Dunedin. As the space available for the instrument is only 6ft. din. by 10ft., • the builders necessarily found themselves cramped for room, and under the circumstances have managed very well indeed. The front of the organ is plainly, but effectively panelled with nicely-figured oak to a height of about 15ft., and the pipes, somewhat gaily decorated, arc ranged across the top, with the larger pipes standing round two oriel projections on. either side. The consolo is apart from the organ altogether, in order that the organist may have a full view and control of the choir as he plays. The specification includes six stops on tho great organ, six on the swell, and a lGft. Bourdon, and Bft. flute on tho pedal organ (with the usual couplers). On Saturday evening the action of the bellows was very distracting, but tho recital given by Mr. 11. 8. Claughton showed that the organ generally is well-balanced, and many of the stops arc beautifully mellow in quality. Altogether it appears to be a compactly-built ami nicely-toned instrument. Mr. Claughton played a varied programme, including IT. id. Bacho's well-known "Introduction and Allegro," J. S. Bach's (smaller) "Fugue 1 in G. Minor," and the "Adagio" movement from Merkcl's Organ Concerto (recently played as a duet by Messrs. Maughan Barnett and Horace Hunt). As tho organ had never been played on before, and was not even then finished, Mr. Claughton asked the indulgeuco of the audience for any shortcomings, which, of course, disarmed criticism. Mrs. Claughton sang several vocal solos.