ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1809, 23 July 1913, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

$ OrERA HOUSE. The Marlow Dramatic Company gave a second performance last evening of the melodrama, "The Night Side of London," in the Opera House. Tho play deals ivith tho unpromising subject of the White Slavo traffic, and the author'claims to have written it for the purpose of aiding in the crusade against this groat evil. Whether Wellington audiences will receive much instruction from witnessing the play is, however, a matter for conjecture. Like most melodramas, the play abounds in situations of a sensational character, and to those who enjoy this kind of entertainment there seems to be nothing lacking. "The Night Sids of London" will be performed again this evening. THEATRE KOYAL. A large audieuce was present at the Theatre Koyal last evening, when an excellent vaudeville programmo was presented. The Serenaders, who aro making a welcome reappearance, were cordially received. They are responsible for a largo section of the programme, and their items were all excellent. Other good "turns" on the programme are those of tho Bolvos, equilibrists; Mac and Maree, Kitty Jfenhv, Joe lastiwood, and Jaimugs anil Gerald.

"QUO VADIS." The pictorial representation of Henry Sienkieivicz's lius novel, "Quo Vadis" at Jlis Majesty's Theatre last evening drew an audience whicn tilled every stat in tlie Ijig auditorium. Tuo theatrical magnuic.nce and astonishing atteulion to uetaii which characterises tlie picture (wlncli constitutes' the. entiie evening's programme), must be seen to be realised. E\wi to tlKto wlio Have not read the book, from which, by the way, Wilson Barrett's play, "Tue Sign of tile Crass," was taken, tue story is made abundantly clear, although there are a perfect maze of characters involved. Still, through all the wdndarlul scenes of Koman splemiour, the voluptuous' carousings of Aero ana liis nobles, tlie struggles of the Christians to follow the new faith in unostentatious humility, and tne stirring scenes surrounding that period which marked the fall of .the great ltoman Empire, treats the story of Marcus Vinitius's great love for Lygia, the beautiful' C'Kristian girl. One of the most impressive scenes is that in the crypt, where Marcus, having been conducted to the meeting place of the Christians, by the spy Cnilon, hears St. Paul preaching, anu is profoundly impressed by what he hears. That is tlie turning point in the great change which subsequently conies over the Prelect. The great dramatic scene, thrilling in its fidelity to the real thing, is tiiat when? tile Christians are herded into the arena to be devoured by starving lions to make sport for Nero. The fact that the scenes are set in precisely the places whero such scenes were really enacted adds to the' interest of tho representation, which throughout is of absorbing interest. ■' KING'S THEATEE. One of the most .interesting topical pictures at the King's Theatre is tlia race for tlie English Derby, showing the mad interference by a Suffragette with the King's horse—an act she .paid for with tuc-r life. "Spanish Blood," "Master and Man," and "The Lion and the Mouse" are also fine dramatic pictures.

, THE EMPRESS THEATRE. ThoSo who have not yet witnessed tho current programme of the Empress Theatre continuous pictures will have a last opportunity of doing so to-day and to-night. The special attraction is the elaborate "feature" comedy, "A Night Out," in which 31. Prince, the eminent French comedian, appears in au extremely laughable role. The fun is occasioned by the midnight escapades in Paris of a baron 'and his son. The other filim; include, ','The (rood in the Best of Us" (Edison "masterpiece"), "His Mother's Son" (A.B. drama), "Bed Hicks Defies the World" (A.B. farce-comedy), and "Pathe Gazette" (topical). A complete change will be introduced to-morrow. THE "SMART SET." After a season of six months at the Follies Theatre, Melbourne, and. more recently a two months' season at tho Town Hall, Auckland, tho "Smart .Set," under tho direction of Walter George and Maynard Dakin, will make their appearance at the Town Hall on Saturday next, when a new and novel programme of musical gems, monologues, racy stories, duets, trios, instrumental and musical and character sketches, vontriloquial turns, and dances is promised. The company number eight —three ladies and live men—aud includes the well-known comedian, Mi-. Maynard Dakin, whose previous visits to the Dominion will bo well remembered. The "Argus," referring to the Melbourne season, says: "Their work is bright and gay, and will always draw whilst they maintain their present high standard of refilled entertainment." They bring with tjF.ein tho latest musical novelties, and they are said to present them artistically, with the happy gift of knowing what is acceptable. The programme is .said to be arranged in a manner that departs from the beaten track of the drawing-room entertainment, and in place of the time-worn material they are reported to provide music, mirth, and.merriment and comedy of a. kind which cannot fail to please. Tho Ims plan is now open at the Dresden.

ORGAN RECITAL. Another recital will be given by Mr. Horace Weber on the Town Hall organ on Friday evening next. He will repeat the great Prelude and Fugue in A Minor (Baoh),' and another item that is very popular is the Lernnre transcription of tile selection from "William (Rossini). Other numbers are a duetto, "Lieder Ohne Worte" (Mendelssohn), and the great pedal Etude (Faulkes). The vocalists for the evening will be the Orpheus Quartet, who were heard to such advantage at the last' recital. • • HUTT SKATING RINK. On Monday evening there was another largo gathering of skaters at the Hutt Rink. Tits pastime is gaining popularity in "the valley." The management states that it is kept busy instructing those desirous of learning the "Two-Stop," waltz, and promenade ami Cakewalk steps. Tonight the rink team play a hockey match with Wellington representatives at, the Olynipia Rink. A band will be at the riiik again on Saturday afternoon.

A well-known surgeon was : imparting some clinical instructions to half a dozen students, l'ausing at the bedside of a doubtful case, he said: "Now, gontlemen, do vou think this is or is not a case ior operation?" One by one each student made his diagnosis, and all of them answered in' the negative. "Well, gentlemen, you are all wrong," said the wielder of the scalpel, "aud 1 shall operate tomorrow." "No, yon won't," said the patirnt; as he rose in his bed; "six to one is a good majority; gimme my clothes." The South Australian, figures relating to tho- vital statistics for tho quarter ended June 30, 19.13, are of a very satisfactory character. The number of births registered was 32b'6. This is the highest number Tver tecorded for any quarter, and is abmo that of the corres|>ondiuff period of last year by 425. and over the general average by 505. The deaths numbered -Kit, or 10 more than in the same months of Inst year. The increase pf population by excess of births over deaths for t'lio quarter was 3120, which was tho greatest number recorded for any June quarter.