ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1909, 18 November 1913, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Since vaudeville replaced the pictuio shows at His Majesty's Thccstre, some exceptionally good turns lwvo figured ou the prog ram lne from week to week, and tho new bill presented last night shows no falling oil' in qualitv. The largo audicuco showed fuii appreciation or the different items comprising tlio evening's entertainment. Imdoutitedly tlio feature was the great novclt.v introduced by Arthur Troutt. ' ° "the Human Fish," and his famous Mermaid. Their work is performed under water, and, notwithstanding tlio diffi- , culties of a. tank sceftOj soukv striking I feats arc executed. Eating is a simple matter to both performers, but Mr. Troutt is not satisfied with catiu£, Ho i drinks milk from a bottle whilo"under water, and corks the bottle again, witli- . out letting a drop of water enter it. [Tho mermaid gives an exhibition of submarine needlework, and Mr. Troutt, not to be outdone, throws a number of"coins into tho tank, dives in after them, and picks them up with his mouth. Finally, lie, gives a realistic imitation of a man drowning.- The various feats provo both artists to be possessed of wonderful (lowers of enchir* , anco undev water. Billed as tho "world's [ greatest asrobatic comedians," th© Carlo Mai Trio had something of a renuUtion 'to sustain, and their clever allround work carried them through their first appearance triumphantly. With tho stage prettily set out as a tenuis court, tno new arrivals opened with tho kind of tennis that was not intended to thrill, but tho net and tlie rackets were soon set asido for more important ! business. While tho lady of tho party executed • balancing feats on a wira stretched across tho stage,, tho two men showed themselves to bo extremely skilful acrobats, and their comedy was of a kind that helped things along. TJley wciro vociferously applauded as they left the stage. Davis, Allen., and Davis also mado a first appearance, and did not spare themselves in a Knockabout act, which provoked abundant laughter from all quarters of tho house. In their vocal eiforts they harmonised splendidly. Koldine and Speed were as clever as evor whilo a-wheel, and they extract- , J us k.- about as much comedy from fii$ r |jj c^es as . ft is possible to do. Big Tom M'Guire," the Irish singer of Scotch songs, agjiin inefc with .a great reception, and had to respond to encores. Ford and Davis succeeded in evoking applause in several operatic' numbers. The Vienna Trio, harp and Violin instrumentalists, and were as popular as in their previous season. Others who contributed items to tho entertainment w*ero Johnson and Conway, song and dance artists; Paul Joacle, tho whistling Bowery boy: and Lashwood and Ilenby, sketch duo'.

THE KING'S THEATRE. A large assemblage gathered at the King's Theatre last night to witness tho sccond production in Wellington of the memorable and historical film "With Scott to the South Pole," Probably most of those present had seen tho presentation previously, but all thoroughly enjoyed tho pictures taken, on tho spot by Mr. H. C. Pouting, F.R.0.5., photographic expert, who accompanied the British Antarctic Expedition, which left London in Julie, 1910, and the spontaneous bursts of applause testified the appreciation of those present of the gallant explorers, whoso every action denoted tho noblo and unselfish hero. Tho pohtographs of Capt. Scott and 'his comrades, Oates, Evans, Wilson, and Bowers, who .shared his famo and fate, w«re greeted with sympathetic; applause, and this magnificent kinegranl. wliich occupies the whole of tho second half of tho evening, _ gave unbounded satisfaction. Tho earlier films included "Mischievous Monkeys," a clever and laughable ' nature study; "Not in those Trousers," an amusing comedy; "On tho Broad Stair*, way," a detective drama, in which is solved the mystery of t'ho tragic death of a bride, who is found on the staircase stabbed to tho heart with' !.er fianco's knife; "Solitaries," which depicts tho consequence ol a young couple buying an engagement ring for a. third party when the town gossip is in the vicinity; "The Melbourne Cup of 1913,!' "Pegoud Flying Upside Down," and "Labour Day at Auckland,"

EMPRESS THEATRE. "Tlio Sacrifice at the Spillway," a Ealem "masterpiece" drama, features in. the new prograjnme screened at the Empress Theatre yesterday. It tells of an exciting story of an American canal, and an engineering structure which lifts barges over a hill. Bob, a barge "hand," and Sal aro sweethearts- Curtis, the barge captain, rejects his old fiancee, and forces his attentions upon Sal. This leads up to a fight between Bob and Curtis, in which the latter receives a thrashing. The trouble is continued on a subsequent occasion, and Curtis, while intoxicated, attacks his employer, ivho endeavours to intercede. Curtis is thereupon dismissed, and Bob is appointed captain. Curtis later oil tries to smash up Bob and his barge by wrongfully operating tlio lovers on the "spillway." Bob is saved through., the bravery of Sal, who struggles with Curtis. _ While endeavouring to escape Curtis is intercepted by Bob, and during a desperate encounter between thero on the edge of the "spillway" Curfcis's rejected fiancee shoots the villain dead and saves Bob. The A.B. .Company is responsible for "The Law and His Son" —a stirring modern photo-drama. The A.B. Company's farce-comedy, "Dyed**But Not Dead," is a laughable skit in which two children havo a merry time with a tin of Ted paint. Praise is also due to "Tlio Baseball Industry" (industrial), "Poker Paid" (Lubin comedy), and "Chivalrous Tommy" (Paths burlesque). Nc.v selections will bo contributed this evening by the Empress full orchestra.

"JUDAS MACCABAEUS." It is anticipated that the Town Hall will be well filled on Friday night noxt, when Handel's "Judas Maceiibaeus" will be performed by tho Royal Wellington Choral Society. The oratorio has been rehearsed- for several months, and under Mr. Christian Bellemann's direction, tho society's chorus and orchestra, consisting of 450 performers, may be oxpected to give a very fine rendering. A special fcattfro in "Judas" will be tho children's chorus. For some weeks past Mr. Hellomann has been coaching ICiO school children (all picked voices) to sing "See the Conquering Hero Comes." Tho public will doubtless note with pleasijro the names of those engaged to sing the principal parts. Mrs.- Arthur Mead., of Christchurch, will sustain the- sopra.no role. Messrs. Harry Neil (tenor) and Reginald Gooud (bass) are being brought from Sydney, at considerable expenso. According to Press reports, both of those gentlemen are in the front rank of oratorio singers. Miss Nellie Castle has been engaged to sing thecontralto solos, Tho box plan is still at the Dresden. < (Two shilling tickets will bo on sale at the Dresden box office to-morrow (Wednesday). The final full rehearsal will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday, at 7.30 p.m. The doors will open on Friday evening at 7.15, and tho porforinanco will concimb at 10 o'clock. Hutt and Jolinsonvillo trains will be delayed till after the performance.