ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1916, 26 November 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

i I—41 —4 11IS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A particularly strong bill is being offered to patrons of His Majesty's TheaI trc this week. Tho Tonka Troupe of Japanese illusionists are very clever. Tltoy present a variety of illusions new and old. They are quick and clean in their methods, and have no difficulty in deceiving the eye on most occasions. They present tile now famous, but ever mvstitying, thumb-tie trick, a new form of tho cabinet trick, and a very pretty illusion entitled the magic water fountains, in which spouts of water appear from almost any point at tho wave of a fail. Clement May will appeal to lovers of Dickens, a number oi whose ! characters lie impersonates faithfully. These include. Uriah Heap, Macawber, and little Nell's grandfather (from tho "Old Curiosity Shop"). Miss Geraldino Morton displays a fine soprano voice in ballads and the Carlo Mai Trio of acrobats astonish with their agility. KING'S THEATRE. A most attractive programme of up-to-dato moving pictures is being presented at the King's Theatre this week. The premier dramatic picture is entitled "The Tiger Lily." In this a, woman of the adventuress type, who also has a tiger, plays the principal rolo in a thrilling story. 1 "Making Osram Lamps" is a film'descriptive of tho manufacture of the metallic filament electric lamp, and is interesting and instructive. "The Culture of Bulbous Flowers," and "For His Loved One" are also pictures worth seeing. EMPRESS THEATRE. i "A Midnight Message" is the star [ picture at the Empress Theatre at prosent. It is a new form of tho triangular love story in which a wealthy widower who marries again believes his sen to be intriguing with his wife, and is strengthened in that suspicion, by finding them together immediately after the son has rescued her from the butler who lias turned-thief in his master's absence. The denouement is intensely dramatic. Other good pictures are: "Winning Ilis Wife," "Tho Blacksmith's Story," "On tho Colombia River," and "Never Known to Smile." "THE GEISHA." "Happy Japan" is admirably illustrated as the laud of flowers and fancy in that pretty ■ comic opera, "The Geisha," which' is to bo staged at the Opera House oil Tuesday evening next, and lor the six succeeding evenings, by the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society. It is twelve years sinco we have had any amateur opera, and over a month since we had any musical attraction at the Opera House, so that there will 110 doubt be a rush to seo this sparkling opera', which is to bo staged under the direction of' Mr. Tom l'ollard. The music of "The Geisha," which is one of. its chief attractions, is by Mr. Sidney Jones, -who, as tho writer of "Tho Gaiety Girl," was tho originator of tho long lino of "Girl", musical plays. IJo wrote many successes, but "The Geisha" is regarded by all critics to .be his brightest and most consistently melodious work. An attraction of tho performance will be Miss Helen Gardener as 0 Mimosa San. Box plans will open at tho Dresden on Thursday morning. "WILLIAM TELL." Itossini's stirring historic opera will be given in tho Town Hall on December 4 by the Wellington-Musical Union, numbering 200 performers. The production of the opera necessitates eight principals, and the union "is not spar-j ing expense in obtaining the services of first-class artists. Madam Evelyn Ashley, of Melbourne, who is reputed to be the finest operatic soprano in Australia, and who sang the part of the Princess upon both occasions when, it -was performed in Melbourne, 'lias • been engaged to sing the part here. Mr. Frank Graham, late of tlie Carl Rosa Opera Company, is entrusted with the part of Arnold, and Mrs. B. M. Wilson with the part of Jemmy, off whose head tlio apple is shot by Tell (Mr. C. Clarks'oii). Miss E. Driscoll. Mr. Courtenay Mohr, Mr. Calvert, and Mr. E. Urc are singing the other principal parts. The opera, abounds in delightful music, and this being" its first performance in the Dominion patrons should be afforded a musical treat. Tho box plan opens at tho Dresden this morning for subscribers, and on Thursday morning for the sreneral nublie, when three shilling and two shilling seats can bo booked.