ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1913, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. "The Cingalee" with its bright mounting, clever comedy and attractive music was again responsible for a full house at the Opera House last night. To-morrow evening Collier's charming comic opera, I "Dorothy" will be produced for tho first time for some years, and there is little doubt that tlm popular Work will be received by large and enthusiastic audiences. Miss Amy Murphy will appealas "Dorothy," in which role she is not unknown in Wellington, Mr. Reginald Roberts as Geoffrey Wilder, Mr. W. Talleur Andrews as Harry Sherwood, Mr. W. S. Percy as Lurcher, Miss Celia Ghilom as Mrs. Privett, Miss Dorothy Brunton as Phyllis, and Mr. Victor Prince as Squire Bantam. The two performances of "Dorothy" will bring the season to a close. ' HUGARD, THE MAGICI-VN. Speaking of Hugard, who opens a sixnights season at the Opera House on Monday next, a- leading South Island paper says :•— "ln dealing with Hugard, the conjurer, who opened a season at the Theatre Royal last iiight, a writer may sally forth into unstinted eulogium without any fear of contradiction or fear of boosting up an unworthy show. Let it be said at the outeet that Hugard's performance may safely be commended as among the best of ita kind that has ever been ©een in this town. He was greeted last night by a bumper house, and during the whole of the 150 minutes the show tan there was not one minute that Was not full of interest and wholesome entertainment. Spectators quickly realised they had an artist before them, and demonstrated the fact in & pro flounced manner. , . ." Hugatd is supported by a strong company, including Miss Myra Errington, the charming young American musical novelty expert. Seats may be reserved at the Dresden. MISS THELMA PETERSEN'S CONCERT. One by one the colonial songbirds go London-ward. On Friday next Miss Thelma Petersen leaves for Home, where she will be placed under the care of the best teachers ( with a view to developing her voice to its utmost. Miss Petersen gave a farewell concert in the Concert Chamber last evening before an audience which did not pack the hall, but which was very kindly disposed to the young contralto, who all through had an excellent reception. Miss Petersen possesses a voic^ of uneven register. Her low and middle tones are essentially rich and tnelodious, but in her upper register the singer suggested either that she had not profited to much as she might haVe done by her training or that she has hot matured sufficiently. It was apparent at times that she was not sure of her note— -this was more particularly in evidence in her opening number, "Abide With Me" (Liddle). The encore number, "Shadow March," an expressive little conception of Del Riego, was handled more effectively. t It is evident that Miss Petersen is, in the present stage of her development, more at homo With ballads, but her voice (in parts] and temperament indicate that With hard and earnest work she should do her teachers credit. Her least successful number was the exacting Schumann item, "I Murmur Not," but there was compensation in the encore, "Soothsayer Marguerite." Other songs were Chamanade's "The Silver . Ring," with "My Violet" in response ito an encore. During the evening the youthful contraltio was the recipient of several floral tributes. Miss Petersen was assisted by Messrs. J. C. Bell and ,Zante c ,Wood' (elocutionists), H. S. Fletcher and R: '■&' Allwright, the Orpheus Quartette, and Miss Amy Remington. The latter, with Mr. C. L. N. Petersen, provided the various accompaniments, . \ THEATRE ROYAL. Maud Fanning, that excellent coOn-im-personator, is keeping large audiences merry at the Theatre Royal. She has a new repertoire and her songs are even better than they were when she last made her appearance here. Victor the Great is another artist who is drawing a fair share df applause. The programme Will be continued this evening, and on Monday next a, complete change will be made. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. t A classic picture of magnificent staging, "The Voyage of Ulysses," represents an achievement in kinematography. Its production at His Majesty's Theatre drew another big house last night. The remainder of the programme affords excellent support with drama, comedy, and travel pictures. The. programme will be repeated to-night. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The popularity of the Selig spectacular drama, "The Count of Monte Cristo," prompted the management of the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures to repeat that film to-day and to-night, in addition to the change of programme. Among the new items is the A.B. com-edy-drama, "My Hero," a dainty little story of the tribulations of two tiny juvenile lovers. The- S. and A. exclusive drama, "The Stain," is a fanciful costume drama* mainly evolved from a dream experiertcSd by tho principal.' Another exclusive photo-play by the same company, "The Moving Finger," is ah impressive dramatisation of .an unusual theme. "Once Upon a Time" fa a ladies* drama, tastefully staged and brilliantly performed. Many important events in England and on the Continent afo a*sembled in "The Warwick Chronicle." The comedies are good. "The Count of Monto Cristo" will figure for the last tune to-night. Another "feature" is announced for next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, when Selig's lengthy his. tone drama, "Christopher Columbus" (or The Discovery of America") will be displayed. The picture took three years to produce, cost £10,000, and required over 350 performers. At the special request of His Holiness Pope Pius X. it was exhibited at the Vatican. SHORTT'S PICTURES. "The Loyalty of Sylvia" was the prih* cipal picture included in the new programme at Shortt's Continuous Picture Iheatre to-day, and judging from the applause it was also the most popular picture. Sylvia was left by her father to the guardianship of a doctor, and subsequently became engaged to a rromising young solicitor. Her guardian (who is m iove with Sylvia himself), during the progress of a young people's party given in honour of his ward's engagement, is suddenly called away to a case of infectious fever. He- contracts the disease himself, and is deserted by all but Sylvia, who nurses him back to health. In the meantime the girl had seen nothing of he? lover, who was mortally afraid of sickness, and she sent him back his ring. The doctor, hearing of the broken engagement, declared his love, nnd all is well that ends well. The story ia acted by clever artists and artistically staged. Other good supporting films are "The Hindoo Curse," "Lack of Education," "Well Matched," and the Pathe Gazette. The programme will be repeated till further notice. ST. THOMAS'S HALL. St. Thomas's Hall was filled yesterday night, when the "Oliver Twist" films were shbwn for the last time. To-hight there will be a complete change of programme, which will comprise of Borne of the latest subjects to hand by tho , mail, ' :

THE KING'S THEATRE. A strong programme of pictures attracted a large attendance of patrons to The King's Theatre laßt evening. The star film is "A Gipsy's Hate." a powerful drama of primitive passion. "With tbe Colours" and "The Thunderbolt" are two of the excellent series of supporting pictures. THE NEW THEATRE. Tho foremost attraction o£ to-day'e change of programme at the New Theatre Continuous Pictures is the sensationnl modorn drama, "The Secret Treaty.'' The story is well infused with intriguing and spying in high political circles, whilst the action id ho managed as to sustain an atmoephore of mystery. Carr, a Minister of Foreign Affair's, conchides a secret treaty aft'etiting an important Eastern nation. A spy in the pay of an Eastern Power learns, by th& aid of a diplomat in the same service, of the treaty, and is instructed to procure the secret treaty. The excitement is provided by the methods adopted by the two foreigners t? steal tho valuable document, which is deposited in a safe equipped with automatic pistols' far safeguarding its contents. Some very fine scenes ar& next introduced,, which contribute to the wicceas of the drama. Eventually the safe is opened by the diplomat, and a, document hurriedly stolen. When it is subsequently examined the document is found not to bo the much-sought treaty. "The Secret Treaty" is supplemented by "On the Trail of the Germ" (Kalem), "Venetian Lace Making" (industrial), "At the LJungan" T»cenic), and a 'number of comedies. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. The star film in the change programme now being screened at the Peo- , pies Picture Palace is a Pasqiiali masterpiece entitled "From the Regions of Darkness." This is a cleverly-acted drama of circus life. Tony, one of the circus employees, falls in love with his employer's daughter, but is rejected in favour of a young nobleman, who frequently comes to the show. The girl is thrown by her horse 1 and falls over a cliff. When she is rescued by Tony it is found that the shock of the fall has deprived her of her eyesight. ' The hobleman does hot wish to marry a blind girl, but TW remains faithful, and when sight suddenly restored to the girl Tony is accepted as her lover. Other notable pictures are the "Eclair Journal" (topical), "Shellfish" (natural history), "Cattle Rustlers," "Hour of Peril" (dramas), "Pat the Soothsayer," and "Simple Simon Ends the Coal Strike" (comedies). STAR THEATRE. To-night's complete change 6f pro* gramme at the Star Theatre by West's and Star Pictures will include & 2000 ft film entitled "Skuwthofpe's ' Buckjumpers." In this production every form of horsemanship, breaking youngsters, riding bullocks, and all the excitem« nt and. happening of a big round up. She .Cried is a Vitagrapb comedy, featuring Miss Florence TTurnerr r "The Blacksmith" and "Equine Hero" are dramas of the popular kind. Scenic, comedy, and topical subjects are included m the programme. MIRAMAR BRASS BAND'S BAZAAR. A b&ssaar in aid of the Miramar Brass Band was opened in the Miramar Town Hall by Mr. W. H. D. Bell, M.P. for the district, last night. The hall was prettily decorated, and behind the platform was a banner bearing the inscription "Advance Miramar. )P The stallholders were Mrs. E. Mercer (produce), .{fei *t, PfgMon/^nfectionQry), . ,Mi-fl. J, J. .Newton, (fancy, goods), and, Mrs. f JV Wahters (tea kiosk), all of whom had a nttmber of willing assistants. Besides these there were bran tubs,, a fish pond, Punch and Judy show, shooting gallery, &nd fortune-telhhg. Mr. Bell, who was introduced by Councillor A. Grigg, gave much praise to the efforts of the band, and presented the bandmaster, Mr. F. L. Dea, on behalf of the bandsmen, with a silver-mounted baton. During the evening selections were played by the band and an orchestra, and good busi* ness was done at all the stalls. The bazaar will be open to-night and Friday hight, and on Saturday afternoon and evening.