Plays and Pictures.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 61, 10 May 1912, Page 6

Plays and Pictures.

Captain Amundsen is no "great shakes" as a lecturer, comment s "Aspor" in the Christehurch "Evening News." Ho has no peroration, no oratorical gifts, and his command of English is not so complete as some newspaper scribes would have the public believe. His sole attempt at "impressive" effects was a dramatic pause or two. However, it was a pleasure to hear a plain and straight tale. By the way, tins scribe desires to deny emphatically that Amundsen has a "piercing eye." The Auckland reporters throw a fit over its stabbing qualities, but it didn't pierce a penny's worth when he was in Cliristchurch. He is one of tho mildest-eyed explorers we have ever seen, and he's a decent sort, too. _ The New Zealand Competitions Society reports that the prospects for the forthcoming festival, for which a very comprehensive syllabus has lieon drawn up, aro particularly bright. A ready response has been made by the business firms of Wellington to the ap7>eal for pri7/es, and there is every indication that tho entries this year will exceed those of last year. In aid of tho instrument fund of tho Wellington Watersiders' Brass Band a grand pictorial entertainment will he held in the. Star Theatre, Newtown, on Friday evening next, May 17, when something "extry sposhul" in the way of a. prize programme of popular photo-plays, scenic studies, and camera comedies will be presented. Tickets aro (3d. each. Get one I The Fuller management have made "a hit, a palpable hit" in the engagement of Carrie Moore, now before the public as Mrs. Percy Plantagcnct P.igwood the. second, but formerly an Australian comic opera and musical comedy star of considerable candle-power and popularity. Clinic has bi>oii appearing in Wellington Theatre Royal this week with lireat succoaa. Pictures? Aye, but not the pictures of the playhouse that have motion and yet are lifeless, that, move 'iiustoadily o'er the showman's screen and vet, are dead. No, we speak of pictures that are si ill and yet are pulsing with living, breathing reality, painted canvasses that arc motionless and yet quick with the breath, the blood and beaut.v of life. These are the Baillie collection of Brili-h paintings, now on exhibition in the Harbor Boa id's woo) store. Customhouse Quay, Wellington, for the nonce coy.verted into an art gallery of wondrous ai tra< tivenos. This is the pieiuro show to sec. read-r. See il ' Bo* a litt.it: while it is with you. ihough some of tbe paintings are to form the nucleus of Now Zealand's National Art Ciillery. It is open day and night, and the admission is Is. Yon, couldn't spend a shilling to better advantage. Who are the "gods?" We have always understood that the patrons of the Olympic region, i.e., the gallery, were entitled to the designation from their occupancy of the. highest seats ni the Temple of Thospis. but it seems we h:>,v< bi-cn mistaken, according to the Wellington "Post's" report of "A (""ill's Temptation," in which the application of the word can only bo taken as referring to the stallites. Says our contemporary: "The play was wholly to the liking of the gods. . . The gallery aim applauded vigorously, and that 1 midway plane, the dress circle, thoroughly enjoyed tho play." Concerning lladdon Chambers's sr.rcflflsful comedy, "Passers By," wiiui. is the second string in tiie repertory of ' the "Evcrywoinan" Company. one paper says: "It is about as satisfying a comedy as anything typically human ' could In', and is an eloquent exair-ido of the unalloyed joy that can be bad at n theatre, when a play, peb-t of its kind, is perfectly performed. Of [ tho few pf-ys now current, the total missing of which would be, a real loss Jto anybody, 'Passers By' easily deserves'first place. No play of the year is coinpiuable in worknnundiip, iiioiary quality, and observation of life to ' 'Passc'i-s B.V. It- is a coined,-drama, that cannot fail to reach the kije s! ' degree of Douular success." ' Mr. IT. "N. Southwell, the woll-krcwn J Sydney concert manager, pronounces i emphatically for Pci<Vr..wski, the groat Polish pianist, n» the "ideal num." "I base that opinion on three great attributes," he explains. "In tlie. first 1 place, In' is the greatest male musical . ai li-t of his time". Secondly, his seli- - sacrificing patriotism appeals to mc. I Thirdly, his intense humanity lifts him , hi'di above his fellows. My ideal nan." adds Mr. Southwell, "is 'the worker--i the man who dors soiiu-thirm: in life - and d.ie-n't stop doi.t.i: till he • ''.'.■ s. it! . <■.111■ -1- words, he who has no time to I look back and say, T did that.' but wants all the lime to do more. lTowr ever, aft. rmy experience of tin l v.orhi s ii m- n, I place the naltn of idea!i;y ■ v Igi'iice Paderewski."