AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 29, 17 January 1912, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Those who have not yet paid a visit to His Majesty’s Theatre this week should make a point of doing so before “Captain Starlight, -bushranger” is withdrawn. ,As previously mentioned, the picture follows very faithfully the novel “Robbery Under Arms,” all the familiar scenes being shown with great attention to detail. The story is rich in incident throughout, and the, players who interpret it have made full use of their opportunities. In addition to this the.workmanship of the him, made by Spencer, Melbourne, is something out of tiie ordinary. All the scenes are exrtaordinanly clear, and there is exhibited a depth in perspective which is frequently lacking in Old World films. For instance there is the pursuit of Starlight’s band by mounted police across a wide river ford. The ford is anywhere up to four hundred yards wide, but the doings of both the pursued and pursuers are plainly shown from the time they enter the ford on the far side until they emerge on the near side. The horses engaged m the film are worthy of inspection, and their strenuous splashing through the waters of the ford produces a line effect. Similarly, when the two detachments of gallop over a muddy piece of road tub mud-spiiisk-ing also produces a pretty effect. The other pictures in the programme are somewhat above tjje usual standard, the whole forming a programme of great merit, which will be shown for the last time to-night. On -Thursday evening ‘liutus Dawes,” based on Marcus Clarke’s “The Term of His Natural Life, will be presented, and the dramatic picture, “A Stranger in. the Camp/’ will be shown for one night only, as it has to be returned at once to Well ngton.

MR H. B. IRVING IN “HAMLET.”

A MEMORABLE EVENT

On Tuesday night next the great English actor,' Mr H. 13. Irving, will make his, initial and only appearance in Eltham, when he will be presented by the J. C. .Williamson management in Shakespeare’s famous .tragedy “Hamlet.”' The success achieved by Mr Irving as the melancholy Dane in Auckland can be gauged when it is known that- after the whole of the dross circle and stalls had been boo.ccd up for the entire run of the p cce •the queue which lined up outside tne entrance to the cheaper of the theatre measured never less tmm a quarter of a mile, and the first rusa on each occasion' filled' the gallery, which has a holding capacity of ovci 800 people.' Judging by reports from London and Australia, Mr Irving s :s undoubtedly the finest representation of .“Hamlet” seen during the presentgeneration. His “Hamlet” is sa d to be human and,lovable and distinct-ly-intellectual. It has, it is said, so much subtlety too, and so much variety in .the moods. Mr Irving brings forcibly out all the charac-teristics'-of, Shakespeare’s “ilamlct showing his affectionate nature, his love for.dps father, for his. mother, and foinOphelia,' whom lie turns aside awhile ‘because fie - discovers that she allows -iferself, tp l)e ‘used as a deeby to test his .sanity. f Mr , Irving’s conception of •Hamlet is said to be so beautiful that it senc-s one ’aW.W frofn’thd the'atre feeling’ tense. 1 ynlbatliy fob the -Prince who found ■''him self in suCh a hard case, and whose personality is instinct -with the spirit which animates men to-day as it did in long centuries ago. Miss Dorothea' Baird, who will appear as Ophelia, is sTiid to be,one of the most distinguished actresses the Englis.i stage,has.even known. The cast supporting], mV I;; vihg ' will;' be the i?amo as that Which interpreted '“Hamlet” in London last 1 .year; Frank'TyarsV Henry Tibart, Tom Reynolds' (these tliVeb’ artists were associated with .the late. Sir ‘Henry Irvin,? in many of his greatest productions), Eric Maxon, Arthur Whitby, Siancly Howlettf W. Beaumont, Arthur! Curtis, C. Trevor Roper. J. Cass, Walter Gibbs,, W. H. Graham, Roland Perinis, Claude Beerbohm, Ronald Byram, C., Arthur, also Misses Helen Rous and Irene Brown. The plans will be opened at Carman’s on Friday next at 8 a.m. A queue will he formed from i .30 p.m.

ELECTRIC PICTURES

A high-class programme of pictures will bo submitted by the Electric Pictures at the Town Hall to-morrow evening. Speaking of the Hawera performance the “Star” says The chief attraction in connection with the cnaiigo of programme at the Electric Theatic was the “Indian Coronation Durbar. It was a splendid film, giving a very vivid idea of the magnificence of tins historic event. The landing of then Majesties, the procession of tne troops, and the reading of the proclamation wore all shown. Ihc picture created much interest and enthusiasm. A series illustrating some phases of the war between Italy and Turkey proved instructive. In the departure of the troops from Italy the authorities saw that all the details were attended to, showing tnat the Italians are thorough, if nothing else. All the dramatic subjects were excellent, and met with approbation. “The Playwright,” “His Lordship s Hunting Trip,” and the “Haunted Sentinel Tower” were all dramas that would be hard to excel. By special request the scenic “The Beaucitul Valley of Wye” was again put on, and was much appreciated. \ cry amusing was the Vita comedy, How Betty'Won the School.”