AMUSEMENTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10715, 21 September 1912, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

J. C, WILLIAMSONS' Pf.NTCF.i 5 M H. ■ -iNi;AJ) J]IK SAILOR." On Monday :it the Town Hall Mr J. C. Williamson will present "Sinbacl tii'- ! sailor, ' tno ainituu pnmomimic attraction of 1912. In ■'fembad the. Sailor ' is to be foun<,t ai Jia zenith, tt at pJttni orm oi. ,-'i>!<.iiUinir that/ we cave come to ci'..: iiaiHoiuune. "SLoad" according to :>>\: critic ol' tu Melbourne "Ago ' :■• a pantomime lor epicures, a meuu in winch every cour.se is a delight akiiiwl-l.v compounded and balanced. ■" -.i nicety. To say that pan■fcomine .'..-. the theatrical manager's trump ■■.-.: d may be correct but. certainly "Sinbad the bailor" is tho ti'uriip-'.-.M'.i elect of all previous pantonine, {.reductions done by the big firm in Australia. It is also a strong point .■- '.' whether we liavo had a ■eompiL.is >±miL< so good. Pip Powell is wH.h< ,r !. .; .shade ol' doubt tho very •best "i-'me" that "has amused Australia :>■:■ many years. Messrs Drew •and Aki'-iSj hilled as direct from Drtiry 1 "'e, are quite up to regulation. Mr '■). E. Lonnon gives us as "TWO id-Man of the Sea" a piece of chairacu-j--acting rarely equalled on tho legiMinato stage. Mis; Florence Imesoi'. ii a principle !xn ', to tho manner bom. ;:nd infuses into "Sinbad"' Imeson is a principal boy, to the manthe gencv-d success. A more charming pri'ic!!)."! girl (Ruby) than Miss Nell v Fiiif i.-. it would be hard to imagine while. Miss Marie Eaton (Princess Fatima) and Miss Nance Ma her (Fairy of A«lveuturo) are salient features in tho general success. Important also, are Messrs William Winn, Charles Howard, and William Hassan, as the Emper, "Sinbad" and Dick tho Dog Detective respectively. As to the scenery the apex has surely been reached, some of the wonderful spectacles positively beggar description. Tho Diamond Valley, with its subsequent cascade of jewels is certainly the finest stage effect . yet achieved. Then there is tho delightful rose ballet, tho march of tho silver guards, and finally the flying ballet, which is the most attractive feature of tho big show. Added a number of scenes such as the flight of the roc, the shipwreck, the whale's hack, the home of the antediluvians and the comic reeling fthip, which are esontially for the enjoyment of the youngsters, and "Sinbad the Sailor"" stands confessed as the best ideal of what a successful writer and popular pantomimn ought to bo. Writes the critic of tho Sydney "Bulletin" of "Sinbad he Sailor" :- "The new J. C. Williamson panto-mime-extravaganza, 'Sinbad the Sailor' is evidently a thing of beauty and a joy to the multitude. It is said to be a dream of pink fleshings and delicately blended colours interspersed with wild monstrosities and much reasonable humour. No part of the •point is'.'overdone —and the inevitable dame in tho person of Pip Powell is a comparatively feminine person. The dame's one possible opportunity for indiscretion is averted by a ship■vreck which lauds the Toyagers in the 'Diamond Valley' belonging to tho 'Old man of tho Sea' where a prehistoric reptile opens its mouts and disgorges a choice assortment of beautiful girls. Tho 'big gee' of the play is the 'Flving Ballet' with visions of fairies flying overhead flashing their limbs to the upturned gasse of mortals who are looking for trouble. An item of much merit is supplied by the Sleedes —a party leave amazement W furtively scratching its head in vain endeavouring to find out 'How it's ' done'.' Finally there is an emblematical procession that is a blaze of glorv ■and a transient vision of beautiful girl. Taken by and large the panto- ■ mime of 1912 is the best yet."

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURE*. | i "THE BLACK CHANCELLOR." , The large audience which was present at the Foresters' Hall again last evening endorsed everything which .had previously been said of "The Black Chancellor." and on all sides it was admitted that this was the finest drama ever shown at the Foresters' Hall—and that is saying something, when one takes into consideration tho high standard of Messrs Thompson and Payne's pictures. The picture was rendered all the more enjoyable by the perfect manner in which it was rvWented by the firm's unrivalled operator, Mr Harry Harrison. No words can adequately describe this magnificent production, and lovers of 'high class pictures are advised not to mias this picture, which will be presented for tho last time to-night. The comedies are the funniest shown for a long time, and the hall resounded with screams of laughter at the pranks of the cowgirls, who ; imitating 'the sterner sex, have "n night out." and get up to all sorts of mischief, and at the funny situation in "Winnie's l>anco," this picture showing a very darntv ballet dance by an accomplished artist. "The Coiners'. l)en" was an exciting detective story, "and "Marion" was a, clever society drama The remainder of the pictures are of a high order. The programme will be shown for the last time to-night. Such a varied selection of pictures has been made for the children's matinee this afternoon that the little folk have been provided with one of the biggest treats ever given them in Masterton. The price of admission is still sixpence for adults and threepence for children. Owing to the increasing popularity of Messrs Thompson and Payne's matinee those desirous of obtaining a good seat are advised to come early in order to avoid, ■disappointment.

WASTERTON PICTURE COMPANY. FURTHER ATTRACTIONS. The large audience at the Town Hall last evening gave further evidence of the popularity of the productions screened by the Masterton Picture Company. Tlie final screening of the ■current programme was as thoroughly euioved as the first, if one can be guided by the unstinted applause -which greeted each film. This afternoon the, usual weekly matinee will take place, when arrangements will lie made to give the little ones a real healthy entertainment, which will amuse amLinstruct. To-night the

tnanagemeiit will screen an entire change of programme including'films winch have only recently arrived from Europe and America. A feature of the series will be the comic films, which are cleverly funny, and guaranteed laughter-raisers. Pathe Gazette will display glorious wonders in many corners of the earth. "His Lesson" is a very fine- A.B. drama, giving an intensely interesting and highly natural portrayal of a miser's life and his awakening to the reality of things. "Oh for a Smoke" is n most amusing comic which will appealto all. "Port of Marseilles" is a beautiful coloured scenic showing the busy life of a great seaport. "Mirror of Prophecy" is a ' wonderfully interesting and powerful drama, and quite one of the Pathe Company's best productions to date. "Reinforcements" is'a funny comedy by the same company. "Tontonini as Gamekeeper" is a most amusing Cines comic. "The Mexican Revolutionist" is a drama which is doubly interesting on account of the recent developments in disturbed Mexico. "Hypnotic Xell" is an up-to-date Kalem comic, while "Price of a Silver Fox" is a great Lubin drama. This is one of the very best picture programmes yet presented in Masterton, and should draw a bumper house.