ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 679, 2 December 1909, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

. JULIUS KNIGHT COMPANY. ;; .V ■; : "THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL." : "The Scarlet. Pimpernel,"-a, play in four aots, by Baroness Cast:—t . : Sir Percival Blakeney „!'.. MrV Julius Knight Prince 'of W1&1 ._.. Mr. Winter Hall Sir Andrew Ffoulkes ■ .: . ; , T ■-. ' .„ Mr. Reynolds Dcnniston Lord Grenville, .............. .Jir.; Edgar Harris ; Lord Anthony Dewhnrst •"". 1 ■ '„, ■','.' ■■'. " '.-' .-Mr, Sidney Stirling Ohauvehn ;............ Mr. Lcslio-Victor ' Oomto de Tournai _......... Mr, George Wright yicomte do Tournai... Mr. Aubrey Mallalieu,. Armand j ßt, Just :.... Ml*. Walter Hunt Jellyband Mr. - George Chalmers Mr. Hcmpseed Mr.. Eego Eedo • S e . rbor * „—•:••.■ '•■•• ; Mr. Euport Julian Citizen ............ Mr. Stanley Walpolo Harry Waite .. —;»......... Mr. George Junior Brogard „ Jfr. George'- Chalmers Aristocrat _!.....„ ;, Mr. Monte Luke j Messenger'.'..-...;... ;„ Mr. G. Treloar Mr. Arthur. Spenco Servant : _......„... .v.....:. Mr. L. Mark First Labourer ■ ...;. Mr. Charles Tillicre Second. Labourer ....'' Mr, Alt. Drew .. 0hepy......................; Mr. Alt. Andrew . Sergeant ..„.._. Mr. Georgo Pranla Margaret Blakeney' ;.. Miss Beatrice Day Oomtesse do Tournai ......... Miss Elsie Wilson .Suzanne do Tournai ... Miss' Guilford Quln Sally Jellyband Miss Mary Marlowo Mere Brogard !...„..... Miss Katie Towers.Lady Portarles....:.-...-....'.:'.....,: Miss' Mary Lowo Duchess of Warminßtcr ... Miss Jean Martin Soldiers, Citizens, Fishermen,. otc. ' .'-...- The Baroness Orczy's famous romantic play proved such a popular feature of the Julius Knight season in Wellington.' 18 months ago that it was a.perfeotly safeithing to revive it during the present visit.- ■ Those who witnessed it at the Opera House last, night l had three hours of as much pleasure as the theatre can well .yield. 'The. Scarlet .Pimpernel" comes near to being the ideal roinantio play, and it may bo surmised that Sir Percy. Blakeney, otherw.ise the "Scarlet Pimpernel," leader of the band of Englishmen who are smuggling French aristocrats across the. Channel in the days of th,e Terror, is 'one ■of Mr..Julius Knight's favourite roles'. Certainly it is one of those in -which, his admirersr-and they are practically all the playgoers' in Australasia, and many elsewhere—like best to : see him. It is a _ delightful mixture of the comio and the heroic, and . the popular:, actor, .is! equally, at home in both.- His: attitude towards his wife gives the,play'the'subtler part of its interest. 1 Their temporary estrangement, dua, mainly to the fact that' certain of her .known sympa-1 thies, and one' action which she has been too proud to explain, prevent him from taking her into his' confidence,, provides; the main emotional basis of the '.'stor^,. Ghauvelin,- the French Republican |py,' inveigles hor, through her. love for an only brother; into.'helping to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, of which she had ,been as. : as himself. . When she -finds that; she has almost betrayed her,husband to his: enemies, sho rises to heights of heroism, and the end,is deliver-, ance and .reconciliation^"■'.' : .•'■.- '■-...■'. The part of-Lady ..Blakeney is,; therefore, one that gives, an actress 'much scope. for the portrayal of. emotion, and Day proves herself fully equal'to'the; occasion. One wonders why the' full: reconciliation does not come during the-third act, when she explains almost everything to ;her' husband;..* It is, perhaps, there', that a .little more'restraint on tho : part of .the actress would be, justifiable. But, of course,'.it.had to bo; delayed for. artistio reasons,•• and, on the whole, Miss Day. fulfils' on'; exacting' part with much power and- distinction.' .- v V ..,; ~-....- ....■.•.. ..

Chauveliu,the plotting French emissary, is Clayed: as in Mr. Julius■ Knight's- former jirouction of "The,. Scarlet. Pimpernel" in Wellington by Jfr. Leslie Victor, and his portrayal of the cold, oruel 'spy, is now, if anything, an even more finished piece :of acting than it was then. ■■. -, ... '■;.-,-■■ ' h^ ■Theso three carry:most of the burden, but the other members of' the company do excellent work.' Miss Guilford Quin'is a charming Suzanne de Taurnai.'"'Praiseas due.'tb -Miss Elsie Wilson as the Countess de Tburnai;Mr. "Winter, Hall, as ; the-Prince, of -'Walesj- Mr; Reynolds Denniston;'.''as.'Sir 'Andrew Efoulkes; Mr.-.-, Sydney .Stirling,";as ! 'Lbro?''Anthony Dewhurst; Mr. -Aubrey ■ Mallalieu, ivs . the. Vi--comto'de Tournai; and toothers whose.namesappear in* the large'-cast. : The mounting, l the dresses,' and' the- music are. fully ; up, to the high "Julius Knight" standard. -'-'■■' ■:'.'■ The "Scarlet: Pimpernel", will be repeatod for. the last;: time . this evening. To-morrow evening .two- new; playsi will bo ~ submitted, .'The Sacrament of Judas" and ; "An EnglishHome." -/The.latter play has, it must'be adiriitte'di had an extraordinary career,' for' it has l created i a-fe'verish r desife'-to.see.lt, both 'in England and, • to. all .aocbuntsstjiin Australia. Major ,du : 'Manner,- before -he-i-rote- "An. Englishman's- Homo" made., several l unsuccessful attempts to ; 'tempt.managers with;plays../;He and his- brother Gerald,' it is. stated,' put their own money - into' - ' r An' r " Englishman's Homo," and the result, has. been'little short of wonderful: S'uccoss'i.was instantaneous. * The moderately largo; audience, principally?friends of; the author," that saw the'play the first, night at Wyndbahi's. Theatre, in London/ created 'such,an.unprecedented,scene of enthusiasm that within a -week London was falling, over itself at, the various 'bos-offices, arid-.the vogue of the ; hbur':an'd'talk of'the town':'was "An- ! English-' man's Home." .' The brothers Du'-.Mauri'er have made a fortune; but' it ; is the: striking lesson'that the ; piece hammers home that is tho valuable asset. The strength'and brilliance of the play,: combined with' its: appalling-reality, its swift succession of catastrophic -incidents, depict.,a grim lesson in.'Unpreparedness. ;"The Sacrament 'of Judas".is. said .to be)the .very essence of, high-class dramatio writings-strong, graphic, and absorbing; The' Jacques Bernez of Mr. Julius .'Knight- is spoken, of as .being artistic.-.,..'- : ■-■■.'•'■'. ■"-, '■ • : -■•':■,

.HIS MAJESTY'S THEATEE.',*' ■-V .:Tke. Royal; Picture Syndicate ;is .now.-in: its ninety-eignth .week's performance,:,' and His Majesty's' Theatre, .the: centre, of the ■ firm's operations,; was crowded again last/evening on tno occasion, of; the 'running! off of .another new programme. 'The 'fare is right up to the high' standard'which' has,l)een set- for som9. time past, and. every item'on the'well-selected,pro-gramme was greeted .with applause.- Probably the most-popular screening ou'tho bill was'the picture entitled "Sexton ■ Blake,", which is an interesting.: detective v-film, : after' the ' style' of the .Nick' Carter series.; : Blake, is'.a /famous detective, made notorious in the different penny magazines, in; the Old Country,- 'and. as- the long.film -unwinds the audience becomes enthusiastic in its', praiso: of ..the hero. Another picture of,exceptional worth,;both as a.study and for its instructive valuei is "Julius Caesar,' .which gives.a- number of tho;inost interesting points in ; the life ,of. the great historical character./' The Sculptor's. Statuo" is another interesting : study, in the form of, a comedy drama. ■ "River; Correzo". is devoted to ; French/ scenery,..,in '.which some Vvery. pretty.' effects ore produced. 'Another- scenic, 'film, '..'■* Agra in Bengal" .'comprises some pretty, coloured'repro- . diictibns' of Indian .beauty spots.'■ The dramatic side is represented by "Judge Not,"' depicting in the first- place a son's . harsh- treatment of jus--' father, - when .the': latter, 'gets "into trouble.' 'ij'hoii-the son in : tum .'runs foul,of misfortune'' the father turns to'his'assistance, and'allends happily. .Another good.'dramatic study is "The .1-wo Sisters." The humorous element is strong in "The Trustworthy Servant," "The Doctor," and "How the: Cooks; Get- Married," .-'',; ••.':.; star/pictures;'• '■''•'.;' ■■ The Star Pictures;,.which-have been-closed dpwpfor a few, evenings owing-fo St. Thomas's Jiall having been, otherwise engaged,- will reopen on Saturday afternoon : and. evening. - ~ .THE. WELLINGTON' CHQRAL. SOCIETY. , , The: Wellington. Choral Society .has'had'excellent rehearsals of Handel's " Tho Messiah/' and it is expected that the performance of this work at the; Town Hall to-morrow'.evening, will be' .the finest, interpretation /yet. given:.in the city--An attractive feature at this performance will be the accompaniments .on thegrand organ of. Mr. Maughan,Harnett., Mr.' Horace Hunt will' act- as; conductor'for this -occasion. Thefinal rehearsal, will be held in the Town-Hall this evening at 8 p.m.' An excellent quartet of. soloists have been engaged.: Mrs. Mead (soprano), Mrs. yßuckeridge (contralto), Mr. E. J. Hill (tenor), And Mr. Alexander Miller (bass). Mr. Millar is .making, his first appearance before a Wellington audience at' this oratorio,'' he. having just recently- taken :up his residence in this city. : Mr. Millar.attended the practice of thowork on Friday evening last, and created a distinctly favourable ' impression. The box plan is now open at the Dresden.:.

■ y :.'MOONLIGHT EXCURSION.; Sdvo'ral hundred people journeyed to Day's Day by tho ferry steamer Duchess last night. The oxcursion was promoted .by tho Wellington Tramways Band, and tho proceeds are to "assist tho band to compete.in the coming contest at Wanganui.. An axcollant /programme of music was'rondered by the band on. tho steamer and at Day's Bay,' and as it; was a fino ovouing tho, excursionists all appeared to thoroughly onjoy themselves..;-.- .-.,.,■

Tho- fine programme of animated; pictures which tho Fuller Proprietary has secured for tho present week; was again displnved Inst night to.ah 'appreciative house.\ Tlio ~wide range of subjects which tho kmcmatograpli has takenas its owii, ta shown by tho inclusion in the'present entertainment of ,orio- of'the 'old Greet legends of Orpheus. . Tho:'same piu gramme ■is announced, for to-night. -' ; ■-:.' -