ENTERTAINMENTS,

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS,

4 "THE GAY GORDONS." Another largo and ln.npliinc audipncfl witnessed the performance of "The Oiiy Gordons" at, tho Opera House last evening, though tho weather was anything but propilions. This bright, mu.vicul comedy i? proving a solid attraction, and on account of tho liberal patronage which it commands, the management intends to extend its run into next week. H is decidedly pleading to wil.no.vs such bright and clever performances as those given by Miss Florence Iniesou, Miss Nellie Finnis, and Mr. Frank Lincoln, whilst Mr. Tom Graves, as the bibulous Highlander, provides plenty of broad eomcdy for those who liko their humour plump'and plain. ■ Mention should also be made of tho wildly comic Highland dance of Mr. Robert •laekson's in Ihc first act, and of the very beautiful dawn effect which forms the jireludo to tho play. "Sergeant Bruc' will probably not bo produced until Wednesday evening next. THEATRE ROYAL. A clever and novel exhibition ofbalU punching is given nightly at tho Theatre Royal by tho Yagges, lrom America, and those artist? arc papular with local audiences. Another star act at the sanio ■ theatre is performed by Anita Di-iz's troupe of well-trained monkevs. Fullers' Vaurlvvillo Company lends the neccssary .support, to tlloo two turns to make up . an attractive programme, which will Ixs ' repeated to-night. On Saturday afternoon there will be A matinee, at whioli tiio performing monkeys will reappear. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. In last night's fine bill a't. His Majesty's 'I'heatro an admirable production by the Cines Company, entitled "The Crusaders," was screened. It is the kiiwmatxigrapli version of the Crusaders struggling to deliver Jerusalem. The battle (cenfs aro wonderful efforts in stage management, and tho lighter scenes are well depicted, Oriental splendour pervading tho film. A historical subject, entitled the "Stone of Scone,' is also a feature of the current programme. Recent happenings in the Commonwealth aro chronicled in the .Rathe Gazette, while tho other pictures screened' include "Tho Cow I'unchcr," "A Winter's Day on tho Kplurga Pass," "Building a Coronation Locomotivc," and "Smiler Takes up JiuJitsu." KING'S THEATRE. • Big business is being done at the King's Theatre this week, where the current programme is well up to the usual standard. One of the leading pictures screened is a dramatic subject entitled "Jim Mahoney, the Scab," a pathetic story connected with a great strike. Other pictures presented include: "The Rose of Old St. August.ins," "l'atlie Gazette," "Van Bibber's Experiment," "The Scoop," "Tho Nitrate of Soda Industry," "Servants 1 Superseded," and "Tontolini Takes a Hand with the Hall." Music is supplied by the King's Lyric Orchestra. West's great sensation of tho hour, "Tho Circus Girl," is announced for to-night, and also some local hockey pictures taken at Day's Bay. THE NEW THEATRE.

All day yesterday and last evening crowded attendances were recorded at tho New Theatre. In addition to the current series of photo-plays, an interesting industrial item, "Iron Works in France, was shown for the first time, and proved popular. In compliance with numerous requests, the management will present today and to-night tho superb historical production, "A lloyal Divorce. -the story of Napoleon and Josephine, as depicted in moving picture, is romantic, tender, and sad. Tho_ history of the extraordinary Corsic.an is traced from his early military career, when, as corporal, he soon gained distinction. The episodes of the meteoric career of tho young soldier are assembled in duo chronological order, and the upward progress of one of the greatest characters in the worlds historv forms a most effective picture plav. " Tho wooiiis of tho beautiful Josephine, the magnificent wedding ceremony, the days of married life, and tho tingle Ttivfil divorce arc striking incidents in tho drama. The sudden reversal of Napoleon's usual fortune w the great gamo of warfare, the retreat from Moscow, the defeat at Waterloo, the surrender, and the last sad scene at St. Helena are vividlv and graphically presented. Royal' Divorce" will be supplemented bv the current programme.

TIIE SCARLET THOUBADORS,

It was positively an act of bravery fot nnvone to venture forth in last evening 9 , gale to anv nlaee o.' entertainment, 110 matter what fare was provided, but .there was nuite a regimen l , of heroes present at the Concert Chamber, where the Scarlet Troubadours presented a. change of nroTatnnio. The programme was not new to 'Wellington, but it .was 110110 the less interesting on 'that account. In the gay first part Mr. Ford Walthnm's musical bass and broad sense of humour were capitally displayed in "Jonathan Jones. Miss Lily Fitzgerald and Mr. Sydney Jl'.mnci'ing .trilled prettily together 111 "Modern Courtship," and Miss Winnie Birch sang brightly of the allurements of "The Honey Pot" in human form. , Mr. Ell Mr Warwick kept the audience simmering pleasantly with his. humour . in song, and ho and Mr. Manncnng made light of the weather in a comic duet which averaged a smile to the bar. Mr. Alfred Cunningham's telling baritone found scope in Avlwe.rd s delightful song, "Beloved, it is Mom, and Miss Rita Fitzsrorald appealed gently to the emotions in that pathetic halted, 'Three Green Bonnets." The quartet Leonoro was charmingly sung .by Messrs ing, Griffiths, Cunningham, and Waltham, whose part singing :s really a notabln feature of the entertainment. As a lightning skctchcr Mr. Claude Laplastrier ranks high artistically, and the scenes in black and white, and later m coloured chalks, were admirable in taste. • Tho second half of the programme tho form of "A Nautical Scena, in which the Troubadours dolled their scarIs "robes, and became for the nonce rollicking sons of the sea. Mr. \\ivlthain sang "A Chip of the Old Block" unctiousFv, Mr. Maiuieriiig contributed an old English nautical wng. and Mr. Edgar Warwick broke out into a story of tho rolling sea. The programme, which v 1 be repeated this cvcnine-the last lii.Jit of (lie season—was 111 all respects ail cxerllent one, and one which, would please all classes of the community. LEONARD DOIiWICK. The programme to be submitted by "Mr. Leonard Berwick at his final plan•< 'i'te recit'al to be given at the J own Hall on Saturday evening is probab y 0110 •*! the most comprehensive ever played by. any of the great pianists who luivo visited New Zealand. This at first sight seems a big thing to say, but a glance at tho numbers will convince anyone who understands that this is so. Beethoven is re- • presented by his "Moonlight Sonata, Chopin, by his limpidly beautiful "Ballade in A 'fiat," his Etudes in G flat and E minor, his oxquisito Nocturne in G, and Polonaise ill A flat--a veritable feast for lovers of this romaneist. of tho piano. Bach finds a place in the choral prelude, "Sleepers, Awake"; Schubert bv his famous "Marche Militaire," which has been thundered here by Mark llambourg and Carreno; Liszt by his "Hungarian Rhapsodic," and Saint-Sdens by a caprice on nh's from Gluck's line opera "Alcesle." It should bo nn evening to lie remembered by all de-oUes of great in music, 1 A-onard Berwick 'n>oncd in the Royal, Christcliurch. Inst night. There was a very large audience, and Hie greatest enthusiasm was shown. THE COMPETITIONS. The secretary of Ihe Wellington Competitions Soeiely rcpM'ls thata very larae number of entries lor the var'-Mis s el'oii'.i in the competitions were received vc-t-r----day, awl 110 sl.ihs that it certainly fee ' s ns if the society is guin? to have a ;r;t<it tola! entry for ihcJ-r fivd festival. Pe "Ms that there is a large nnu'ber of imlu-i'-'o trophies and prizes, and full inforeai 011 regarding tho competitions,• together with lexl Ik»o1;s and uilrv f.-.rmt;, r.v.y be "')• tained free of charge from him (Mr. JameS' Dykes). A machine designed to prevent the alteration, of cheques or (lie forging of signatures to nogotiab!" paper lias been patented by a convict in a Califoniian prison. Square collars on seamen's uniforms are a relic of the times when sailors wore "Teased pigtails, and used their collars to protect their tunics from tlw grease.