ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1683, 25 February 1913, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE FULLER-Br.ENNAN.CO.

~ lh «, audience which filled every seat in the Theatre-Royal last evening had every reason to feel satisfied with the bill presented. The Fuller-Brennan management have secured an artist of 'the front ■'ES. k I S" Paul J , C !? rd(m < ,vho is billed ns The King of the Silver Wire,"- and whose performance last evening gave the audience a genuine thrill. Gorden's performance is positively unique in this particular line of business, and-some of his acts were absolutely thrilling in the measure of-skill'and intrepidity displayed. After mounting the wire in evening dress, he never leaves it for a good quarter of an hPur—it becomes as safe a support to .him us the sidewalk does to the stroller on the block. With the wiro slackened out until thero are yards of play, he skips, runs, and dances on it with extraordinary case and grace, and maintains his equilibrium as it. oscillates violently from side to side. A ladder is set on the wire, and is climbed with airy nonchalance. Then' a cask is placed on the dancing wire,, and into it steps Gorden, who, not content with the mere balancing feat, jigs.it up and down tho wire, and then pauses for a moment, to juggle Indian clubs. Finally, he represents an inebriate corkscrewing homeward at a late hour— a most ludicrously amusing : yet clevfer performance. Paul Gorden made an unmistakable hit. Another novel act was presented by "La France," an attractive young lady, who becomes the central .feature in a number of brilliantly coloured dissolving views. All that is visible of the performance is her head, shoulders, and arms—the picture does the rest. In several of the pictures she sang sjiatches of appropriate songs, and concluded .the-act ty appearing as the central figure in i a particularly gorgeous Union Jack, which dissolves and becomes a living tableau of Britannia. Hassan, the'lndian fakir, returned to the Royal last evening; after severul months' absence, and gave an entertaining display of legerdemain. His tricks with playing cards and coins were neatly done, and his turban trick •was quaint and mystifying. An unfolded turban _of green silk is cut into, several lcngths-by mombers of the audience, the out pieces- are tied together, uud tho ends are burnt. Hassan'.rolls the silk length into a ball, and Invites one of the committee, to unravel it, when the turban-is found to bo quite intact. 'The basket and pigeon trick was another case of tho hand being too quick for the eyo. Art Slavin andXily Thompson,.from America/sang of'the jokes which have done service from Noahs day, and burlesqued several popular songs humorously. Ernest Pitcher, a good exponent of» "silly" comedy, scored in "Oh,-What a Mug Fvd Been,'* chatted comically about nothing, that • mattered, and played a few bars on his melodious silver saxaphono. Pedrini, of the prehensile- feet, startled the audience by balancing on his feet a "fake" cannon and carriage, weighing 4501b:, with a man' seated thereon and. firing a blank charge whilst ho holds the outfit in mid-air: His foot-juggling with the barrel and table is very clever. baboon Toby is quickly graduating as a ground and lofty tumbler. Maud Faning and her'"chips" sang and danced with' peat vim, and Mr. Arthur Elliott contributed a number of approved' "comics," to tho delight of the audience. 'THE FOLLIES.'' ' ; ' Thanks to'the efforts of "The Follies,'' itho Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall is a pleasant place in which to while away an evening at the present time. There are no dull patches in the entertainment presented by these clever musicians and comedians; it goes with a swing from beginning to end, and it would be difficult to say whether serious songs or humorous contributions are most appreciated. Both 'are provided in liberal variety.' ' "The Follies" will repeat their entertainment to-night and to-morrow night. RICKARDS TIVOLI COMPANY. - In point of artistic excellence the performers of the incoming Riekards T'lvoli Company are credited with something approaching a record. The first appearance of this strong, combination will take place next Thursday evening 'it tho Opera Houso. ' Pride of place is occupiedby Arnold De Biere, the f'imous magic-worker, who ia said to be a finished master of many phases of his art. To be a successful illusionist it.is essential to bo also an adept in conjuring. De Bicre is both,- and more, possessing, as no "does, extraordinary .-, skill in , sleight-of-harid work. He is enabled to execute feats of magic on an open stage which usually aTC dono by the average magician bv'tho aid of mechanical contrivances. Miss Nella Webb is a dainty singer of quaint songs, which aro of the ear-haunting variety. Miss Webb adopts the humorous vein in her compositions, but many'' of her ser.gs have touches of pathos that greatly add to the effect. This artist's versatility is evidently great, for. (with Signor Marini, the Quinlan opera tenor) she rings the Miserere scone from "II Trovatore.' Taylor and Arnold supply wholesome fun in their musical rag-time monologues. Chinka, a boy juggler, is another new feature in the list of clever artists, as is also Minnie Kauffmann, a trick cyclist- of nerve. Signor Alberto Marini, fresh from triumphs with the- Quinlan Opera Com-, puny, will be heard in a- repertoire of modern lyrics. Seats may be reserved'at the Dresden.

"THE BUTTERFLIES." ' Mr. Fred M'Crca, who is now in Wellington ahead of "The Butterflies," is an English entrepreneur, who has had. Un : der his direction such famous artists as Tetrazzini, Melba, Clara Butt, Paderewski, Kubelik, and others. "The 'Butterflies"'are'now on route to New Zealand, and open at the Opera House on March 7 for a short season. Thoy are said to he talented, versatile performers, and come to tho Dominion heralded by favourable "notices" in England and South Africa.