ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1724, 15 April 1913, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. . The excellent standard of entortainmont that is now -being maintained at tho theatre Royal is responsible for crowded nouses. Valuable .contributors towards that standard aro tho Sereuadoi's, , who supply..a very bright first part, characterised by good vocalisin and ncceptablo comedy of a clean hoalthy' nature. Of these clever folk Miss Edith Huxham and Mr. Hugh Huxham are tho pith and mairow. Miss Edith Huxham has a strong mellifluous voice, which carries splendidly, and sho sings with dolightful ease J. "d freedom. Hor comic duet with Mr. Huxham, "The Garden Wall," displayed a nice vein' of burlesquo comedy, into which her partner entered with spirit. • Mr. Mark Phillips sang "The Hymns of the Old Chufch Choir, and Mr. Normnn Leslie made a hit in- "My Matrimonial Magazine," which makes a clever .play on words as applied to lovers of different - callings. Miss Elsio Barber sang "Chloe" ' (with a nicely harmonised chorus), and the encore "Lovo" introduced the company in some capital • fooling* Mr. Gilbert Lauri sang "In 1950," a song in Tyitch the rhytlim halted somewhat awkwardly. Tho chorus-singing was exceptionally good' throughout. The "Serenaders" ended their performance with a .pretty tableau of the nations a 'pictorial aectmipaniment to • National air?, whistled by My. Sam ' Le_ Mert. The second part introduced : Airlie and Campbellj a-burlesque comedian, *aud a lady sjnger. xylophonist, who kept -the fun going merrily for a. quarter, of an hour. The"comedian -fras laughable on conventional -.tramp lines, and. his fair partner, aeoompfihifing/hoi'self, found immediate favour by her clever singing of "Mr. Crocodile - ," in winch) she imitates a child - 'singing with remarkable' fidelity, both in tolle and inflection. She was also successful in "Bftttle 0," of which she is the author and 'composer. "Mysto" showed marked dexterity as a palmist ' with coins and cards. His card tricks were performed with astonishing neatness, and bis cabinet illusion. 1 in which- two young ladies are' discovered in an apparently onpty cabinet, raised the eternal question as to'how it was done. The Harmonious Huxhams, who are great - favourites, hArnionised Denza's song; "A May Morning," nicely, and WQje vocally charming in a lilt entitled "My Indian Girl. Stanley, and Bernard revelled in rag-time '.ditties, and repeated their humorous burlesque on -grand opera, and Mr. Frank Hawthorne raised shrieks of laughter in a capital farce entitled "Rehearsing tho x 'Amateurs/' in .'whitih' lie was* assisted by Miss 'Ida'-Ingersple and Mr.-'Sam le Mert (who was very diverting'] as an inane dude thirsting for histrionic fame). Tonight, Murphy, the Yankee juggler, will make his first appearance in Wellington. : HIS-MAJESTY'S THEATRE. "Lifo in jthe British Navy" is tho leading film in the'current programme at His Majesty's Theatre. This gives a choice collection of views to illustrate the different types of battleship with which the nation " hopes 1 to maintain tho supremacy of the seas. Some idea-of the life; of the bluejaciet is also , to be gained from the ' picture, portion. of. which is concerned'"with tho achievements of Jack Tar on sea and on shore. Local films V of H.M S.'New Zealand aro a source of S- additional'' interest. During .the screening of the: film His Majesty's Orchestra, uijdor the direction of Mr. John. Garry, play "Sea Songs" (Binding) and "Trafalgar" (Miller), while., two vocal items, Three White Lines" and "The : Old Sunny -Window," are rendered by Mr. Mark Phillips. The supporting items are of the usual high standard. . Chief among, them is a romantic story of the American' Civil- War entitled "On Secret Service." The Kay Bee Company, of New...York, produced this war -story among appropriate surroundings,- and , the plot is unique, in ithat jt does not work to that style of climax'wherein the hero' and the heroiiy are made to. "livo ever after."" On the contrarj l , .thp ■ 'heroine betrays her lover in the most cold-blooded manner imaginable in order ito save the cause of. the South. "Avound Montenegro" is an interesting. picture at this juncture when tho world looks toward? the little European Kingdom, and "Man' 'and' Bear" ia iaii, item (hat might well :'snd place 011 any programme at:any time.r-"Grandfather,'' "Table' Turning,' "Percy's.. Express 'Delivery,"',-and "Ru-' dolphi as Ladies' Hairdresser" complete the entertainment. . . THE KING'S THEATRE. For those who did not .see the Dreadnought steam up the harbour on Saturday afternoon the "Arrival of H.M.S. New Zealand," as shown in picture form at ■the King's Theatre, is the next best thing. Thp film contains capital scenes of .Wellington's festival of welcome, showing clearly -the procession of launches, yachts . and steamers'. " This is supplemented by o. series' pf views of the British fleet, in which tho prowlers of the deep are seenactually'engaged in battle-practice. In view of the visit of the Dominion's gift ship, the pictures are of grealter interest.: While they are being screened, appro- . priato '.music is supplied by the King's Orchestra. In addition to the naval series, seyol-al excellent items 'find place on tho bill. One of these is the romantic love'drama; "A Daughter of Eve," illustrating the difficulties With wfyich' a; beautiful but penniless girl had to contend with in her efforts to gain a livelihood, and tho laudable manner in which she overcame them! all. Two . Vitagraph ■ studies are also..included in. the evening's entertainment. One "of the company's. mosJt popular ladies is seen to advantage'in "Tho-Awakening of Biiinca," a teiise" dramatic number. The lighter : side ;of tilings is: exhibited in tho most approved style • in tho second Vitagraph picture,' "Susie .to Susanne.".' "Jungle* Pictures in Cochin China" is one of tho Pathe Freres coloured scenic, items, and this company also places the usual : edition of ; the Australasian Gazette before ' patrons. "Psychology of Fear" (drama) and "Table Turning'' (comedy) are tho remaining: items-on a programme of exceptional : interest. / ■ .THE NEW THEATRE. . The love romance of an itinerant show. 1 man forms the main theme in "Travelling Folk,", which is the .picture of the moment at tho New Theatre. It was first screened yesterday. Like most , of the pic-, ture dramas relating to the cirous and similar shows.'a number of'animals, dan-' gerous animals, are introduced, together ( with 'their trainers; . lii such a.'film a ' is essential: in this case.it is provided. It tiikes placo between a bear and J snake and is really very realistic. Of the other items ,there is a good drama by. tho Kalem Company ontitled "A Saw-, mill Hazard." The villain in this piece is the _ real article." The picture also Is original; the hero is original; or-to, be more precise,, the. hero is not a man, JJ.'" r^' 0, , 11 .' ,n • "Fancy Swimming" and The Fashion Review" aro two of the { most, interesting of the supporting items. . SHORTTS' PICTURES. ■ ' 'A' complete chango of programme was •soreened at jShortts' Theatre yesterday "The Orjjlmn", is' tho premier item (in this; new selection of pictures. The orphan is a young aud beautiful' English country girl named Agnes, who lives with her uncle. An artist, painting in the vicinity of her lipino sees her, and nreparing to' paint human nature rather than scenic-pictures lie uses her as his model. The picture is a success and makes tho author's fame. After an eventful life, mosfof which appears to be depicted, he marries Agnes, his former model, and 'they settle down in the country. Tho comio section of the programme is unusually good, of which "No Placo for a Minister s Son" is one of tho best. "In an Asbestos Quarry" is an educational film; tho latest Australian gazette an in- ; foresting, one and tho "Fifty-mile Automobile Race an excellent example of modern photography. THE EMPRESS THEATRE, The Empress Theatre Continuous Pic- . tures provided an entire chango of programme yesterday when a notablo A.B. drama, Love in an Apartment Hotel," figured . as the leading photoplay. A housemaid in an apartment hotel is imbued with the ambition to wed a wealthy man and scorned the protestations of the lift-boy. One of the hotel guests had proposed to' a rich young lady. During the afternoon a thief outers tho man's room where he is discovered by tho housemaid. The thief gags and binds her and thrusts her.into a wardrobe after which' he hide's under the bed. The man who is playing cards in. tho next room enters his bedroom to answer the telephone. Tho maid, who has managed to remove the gag, stumbles out of the wardrobe into the young man's arms. A scene ensues and it is some tiino before she manages to tell him of the burclar.' The latter is j

captured and the maid then, realises that tho lift-boy is after all best suited 10. her. A worthy drama, by the Selig company, "The Voico of Warning," rises above tho commonplace. _ No programme is considered complete without n Western film, and in this direction thoS. and A. drama. "Broncho Billy's Promise," m * ,-t s tho bill. Tho A.B. exclusive comedy. "The Press Gang,".is a characteristic skit which is ahead of tho average comic picture. The remainder include: "Her Education" (Selig .coinedy drama), and "The Bald-heuded Club" (Imp comedy). THE BLUM BIRD. To-morrow morning at the Dresden the box plans will bo opened at !) o'clock for the'first six nigfits, and tho initial matinee performance of "Tho Blue Bird," which is to bo staged by tho J; C. Williamson, Ltd., management for u brief season, beginning on Saturday night next. Anticipating tho samo largo-demand-for goats which took placo in Aucklniul, tho management will have a staff of -ushers in attendance from'an early hour to form a queue so that the earliest arrivals shall havo firs't choice of teats. Judged even as »■ play containing, a series of beautiful and gorgeous spectacles, "Tho Blue Bird" would bo received with approbation wherever presented. Thoso who have read, the book of "Tho Blue Bird," wherein the .author describes most marvellous and instantaneous changes of scenes, could scarcely bring themselves to ■ believe that 'these could be, as it were,' materialised on the stage, but the critics state that they fully satisfy the imagination as ito what those scenes should. be, and that they create-that spirit and "atmosphere'' so essential to any stage representation of tho Belgian author's woriderful fantasy. At tho matinee performance which takes place on Wednesday. April 23, each visitor to tho theatre will be the recipient of a "Blue Bird" -brooch'. There".is to be seen a very fine window display in honour of the visit of "H.M.S. New Zealand" to Wellington, Messrs. ,T. Myers and Co., local agents for Winfred Cigarettes, having secured the 'window of the Empire .Cigar Divan, Willis Street, for 'the purpose. Therein, and to the admiration of citizens and visitors alike, is depicted on a folding canvas screen a beautiful painting of Wellington Harbour, with Somes' Island in.the middle distance, and a fine model of New Zealand's gift warship at anchor close in, firmly buoyed to a tin of Winfred Cigarettes, the whole surmounted'with red,'white, and blue electric globes and orango ribbon interwoven between tho lettering, which reads: "Welcome to our Dreadnought and her crew. Winfred Virginia Cigarettes, like H.M.S. New Zealand, aro British made."' i