ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1820, 5 August 1913, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. A capital programme was put on by the Bronnan-Fuller management at tlio riioatro Royal Inst evening. Several mummers mado their first bow over Wellington footUghty, ami chief among them wore "Tho Duckworths," comedy acrobats flnd jugglers, and Max DuiTok, who was billed as "tlio celebrated musical contortionist.", Whilst the Duckworths were on the boards there was (plenty to watch; 'l'lio nialo member of tlio combination showed that his forte is' acrobatics. Incidental to the turn he mounted pedestals,' and jumping on to a rather remarkable sort of springboard lie turned a double somersault in tlio air with ease, and then passed, through a hoop covered with paper beforo alighting on the stage again, oucli turns must, of course, carry tho element ot comedy, and in this respect tliis particular turn was not lacking. For instance, the performer announced his "next move" to. tlio audience by expressive whistles—a rather original way of indicating to the house what is coming next. The duo also showed some • clever club swinging. Max Dulfek proved • himself to be an export contortionist. ■ What mado. his turn more effective was > the way in which he played all kinds of musical instruments when ho was almost L doubled up. His principal act was that ■ of playing the violin in most extraordinary positions. From an upright position i he bent over backwards till bis head ■ touched the stage. .Then he straightened himself out,, and without any support .whatever managed to work his body up to an upright position again. All tho time ho was playing his violin. Corona, a delightful master of that difficult instrument, tho corriet, also mode a first appearance. It was stated on the programme that ho was "the man who makes the cornet talk," and that describes his fict. He was as much at homo in grand .opera selections as he was in rag-time music, and had to respond to numerous recalls. That versatile artist, Van Camp, and lij-S educated pig appeared again last evening. This, as patrons know now is a very clever turn. The present is the last ivcok'of Mss Volet Carmen and her composer-pianist, Mr. J. Lawrance. Last evening Miss Carmen was in fine voico, And sang her new eong, "Let Ls Go to Rotorua in good style. She was not allowed to leave the .without singing "Down .the Wanganui," another song composed by Mr. Lawrance.Mr.;-Harry Collins, coon impersonator, and Levata and Collins, jugglers, mado their first appearance. Tho Gazzas, heavy weight lifters, the Ridgway Bros., and their two jumping greyhounds, and tho Two Rosebuds also appeared. Tho two Franklins made one of tto hits of. the evening in their original comedy, "Th>o Messenger Boy and the .Heiress." The.programme will bo repeated throughout the week. ' "THE SMART SET." "The Smart Set" is certainly one of the smartest sets of entertainers that Wellington has laughed at and applauded for a long time. Comedy of a bright and sparkling order, with a distinct vein of originality, comes spontaneously from every member of tho little circle, and from curtain to curtain dull moments are simply non-existent. In Mr. . Maynard Dakin the audience welcome an old friend who never fails to make good, and whose comic tlongs are really cojnic. His bright mummery in "I Feel So Lonely" was highly amtising, and that tearful refrain "The Jonah Man" amused the audience; but it was his vocal disquisition on tho superiority of "Onions" over all other vegetables that caught everyone in a weak spot. Another telling contributor to the gaiety of last evening's programme was Mr. Walter George, an unctuous comedian, whose stature throws a large comfortable shadow. With Mr. Dakin, Mr., George scored in the military sketch "Venus and Mai's," and gave more than a glimpse ofcversatility. in a trio of travesties embracing the modern drama, "The-Mikado" and tho problem play, in which he was associated with that pert and .clever comedienne, Miss Georgio Martin, already a firm favourite. The ■ character songs, of. .this, agile little lady 1 were outstandingj; treat to hear Mr. Ernest Parke3,- whoso j ringing ifull-toned baritone is now en- . banced by a degree of finish pleasurablo ; to mark. Mr...Parkes,;.sang that very lino and musicianlyUjallad "The Pagan" 1 and had to respond to a treble encore be- 1 fore the . clamour subsided. Another j charming performer is Miss Mona Thomas, whose clear strong soprano was j heard to advantage in the ballads "Sin- ' c.erity" and "1. Know a Lovely Garden." ' Miss Emily Ivroll, a pleasing mezzo, sang I Frances Aylward's -pretty song "Beloved, it is Morn," and had to add an encore number. Mr. Edward Elliott, and his chum "Sunshine James," were as entertaining as ever in their vontrilociuial interlude, and Mr. Edgar Hulland played a couple of pianoforto solos acceptably, and '■ the accompaniments most admirably. Tho I programme Was brought to a close with 1 tho farce "Our Audiences." This programme will continue throughout the week. ■ HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Coming after such popular .picture as "Quo Vadis?" it is only natural that the programme immediately following Should "fall" a little. Despite the crowded attendances at His Majesty's Theatre for ,tli:o last two .weeks, tho seats were .well filled again last evening, ivhen a new programme was screened. The feature item is. adapted from Praspor Moirimec's delightful! story of Spain. "Carmen" has a world-wide, reputation, and although the. opera has to.a certain extent eclipsed-the 'story, the book i 9 one of tho best known of Morimee's works as far as the English reading public is concerned. Prosper Me.rimce was a creative artist of 'high degree. He'did not wrilo a great deal, as compared with other famous authors, hut ] what he did write will lie remembered, i "Carmen," as ho wirote it, is a masterpiece. He was able, as but few writers ! ever have been able, to infuse into his ' story a little of the romance of Aiula- i lusia. In this picture the title role is -i filled by Miss Marion Leonard. She plays her pnTt well, and knows how to best ii® the effect of her personality. But tlio Spanish are a race apart, ami to the average Englishman weird, lazy, and um- ■ infaftlijjiblt". It took a Prosper •Iteriuw' to write "Carmen," and when he wrote ' it lie had no idea that one day it would lx* converted into a moving picture drama. The supporting itelns are good, and complete a very excellent programme.

THE KING'S THEATRE. ' The new programme at the King's Theatre is really an excellent one, and contains a first-class dramatic film, and one of the best comic pictures tliat hnvo ever been screened in Wellington. "Tho One Good Turn" involves an interesting romance. Luigi, a member of a gang of outlaws is involved in a conspiracy to destroy the Royal Household, nis wife, Gertrude, docs not sympathise with him. Sho takes her four-year-old child to tho I'ark. The child is rescued from in front of a motor-car by .a beautiful woman who 1 is passing. Gertrude learns that tho woman is Princess Marie Louise, a visitor to tho city. _ At home Gertrude tells her story to Luigi and some of tho gang, Who sneer at her enthusiasm. Leaving tho room, with her suspicions aroused, Gertrude listens at the door, and overhears a plot to assassinate tlfo Princess next day, tho plan being to have tho bomb presented to the Princess with a bunch cf flowers. She heroically frustrates_ their plan, but is fatally injured herself. Hut. "The Holy State." a farce, in three acts, by the members of the C'-omedio Francaise, is quite the best item on the programme. As comic actors, the Frenoh surpass tho English with ease. They seem to have a much keener sense of t'ho ridiculous and tho absurd. In this particular instance the absurd situations that arise, the hasty excuses, and the impossible lies, create, an atmosphere of fun that forces one to laugh no matter how undignified one may consider it. EMPRESS THEATRE. A new programme was screened at the Emprfss Theatre yesterday. The bent item is "A Fatal Love." The picture is beautifully coloured, and occupies al.'.iut. three-quarters of an hour. The opening scene shews tho lovely old garden of the Duchess Carelli, wliose daughter, liegina, is being painted by Guido, a. celebrated artist. The young ooupta fall in love, but their idyll is-spoilt bv the Duchess telling hor daughter that slw must marry Dorsani, the banker, to whom she owes a largo sum of money. Tho girl'is heartbroken over the prospects of man'ying a man whom she dees not care for, but filial duty prompts her to relinquish her lovo for the nrtis-t. I'lio marriago takes place, and the financial ruin of the Duchess is averted. After tho honeymoon tho barker Dorsani asks the artist to meet him in a friendly, encounter with foils at

the fencing display at their club. Both are exports with tlio foils, and they (jive a wonderfully dexterous exhibition before a fashionable gathering. The men, however, become gradually worked up to frenzy. Tlio button at the tip of the artist's foil is nearly bent oil' during the combat, and t'ho artist, now thoroughly angered, breaks olf the tip |of his foil, Ifaving a dogger-like point. The men cross swords again for tlio final bout, when, very suddenly, the artist mortally wounds his adversary. The costumcs and fuirnisliinpi are described by the management as a revelation.

SHORTTS' THEATRE. A new programme was screened at Messrs. Shortts' Theatre yesterday. "Kelly of tho Kmerald Isle," or "A Fight for ft Fortune" is the leading item. The story is of two cousins, one of whom endeavours to gain a _ legacy left to the other. It is an exciting plot full of stirring scenes. Tho hero has a bad time, he has to cscapo from a burning building, very nearly comes to grief 011 tlio railwny, and eventually would hove been blown up by dynamite had his luck not held good. "Tho Greater Gift" is the second dramatic item, "Fatty's Busy Day" and tlio "Mystic Mat" are tho best of the comic items.

"ELIJAH." Madame Mary Conly sang tho soprano solos in "Elijah" for tho Eoyal Sydney Philharmonic Society in Juno. Writing of Madame Coiily's singing tho "Herald" said: "Sydney audiences may perhaps never again hear tho singing between the widow and Elijah as tliri.lliugly rendered as it was by this artiste and Andrew Black on Saturday night." A very successful rehearsal -was held last ovening, all the principals being in good voice. -The chorus and orcliestra aro well up in their work, which goes to show that the conductor, Mr. Christian Hollemann, must have given them ft thorough drilling since bis first practice in April last. Madame Edith Brainsby will make hor debut in New Zealand next Tuesday a3 an oratorio singer. According to English press notices Madame Bminsby is an artiste who lias distinguished herself in the Old Country. Mr. John Prouso is the baritone soloist, and Mr. Harry PhippS the tenor.- The box plan is open at tlio Dresden, where 3s. and 4s. seats can bo reserved. The Hutt and Johnsonvillo trains will bo delayed till after tho concert. . MISSIONS TO SEAMEN; Tho. Mayor and Mayoress have given their patronage to a concert and dramatic recital to be given at the Seamen's Institute on Thursday night in aid of tho Missions to Seamen. It is stated that a very attractive programme has been arranged by Mr. Leo Buckeridge. A feature of the evening will b3 tho performance of a short one-o'ct play entitled "A Lesson for Two," in which tho characters will be taken by Miss H<vrdinEe-Malt-by, Miss Ruth Wallace, and Mr, W. Godfrey. Among the contributors to the musical programme, the names of- Miss Grace Kennedy (violinist), Miss Nora Natuscli. Miss Dorothy Cotton, Miss Barbara Roger, Mr. .T. P. Carr, Mr.' W. 11. Churcli, and Mr. Leo Buckeridge appear. Mrs. Nfltusch will be the accompanist. Particulars will bo found in our advertising columns. Failing health has compelled Mr. Herbert Bloy, the talented violinist, to resign? most of his work for tho present, and his co-mates in music havo rallied their forces to assist him by giving tlio complimentary concert which is to take place this oveninj* at the Town Hall. ill'. Bloy came into distinct prominence a3 conductor of the Wellington Professional Orchestra, ivhoso Sunday concerts havo given pleasure to so many thousands of tho Wellington public, and it is that body which has taken tho lead in arranging to-night's concert. Tho programmo is an exceptionally attractive one. Tho orcliestra (full strength) will play Tscliaikowsky's famous overture, "1812," Weber's overture to "Oberon," a "Faust" fnntasia, and Jarnefeldt's delightful "Prelude" among other numbers. Mr.' John Prouso is'.to singfwith orchestra)-the. recitativo 'hfid 'rfMn, !,, 'r Rage, "T Melt. I 1 Biirri/'aiid "0 Ruddier than tho Cherry," from Jlarold's "Acis and Galatea," and Mrs. Woodward (nee Miss Amy Hydo) is to sing "The Sa.ran Rose" (with orchestral accompaniment). In order that tho orchestra may be able to assemble in full force tho managers of tlid various theatres have granted permission to their orchestral playersto attend at the Town Hall. A bumper house is expected to attend tho generous effort which is being made.