ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1855, 15 September 1913, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE BANZAI FAMILY. The Brennan-Fuller Proprietary, ttfio ire introducing' vaudeville in. His tfajosty's Theatre to-night, promise an >ntertainrocnt pf unusual merit. They. ;laim that the show will bo thoroughly ivliolcsonie, and' that it will contain no single item to which thcniost fastidious 3an possibly take exception. Tlio Banzai Family, a troupe of Japanese entertain, srs, finrnisli the "star" turn. They ire said to. be the most wondertul aquilibrists, pole-walkers, contortionists, and Risley workers ill tlio world. Tlicj havo a magnificent stage sotting in sfi and velvet, hand-embroidered in gold, the whole said to be wortQi £5000, and they havo a complete change ot scenery, and costume fox every night. Supporting tliem are St. George and Dano, English musical comedy artists, Klimo aiw Klifton, American eccentric gymnastß, Midge Doresford, principal boy of many pantomimes, who will sing , pantomime songs in tlio approved boy costume; Olga Pennington, a clover young male impersonator; Ernest livelier, oomediani; Noil Cant, Scotch conicdian; the Romas, a of strong people; and.tho Lyrical l'our, drawingroom entertainers. • Tho bos plaa is at the Dresden. "RAINEY'S AFRICAN HUNT." To-night tho King's Theatre reopoilg under tlie management of Hayward's Picture Enterprißcs, Ltd., with a hufja. ■ film of quite unusual character, in "Paul J. Rainey's African Hunt." whicli, whilo dealing ill detail with the millionaire sportsman's famous expedition into the wilds of British East Africa, goes further than any previous motion picture shown in Wellington,, in that the many sections of its vast length, which are devoted to spectacles of numbers of African wild beasts, show 1 tiio latter roaming in freedom on their native heath, and not confined in /oo« logical cages. Tho story and descrip. tivo matter connected with the expedition are described as being most inter* osting. The leoture will be delivered by Mr. Barrie Marscliel. "Rarney a Hunt" is stated to bo tho present raga of Sydney, and the "Sunday Times '■ in its critique of tlio picture, Baidj "Every dlotail ia faithfully and realisically portrayed. Eacli reel is teeming with interesting, exciting, and amusing situations! From an educational point of view, tho pictures are extraordinarily valuable." Their.Excellencies the Gov- - ornor and tho Countess of Liverpool will bo present at to-morrow evening 8 performance. Box plans for the season a.re at the Dresden, and Beats may bo reserved for any evening. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The new programme to-day and tO» nigjit at the Empress Theatre oontinuous pictures will introduce tlio _ star drama, "Tho Gamekeeper s Wife. IMS is described as a romantic story ot a young military officer's accession to a fortune, and his subsequent fatal fascination by a beautiful woman. Die play is said to be unusuallv well staged and is splendidly enacted. Tho pany is represented by Tlio Coming of Angelo," stated to bo a charming lovo story of simple fisher folk, with a climax. There aro some fine natural scones as a, background to this play, showing -the breakers spending their fury, on tho rock-bound shore, flic' ing numbers will include The City ot York" (travel), "A Visit to _ Mount Oonw" (scenic), "'Tlio Face at the Viindow" (farce-comedy), His Own Med« cine" (comedy), and othersSHORTT'S PICTURES. Thore will be tho usual bi-weekl} change of. programme at Messrs. Shortt's Continuous Picturo Theatre, Willis Street, to-day. Tho star film is entitled "The Last of tho Old Mill, and is a Nordisk drama, which teems with those, sensational situations ana hair-breadth escapes, the featuring or which this company has raisod to a fine art. Tho star act in this film in the descent from a windmill, per modium of the revolving sails, by tho hero. He reaches terra firma safely, but tho sails continue to revolve, and while he is 011 his way for assistance to stop tho machinery (for tho heroine is in tll o mill) tho building catches hre, ahdlie returns just in time to oifcct a thrilling rescue of tho seemingly doomed lieromo. The other films are: "Victim of Heredity," "Going to Meet Pap, Twee--dledum Lovob a Florist, Warwick Chronicle, No. 169," and venicoj A lovely scenifc. KING'S COLLEGE BOYg. Providing pleasure for every patron is a'description of tlio programme to bo presented at tho Opera liouso on. Wednesday evening' when tho lung s College Boys (London), a oompany ot society entertainers, inaugurate a tour ■ of Now Zealand. The King's Collogo Boys were educated in tho famous Westminster Abbey choir and aro specialists in tho delightful part-sing-ing of English, Scotck, and Irish ballads. Their comedy sketches aro spoken of as being decidedly clever and their work is both varied and novel. lona August© and Jack .Shields are entertainers' who present humorous _ items. that aro said to add to' the gaiety or patrons. A magnificent instrument, and ono that is seldom heard on the stage a harp-is played by a member ot tho Vienna Trio of Musicians, who is billed as an artist of big repute. Misa Marcelone Boulais comes with excellent, credentials as to the attraction ana charm.of her singing. Miss Ruby M'Donald is musical directress, ine box plans for tho season aro now on view at tho Dresden. NORDICA SEASON. ' Mmo. Lillian Nordica, tllie great dramatic soprano, of whom it has beeir often said, "It is worth the prico of a tickot just to see her and her smile, will givo a season of three concerts at tho Town Hall, commencing on September 25. That tho world-famous soprano will recoivo a warm wclcomo there is littlo doubt, for, in addition to her magnificent voice and artistry, she possesses tho nwst valuable.of all jx>ssessions for a singor, ability to bni'dgo tlio chasm which usually yawns 'between grand opera singers and their audiences. Mmo. Nordica has recently concluded a series of concerts in Melbourne, and, as tho "Argus" critic phrases it, teho has given us thrills_ as well as ti ills, and dramatic sensation as well as \ ocnl dexterity.,". Tho diva's success lias been tremendous, and it is said the scene of enthusiasm evoked at her first concert has never beforo been witnessed in Melbourne- The "house" row to its foot and oboered the singer to the colio after- 1 hor wonderful rendering or Bitunnhildo's "Battle Cry." The supporting oompany, including Mr. 1 aul Dufault, -Mr. Franklin Holding, and Jlr. Roraayno Simmons, also came in for a largo' shiiro of enthusiasm. THE NORWOODS. Before a largo aud enthusiastic audience, the Norwoods concluded 6 success- | ful season in tho Opera Houso on Satur- [ day night. •