ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Tlio star vaudeville turn at His Majesty's Theatre which is provided by the Royal Banzai Family, attracted another large house last pruning. 'J ho remarkable and sensational feats performed by tbis clever troupe of Japanese .acrobats, will doubtless be responsible for large patronage throughout the week,. "Zilf," a devcr lightning sketch artist, added to tho evening's entertainment, his turn being much appreciated. Other members of tho company contributed thoi- items, in a maimer which justified the applause given. The programme will be repeated this evening. THE KING'S THEATRE. The current programme of photoplays at the King's Theatro was again screened before a large number of patrons last evening. " Wamba, the Child of the Jungle,' 1 is tho premier picture, and is well supported by such items as the latest " Pathe Gazette" (foreign edition), and "John Bunny's Dip Into Society." Tho orchestral accompaniment's are a feature of tho programme. SHORTT'S PICTURES. Many patrons visited Snortt's Continuous Picture Theatre yesterday, when a splendid variety of films wore screened. Tho programme includes the following interesting items: —"The Battle of Manila," "Cupid's Hired Man,"'and "Tweedledum Loves a Florist." THE EMPRESS THEATRE. A final opportunity will be offered today and to-night of witnessing the present programme of tho Empress Theatro Continuous Pictures. Tho principal attraction is the drama, "Tho Old Melody," a. stqry of a young couplo who drift apart, but are reconciled through the playing of an old favourite melody. "Her Royal' Highness" is an Edison comedy-drama, in which a little princess tires of her loneliness and loses interest in her tcJys, for she longs for the company of other children. Eventually she escapes from the castle and Jias a merry time with -street urchins befoio she is discovered. "Iu a Kauri Forest" depicts tho timber industry of tho North Island in many of its interesting phases. There is a fine series of panoramic views from a railway train crossing the Rocky Mountains in tho film "Over tho Great Divide." The comedy'"Master and Man," a tastefully coloured work by the Gaumont Company, and tho A.B. Company's farcccomedy, "Papa's Baby" are most mirthful productions. A new programme is announced for to-morrow.

" THE QUAKER 6IRL." • To-morrow morning at the Dresden tho plans will bo opened at 9 o'clock for the six performances of "Tho Quaker Girl," to be staged by J. C. .Williamson's Royal Coiiiic Opera Company at the Opera House on Monday night next. In order ■to avoid any crushing at'tlio.box office a queue will be formed from 7 a.m., which will ensuro that tho earliest arrivals shall have first choice of seats. Tho wonderful success of " Tho Quaker Girl " not tmly in England and Australia, but also in America, stamps it as a -musical play of more than ordinary merit. It is said to be distinctly out of tho beaten track of comic opera. Tho music is fascinating, the humour exceedingly clover, the drosses magnificent, tho setting dainty and thoroughly ill keeping with the spirit of tho play, whilst a special feature is tho dances, including Le Dan so do, Champagne, in which 31r. Leslie Holland and Vera Pearee created quito a sensatioli in Auckland recently. In "The Quaker Girl," there is it is said, a suggestion of "The Merry Widow." "Veronique," "Dorothy," and "Ma Mio Rosette," in that in somo of its numbers t'he music almost rises to the level of classic opera. Tho following is from tho pen of an Arcklaml critic: "In 'The Quaker Girl' which filled His Majesty's Theatro last night from floor to ceiling, everything was done on a scale and completeness in accord with tho very best traditions of the J. C. Williamson management The pieco was charmingly staged, the people were bright, the dressing was rich, the danc--1 ing was graceful and new, and tho music was "tuneful. There was no mistake about its reception, and when the theatro emptied its contents shortly before eleven o'c'ock everybody wore a pleased smile, and beforo Queen Street was readied a score of peoolo . were humming, or wliistling their ideas of "Come to the Ball." When you hoar people doing this there is no need to ask ir the pieco will bo a success." During the whole of its' run in Auckland hundreds wero nightly turned away, and an early revival of tho pieco there is already contemplated by the management. In " Tho Sunshino Girl," the second opera. to|be staged in October 6 and' following two nights, tho company has scored one of its biggest successes. • "The Sunshino Girl" enjoyed a run of over twelve months in London, .where it was described as the greatest Gaiety production ever staged. On Thursday" and Friday, October 9 arid 10, "Miss Hook of Holland " will . be staged, and on October 11 and 13 " The Belle of New York." NORDICA. Few women of' the operatic stage, it is stated, have so many interests, aside from their professional life, as Mme. Lillian Nordica, tho brilliant soprano. While essentially a -womanly woman,she takes a deep interest in public affairs, particularly those affecting her . sex. In Nc;v York she maintains a Girls' Club, where girls with no. money, but good voices, are given tho best musical training. There aro over 100 girls in this class at present, who are receiving instruction (paid for by Mme. Nordica), from Mme: Gardner-Bartlet, ono of tho best-known teachers in New York.. Whenever Mme.. Nordica is in New York she invariably visits this class; sometimes slie gives them a les- j son lierself, but she jicver loaves without words of help and encouragement. When a girl develops enough talent to warrant further training, she is sent abroad at Madame's expense. In Melbourne recently tho women ! showed their appreciation of Mme. Nordica's devotion to tho betterment of her sex by giving a reception for women ,on!y, at which fifteen hundred women wero present. Tho diva's last Melbourne concert was given under the aus-. pices of 43 women's organisations, and was designed as a special testimonial to Mme. Nordica, in recognition of the many services sho has rendered to women. A special feature of the concert was a guard of honour, made up of two young girls form each of tho 43 committees, each member being dressed iu white and carrying a gold 'staff decorated with wattle blossom. At tho close of the concert Mine. Nordica was presented with an illuminated address. In private life, according to the management, Mme. Nordica is Mrs; G. \oung, wife .of a millionaire banker of New York City. Their summer home is a magnificent bungalow at Deal Beach, New Jersey, furnished and decorated in rare and beautiful antiques and art objects. 'collected from all parts of tho world by tho diva. The first Nordica concert will be given at tlio Town Ilall to-morrow evening.