ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1873, 6 October 1913, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE SUNSHINE GIRL." To-night at 7.45 J. C. Williamson s Royal Comic Opera Company will present the initial production hero of "the Sunshine Girl," which is regarded by many as tile best all-round performance in this company's repertoire. lho principals will receive full scop© tor their characteristic talents, while tho chorus and orchestra work is a featuro. Tho dresses, too, are, it is said, magnificent, and tho scenic artists have painted some beautiful scenery. laul Iteiibens is responsible for the music, and ho also collaborated with Arthur Wimperis in the lyrics, and Cecil Raleigh is tho librettist. In London "The Sunshine Girl" attracted largo audiences to tho Gaiety Theatro for over twelve months, and tho Australian records will bear comparison with any musical production yet staged in tho Commonwealth. Tho music is bright and tuneful, and <1 pretty story is unfolded during tho two acts. Tho cast includes: —Leslie Holland (Lord Bicester), Edmund Sherras (Vernon Blundell), C. R. Bantock (Commodore Parker), Arthur Lissant (Didson), Harry Wotton (Dever), Geoff. Beswick (Iclfrige), Seymour Middleton (Nelgrove), Fredk. Reado' (Nelson), lon Maxwell (Mr. Williams), and Jack Cannot . (Floot); Grace Palotta (Lady Rosabelle), Jessio Lonnen (Mario Silvaine), Olive Godwin (Emmelino), Billy Barlow (Brenda Blacker), Violet Harper (May), Gladys Baker (Lily), Eileen Redmond (Kit), Ruby Armfield (Hon. Mrs. Gray), and Blanche Browne (Delia Dale). A feature of the second act is tho "Gaby Glide," by Miss Jessie Lonnen and Fredk. Reade. On Thursday and Friday next "Miss Hook of Holland" will be staged, and on Saturday and Monday "The Belle of New York." HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Both at the matinee and evening perforraances on Saturday, His Majesty s waa well filled, when the current week s programme was presented for tho last time. This evening the management will submit an entirely new bill, including Marcel and Bell, America's foremost acrobatic dancers. These artists introduce a quite novel act. The Era Comedy Four, coloured artists, and billed as America's leading team of coloured dancers, singers, and comedians, are said to present one of tho niost humorous turns };et put before Now Zealand amusement lovers. Another star engagement is Vardaman, presenting artistic feminine types. Miss Lilly Vockler, balladist, Delevalo and Gilbert, comedians and patter artists, introducing their naval scena, "H.M.S. Maori" ; the Bright Sisters, Australia's specialty artists; Conway and Simott, in comedy juggling specialities; Bryant and Bryant will also make their first appearance this oveiiing. Tho management announce that arrangements havo been made to extend the AVellington season of Schopp's Circus another four nights, prior ta their departure for America by the Taihiti on Friday. Miss Jessie Wilton, the charming English artist and chorus comedienne, and Esmeralda, billed as the musical sensation of the year, will play "Semiramido" and a medley of popular airs, including the latest American hit, "The Ramshackle Rag." Doris Tindall, male impersonator, will conclude what promises to bo a very sirong vaudeville programme. THE KING'S THEATRE. To-night's complete change of programme at tho King's Theatre contains what is described as a notable Vitagraph star featuro drama, "Tho Octoroon," or "The White Slave." This is the latest and, it is claimed, tho best dramatisation yet produced of Dion Boucicault's famous play of the same namo, which enjoyed such a popular \o<nio amongst playgoers somo years back. The original plot, which was certainly a .powerful and appealing one, has, it is said, been faithfully adhered to, and all the striking situations and spectacles for which "The Octoroon was noted, havo, it is claimed, been reproduced in picture form with fidelity aJid effectiveness. "A realistic slave auction, "The robbery and murder of the Indian mailboy by Jacob M'Closky, "Wah-no-tee's vengeance," "Tho s.s. Magnolia on fire," "Tho eliaso through tho cano brake," "Tho thrilling fight with bowie-knives between M Closky and Wah-no-tee," and "Tho death of Zoo, the Octoroon," are quoted as being particularly striking sections' of tho picture. The photography is said ,to be a brilliant featuro of tho production. Tho supporting films include "Tho Singer" (dramatic), "The Wonderful Doll" (an astonishing trick film), "He Would Fix Things" (comedy), "Tricks of tho Trade" (dramatic), "The Path© Gazette," and three selected scenic series, viz., "River Rummel," "Rambles in Abrizzi," and " A Trip Through Bananaland." Scats may bo reserved at the Dresden. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. With to-day's new programme at tho Empress Theatro there will be introduced a feature court drama, ''A Throne At Stake.' This is reported t-o be a superbly-mounted modern production, with a very interesting plot, aboundmg in interesting episodes, leading up to a stirring climax. Tho next in importance will bo the A.B. Company's dramatic story, "Tho Strong Man s Burden." The principals are two brothers one a ne'er-do-well, and the other a policeman. As is frequently the caso, tho mother loves tho black sheep best, and, when slio is on her death-bed, she summons the policojnan to bring his brother to her. A powerful situation follows the death of the mother, and tho policeman displays heroism tosavo his brother from arrest. The Edison Company will be represented .by a masterpiece drama, "A Tardy Recognition," which is reputed to ,IXS one ot that company's best_ efforts to date. The remainder will include tho cranh Company's comedy success, One Can t Always Tell," "The Valley of the Biove" (a delightful scenic study), and "Edwin's Badgo of Honour (A.B. farce-comedy). ORGAN RECITAL. An appreciative, if not over large, audience, essembled in tho Town Hall on Saturday for the organ recital bv.the City Organist, Mr. Bernard I'. iago. The programme, though short, .covered a wide difference of stylo, ranging from Wagner's preludo "Tristan and Isolde to Felix' Corbott's "Reve d'Amour." Mr Page opened the recital with tho "Symphonic Pathotiquo," composed by Tchaikovsky. This is one of the last works of the great composer, and is a them© expressive of tho most poigant sorrow! It was well executed with all the skill aild technique of the finished artist. Tho following ltom, "Rove d'Amour" (Felix Corbett), in its simplicity, appealed to all, and the" organist favourod tho audience .with an encore. Cesar Franck's "Prelude, Fugue, and Variation, Op. 18," was admirably rendered, and brought out to tho full Mr. Page's mastery of his instrument. The infinitely tender, graceful character that breathes through the prelude and returns at tho close in tho variation, was delicately, yet insistcnt■l'- developed, and gave forth that charm that so many of Cesar Franck's exponents fail to achieve. Wagner's prelude to "Tristan and Isolde" was a gem among gems. "Tristan and Isolde" is one of the greatest love tragedies that has ever been written, and the preludo presents tho" spiritual progress of tho tragedv from beginning to end. Tho "Sonatina in A Minor" (ICarg-Elort) gave the artist wide scope,' and the recital was brourehfc to a closo with Wo]steiiliolme'j "finals w 13 Flat."-