ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1891, 28 October 1913, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GLNEE AND THE RUSSIAN BALLET Tho incomparable grace and beauty of tli'j art of Mdllo. Adeline Gonee will ion;* ere this have become town talk. There arc many bright stars in the artistic firmament that- most people treasure up tho hope of seeing or bearing one day. Some wo may travel to see: others may travel to visit us, and. again, there are others who havo entered into the scope of our imaginings who have "shuffled off" before tho desired consummation. Geneo has been acknowledged to bo tho finest dancer of her class of tho generation,'and cvon rated at that high standard, she satisfies superbly. In "Coppelia' ! she is not only a dancer of extraordinary lightness, grace, and variety, but, as Swanilda, shows that were her feet to fail her (which the powers forbid), she would fin.l a niclio as a comedienne of brilliant parts. After seeing tho comedy, it seems strange that it has not been adapted for the picture theatre, for which its bright action and excellent pantomime and dancing render it bo suitable. But tho picture would be but tho shadow, whilst here we have tho substa.iice—the real Gcnee. The whole programme, including "Les Sylphides" ai.'.l "Divertissements," was given last evening before a packed house, which exhibited every sign, of intelligent appieciation of the artistic treat afforded them. On Thursday next- will bo presented "Tho. Arabian Nights," described as a desert romance, a splendid barbaric Oriental spectacle teeming with tho atmosphere of Arabia. There will also bo a new series of Divertissements, in which Mdlle. Geneo will dance her famous Empire dance with M, Volinin, the equally famous polka comique. Tho entertainment will conclude with tlio charming two-act ballet "Coppolia," in which Mdllo. Geneo will repeat her splendid performance of Swanilda. The season will finish on Saturday night, and'tlicro will be a matinee on Saturday afternoon, to which children will bo admitted to all parts except latedoor gallery at half-price. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. iTho vaudeville artists appearing this week at His Majesty's Theatre are uniformly good, and patrons are assured of a pleasant evening's entertainment. Last* evening tho Three Brothers, Vardell made their first appearance. The members of tho trio are Americans, aaid present a highly-skilled athletic "turn," characterised by wonderful liand-balanc-iug. A unique new act was that of tho Cioydons, 'vwlio were also making their first appearance in Wellington. Their speciality is "spectre clog-dancing." Lalia Brook, who firmly established herself as a favourite some time ago, made a welcome reappearance in her "femin- . iuo fads and fancies, 1820-1920." An- ! other well-known artist who received a 1 warm welcome was Tom Armstrong, who, in company with his new partner, Mab Howarth, was responsible for a good deal of fun with the latest American "hits." Johnson and Conway, Australian specialty artists, appeared for tho first time, and met with a good reception. This week Wellington theatre-goers will havo tho last opportunity of seeing La Porle, contortionist; Gabriello Hope, instrumentalist; Desperado ahd La Rose, aerial artists; Mav Brilliant, English comedienne; Fcolish .Ford, "the crazy comedian" ; and the' Three Breves, comedy musicians. i THE KING'S THEATRE. . The "star" picture on this week's programme at tho King's Theatre is a line drama,, "From Circus to Race- ; horse." The film is full of sensation, and is certainly one of the finest sporting pictures shown here for some time. An incident full of excitement is the great raco for the Grand Prix, which is alone well worth seeing. "Tho Riot," an excellent comedy, is also prominent in a programme which is composed tlircugliout of interesting pictures. v THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Quakeress," a stirring feature drama, dealing with love and adventure in the early Puritan settlement days in America, headed tho now programme at . tho Empress Theatre yesterday. The heroine is a girl who, while living iu a Quaker settlement, repels the advances of tho pastor. A handsome young schoolmaster comes ■ to tho village, and is accommodated,as a boarder j by the heroine's mother. Tho latter takes ill, and at her deathbed tho ' schoolmaster undertakes to be her . daughter's guardian. Tho pastor, exasperated by the girl's attitude towards _ him, causes her to be arrested, and charged with not attending church, a ■ heinous offence amongst tlie Quakers, and -sho is sentenced to bo banished. Tho young schoolmastei accompanies ' tho girl. They are tracked by an Indian scout, who wounds tho wliite man in tho leg. The Indians aro then seen starting out to attack tho Quaker settlement. The schoolmaster hastens to warn the community. Ho and the girl reach the blockhouse in time warn the Quakers. The Indians attack tho fort, and gradually force their way through tlie palisade. There is an underground passage in the blockhouso, by which tho little band of defenders escape, after leaving a keg of powder with a lighted fuse attached, to blow up tho Indians. A terrific explosion is , seen, and tho air is filled with debris. Tho pastor meets a well-deserved fate, ] while the schoolmaster and the Quaker- f csa "live happily over after." The minor subjects mcludo "Gillen Acrobatic Duo" (vaudeville turn), Naples (scenic), Bunny's Dilemma (comedy), "In the . Power of the Blacklegs" (drama), and "Baby Indisposed" (farce comedy). j THE COMPETITIONS. t At tho competitions to be held shortly J under tho auspices of tho New Zealand J Competitions Society, as tho first prize in the piano-playing section, the British and Continental Piano Company will give a Bcchstein piano valued at £130. Nearly forty young men are coming up . from Greymouth alono to compete in , tho singing sections. Tho entries con- J stitute a record. Season tickets may ho v obtained from tlie secretary, Mr. James Dykes. Tho box plan for season tickets will open at tho Dresden on October 29 and for dav sales on October 30. . * c — i When the last mail left London, Mr. T Robert Courtncidge had selected September 25 for the first performance at tho Shaftesbury of his now musical play "Tho Pearl Girl," book and lyrics bv Captain Basil Hood, scoro by Dr. = Hugo Felix and Mr. Howard Talbot. The title part is to bo sustained, by Miss Iris Hoey as secretary and typisto at tho Palmyra Pearl premises. It falls j to her, in a curious emergency ,_ to 'mpersonato Madame Alvarez, a rich and beautiful visitor to this country from the Argentine, who brings with her , jewels worth a prince's ransom. Iu tho 4, number of her treasures figures the _ world-famous Palligrino pearl- How tho Pearl Girl' is tempted to profit by the opportunities afforded her and exactly what, use sho makes of them is tho subject of Captain Hood's story. "When a woman declares her hu»-. band is 'possessed of the devil,' she doesn't realise what sho is calling herself." 1 Ten thousand trips across the Irish Sea — is the record of Captain Joseph Ivnight, of * Liverpool, who, has just from the] serv'ico of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company. Mr. ICnight has been in the employ of tho company for half a ccutnry, and whon a young, man voyaged in tho Var East in sailing vessels. It is his boast that during the nineteen years he has iwen in command he kcjit every vessel freo from accidest. , j I