ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1958, 15 January 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. The Opera House is filled nightly by an audience-anxious to welcome back "Tho Smart Sot,".who are well and favourably known, jn "Welling'tonl The programme thoy give is an exceedingly attractive one, the artists being possessed of ability above tho average. The revue, "Kia Ora," with its many local "hits," is greatly appreciated by tho audience. Clever sketches and songs help to enliven the programme, aud tho entertainment is kept original from start to finish. Tho "Smart Set" will appear again this evening. 'THE COUNT OF LUXEMBOURG." The plot of Franz Lehar's remarkably successful comic opera, which is to bo presented for tho first time here bv tho J. C. Williamson New Comic Opera Company (150 artists), at tho Opera House on Wednesday next and four following nights, makes tho Grand Duko Rutzinov (Robt. Whyte, inn.) keen to marry the prima donna, Angela Didicr (Miss Florence Young), but since he is convinced that tho Tsar .will frown on any marriage except with a lady of title, ho causes bcr to first go through a form of marriage with the handsomo but penniless Count of Luxembourg (Frank Greene). Bride and bridegroom do not sec each othor, for an a wedding scene full of comedy a screen is kept between ■. them. The grand-ducal arrangement is that it.will bo merely a "marriage a l'aimablo," with a subsequent divorce,, but on tho day before tho'divorce the two young people accidentally meet;, they fall in love, and eo tho plot-becomes complicated, and, it is said, is really interesting right, up to tho fall of the curtain. ; Those who look for the-melodious flights of Franz Lobar will, it is said, find.them, particularly in tho brilliant march with which tho first act closes, in the opening chorus in tho second act, and in the lovo duet between Miss Young and Frank Greene, during which' the audience will witness thcvwaltz up the stairs of which we have hoard quite a lot about, and which created _ a big sensation in London and Australia. A feature of tho opera is tho introduced dance, entitled "Danso Pompenette,". presented by Mr. Charles Albert, and Ylasta Novotna, tho Russinn dancer. This item, it is said, fairly electrified audiences in Melbourne recently. "The Count of Luxembourg" can only bo: staged for five nights, and on Tuesday, January 27, the fascinating and gorgeously-mounted military comic opera, "Autumn Manoeuvres." will be presented for fivo nights. The plans for both productions will bo opened at the Dresden on Monday morning at 9 o'clock.. A queue will be formed from 8 a:m. THE KING'S THEATRE. "A.Message from Mars", continues to attract crowded houses nightly at ' tho King's Theatre. The piorit of tho pictorial reproduction of the Tine performance given by Mr. Charlr-s Hnwtrev and his London company has. earned,tho approval of Wellingtoninns. That remarkable creation b'v the.--Keystone. Company, "When Dreams Come True," sends spectators into;fits of laughter. Other good subjects g0..t0 .make, tip "a particularly strong programme. There will .be a matinee performance on Saturday afternoon at 2.30., " HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Sister, Straubb are presenting a novel addition to the programme at His' Ma.jestv'3 Theatre this week, entitled "Girls, P.ast r.nd Present." One of the.ladies is an accomplished vocalist', and the other a very, clever dancer. Thev appear.in. a variety of drosses, including the hooped petticoats of years agoir-and conclude witli nn exaggeration of.%tho present-day - eoetumos. : "Huntress" -still gets rounds of anplausc-for his beautiful and wonderful Eastern dances. The programme will be repeated this evoninrr. ■ .. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The new-programme at-the Empress Theatre continuous pictures to-day and to-nitfht will introduce another sensational A.B. "fcatnrc" drama, "In the Elemental World." This is described a 6 a story of a hunter and his wife who aro lost in the wilds of a North American: forest, where thoy aro threatened with death through starvation. Tlie man, in his quest -for food, leaves tho woman,-and'in; her wanderings sho meols another hunter, who cares for her,and shares his rations with her. The sequel is stated to bo. sensational, for the woman , endeavours to escapo with the stranger's food supply, and meets with a startling accident. There will bo. a strong supporting programme embracing "The Hindu ChaTm"-(Vitngraph drama), "Heaping a Harvest" (Comet, drama), "Making Himself a Hero" (Reliance comedy), "Tho.Baby Elephant" (Vita-"l-aph" circus performance), "A-Fickle Freak" (Knlora comedy), "Trout Fishing" (sporting study), and "Two Men and a MuV'■"(farce-comedy). BRITANNIA THEATRE. . The ?new programme to be screened to-day at the. Britannia Theatre includes is a star attraction a Rex sensational drama '.'The Dragon's Breath." The story is-of an opium fiend. Tho plot-is'full-of sensation, and contains all tho elements so popular with lovers of picture drama. A Keystone farcecomedy, "A -Muddy Romance," is described is o'no whole reel of merriment. A Lubin drama.' "France and the Fairy," is a delightful story, cleverly portrayed.' An interesting educational subject is "How Coke is Manufactured." The world's latest happenings aro chronicled in the Pathe Gazette.- A unique picture is the s.s. Scotsdvke on tire in mid-Channel. Tho Britannia Orchestra are nightly a popular item at the theatre. "THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS." "The Shadow of the Cross," .the most mysterious spiritual painting in the world, which has mystified all Europe, America, and England, on account of what is, termed its supernatural character, is being shown at Harcourt's Building, Panama Street. Briefly, it is. a -life-sizo picture of Christ, which was the" effort of a poor but '• devout man, .who could not paint to any extent, but whoso wonderful creation developed a "spirituality" which he of himself was utterly unable to produce, and for the. presence of which ho was utterly unable: to. account. Never was any notable picturo. produced in such a strange and ■ unaccountable manner as the one referred to, and a remarkable phenomenon is seen.