ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1967, 26 January 1914, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

i Tine OPERA HOUSE, '■ To-night will bo the last'' opportunity, of seeing "The Count of Luxeinhniirg','" Urn musical comedy which has been attracting such largeaudiences to ■'the Opera House the last week. The catchy airs, the intensely amusing dialogue," and the gay costuming nil go to malic.;'. the play one of the brightest : comic- '. operas that the /Williamson linn have/ treated us to for some time. To-mor-. row night "The Count" will give .way: to "Autumn Manoeuvres." ' , '-\.;p: /' "Autumn Manoeuvre's" is said to have achieved a distinct triumph wheni staged by Georgo Edwardes at the : Roy*.i Adelphi Tneatre, London, and its success in Australia was even more- pronounced—it enjoyed the longest run of any musical play staged in' Sydney or Melbourne last year. The principal members of the company will he seen; in tho following musical and other, itonis, which will give them special opportunities to distinguish themselves.,' "The Army List" (Calia. Ghiloni), "The Twelfth Hussars" (chorus), "Dear Abermore" (Florence Young),, "Grandma's Fault" (Phil Smith), "Tho Regular Army Man" (Julius Roscius), "Tho Romary Ballet" (Charles Albert, Vlasta Novotna and Ballet), "As the Shadows Softly Fall (Frank Greene), "A Soldier's Daughter" (Dorothy Brnnton), 1 . "My Ffieud Joe Bell" (Phil Smith},. "Put Your Boots on the. Sub," (Florence Y'oung, Connio Milno, and Reg Roberts), "Hobbies" (Connie Milno and Phil Smith), "You'll Never Know" (Florence Young), "To Have, To Hold. To Love" (Frank Greene),. "It Might be a 'oomp Side Worse" (Connie Milno and Phil Smith), "Daddy Dear" (Dorothy Brunton). A feature of the production is tho scenery and tho superb costumes. Only the five performances can be given of "Autumn Manoeuvres," as on Monday next "The Arcadians" will be revived for three occasions, and the season will closo with three performances of "The Chocolate Soldier." "'. The plans for "Autumn Manoeuvres" aro now open, and for the remainder of tho season they will be opened on Thursday morning. WIELAERT PECHOTSCH CONCERT. Such an enjoyable concert as that given -by the Wielaert Pechotsch combination in the Town Hall on Saturday ovening merited a larger audience- than it attracted. Small though tho attendance was, however. its appreciation of the efforts of the performers Was displayed in the unrestrained applause with which each item was greeted. With her singing of the great vocal masterpiece of Beethoven's "AU Perlido," . Madame Wielaert stood out as a dramatic so'.nrano of power. Wellington audiences hive rarely, if over, had the opportunity of hearing this great vocal eitort because of tho tax on the powers of the singer which such a work imposes. Madame Wiolaert's singing of it on Saturday night was virile and full of emotional glamour, Porhaps her voice in' the higlicr register had a. tendency to harden and bo metallic—for Madame is apt to force her voice at times—but this Was forgotten In tho potency and emotion of her interpretation. 'Madame \\ ielaert possesses a most engaging personality and her encore number to j the foregoing, "Will o' tho Wisp" I (Sprott), displayed her in totally new vein and was given with charming feminine perceptivoness of the theme cf tho song. Later in tho evening Mad- j amo sany "A May Morning" or" Den-' zas, and ''Jcutiesse" (Kathci-iuo Barry), j both of which were (.harmfully remlrw'd.! Tho other star [Member of the com pauy is Herr Pechotsch, wm.se loite : lies in his marvellous technique, and one cannot help that all tho while-he is playing an andante or - slow : passage that his. bow is itching to rush into tlic whirlwind of pizzicato, harmonics, tumultuous double stopping passages that its holdor so plainly delights iih Perhaps it is this that causes Herr Pechotsch's tone to lose colour and power in legato or emotional passages. Mendelssohn's famous "Concerto" was his initial number, and though its opening was rather toneless and lacking in . colour, Herr Pechotsch soon warmed to j his work and_ tho great finale <sf the concerts strikingly displayed the fine; technique of tho violinist. The audience was insistent on hearing Herr Pechotsch again. The player simply revelled in tho encore number, "The Devil's Trill" (Tartini) and his clever pizzicato work j gained him still another encore. He gave Chopin's "Nocturne" in E flat, but his playing of this was rath-eri disappointing. Later in the evening, when Herr Pechotsch again appeared he was double encored a second time. The "Carnival of A'enico" (Ernst), with all manner of variations, was the player's most noteworthy effort. Miss Mabel Scccombe, the company's contralto, has a fresh and mellow contralto voice rich in quality. Her intonation was apt to be imperfect at times, while she has rather a distressing habit at times to "scoop. 1 . 1 Her numbers were popular ones—"Somewhere a Voice Is Calling," "A Perfect Day," "The Rosary," etc. Miss Seccombo was associated with Madame Wielaert in two most cnjoyablo vocal ducts, "Sainted Miother," from Vincent Wallace's "Montana," and Blumenthal's rhythmetio and melodious Venetian Boat Song. The voices of tho two singers blended beautifully and the numbers were among the most enjoyable on tho programme. Tho company possesses a young entertainer of talent in Mr. Thomas Harris. Mr. Harris has two valuable assets—a good stage appearance and a pleasing flexible voice. He is a triflo crude in his Work here and there, yet, in the caso of his portrayal of "Ebenczor Scrooge," failed to make that irascible and orusty old personago live, and was inclined to give us Mr. Thomas Harris instead. Mr, Harris was better in his dramatic recitals, "The Yellow God" and "Tho Old Man Jim." v Tho pianist, Herr Johan Wielaert, plays conscientiously, though with some lack of feeling. His numbers were: "Polonaiso" (Chopin' and "Valse Lente' (Schutt). Madame Pechotsch was the company's aceompaniste. An attractive programme has been arranged for tho concluding concert to be given to-night. To-riight will be- given the last opportunity of hearing this talented company, for both Madame Wielaert and Herr Pechotsch shortly leave the Dominion, For this farewell appearance special popular prices of Bs., 25., and Is. will be charged, and a popular,programme has been prepared. THE KING'S THEATRE. The remarkable Pathe filmic production of the famous Greek legend (if "Psyche" was screened for the last time at the.King's Theatre on Saturday night to a crowded house. "THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE." : . To-night, at the King's Theatre will see tho initial screening in Wellington of the now star attraction, "Tho Student of Prague," or "A Deal With Satan," described as "a mystery drama of exceptional power, and quite the best oxamplo of wonderful double photographic effects yet achioved." The film is 4500 ft. long, and its screening occupies on hour and a quarter. Speaking of a recent unfolding of tho film at Auckland, tho "Herald" said:—"From tho point of really good acting and artistic ' treatment, "A Student of fragile" compares more than favourably with anything that has come along for some time past, Tho story tells how Baldwin, the student, makes a bargain . with Satan, whereby ho sells himself. 'Incidentally, it is noticeable that Mcphisto does not appear in his customary, appendages of horns and scarlet cloak", but comes in tho guise of a foppish old gentleman. The young niun is relenttassly haunted by bis owirims»g«i and all his attempts to enjoy, .tho fruits of

tlii/.iimnry rrcoivwl any badl.-n -Tho I ( wci!'cl| ; ..r.tnry;:jissjl)rovig!it,feHoVa : « ; ciini!ix;; !jnij3n;;4Bajdwin-;.\vatclics^liis :;> o\vn'-'-'iriiiig6; kill a- man -ivhuiii. lie; has f worn-not to; miiiro. 1 iio". r>ii?tti'rV; • ..is- oouviticid-i ■ proo fg-ofp hof ada pt'a bi 1 i tyf .^motion* <y. ii J/i h rovij o^-'mn ,[vho' ; .appcarsSuijl\yq^partSisimultanpo«s-'; ly..^nUoreß!^m£tliu^lstovy r «iiovoivsiwanos : . 'forgot 0i!ior" pi < • inr-: 1 s to : tl-- 3 s . ] O ""12 5- p vj;fA'.;-- Do 1 i ff) IVjvT. B a I)V '' '("graph . -Westoni . paine'/drama), ■ ''Beauty ■■■in' a 'Sca',Sliells,iS.frhar>lwni»er;.cnmcdy/,^^'Gaumontj3SGrapl)in,'U;;:jand! '|r.boj-Rosd-;Canii>aK'aKClirisleliurftlit«s 1 ' HIS ' M VTEsTY'S THEATRE ■ 'T! i<s ' . toi>-]ini>rs '.'at;. drillers'.-' Hi;:. ■ -Majesiy s Thcatro oit Hue'change. of programme- -to • boipresc'ntcd,this evening ii'.T: the ('arpos .8r05.,-. equilibrists,. who'submit an net entirely hew,' novel, 'aiul<sensational.''After performing sonic ■ amazing feats tho"brotliers:;Os-rpos'eOTi-'.' eludo* their set with'one.'of.- the . pair playing ~ t he; - pi_anb ;. is balanced' on I His ;licad! plaving/aYmaridoline.v- Direct from London-if Le Rnin, - champion professional skatcrtf England 1 ' and 'America/in his.own/'spectaoula.r skating creation.' Miss Edith Mote, tho protean cantatrice,...will .present one '<rf. tho. most elaborate/.acts' seen '.Ivctc. Clayton and. CVoaiv : serins. and dancers;' and M;ss Beryl Ciilnian,- . balladist,' will V-r.also;" <■'appear,-Tho / supporting items will-comprise'tho Franca Midgets, two of the world's smallest'' conjurors, illusionists, and dancers; Hynian and Alton, a comedy duo; introducing soiuo extraordinary eontortioiial /" acrobatic feats; -Brandon Dreamer. and J l, iliss Arnold, sketch artists.Vernon/and Mack, knock-about comedians; Leo and Lionel, in an act on Roman' rings ;• and the popular Leonard- Nelson.' 1 -■ On' Friday evening next Mr.-Nelson will bold, in conjunction w-jt.h -the usual' nightly, bill,'- his novel singing competition,"for. which ho lias received over sixteen., en-;' tries." Intending competitors .■•'arc /re-, .quested to send in''.their .eiitrics-linot. later; thai*..this '.evening,'///:'////. ;/ THE EMPRESS THEATRE A' special attraction'in • the: form of ft lengthy ; featuro drama, ''The. House of Discord,'.' by the A.B. Company, will appear at tho bead of tho liew programme to bo screened-at the..-Empress Theatre continuous pictures.to-day. and to-night.. The film, which occupies over half an hour. in ■■ the j screening,?- is . described as foiling of exceptional merit.'/ A beautiful- ! young woman/.;is. separated-, from her husband on .the assumption, that she was about to elope with :a former lover, but a fatal motor accident'had prevented the plan being carried'.out; later tho husband's dominating, sister' has muda the home ■' Quito;. loveless," and ■ the former's daughter '' is with a fata-similar to her mother's,-...when the mother obtains. permissi-oiv : '-to'-ivm. the girl i from her waywardness;'; Hie daughter does not know'that tho loving woman who she lias,.been .sent to live with is her mother,. and 'is ■ soon ■ much 1 happier than in her own home. There is a charming ending" to-'the drama cf a not -unes]>ected■..£iml,£-. .Miss .Da.phlio \\ayne takes the leading role. "Cause tor Thankfulness" : (Edison "masterpiece''), "Around ■ Belfort.":-'-. (Gaumoht scenic),-. 'Tho Mrstores",;-(acrobatic performance) ■ are among the supporting films. / '| ; f": .4;;/ . BRITANNIA THEATRE The latest releases- in ' the piohrre world arc screened at the Britannia, and to-day's . programme will -as -usual ho right to date.' The star film is a tworeel Irish romanee,,;; entitled "Widow Maloncys Faith." '-'The - story is described as an interesting-one, and shows how a mothers belief .in' her. soil was justified. Dan Maioncy had to leave his native land.for a time,.and returns just as his mother is, being, evicted by.'tli'e man who unjustly caused his enforced period of absence from his na-tivo lciu.l. Dan, who has returned a wealthv man, saves his mother's home, and ■> also claims tho hand of .the girl he loved. Included, in the supporting subjects arc a- couple of farce comedies, "Freddy I/posebelt in Africa"'and "Tiny Tito and the Lion.'/ The latest in world's happenings.; are chronicled per medium of tho "Topical Gazette,":. -...