ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

r i NEW COMIC opera company. i A full liouso bijdo adieu to the. New Comic Opera Company at tho Opera Mouse 011 Saturday night-, whan ''The Chocolate Soldier" was presented for the third time. Through the aWncc from tlio cast of Miss Florence Young (who was understood to be suffering trow a sore throat) the performance lacked the top note that artist gave it, and for the same reason much of tlio "devil" J of the first act was missing. T'ho rolo j of Nadina was assumed at short .notice I by-Miss Alice Bennetio, who., under the - circumstances, filled the breach very i satisfactorily, particularly after she gat J over her first act nemmsuess Vocally, , Miss Bennett is troubled with a pro--5 uounced vibrato, a gocd deal accentuai- ' cd oil Saturday by nervousness, noticej ably so in the trying "My Hero" solo, . but she acted fairlv brightly, and l-ook- > ed a very likeable Bulgarian. At the £ conclusion of tie pcrfonvmnca a very hearty farewell was accorded the com- > pany, and Misses Uenyctto and ])or6th? ' Brunton wore the recipients of floral 1 tributes of regard. . The company left for Lyttolton at 11.4-5 p.m. on Saturday, Even at that into hour there were ft couple of hundred frkmd3 to bid a last to the mambors of the most j ' popular organisation that- visits New : > Zealand. GEORGE WILLOEGHBY'S BRA- : MATIC COMPANY. "The Beggar Girl's Wedding," to be staged by one of Mr. George Willqughby's' dramatic companies on next lion- j day in tie . Opera House, was tiro cause j of a lot of excitement ia tho theatrical j world of London last week, as the ] author, Mr. Waiter Meivillo, was sued j for plagiarism by Miss Rosemary Bees, j an. actreis anf atifciioj'ess hailing from i Gisborne, New Zealand, Miss Roes had i written a drama entitled "The Beggar • Bride," and 1 submitted it to Mr. Melj viiie, who, however, did not uso it at ! his theatre. Shortly afterwards- ho brought on "Tlie_Boggar Girl'ss Wedding,"' and Miss Ttoes's complaint was that he had introduced ideas into his j play which were in her's. The ease came j off in duo course, and Miss Rees last j j Thursday was nob-suited. The ' action j I caused a" considerable .amount of ta.ll? i j ainongst theatrical people, as the piece j I was being played at stfreral of the ' I theatres at the time both in London and I in the provinces. Tho box plan will open j on Thursday morning at the 'Dresden, j and day sales at Christeson's. 1 j HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. . This evening the Brciuiau-Fqller management will introduce with the new programme at His Majesty's' Theatre several new artists—Largay and Snee, direct from Now York, : and bringing with, tliem America's latest hits in "rapid fire" entertainment; the ' Kimball Bros., jolly messenger boys, who provido an act brimful of novelty and humour; the 11. Troraioro Trio,' American premier burlesque operatic singers; and Miss Margaret .Gaiaacr, tho brilliant Australian soprano. This evening Ohas. Harrison, the winner of last week's amateur competition, will make his first appearanco as a professional artist on tho vaudeville stage. Other items will b'o: Leonard Nelson, who enters into the . last week of bis Wellington season j ho will sing any of his popular numberswhich may be selected by the audience; Western and, Hill, patter duo; the Rondos Trio, who have already miido good in an exceptionally clev-er bicycle act; the Guzmain Trio, : sensational novelty equilibrists.; Bolmar and CasSandra, slack-wiro walkers: and Clayton and Croan, series and dancers, will "also appear. "KING OPTITf, AIR." ; To-iiight's attraction at the King's Theatre js the 6000 ft, film play of modern life in Paris, entitled '"King of tho Air," which, on Saturday evening terminated'what the management asserts to bo ono of .the most successful picture seasons etfcf held at Auckland, A section of the film which Is, described as. of special interest is "jhe Tango Dancc," about which so much has be<;.n read. _ An outline of the Story of the. play is as _ followsMa.rc Devernis, amatcur_ aviator and son of a rich banker, is engaged to I/ouiso fie Solange, who has achieved celebrity at the- Medi-' cal Schools.. Her mother, Madame do Solange, becomes the diipo o?' a swindling company, which Madame loses her fortune. The banker breaks off his soil's engagement, but the son resolves to replace the girl's dowry with the prize of £12,000 offered, by tho Aviation Club. Tlio race front Paris to Holland and back takes place, and young Deveruis is within an ace of winning when his aeroplane suddenly capsizes and a. 'terriblo accident 'results. The aeroplano crushes Deveruis in its fall. Louise, at the head of a nursing staff 3 hurries to tho scene, t-0 ■ find that ths victim is her intended husband. Thanks to her caro and- devotion ho recovers. His father is so deeply touched that he withdraws his opposition* and all ends happily. The mounting and dressing are spoken of as being one a. scalo of magnificence. Bos. plans are now open at the Dresden. . BRITANNIA THEATRE. To-day's star attraction, at tho Britan- ' ma Theatre is a three-act pictorial adaptation of John Lawson's' well-known drama, "Humanity." It is a striking work in style, ja sympathy, and understanding, and included •in ilio play aro somo remarkable scenes. The racecourse, the favourite bsaten, a ganlbling saloon episodo, and a thrilling fight on a tottering staircaso afford the dramatist plenty of scope. Tlio principal part is playecl by John Lawson, the ianioas delineator ,of Jewish life and character. The staircase fight is still, alter 17 years, a big feature of the London halls, and is called "More Than Ever." The. act was introduced "Humanity" oji account of tho. daring of' tho performers. • The supporting programme includes "Fortune's Turn" (an appealing Yitagniph drama), "Darby's Reward, 7 ' "Did Mother Get Her Wish?" (comics), "Brush-making" (industrial), and the latest "Topical Gazette." THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Big-Horn Massacre," described as the greatest Indian and military "featuro" ever produced by tlie Kaleni Company, will be .the leading item of today's new. programme, at the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures. The subject was produced in the wilds of Wyoming, in tho Big Horn.. Mountains, made famous in the days of Warfare with the -Red Indians, when 250 of General Custer's men wero"ciit up" by the warlike Sioux tribe. The piiswra'mtes aro described as remarkably fine, the battle between the troops and the Indians being displayed in a vaiky. ivhiie the rugged.grandeur of the "surrounding ranges provido a. most picturesque background. The plot is said to' bo highly entertaining. In the opening incidents life among the Sioux'lndians' is vividly depicted. An Indian maid flees from her lover's rival, who has killed the man sho had chosen, in a desperate hand-to-hand duel. Tho troopers rescue tlio girl, and sho is taken to tlio fort, where she is kindly treated. Her tribe attack "an emigrant caravuu, and almost exterminate the white people. Tho troopers at the fort, howovor, administer well-de-served punishment-. There is an appealing love story interwoven with the pjot. •The supporting'subjects sro stated to bo numerous and meritorious'.