ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2133, 27 April 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE, The musical farce, "Dream City," was producc-d for the last time by the American Musical Burlesque Company at the Grand Opera House on Saturday night.

MAUD ALLAN AND THE CHBRNIAVSKYS. ■ Tt has been said of Miss Maud Allan, who appears at the Grand Opera House to-night, that in the free, untrammelled poise of her lithe, slim ' figure is repeatedly seen those consummately beautiful modellings which tftiorn so many of tho rases and mural decorations of the ancient Hellenes, as revealed to modern eyes through the classical as* tiquities that have been preserved in nHssEttms. She is, it is added, harmony personified, floating and gliding with rare perfection of grace to tho wares of sound emitted by tlie orchestra. Instead of following she seems to lead, to forestall tho music, and her supple figure threads tho atmosphere so quietly, so insinuatingly, that she. seems more like- a mythical half-human, halfwood faun of kin to Pan, than a twe-iv iietlj'ccijtury product. Not a sngge-s* tie-n of sensuality, it is said, is to be discerned in the poetic posturirigs of Siiss Alkn. Whether portraying tho essence of Spring, as embodied in Mendelssohn's wonderful song, breath' ing the freshness and glory of morning in Grieg's Peer Gyiifc Suite, the joy of living in Anitra's dance-, tho vivid Jlrotesqueness of the dance of tho Gnomes, or the dramatic intensity of Ase's Death ; her imagery has been uniformly admired. Miss Allan's interpretations to-night wjH incindo "Am Meet" (SchubertLiszt), Chopin's "Valse in A Minor," Mendelssohn's Spring Song, Schubert's "Moment Musical," Greig's famous "Peer Gj'nt Suite," and the popular j "Blue Danube Waltz." , i Tbo Chet'niax'&fcys, who appear with M;wd Allan to-«iglit, hav<s been ccived in cvsry town yet visited in New , Zealand with enthusiasm), and their playing has won for them golden opin* ions.

ANTONIA DOLORES. • Iss connection with' the coming visit of Mmo, Dolores, it is interesting to note tfec remarks made by Sir "Williaia Manning at a. reception given to the singer in Sydney on her last visit to that city. Sit William Manning said that Mme. Dolores, had returned to the scene ©f triumphs which had won Jser a place iii the hearts •of all Sydney peopte. Her- persmial charm and her art as a singer in.coinbination were unrivalled. Tho quality* of pure womanhood shone from her eyes, and many a truo and tender tnessagß was borne by her sweet and touching Foice- to overflowing hearts. "When it was realised that this great β-ingw was as apt iit tho simple ehn.racteristio songs of England, ■ Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, aftd Italy as she was in translating the fine thoughts •of tho great composers of oratorio and opera, it would ne understood why, without detracting from the merits of other 1 visiting artists, tho people of Austrsda- ! sia regarded iief with special admiration. Mme. Dolores will open a short Wellington season in tho Grand Opera. j Hous© next Monday ovenrog.-The gifted i artiste will submit a new repertoire, introducing operatic airs an?l tho" latest compositions by well-known composers. The box plan will open next Thursday at tho Dresden.

"THE THIRD DEGREE." To-night will .500 the first screening at the King's Theatre of a Lubin star melodrama, "Tlio Third Degree," described as a special 5000 ft, picture sucecss of unusuaf interest. It is said to he an exhaustive reproduction ia motion photography of Charies Elau's widely-popular play of the same title, and to convey a particularly vivid idea of the unprincipled methods to secure convictions &% any cost practised fay the detective-police &f New York, 'ftie picture is. splendidly . acted and produced. The story runs as follows :■— Howard Jeffries and Robert Underwood nro university, students in a wild set. Howard's father, a rich banker, marries a young second wife, and Howard and' Underwood call to meet her (ft Now York, Underwood recognises his old. sweetheart. His behaviour at the. 'varsity becomes worse, imd ho is oxpeljed. He tabes to painting pictures, and perpetrates a fraud, whereupon ■ Mrs. Jeffries cut his acquaintance, and he .threatens to commit suicide. Meanwtiii© Howard has married a waitress, who proves to bo of sterling worth. The banker disowns his son, and Howard and his wife sink to poverty. How- [ ard drinks heavily, and visits thtder- | wood while intoxicated, going to sleep on a couch. Tlren Mfs. Jeffries calls to reason ITndcrvfood out of his intention to tako Ms life, but immediately after she leaves TJuderwood sheets hjn> self. Howard,'found there, is accused of liiufdnr, atwi. subjected to the ordeni of "The Third Degree." Under brutal treatment and itnpefled by hypnotic influence. Ikj confesses to a crime of which he. really knows nothing. His humble wife "learns how tbo coufessiou was obtained, and.,,, after much trouble, induces an eminent lawyer to Ight the case. A lift-boy informs her of Mrs. Jeffries.'s visit to Usidenvood, and sl» accuses Mrs. Jeffries of ftio murder, but does not dencninoo her. Finally the two women between thorn succeed in establishing Howard's innocence, and the machinations of the police arc defeated- In addition to the ehujj feature, a strong list of supporting subjects will bo shown. The. King's Orchestra will render appropriate music. Seats for any night of the season may Ire reserved at the Dresden.

HIS jrAJESTV'S THEATRE. Vaudeville at His Majesty's Theatre continues in high favour, judging from the attcmlsirrtes. To-niglit- a number of now artists siw announced, who will lntrcduco tho latest novcllics aisd vaiidcville spncialtios. ChieE amongst Uic3o art? Gardiner's Maniac BalMogs, a Irouu'of lour podigreo cJors. _Tlief:o animals .'ire said to bo csecptionally clover, and one prize dog performs what, is ik-scribod as a thrlfling slulo f«r Jifo ovtir the entiro length of tlw theatre, hangiiifi from a Irapftze by iiis t<>eth. Annthor act that- the muriagvint-nt Tiredict will boroino popular is by Hanlon, Dean, and Hanlou, wlio ato- roportet! to he 'exceptionally daring ooitiedyaorobats. M'DottnJd ami Ocnorcaus, of whom roports speak highly, are ddsfiribed as the American Scot and his lassie. Their turn consists of comedy and singing. Jolly Marie, an English r:nm<-diftnm» and tntorlaincr of some elistinctwn, will appear for tho first time. Miss Dorothv Harris will appear, and. lief re-Wtry 'into Wellington' vaudeville

irill no doubt be welcomed, Euowlcs and Lee, two ladies, who scored well on their last visit, will' also reappear. In addition to the newcomers, Western's living models will repeat tlicir impersonations of famous statuary. I'otm and Moron, and Cahi.il and William Suniner will complete the company.

THE EMPRESS THEATRE- j "The Witness to the Will,"' a dm-: malic photo-play by the Kdison Company, will bo the star item af the ciinnge. of urogvammo to-day and tonight at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures. Tho story concerns un attempt by an unworthy young man to obtain possession of an estate which has not boon bequeathed to him. Major Thonulj'ke has reason to be much disgusted with his ■Son, and the eftl man makes his will in favour of his grandniece, who lias charge'of the manage* nient <nf his household. Beldcn Thorn* dyke discovers tho hiding-place of the will, and when his father dios he steals tho document, but is obscrrod acting mysteriously by Terence O'Brien, the groom. Belden subseqeeutly dismisses 'j'cfcncc, and.then proposes io his dead father's grand-niece. Sooner then marry Belden the girl decides to go out into the world aiid earn her living utaikkd. She undergoes many triais, but in the end is rewarded by receiving her heritage, and marries tho jnau sfo loves. Tho screening occupies over half an hour. The supplcuieatafy film will include: ■■ ."Eclair Journal" (topical), "Marrafesli" (travel), '"flic Interrupt* <m.l Sceance"' (Roilaace. "feature" iomedy), and others.

PEOPLE'S PICTDRE PALACE The vSelig Company's ■ wild animal picture-play, "Amid Kagihg Beasts," is annoutiecd to appsiar with tiie i.ew progfammo of tlio People's Picture Palace to-day and. to-nigliti .The production is described as the Selig, GohiiMiny's greatest jungle film. This..company lias 9 retnarkabt* zoological goUcctton, which is used with realistic effect in a series of esciting adventures. Lions, tigers, o!cphant-s, and a big ape. ail play their part, in this picttirostory. Among the incidents depicted is the attack by a- lion, which- swims towards a raft "in mid-stream,. on . which are a helpless woman and child! There is also tho abduction of the child 'by an ape, which foods and safes for tho little one'. This ape leads: the child by the hand in a most humaii-liko manner. The plot is said to be developed along ■interesting afid-feasible.lilies, and the climax is''sensational to tho estrome. "Amid Rag»i« Beasts" will ho suftport(A by a weU-soleoted and varied col- : lection of subjects.

BARTON'S qmqm „ ""Messrs. Barton Bros.' new circus and "Wild Australia" will shew tot a Short season of threp nights at Neviowa, eeinmencing on Tuesday, April 28, at 8p.m.. , As ft special attraction Messrs. Barton Bros., "will offer £50 i a challenge to all riders wiio' can defeat "Queensland Harry," an . Australian buok-junjp rider, who, it.is stated, has taken part in 62 rougli-riding contests.

The concert which was t<) have fceen given in aid of the Hutt Disaster Fund b'y tho Tram way Bnnd last evening lias been postponed until a latcy date.