ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2201, 14 July 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■■ .. * • "PAUL JONES." Another excellent performance of the opera "Paul Jones" was given by the Wellington Amateur -Operatic Society last night. The pieco is well chosen, and the cast is strong. The public are responding well, and it must be gratifying to tho performers to have tlieir efforts so appreciated. To-night His Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool) and the Countess of Liverpool will attend the performance in- the Grand Opera House, HIS MAJESTY'S .THEATRE. A really bright and clover entertainment is offered at His Majesty's Theatre this week, and a fair proportion of tho brightness and cleverness is due to the appearance of a few new artists. In the programme there is good music, good comedy; in fact, there is nothing that is not good. Ed.- Blondell is a fun maker "direct, from New York City, per OVerland Limited and K.M.S. Sonoma," and he is a comedian of some quality. In his act Ire is assisted bv Miss, feathery ne Caino, and the general idea of their sketch is that,:tho lady, three times at least a widow, but very rich, is in her own house ornamenting it. when a very egregious red-haired rustic with a rabbit's foot in his trousers pocket wanders in. Of courso the tustic is .Blondell, and he does the lost backwoods American Simplicitas so well ns to make him like nothing else on earth. It is the most ludicrous, extravagant, farcical, and screamingly funny sketch that Jias ever been performed bore. When it was all .over, the audience called and called again for more, but Mr. Blondell and his partner did .not reappear. Andrews and Dent, two young ladies who are real musicians, giye a totally different kind of performance. Miss Andrews plays, good nnisic on the violin, and plays it very well, and Miss Dent accompanies her on the piano, and sings a song. Both are exceptionally; good performers. Another musical turn is that of t-lie Hughes Musical Trio, but their music is different.. They play on a variety of uncommon instruments, showing that they are a "wonderfully versatile team. A,few of last week's ' favourites ,are staying over. 'The Eary Comedy' Trio do their 'taacvellous trick with, barrels and 'hoops, and .other furnishings, and Crottom aud lvrcmlca arc stfll doing the posing, balancing, and .gymnastics which make'-'.their actone "of; the best- ■ purely athletic; turn's ' ever . seen, liere;' Leslie and Sol -Bern ,play about with their "motor-car," tell ■ stories, sing funny songs, and do their'other eccentric 'business, and Haymau 'and Co. have a new "playette" called "The Eternal Triangle." .; KING'S THEATRE.'/ "ANTONY AND ,CLEOPATRA." v'Tho greatest, triumph '•••&• kinematograpby which lias been seen in Wellington is'the film "Antony and Cleopatra/ which was screened at the . King's The.ati b last night. Tho pieco is produced by the Cines Company, s anth it eclipses their "Quo VadiisP" The English rights of .the film realised £8500, which sum is said to be a record. The "King's" was packed last .night, and the great interest evinced in the drama was evidenced . by the _ heavy booking of seats in advance. . It is indeed a marvellous production. Shakespeare's famous story; told without words, as unfolded with striking directness and vividness. Not in any direction has expense, been spared. The result is a brilliant' success. Briefly the story of the play, is as follows: —The Roman arms bad been completely victorious in tho Eastern campaign, and Oetavius Csfsrr had roturned to Italy, leaving Marc Antony 'to pacify the East. Antony eclipsed his previous triumphs, and .his fame reached Cleopatra, the beautiful Queen of Egypt, -who' sent her envoys to pay him homage. The envoys conveyed back, from Antony a message-that if the Queen desired to do true homage to Itome she should in person go and bow before. Hie Roman Eagles.; consulted a witch, whose verdict was: "Antony will become thy lover." Cleopatra resolved to go and pay homage to the- great Roman general, but she harboured a secret wish to capture hisheart. Before returning to .her own palace from the Roman camp, Cleopatra extracted from Antony a promise that lie would visit her at Alexandria. Antony was already a victim of her fascinations, and he', followed her\with little) delay. "I ■ would, give" the Empire,' 1 lie said, "for a "kiss from, such . 'lips as yours," and • Cleopatra 1 , perceiving that she had conquered,' tolcP liini that. his. liive was" iotunied. Antony neglected Rome for Egypt. He became the uncrowned King of Egypt, and.lus life was plotted against- by courtiers jealous of his success. 'From his wouldrbe murderers lie was saved through the' slave girl Hagar ; who was afterwards cast to the crocodiles at the bidding- of Cleopatra, whose jealousy was aroused liecause Antony had kissed the slave girL, Antony tore himself away from Cleopatra and returned to Romej but ere long he, went, back to Alexandria, and" there lie remained until Oetavius Caesar led an army against him to revenge his .disloyalty. Antony, seeing his" soldiers beaten, committed suicide, and when the Queen discovered the dead body of her lover she too sought death. A "special r feature attending "last night's production of the film was the exceptionally fine music, which was provided by an orchestra of-fourteen under Conductors Martinelli and Truda. The overture' was received with an outburst of hearty applause, and right through the ovening the audience gave the musicians tho greatest encouragement. v "EVERYBODY'S PICTURES." ' v A fine drama of the Highlands of' Scotland, • '-Black- Roderick' - the Poacher," which featured onNtlie change of programme at "Everybody's • Pictures" yesterday, has a twofold interest.. It appeals to tho lover of the romantic drama with the story it 1 unfolds, while tlie .scenic lover will find' abundant to delight in, in the beautiful background of Scottish scenery to the story proper. A black-bearded' Highland poacher is the leading actor, while Donald, the gamekeeper, be seeks to catcli preying on his master's preserves.' Donald has a daughter, a pretty Highland lassie, who attracts the attentions of young Lord Dane, who by the way is engaged to a lady befitting his station. Black Roderick uses tlie fickle Lord Dane as a foil to take tho unwelcome attention of Donald the, gamekeeper from himself to family affairs. He is successful, in that he causes a violent quarrel between Donald and Lord Dane, the former's daughter being the innocent cause. Donald happens on him one day as ho has just killed a deer, and is shot by the poacher, who seeks to cast the blame, on Lord Dane. But Donald recovers, and "splits" on Black Roderick, who is pursued and caught in the wilds. Donald's daughter becomes Lady Dane. Supporting the feature film are the grotesquely funny Keystone comedy, "His Favourite Pastime"; the Lnbin drama, "A Romance of the North "West" ; "Stockatoni—Java . Rice. Culture" (interesting Pathe industrial subject), "Polidor and tho Lions" (comic), aiid tho latest number of" tho "Gaumont Graphic." The new programme will be shown throughout the week. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "Black Heart and White," a Contin 7 ental "feature" drama, with Miss Ida Nielsen in tho -leading role, occupied pride of place in the new .programme at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures yesterday. Elsio Brown obtains a position in the Hortoiis's home as governess. . Wilfred,' the' ne'er-do-well son, wins- tlje new governess's love.' .He porsuades Elsie to accompany Jiiui clrrndestinely to a public ball. To defray the expenses of the eveniug, ho steals a £5 note from his mother's jewel case, Elsie

is subsequently charged with taking tho (honey, but-rather than betray Wilfred she remains silent and is dismissed. Tho Hortons's coachman advises Elsie to apply to Wilfred for assistance. She goes to his rooms and finds that lie is already engaged in. another flirtship. Elsie then attempts to kill herself. with a revolver shot. Tho bullet instead of killing her destroys her sight. . On being able to leave the hospital Elsie is taken by the coachman to his mother's home, but she decides to expose Wilfred. His parents prefer to believe their son, aiid 'Elsio'then fully realises how base" lie'is." The heart-broken girl then manages to earn a meagre living-by street-hiwking.. Retribution seeks Wilfred out, . and while attending another public ball ho meets with an accident which results: in the loss of his sight. Elsie, in the meanwhile, is taken to a. specialist by the coachman,- and after an operation her sight is restored; Wilfred later on sends for Elsio and humbly asks her ] forgiven ess, while confessing to his parents that he stole the note. The kindhearted coachman has now completely won Elsie's love, and happy days are in store for them when the curtain falls., Among the best of the other subjects are: "Oxygen" (scientific), "Williamson's "Weekly" (topical), "The Solomon Islands" (travel), and "Faithful" (A.B. comedy). HUTT BOWLING CLUB'S CONCERT! Tl|e Hutt Bowling and Tennis Club's concert is to be given at Lower Hutt on Friday next, July 17. Mr. E. J. Hill has arranged an excellent programme, which will be contributed to by Miss' Mina .Caldow, Miss Helen Gard'ner, Mrs. Paton, Miss Zita Chapman, Mr. Hamilton Hodges, Dr. Norman Hales, Mr. A. W. Newton, Mr. E. B. Gilchrist (violinist), and Signor Vitetta (harpist); while Mr. D. A. Kenny will provide the accompaniments. The box plan is now opou. at Hannah's, whore seats may be reserved. Arrangements have been made to bring visitors back to Wellington by motor buses, which will leave the Town Hal), after the concert. There was a large attendance at St. Augustine's Hall, l'etone, last ovening, a "social" Tinder the auspices of St. Augustine's Young Meii's Club being held. The members of St. Mark's -Young Men's and Young Women's Clubs were Dresent-by invitation,' and a programme of songs, etc._, was well received.. During the evening a comedy, entitled .."Change Partners," was acted by four members of St. Augustine's Club, and a pleasant -timo was spent;- A hearty vote.'of thanks was. accorded the local club for the "entertainment.