ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2225, 11 August 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

NIBLO COMEDY SEASON. . There will only bo one more performance of "The Fortune Hunter." To-mor-row, Mr. Fred Niblo, Miss Josephine Cohan, and the clever company supporting them will produce "Never Say Die" for the first time in New Zealand. "Never Say Die" is described ns a "farcical scream," and comes with very high credentials from Australia, where it had an unusually long and successful.run.. The rfory is most humorously worked out, and brightly and crisply played by Mr. Niblo and his colleagues. It is altogether a merry play' of irresponsible jollity. ■ Box'plans for the entire season are now open at the Dresden. "THE SMART SET.'.' • "The Smart Set," who return under tho direction of Mr. Edward Brauscombe. commenced a week's season at the Concert Chamber last evening, and succeeded in making an entirely favourable impres--61011. Among the "Set" aro faces old and ttew, but all possess that verve audsympathdtic understanding one with another that is absolutely essential for this olass of entertainment. Particularly does the company please Tocally. Among the favourites who received a warm welcome were Mr, Walter George, a prepossessing, robust comedian, who smfs a good song, and is always interesting in |" s comedy work. Miss Georgia Martin, the lively comedienne, is/also back again, as viniful a s ever. Sho showed a vciu "t originality in her' treatment of tho lilt 'Snookoy Ookunls," which was presented from tho viewpoint of a servant in a boardinghouse. With Mr. George, file executed still another variety of the interminable tango, as an introduction to a clover and amusing skit on the "tango tea,' noiv the vogue in all the, large centres. Another favourite in the vocal line, who was heartily welcomed, was Mr. hrnest Parkes (formerly of Wellington), whose rich and powerful' baritone was heard to distinct advantage in a trio of songs, "Shipmates .0' Mine," "Invictus" and."Fleurette," the last-named being hardly so suitable.to the singers stylo aB the more robust songs. The "Set possesses another cultured- singer in Mr: Maurice Jones, a light-baritone of extensive range, whose voice has a pleasing ring, and is used with judgment. Mr. Jones sang "Nirvana" and "The Rosary," and, with Mr. Parkes, the duets "Watchman, What, of the Night?" and "Tho Moon Hath Raided" . (from Benedict's "Lily of Killarney"), two of tho most satisfactory items, on tho programme. The comedian of the. company" is Mr Harry de Eobeck, who,'in an unostentatious manner, gets in some cheerful humour of an effective order. He sang 'What's the Use?" and "Drinks," ,and, was a bright spot in' the' numerous on-' semble items. Miss Gwenyth Evans sings pleasantly in a'modest but melodious mezzo, such songs as "Sunshine and Rain,", and gave as an encore the pantomime melody "I'd Love to Live in Loveland." Another valuable membet of the company is Miss Lalla Knight; who has a bright, secure, and powerful soprano voice that is up to' true pitch. She showed an easy facility in the florid waltz song "April Morn," and sang "My Little Grey Home in the West" charmingly.. Mr. Gavin Wood has deserted serious song, to take up the role of a lugubrious comedian, and as such found favour in "When Father Draws the Winning Horse,in Tatt's" and "Lucky Jim." Mf. Edgar Hulland accompanies delightfully, and proved his capacity as a soloist in Leschetitzky's "Mazurka" and other pieces., The finale, "Let's' Air Go and Listen to the Band," besides being highly comic, • exhibited" Mr. George as a capital character comedian. "The Smart Set" should please large audiences during the week. " ,

; HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A fascinating and vivacious personalityis Miss Daisy' Jerome, the American/character comedienne,' who opened a short Wellington season at His ' Majesty's Theatre last night." Miss Jorpme met with a warm' reception from : a crowded house,:and the audience -was loath to lot her leave the stage. For the most part "her numbers were'-light and witty, with' catchy tunes,, which were readily taken up by the, house, but in other .items she showed:'strbng dramatio force, .which wa9 greeted, with enthusiastic applause. Her opening number was a character sketch of the "Johnnie" or "knut" at the seaside, and the witticisms were spontaneous and .'laughter. creative, as ;she described the main attractions »which drew the men to the seaside. Following thi9.-M.iss Jorome appeared in a recitative number of more dramatic force, entitled "The Press, the Pulpit, and the Stage," ' in which she made a good impression. An appealing charm and a great depth of pathos made this one of .the most popular, turns given. But it was in her great revue success, "Row, Row, Row," from "Come Over Here," that she.made tho best impression. Miss Jerome created this song in the revue, which had such a success in and last night she took the audience into her confidence, and the response from all parts of the theatre was simply great. The. artiste appeared in some beautiful frocks, which were greatly admired. Supporting turns in the programme were of a hign order, a notable i one being that of Sebastian Merrill and his "Tip Taps." The turn contained some comical cycling tricks, and ended with a remarkable tandem somersault from an elevated, chute. -Sam Le Mert gave a really enjoyable whistling turn, and some laughable and clever imitations of common-day happenings. "The Hartley Wonders" appeared in a novelty jumping act,. which was well received. Tom Armstrong and Mabs Howartb repeated their success of last week in their very amusing: comedy sketch, while the .'other artists added • materially to ' one of the best pro-grammes given at the theatre. The turns will be repeated this evening.; ... " ' THE KING'S THEATRE.. "When Iron and Steel Meet," the film which'heads the new programme screened at'the King's Theatre last night, comprises 2000 ft. of interesting picture narra T tive' by the ; Vitagraph Company. The scene is laid partly in Germany and partly in America, the story passing from, the roaring .furnaces of the big gun fao-. Tory in the Fatherland to the still water? of Sandy Hook, from tho residence of, the great "Iron King" to the poor homo of the workman, from the office of the ambitious German to that of the clever American. It is, indeed, a drama full: of powerful contrasts. The invention of a. new gun forms the basis of the plot. . (The Iron lung, .after failing to buy the invention at an absurdly,low .figure, obtains the secret.by a sinister method. ' He as, however, forestalled in the patent, and eventuully his villainy is exposed. In order to avoid trouble-, he has to sacrifice his ambition of marrying his daughter to a duke, and allow her to choose the man she really loves, as her life partner. Among the supporting items is a highly-amusing trick comedy, in which the Keystone Company's. corn?-' dionne, "Mabel", performs some wonderful, feats on horseback, cnlminating in n leap over a precipice, which does not, of course, prove fatal. For all that, it approaches, the realistic. "Monkey Intelligence" is an interesting study, which demonstrates that the term "artful as *' menjtey": has its foundation in' fact. "Put de Dome" is a delightful coloured scenic, produced in tho best style of Patbo Frores. The A.K. Company has representation on the programmei by a funny .sketch, entitled "An Exciting Honeymoon," in which numerous extraordinary situations are produced as a remit of the short-sighted bridegroom losing. his pince-nez. ."Their Great Bur Beautiful Doll'" (drama), and the Gaumont Graphic (topical), complete an ex-, ccllent entertainment. Capital is provided by the King's Orchestra, under the direction ofSignor A. P. Trudtu THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Rose of May," a captivating mod. ern romantic play by the Sehg Company, is the "feature" of the new programme screened at the Empress' Theatre continuous pictures yesterday. The plot shows how a young novolist meets.a charming young lady in'tho country, and wins her love. Her father desires that sho shall wed a wealthy financier, who is assishiig ■Jrim in his business as a publisher, the girl refuses to accept the financier as a softer, and induces her father to give h«Wver. the novelist, an opportunity to '■win fame and fortune within a year. The girl's father publishes' a novel, ontitled "The Rose of May," received from an anonymous source; which proves the greatest literary; and. financial success pf the 'year.. Later on the. jtovclist. cartas to olaim Jus bride, ; and..w<ion .the father * demands aim to prove hla worthiness, the

novelist presents proof that he is the an- I thor of the now famous book. Gladly the parental consent is given for the marnago of the young couple. Among the '" e «™s portrayod in "Williamson's Weekly' are a review of youthful naval volunteers in London,, sporting, and military event's. One of the most curious creatures in the animal kingdom, is dealt with in the film "Tho Armadillo." This ""lei animal, which, is indigenous' to ! oouth. Americn. is covered with a peculiarly thick hide like a rhinoceros. Other excollent films are: "Picturesque France," , Tho .Spirit of '76," a Pilot drama relating how a famous American picture came to bo painted, and "The Dog-gono Baron" 'and "Bumble As Photographer" comedies. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. ~ At various sessions of Everybody's Pic. tures at the old Opera. House yesterday afternoon and evening, the new programme met' With. marked approval. 'The feature film this week is a beautiful Pafche I coloured drama, entitled "His Guiding Star." The heroine of the story is a flower girl, who.becomes daiiseuse and operatic star. She is so carried away by her success' that She entirely forgets her' benefactor,- a young composer, to whose help she owes much. Tho composer las ■been eeoretly'dn lovo with her, and when 6he deserts him he is without inspiration, ond his work suffers. A curious turn'of events, however, sets everything right in the .end, and' the dansfeuse and the com-' poser are happily united once again. 'An interesting point of the (drama is the appearance 1 of tho famous actor, M. Mayer, of the "Comedie: Francaise," as Cahis Caligula 'in the opera of that nanus which is an inset to the main story. ■ The scenery and the acting throughout are splendid. '"Boys of.the Bulldog Breed" is a particularly interesting item at the' present time.. It shoiys various -phases of tho training, of the British bluejacket. One of the Keystone Company's latest, numbers is-."Twenty Minutes of Love," a hielily. amusing . fnTce calculated to provoke roars of laughter. Other films include "Italian I.ove" (drama), "Marseilles to Port Raid" (Gnumont travel), and a 'edit-on.of the Pathe Gazette. -The' theatre will be open again to-day from 12 noori onwards.. 1