ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2242, 31 August 1914, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE DANDIES. This evening Tho Dandies will open thoir return senson of six nights in tho Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. A programme of attractive quality includes a selection from Balfe's opera, "Tfio Bohemian Girl." Tho various artists will each submit item's not presented during their previous visit. Concerted numbers, both humorous and serious a ™a strong part in the performances or IJie Dandies, and several excellent selections in this department ere set down for to-night. There will be a complete change or programme on Thursday evening. The seat plan is at tho Dresden. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' To-night a number of new artists will make their Wellington debut, amongst them being Sterling and Love, an English duo, who will appear, in what is described as a clever sporting and instrumental comedy. Mr. Phil Percival, anothor English importation, will appear for tho first time in songs and humour at the piano. This entertainer is said to be a. first-class pianist, and the feature of his performance is the freshness of his humour. The Bright Sisters will reappear after a considerable absence in .n&w. songs and dance divertissements. • The Aerial Bartlctts, whose dariiig feats on the trapeze have been the subject of much favourable comment, will present a number of new tricks. Phillips and Merritt, whose comedies have become, so deservedly popular, will appear in a new sketch. Others to contribute to the programme will be the New York Comedy Four'in new vocal part songe; Tilly Dunbar in. new character songs; Hart and Kenney, in new vocal duets; and Stan Stanley, in fresh Hebrew • comicalities . at the piano. The FuUer-Brenna'n Stock Company will appear in a new farcical comedy.' The programme will run for eis nights. and' a matbiee will be given on Saturday. . ,

"LOST IN MID-OCEAN." This evening's special feature at the King's Theatre will be "Lost in MidOcean," the latest exclusive dramatic release by the famous Vitagraph Company, and described as a great photoplay of striking power and unusual interest. Its chief characteristics are eaid to be the strength of the story told, tho high quality of the acting, and the astonishing realism of the mechanicaleffects. Prominent among the latterMs a reproduction of a shipwreck. This', shows the impact of the ship with an iceberg, the gradual settling down of the vessel, and the final plunge lo' the bottom of the ' ocean. Wireless telegraphy is also employed with fine dramatic'.effect; In presenting this wreck tho_ Vitagraph people are credited with achieving the biggest thing of its kind in kinematography to date. The action begins in Japan., A young wife is kidnapped from her husband, but escapes from her captors and saijs for America. The vessel is lost iu mid-ocean.. All trace of her husband is lost .until she- is rescued'' from a burning hniWing, and they, are strangely reunited after.many exciting adventures and thrilling experiences. A lengthy programme of exceptional merit is promised. The supporting films will include:—"Tho Limpet" ■ (Nature study), . "Mabel's Busy Day" (Koystono ' comedy), "All for Scienco" (drama), "The Cockchafer" (natural history), "The English River Ayou" (scenic), '".Fluv Strategy of Conductor 786" (comedy), and tho latest copy of the "Gauniont Graphic." Appropriate music by the popular King's Orchestra will accompany -—all screenings. Seats for the.season may be reserved at the Dresden. NEW THEATRE ©EOPBNED. "SILENCE OF BEAN MAITLAND." ■ • Aftor being some months out of commission, the handily-situated New Theatre was reopened on Saturday, under the sole management .and direction of Mr. Charles M'Mahon. The new decorations, furnishing, and lighting have .already been described. Both during the afternoon and evening there' were times when it wae not possible to seat the crowds who wished to see the transformed New Theatre. ■It is ! a long time now since Maxwell Gray's thrilling story of "The Silence of Dean Maitland". has been read, let alone acted or illustrated,, and it comes back to the memory with all its orjginnl emotional strength and human appeal, after its twenty years' obscurity. The story of the Rev. Cyril- Maitland's accidental crime, his long silence whilst his friend Dr. Everard paid the penalty, and finally his confession in tho pulpit of his blood guiltiness before the congregation whose love and esteem jio ha's hold for over twenty years, is very effective. In the photo-play the Dean and Dr. Ever--1 ard stand out. as two admirably-acted characters, and the "ancient" entrusted with the part of Old Bon Lee is 1 equipped for the role. The ladies aro hardly bo satisfactory. Pretty Alma i Lee is not at all pretty, and her emoi tion is _ds artificial as, her features are aggressively homely. Tsie confession scene if> given graphic expression by the recital by Mr, Clias. Bliike of the actual words spoken by the Dean in making his revelation to the world.

Other interesting pictures airo "Ostrich Farming at Coonamble, N.5.W.," "The Rajah and tho Ring" (a gripping drama), and "Mike and Jake, Pugilists" (comic). The New Theatre will bo. open from noon, till 10.30 dally for the future. "EVERYBODY'S PICTURES." Tho Opera House was crowded throughout Saturday, when last week's pictures were exhibited for tho last ■time. The particular attraction of today's complete change will be "Wat Dogs of To-day," which is a big filmic compilation especially prepared to show much that is interesting' concerning all the combatants at present engaged in the world-shaking war in Europe. The film is a patriotic one, and has been referred to by a contemporary as "the most' inspiriting; picture ever screened." Its unfolding will be embellished by special orchestral lmisio, and further interest should arise from tho fact' that d-iirmg the exhibition of the British and Dominions' section Mr. Harold Grey will sing Bert Royle's popular patriotic hit,' "Britons AH." Tbo chief dramatic .subject of tho new list is "Tlso Pauper Millionaire," or "Back to Broadway," described as a remarkable- ant! iro)]-acted star piny dealing in masterly fashion with a -startling adventure which befalls an American railway magnate, who, while the possessor of millions, finds Mmseli in a position of pemir.v. Supporting subjects will be: "A Barnyard Flirtation" (Keystone comedy), "Views of Munich" (scenic), "Mother and ■\Yifo" (Edison drama), latest "Pat-he Gazette," and "A Mountain Stream" (colour scenic). Tho. orchestra-will ho present at afternoon and evening sessions.

HABBY LAUDISB, There js no doubt, according to the Press criticisms in the' soiitii, that Harry Lander and his supporting company hare achieved the- same amount of SYjccesfc. as tbronglioub Australia, and a wiro received by J. and N. Tuit's roproaentntive yesterday states that tho Tlionlro Koyal in Cinistclnirch was looked to the doors on Saturday ovoniiiKi and people were turned away from all parts at 7.30. In response to many fcquo&fe from the residents of the Ash 7 burton district, a. matinee will bV given there, tho rpnipany returning for the evening perlormance in Christcliiircli. Harry Lauder naturally claims most of' tho critics' attention, but the supporting artists all-receive unstinted praiso lor their respective turue, .and tbo *lf.l6BjLui : undor the dircotipu

of Mr. Horace Sheldon, which travels with tie company, receives special mention for the instrumental interludes.. The Wellington season of six nights and one matinee; commences at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening next,' and the box plan for the entire season opens at the Dresden this morning. ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. There iras a large attendance at His Majesty's Theatre last evening when the 'Wellißgton Professional Orchestra Save its fifth concert of the 1914 season. The entertainment was a particularly fine one. It commenced with the triumphal march from "Aidi" (Verdi). Then •followed' the "Slavonic Rhapsodie" (Friederaann), the orchestration of which is rich and fanciful, and gives abundant scope. The fantasia "Carmen" (Bizet), and a ga.yotta, from "Mignon" (Thomas) were admirahly. played. The concluding item was the "iannhauser". overture (Wagner), which the orchestra rendered with great effect. . . THE EMPRESS THEATRE. "A Celebrated Case," described 1 as a most elaborate production, the first of the Kalem Company's great "World" series of adaptations from famous plays, will be presented at* the Empress Theatre continuous pictures to-day and tonight. .Recently the Kalem Company ombarked on a big scheme for producing in kinema form the most renowned dramatisations of the day. y Tho plot is laid about .the middle of the eighteenth century, and the famous battle of Fontenoy is vividly depicted. Tho story ie stat-' ed to be most romantic, the hero being sentenced to life imprisonment and sent ■to work in the galleys. The niaii is inI nocent, and in after years is able-to sheet homo tho crime to the guilty per- ! son.