ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2255, 15 September 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. . "His House in Order" was again received with big demonstrations 'of approval by last night's audience at 'the brand Opera. House, and when the curtain-was rung down on the last scene Mr. Hugh Buckler mid Miss Violet lagot had good reason to be pleased with the fine reception given them. Mr. Buckler, in ■ tho: part of Hilary Jesfion, was capital from start'to finish, while Miss Paget, as Nina, displayed l strong force of character in interpreting fhafc difficult role. Master. Jack Buckler pleased immensely as Derek' Jesson, while not the least successful rendering in the cast was that of Pryce Ridgley by Mr. Kenneth Brampton.- The play in one that grips an audience, and as produced by the company leaves a- sense of satisfaction as having seen something worth while. : ' HIS THEATRE. The heartening news from the theatro of war is'having, an influence on the theatre-going public, who are once more seeking that which cheers between the walls of the local'.theatres. . At His Majesty's Theatre the bill has been freshened up by the arrival of several new artists who are well worth seeing. Among these are the' Dumetrisqu'e Troupe, a trio of remarkably clever and daring horizontal bar performers, who momentarily take.the breath away by their intrepid feats on the triple_ bars. When the first act performed consists of the giant's swing, concluding with a double somersault, tho hall-mark of excellonce is at once placed, upon a performance, but tho newcomers go a good deal further. They ■ fly from , bar to barwith a bird-like action, alighting at times on their feet on. the middle bar, then diving for the outer one with a certainty and grace which.'makes the act quite picturesque. Then blind-folded, one of the trio swings rohnd at am'sleugth, catches the middle bar,, swings again and catches the end bar, and then with a.side swing grips the side bar, somersaults, and whilst in mid-air removes the bandage, from his eyes. As a final hair-raiser, spiked double gates divide t'ho two outer bars, and the lightest acrobat, taking an enormous swing, flies across tho gate tho far bar—about ten feet away. The i Mullaney Twins are a of smart American boys, who dance very neatly. Their vocal efforts were hardly as acceptable as their dancing. : The "limericks" they vocalised savoured of coarseness. The Quealeys appeared in to amusing sketch,- which displayed Vhe'u easy aptitude for all styles of dancing. Gio Augelo is a clog dancer and singel, excelling with his feet rather than with his voice. ' His trick walks raised hearty laughter, and his rhythmical clogging admiration. Miss Ray Devere, a very charming young ladv in appearance, has a- pretty soprano voice, but her 'enunciation is not as clear as it might be. Stirling' and Love are a clever couple, combining vooalism wtih instrumentation in quite an acceptable form. The cornet playing of Mr. Stirling is excellent.- Violet Carmen returns with her song about floating down the Wanganui, arid cuts a. oharniing figure when arrayed.as a Maori maiden. Her dramatic recital (accompanied'. by Rachmaninoff's "Prelude" on tho piano) was quite effectively -'done; and her ■• Bong, "My Composer Man" was'refreshingly original arid cleverly "worked." Mi Alf. J. Lawrence assisted at the.piano. The Bright Sisters, Marcell and 8011, mid Sam Le'Merfc also appeared. Some twenty entries have been received for the hesitation waltz competition, which is to take place on Thursday evening. > . ;•/';. KING'S. THEATRE. The.King's Theatre is quite a recognised home of good pictures. This week's star film docs its share toward maintaining the reputation of the house. It is a drama which is said lp portray, incidents in the life of a cele-brated-French ..actress. It is pretty, and quaint, and full of life. The quaiut'ness is lent by the setting of the early portion • of the picture—among the • windmills of Holland. In this, delightful land a little boy and a little girl spend many happy hours. At the yearly floral fete the girl takes the prize for the best decorated cart, and her companion in preparing her vehicle and showing it is her little sweetheart. The pair afterwards take part in tho village dance, and a theatre manager who watches thein tripping the green offers to engage them in Paris. The offer is not accepted at once, but some time later the girl's father is killed through his mill being struck by lightning, and her mother, being in very , .poor circumstances, allows the child to accept the proffered engagement. The parting between the little couple is very touching, and when'the.lad receives a letter from tho. maid saying that the manager would employ him, also, if he would join her, he determines to leave home and go to the city. In the course of time the girl becomes celebrated on the stage, and gains famo. as a star in 'Paris. W'heii her' former sweetheart seeks her in the beautiful city, she has forgotten him, and forgotten, the love of their younger days. Her affections have- been transferred to ■ others, and to his indescribable grief she goes carelessly on her wayj until a fearful tragedy overtakes her. The actress attempts a balloon ascent, in mid-air the balloon collapses, and after it reaches the ground a crumpled, disfigured body whion is rescued from the ruins tells more plainly than-words that the enchantress of the footlights is- badly injured, and that her beauty is gone for ever. It js then that her lesson is learned: those upon whom she had lavished her affections forgot her when' her charms had vanished, just ae she forgot the only true lover she ever had. MAOMAHON'S NEW' THEATRE. "In common things the law of sacrifice takes the form of positive duty," and rounds this aphorism of Frpude's the Klaw and Erlanger Company have woven a particularly pretty and convincing picture-drama entitled "Strongheart," which is now being shown at every session at MacMahon's New Theatre, in Manners Street. The picture is noticeable for the excellence of its construction, and for its vivid humanity. Truo to Nature, -it is also true to Art, and this, of course, is the most desirable combination possible where a photo-play is concerned. It is pretty, pathetic, real, and, above all, popular. In a- charming supporting programme, "Renunciation" may be fairly accorded honourable mention, as being a picture above the average, . both in quality and in the daintiness of its theme, featuring as it does tho ever-popular Mary Pickford. On Thursday the management announces as a head-liner another Klaw and Erlanger picture entitled "Lord phumley," a strenuous drama of stirring scenes by flood and field, which, if contemporary criticism is to be believed, has taken Auckland quite by storm. This will bo followed by tho production for the first time in New Zealand of "The Lights of London," a picture which was at once purchased by Mr. MacMahon in London, after seeing its production there, with a view to givinc it ■ its premiere in his own Wellington theatre. .. ' THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Another of the Kalom Company's great "World" series of "features," entitled "Tho Swamp Fox," was introduced at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures yesterday. The plot is laid during the War of Independence in America. The career of Francis Marion, the famous ■'Revolutionary general, commences by his leading a band of woodsmen and farmers to assist General! Gates against the British. He rescues Mary, an orphan girl, whose parents ure killed in a raid by Indians, and gives her a home with has jn&rriea sis-

ter. Ten years later Marion, now a prominent Congressman, falls in. lovo with Mary. Balfour, eon of a wealthy Tory, is also a' suitor for 'the girl's hand. Marion leads a band of his countrymen to join General Gates against General Cornwallis, at Charlestown. Gates, however, will not accept the untrainjed!. men, saving that he! wanted soldiers, not vagabonds. Marion thereupon decides tq fight independently at the head- of his followers. Later Marion hears of Gates'e defeat, and rescues him from the clutches of tho enemy., Marion, now known as "The Swamp Fox," surprises Cornwallis's troops and captures many prisoners. Cornwallis decides to send an expedition to capture Marion. Balfour treacherously offers to lead tho soldiers to Marion's hiding-place in the swamps, but a friendly innkeeper warns him, and ho escapes. Marion leads his men with further successes against the invaders., When the war is over Marion returns and claims Mary as his bride. The supporting subjects are varied and highly, entertaining. "The Swamp Fox" will bo repeated to-day and to-night. EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. ' ■ "Antony and Cleopatra," one of the great triumphs of kinematography, was screened at' Everybody's Picture Theatre (old Opera House) last evening. This picture is a Cincs masterpiece, and for all-round worth will bo difficult to eclipse.' It is a marvellous adaptation of the famous Shakespearean tragedy. In recounting the chief events Øog tho piece, it may be said that Marc Antony, the Roman General, while heading a victorious campaign by the Roman arms in tho East, received a' visit -from Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, who desired to pay him homage. Cleopatra: celebrated for her beauty, ■ fascinated Antony, and before she returned to Alexandria ho promised to visit her at her own palace.-, Antony soon made good his promise, and it was not long before he learned that the admiration was mutual. The General neglected his country for his love, and he became king of Egypt in all but name. However, the penalty of such conduct was in due course paid. , Antony's life was plotted against'by jealous courtiers, but on every occasion ho escaped death. On one occasion he was saved through Hagar, a slave girl. Antony kissed the one who had been the means of preventing • his destruction, and this act aroused tho jealousy of Cleopatra to such an extent that she had Hagar cast to the crocodiles. ' Antony returned to Rome awhile, but eventually drifted back again to the beautiful Egyptian. To punish this disloyalty, Octavius Caesar ;M a Roman army against Antouy at .Alexandria. The defending troops • were beaten, and when Antony saw them' falling back in confusion ho committed suicide. Cleopatra; on discovering his dead body, also took her life. - The picture will be screened every day and every evening until the end of the week. ' ■'..'.■ MISS ZOB BARTLEY. To-morrow evening in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, Miss Zoo Bartley, of Auckland, associated with Miss, Alice Saunders, Miss Tnurza Rogers, and Mr. J. 1 ,1 . Montague, will give one of her delightful, dramatic, humorous, and song recitals. Special attention is drawn to tho humorous sketch, entitled "The Art of Making Love." Tho Christchurch "Press," in commenting on Miss BarjJoy's acting in this scene, stated that it was the best piece, of amateur acting ever seen in tho Cathedral City, and quite up to professional standard. Wellington people will bost remember Miss Bartley'for her groat interpretation of "Viola" ("Twelfth Night") during the Auckland Shakespeare Socioty's visit to this city. The box plan is. now 'open at the'Drosden. "SAMSON AND DELILAH." On Friday evening, at the .Town Hall j the French opera, "Samson and Delilah," will be performed for the first time in New Zealand by the Royal Wellington Choral Society, under tne direc.t)on of: Mr- Herbert Bloy, with a.chorus and orchestra numbering' 150, and an exceptionally strong cast of principals. The only lady soloist is Miss Mina Calc'kmy who will take the difficult part of Delilah. • is what tho Liverpool i "Post" said of Miss Cnldow's singing in "Samson , and Delilah" last 3'ear:. "Miss Mina_ Caldow, the - Now Zealand contralto, singe with an artistic expression arid : finish which evoked ionsiderable applause. Miss Caldow was undoubtedly at her best in the arias' "Softly Awakes My Heart' and '0 Love, from thy Power.'" The part of Sambon is tobe takonby Mr; Walter Kirby, the- English tenor, while the High Priest is being taken by Mr. Barry Coney, of Auckland. Mr. I' , . G. Twiss is to take the role of Abimelecli. Mr. P. Cutforth' (tenor) will sustain the music written tor the Philistine, while Mr. Frank Young is to sing the bass part, an aged Hebrew. The box-plan is iM.it open at tiie Dresden. Tho ?,s. tickets will be on eale' at the Dresden to-monw (Wednesday). . PATRIOTIC FUND TREASURE HUNT Citizens are reminded of the Patriotic Fund Treasure Hunt at Lyoll Bay next Saturday afternoon, commencing at-2 o'clock. By dint of proficiency in'the art of digging, competitors may win prizes ranging from half a crown vto live pounds. The entrance fee is only one shilling and spade 3d. No spades other than those supplied by the committee- may be used. This healthy and pleasant recreation should- prove a •strong attraction and take in more money for our Patriotic- Fund. A firstclass band will bo in attendance, and if the weather is fine everything promises a most enjoyable afternoon. DANCING COMPETITION, The Fuller-Brennan management have through the phenomenal success of the Hesitation Waltz Competition held at the . Opera House, Auckland, recently i been able to organise a similar competition for their. Wellington patrons, which mil take place at His Majesty's Theatre next Thursday night in addition to the usual vaudeville bill. For some time past a number of intending competitors have been skilfully taught this alluring dance by Mr. Phillips, of Phillips and Merrit. The Hesitation Waltz is not a stage dance as recently demonstrated in this city ,_ but a universal ballroom dance which has become very fashionable in all the Australian States. The box" plan ia now on view at the Dresden.