ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2258, 18 September 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

, THE BUOKLER-PAGET CO. Unquestionably one of the best companies seen in Wellington in serious plays for a considerable . timo is the Buekier-Pagot combination, which is attracting appreciative. audiences to tho Grand Opera House. Last ovoning Sir A. W. -Pinero's remarkably able play, "His Hoiiso in Order," was presented again. before a large audience, which included His Excellency the Governor and Lady Liverpool. With-keen intellectuality Pinero introduces one to a gallery of singularly clear-out characters, each of lYluch'is made, to exhibit his or her disposition in a moving iStory richly veined •with satire, humour, and philosophy, and one which holds the interest from' the rise ofthe curtain until it falls. The final performance of "His House in Order" is to be given this evening, and it can be' recommended strongly to all who delight in a sound play most capably performed. To-morrow evening the Wellington public is to have the sensation of that delightful Shaw play, "Fanny's First Play," which is said to have kept London laughing for a couple of years, and which ran for six-weeks at tie Little Theatre in _ Sydney. "Fanny' 6 First Play" consists of a prologue, a play within a play, and an epilogur,, and in every scene one is tickled with the topsyturvy ideas of England's most remark.ably playwright; Many readers of Shaw know the'play, and will doubtless be eagerly anticipating its performance, by the .capable- Buckler-Paget Company., HIS MAJESTY'S. THEATRE. 'The bright programme at present' being presented by the Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville Company at His Majesty's Theatre was invested witli a spice of novelty last evening in the form of a dancing competition for amateurs, arranged by Mr. Phillips (who conducted a tango contest here some weeks ago). The dance on this occasion was theniodern ballroom dance that boasts the appellation of the hesitation waltz, rather an attractive'variation of the still most , popular form of ballroom . dances—tho waltz. That-the-new, dance has its votaries was. evident from the fact that no-fewer than eighteen couples took part in the competition, fully half of whom gave a very fair exposition of the new-fashioned waltz. After each couple had performed, they were called upon the stage to submit themselves to. tho applause of the large audience, which evinced every sign of, pleasure in its novel :dutios. Several'of the couples were heartily applauded, but there could be no doubt as to the verdict, which went in favour of Miss Clifford (a very young aspirant) and Mr. A. . Ansill, and thort: and then the lady was presentedl with a ; handsome electro-plated tea service and tray, and the gentleman with-a smoker's companion. . Contributors to, the programme were' the agile and daring Dumetrisque Trio of horizontal'bar performers, the Mullaney_ Twins, Carmen and Lawrence, Sterling and Love, and Gio Angelo. A matinee performance, will : be given by tbe company to-morrow afternoon. ■ ..'"..'' KING'S THEATRE. The" piece'do resistance of the good things in picture form at present being submitted-at the King's Theatre is "A Tragedy of .the Clouds," a really stir-, ring has a ; topical setting in the placid;landscapes and rain-washed blue skieS of Holland and Belgium. Every foot of this,film is of interest, and the 1 " sensational, balloon ascent and what happens in mid-air is of more than .passing interest, in view of the. tragedies of the air which are at present being enacted in the same country day by day."' The' Keystone Married Life," is in happy contrast to the Pathe tragedy. The current programme will he screened for only two more nights, and at a special matinee, starting at 2.30 p.m., to-morrow. " MAOMAHON'S ; NEW THEATRE. The new -programme submitted, at MacMahon's Theatre, yesterday .was well up to the average, so quickly set by this popular little theatre, and the attendances were consistently good at all the sessions. The star picture of the new' programme was a Klaw and Eriauger picture entitled "Lord Chumley," a vigoonts' pictorial story of •coSnspiracy, in which two Englishmen figure with varying fortunes. For a .time the finger'of Fate rests heavily upon them, but ultimately they win to the goal of the world's.happiness, and the right girls and the right men are reunited after a period of storm and stress that is typically human. It is a .well-constructed photo-play, and one of unflagging interest that cannot but add to the high reputation already achieved by, this theatro for its picture work. ''■•■■ The accompanying ..programme is of a! high order, and includes a'convincing Lubin drama in "Diamond Cut Diamond," and a particularly cheery comedy called "Through the ■ Keyhole.'.' On Monday next "Love in the Tropics," an idyllic pic-ture-play, staged in the Pacific Islands, will be shown, with a new supporting programme. "The Lights of London," a picture specially secured by Mr. MacMahon for presentation at this theatre, will follow at an early date.. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. . "A Fair Rebel," Klaw and Erlanger's latest spectacular American Civil War drama, made its first. appearance yesterday at the Empress Theatro continuous pictures. There aTe some realistic battle scenes, including the actual shelling of a small bridge,.which is shattered by the gun fire. Hundreds of troops take- part in the enactment. The story deals with the adventures of two lads. Steve and Ezra are chums at the West Point Military College. On completion of his training Stevo returns to" his home in Virginia. The Civil War breaks out and Stove takes his place as leader of a Southern force. Captain De .Perrin, a French officer, during Steve's absence, pays unwelcome attentions to Stevens sister,. Clairottc. Ezra, now a colonel in tho Northern army, while passing through tho South on leave, meets Clairette, and they fall in love. De Perrin notifies Steve that a Northern officer is- courting Clairette much to lief annoyance. Steve on reaching home 1 is surprised 'to discover that the Northerner is his _ old chum. • Much against his inclination Steve takes Ezra prisoner. Clairette goes to Richmond to plead for Ezra's release, and eventually, by a clever plot, assists in her lover's escape. When the war is over the young couple are wedded. Tho auxiliary items are .well np to standard. ' EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. At the Opera House large numbers continue to, flock to see the fino Cines representation of "Antony and Cleopatra," which is presented on the screen in a.manner-that evokes wonder at tho resources of "the big picture-makers of the Old World.. The aeting and mounting are exceptionally good, anil tho thread of the story may be very.easily followed, even by thoso who aTO not acquainted with Shakespeare's version of tho old love tragedy. "Antony and Cleopatra" will bo screened for two more days and nights, and will givo place to a now programme on Monday. "SAMSON AND DELILAH." 'A good deal of interest centres in the performance to-night by the Royal Choral Society of tho great French opera, "Samson and Delilah," which work is to be performed in the Town Hall for the first time in New Zealand, under tho eonductorship of Mr. Herbert Bloy. Of the soloists. Miss Mina Caldow will take the exacting music of Delilah, and Mr. Walter Kirby has been specially engaged to sing the part of Samson. It is some considerable time Kirby. ajjpeajed on a .Welling- j

ton platform; the last time was in the Opera House in conjunction with Madame Molba. Since then he has been abroad, and only returned to Australia a few weeks ago. Mr. Barry Coney, of Auckland, will sing the'part of Higjh Priest; Mr. Cutforth, that of tho Philistine; while Messrs. Fred. Twiss and Frank Young will undertako tho solo work of Abinielech and 'the Aged Hebrew. Plan and tickets are at the Dresden. Programmes are on sale at tho Dresden and W. J,.- Lankshoar's. LYALL BAY TREASURE HUNT. Of all the gold rushes New Zealand has experienced none have been so conveniently closo to Wellington as the one to ' take place to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon at Lyall Bay. And it promises to be a pretty big rush, too —for the prizes are very attractive, to' say. nothing of the cause— which must .appeal to the heart of every Britisher. Admission tickets may be obtained on leaving the trams—which will enable competitors to pass into the enclosures. Hero, the regulation .spades will bo provided at the nominal cost of 3d. each. All prize vouchers buried in the sand will be enclosed in small tobacco boxes, and each voucher bears a number. On applying to tho secretary successful diggers will receive the prize his or her particular number has drawn, and all prizes must be claimed before leaving the ground,! or the voucher cannot be. recognised. A first-class band will add- greatly to the pleasuro of the afternoon, and' tea arrangements have been made for the thirsty. Tho com-mittee-desires to thank Mr. C. Archibald and Mr. C. P. Skerrett for the generous donations of £10 10s. and £5 towards the prize money. Also Mr.' C. J. Clark, of Lyall Bay, • for ah additional prize dn the shape of a concession -ticket to tho salt water baths valued at 12s. 6d., bringing the total number, of prizes up to 57. "BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS:" The following is the revised tour of "Bunty Pulls the Strings," in which the author of this quaint little Scotch comedy (Mr. Graham Moffat) will appear:—Auckland, commencing, October 12;• New Plymouth, October-22; Wangahui, October 23; Palmerston North, October 24; Napier, October 26; Masterton, October 27; Wellington, commencing October 28; Christehurch, November 6; Tiniaru,- November 13; Dunedin, November 14; Invcrcargill, November 20.'• .. ■ .. • '