ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2266, 28 September 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

. , ; HIS'MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' "i'hero.will be a complete change of programme at His Majesty's Theatre to-night when tho Fuller-Brennan management will present a number of new English and American artists. Theso will includo '.tho Three Cussos, who will appear in a juggling and sharp-shoot-ing act. Mann and Franks will make their first uppearance in Wellington in .a short musical comedy, entitled, "The Candy Girl."Other newcomers are Drysdale and Fay, a pair of Australian comedians. Miss Maud Fanning and her clever children will appear in several new' coon songs and dances; Miss Rosa Loader will introduce several new items into her sketch, "The Slavey at thoPiano"; Carmen and' Lawrence, whoso engagement has been extended, will ar> pear in a number of new songs'composed by Mr. A. Lawrence. The old and tried favourites, The Quealys, will perform a neiv comedy sketch, and the bill will be completed by The Mullaneys, Arthur Elliot, and, G'io Angelo. A. matinee will be given .on Saturday.

>THE KING'S THEATRE. To-night at' the 'King's Theatre a picture of startling character will feature the new programme. This is a filmed reproduction, by permission of the Government of . Mexico, of "A Genuine' Mexican Bull Fight," taken in the actual arena. Many of- tho incidents shown are described as exciting in tue extreme. Other features include: "Off to the Front,".which in 1200ft..0f film provides a line record.' of last Thursday's doings of New Zealand's Expeditionary ..Force, ,'Wellington Harbour allowing the troopships, march of tho Battery Brigade through the City, shipping guns, •'. horses; -and food-stuffs, coaling operations, fitting up.troopships, inspection of troops 'and Govornor'6 -farewell, at Newtown Park, the,long march to the ships, embarkation (the. latter section taken by special apparatus was tho only picture of that event secured);' "Pictoria 1 War News," just landed from Europe, shows .the French President's triumph, bomb-dropping, war 'crisis in .London, Cabinet-meetings, demonstration in Trafalgar Square, outside Buckingham Palace, in Parliament, reservists at Waterloo, German reservists, -stranded Americans; "Fraiiciue" (Vita drama), "Airlos's Performing Dogs'J (vaudeville), "An Eavesdropper" (Ke3'stone), 'iWire Chief's Reward" (drama); "The War Budget," and "An 'Easy--.Victor}-" (comedy). Tho'King's orchestra will accompany all screenings. Beats may be reserved at the Dresden.

; EVERYBODY'S PICTURES. ' The big feature of to-day's all new /pictures is ".England's'Menace,?' by the London Film' Company, described as the most successful photo-drama placed before, the public for a long time. The following is a brief resume of tho clever plot;—A .foreign Power is making secrot plans to invade England. Tho chief spy ol this Power secures'a place as butler with the secretary to tho British Prime Minister. Ho uses his opportunities to copy important papers which refer to the movements of British shins and soldiers. The Secretary's two childrenhave a wireless outfit which/the spy uses tu-receive messages from his Government, The date fixed for tho'in-•: vasion arrives. The children intercept the. spy's last message, and although he trios to baulk them they got away and.carry the.portentous news to their j .father and the .Prime Minister at Downing Street. Orders are issued, the fleets get up.steam,,the troops;march, and a' clever. : iiso of- tho- enemy's code-the" Prime -Minister sends out. a wireless message which -turns.back the enemy's 'ships'.and/transports. The menace- is over. Other features include: "French Army Building Bridges," "Gaumont's War Graphic," showing the war crisis in London, bomb-dropping, Cabinet meetings, demonstration in; Trafalgar Square, outside Buckingham -Palace, in Parliament, German reservists, and Stranded- Americans. '.'" '.Fraid Cat". (Vitagraph-drama), •• and "Andy Goes Apirating" (comedy) will also bo shown. The.orchcstra will attend afternoon and evening sessions. -.-...,

"IN THE HANDS OF LONDON I CROOKS:" J Crowds .have flocked to MacMahon's , Now •'Theatre'during-the past week to witness the powerful photo-drama, "In the Hands of London Crooks." It will be repeated to-day,- to-night, and to-morrow with a fine supporting programme. On' Wednesday next, "The Lights o' London" will be presented for the first time.in New Zealand. No play:that was ever written lias probably appealed to a' larger multitude for it embodies much of tho atmosphere of tho fjreat metropolis and is one of the best three melodramas of the ceiitury. During his recent visit Home Mr. Charles TffacMahon. .-purchased the Tights for New Zealand. ' ' , THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The "feature" at the Empress Theatre continuous pictures to-day and to-night will bo the.Latium Company's thrillmg aeroplane drama "Heir to a Million." According to the plot, Nada (an adventuress), Carlos (a card-sharp), and Miller (a money-lender) set out to rob' Frank Desmond, a famous aviator, who has recently inherited a- vast fortune. Nada falls in. love with Frank; Miller aiid Carlos gain access to Desmond's aeroplano shed 'and taniper with the motor of his machine so that an accident is inevitable; their scheme is well conceived and carried out, but certain circumstances upset their plans in a mannor which may bo left to the picture to disclose. There will be a special selection of supporting tilms. PALAIS DE DANSE. ; / Tho latest ; innovation—continuous dancing—appears to have caught on at. the Palais do Danse in lngestre Street. This new idea has become a fashionable craze in Melbourne and 'Sydney, and present indications point to- Wellington not being very far behind. On Saturday tho onlookers were shown some skilful dancing by exponents of the hesitation waltz, tango waltz, tango, two-step, and one-step. Free lessons were- given by Mr. F. Fitzmaurico, tango expert, and he gives, tuition to morning 'and afternoon classes during the week. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. . There was a very. largo audience at His Majesty's Theatre' last evening', when the sixth of this sea-son's concerts by the Wellington' Professional Orchestra was ' given. The programmo was opened with the fantasia "Mefistofele" (Boito), which was perhaps the finest performance of the orchestra during the evening. .The, "Chorus in the Heavens," one of the earliest passages in the piece, was very well worked up, and the grandioso effect at'the conclusion was splendid. There were two outstanding solos in this fantasia —the clarinet solo in the' "Prison Scene" and tho trombone solo in the "Garden Scene," both excellently played. The next number was a "Suite Romantique" entitled "A Day in Von ice" (Nevin) in four parts—Alba . (Dawn), Gondolieri (Gondoliers), Conzono Amarosa (Love Song), and iJuona Notte (Good Night). This was the first occasion on which the piece was played by an or-, chestra in Wellington, and it was artistically played. The Love Song is very pretty, and dreamy, and the Good Night is introduced with, a hymn which was expressively played. In "Saterjontons Sontag" (Olc Hull), a piece for strings, the violin solo was exceptionally well played by Mr. John Garry, whoso playing stamped him as a talented violinist. Two bracketed pieces, "Licbestraumo" (Von Bloii) and "La Mariposa" (Diaz) were rendered with charming effect. In the latter number the -rather tricky passage for the oboe was very well played, The. final number was tho overture

"Rioivzi" (Wagner). It is, of courso, a splendid thing, . and provided the orchestra with opportunities of showing its capabilities, .opportunities which were fully utilised. Mr. Bioy should bo well pleased with such a tine conclusion to an excellent 'evening's work. "Rienzi," jt may ho noted, was first produced at Dresden in 1842, and was its composer's first omphalic success. It was intended lor the-Parisian stage, and was designed on the lines of spectacular grand opera. '

"THE CREATION." The International Bible' Students' Association, having issued an entirely free invitation to everybody to visit the Town Hall to witness tiie production of tho second part of "The■ Creation," the auditorium was well filled on Saturday. The film is a pictorial story of the Biblical history of the human race. On Saturday Part II of "The Creation" was dealt with, covering' the period from Abraham through Israel's experiences to the Babylonian Captivity. • A matiueo will be given this afternoon. .