ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2284, 19 October 1914, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. An. innovation will be made in tho now programme to bo presented tonight by tho Fuller-Brennan Company at His Majesty's Theatre by the engagement of Mr. Leslie Holmes and his Pierrots and Courtiers, a musical comedy company, in a stylo of entertainment made so popular by-the Crimson Ramblers and Huxham's Soranadere. Mr, Leslie Holmes is reported to bo an excellent comedian, and during tho evening has many opportunities for displaying his versatility. Tho Pierrotsand Courtiers are said to present a bright programme, in which fun is the predominant note, with a leavening of songs of a serious nature. In tho latter class Miss Kosina Palmorston, a •soprano vocalist, Miss Loiiore Graham, contralto, and Mr. Sydney Kingsley, tenor, are the leading vocalists, and their cultured voices have earned for them the warmest of favourable criticisms. Mr. Harry Romaine is a light comedian with an English reputation. Other artists of the company are: Miss, Mndgo Griffiths (soubrette) and Mr. Fred Deal (comedian and dancer). AH the members o~ the company will be associated in concerted numbers, in which they aro said to excel. Tho second part will comprise the, usual vaudeville programme, in which it is announced that Brown and Lawson will appear for the first time. Mr. Arthur' Troutt and his water carnival, the Two Storeys, the Caselli Sisters, and Brown and Sorlie have been re-engaged for another week, and will appear in a number of new specialities.- The programme nill rrm for 6ix nights, and a matinee will be given on Saturday. KING'S THEATRE. To-night's change of programme at the King's Theatre includes a subject which is practically new to ■ picturelovers in New Zealand, ii burlesque on the melodrama of the present time, produced by the Vitagraph Company of America. Tho film, entitled "Goodness Gracious,"-is described as a real comedy hit. Tho heroins in the story is a poor girl with big eyes and a big heart. At an impressionable ago she is left an orpha.u, to make her way .in the world. But tlie villain pursues her, and after spurning him she obtains a situation in a millionaire's dry goods store. Hero the millionaire's son falls in love with hor, and after beiug rejected on account of tho dilferonce in their stations, ho foils the villain, who still pursues tho heroine, and marries her. The father objects, and the son is cut off with a shilling.. Here romance begins, and after many thrilling complications tho father forgives the unhappy pair, who open their eyes on a world of sunshine and flowers. Another new film, deals with our Expeditionary Force. The latest war pictures-and pthor subjects of interest complete the programme. "EVERYBODY'S PICTURES." To-day's change of. programme at "Everybody's Pictures" contains an excellent selection of films, the chief of which is a- Vitagraph production entitled "The Night Riders of Petersham.'? The story deals, with, the editor of a- papor in an 'American township, who has roused the enmity of some of tho inhabitants owin<» to his exposure of an illicit still. Richard Coke, who rescues the editor's daughter in an accident, resolves to stand by.the editor, and they aro both warned to beware of tho Nigfc Riders, who threaten to burn the offico if another'edition of the paper is published. They ignore the threat, and an attack is made, hut is repulsed. After a strenuous battlo is over, Coke sinks into a chair and dreams of his marriage to tho editor's daughter. .Tho latest war topicalß to hand and a selection of comic and dramatic subjects will also he shown.

MAOMAHON'S NEW THEATRE; The' attendances- at this theatre on Saturday, day and' night, were very large, and tQio crowds good-naturedly waited thoir turns to.gain admission to what was generally admitted a tip-top programme To-day and to-night Ambrosio's strong and sonsational animal and 'aviation dyania, "In tho Sultan's Power," will bo Tiiis Btory is said to deal in a, masterly way .with a love story, wliero, unfortunately for tho principals, their parents have a serious difterenco. Tho girl's father determines to take her to Europe, and whilst Jack is engaged upon aeroplane trials, Nancy 6ends him a message in tiroo for him to get on the boat she is leaving by. They arrive in Africa, and call upon the Sultan, who shows them bis wonderful lions and other wild animals. Nancy is abducted by tlie Sultan, and Jack, rescues her by a wonderful and thrilling aeroplane feat. The marriage is then agreed upon. Tho supporting programme is selected from the world's best makers. For the evening sessions "Tho Battlo of Louvain" will be added to tie programme. Tin's film is tho 6econd of the series of war pictures recently, arranged for by Mr. Macmahon. "BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS." "Bunty Pulls the Strings." the Scotch comedy, which is to be played at tho Grand Opera Houso on Saturday next by Mr. and Mrs. Graham Moffat and their company of Scottish players, is not now to tho world, as it holds a record run,of over 600 nights in London at tho Hayinarkefc. It was first produced in Australia at tho Theatre Royal, Sydney, where it met with immediate success. 'The Sydney "Sun" says:— "Half the audience .... seemed, to have been brought up in. the ' manse, or at least in tho immediate vicinity of-tho kirk, so readily did they tako delight in the artistic touches with j whicb the new play, 'Bunty Pulls the Strings,' presents an intimate and true : pioture of Seotchbyterianism. That" word is not a vulgarism; it is necessary to express the 1 Scot in relation to his Sawbath. The other half of the audience, who were not Scotohbyterians. viewed tho strange characters, so quaint and yet so human, with increasing' interest, and found them so queer and so likeable that when the curtain foil _ on the first act there were seven or eight recalls before tho.audience would cease. So Mr. Graham Moffat's comedy, which is being produced by the author (with Mr. E. J. Carroll as entrepreneur) started off in Australia with'- a groat success." The box plans open at the Dresden on Wednesday morning. THE EMPRESS THEATRE. The "feature" of the new bill at the Empress Theatre Continuous Pictures to-day and to-night will be an adaptation of Dion Boucicault's sensa : tional melodrama, "The Streets of New York," which is said to abound in exciting episodes. Gideon Bloodgood, a banker, is about to abscond owing to the insolvency of his bank, when Cap- . tain Faii-woather hands him £20,000 in cash as n, special deposit. A few minutes later the captain learns that the bank is on tho verge of a collapse, He rushes back and demands hie money, but the banker contends that as it is after banking hours he need not return tho money till tho morrow. 'The excitement causes the captain to be seized with a fatal fit. The banker and his assistant make it appear that Fairweather has dropped dead in tho street, and divide tho money, tho latter going out west. ■ Tho story proceeds to show how tho widow and children of tho dead captain regain possession of t'ho stolen wealth. _ There will bo a special supporting series. ORGAN RECITAL. Thero was a fair attendance at tho Town Hall on Saturday night, when the City Organist (Air. Bernard F. Page) resinned tho series of municipal organ recitals. Tho numbers chosen by Mr. Pfifto included works which rvo now to WeJUnaton, as well as other well-known SlS ,.'.>w\[/«5-"~" . i -' . . ~*

pieces. The first number was the Overturn to tho "Midsummer Night's Dream," and this was particularly well received. Mr. Pago's playing of the fairy music in the opening and closing strains was graceful and pleasing. Tho now works were "Barcarolle" (Faulkos); Passacaglia in D Minor (Max Riger): and "Morning Day" (Lemare). and ell wore given with delightful feeling, and full mastery of the pieces. Tho last movement of tho "Pathotic Symphony" of Tchaikovsky was given, to complete tho work. Tho Finale begins with a thomo expressive of the 1 most poignant sorrow, which is gradually developed and moro fully scored, till the strenuous section is reached. The whole dies away in the almost inaudiblo throbbings of the lower strings. The other numbers given by Mr. Pago were "Fantasia and Fugue" (Bach) and "Air and Varifltions," upon a Themo of Handel's (Karg-Elert). ' SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON'SLECTURE Tho box plan for Sir Douglaß Mawson'6 farewell iectnro, which is to be given at tho Grand Opera House next Thursday evening, opens this morning at the Dresden, and it is anticipated that the publio will show their practical interest, inasmuch as tho net proceeds of the lecture tour go to pay off the debt on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, and, further, Sir Douglas dees not take any remuneration whatever. Tho moving pictures and coloured ■slides, which serve, to illustrate the lecture, are claimed to bo the best polar studies 1 that have ever been exhibited. This will be the last opportunity tho publio will have of hearing Sir Douglas Mawson's thrilling narrative, as ho leaves for England on Friday. Day 6aleß are at Christesen's. WALTER KIRBY SONG RECITALS. For to-morrow evening's song Tecital in tho Concert- Chamber of tho Town Hall Mr. Walter Kirby will sing, amongst many other gems, "If With All Your Heart," from "Elijah"; "Tho Death of tho Bellringer of Notre Dame."'"Sally in Our Alley, "Angels Guard Thee" (by request); also "I Hear You Calling Mo." ELOCUTIONARY RECITAL. A x bright aud joyous programme of elocutionary items is promised by Mr. J. Culford Bell and Miss Betty Purdom for their recital to-night in tho Town Hall Concert Chamber, when they will present a number of their most promising pupils in recitation, musical-mono-logue, eostumo sketches, etc. Miss Purdom will givo a new humorous sketch, "Reggie," and-.Mr. Bell will recite a scene from "Hamlet." "The 'Bus Ride," a clever duologue, in which the characters will be sustained by Miss Purdom and Mr. Bell, should be a highly entertaining item. The whole proceeds go to tho Huntly Relief Fund.